[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 50 (Thursday, April 27, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3034-S3036]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           JOHN H. CHAFEE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ACT OF 1999

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
now proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 515, S. 1946.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 1946) to amend the National Environmental Act to 
     redesignate the Act as the ``John H. Chafee Environmental 
     Education Act,'' to establish the John H. Chafee Memorial 
     Fellowship Program, to extend programs under that Act, and 
     for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill 
which had been reported from the Committee on Environment and Public 
Works, with amendments, as follows:
  (The parts of the bill intended to be stricken are shown in boldface 
brackets and the parts of the bill intended to be inserted are shown in 
italic.)

                                S. 1946

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       (a) This Act.--This Act may be cited as the ``John H. 
     Chafee Environmental Education Act of 1999''.
       (b) National Environmental Education Act.--Section 1(a) of 
     the National Environmental Education Act (20 U.S.C. 5501 
     note) is amended by striking ``National Environmental 
     Education Act'' and inserting ``John H. Chafee Environmental 
     Education Act''.

     SEC. 2. OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION.

       Section 4 of the John H. Chafee Environmental Education Act 
     (20 U.S.C. 5503) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (b)--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``balanced and 
     scientifically sound'' after ``support'';
       (B) by striking paragraph (6);
       (C) by redesignating paragraphs (7) through (13) as 
     paragraphs (6) through (12), respectively; and
       (D) in paragraph (12) (as so redesignated), by inserting 
     before the period at the end the following: ``through the 
     headquarters and the regional offices of the Agency''; and
       (2) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:
       ``(c) Staff.--The Office of Environmental Education shall--
       ``(1) include a headquarters staff of not more than 10 
     full-time equivalent employees; and
       ``(2) be supported by 1 full-time equivalent employee in 
     each regional office of the Agency.
       ``(d) Activities.--The Administrator may carry out the 
     activities described in subsection (b) directly or through 
     awards of grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts.''.

     SEC. 3. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION GRANTS.

       Section 6 of the John H. Chafee Environmental Education Act 
     (20 U.S.C. 5505) is amended--
       (1) in the second sentence of subsection (i), by striking 
     ``25 percent'' and inserting ``15 percent''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:

[[Page S3035]]

       ``(j) Lobbying Activities.--A grant under this section may 
     not be used to support a lobbying activity (as described in 
     the documents issued by the Office of Management and Budget 
     and designated as OMB Circulars No. A-21 and No. A-122).
       ``(k) Guidance Review.--Before the Administrator issues any 
     guidance to grant applicants, the guidance shall be reviewed 
     and approved by the Science Advisory Board of the Agency 
     established by section 8 of the Environmental Research, 
     Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act of 1978 (42 
     U.S.C. 4365).''.

     SEC. 4. JOHN H. CHAFEE MEMORIAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--Section 7 of the John H. Chafee 
     Environmental Education Act (20 U.S.C. 5506) is amended to 
     read as follows:

     ``SEC. 7. JOHN H. CHAFEE MEMORIAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.

       ``(a) Establishment.--There is established the John H. 
     Chafee Memorial Fellowship Program for the award and 
     administration of 5 annual 1-year higher education 
     fellowships in environmental sciences, to be known as `John 
     H. Chafee Fellowships'.
       ``(b) Purpose.--The purpose of the John H. Chafee Memorial 
     Fellowship Program is to stimulate innovative graduate level 
     study and the development of expertise in complex, relevant, 
     and important environmental issues and effective approaches 
     to addressing those issues through organized programs of 
     guided independent study and environmental research.
       ``(c) Award.--Each John H. Chafee Fellowship shall--
       ``(1) be made available to individual candidates through a 
     sponsoring institution and in accordance with an annual 
     competitive selection process established under subsection 
     (f)(3); and
       ``(2) be in the amount of $25,000.
       ``(d) Focus.--Each John H. Chafee Fellowship shall focus 
     on--
       ``(1) effective land and resource management;
       ``(2) innovative open space preservation;
       ``(3) science associated with such worldwide issues as 
     global climate change and sustainable marine resources; or
       ``(4) any other issue that a sponsoring institution 
     determines to be appropriate.
       ``(e) Sponsoring Institutions.--Each year--
       ``(1) 2 John H. Chafee Fellowships shall be awarded by the 
     University of Rhode Island; and
       ``(2) 3 John H. Chafee Fellowships may be applied for 
     through any other sponsoring institution.
       ``(f) Panel.--
       ``(1) In general.--[The Foundation] The National 
     Environmental Education Advisory Council established by 
     section 9(a) shall establish and administer the John H. 
     Chafee Fellowship Panel.
       ``(2) Membership.--The Panel shall consist of 5 members, 
     appointed by a majority vote of members of the National 
     Environmental Education Advisory [Council established by 
     section 9(a),] Council, of whom--
       ``(A) 2 members shall be professional educators in higher 
     education;
       ``(B) 2 members shall be environmental scientists; and
       ``(C) 1 member shall be a public environmental policy 
     analyst.
       ``(3) Duties.--The Panel shall--
       ``(A) establish criteria for a competitive selection 
     process for recipients of John H. Chafee Fellowships;
       ``(B) receive applications for John H. Chafee Fellowships; 
     and
       ``(C) annually review applications and select recipients of 
     John H. Chafee Fellowships.
       ``(g) Distribution of Funds.--The amount of each John H. 
     Chafee Fellowship shall be provided directly to each 
     recipient selected by the Panel upon receipt of a 
     certification from the recipient that the recipient will 
     adhere to a specific and detailed plan of study and research.
       ``(h) Funding.--From amounts made available under [section 
     11(b)(1)(D)] section 11(b)(1)(C) for each fiscal year, the 
     [Foundation] Office of Environmental Education shall make 
     available--
       ``(1) $125,000 for John H. Chafee Memorial Fellowships; and
       ``(2) $25,000 to pay administrative expenses incurred in 
     carrying out the John H. Chafee Memorial Fellowship 
     Program.''.
       (b) Definitions.--Section 3 of the John H. Chafee 
     Environmental Education Act (20 U.S.C. 5502) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (12), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (2) in paragraph (13), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting a semicolon; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(14) `Panel' means the John H. Chafee Fellowship Panel 
     established under section 7(f);
       ``(15) `sponsoring institution' means an institution of 
     higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher 
     Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001));''.
       (c) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents in section 
     1(b) of the John H. Chafee Environmental Education Act (20 
     U.S.C. prec. 5501) is amended by striking the item relating 
     to section 7 and inserting the following:

``Sec. 7. John H. Chafee Memorial Fellowship Program.''.

     SEC. 5. NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AWARDS.

       (a) In General.--Section 8 of the John H. Chafee 
     Environmental Education Act (20 U.S.C. 5507) is amended to 
     read as follows:

     ``SEC. 8. NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AWARDS.

       ``(a) President's Environmental Youth Awards.--The 
     Administrator may establish a program for the granting and 
     administration of awards, to be known as `President's 
     Environmental Youth Awards', to young people in grades 
     kindergarten through 12 to recognize outstanding projects to 
     promote local environmental awareness.
       ``(b) Teachers' Awards.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Chairman of the Council on 
     Environmental Quality, on behalf of the President, may 
     establish a program for the granting and administration of 
     awards to recognize--
       ``(A) teachers in elementary schools and secondary schools 
     who demonstrate excellence in advancing environmental 
     education through innovative approaches; and
       ``(B) the local educational agencies of the recognized 
     teachers.
       ``(2) Eligibility.--One teacher, and the local education 
     agency employing the teacher, from each State, the District 
     of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, shall be 
     eligible to be selected for an award under this 
     subsection.''.
       (b) Definitions.--Section 3 of the John H. Chafee 
     Environmental Education Act (20 U.S.C. 5502) (as amended by 
     section 4(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(16) `elementary school' has the meaning given the term 
     in section 14101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
     Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8801); and
       ``(17) `secondary school' has the meaning given the term in 
     section 14101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
     of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8801).''.
       (c) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents in section 
     1(b) of the John H. Chafee Environmental Education Act (20 
     U.S.C. prec. 5501) is amended by striking the item relating 
     to section 8 and inserting the following:

``Sec. 8. National environmental education awards.''.

     SEC. 6. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COUNCIL AND TASK 
                   FORCE.

       Section 9 of the John H. Chafee Environmental Education Act 
     (20 U.S.C. 5508) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (b)(2)--
       (A) by striking ``(2) The'' and all that follows through 
     the end of the second sentence and inserting the following:
       ``(2) Membership.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Advisory Council shall consist of 
     not more than 11 members appointed by the Administrator after 
     consultation with the Secretary.
       ``(B) Representatives of sectors.--To the maximum extent 
     practicable, the Administrator shall appoint to the Advisory 
     Council at least 1 member to represent each of--
       ``(i) elementary schools and secondary schools;
       ``(ii) colleges and universities;
       ``(iii) not-for-profit organizations involved in 
     environmental education;
       ``(iv) State departments of education and natural 
     resources;
       ``(v) business and industry; and
       ``(vi) senior Americans.'';
       (B) in the third sentence, by striking ``A representative'' 
     and inserting the following:
       ``(C) Representative of the secretary.--A representative''; 
     and
       (C) in the last sentence, by striking ``The conflict'' and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(D) Conflicts of interest.--The conflict'';
       (2) in subsection (c), by striking paragraph (2) and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(2) Membership.--Membership on the Task Force shall be 
     open to representatives of any Federal agency actively 
     engaged in environmental education.''; and
       (3) in subsection (d), by striking ``(d)(1)'' and all that 
     follows through ``(2) The'' and inserting the following:
       ``(d) Meetings and Reports.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Advisory Council shall--
       ``(A) hold biennial meetings on timely issues regarding 
     environmental education; and
       ``(B) issue a report describing the proceedings of each 
     meeting and recommendations resulting from the meeting.
       ``(2) Review and comment on draft reports.--The''.

     SEC. 7. NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING FOUNDATION.

       (a) Change in Name.--
       (1) In general.--Section 10 of the John H. Chafee 
     Environmental Education Act (20 U.S.C. 5509) is amended--
       (A) by striking the section heading and inserting the 
     following:

     ``SEC. 10. NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING FOUNDATION.'';

     and
       (B) in the first sentence of subsection (a)(1)(A), by 
     striking ``National Environmental Education and Training 
     Foundation'' and inserting ``National Environmental Learning 
     Foundation''.
       (2) Conforming amendments.--
       (A) The table of contents in section 1(b) of the John H. 
     Chafee Environmental Education Act (20 U.S.C. prec. 5501) is 
     amended by striking the item relating to section 10 and 
     inserting the following:

``Sec. 10. National Environmental Learning Foundation.''.
       (B) Section 3 of the John H. Chafee Environmental Education 
     Act (20 U.S.C. 5502) (as amended by section 4(b)) is 
     amended--

[[Page S3036]]


       (i) by striking paragraph (12) and inserting the following:
       ``(12) `Foundation' means the National Environmental 
     Learning Foundation established by section 10;''; and
       (ii) in paragraph (13), by striking ``National 
     Environmental Education and Training Foundation'' and 
     inserting ``Foundation''.
       (C) Section 11(c) of the John H. Chafee Environmental 
     Education Act (20 U.S.C. 5510(c)) is amended by striking 
     ``National Environmental Education and Training Foundation'' 
     and inserting ``Foundation''.
       (b) Number of Directors.--Section 10(b)(1)(A) of the John 
     H. Chafee Environmental Education Act (20 U.S.C. 
     5509(b)(1)(A)) is amended in the first sentence by striking 
     ``13'' and inserting ``19''.
       (c) Acknowledgment of Donors.--Section 10(d) of the John H. 
     Chafee Environmental Education Act (20 U.S.C. 5509(d)) is 
     amended by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(3) Acknowledgment of donors.--The Foundation may 
     acknowledge receipt of donations by means of a listing of the 
     names of donors in materials distributed by the Foundation, 
     except that any such acknowledgment--
       ``(A) shall not appear in educational material presented to 
     students; and
       ``(B) shall not identify a donor by means of a logo, 
     letterhead, or other corporate commercial symbol, slogan, or 
     product.''.
       (d) Administrative Services and Support.--Section 10(e) of 
     the John H. Chafee Environmental Education Act (20 U.S.C. 
     5509(e)) is amended in the first sentence by striking ``for a 
     period of up to 4 years from the date of enactment of this 
     Act,''.

     SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) In General.--Section 11 of the John H. Chafee 
     Environmental Education Act (20 U.S.C. 5510) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d);
       (2) by striking the section heading and subsections (a) and 
     (b) and inserting the following:

     ``SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       ``(a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated 
     to the Environmental Protection Agency to carry out this Act 
     $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2000 through 2005.
       ``(b) Limitations.--
       ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), of the amounts 
     made available under subsection (a) for each fiscal year--
       ``(A) not more than 25 percent may be used for the 
     activities of the Office of Environmental Education 
     established under section 4;
       ``(B) not more than 25 percent may be used for the 
     operation of the environmental education and training program 
     under section 5;
       ``(C) not less than 40 percent shall be used for 
     environmental education grants under section 6 and for the 
     John H. Chafee Memorial Fellowship Program under section 7; 
     and
       ``(D) 10 percent shall be used for the activities of the 
     Foundation under sections 7 and 10.
       ``(2) Administrative expenses.--Of the amounts made 
     available under paragraph (1)(A) for each fiscal year, not 
     more than 25 percent may be used for administrative expenses 
     of the Office of Environmental Education.
       ``(c) Expense Report.--As soon as practicable after the end 
     of each fiscal year, the Administrator shall submit to 
     Congress a report describing in detail the activities for 
     which funds appropriated for the fiscal year were 
     expended.''; and
       (3) in subsection (d)(2) (as so redesignated), by striking 
     ``section 10(d) of this Act'' and inserting ``section 
     10(e)''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents in section 
     1(b) of the John H. Chafee Environmental Education Act (20 
     U.S.C. prec. 5501) is amended by striking the item relating 
     to section 11 and inserting the following:

``Sec. 11. Authorization of appropriations.''.

  Mr. SESSIONS. I ask unanimous consent that the committee amendments 
be agreed to, the bill be read the third time and passed, the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The committee amendments were agreed to.
  The bill (S. 1946) was read the third time and passed.

                          ____________________