[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 34 (Tuesday, March 4, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3088-S3089]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. ALEXANDER (for himself, Mr. Reid, Mr. Gregg, Mr. Santorum, 
        Mr. Nickles, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Enzi, Mr. Coleman, 
        Mr. Frist, Mr. Dodd, and Mr. Cornyn):
  S. 504. A bill to establish academics for teachers and students of 
American history and civics and a national alliance of teachers of 
American history and civics, and for other purposes; to the Committee 
on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill 
be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 504

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``American History and Civics 
     Education Act of 2003''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) American history and civics.--The term ``American 
     history and civics'' means the key events, key persons, key 
     ideas, and key documents that shaped the institutions and 
     democratic heritage of the United States.
       (2) Chairperson.--The term ``Chairperson'' means the 
     Chairperson of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
       (3) Institution of higher education.--The term 
     ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
     term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
     (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
       (4) Key documents.--The term ``key documents'' means the 
     documents that established or explained the foundational 
     principles of democracy in the United States, including the 
     United States Constitution and the amendments to the 
     Constitution (particularly the Bill of Rights), the 
     Declaration of Independence, the Federalist Papers, and the 
     Emancipation Proclamation.
       (5) Key events.--The term ``key events'' means the critical 
     turning points in the history of the United States (including 
     the American Revolution, the Civil War, the world wars of the 
     twentieth century, the civil rights movement, and the major 
     court decisions and legislation) that contributed to 
     extending the promise of democracy in American life.
       (6) Key ideas.--The term ``key ideas'' means the ideas that 
     shaped the democratic institutions and heritage of the United 
     States, including the notion of equal justice under the law, 
     freedom, individualism, human rights, and a belief in 
     progress.
       (7) Key persons.--The term ``key persons'' means the men 
     and women who led the United States as founding fathers, 
     elected officials, scientists, inventors, pioneers, advocates 
     of equal rights, entrepreneurs, and artists.
       (8) Nonprofit educational institution.--The term 
     ``nonprofit educational institution''--
       (A) means--
       (i) an institution of higher education; or
       (ii) a nonprofit educational research center; and
       (B) includes a consortium of entities described in 
     subparagraph (A).
       (9) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the 50 States 
     and the District of Columbia.

     SEC. 3. PRESIDENTIAL ACADEMIES FOR TEACHING OF AMERICAN 
                   HISTORY AND CIVICS.

       (a) Establishment.--From amounts appropriated under 
     subsection (j), the Chairperson shall award grants, on a 
     competitive basis, to nonprofit educational institutions to 
     establish Presidential Academies for Teaching of American 
     History and Civics (in this section referred to as 
     ``Academies'') that shall offer workshops for teachers of 
     American history and civics--
       (1) to learn how better to teach the subjects of American 
     history and civics; and
       (2) to strengthen such teachers' knowledge of such 
     subjects.
       (b) Application.--
       (1) In general.--A nonprofit educational institution that 
     desires to receive a grant under this section shall submit an 
     application to the Chairperson at such time, in such manner, 
     and containing such information as the Chairperson may 
     require.
       (2) Contents.--An application submitted under paragraph (1) 
     shall--
       (A) include the criteria the nonprofit educational 
     institution intends to use to determine which teachers will 
     be selected to attend workshops offered by the Academy;
       (B) identify the individual the nonprofit educational 
     institution intends to appoint to be the primary professor at 
     the Academy; and
       (C) include a description of the curriculum to be used at 
     workshops offered by the Academy.
       (c) Number of Grants.--Except as provided in subsection 
     (e)(2)(B), the Chairperson shall award not more than 12 
     grants to different nonprofit educational institutions under 
     this section.
       (d) Distribution.--In awarding grants under this section, 
     the Chairperson shall ensure that such grants are equitably 
     distributed among the geographical regions of the United 
     States.
       (e) Grant Terms.--
       (1) In general.--Grants awarded under this section shall be 
     for a term of 2 years.
       (2) Grants after first two years.--Upon completion of the 
     first 2-year grant term, the Chairperson shall--
       (A) renew a grant awarded under this section to a nonprofit 
     educational institution for one more term of 2 years; or
       (B) award a new grant to a nonprofit educational 
     institution having an application approved under this section 
     for a term of 2 years, notwithstanding the 12 grant award 
     maximum under subsection (c).
       (f) Use of Funds.--
       (1) Workshops.--
       (A) In general.--A nonprofit educational institution that 
     receives a grant under this section shall establish an 
     Academy that shall offer a workshop during the summer, or 
     during another appropriate time, for kindergarten through 
     grade 12 teachers of American history and civics--
       (i) to learn how better to teach the subjects of American 
     history and civics; and
       (ii) to strengthen such teachers' knowledge of such 
     subjects.
       (B) Duration of workshop.--A workshop offered pursuant to 
     this section shall be approximately 2 weeks in duration.
       (2) Academy staff.--
       (A) Primary professor.--Each Academy shall be headed by a 
     primary professor identified in the application submitted 
     under subsection (b) who shall--
       (i) be accomplished in the field of American history and 
     civics; and
       (ii) design the curriculum for and lead the workshop.
       (B) Core teachers.--Each primary professor shall appoint an 
     appropriate number of core teachers. At the direction of the 
     primary professor, the core teachers shall teach and train 
     the workshop attendees.
       (3) Selection of teachers.--
       (A) In general.--
       (i) Number of teachers.--Each year, each Academy shall 
     select approximately 300 kindergarten through grade 12 
     teachers of American history and civics to attend the 
     workshop offered by the Academy.
       (ii) Flexibility in number of teachers.--An Academy may 
     select more than or fewer than 300 teachers depending on the 
     population in the region where the Academy is located.
       (B) Teachers from same region.--In selecting teachers to 
     attend a workshop, an Academy shall select primarily teachers 
     who teach in schools located in the region where the Academy 
     is located.
       (C) Teachers from public and private schools.--An Academy 
     may select teachers from public schools and private schools 
     to attend the workshop offered by the Academy.
       (g) Costs.--
       (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), a 
     teacher who attends a workshop offered pursuant to this 
     section shall not incur costs associated with attending the 
     workshop, including costs for meals, lodging, and materials 
     while attending the workshop.
       (2) Travel costs.--A teacher who attends a workshop offered 
     pursuant to this section shall use non-Federal funds to pay 
     for such teacher's costs of transit to and from the Academy.
       (h) Evaluation.--Not later than 90 days after completion of 
     all of the workshops assisted in the third year grants are 
     awarded under this section, the Chairperson shall conduct an 
     evaluation to--
       (1) determine the overall success of the grant program 
     authorized under this section; and
       (2) highlight the best grantees' practices in order to 
     become models for future grantees.

[[Page S3089]]

       (i) Non-Federal Funds.--A nonprofit educational institution 
     receiving Federal assistance under this section may 
     contribute non-Federal funds toward the costs of operating 
     the Academy.
       (j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section $7,000,000 for 
     each of fiscal years 2004 through 2007.

     SEC. 4. CONGRESSIONAL ACADEMIES FOR STUDENTS OF AMERICAN 
                   HISTORY AND CIVICS.

       (a) Establishment.--From amounts appropriated under 
     subsection (j), the Chairperson shall award grants, on a 
     competitive basis, to nonprofit educational institutions to 
     establish Congressional Academies for Students of American 
     History and Civics (in this section referred to as 
     ``Academies'') that shall offer workshops for outstanding 
     students of American history and civics to broaden and deepen 
     such students' understanding of American history and civics.
       (b) Application.--
       (1) In general.--A nonprofit educational institution that 
     desires to receive a grant under this section shall submit an 
     application to the Chairperson at such time, in such manner, 
     and containing such information as the Chairperson may 
     require.
       (2) Contents.--An application submitted under paragraph (1) 
     shall--
       (A) include the criteria the nonprofit educational 
     institution intends to use to determine which students will 
     be selected to attend workshops offered by the Academy;
       (B) identify the individual the nonprofit educational 
     institution intends to appoint to be the primary professor at 
     the Academy; and
       (C) include a description of the curriculum to be used at 
     workshops offered by the Academy.
       (c) Number of Grants.--Except as provided in subsection 
     (e)(2)(B), the Chairperson shall award not more than 12 
     grants to different nonprofit educational institutions under 
     this section.
       (d) Distribution.--In awarding grants under this section, 
     the Chairperson shall ensure that such grants are equitably 
     distributed among the geographical regions of the United 
     States.
       (e) Grant Terms.--
       (1) In general.--Grants awarded under this section shall be 
     for a term of 2 years.
       (2) Grants after first two years.--Upon completion of the 
     first 2-year grant term, the Chairperson shall--
       (A) renew a grant awarded under this section to a nonprofit 
     educational institution for one more term of 2 years; or
       (B) award a new grant to a nonprofit educational 
     institution having an application approved under this section 
     for a term of 2 years, notwithstanding the 12 grant award 
     maximum under subsection (c).
       (f) Use of Funds.--
       (1) Workshops.--
       (A) In general.--A nonprofit educational institution that 
     receives a grant under this section shall establish an 
     Academy that shall offer a workshop during the summer, or 
     during another appropriate time, for outstanding students of 
     American history and civics to broaden and deepen such 
     students' understanding of American history and civics.
       (B) Duration of workshop.--A workshop offered pursuant to 
     this section shall be approximately 4 weeks in duration.
       (2) Academy staff.--
       (A) Primary professor.--Each Academy shall be headed by a 
     primary professor identified in the application submitted 
     under subsection (b) who shall--
       (i) be accomplished in the field of American history and 
     civics; and
       (ii) design the curriculum for and lead the workshop.
       (B) Core teachers.--Each primary professor shall appoint an 
     appropriate number of core teachers. At the direction of the 
     primary professor, the core teachers shall teach the workshop 
     attendees.
       (3) Selection of students.--
       (A) In general.--
       (i) Number of students.--Each year, each Academy shall 
     select approximately 300 eligible students to attend the 
     workshop offered by the Academy.
       (ii) Flexibility in number of students.--An Academy may 
     select more than or fewer than 300 eligible students 
     depending on the population in the region where the Academy 
     is located.
       (B) Eligible students.--A student shall be eligible to 
     attend a workshop offered by an Academy if the student--
       (i) is recommended by the student's secondary school 
     principal (or other head of such student's secondary school) 
     to attend the workshop; and
       (ii) will be a junior or senior in a public or private 
     secondary school in the academic year following attendance at 
     the workshop.
       (C) Students from same region.--In selecting students to 
     attend a workshop, an Academy shall select primarily students 
     who attend secondary schools located in the region where the 
     Academy is located.
       (g) Costs.--
       (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), a 
     student who attends a workshop offered pursuant to this 
     section shall not incur costs associated with attending the 
     workshop, including costs for meals, lodging, and materials 
     while attending the workshop.
       (2) Travel costs.--A student who attends a workshop offered 
     pursuant to this section shall use non-Federal funds to pay 
     for such student's costs of transit to and from the Academy.
       (h) Evaluation.--Not later than 90 days after completion of 
     all of the workshops assisted in the third year grants are 
     awarded under this section, the Chairperson shall conduct an 
     evaluation to--
       (1) determine the overall success of the grant program 
     authorized under this section; and
       (2) highlight the best grantees' practices in order to 
     become models for future grantees.
       (i) Non-Federal Funds.--A nonprofit educational institution 
     receiving Federal assistance under this section may 
     contribute non-Federal funds toward the costs of operating 
     the Academy.
       (j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section $14,000,000 for 
     each of fiscal years 2004 through 2007.

     SEC. 5. NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF TEACHERS OF AMERICAN HISTORY AND 
                   CIVICS.

       (a) Establishment.--
       (1) In general.--From amounts appropriated under subsection 
     (e), the Chairperson shall award a grant to an organization 
     for the creation of a national alliance of elementary school 
     and secondary school teachers of American history and civics.
       (2) Purpose.--The purpose of the national alliance is--
       (A) to facilitate the sharing of ideas among teachers of 
     American history and civics; and
       (B) to encourage best practices in the teaching of American 
     history and civics.
       (b) Application.--An organization that desires to receive a 
     grant under this section shall submit an application to the 
     Chairperson at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
     information as the Chairperson may require.
       (c) Grant Term.--A grant awarded under this section shall 
     be for a term of 2 years and may be renewed after the initial 
     term expires.
       (d) Use of Funds.--An organization that receives a grant 
     under this section may use the grant funds for any of the 
     following:
       (1) Creation of a website on the Internet to facilitate 
     discussion of new ideas on improving American history and 
     civics education.
       (2) Creation of in-State chapters of the national alliance, 
     to which individual teachers of American history and civics 
     may belong, that sponsors American history and civics 
     activities for such teachers in the State.
       (3) Seminars, lectures, or other events focused on American 
     history and civics, which may be sponsored in cooperation 
     with, or through grants awarded to, libraries, States' 
     humanities councils, or other appropriate entities.
       (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section $4,000,000 for 
     each of fiscal years 2004 through 2007.
                                 ______