[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 105 (Wednesday, July 8, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4881-S4882]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 2167. Mr. SCHATZ submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to
amendment SA 2089 submitted by Mr. Alexander (for himself and Mrs.
Murray) to the bill S. 1177, to reauthorize the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 to ensure that every child achieves;
which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of title V, insert the following:
SEC. 5011. IMPROVING EDUCATION FACILITIES.
Title V (20 U.S.C. 7201 et seq.), as amended by section
5010, is further amended by adding at the end the following:
``PART J--SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, MATHEMATICS, CAREER, AND
TECHNICAL FACILITIES
``SEC. 5911. DEFINITIONS.
``In this part:
``(1) Career and technical education.--The term `career and
technical education' has the meaning given the term in
section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical
Education Act of 2006,
``(2) Community college.--The term `community college'
means--
``(A) a junior or community college, as that term is
defined in section 312(f) of the Higher Education Act of
1965; or
``(B) an institution of higher education (as defined in
section 101 of such Act) that awards a significant number of
degrees and certificates, as determined by the Secretary,
that are not--
``(i) baccalaureate degrees (or an equivalent); or
``(ii) master's, professional, or other advanced degrees.
``(3) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means a
local educational agency, community college, or other entity
determined appropriate by the Secretary.
``(4) Qualified project.--The term `qualified project'--
``(A) means the modernization, renovation, or repair of a
facility that will be used to improve the quality and
availability of science, technology, engineering,
mathematics, or career and technical education instruction to
public elementary school or secondary school, or community
college, students, and that may include--
``(i) improving the energy efficiency of the facility;
``(ii) improving the cost-effectiveness of the facility in
delivering quality education;
``(iii) improving student, faculty, and staff health and
safety at the facility;
``(iv) improving, installing, or upgrading educational
technology infrastructure;
``(v) retrofitting an existing building for career and
technical education purposes; and
``(vi) a one-time repair of serviceable equipment at the
facility, or replacement of equipment at the facility that is
at the end of its serviceable lifespan, that will be used to
further educational outcomes; and
``(B) does not include new construction or the payment of
routine maintenance costs.
``SEC. 5912. SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, MATHEMATICS,
CAREER, AND TECHNICAL FACILITIES IMPROVEMENT.
``(a) Program Authorized.--From amounts appropriated under
subsection (g), the Secretary shall carry out a program to
improve science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or
career and technical education facilities by--
``(1) awarding grants to eligible entities to enable the
eligible entities to carry out qualified projects;
``(2) guaranteeing loans made to eligible entities for
qualified projects; or
``(3) making payments of interest on bonds, loans, or other
financial instruments (other than a refinancing) that are
issued to eligible entities for qualified projects.
``(b) Application.--An eligible entity that desires to
receive a grant, loan guarantee, or payment of interest under
this part shall submit an application to the Secretary at
such a time, in such a manner, and containing such
information as the Secretary may require. The application
shall include--
``(1) a detailed description of the qualified project;
``(2) in the case of a qualified project described in
section 5911(4)(A)(vi), a description of the educational
outcomes to be furthered by the one-time repair of
serviceable equipment or replacement of equipment;
``(3) an indication as to whether the eligible entity
prefers to receive a grant, loan guarantee, or payment of
interest;
``(4) a description of the need for the qualified project;
``(5) a description of how the eligible entity will ensure
that the qualified project will be adequately maintained;
``(6) an identification of any public elementary school or
secondary school or community college that will benefit from
the qualified project;
[[Page S4882]]
``(7) a description of how the qualified project will
improve instruction and educational outcomes at the facility,
including any opportunities to integrate project activities
within the curriculum of such school or community college;
``(8) a description of how the facility supported by the
qualified project will be used for providing educational
services in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or
career and technical education;
``(9) a description of how the eligible entity will ensure
that the modernization, renovation, or repair supported by
the qualified project meets Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED) building rating standards, Energy
Star standards, Collaborative for High Performance Schools
(CHPS) criteria, Green Building Initiative environmental
design and rating standards (Green Globes), the Living
Building Challenge certification standards, or equivalent
standards adopted by entities with jurisdiction over or
related to the eligible entity;
``(10) a description of the fiscal capacity of the eligible
entity;
``(11) the percentage of students enrolled in the public
elementary school or secondary school or community college to
be served by the qualified project who are from low-income
families;
``(12) in the case of a qualified project at a facility
that is used by students in a secondary school, the secondary
school graduation rates; and
``(13) such additional information and assurances as the
Secretary may require.
``(c) Priority.--In making awards under this part, the
Secretary shall use not less than a total of 25 percent of
the funds appropriated under subsection (g) to eligible
entities for qualified projects to benefit--
``(1) public elementary schools or secondary schools served
by high-need local educational agencies, as described in
section 2202(b)(2)(A); or
``(2) community colleges serving a substantial number of
rural students, as determined by the Secretary.
``(d) Supplement Not Supplant.--Funds made available under
this part shall be used to supplement, and not supplant,
other Federal and State funds available to carry out the
activities supported under this part.
``(e) Technical Assistance and Administrative Costs.--The
Secretary may reserve not more than 3 percent of funds
appropriated under subsection (g) for the administrative
costs of this part and to provide technical assistance to
community colleges and local educational agencies concerning
best practices in school facility renovation, repair, and
modernization.
``(f) Reporting Requirements.--Not later than 1 year after
funds are appropriated to carry out this part, and every 2
years thereafter, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to
the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the effect
of the qualified projects supported under this part on
improving academic achievement.
``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part such
sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2016
through 2021.''.
______