H.R. 5501 — Introduced in House

I 113th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5501 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 17, 2014 Mr. Cummings (for himself, Ms. Waters, Mr. Veasey, Mr. Hastings of Florida, and Mr. Rangel) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce A BILL To establish a grant program to enhance existing secondary education programs for the purpose of teaching high school students about the Constitution of the United States and the constitutions of the individual States. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Constitution and Citizenship Day Act of 2014. 2. Constitution Day and civic responsibility system for students Part C of title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6601 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new subpart: 6 Teaching of the Constitution 2371. Establishment and operation of Constitution Day Grant Program (a) Grant program authorized The Secretary shall establish and implement a grant program, to be known as the Constitution Day Grant Program, under which the Secretary shall award grants on a competitive basis to local educational agencies and charter schools for the purposes of enhancing educational programs to teach students about the United States Constitution and the constitution of the State in which the grant recipient is located. (b) Grantee eligibility requirements Grants under this section may only be awarded to a local educational agency or charter school with established secondary educational programs to teach students about the United States Constitution and the constitution of the State in which the grant recipient is located. (c) Operation of educational programs An educational program funded by a grant under this section shall— (1) occur on Constitution Day, September 17, of each calender year (or on the Monday immediately following Constitution Day, if Constitution Day falls on a Saturday or a Sunday); (2) include assemblies, discussions, presentations, or events commemorating the Constitution of the United States and the constitution of the State in which the grant recipient is located; (3) include efforts to reinforce existing Constitutional curricula conducted by the grant recipient; and (4) make available to eligible students participating in such program the ability to register to vote. (d) Voter registration laws A grant recipient under this section shall abide by all applicable State and Federal voter registration laws. 2372. Grant application process (a) Secretary created process The Secretary shall develop an application process for the grant program under this subpart, consistent with the requirements of this section. (b) Grant application requirements An application for a grant under this subpart shall— (1) describe the educational activities to be funded by the grant; and (2) provide assurances that the requirements of section 2371(c) will be met, and any additional assurances that the Secretary determines to be necessary to ensure compliance with the requirements of this subpart. 2373. Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $4,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2019 to carry out this subpart. .