,i  #aac? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #hbb  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(            
,,repres5tatives  ,febru>y #bf1 #bjac   
,mr4 ,van ,holl5 7= himself1 ,mr4       
,petri1 & ,mr4 ,walz7 introduc$ ! foll[+
 bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on  
,education & ! ,work=ce  ,a ,,bill  ,to 
improve & exp& geographic lit]acy among 
k9d]g>t5 ?r\gh grade #ab /ud5ts 9 !     
,unit$ ,/ates by improv+ pr(essional    
developm5t programs = k9d]g>t5 ?r\gh    
grade #ab tea*]s (f]$ ?r\gh in/itutions 
( high] education4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is
 ,act may be cit$ z ! ,tea*+ ,geography 
is ,fundam5tal ,act4  #b4 ,geography    
education ,title ,,ii ( ! ,high]        
,education ,act ( #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4  
#ajba et seq47 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end
 ! foll[+3  ,d ,geography education     
#bga4 ,f9d+s ,congress makes ! foll[+   
f9d+s3  7#a7 ,! economic /ature &       
competitiv5ess ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates        
requires increas+ly sophi/icat$ levels (
 geographic k & ma/]y ( geographic      
tools4  7#b7 ,x is e/imat$ t ! ,unit$   

,/ates geospatial indu/ry g5]at$        
#gc1jjj1jjj1jjj 9 rev5ue la/ ye>1 ) half
 a million high-wage jobs1 & t ! indu/ry
 is gr[+ at betwe5 #be-cj p]c5t p] ye>4 
,?is burgeon+ indu/ry w n be able to    
maximize its gr[? pot5tial )\t a su/a9$ 
,f$]al inve/m5t 9 geography education4  
7#c7 ,a #bjab report by a ,c\ncil on    
,=eign ,relations task =ce1 ,unit$      
,/ates ,education ,re=m & ,national     
,security1 /ates t ! lack ( global      
aw>5ess among ,am]ican citiz5s          
increas+ly jeop>dizes _! ability to     
int]act ) local & global pe]s or        
p>ticipate mean+fully 9 bus9ess1        
diplomatic1 & milit>y situations4  7#d7 
,geographic lit]acy is ess5tial to a    
well prep>$ citiz5ry 9 ! #ba/ c5tury    
because geographic factors assume great]
 importance z ! _w's economies1         
societies1 & political /ructures gr[ m  
global 9 scale4  7#e7 ,! #bjaj ,national
 ,assessm5t ( ,educational ,progress 9  
geography %[s t few] ?an #cj p]c5t (    
/ud5ts te/$ 9 grades f\r1 eight1 &      

twelve scor$ at grade-level or above4   
,^! scores h /ay$ ! same or gott5 worse 
s9ce ! la/ "t ! te/ 0 adm9i/]$ 9 #bjja4 
7#f7 ,! ,national ,academy ( ,sci5ces   
urg$ creation ( a national program to   
improve ! geographic compet5ce ( !      
,unit$ ,/ates g5]al population & ! s*ool
 age population4  7#g7 ,geography is "o 
( ! core academic subjects def9$ "u !   
,elem5t>y & ,second>y ,education ,act4  
7#h7 ,a rec5t ,national ,geographic     
,society survey f\nd t all #ej ,/ates & 
! ,di/rict ( ,columbia recognize        
geography 9 _! curricula or cont5t      
/&>ds1 & an increas+ numb] require      
geography = graduation & include        
geography 9 m&at$ /atewide assessm5ts4  
7#i7 ,sev5 ( t5 educators respond+ to a 
,national ,geographic survey felt _!    
pr(essional developm5t opportunities 9  
geography 7 inadequate & half believ$ _!
 s*ools _h inadequate basic mat]ials =  
tea*+ geography4  7#aj7 ,! ,national    
,geographic ,society has sp5t m ?an #be 
ye>s pione]+ an extraord9>ily effective 

national program = improv+ ! tea*+ (    
geography by engag+ univ]sity faculty1  
geograph]s1 & highly tra9$ tea*]s 9     
,/ate ,geographic ,alliances d$icat$ to 
provid+ high-quality pr(essional        
developm5t opportunities = k9d]g>t5     
?r\gh grade #ab tea*]s4  7#aa7 ,m ?an   
#hj colleges & univ]sities 9 all #ej    
,/ates h receiv$ grants f ! ,national   
,geographic ,society to support ,/ate   
,geographic ,alliances & _! pr(essional 
developm5t programs4 ,alliance-tra9$    
k9d]g>t5 ?r\gh grade #ab tea*]s & _!    
high] education p>tn]s conduct work%ops1
 develop localiz$ tea*+ mat]ials1 &     
facilitate communication among ?\s&s (  
tea*]s ^: responsibilities include tea*+
 ( geography 9 v>i\s =mats & grade      
levels4  7#ab7 ,a /udy by ,mid-cont95t  
,rese>* = ,education & ,le>n+ t assess$ 
/ud5t academic a*ievem5t 9 geography on 
! ,national ,assessm5t ( ,educational   
,progress %[$ t /ud5ts taught by        
,alliance-tra9$ tea*]s out-p]=m$ o!r    
/ud5ts by almo/ #aj p]c5t4  7#ac7 ,we   

live 9 a *ang+ _w ) multiple & evolv+   
?reats to national security1 includ+    
t]rorism1 asymmetrical w>f>e1 & social  
unre/4 ,z ! nature ( ! ?reat evolves1 s 
d ! tools1 k1 & skills ne$$ to respond4 
,a #bjac ,national ,academies report    
/ates t x is likely t qualifi$          
,geography ,in=mation ,sy/ems & remote  
s5s+ exp]ts are already h>d to f9d4     
,long be=e #bjcj1 competition & a small 
numb] ( graduates w likely result 9     
%ortages 9 all em]g+ areas & 9 ! core   
areas ( c>tography1 photogammetry1 &    
geodesy4  #bgb4 ,purposes & objectives  
7a7 ,purpose ,! purpose ( ?is "p is to  
promote geographic lit]acy & improv$    
und]/&+ ( global cultures among k9d]g>t5
 ?r\gh grade #ab /ud5ts by exp&+        
programs t employ ! geographic k &      
exp]tise ( faculty memb]s 9 in/itutions 
( high] education = ! b5efit ( k9d]g>t5 
?r\gh grade #ab tea*]s & to o!rwise     
advance geographic lit]acy4  7b7        
,objectives ,! objectives ( ?is "p are !
 foll[+3  7#a7 ,to increase /ud5ts k (1 

& a*ievem5t 91 /&>ds-bas$ geography to  
enable ! /ud5ts to become bett] in=m$ & 
m productive citiz5s4  7#b7 ,to increase
 ! numb] ( highly qualifi$ tea*]s (     
,unit$ ,/ates & _w geography & to enable
 ! tea*]s to improve /ud5t ma/]y (      
geographic pr9ciples & practical        
applications ( ^? pr9ciples4  7#c7 ,to  
enc\rage geographic education rese>*1 to
 develop & dissem9ate effective         
in/ructional mat]ials1 & to promote     
replication ( be/ practices & exempl>y  
programs t fo/] geographic lit]acy4     
7#d7 ,to assi/ ,/ates 9 measur+ ! impact
 ( education 9 geography4  7#e7 ,to     
lev]age & exp& private & public support 
= geography education p>tn]%ips at      
national1 ,/ate1 & local levels4  #bgc4 
,grant program au?oriz$ ,! ,secret>y is 
au?oriz$ to aw>d a grant to a national  
nonpr(it educational organization or a  
consortium ( organizations 7h]eaft] 9   
?is "p ref]r$ to z ! grantee7 t has z   
its prim>y purpose ! improvem5t ( !     
quality ( /ud5t und]/&+ ( geography     

?r\gh effective tea*+ ( geography 9 !   
,nation's classrooms4  #bgd4 ,use (     
funds  7a7 ,direct activities ,! grantee
 %all use n m ?an #be p]c5t ( ! funds   
made available ?r\gh ! grant = a fiscal 
ye>--  7#a7 to /r5g!n & exp& ! grantee's
 relation%ips ) in/itutions ( high]     
education & ) ,/ate educational ag5cies 
& local educational ag5cies & o!r public
 & private organizations ) a commitm5t  
to geography education & ! b5efits (    
geography education2  7#b7 to support & 
promote rese>*-bas$ tra9+ ( tea*]s (    
geography & relat$ discipl9es 9 k9d]g>t5
 ?r\gh grade #ab z a means ( broad5+    
/ud5t k ( ! _w1 includ+ ! dissem9ation (
 in=mation on effective practices &     
rese>* f9d+s conc]n+ ! tea*+ (          
geography2  7#c7 to support rese>* on   
effective geography tea*+ practices & ! 
developm5t ( assessm5t in/rum5ts &      
/rategies to docum5t /ud5t und]/&+ (    
geography2  7#d7 to conv5e national     
conf]5ces on geography education to     
assess ! curr5t /ate ( geographic       

lit]acy & to id5tify /rategies =        
improvem5t2 &  7#e7 to develop &        
dissem9ate appropriate rese>*-bas$      
mat]ials to fo/] geographic lit]acy4    
7b7 ,subgrants  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! grantee
 %all use n m ?an #ge p]c5t ( ! funds   
made available ?r\gh ! grant = a fiscal 
ye> to aw>d subgrants to eligible       
recipi5ts4  7#b7 ,eligible recipi5t     
def9$ ,9 ?is "p ! t]m eligible recipi5t 
means an in/itution ( high] education   
associat$ )--  7,a7 a ,/ate geographic  
alliance2  7,b7 a nonpr(it educational  
organization2  7,c7 a ,/ate educational 
ag5cy or local educational ag5cy2 or    
7,d7 a p>tn]%ip betwe5 or among an      
alliance1 organization1 or ag5cy        
describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,a71 7,b7 or    
7,c74  7#c7 ,subgrant uses ( funds      
,eligible recipi5ts %all use ! subgrant 
funds = #a or m ( ! foll[+ purposes3    
7,a7 ,conduct+ tea*] tra9+ programs t   
use effective & rese>*-bas$ approa*es to
 ! tea*+ ( geography at ! k9d]g>t5 ?r\gh
 grade #ab level4  7,b7 ,apply+         

,geographic ,in=mation ,sy/em 7,,gis7 or
 o!r geographic te*nological tools to ! 
tea*+ ( geography4  7,c7 ,apply+        
,int]net & o!r di/ance le>n+ te*nology  
to ! tea*+ ( geography or to ! cont9u+  
education ( tea*]s4  7,d7 ,promot+      
rigor\s academic /&>ds & assessm5t      
te*niques to guide & measure /ud5t      
p]=mance 9 geography4  7,e7 ,promot+    
rese>* 9 geography education1 emphasiz+ 
rese>* t leads to improv+ /ud5t         
a*ievem5t4  7,f7 ,c>ry+ out local1      
field-bas$ activities = tea*]s & /ud5ts 
to improve _! k ( ! concepts & tools (  
geography :ile enhanc+ und]/&+ ( _! home
 region4  7,g7 ,promot+ comp>ative      
/udies ( _w cultures1 economies1 &      
environm5ts4  7,h7 ,enc\rag+ replication
 ( be/ practices & model programs to    
promote geographic lit]acy4  7,i7       
,develop+ & dissem9at+ effective1       
rese>*-bas$ geography le>n+ mat]ials4   
7,j7 ,conv5+ ,/ate-bas$ conf]5ces to    
assess ! /ate ( geographic lit]acy & to 
id5tify /rategies = improvem5t4  #bge4  

,applications  7a7 ,grantee applications
 ,to be eligible to receive a grant "u  
?is "p1 a grantee %all submit to !      
,secret>y an application at su* "t1 9   
su* mann]1 & accompani$ by su* in=mation
 z ! ,secret>y may require4  7b7        
,eligible recipi5t applications  7#a7   
,submission ,to be eligible to receive a
 subgrant "u ?is "p1 an eligible        
recipi5t %all submit an application to a
 grantee at su* "t1 9 su* mann] &       
accompani$ by su* in=mation z ! grantee 
may require4  7#b7 ,review  7,a7 ,9     
g5]al ,a grantee %all invite individuals
 describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,b7 to review  
all applications f eligible recipi5ts = 
a subgrant "u ?is section & to make     
recomm5dations to ! grantee reg>d+ !    
approval ( ! applications4  7,b7        
,review]s ,! individuals ref]r$ to 9    
subp>agraph 7,a7 are ! foll[+3  7i7     
,lead]s 9 ! field ( geography education4
  7ii7 ,su* o!r individuals z ! grantee 
may det]m9e are necess>y or desirable4  
#bgf4 ,requirem5ts  7a7 ,adm9i/rative   

co/s ,a grantee receiv+ a grant "u ?is  
"p = a fiscal ye>1 & ea* eligible       
recipi5t receiv+ a subgrant "u ?is "p = 
a fiscal ye>1 may use n m ?an #ae p]c5t 
( ! funds made available ?r\gh ! grant  
or subgrant1 respectively1 =            
adm9i/rative co/s4  7b7 ,mat*+          
requirem5ts  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,9 ord] to be
 eligible to receive a subgrant "u ?is  
"p an eligible recipi5t %all agree 9 !  
application submitt$ "u section #bge7;b7
 to provide mat*+ funds t[>ds ! co/s ( !
 activities assi/$ "u ! subgrant4  7#b7 
,am\nt ,an eligible recipi5t %all       
provide mat*+ funds 9 an am\nt equal to 
#bj p]c5t ( ! subgrant funds receiv$ "u 
?is "p = ! second & ea* succe$+ fiscal  
ye> = :i* subgrant paym5ts are made4    
7#c7 ,s\rce ( mat*+ funds ,mat*+ funds  
may be provid$ 9 ca% or 9 k9d1 fairly   
evaluat$1 includ+ facilities1 /aff+     
sal>ies1 & educational mat]ials4  #bgg4 
,au?orization ( appropriations ,!re are 
au?oriz$ to be appropriat$ to c>ry out  
?is "p #ae1jjj1jjj = fiscal ye> #bjad & 

ea* ( ! #d succe$+ fiscal ye>s4  4