,,ii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bjbd ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,june #bg1 #bjai ,mr4 ,cornyn 7for himself and ,mr4 ,coons7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife to improve the ,american ,history for ,freedom grant program4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,understanding and ,studying ,american ,civics ,act of #bjai or the ,,usa ,civics ,act of #bjai4 #b4 ,american ,civics ,education ,program ,section #hje of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #aafa;e7 is amended-- 7#a7 in the section heading1 by striking history for freedom and inserting civics education program2 7#b7 in subsection 7a7-- 7,a7 by striking subsection 7f7 and inserting subsection 7g72 7,b7 by striking the ,secretary is authorized to award three-year grants1 on a competitive basis1 and inserting the ,secretary is authorized to award grants1 once every #c years and on a competitive basis12 7,c7 by striking paragraph 7#a7 and inserting the following3 7#a7 ,american political thought and history2 2 7,d7 in paragraph 7#b7 by striking or after the semicolon2 7,e7 by striking paragraph 7#c7 and inserting the following3 7#c7 the history1 achievements1 and impact of ,american representative democracy and constitutional democracies globally2 or 2 and 7,f7 by adding at the end the following3 7#d7 the means of participation in political and civic life4 2 7#c7 in subsection 7b7-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#a71 by striking as defined in section #aja4 and inserting 1 or a partnership that includes an institution of higher education and one or more nonprofit organizations1 whose missions and demonstrated expertise are consistent with the purpose of this section42 7,b7 in paragraph 7#b71 by striking that emerged and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting founded on the principles of representative democracy1 constitutional government1 individual rights1 market economics1 religious freedom and religious tolerance1 and freedom of thought and inquiry42 and 7,c7 by striking paragraph 7#c7 and inserting the following3 7#c7 ,american political thought and history ,the term ,american political thought and history means-- 7,a7 the significant constitutional1 political1 intellectual1 economic1 social1 and foreign policy trends and issues that have shaped the course of ,american history2 and 7,b7 the key episodes1 turning points1 texts1 and figures involved in the constitutional1 political1 intellectual1 diplomatic1 social1 and economic history of the ,united ,states4 2 7#d7 in subsection 7c77#b7-- 7,a7 in subparagraph 7,a71 by striking traditional and all that follows through the semicolon and inserting ,american political thought and history1 free institutions1 the impact of ,american representative democracy and constitutional democracies globally1 or the means of participation in political and civic life22 and 7,b7 in subparagraph 7,b71 by inserting 1 which may include the creation or use of open educational resources after subsection 7e77#a77;,b72 7#e7 in subsection 7d7-- 7,a7 by striking paragraph 7#a7 and inserting the following3 7#a7 increase access to quality programming that expands knowledge of ,american political thought and history1 free institutions1 the impact of ,american representative democracy and constitutional democracies globally1 or the means of participation in political and civic life2 2 and 7,b7 in paragraph 7#b71 by striking traditional ,american history1 free institutions1 or ,western civilization and inserting ,american political thought and history1 free institutions1 the impact of ,american representative democracy and constitutional democracies globally1 or the means of participation in political and civic life42 7#f7 by striking subsection 7e7 and inserting the following3 7e7 ,use of funds 7#a7 ,required use of funds ,funds provided under this section shall be used-- 7,a7 to establish or strengthen academic programs or centers focused on ,american political thought and history1 free institutions1 the impact of ,american representative democracy and constitutional democracies globally1 or the means of participation in political and civic life1 which may include-- 7i7 design and implementation of programs of study1 courses1 lecture series1 seminars1 and symposia2 7ii7 development1 publication1 and dissemination of instructional materials2 7iii7 research2 7iv7 support for faculty teaching in undergraduate and1 if applicable1 graduate programs2 or 7v7 support for graduate and postgraduate fellowships1 if applicable2 or 7,b7 for teacher preparation initiatives that stress content mastery regarding ,american political thought and history1 free institutions1 the impact of ,american representative democracy and constitutional democracies globally1 or the means of participation in political and civic life2 7,c7 for collaboration with local educational agencies for the purpose of providing elementary school and secondary school teachers an opportunity to enhance their knowledge of ,american political thought and history1 free institutions1 the impact of ,american representative democracy and constitutional democracies globally1 or the means of participation in political and civic life2 and 7,d7 to conduct outreach activities to ensure that information about the activities funded under this section is widely disseminated-- 7i7 to undergraduate students 7including students enrolled in teacher education programs1 if applicable72 7ii7 to graduate students 7including students enrolled in teacher education programs1 if applicable72 7iii7 to faculty2 7iv7 to local educational agencies2 and 7v7 within the local community4 7#b7 ,allowable uses of funds ,funds provided under this section may be used to support-- 7,a7 collaboration with entities such as-- 7i7 nonprofit organizations whose missions and demonstrated expertise are consistent with the purpose of this section1 for assistance in carrying out activities described under subsection 7a72 and 7ii7 ,federal or ,state humanities programs1 which may include those funded by the ,national ,endowment for the ,humanities2 7,b7 the creation and use of open educational resources on ,american political thought and history1 free institutions1 or the impact of ,american representative democracy and constitutional democracies globally1 or the means of participation in political and civic life2 and 7,c7 other activities that meet the purposes of this section4 2 7#g7 by redesignating subsection 7f7 as subsection 7g72 7#h7 in subsection 7g71 as redesignated by paragraph 7#g71 by striking #bjji and inserting #bjbj2 and 7#i7 by inserting after subsection 7e7 the following3 7f7 ,rule of construction ,nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize the ,secretary to prescribe an ,american political thought and history curriculum4 4