,,ii #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #dcgg ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,april #bb1 #bjbf,mr4 ,markey 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,blumenthal1 ,mr4 ,booker1 ,ms4 ,hirono1 ,mr4 ,merkley1 ,mr4 ,sanders1 ,mr4 ,schiff1 ,mr4 ,van ,hollen1 and ,ms4 ,warren7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to require the ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration to establish a ,climate ,change ,education ,program1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,climate ,change ,education ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress makes the following findings3 7#a7 ,the evidence for human-induced climate change is overwhelming and undeniable4 7#b7 ,according to the ,fifth ,national ,climate ,assessment1 atmospheric carbon can be significantly reduced through conservation1 by shifting to renewable energy sources such as solar1 wind1 tidal1 and geothermal1 and by increasing the efficiency of buildings1 including domiciles1 and transportation4 7#c7 ,providing clear information about climate change1 in a variety of forms1 can remove the fear and the sense of helplessness and encourage individuals and communities to take action4 7#d7 ,implementation of measures that promote energy efficiency1 conservation1 and renewable energy will greatly reduce human impacts on the environment4 7#e7 ,informing people of new technologies and programs as they become available will ensure maximum understanding and maximum effect of those measures4 7#f7 ,more than #c1ejj1jjj students graduate from high schools and colleges in the ,united ,states each year1 armed with attitudes1 skills1 and knowledge about the climate that inform their actions4 7#g7 ,the effect on the climate1 positive or negative1 of each of those #c1ejj1jjj students lasts beyond a lifetime4 7#h7 ,those students need to be prepared to implement changes in professional and personal practices1 to support and help develop new technology and policy1 and to address the coming social and economic challenges and opportunities arising from a changing climate4 7#i7 ,it has been demonstrated that the people of the ,united ,states overwhelmingly support teaching students about the causes1 consequences1 and potential solutions to climate change in all #ej ,states and more than #c1jjj counties across the ,united ,states4 7#aj7 ,only #cj percent of middle school science teachers and #de percent of high school science teachers understand the extent of the scientific consensus on climate change4 7#aa7 ,section #djjb7;a7 of the ,america ,,competes ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #hic;a7a77 requires the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration to conduct1 develop1 support1 promote1 and coordinate formal and informal educational activities at all levels4 7#ab7 ,the existing ,environmental ,literacy ,program of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration was established in #bjje by the ,bush administration as a backbone to an agency effort to advance sound environmental education for children and adults4 7#ac7 ,expanding the popular ,environmental ,literacy ,program 7less than #e percent of applications in #bjbj received funding7 to include climate education for professional educators and students is within the established expertise of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration and will effectively leverage critical resources for foundational learning and career preparation4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,climate change education ,the term climate change education means nonformal and formal interdisciplinary learning at all age levels about-- 7,a7 climate change1 climate adaptation and mitigation1 climate resilience1 and climate justice2 and 7,b7 the effects of climate change1 climate adaptation and mitigation1 climate resilience1 and climate justice on the environmental1 energy1 social1 and economic systems of the ,united ,states4 7#b7 ,climate justice ,the term climate justice means the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people1 regardless of race1 color1 culture1 national origin1 or income1 with respect to the development1 implementation1 and enforcement of policies and projects to ensure that each person enjoys the same degree of protection from the adverse effects of climate change4 7#c7 ,climate literacy ,the term climate literacy means competence or knowledge of climate change1 its causes and impacts1 and the technical1 scientific1 economic1 and social dynamics of promising solutions4 7#d7 ,environmental justice ,the term environmental justice means the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people1 regardless of race1 color1 culture1 national origin1 or income1 with respect to the development1 implementation1 and enforcement of environmental laws1 regulations1 and policies to ensure that each person enjoys-- 7,a7 the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards2 and 7,b7 equal access to any ,federal agency action on environmental justice issues in order to have a healthy environment in which to live1 learn1 work1 and recreate4 7#e7 ,environmental justice community ,the term environmental justice community means a community with significant representation of communities of color1 low-income communities1 or ,tribal and indigenous communities that experiences1 or is at risk of experiencing1 higher or more adverse human health or environmental effects as compared to other communities4 7#f7 ,green economy ,the term green economy means an economy that results in improved human and economic well-being and social equity by significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities4 7#g7 ,institution of higher education ,the term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section #aja of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja74 7#h7 ,local educational agency2 ,state educational agency ,the terms local educational agency and ,state educational agency have the meanings given those terms in section #haja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja74 7#i7 ,nonformal ,the term nonformal means1 with respect to learning1 out-of-school educational programming carried out by nonprofit organizations and public agencies4 7#aj7 ,nonprofit organization ,the term nonprofit organization means an organization described in section #eja7;c77#c7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf and exempt from taxation under section #eja7;a7 of that ,code4 #d4 ,climate ,change ,education ,program ,not later than #a year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration shall establish a ,climate ,change ,education ,program within the ,office of ,education of the ,administration to-- 7#a7 increase the climate literacy of the ,united ,states by broadening the understanding of climate change1 including possible long-term and short-term consequences1 disproportionate impacts of those consequences1 and potential solutions2 7#b7 apply the latest scientific and technological discoveries1 including through the use of the scientific assets of the ,administration1 to provide formal and nonformal learning opportunities to individuals of all ages1 including individuals of diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds2 and 7#c7 emphasize actionable information to help people understand and promote implementation of new technologies1 jobs1 career training1 programs1 and incentives related to climate change1 climate adaptation and mitigation1 climate resilience1 climate justice1 and environmental justice4 #e4 ,grants and cooperative agreements 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 as part of the ,climate ,change ,education ,program established under section #d1 the ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration shall establish a program to award grants to1 or establish cooperative agreements with1 the following3 7#a7 ,state educational agencies1 in partnership with local educational agencies and local nonprofit organizations1 and1 subject to subsection 7c71 local educational agencies-- 7,a7 for the development and implementation of aspects of climate literacy plans for grades #d through #ab formal and nonformal climate change education that-- 7i7 are aligned with ,state education standards2 and 7ii7 ensure that students graduate from high school with climate literacy2 and 7,b7 for the implementation of projects that-- 7i7 in the case of ,state educational agencies1 include-- 7,i7 relevant training and professional development for educators1 which may include tiered mentorship frameworks2 7,,ii7 integration of key climate change concepts into ,state education standards for science1 technology1 engineering1 and mathematics 7,,stem71 civics and social studies1 career and technical education1 and other relevant subject areas during the next revision of such standards2 7,,iii7 development of climate change education frameworks and model curricula and curation and dissemination of existing such frameworks and curricula2 7,,iv7 creation of applied learning project-based models1 particularly those that allow for student leadership in project development and applied field work1 such as models making optimum use of green features improvements1 such as low-cost environmental monitoring sensors1 to school facilities such as energy systems1 lighting systems1 food systems1 water management systems1 waste management systems1 and school grounds2 and 7,v7 incorporation of climate change mitigation and green technologies into new and existing high-quality career and technical education career pathways and work-based learning experiences in high-demand climate-related jobs1 including development of partnerships with labor organizations1 trade organizations1 and apprenticeship programs2 and 7ii7 in the case of local educational agencies-- 7,i7 develop1 modify1 or implement district-level plans to advance climate change education that consider facilities1 curriculum1 environmental health1 professional development for educators1 student experiences1 and equity2 and 7,,ii7 support community partnerships among local educational agencies1 nonformal education providers1 community-based organizations1 and other partners to advance climate change education priorities4 7#b7 ,institutions of higher education and networks or partnerships of such institutions to engage teams of faculty and students to develop applied climate research and deliver to local communities direct services related to local climate mitigation and adaptation issues1 with priority given to projects that-- 7,a7 foster long-term campus-community partnerships2 7,b7 show potential to scale work beyond the term of the grant or cooperative agreement2 7,c7 involve significant student input in the project development process2 7,d7 are inclusive for all segments of the population2 and 7,e7 promote equitable and just outcomes4 7#c7 ,professional associations and academic disciplinary societies for projects that build capacity at the ,state and national levels for continuing education by practicing professionals and the general public in green economy fields4 7#d7 ,youth corps organizations to engage in community-based climate mitigation and adaptation work that includes a substantive educational component4 7b7 ,communities of practice ,the ,climate ,change ,education ,program shall establish communities of practice with respect to each of paragraphs 7#a7 through 7#d7 of subsection 7a7 in order to accelerate learning4 7c7 ,local educational agencies ,the ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration may not award a grant to1 or establish a cooperative agreement with1 a local educational agency in any fiscal year under paragraph 7#a7 of subsection 7a7 unless amounts appropriated for grants and cooperative agreements under such subsection for that fiscal year exceed #e1jjj1jjj4 7d7 ,allocation of amounts 7#a7 ,in general ,except as provided in paragraph 7#b71 amounts appropriated for grants and cooperative agreements under subsection 7a7 shall be allocated as follows3 7,a7 #ej percent for grants and cooperative agreements under paragraph 7#a7 of such subsection4 7,b7 #cj percent for grants and cooperative agreements under paragraph 7#b7 of such subsection4 7,c7 #aj percent for grants and cooperative agreements under paragraph 7#c7 of such subsection4 7,d7 #aj percent for grants and cooperative agreements under paragraph 7#d7 of such subsection4 7#b7 ,exception ,if amounts appropriated for grants and cooperative agreements under subsection 7a7 do not exceed #e1jjj1jjj in any fiscal year1 the ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration may use in that fiscal year-- 7,a7 #fj percent of such amounts for grants and cooperative agreements under paragraph 7#a7 of such subsection2 and 7,b7 #dj percent of such amounts for grants and cooperative agreements under paragraph 7#b7 of such subsection4 7#c7 ,environmental justice communities #dj percent of all amounts allocated for grants and cooperative agreements under paragraphs 7#b7 and 7#d7 of subsection 7a7 shall be directed into environmental justice communities4 7e7 ,grant and cooperative agreement minimum ,if amounts appropriated for grants and cooperative agreements under subsection 7a7 exceed #e1jjj1jjj in any fiscal year1 any grant awarded to1 or cooperative agreement established with1 an entity under paragraph 7#a7 of such subsection shall provide the entity a minimum of #a1jjj1jjj in that fiscal year4 #f4 ,annual report ,not later than #b years after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 and annually thereafter1 the ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration shall submit to ,congress a report that evaluates the scientific merits1 educational effectiveness1 and broader effects of activities carried out under this ,act4 #g4 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration to carry out this ,act #ej1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbg through #bjcb4