H.R. 7340

Rebuild America’s Schools Act of 2026

Sponsor: Robert C. "Bobby" Scott

98 cosponsors
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Official summary

Written by the Congressional Research Service.

Rebuild America's Schools Act of 2026

This bill provides support for long-term improvements to public elementary and secondary school facilities.

First, the bill sets forth allocations to states and establishes a need-based grant program for local educational agencies (LEAs) to improve school facilities. Further, the bill specifies allowable uses of grant funds, including carrying out major repairs, improving indoor air quality, and making facilities accessible to individuals with disabilities.

Additionally, the bill requires LEAs that receive funds for new construction, modernization, or renovation projects to comply with hazard-resistance building codes and performance criteria under the WaterSense program of the Environmental Protection Agency. Further, the bill requires such LEAs to adopt certain green practices (environmental standards) and requires the use of iron, steel, and manufactured products that are made in the United States (Buy America).

The bill restores school infrastructure tax credit bonds.

The bill also sets forth reporting requirements, including annual reports on grant program projects and a report by the Government Accountability Office that requires a study of the geographic distribution of projects, the impact of selected projects on student and staff health and safety, and the accessibility of projects to high-needs schools.

The bill also establishes the Office of School Infrastructure and Sustainability within the Department of Education.

Next, the bill extends through FY2031 the Impact Aid Construction program.

Finally, the bill establishes a grant program to assist LEAs with repairing or replacing concrete foundations affected by pyrrhotite (an iron sulfide material linked to crumbling foundations).

Text of the bill

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I GRANTS FOR THE LONG-TERM IMPROVEMENT OF PUBLIC SCHOOL FACILITIES

II School infrastructure bonds

III USES OF FUNDS

Sec. 304. Green practices

(a) In general. A local educational agency that uses covered funds for a new construction. modernization, or renovation project shall ensure that such project for new construction is certified, verified, or consistent with the applicable provisions of—

(1) the United States Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design green building rating standard (commonly known as the LEED Green Building Rating System);

(2) the Living Building Challenge developed by the International Living Future Institute;

(3) a green building rating program developed by the Collaborative for High-Performance Schools (commonly known as CHPS) that is CHPS-verified;

(4) the Green Building Initiative Green Globes rating system; or

(5) a program that—

(A) has standards that are equivalent to or more stringent than the standards of a program described in paragraphs (1) through (4);

(B) is adopted by the State or another jurisdiction with authority over the agency; and

(C) includes a verifiable method to demonstrate compliance with such program.

IV REPORTS AND OTHER MATTERS

V IMPACT AID CONSTRUCTION

VI ASSISTANCE FOR REPAIR OF SCHOOL FOUNDATIONS AFFECTED BY PYRRHOTITE