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

IV REPORTS AND OTHER MATTERS

Sec. 401. Comptroller General report

(a) In general. Not later than 2 years after the date on which the majority of States receiving allocations under section 102 have made grants to local educational agencies under section 103, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the projects carried out with covered funds.

(b) Elements. The report under subsection (a) shall include an assessment of—

(1) State activities, including—

(A) criteria used by each State to determine high-need students and facilities for purposes of the projects carried out with covered funds; and

(B) whether the State issued new regulations to ensure the health and safety of students and staff during construction or renovation projects or to ensure safe, healthy, and high-performing school buildings;

(2) the types of projects carried out with covered funds, including—

(A) the square footage of the improvements made with covered funds;

(B) the total cost of each such project; and

(C) the costs of the project disaggregated by the costs for planning, design, construction, site purchase, and improvements;

(3) the geographic distribution of the projects;

(4) an assessment of the impact of selected projects (as identified by the Secretary) on the health and safety of school staff and students; and

(5) how the Secretary or States could make covered funds more accessible—

(A) to schools with the highest numbers and percentages of students counted under section 1124(c) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6333(c)); and

(B) to schools with fiscal challenges in raising capital for school infrastructure projects.

(c) Updates. The Comptroller General shall update and resubmit the report under this section to the appropriate congressional committees—

(1) on a date that is between 5 and 6 years after the date of the submittal of the first report under this section; and

(2) on a date that is between 10 and 11 years after the date of the submittal of such first report.

V IMPACT AID CONSTRUCTION

VI ASSISTANCE FOR REPAIR OF SCHOOL FOUNDATIONS AFFECTED BY PYRRHOTITE