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

Sec. 101. Purpose and reservation

(a) Purpose. Funds made available under this title shall be for the purpose of supporting long-term improvements to public school facilities in accordance with this Act.

(b) Reservation for outlying areas and bureau-Funded schools

(1) In general. For each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031, the Secretary shall reserve, from the amount appropriated to carry out this title—

(A) one-half of 1 percent, to make allocations to the outlying areas in accordance with paragraph (3); and

(B) one-half of 1 percent, for payments to the Secretary of the Interior to provide assistance to Bureau-funded schools.

(2) Use of reserved funds

(A) In general. Funds reserved under paragraph (1) shall be used in accordance with title III.

(B) Special rules for bureau-funded schools

(i) Applicability. The provisions of title III shall apply to a Bureau-funded school that receives assistance under paragraph (1)(B) in the same manner that such provisions apply to a qualified local educational agency that receives covered funds. The facilities of a Bureau-funded school shall be treated as public school facilities for purposes of the application of such provisions.

(ii) Treatment of tribally operated schools. The Secretary of the Interior shall provide assistance to Bureau-funded schools under paragraph (1)(B) without regard to whether such schools are operated by the Bureau of Indian Education or by an Indian Tribe. In the case of a Bureau-funded school that is a contract or grant school (as that term is defined in section 1141 of the Education Amendments of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 2021)) operated by an Indian Tribe, the Secretary of the Interior shall provide assistance under such paragraph to the Indian Tribe concerned.

(3) Allocation to outlying areas. From the amount reserved under paragraph (1)(A) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall allocate to each outlying area an amount in proportion to the amount received by the outlying area under part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311 et seq.) for the previous fiscal year relative to the total such amount received by all outlying areas for such previous fiscal year.

II School infrastructure bonds

III USES OF FUNDS

IV REPORTS AND OTHER MATTERS

V IMPACT AID CONSTRUCTION

VI ASSISTANCE FOR REPAIR OF SCHOOL FOUNDATIONS AFFECTED BY PYRRHOTITE