H.R. 7340

Rebuild America’s Schools Act of 2026

Sponsor: Robert C. "Bobby" Scott

98 cosponsors
Follow this bill

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

Expand all

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

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

Sec. 603. Definitions

In this title:

(1) Pyrrhotite-affected school. The term pyrrhotite-affected school means an elementary school or a secondary school that meets the following criteria:

(A) The school has a concrete foundation.

(B) Pyrrhotite is present in the school’s concrete foundation, as demonstrated by a petrographic or other type of laboratory core analysis or core inspection.

(C) A visual inspection of the school’s concrete foundation indicates that the presence of pyrrhotite is causing the foundation to deteriorate at an unsafe rate.

(D) A qualified engineer determined that the deterioration of the school’s foundation, due to the presence of pyrrhotite—

(i) caused the school to become structurally unsound; or

(ii) will result in the school becoming structurally unsound within the next five years.

(2) Qualified contractor. The term qualified contractor means a contractor who is qualified under State law, or approved by any State agency or other State-sanctioned independent or nonprofit entity, to repair or replace residential or commercial building foundations that are deteriorating due to the presence of pyrrhotite.