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. 104. Annual report on grant program

(a) In general. Not later than September 30 of each fiscal year beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the projects carried out with funds made available under this title.

(b) Elements. The report under subsection (a) shall include, with respect to the fiscal year preceding the year in which the report is submitted, the following:

(1) An identification of each local educational agency that received a grant under this title.

(2) With respect to each such agency, a description of—

(A) the demographic composition of the student population served by the agency, disaggregated by—

(i) race;

(ii) the number and percentage of students counted under section 1124(c) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6333(c)); and

(iii) the number and percentage of students who are eligible for a free or reduced price lunch under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.);

(B) the population density of the geographic area served by the agency;

(C) the projects for which the agency used the grant received under this title, described using measurements of school facility quality from the most recent available version of the Common Education Data Standards published by the National Center for Education Statistics;

(D) the demonstrable or expected benefits of the projects, including any improvements—

(i) to conditions for health, safety, and learning; and

(ii) to school facilities with respect to energy and water efficiency, resilience, reduced carbon emissions, and climate mitigation;

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

(F) the total cost of each such project—

(i) in total; and

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

(G) the estimated number of jobs created by the projects;

(H) of the total number of contracts awarded under the project, the percentage of such contracts that were awarded to certified small businesses, minority-owned businesses, veteran-owned businesses, and women-owned businesses; and

(I)

(i) the total dollar value of contracts awarded under the project to certified small businesses, minority-owned businesses, veteran-owned businesses, and women-owned businesses, respectively; and

(ii) the total dollar value of contracts awarded under the project to all such businesses combined.

(3) The total dollar amount of all grants received by local educational agencies under this title.

(c) LEA information collection. A local educational agency that receives a grant under this title shall—

(1) annually compile the information described in subsection (b)(2);

(2) make the information available to the public, including by posting the information on a publicly accessible agency website; and

(3) submit the information to the State.

(d) State information distribution. A State that receives information from a local educational agency under subsection (c) shall—

(1) compile the information and report it annually to the Secretary at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may require;

(2) make the information available to the public, including by posting the information on a publicly accessible State website; and

(3) regularly distribute the information to local educational agencies and Tribal governments in the State.

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