Green Ribbon Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9467 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 9467

   To strengthen and expand the Green Ribbon Schools Program at the
   Department of Education by boosting the capacity of participating
   States to expand the number of schools, applicants, and nominees
engaged around environmental, environmental literacy, and environmental
                 health goals, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 25, 2026

   Mrs. Hayes (for herself, Ms. Norton, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr.
  Magaziner, and Ms. Tlaib) introduced the following bill; which was
          referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

   To strengthen and expand the Green Ribbon Schools Program at the
   Department of Education by boosting the capacity of participating
   States to expand the number of schools, applicants, and nominees
engaged around environmental, environmental literacy, and environmental
                 health goals, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Green Ribbon Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. GREEN RIBBON SCHOOLS PROGRAM.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) ESEA definitions.--The terms ``elementary school'',
        ``local educational agency'', ``secondary school'',
        ``Secretary'', and ``State educational agency'' have the
        meanings given the terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and
        Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
            (2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means an
        elementary school, secondary school, school funded or operated
        by the Bureau of Indian Education, local educational agency, or
        institution of higher education.
            (3) Environmentally literate.--The term ``environmentally
        literate'', when used with respect to an individual, means the
        capacity to--
                    (A) perceive and interpret the relative health of
                environmental systems and the interrelationships
                between natural, economic, and social systems and
                technology; and
                    (B) assess options and take appropriate action to
                maintain, restore, or improve the health of the
                environmental systems and promote sustainable
                development.
            (4) Green ribbon pillars.--The term ``Green Ribbon
        pillars'' means the following 3 interrelated aspirational
        goals:
                    (A) 100 percent of the graduates of the eligible
                entity or the schools served by the eligible entity are
                environmentally literate.
                    (B) The environmental impacts of the eligible
                entity's buildings, grounds, and operations are
                targeting significant emission reductions with a long-
                term goal of 100 percent reduction.
                    (C) The eligible entity has a net positive impact
                on the environmental health of its students and staff.
            (5) Green ribbon school award winner.--The term ``Green
        Ribbon School award winner'' means an eligible entity that has
        received an award of recognition from the Department of
        Education for high performance in making progress toward all 3
        of the Green Ribbon pillars, in accordance with subsection
        (b)(4).
            (6) Institution of higher education.--The term
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the
        term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
        U.S.C. 1001).
    (b) Green Ribbon School Program of the Department of Education.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct a program,
        which shall be known as the ``Green Ribbon Schools Program'',
        to reach and engage more schools by--
                    (A) encouraging eligible entities to implement the
                Green Ribbon pillars;
                    (B) recognizing high performance in the Green
                Ribbon pillars by eligible entities, through voluntary
                partnership with States;
                    (C) increasing the number of participating local
                educational agencies and schools that are receiving
                resources from the program, including those not
                pursuing an award on the date of enactment of this Act;
                    (D) engaging with public and private stakeholders
                to maximize positive impact; and
                    (E) supporting schools in implementing measures to
                reduce energy and water use and costs, increase
                resilience, increase environmental literacy, and
                improve indoor air and other conditions for health and
                wellness.
            (2) Update.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the
                date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall
                conduct a review and update the criteria for the Green
                Ribbon school award winner program, including scoring,
                which shall include--
                            (i) ensuring that health and wellness
                        criteria align with programs of the
                        Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers
                        for Disease Control and Prevention and are
                        associated with benefitting student health,
                        thinking, and the ability to learn;
                            (ii) ensuring that environmental criteria
                        emphasize the role of schools in mitigating and
                        adapting to climate change, including school
                        resiliency to natural disasters; and
                            (iii) ensuring that environmental and
                        sustainability literacy criteria encourage
                        applicants to identify methods of assessment of
                        student knowledge and skills and set goals for
                        literacy among graduates.
                    (B) Federal register.--The Secretary shall publish
                in the Federal Register the final updated criteria for
                the Green Ribbon school award winner program and shall
                allow for, and address, any public comments related to
                the updated criteria.
            (3) Grants and awards.--In conducting the Green Ribbon
        Schools Program, the Secretary shall, from the amounts made
        available to carry out this Act--
                    (A) reserve not less than $250,000 for the
                Secretary of the Interior to carry out the activities
                under subsection (c)(7) with respect to schools
                operated or funded by the Bureau of Indian Education;
                    (B) award grants to State educational agencies
                under subsection (c); and
                    (C) provide an honorarium to each Green Ribbon
                School award winner in an amount equal to $10,000,
                subject to appropriations.
            (4) Studies, research, and surveys.--The Secretary may
        conduct studies, research, and surveys to inform the Green
        Ribbon Schools Program.
            (5) Green ribbon school awards.--Each year, regardless of
        whether funds are available for the honoraria described in
        paragraph (2)(C), the Secretary shall--
                    (A) establish a process through which--
                            (i) State educational agencies may nominate
                        eligible entities for recognition of high
                        performance in making progress toward all 3 of
                        the Green Ribbon pillars; and
                            (ii) the Secretary of the Interior,
                        operating through the Bureau of Indian
                        Education, may nominate eligible entities that
                        are schools operated or funded by the Bureau
                        for such recognition; and
                    (B) award the Green Ribbon School award to
                nominated eligible entities that the Secretary
                determines have shown high performance in making
                progress toward all 3 of the Green Ribbon pillars.
            (6) Consultation.--The Secretary shall consult with the
        Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the
        Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to
        align the Green Ribbon Schools Program with the science on
        school environments and school health cited by the
        Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease
        Control and Prevention.
            (7) Reports.--
                    (A) Annual reports.--
                            (i) In general.--Not later than November 1,
                        2027, and annually thereafter, the Secretary
                        shall publish a report describing the Green
                        Ribbon Schools Program of the prior fiscal
                        year.
                            (ii) Content of annual reports.--Each
                        annual report described in clause (i) shall--
                                    (I) describe the activities and
                                outcomes of the Department of Education
                                and State grant award winners,
                                including the uses of grant funds to
                                reach and engage additional schools,
                                and the successes and challenges of the
                                Green Ribbon Schools Program;
                                    (II) describe the plan of State
                                grant award winners to extend
                                opportunities to become a Green Ribbon
                                School award winner to schools that are
                                eligible to receive funds under part A
                                of title I of the Elementary and
                                Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
                                U.S.C. 6311 et seq.) or other schools
                                that are low-income schools, schools in
                                disadvantaged or rural or remote
                                communities, or schools that serve a
                                significant number of students with
                                disabilities; and
                                    (III) provide a proposed plan for
                                the following year.
                    (B) Biannual reports.--Not later than November 1,
                2028, and biannually thereafter, the Secretary shall
                publish a report describing key programs and policies
                of each State in supporting its schools in making
                progress toward all 3 of the Green Ribbon pillars.
    (c) State Grant Program.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall award grants to State
        educational agencies, on a competitive basis, for the purpose
        of supporting and engaging eligible entities as green schools.
            (2) Applications.--A State educational agency that desires
        to receive a grant under this subsection shall submit an
        application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and
        accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require,
        including an assurance that the agency will--
                    (A) expend not less than 40 percent of the grant
                funds to support underresourced schools; and
                    (B) provide documentation to the Secretary
                demonstrating compliance with the requirement under
                subparagraph (A).
            (3) Criteria.--In selecting grant recipients under this
        subsection, the Secretary shall consider the State educational
        agency's proposed program or program expansion in terms of--
                    (A) the projected impact and proposed impact
                metrics;
                    (B) the incorporation of specific activities to
                ensure underresourced eligible entities benefit and
                have opportunities to participate;
                    (C) the extent to which stakeholders and
                partnerships are included;
                    (D) innovative approaches to scaling green school
                practices and learning;
                    (E) the engagement of past award winners in the
                program, including as mentors or advisors to other
                eligible entities; and
                    (F) other criteria as may be identified by the
                Secretary.
            (4) Amount of grants.--In carrying out this subsection, the
        Secretary may determine the amount of each grant award, except
        that no grant award shall be for an amount that is less than
        $250,000 nor more than $1,000,000.
            (5) Time period.--Grant funds awarded under this subsection
        shall be available for use by the grant awardee for not more
        than 3 years.
            (6) Allowed uses.--A State educational agency that receives
        a grant under this subsection shall use the grant funds to
        increase and support eligible entities in becoming Green Ribbon
        School award winners, including by--
                    (A) establishing State-level Green Ribbon awards
                and recognition events;
                    (B) working in partnership with nonprofit green
                school organizations and other organizations,
                utilities, businesses, and other State and local
                governmental entities to inform, educate, and support
                eligible entities regarding actions to make progress
                toward all 3 of the Green Ribbon pillars;
                    (C) using resources from the Department of
                Education and its green schools partners, as
                appropriate, to curate and disseminate resources about
                best green school practices and provide statewide
                training and professional development in the Green
                Ribbon pillars;
                    (D) utilizing innovative ways to promote--
                            (i) the implementation of green school
                        practices; and
                            (ii) the Green Ribbon Schools Program and
                        any State-level Green Ribbon schools program;
                        and
                    (E) providing statewide training and professional
                development in the Green Ribbon pillars.

SEC. 3. INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES GREEN RIBBON AWARD
              PROGRAM.

    (a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to develop and
implement a Green Ribbon award program for nonformal learning
institutions at the Institute of Museum and Library Services in order
to recognize and help advance excellence in the greening of nonformal
learning institutions.
    (b) Definition.--In this section, the term ``nonformal learning
institutions'' includes public and private libraries, museums,
arboretums, botanical gardens, nature centers, historical societies,
historic preservation organizations, history museums, science and
technology centers, planetariums, children's museums, art museums,
general museums, natural history museums, natural science museums,
zoos, aquariums, and wildlife conservation centers.
    (c) Establishment.--Consistent with section 209 of the Museum and
Library Services Act (20 U.S.C. 9107), the Director of the Institute of
Museum and Library Services shall establish an award program for
nonformal learning institutions modeled on the Department of
Education's Green Ribbon Schools Program. The award program shall
recognize and honor nonformal learning institutions that demonstrate
high achievement in all 3 of the following goals:
            (1) Ensuring that their visitors are exposed through
        multiple learning modes to locally relevant information to
        advance understanding of the interconnection of the natural
        environment, built environment, and quality of life.
            (2) Significantly reducing their net environmental and
        carbon footprints, while using their own built and natural
        environment as a learning laboratory and a model of best
        practice for their host community.
            (3) Ensuring their institution has a net positive
        environmental impact on visitor and staff health.
    (d) Award.--The Director of the Institute of Museum and Library
Services shall provide each national award winner under this section
with an honorarium of $10,000.
    (e) Consultation.--The Director of the Institute of Museum and
Library Services shall consult with the Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency and the Director of the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention to align the award program under this
section with the science on school health studied by the Environmental
Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

SEC. 4. OFFICE OF SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE AND SUSTAINABILITY WITHIN THE
              OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF EDUCATION.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established within the Office of the
Secretary of Education, the Office of School Infrastructure and
Sustainability that shall be composed of 3 full-time employees.
    (b) Purpose.--The Office of School Infrastructure and
Sustainability shall--
            (1) direct content and programming of a technical
        assistance center for school infrastructure;
            (2) liaise with partner Federal agencies that have
        programs, grants, and equities in school facilities, promote
        the National Clearinghouse's resources to schools, provide
        robust technical assistance to partner Federal agencies, local
        educational agencies, and State educational agencies, and
        oversee, promote, and expand the recognition award for the
        Green Ribbon Schools Program;
            (3) provide technical assistance, training, and, subject to
        appropriations, grants to State educational agencies and local
        educational agencies on issues related to educational facility
        planning, design, financing, construction, improvement,
        operation, and maintenance, including green building design and
        operation practices consistent with a commitment to tackling
        the climate crisis;
            (4) develop resources and assemble best practices on issues
        related to ensuring equitable access to healthy, educationally
        adequate, and environmentally and fiscally sustainable public
        school facilities and grounds;
            (5) recommend revisions to regulations of the Department of
        Education that pertain to school construction and renovation;
        and
            (6) consult with Federal agencies to ensure peer-reviewed
        recommendations and resources are incorporated into the work of
        the Office of School Infrastructure and Sustainability.
    (c) Appropriation.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry
out this section $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2027.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry
out this Act (except for section 4) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2027
and such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2028 through
2032.
    (b) Reservations.--The Secretary--
            (1) shall reserve 10 percent of the amount appropriated
        under subsection (a) to carry out section 3; and
            (2) may reserve not more than 5 percent of the amount
        appropriated to carry out this Act for a fiscal year for
        administrative expenses.
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