Legislation relevant to Higher Education
Higher Education Sustainability Act (HESA) – $50 million
Status: Enacted into law as part of the Higher Education Opportunity Act (PL 110-315), funds not yet appropriated
Details: Amends the Higher Education Act, providing for the University Sustainability Program (USP) at the Department of Education. Once funded, USP will offer competitive grants to higher education institutions and associations for development, implementation and evaluation of sustainability curricula, practices, and academic programs. The USP also directs the Department to convene a national summit on sustainability education by 2010.
Strategy: Lobby for HESA and USP to be funded as part of FY10 appropriations
American Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) – $750 million
Status: Enacted into law (PL 110-140), funds not yet appropriated
Details: Created the Grants and Loans to Institutional Entities for Energy Sustainability and Efficiency Program at the Department of Energy. Once funded, the program will offer $500M in loans and $250M in grants to colleges, public schools, and local governments for energy efficiency improvements and testing new techniques in energy efficiency and sustainable energy production. EISA was fully funded in both the House and Senate versions of the stimulus bill, only to be cut at the last minute by the conference committee.
Strategy: Lobby for EISA to be funded as part of FY10 appropriations
Education for a Green Economic Recovery Act (EAGER) – $1-4 billion annually
Status: Not yet introduced
Details: In 2008, Senators Murray (D-WA) and Snowe (R-ME) introduced an amendment (SA-4866) to the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act (S-3036) that would allocate 1-4% (or $1-4 billion per year) of carbon emissions permit auction proceeds to climate change education. Unfortunately, the bill died. Congressmen Doggett and Blumenauer also included a similar provision in their Climate Matters Act (HR-6316), which also died.
Senator Murray has drafted language for EAGER to be introduced as its own bill, including a comprehensive $500M spending plan that demonstrates how this funding can lead to a nation that supports and actively participates in a green economy.
Strategy: Gather endorsements from as many college and university Presidents and Chancellors as possible in advance of introduction.
NOAA, NASA & EPA Environmental Education Funding – $32.5 million
Status: Funded at FY08 level for first half of FY09 as part of continuing resolution
Details: Congress issued a continuing resolution, level funding all federal programs for at least the first six months of FY09. Thus, NOAA ($15M) and EPA ($9M) environmental education programs have been funded at current levels, and NASA’s new climate change education program ($8.5M) will likely continue.
Strategy: Lobby for EISA to be funded as part of FY10 appropriations
National Environmental Education Act (NEEA) -- $12 million annually
Status: Expired, requires reauthorization
Details: NEEA was first passed in 1990 and expired in 1996. Congress continued to fund NEEA programs at $9M annually, then $12M annually starting in 1992. Needs to be updated and reauthorized with a significant increase in funding.
Strategy: Lobby for NEEA to be funded as part of FY10 appropriations. Develop strategy for reauthorization.
Bay-Watershed Education and Training Act (BWET)
Status: Not yet introduced
Details: BWET codifies and expands NOAA’s Bay-Watershed Education and Training Program, a regionally-organized grant program which first focused on Chesapeake Bay and California, and now (after a successful CEL campaign in 2008) includes New England, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Pacific Northwest. CEL, NWF, and a coalition of Great Lakes environmental education stakeholder groups have drafted the bill and are currently discussing the draft with possible House and Senate champions.
Strategy: Identify and enroll House and Senate champions
Legislation Funding Opportunities
There are three major opportunities to secure funding in the near term:
• FY09 Omnibus Bill – In consideration now.
• FY10 Budget Appropriations – In progress now, and we will be
trying to get the University Sustainability Program (formerly HESA) is
funded as part of the FY10 budget. We will keep you posted on how you can
support this process as it progresses.
• Future Stimulus Bill(s) – Likely to be introduced in the next six months,
and we will continue to call for higher education funding as part of any
stimulus bills.
Key Contacts
Anthony Cortese, President of Second Nature
acortese@secondnature.org | (617) 224-1610
James L. Elder, Director of the Campaign for Environmental Literacy
elder@fundEE.org | (978) 526-7768
Resources
Policy Alert Archives
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