Climate Change Education Act
Sponsored By: Senator Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would create a NOAA-led Climate Change Education Program to expand climate literacy and build green-economy pathways with an explicit focus on equity. It funds K–12 learning, college-community research, professional training, and youth corps work through four grant pathways and set allocation rules.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Grants for schools, colleges, and youth
If enacted, NOAA would run a grants program with four funding paths: K–12 (through State education agencies and partners), higher education and campus-community partnerships, professional associations for workforce training, and youth corps with hands-on climate work. Normally funds would split 50% K–12, 30% higher education, 10% professional associations, and 10% youth corps. If total annual grants do not exceed $5 million, the split would change to 60% K–12 and 40% higher education, and professional associations and youth corps would not be funded that year. NOAA would not be able to award grants directly to local educational agencies in a year unless total grant funding that year exceeds $5 million; when grants exceed $5 million, any K–12 award would have to be at least $1 million. Forty percent of the combined higher education and youth corps funds would need to go to environmental justice communities.
NOAA climate education program set up
If enacted, NOAA would establish a Climate Change Education Program inside its Office of Education within one year. The program would use NOAA science to scale climate literacy, workforce readiness, and community resilience with a focus on equity and environmental justice. The bill would authorize about $50 million per year for each fiscal year from FY2027 through FY2032 to support the program. The bill would also define key terms such as "environmental justice community" and "institution of higher education" to guide who can apply and how grants are targeted.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
MA • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
CT • D
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
NJ • D
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
HI • D
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
OR • D
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
VT • I
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
MD • D
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
MA • D
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov