National Environmental Education Amendments Act of 1998
Latest action (29 Jul 1998): Committee on Environment and Public Works. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
What this bill does
S. 2359, the National Environmental Education Amendments Act of 1998, would amend the National Environmental Education Act, which established federal environmental education programs run through the EPA. The bill would set staffing limits for the EPA's Office of Environmental Education (up to 10 headquarters employees, plus one in each regional office), require that grants support "balanced and scientifically sound" education, lower a cost-share cap on grants from 25 to 15 percent, bar grant funds from being used for lobbying, and require the EPA's Science Advisory Board to review grant guidance. It would also rename the "National Environmental Education and Training Foundation" as the "National Environmental Learning Foundation," expand its board from 13 to 19 members, restrict how donors may be acknowledged, and reauthorize $10 million annually for fiscal years 1999 through 2004, with specified spending percentages for the office, training programs, grants, and the renamed foundation.
The bill primarily affects the EPA's environmental education programs, the advisory bodies and task force that support them, grant recipients (schools, nonprofits, and other organizations), and the renamed foundation and its donors. It also eliminates a separate internship/fellowship program by repealing that section of the underlying law and renumbers subsequent sections accordingly.
The bill was introduced by Senator Inhofe on July 27, 1998, with bipartisan cosponsors, and was reported by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee without amendment on August 25, 1998. According to available records, it did not receive a further vote before the end of the 105th Congress, meaning it did not become law.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
National Environmental Education Amendments Act of 1998 - Amends the National Environmental Education Act to require that curricula, materials, and training programs developed with support from the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Environmental Education be balanced and scientifically sound. (Sec. 2) Requires that implementation of the Act be through EPA. Eliminates requirements for a Director of the Office and a minimum number of staff. Allows activities to be carried out through grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts. (Sec. 3) Reduces from 25 percent to 15 percent the percentage of funds to be obligated for environmental education grants of not more than $5,000. Prohibits the use of grants for certain lobbying activities. Requires the EPA Science Advisory Board to review and approve any guidance by the EPA Administrator before it is issued to applicants for such grants. (Sec. 4) Repeals the authority for environmental internships and fellowships. (Sec. 5) Eliminates all environmental education awards provided for under such Act, except the President's Environmental Youth Awards. (Sec. 6) Revises requirements for membership on the National Environmental Education Advisory Council. Requires that membership on the Federal Task Force on Environmental Education be open to representatives of any Federal agency actively engaged in environmental education. (Under current law, membership must include specified agency representatives.) Repeals specific requirements for contents of Advisory Council reports. (Sec. 7) Changes the name of the National Environmental Education and Training Foundation to the National Environmental Learning Foundation. Increases the size of the Foundation's Board of the Directors. Repeals the prohibition on the transmission of logos or other means of identification on materials donated to the Foundation for environmental education and training use. Allows acknowledgement of donors, but prohibits such acknowledgement from: (1) appearing in educational material to be presented to students; and (2) identifying a donor by means of a logo, letterhead, or other corporate commercial symbol, slogan, or product. (Sec. 8) Extends through FY 2004 the authorization of appropriations to the EPA for such Act. Revises funding limitations. Limits to 25 percent the amount available for administrative costs. Directs the EPA Administrator to report on expenses annually to the Congress.
Timeline
29 Jul 1998
Committee on Environment and Public Works. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Common questions
- What does S. 2359 do?
- S. 2359, the National Environmental Education Amendments Act of 1998, would amend the National Environmental Education Act, which established federal environmental education programs run through the EPA. The bill would set staffing limits for the EPA's Office of Environmental Education (up to 10 headquarters employees, plus one in each regional office), require that grants support "balanced and scientifically sound" education, lower a cost-share cap on grants from 25 to 15 percent, bar grant funds from being used for lobbying, and require the EPA's Science Advisory Board to review grant guidance. It would also rename the "National Environmental Education and Training Foundation" as the "National Environmental Learning Foundation," expand its board from 13 to 19 members, restrict how donors may be acknowledged, and reauthorize $10 million annually for fiscal years 1999 through 2004, with specified spending percentages for the office, training programs, grants, and the renamed foundation. The bill primarily affects the EPA's environmental education programs, the advisory bodies and task force that support them, grant recipients (schools, nonprofits, and other organizations), and the renamed foundation and its donors. It also eliminates a separate internship/fellowship program by repealing that section of the underlying law and renumbers subsequent sections accordingly. The bill was introduced by Senator Inhofe on July 27, 1998, with bipartisan cosponsors, and was reported by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee without amendment on August 25, 1998. According to available records, it did not receive a further vote before the end of the 105th Congress, meaning it did not become law.
- Has S. 2359 become law?
- Not yet. As of 29 Jul 1998, S. 2359 is ordered reported.
- Who sponsored S. 2359?
- S. 2359 was sponsored by Sen. James “Jim” Inhofe [R-OK, 1994-2022] (Republican-OK), with 10 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on S. 2359?
- Committee on Environment and Public Works. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably. (29 Jul 1998).
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