YVN Summary
\n\nMost families would see little direct change, but your child's school could get more help going green. The Education Department would be required by law to run its Green Ribbon Schools awards. The awards honor schools, school districts, and colleges that cut pollution, keep students healthy, and teach about the environment. States could win grants of $250,000 to $1 million to help more schools take part. Each state would have to spend at least 40% of its grant on schools with fewer resources. Each winning school could get a $10,000 prize if Congress provides the money.\n\nWithin six months, the department would update its award rules. The new rules would focus on climate change and on schools holding up in natural disasters. The final rules would be posted for the public to comment on. A similar award would honor green museums, libraries, and zoos. The bill also creates a small Education Department office for school buildings, with $2 million for 2027. The awards program would get $10 million in 2027, then whatever Congress decides each year through 2032.
","status":"COMMITTEE_CONSIDERATION","topics":["EDUCATION"],"introducedAt":"2026-06-24T00:00:00+00:00","latestActionAt":"2026-06-24T00:00:00+00:00","congressGovUrl":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/4914","accountabilityFlags":{"environment":["↑ Grants to states for greener schools — $250,000 to $1 million each","↑ Climate change focus in school award rules — includes disaster readiness","↑ $10,000 prize for each Green Ribbon school — if Congress funds it","↑ Green awards for museums, libraries, and zoos — $10,000 prize","↑ New Education Dept office for school buildings — $2 million in 2027"],"transparency_accountability":["↑ Public comment on new school award rules — posted in Federal Register","↑ Yearly public report on the green schools program — from November 2027"]},"tldr":"Federal help for greener schools — state grants up to $1 million and $10,000 prizes for winners","summaryStandard":"v2","flagExplainers":{"environment":["The Education Department would pick states in a contest and give each one $250,000 to $1 million, to use over up to three years. Each state must spend at least 40% of it on schools with fewer resources.","Within six months, the department must rewrite how it scores schools for the award. The new rules would ask how schools help slow climate change and get ready for it. That includes how well schools hold up in natural disasters.","Each school, school district, or college that wins the Green Ribbon award would get $10,000, but only if Congress sets aside the money. The awards would still be given every year without it.","The federal agency that funds museums and libraries would start its own green award. It would honor places like museums, libraries, nature centers, and zoos. Each national winner would get $10,000.","A new office with three full-time staff would help states and school districts plan, build, and run school buildings. That includes green building design. It could also give grants if Congress funds them."],"transparency_accountability":["The department must post the final award rules in the Federal Register. That is the government's daily public notice. It must let people comment on the rules and answer those comments.","Starting in November 2027, the department must post a yearly report on how the program and state grants were used. It must also share state plans to reach low-income, rural, and remote schools. Schools with many students with disabilities count too."]},"flagValence":{"environment":["contested","contested","contested","contested","contested"],"transparency_accountability":["good","good"]},"needsResummary":false,"displaySummaryHtml":null,"rawStatusText":"Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.","chamber":"SENATE","policyArea":"Education","legislativeSubjects":[],"lawStatus":null,"lawNumber":null,"latestActionText":"Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.","latestTextVersion":"Introduced in Senate","textVersionUsed":null,"dateAdded":"2026-10-21T00:00:00+00:00","summarizedAt":"2026-10-23T18:12:12+00:00","recordId":"c209243c-c191-47ad-aa98-9a697999977e","feedIdentityKey":"119/s/4914","websiteBillId":"S-4914","yourvoiceSummary":"Most families would see little direct change, but your child's school could get more help going green. The Education Department would be required by law to run its Green Ribbon Schools awards. The awards honor schools, school districts, and colleges that cut pollution, keep students healthy, and teach about the environment. States could win grants of $250,000 to $1 million to help more schools take part. Each state would have to spend at least 40% of its grant on schools with fewer resources. Each winning school could get a $10,000 prize if Congress provides the money.\n\nWithin six months, the department would update its award rules. The new rules would focus on climate change and on schools holding up in natural disasters. The final rules would be posted for the public to comment on. A similar award would honor green museums, libraries, and zoos. The bill also creates a small Education Department office for school buildings, with $2 million for 2027. The awards program would get $10 million in 2027, then whatever Congress decides each year through 2032.","updatedAt":"2026-10-24T10:11:58.563543+00:00"}