Sponsors (9)
The bill substantially expands federal-supported climate education, workforce pathways, and targeted resources for disadvantaged communities while providing multi-year NOAA funding and program transparency — at the trade-off of added taxpayer cost, implementation and administrative burdens, possible concentration of grant dollars, and potential political pushback in some districts.
Students (K–12 and higher ed), including roughly millions of graduates, will gain improved, aligned climate literacy and curricula that increase climate knowledge and preparedness for mitigation and adaptation.
Workers, job-seekers, and young adults will have clearer pathways into climate-related 'green economy' jobs via CTE integration, apprenticeships, training info, and workforce development supports.
NOAA will have predictable multi-year funding ($50M/year FY2027–FY2032) to sustain education, research, monitoring, and related programs, enabling longer-term program planning and delivery.
Taxpayers would ultimately bear the cost of the program if appropriated — $50 million per year (up to $300 million over six years) — which could require higher federal spending or divert funds from other priorities.
State and local school systems, teachers, and districts will face new implementation burdens — adapting curricula, staff training, reporting, and administrative work — that could stress already-limited local education resources.
Grant design rules (e.g., $5 million fiscal-year threshold for LEA access, $1 million minimum state grant sizes, and default allocation percentages) risk concentrating funds in larger programs and limiting access for smaller local initiatives.
Based on analysis of 7 sections of legislative text.
Creates a NOAA Climate Change Education Program, a competitive grant program for education and community partners, and authorizes $50M/year for FY2027–2032.
Official title: Require the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to establish a Climate Change Education Program, and for other purposes.
Introduced April 22, 2026 by Edward John Markey · Last progress April 22, 2026
Creates a NOAA Climate Change Education Program to expand climate literacy for learners of all ages, fund educator training and curriculum integration, and support community-based adaptation and workforce pathways. It authorizes a competitive grant and cooperative agreement program with set recipient categories and allocation shares, requires annual reporting on program effectiveness, and authorizes $50 million per year for fiscal years 2027–2032.