Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “American Civics Renewal Act”.
American Civics Renewal Act
A BILL
To establish a congressional commission on American civics renewal, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Definitions
In this Act:
ESEA definitions— The terms elementary school, local educational agency, secondary school, and State educational agency have the meanings given the terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
Commission— The term Commission means the Commission on American Civics Renewal established under section 3(a).
Sec. 3 Establishment of congressional commission on American civics renewal
Establishment— There is established a congressional commission, to be known as the “Commission on American Civics Renewal”, tasked with identifying ways that the Federal Government can strengthen its support for civics education.
Membership—
In general— The Commission shall consist of 8 members, with 1 member being appointed by each of the following individuals:
The Majority Leader and the Minority Leader of the Senate.
The chairman and ranking member of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate.
The Speaker and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.
The chair and ranking member of the Committee on Education and Workforce of the House of Representatives.
Date— The appointments of the members of the Commission shall be made not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
Chairperson and Vice Chairperson— The Commission shall select a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from among the members of the Commission at the initial meeting of the Commission.
Period of appointment; vacancies—
Period of appointment— A member of the Commission shall be appointed for the life of the Commission.
Vacancies— A vacancy in the Commission—
shall not affect the powers of the Commission; and
shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
Meetings—
Initial meeting— Not later than 30 days after the date on which all members of the Commission have been appointed, the Commission shall hold the first meeting of the Commission.
Frequency— The Commission shall meet at the call of the Chairperson.
Quorum— A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of members may hold hearings.
Sec. 4 Duties of Commission
In general— The Commission shall—
conduct a comprehensive review of the current state of civics education, as of the date of the review, across elementary and secondary education, higher education, and adult learning;
evaluate existing, as of the date of the review, Federal programs and funding streams that support civics education and recommend ways to streamline, coordinate, or scale these programs to ensure efficiency and equitable access;
assess teacher preparation programs and ongoing professional development opportunities for civics and government instruction;
collect best practices regarding teaching and supporting civics education;
provide guidance on how Federal investment can leverage philanthropic, State, or local resources to avoid imposing an unfunded mandate on State educational agencies or local educational agencies; and
propose strategies to elevate civics education as a national priority, in accordance with subsection (c).
Stakeholder engagement— In carrying out the duties under subsection (a), the Commission shall engage with—
public Federal entities, such as the National Archives and Records Administration, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Institute for Museum and Library Services, the Library of Congress, the Department of Education, the Corporation for National and Community Service, and the James Madison Fellowship Foundation;
State and local education leaders who have advanced civics learning and understanding for educators and students; and
nonpartisan organizations described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from tax under section 501(a) of such Code, that have advanced civics learning and understanding for educators and students, such as the United States Capitol Historical Society.
Proposed curriculum and national strategy— After carrying out the activities described in paragraphs (1) through (5) of subsection (a), the Commission shall—
develop a proposed age-appropriate civics education curriculum for elementary school students, secondary school students, and postsecondary education students that—
promotes the political thought and history of the United States along with the impact of the representative democracy of the United States and constitutional democracies globally;
describes how the Federal Government was founded on the principles of a representative democracy, constitutional government, individual rights, market economics, religious freedom and tolerance, and freedom of thought and inquiry;
demonstrates the importance of students developing civic-minded engagement; and
provides examples of how lessons can be taught beyond traditional classroom instruction and incorporated into subjects other than history or civics; and
by not later than 2 years after the date of the first meeting of the Commission, publish a national strategy document that contains—
examples of how State educational agencies, local educational agencies, and schools can partner with relevant Federal partners and nonprofit organizations, including entities and organizations described in subsection (b); and
recommendations on how State and local education leaders can implement the curriculum described in paragraph (1).
Submission of curriculum and strategy— By not later than 15 months after the date of the first meeting of the Commission, the Commission shall submit the proposed civics education curriculum and the national strategy described in subsection (c) to—
the Committee on Education and Workforce of the House of Representatives;
the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate;
the Secretary of Education; and
the Archivist of the United States.
Duties of Secretary of Education— Not later than 30 days after receiving the proposed civics education curriculum and the national strategy described in subsection (c), the Secretary of Education shall—
inform all State educational agencies of the availability of the curriculum and national strategy; and
provide a method, through a website or other easily accessible means, for the State educational agencies to access the curriculum and national strategy.
Sec. 5 Powers of Commission
Hearings— The Commission may hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission considers advisable to carry out this Act.
Information from Federal agencies—
In general— The Commission may secure directly from a Federal department or agency such information as the Commission considers necessary to carry out this Act.
Furnishing information— On request of the Chairperson of the Commission, the head of the department or agency shall furnish the information to the Commission.
Postal services— The Commission may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and agencies of the Federal Government.
Gifts— The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations of services or property.
Sec. 6 Commission personnel matters
Compensation of members— A member of the Commission who is not an officer or employee of the Federal Government shall be compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each day (including travel time) during which the member is engaged in the performance of the duties of the Commission.
Travel expenses— A member of the Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the Commission.
Staff—
In general— The Chairperson of the Commission may, without regard to the civil service laws (including regulations), appoint and terminate an executive director and such other additional personnel as may be necessary to enable the Commission to perform its duties, except that the employment of an executive director shall be subject to confirmation by the Commission.
Compensation— The Chairperson of the Commission may fix the compensation of the executive director and other personnel without regard to chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, relating to classification of positions and General Schedule pay rates, except that the rate of pay for the executive director and other personnel may not exceed the rate payable for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of that title.
Detail of government employees— A Federal Government employee may be detailed to the Commission without reimbursement, and such detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege.
Procurement of temporary and intermittent services— The Chairperson of the Commission may procure temporary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates for individuals that do not exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of that title.
Sec. 7 Termination of Commission
The Commission shall terminate on the date that is 60 days after the date on which the Commission submits the proposed civics curriculum and national strategy to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate under section 4(d).
Sec. 8 Appropriations
In general— There is appropriated, out of amounts in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to the Commission $2,000,000 to carry out this Act.
Availability— The amounts made available under this section shall be available beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, and shall remain available until expended.