The Climate Change Education Act is again in the House of Representatives. H.R. 2349, introduced on April 22, 2019 — Earth Day, appropriately — would authorize the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to institute a competitive grant program aimed in part at developing and improving educational material and teacher training on the topic of climate change.
Among the findings listed in the bill are "[T]he evidence for human-induced climate change is overwhelming and undeniable" and "Only 30 percent of middle school and 45 percent of high school science teachers understand the extent of the scientific consensus on climate change" — a reference to the NCSE/Penn State survey of climate change educators (PDF).
NCSE is among the organizations endorsing the bill. NCSE's executive director Ann Reid commented, "The Climate Change Education Act addresses a critically important need. Teachers urgently need and want support to cover climate change accurately and effectively. Federal funding to support the development of high-quality evidence-based teaching resources ultimately will benefit millions of students."
H.R. 2349 is sponsored by Debbie Dingell (D-Michigan), joined by six colleagues in the House; it was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the House Committee on Education and Labor. A prior version, H.R. 5606 in 2018, died in committee. The Senate version of the Climate Change Education Act, S. 477, is presently with the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
