H.R. 7340: Rebuild America’s Schools Act of 2026

Introduced Feb 4, 202696 cosponsors

Sponsor

Robert Scott

Democrat · VA-3

Bill Progress

IntroducedFeb 4

Committee

Pass House

Pass Senate

Signed

Law

Latest Action · Feb 4, 2026

1/3

Referred to Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. for review

$100 billion to rebuild the schools that need it most

5 min readLast updated May 16, 2026

Why it matters

Public school buildings are paid for almost entirely with local property taxes and district bonds, which is why the poorest communities tend to have the leakiest roofs, the oldest boilers, and lead in the drinking fountains. H.R. 7340 would put $20 billion a year into school repairs from 2027 through 2031 — roughly $100 billion in total — and route it through the same poverty formula that drives Title I, so the districts least able to borrow get the most help.

The core of H.R. 7340 is a grant program: $20 billion a year from 2027 through 2031, with the money staying available through 2036. It flows to states based on their share of Title I dollars, and states then run competitive grants to the districts with the most low-income students and the least ability to raise construction money on their own.

States have to add 10 percent from their own funds and keep up their existing school-construction spending, so the federal money supplements local effort instead of replacing it. If Congress ever appropriates more than $7 billion in a year, states no longer have to find that 10 percent from non-federal sources.

H.R. 7340 Bill Summary

What H.R. 7340 actually does.

$20 billion a year, aimed at the poorest districts

Authorizes $20 billion annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2031, distributed to states by their Title I share and then awarded competitively to districts serving the most low-income students.

Money for the repairs districts keep deferring

Funds can go toward roofs, HVAC, plumbing, structural work, accessibility, and energy and water efficiency — the major capital projects that get postponed when budgets are tight.

Lead, asbestos, and toxic-substance removal

Districts can use the money to test and fix drinking water at the tap and to remove lead, asbestos, PCBs, mercury, radon, mold, and PFAS from school buildings.

States must keep paying their share

States contribute a 10 percent match and must maintain their own school-construction spending, so federal dollars add to the effort rather than replace state money.

Tax-credit bonds come back

Restores Qualified Zone Academy Bonds at $1.4 billion a year and revives related tax-credit bond authority so districts can finance larger construction projects with federal help on borrowing costs.

American steel and green building required

Iron, steel, and manufactured products must be U.S.-made, and new construction must meet a recognized green-building standard such as LEED, CHPS, or Green Globes, with cost-based waivers available.

A separate fix for crumbling pyrrhotite foundations

Creates a dedicated program for schools whose concrete foundations are failing because of pyrrhotite, with the federal government covering up to half the repair cost and reimbursing repairs from the prior five years.

Who benefits from H.R. 7340?

Students in high-poverty districts

The bill prioritizes schools where 40 percent or more of elementary and middle schoolers — or 30 percent or more of high schoolers — qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

Districts that can't raise their own construction money

Eligibility favors districts with the most limited ability to issue bonds or raise funds, judged partly by bond rating and historic capacity to finance school projects.

Bureau-funded schools and outlying areas

Half a percent of the money each year is reserved for schools funded through the Bureau of Indian Education and another half percent for U.S. outlying areas — about $200 million a year set aside for places usually left out.

Districts with crumbling concrete foundations

Schools whose foundations are failing because of pyrrhotite get a dedicated repair program, including reimbursement for fixes a district already paid for in the last five years.

American steel and construction firms

The Buy American requirement steers covered projects toward U.S.-made iron, steel, and manufactured products, and the program funds a large pipeline of construction work.

Who is affected by H.R. 7340?

State education agencies

States must submit plans, build a public, searchable inventory of every school facility's condition, put up the 10 percent match, and oversee competitive grants.

Local school districts

Districts apply competitively, submit a 10-year facilities master plan within 180 days of a grant, and follow rules on allowable uses, green building, and American materials.

For-profit charter school operators

Funds cannot go to charter schools run or managed by for-profit entities, or to certain arrangements where the school leases its building from someone with a governance role.

The Department of Education

The bill creates a new Office of School Infrastructure and Sustainability and requires the department to set facility data standards within 120 days and run national reporting.

Cost & Funding

Authorization

$20 billion per year for FY2027–FY2031 (about $100 billion), plus $100 million per year for Impact Aid construction; the pyrrhotite title is funded at 'such sums as necessary'

Section 105 authorizes $20 billion for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031 — roughly $100 billion total — with funds remaining available through fiscal year 2036.
Off the top, 0.5% each year goes to U.S. outlying areas and 0.5% to Bureau-funded schools, about $200 million a year combined at the $20 billion level.
States must contribute a 10% non-federal match by September 30, 2035; in any year Congress appropriates more than $7 billion, the non-federal restriction on that match is dropped.
The bond track restores Qualified Zone Academy Bonds at $1.4 billion per year starting in 2027 and revives related tax-credit bond authority.
Title V adds $100 million a year for Impact Aid construction for FY2027–FY2031; the pyrrhotite repair program (Title VI) caps the federal share at 50% with a state share of at least 40%.

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On the Record

What Congress Is Saying

H.R. 7340 hasn't been debated on the floor yet.

This section updates when a legislator speaks about it on the floor or in committee.

HR7340 Legislative Journey

1 actions

House: Committee Action

Feb 4, 2026

Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

About the Sponsor

Robert Scott

Democrat, Virginia's 3rd congressional district · 33 years in Congress

Committees: Education and Workforce, the Budget

View full profile →

Cosponsors (96)

No new cosponsors in 84 days — momentum stalled

All 96 cosponsors are Democrats. Cosponsors represent 33 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, and 30 more.

96Democrats·33 states

Donald Norcross

Democrat · NJ

Adam Smith

Democrat · WA

Jimmy Panetta

Democrat · CA

Linda Sánchez

Democrat · CA

Jill Tokuda

Democrat · HI

Frederica Wilson

Democrat · FL

Marilyn Strickland

Democrat · WA

Janice Schakowsky

Democrat · IL

Donald Beyer

Democrat · VA

Stacey Plaskett

Democrat · VI

Steven Horsford

Democrat · NV

Joseph Morelle

Democrat · NY

Committee Sponsors

Ways and Means Committee

19D26R

|12 signed33 not yet

12 of 45 committee members cosponsored

Education and Workforce Committee

16D20R

|14 signed22 not yet

14 of 36 committee members cosponsored

9 Democrats across these committees haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents

What laws does H.R. 7340 change?

2 changes

Full Text

Sections Amended

Section 54E of Internal Revenue Code of 1986) issued after the date of the enactment of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009. (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 1601 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009

striking paragraph (3) and redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively

Section 7014(d) of Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7714(d))

read as follows: ``(d) Construction

H.R. 7340 Quick Facts

Cosponsors

+91 more

Committee: Ways and Means
Chamber: House
Policy: Education
Introduced: Feb 4, 2026

Feb 4, 2026

Constituent Resources

Find your legislators on H.R. 7340

Get notified when this bill moves

Official Sources

H.R. 7340 on Congress.gov

The full bill text, sponsor list, and committee status for the Rebuild America's Schools Act of 2026.

Title I, Part A — U.S. Department of Education

The existing low-income formula the bill borrows to route school-repair money to the poorest districts.

Condition of Public School Facilities — NCES

Federal data showing the average public school's main instructional building is about 49 years old — the problem this bill targets.

EPA 3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water

EPA's program for testing and fixing lead at the tap in schools, the kind of work the bill's funds can pay for.

IRS Tax Credit Bonds (Qualified Zone Academy Bonds)

Background on the qualified zone academy bond tax-credit financing the bill restores for larger construction projects.

Impact Aid Discretionary Construction Grants — U.S. Department of Education

The Section 7007(b) construction program the bill's Title V boosts with an extra $100 million a year.

EPA WaterSense

The EPA water-efficiency program referenced in the bill's construction performance requirements.

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H.R. 7340 Common Questions

How much money would the Rebuild America's Schools Act provide for school repairs?

H.R. 7340 authorizes $20 billion a year for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 — roughly $100 billion total — and the money stays available to spend through fiscal year 2036.

What can schools actually spend the money on?

Major capital work: new roofs, heating and cooling, plumbing, structural repairs, accessibility upgrades, energy and water efficiency, and removing lead, asbestos, mold, and other toxic substances. It's for the big projects districts keep deferring, not day-to-day upkeep.

Which schools get the money first?

Priority goes to high-poverty districts that can't raise construction money on their own. The bill targets schools where at least 40% of elementary and middle students — or 30% of high schoolers — qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, especially districts with weak bond ratings.

Do states have to put up their own money?

Yes. States contribute a 10% match by September 30, 2035, and must keep up their existing school-construction spending so federal dollars add to the effort. In any year Congress funds more than $7 billion, the requirement that the match come from non-federal sources is dropped.

What are the school infrastructure bonds in this bill?

Beyond the grants, H.R. 7340 revives federal tax-credit bonds so districts can finance bigger construction projects with federal help on borrowing costs. It restores Qualified Zone Academy Bonds at $1.4 billion a year starting in 2027.

Can the funds pay for stadiums, buses, or for-profit charter schools?

No. The money can't go to athletic facilities that charge admission, vehicles, central offices, or routine maintenance. It also can't fund charter schools run or managed by for-profit entities, or certain deals where a school leases its building from someone with a governance role.

Does the bill require American-made steel and materials?

Yes. Iron, steel, and manufactured products used in funded projects must be produced in the U.S., with manufactured products meeting a 60% domestic-component threshold. The Education Secretary can waive it if U.S. materials would raise project costs by more than 25%.

What is the pyrrhotite school-foundation program?

A separate title helps schools whose concrete foundations are failing because of pyrrhotite, a mineral that makes concrete crack over time. The federal government covers up to 50% of repair costs and can reimburse districts for fixes they paid for in the previous five years.

Based on H.R. 7340 bill text