Higher Education Sustainability Act (HESA) Approved by Congress

The Higher Education Sustainability Act (HESA) was approved by Congress as part of the new Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HR 4137), which was overwhelmingly approved on July 30 and is expected to be signed into law shortly by President Bush. The Act creates a pioneering "University Sustainability Grants Program " at the Department of Education. This program will offer competitive grants to higher education institutions and associations to develop and implement sustainability curricula, practices, and academic programs.

This is the first federal environmental education grant-making program authorized in 18 years. Endorsed by over 220 colleges and universities, higher education associations, NGOs and corporations, the new grant program will provide the catalyst for schools and associations to develop and implement more initiatives and practices based on the principles of sustainability. The bill also directs the Department of Education to convene a national summit of higher education sustainability experts, federal agency staff, and business leaders to identify best practices in sustainability and opportunities for collaboration.

Although the higher education community has provided considerable leadership and much action on sustainability education and practices in recent years, there is much to be done in a short time. The enactment of this legislation is recognition by Congress of the importance of the issue, the critical role of higher education in preparing citizens to enable a sustainable and secure future. The grant program will, when funded, provide resources for the higher education community to lead the national transformation to sustainability.

The National Council for Science and the Environment (NCSE) congratulates and thanks the hundreds of educators and others whose efforts led to the impressive list of Senate and House co-sponsors and the strong bipartisan support in Congress. Particular thanks are due to original sponsors Congressmen Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), David Wu (D-OR) and Vernon Ehlers (R-MI) and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), the original Senate sponsor. NCSE Senior Scientist David Blockstein originally met with Congressman Blumenauer's staff in 2005 to craft the legislation along with Jim Elder, Director, Campaign for Environmental Literacy, which led the effort to pass the bill, Tony Cortese of Second Nature, Kevin Coyle of the National Environmental Education and Training Foundation (now with National Wildlife Federation) and Debra Rowe of the US Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development, all of whom continued to provide great leadership in rallying support and educating Congress.

Congress will consider funding for HESA next year when it addresses the FY10 budget. For more information, see the  attached press release  and visit www.FundEE.org.