Section 60106 of the IRA appropriates $37.5 million to the EPA for monitoring and reducing air pollution at schools in low-income and disadvantaged communities under sections 103 and 105 of the Clean Air Act. These provisions of the Clean Air Act authorize the EPA Administrator to develop an air pollution research and development program and to make grants to air pollution control agencies for prevention and control programs.
Section 60106 also appropriates $12.5 million to the EPA Administrator to provide technical assistance to schools in low-income and disadvantages communities to address environmental issues, develop environmental quality plans, and mitigate ongoing air pollution.
The funds appropriated under section 60106 will remain available until September 30, 2031.
Eligible Entities:
Current Status:
Section 60005 of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 (Public Law 119-21) rescinded unobligated funds under this IRA provision.
Trump Administration Actions:
- Congress Passes Budget Bill, Rescinding Funds and Repealing IRA Programs and Tax Credits [07/03/2025]
- Senate Parliamentarian Advises Several Provisions in Republicans’ “One Big, Beautiful Bill” Are Not Permissible, Subject to Byrd Rule [06/19/2025]
- Senate Environment Committee Releases Budget Reconciliation Draft Text [06/16/2025]
- House Committee on Energy and Commerce Proposes IRA Rollbacks to EPA Programs [05/13/2025]
- Litigation Compliance Report Indicates EPA Intends to Terminate 781 IRA and IIJA Awards [04/23/2025]
- EPA Orders Employees to Stop Billing Hours to Climate, Infrastructure Laws [01/31/2025]
- OMB Orders Temporary Pause on Financial Assistance Programs, Later Rescinded [01/27/2025]
- OMB Clarifies Scope of the Order to Halt IRA Spending [01/21/2025]
- Trump Issues Executive Order to Halt All IRA Funding Disbursements [01/20/2025]
Implementation Status at End of Biden Administration:
Section 60106 of the IRA appropriates a total of $50 million to EPA – $37.5 million for monitoring and reducing air pollution at schools in low-income and disadvantaged communities and $12.5 million to provide technical assistance to schools in low-income and disadvantaged communities to address environmental issues, develop environmental quality plans, and mitigate ongoing air pollution. The funds will remain available until September 30, 2031.
EPA has awarded $34 million as of January 2025. The additional $16 million has not yet been awarded. In August 2024, EPA selected five recipients of $34 million in grant funding to address indoor air pollution in schools, including the University of Utah, the American Lung Association, the New York State Department of Health and Health Research, Inc., the Go Green Initiative, and the U.S. Green Building Council’s Center for Green Schools.
Biden Administration Actions:
Litigation:
The funding targets air pollution at schools in low-income and disadvantaged communities.