I 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1581 

To support library infrastructure. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 3, 2021 

Mr. LEVIN of Michigan (for himself, Ms. TLAIB, Mr. TONKO, Mr. COOPER, 

Ms. NORTON, Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Mr. 

LOWENTHAL, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. VARGAS, Mr. SIRES, Mrs. BUSTOS, Mr. 

YOUNG, Ms. KAPTUR, Mr. MORELLE, Ms. DEAN, Ms. JAYAPAL, Ms. 

TITUS, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Ms. JACKSON LEE, Mr. KILMER, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. WELCH, Mr. LANGEVIN, Mr. MCNERNEY, Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ, 

Ms. VELA ́ZQUEZ, Ms. WILD, Mr. PANETTA, Mr. POCAN, Mr. RYAN, Mr. 

CASTEN, Ms. DAVIDS of Kansas, Ms. MENG, Ms. CHU, Ms. JOHNSON of 

Texas, Ms. KUSTER, Mr. HUFFMAN, Mrs. BEATTY, Mr. KILDEE, Mr. 

RASKIN, Mr. COURTNEY, Mr. NADLER, Mr. KAHELE, Mr. CICILLINE, Mr. 

ESPAILLAT, Mr. GALLEGO, Ms. PINGREE, Mr. JONES, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, 

Mr. BOWMAN, Mr. O’HALLERAN, Mrs. HAYES, and Mr. CROW) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor 

A BILL 

To support library infrastructure. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Build America’s Li5 braries Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. PURPOSE. 

2 The purpose of this Act is to support long-term im3 provements to library facilities (including addressing 

4 needs that have arisen due to COVID–19) in order for 

5 libraries to better serve underserved and distressed com6 munities, low-income and rural areas, and people with dis7 abilities and vulnerable library users including children 

8 and seniors. 

9 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

10 In this Act: 

11 (1) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ has the 

12 meaning given the term in section 202 of the Mu13 seum and Library Services Act (20 U.S.C. 9101). 

14 (2) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ 

15 has the meaning given the term ‘‘Indian tribe’’ in 

16 section 202 of the Museum and Library Services Act 

17 (20 U.S.C. 9101). 

18 (3) LIBRARY.—The term ‘‘library’’ has the 

19 meaning given the term in section 213 of the Li20 brary Services and Technology Act (20 U.S.C. 

21 9122). 

22 (4) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ has the mean23 ing given the term in section 213 of the Library 

24 Services and Technology Act (20 U.S.C. 9122). 

25 (5) STATE LIBRARY ADMINISTRATIVE AGEN26 CY.—The term ‘‘State library administrative agenVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:49 Apr 17, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1581.IH H1581

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1 cy’’ has the meaning given the term in section 213 

2 of the Library Services and Technology Act (20 

3 U.S.C. 9122). 

4 SEC. 4. BUILD AMERICA’S LIBRARIES FUND. 

5 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—From the amount appro6 priated under section 9, there is established a Build Amer7 ica’s Libraries Fund for the purpose of supporting long8 term improvements to library facilities in accordance with 

9 this Act. 

10 (b) RESERVATIONS.—From the amount available in 

11 the Build America’s Libraries Fund, the Director shall re12 serve 3 percent to award grants to Indian Tribes and to 

13 organizations that primarily serve and represent Native 

14 Hawaiians, in the same manner as the Director makes 

15 grants under section 261 of the Library Services and 

16 Technology Act (20 U.S.C. 9161) to enable such Indian 

17 Tribes and organizations to carry out the activities de18 scribed in paragraphs (1) through (9) of section 5(c). 

19 SEC. 5. ALLOCATION TO STATES. 

20 (a) ALLOCATION TO STATES.— 

21 (1) STATE-BY-STATE ALLOCATION.— 

22 (A) IN GENERAL.—From the amount 

23 available in the Build America’s Libraries Fund 

24 and not reserved under section 4(b), each State 

25 that has a plan approved by the Director under 


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1 subsection (b) shall be allocated an amount in 

2 the same manner as the Director makes allot3 ments to States under section 221(b) of the Li4 brary Services and Technology Act (20 U.S.C. 

5 9131(b)), except that, for purposes of this sec6 tion, the minimum allotment for each State 

7 shall be $10,000,000, except that the minimum 

8 allotment shall be $500,000 in the case of the 

9 United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American 

10 Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern 

11 Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall 

12 Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, 

13 and the Republic of Palau. 

14 (B) REALLOCATION OF REMAINING

15 FUNDS.— 

16 (i) IN GENERAL.—From the remain17 der of any amounts not reserved or allo18 cated under subparagraph (A), on the date 

19 that is 1 year after the date of enactment 

20 of this Act, the Director shall allocate to 

21 each State that has a plan approved by the 

22 Director under subsection (b), an amount 

23 that bears the same relation to such re24 mainder as the population of the State 

25 bears to the population of all States. 


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1 (ii) DATA.—For the purposes of 

2 clause (i), the population of each State and 

3 of all the States shall be determined by the 

4 Director on the basis of the most recent 

5 data available from the Bureau of the Cen6 sus. 

7 (2) STATE RESERVATIONS.—A State shall re8 serve not more than 4 percent of its allocation under 

9 paragraph (1) for administrative costs and to pro10 vide technical assistance to libraries that are eligible 

11 to apply for a grant under section 6. 

12 (b) STATE PLAN.— 

13 (1) IN GENERAL.—To be eligible to receive an 

14 allocation under this section, a State library admin15 istrative agency shall submit to the Director a plan 

16 that includes such information as the Director may 

17 require, including at a minimum— 

18 (A) a description of how the State will use 

19 the allocation to make long-term improvements 

20 to library facilities with a focus on underserved 

21 and marginalized communities; 

22 (B) a description regarding how the State 

23 will carry out its responsibility to provide tech24 nical assistance under subsection (a)(2), includ25 ing providing, as appropriate, training and reVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:49 Apr 17, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1581.IH H1581

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1 sources to help library staff maximize the use, 

2 functionality, and accessibility of library facili3 ties improved under this section; 

4 (C) a description regarding how the State 

5 will make the determinations of eligibility and 

6 priority under subsections (b) and (d) of section 

7 6; 

8 (D) a certification that the State has met 

9 the maintenance of effort requirements under 

10 section 223(c) of the Library Services and 

11 Technology Act (20 U.S.C. 9133(c)); and 

12 (E) an assurance that the State will meet 

13 the supplement not supplant requirement under 

14 section 7(c). 

15 (2) APPROVAL.— 

16 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall ap17 prove a State plan submitted under paragraph 

18 (1) that meets the requirements of paragraph 

19 (1) and provides satisfactory assurances that 

20 the provisions of such plan will be carried out. 

21 (B) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—Each State li22 brary administrative agency receiving an alloca23 tion under this section shall make the State 

24 plan available to the public, including through 

25 electronic means. 


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1 (C) ADMINISTRATION.—If the Director de2 termines that the State plan does not meet the 

3 requirements of this section, the Director 

4 shall— 

5 (i) immediately notify the State li6 brary administrative agency of such deter7 mination and the reasons for such deter8 mination; 

9 (ii) offer the State library administra10 tive agency the opportunity to revise its 

11 State plan; 

12 (iii) provide technical assistance in 

13 order to assist the State library adminis14 trative agency in meeting the requirements 

15 of this section; and 

16 (iv) provide the State library adminis17 trative agency the opportunity for a hear18 ing. 

19 (c) USES OF FUNDS.—Each State receiving an allo20 cation under this section shall use the funds for any 1 

21 or more of the following: 

22 (1) Constructing, renovating, modernizing, or 

23 retrofitting library facilities in the State, which may 

24 include— 

25 (A) financing new library facilities; 


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1 (B) making capital improvements to exist2 ing library facilities, including buildings, facili3 ties, grounds, and bookmobiles; 

4 (C) enhancing library facilities to improve 

5 the overall safety and health of library patrons 

6 and staff, including improvements directly re7 lated to reducing the risk of community spread 

8 of COVID–19; and 

9 (D) addressing the vulnerability of library 

10 facilities to natural disasters and hazards. 

11 (2) Investing in infrastructure projects related 

12 to improving internet access and connectivity in li13 brary facilities and for library patrons, including 

14 projects related to high-speed broadband, technology 

15 hardware, and mobile hotspots and similar equip16 ment. 

17 (3) Improving energy and water efficiency and 

18 addressing the environmental impacts of library fa19 cilities. 

20 (4) Improving indoor air quality and ventilation 

21 in library facilities, including mechanical and non22 mechanical heating, ventilation, and air conditioning 

23 systems, filtering and other air cleaning, fans, con24 trol systems, and window and door repair and re25 placement. 


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1 (5) Reducing or eliminating the presence in li2 brary facilities of potential hazards to library staff 

3 and patrons, including— 

4 (A) toxic substances, including mercury, 

5 radon, PCBs, lead, and asbestos; or 

6 (B) mold and mildew. 

7 (6) Ensuring the safety of drinking water at 

8 the tap in library facilities, which may include test9 ing of the potability of water at the tap for the pres10 ence of lead and other contaminants. 

11 (7) Ensuring that library facilities are— 

12 (A) accessible to people with disabilities, 

13 including by implementing universal and inclu14 sive design; and 

15 (B) in compliance with the Architectural 

16 Barriers Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4151 et seq.), 

17 the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 

18 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.), and section 504 of the 

19 Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794). 

20 (8) Improving library facilities for the purposes 

21 of supporting place-based services or community22 based partnerships that provide library patrons with 

23 access to educational, workforce, behavioral health, 

24 mental health, and social services. 


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1 (9) Assessing the condition of existing library 

2 facilities and the need for new or improved library 

3 facilities and developing facilities master plans. 

4 SEC. 6. NEED-BASED GRANTS TO LIBRARIES. 

5 (a) GRANTS TO LIBRARIES.—From the amounts allo6 cated to a State under section 5(a), the State library ad7 ministrative agency shall award grants to libraries, on a 

8 competitive basis, to carry out the activities described in 

9 paragraphs (1) through (9) of section 5(c). 

10 (b) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive a grant 

11 under this section, a library shall be— 

12 (1) a public library; 

13 (2) a tribal library; or 

14 (3) a State library or a State archive, with re15 spect to outlets and facilities that provide library 

16 service directly to the general public. 

17 (c) APPLICATION.—A library described in subsection 

18 (b) that desires to receive a grant under this section shall 

19 submit an application to the State library administrative 

20 agency at such time, in such manner, and containing such 

21 information as the State library administrative agency 

22 may require, including— 

23 (1) the information necessary for the State to 

24 make a determination of the library’s eligibility for 

25 the grant and priority under subsection (d); and 


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1 (2) a description of the projects that the library 

2 plans to carry out with the grant, in accordance with 

3 paragraphs (1) through (9) of section 5(c), includ4 ing— 

5 (A) the rationale the library used to select 

6 such project; and 

7 (B) a description of how the library took 

8 into consideration the impacts of such projects 

9 on underserved or marginalized communities, 

10 including families with incomes below the pov11 erty line (as defined under section 673(2) of the 

12 Community Services Block Grant Act (42 

13 U.S.C. 9902(2)). 

14 (d) PRIORITY OF GRANTS.—In awarding grants 

15 under this section, the State— 

16 (1) shall give first priority to eligible libraries 

17 that demonstrate the greatest need for such a grant 

18 in order to plan for, and make long-term improve19 ments to, library facilities that predominantly pro20 vide service to underserved or marginalized commu21 nities, including families with incomes below the pov22 erty line (as defined under section 673(2) of the 

23 Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 

24 9902(2)); and 


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1 (2) may additionally give priority to eligible li2 braries that will use the grant to replace, renovate, 

3 modernize, or retrofit existing library facilities in 

4 order to— 

5 (A) make health, safety, resiliency, hazard 

6 mitigation, or emergency preparedness improve7 ments to existing library facilities that pose a 

8 severe health or safety threat to library patrons 

9 or staff, which may include a threat posed by 

10 the proximity of the facilities to toxic sites or 

11 the vulnerability of the facilities to natural dis12 asters; 

13 (B) install or upgrade hardware that will 

14 improve access to high-speed broadband for li15 brary patrons of the library facilities; 

16 (C) improve access for library patrons or 

17 staff with disabilities to use the library facilities 

18 and its equipment; or 

19 (D) improve the energy efficiency of or re20 duce the carbon emissions or negative environ21 mental impacts resulting from the existing li22 brary facilities. 

23 (e) SUPPLEMENT NOT SUPPLANT.—A library shall 

24 use a grant received under this section only to supplement 

25 the level of Federal, State, and local public funds that 


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1 would, in the absence of such grant, be made available 

2 for the activities supported by the grant, and not to sup3 plant such funds. 

4 SEC. 7. ADMINISTRATION AND OVERSIGHT. 

5 (a) NO PROHIBITION AGAINST CONSTRUCTION.— 

6 Section 210A of the Museum and Library Services Act 

7 (20 U.S.C. 9109) shall not apply to this Act. 

8 (b) NO MATCHING REQUIREMENT OR NON-FEDERAL

9 SHARE.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a 

10 State, Indian Tribe, organization, library, or other entity 

11 that receives funds under this Act shall not be required 

12 to provide matching funds or a non-Federal share toward 

13 the cost of the activities carried out with the funds. 

14 (c) SUPPLEMENT NOT SUPPLANT.—A State shall use 

15 an allocation received under section 5 only to supplement 

16 the level of Federal, State, and local public funds that 

17 would, in absence of such allocation, be made available for 

18 the activities supported by the allocation, and not to sup19 plant such funds. 

20 (d) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—From the amount ap21 propriated under section 9, the Director may allocate not 

22 more than 3 percent of such amount for program adminis23 tration, oversight activities, research, analysis, and data 

24 collection related to the purposes of the Build America’s 

25 Libraries Fund. 


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1 (e) REPORTS.— 

2 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 

3 the date of enactment of this Act and annually 

4 thereafter until all funds provided under this Act 

5 have been expended, the Director shall issue reports 

6 to the Committee on Appropriations and the Com7 mittee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 

8 of the Senate and the Committee on Appropriations 

9 and the Committee on Education and Labor of the 

10 House of Representatives detailing how funding 

11 under this Act has been spent and its impact on im12 proving library services in communities that are 

13 served, including underserved and marginalized pop14 ulations, Indian Tribes, and Native Hawaiian com15 munities, and shall make such reports publicly avail16 able on the website of the Institute of Museum and 

17 Library Services. 

18 (2) STATE REPORT.—A State that receives 

19 funds under this Act shall, not later than 1 year 

20 after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually 

21 thereafter until all funds have been expended, sub22 mit a report to the Director at such time and in 

23 such manner as the Director may require. 

24 (f) AMERICAN IRON AND STEEL PRODUCTS.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—As a condition on receipt of 

2 funds under this Act for a project, an entity shall 

3 ensure that all of the iron and steel products used 

4 in the project are produced in the United States. 

5 (2) APPLICATION.—Paragraph (1) shall be 

6 waived in any case or category of cases in which the 

7 Director finds that— 

8 (A) applying subparagraph (A) would be 

9 inconsistent with the public interest; 

10 (B) iron and steel products are not pro11 duced in the United States in sufficient and 

12 reasonably available quantities and of a satis13 factory quality; or 

14 (C) inclusion of iron and steel products 

15 produced in the United States will increase the 

16 cost of the overall project by more than 25 per17 cent. 

18 (3) WAIVER.—If the Director receives a request 

19 for a waiver under this subsection, the Director shall 

20 make available to the public, on an informal basis, 

21 a copy of the request and information available to 

22 the Director concerning the request, and shall allow 

23 for informal public input on the request for at least 

24 15 days prior to making a finding based on the re25 quest. The Director shall make the request and acVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:49 Apr 17, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1581.IH H1581

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1 companying information available by electronic 

2 means. 

3 (4) INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS.—This sub4 section shall be applied in a manner consistent with 

5 United States obligations under international agree6 ments. 

7 (5) MANAGEMENT AND OVERSIGHT.—The Di8 rector may retain up to 0.25 percent of the funds 

9 appropriated for this Act for management and over10 sight of the requirements of this subsection. 

11 (6) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This paragraph does 

12 not apply with respect to a project if a State agency 

13 approves the engineering plans and specifications for 

14 the project, in that agency’s capacity to approve 

15 such plans and specifications prior to a project re16 questing bids, prior to the date of enactment of this 

17 Act. 

18 SEC. 8. OTHER REQUIREMENTS. 

19 For fiscal year 2022 and each succeeding fiscal year, 

20 with respect to each contract or subcontract funded, in 

21 whole or in part, under this Act— 

22 (1) the provisions of subchapter IV of chapter 

23 31 of title 40, United States Code, shall apply with 

24 respect to laborers or mechanics for each construcVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:49 Apr 17, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1581.IH H1581

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1 tion contract or subcontract funded, in whole or in 

2 part, under this Act; and 

3 (2) the provisions of chapter 67 of title 41, 

4 United States Code, shall apply with respect to serv5 ice employees for each contract or subcontract fund6 ed, in whole or in part, under this Act, except that, 

7 for purposes of such chapter, the term ‘‘service em8 ployee’’ shall— 

9 (A) have the meaning given the term in 

10 section 6701 of such title; 

11 (B) include employees that are routine op12 erations workers or routine maintenance work13 ers; and 

14 (C) not include any employee covered 

15 under paragraph (1). 

16 SEC. 9. APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS. 

17 There is authorized to be appropriated, and there is 

18 appropriated, to carry out this Act, $5,000,000,000, for 

19 the period of fiscal years 2022 through 2024, to remain 

20 available until expended. 

Æ 


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