I 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2292
To provide for public library construction and modernization. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 11, 2005
Mr. HINCHEY (for himself, Mr. OWENS, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. LYNCH, Mr. CROW-
LEY, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. KILDEE, Mr. NADLER, Mr. BROWN of Ohio, 
Mr. CONYERS, Mr. CLAY, Mr. WEXLER, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Mr. 
PALLONE, Mr. CHANDLER, Mrs. MCCARTHY, Mr. MCNULTY, Mr. PAYNE, 
Mr. BISHOP of New York, Mr. ROSS, Mr. JEFFERSON, Mr. MCGOVERN, 
Mr. SANDERS, Mr. TOWNS, Ms. DEGETTE, Mr. WU, Mr. RANGEL, Mr. 
NEAL of Massachusetts, Ms. LINDA T. SA´NCHEZ of California, Mr. 
MOORE of Kansas, Mr. RUPPERSBERGER, Mr. SNYDER, Mr. WYNN, and 
Mr. BOUCHER) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Education and the Workforce 
A BILL 
To provide for public library construction and modernization.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Andrew Carnegie Pub-
lic Libraries Act’’.
SEC. 2. PUBLIC LIBRARY CONSTRUCTION AND MODERNIZA-
TION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Library Services and Tech-
nology Act (20 U.S.C. 9121 et seq.) is amended—
(1) by redesignating chapter 3 as chapter 4; 
and 
(2) by inserting after chapter 2 the following: 
‘‘CHAPTER 3—PUBLIC LIBRARY 
CONSTRUCTION AND MODERNIZATION 
‘‘SEC. 241. GRANTS FOR PUBLIC LIBRARY CONSTRUCTION 
AND MODERNIZATION. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—From amounts appropriated 
under section 244, the Director may make grants for the 
construction or modernization of public libraries to per-
sons or entities submitting applications under section 243. 
‘‘(b) APPLICABILITY.—The provisions of this subtitle 
(other than this chapter) shall not apply to this chapter. 
‘‘(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this chapter: 
‘‘(1) CONSTRUCTION.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘construc-
tion’ means—
‘‘(i) construction of new buildings; 
‘‘(ii) the acquisition, expansion, re-
modeling, and alteration of existing build-
ings;
‘‘(iii) the purchase, lease, and installa-
tion of equipment for any new or existing 
buildings; or 
‘‘(iv) any combination of the activities 
described in clauses (i) through (iii), in-
cluding architect’ fees and the cost of ac-
quisition of land. 
‘‘(B) SPECIAL RULE.—Such term includes 
remodeling to meet standards under the Act en-
titled ‘An Act to insure that certain buildings 
financed with Federal funds are so designed 
and constructed as to be accessible to the phys-
ically handicapped’, approved August 12, 1968 
(42 U.S.C. 4151 et seq.), commonly known as 
the ‘Architectural Barriers Act of 1968’, remod-
eling designed to ensure safe working environ-
ments and to conserve energy, renovation or re-
modeling to accommodate new technologies, and 
the purchase of historic buildings for conversion 
to public libraries. 
‘‘(2) 
EQUIPMENT.—The 
term 
‘equipment’ 
means—
‘‘(A) 
information 
and 
building 
tech-
nologies, video and telecommunications equip-
ment, machinery, utilities, built-in equipment,
and any necessary enclosures or structures to 
house the technologies, equipment, machinery 
or utilities; and 
‘‘(B) all other items necessary for the 
functioning of a particular facility as a facility 
for the provision of library services. 
‘‘(3) MODERNIZATION.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘moderniza-
tion’ means the purchase, rental, or lease of 
technological items, devices, or products (in-
cluding upgrades)—
‘‘(i) to improve access to library serv-
ices or materials in a public library; or 
‘‘(ii) to maintain or improve the func-
tional capabilities of individuals with dis-
abilities in a public library. 
‘‘(B) LIMITATION.—Such term does not in-
clude—
‘‘(i) the purchase of books, periodi-
cals, audio or video recordings, or other 
similar library materials used by patrons; 
or 
‘‘(ii) costs for telecommunications or 
computer wiring undertaken in order to
permit or improve the use of technological 
items, devices, or products. 
‘‘(4) PUBLIC
LIBRARY.—The term ‘public li-
brary’ means a library that serves free of charge all 
residents of a community, district, or region, and re-
ceives its financial support in whole or in part from 
public funds. Such term also includes a research li-
brary, which, for the purposes of this sentence, 
means a library, which—
‘‘(A) makes its services available to the 
public free of charge; 
‘‘(B) has extensive collections of books, 
manuscripts, and other materials suitable for 
scholarly research which are not available to the 
public through public libraries; 
‘‘(C) engages in the dissemination of hu-
manistic knowledge through services to readers, 
fellowships, educational and cultural programs, 
publication of significant research, and other 
activities; and 
‘‘(D) is not an integral part of an institu-
tion of higher education. 
‘‘SEC. 242. USES OF FEDERAL FUNDS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—A recipient of a grant under this 
chapter shall use funds appropriated under section 244
to pay the Federal share of the cost of construction or 
modernization of public libraries. 
‘‘(b) MAXIMUM AMOUNT.—The maximum amount of 
a grant under this chapter is $5,000,000. 
‘‘(c) FEDERAL SHARE.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For the purposes of sub-
section (a), the Federal share of the cost of con-
struction or modernization of any project assisted 
under this chapter shall not exceed one-half of the 
total cost of the project. 
‘‘(2) NON-FEDERAL SHARE.—The non-Federal 
share of the cost of construction or modernization of 
any project assisted under this chapter may be pro-
vided from State, local or private sources, including 
for-profit and nonprofit organizations. 
‘‘(d) SPECIAL RULE.—If, within 20 years after com-
pletion of construction of any public library facility that 
has been constructed in part with grant funds made avail-
able under this chapter—
‘‘(1) the recipient of the grant funds (or its suc-
cessor in title or possession) ceases or fails to be a 
public or nonprofit institution, or 
‘‘(2) the facility ceases to be used as a library 
facility, unless the Director determines that there is
good cause for releasing the institution from its obli-
gation, 
the United States shall be entitled to recover from such 
recipient (or successor) an amount which bears the same 
ratio to the value of the facility at that time (or part there-
of constituting an approved project or projects) as the 
amount of the Federal grant bore to the cost of such facil-
ity (or part thereof). The value shall be determined by the 
parties or by action brought in the United States district 
court for the district in which the facility is located. 
‘‘SEC. 243. APPLICATION. 
‘‘Any person or entity desiring to receive a grant 
under this chapter for any fiscal year shall submit to the 
Director an application at such time, in such manner, and 
containing such information as the Director may require, 
including a description of the public library construction 
or modernization activities be assisted under this chapter. 
‘‘SEC. 244. LABOR STANDARDS. 
‘‘All laborers and mechanics employed by contractors 
or subcontractors in any construction, alteration, or re-
pair, including painting and decorating, of projects, build-
ings, and works which are assisted under this chapter, 
shall be paid wages at rates not less than those prevailing 
on similar construction in the locality as determined by 
the Secretary of Labor in accordance with the Act of
March 3, 1931 (40 U.S.C. 276—276a–5), popularly 
known as the Davis-Bacon Act. The Secretary of Labor 
shall have, with respect to such labor standards, the au-
thority and functions set forth in Reorganization Plan 
Numbered 14 of 1950 (15 F.R. 3176; 64 Stat. 1267) and 
section 2 of the Act of June 1, 1934, as amended (48 
Stat. 948, as amended; 40 U.S.C. 276(c)). 
‘‘SEC. 245. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be ap-
propriated to carry out this chapter $200,000,000 for fis-
cal year 2006 and each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years, 
to remain available until expended. 
‘‘(b) ADMINISTRATION.—Not more than 3 percent of 
the funds appropriated under subsection (a) for a fiscal 
year may be used to pay for the Federal administrative 
costs of carrying out this chapter.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 210A of 
the Museum and Library Services Act (20 U.S.C. 9109) 
is amended by striking ‘‘No funds’’ and inserting ‘‘Except 
as provided in chapter 3 of the Library Services and Tech-
nology Act, no funds’’. 
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