I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4022 
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to include 
indoor agricultural technology as an activity that supports well-rounded 
education, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 12, 2023 
Mr. ESPAILLAT (for himself, Mr. BACON, and Ms. NORTON) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the 
Workforce 
A BILL 
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
of 1965 to include indoor agricultural technology as an 
activity that supports well-rounded education, and for 
other purposes. 
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 ‘‘Harvesting Knowledge 
Act of 2023’’. 
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SEC. 2. STUDENT SUPPORT AND ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT 
GRANTS. 
(a) 
PROGRAMMING
AND
ACTIVITIES.—Section 
4107(a)(3)(C) of the Elementary and Secondary Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7117(a)(3)(C)) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in clause (v), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(2) in clause (vi), by adding ‘‘and’’ after the 
semicolon; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(vii) providing hands-on learning and 
exposure to hydroponic or aquaponic agri-
cultural systems by integrating experien-
tial, hands-on learning to enhance the stu-
dents’ understanding of the STEM sub-
jects as they relate to— 
‘‘(I) agriculture; 
‘‘(II) sustainability topics (in-
cluding climate change, water re-
source management, efficient land 
use, biodiversity, conservation, and 
sustainable development); and 
‘‘(III) biology-related topics (in-
cluding plant life cycles, functioning 
of ecosystems, and adaptation);’’. 
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(b) DEFINITIONS.—Section 4102 of the Elementary 
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7112) 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(9) AEROPONIC
TOWER
SYSTEM.—The term 
‘aeroponic tower system’ means a hydroponic grow-
ing system in which plants are grown vertically in an 
air-based environment where they receive regular 
misting with water and dissolved nutrients on their 
stems and roots during the production cycle. 
‘‘(10) AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY AND ENGI-
NEERING
SYSTEM.—The term ‘agricultural tech-
nology and engineering system’ means a system that 
includes at least one of the following: 
‘‘(A) Nutrient technique film system. 
‘‘(B) Vine crop system. 
‘‘(C) Aeroponic tower system. 
‘‘(D) Other systems as determined by the 
Secretary in consultation with the Secretary of 
Agriculture. 
‘‘(11) AQUAPONIC AGRICULTURE SYSTEM.—The 
term ‘aquaponic agriculture system’ means a plant 
production system in which the waste produced from 
farmed fish or other aquatic animals supplies nutri-
ents for plants grown hydroponically, which in turn 
purifies the water. 
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‘‘(12) HYDROPONIC
AGRICULTURE
SYSTEM.— 
The term ‘hydroponic agriculture system’ means a 
plant production system in which plants are grown 
in a soil-less environment where nutrients are pro-
vided by the application of nutrient solutions. 
‘‘(13) NUTRIENT TECHNIQUE FILM SYSTEM.— 
The term ‘nutrient technique film system’ means a 
hydroponic growing system in which a shallow 
stream of water containing dissolved nutrients is re- 
circulated past the bare roots of plants in channels 
during the production cycle. 
‘‘(14) VINE
CROP
SYSTEM.—The term ‘vine 
crop system’ means a hydroponic growing system in 
which vine crops and other tall fruiting crops (in-
cluding tomatoes) are grown vertically to maximize 
the growing space using recirculating water and dis-
solved nutrients.’’. 
Æ 
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