I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6025 
To improve the health and academic achievement of students in highly 
polluted environments, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 28, 2020 
Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Com-
mittee on Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently deter-
mined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To improve the health and academic achievement of students 
in highly polluted environments, 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 ‘‘Clean Air Sharp Minds 
Act’’. 
SEC. 2. PURPOSES. 
The purposes of this Act are— 
(1) to improve the health and academic achieve-
ment of students in highly polluted environments; 
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(2) to demonstrate the impacts of clean air at 
school on student learning and well-being; and 
(3) to support the Nation’s schools to advance 
environmental justice. 
SEC. 3. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Substantial research demonstrates that air 
pollution negatively impacts health and cognition. 
(2) More than 1 in 5 public schools in the 
United States are located within a mile of a toxic re-
lease site. Nearly 1 in 11 public schools, serving 
4,400,000 students, are less than 500 feet from a 
major road. 
(3) According to a 2017 report, 4 percent of 
schools serving predominantly White students are 
next to major roads, while 15 percent of schools 
serving largely students of color are next to major 
roads. 
(4) Indoor levels of air pollutants can be 2 to 
5 times higher, and sometimes 100 times higher, 
than outdoor levels. In 2014, nearly half of schools 
in the United States reported having problems re-
lated to indoor air quality. 
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(5) Schools in poor repair may have additional 
air quality problems, including lead, asbestos, dust, 
and radon contamination. 
(6) Poor indoor air quality increases the risk of 
severe asthma attacks and allergic reactions. Asthma 
is the leading cause of missed school days in the 
United States. 
(7) High-performance air filters can decrease 
indoor particulate matter by 90 percent. 
(8) Research demonstrates the potential for 
school air filters to improve student learning. In 
2016, commercial air filters were installed in every 
classroom, office, and common area of 18 public 
schools in Los Angeles. Controlling for student de-
mographics, mathematics test scores at these schools 
improved dramatically, nearly matching the impact 
of reducing class sizes by a third, and gains per-
sisted the following the year. 
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis-
trator’’ means the Administrator of the Environ-
mental Protection Agency. 
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(2) COMMERCIAL
AIR
FILTER.—The term 
‘‘commercial air filter’’ means an air filter unit 
that— 
(A) removes particulate matter (including 
mold, smoke, dust, lead, soot, and allergens 
from pests) and gaseous pollutants (including 
carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and volatile or-
ganic compounds); 
(B) does not produce any ozone; 
(C) meets the American Society of Heat-
ing, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engi-
neers (ASHRAE) Minimum Efficiency Report-
ing Value (MERV) of 13 (or the equivalent, 
using a different rating system); and 
(D) contains activated carbon (charcoal) 
and a HEPA particle filter. 
(3) ELIGIBLE
SCHOOL.—The term ‘‘eligible 
school’’ means a public elementary school or sec-
ondary school, as such terms are defined in section 
8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). 
(4) ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.—The term ‘‘en-
vironmental justice’’ means the fair treatment and 
meaningful involvement of all individuals, regardless 
of race, color, national origin, educational level, or 
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