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HR 1240 111th Congress House

Teaching Geography is Fundamental Act

Official title: To improve and expand geographic literacy among kindergarten through grade 12 students in the United States by improving professional development programs for … Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To improve and expand geographic literacy among kindergarten through grade 12 students in the United States by improving professional development programs for kindergarten through grade 12 teachers offered through institutions of higher education.

Introduced: March 4, 2009 Introduced by: Van Hollen, Chris Democratic · Maryland See on congress.gov
Education Earth sciencesEducation programs fundingElementary and secondary educationHigher educationTeaching, teachers, curricula
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This bill died when the 111th Congress ended
It never became law before the 111th Congress (2009–2010) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 29, 2009
Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.
Feb 26, 2009
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Feb 26, 2009
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E493)
Feb 26, 2009
Introduced in House
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 Latest action April 29, 2009

Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Teaching Geography is Fundamental Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a geography education grant program under title II, Teacher Quality Enhancement.

Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award a grant to a national nonprofit educational organization or consortium, with 75% to be used for subgrants to institutions of higher education associated with state geographic alliances, nonprofit educational organizations, or state or local educational agencies.

Requires various grantee and subgrantee activities designed to expand geographic literacy among kindergarten through grade 12 students by improving their teachers' professional development programs offered through institutions of higher education. Includes among such activities state-based conferences to assess geographic literacy and identify improvement strategies.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 44
All 44 Democratic 27 Republican 7
D
Lofgren, Zoe
California · Sep 23, 2010
 D
Nadler, Jerrold
New York · Jul 19, 2010
 D
Baldwin, Tammy
Wisconsin · Jul 15, 2010
 R
Guthrie, Brett
Kentucky · Jun 28, 2010
 D
Cohen, Steve
Tennessee · Jun 8, 2010
 R
Thompson, Glenn
Pennsylvania · May 25, 2010
 D
Himes, James A.
Connecticut · May 18, 2010
 D
Johnson, Henry C. "Hank"
Georgia · May 11, 2010
 D
DeLauro, Rosa L.
Connecticut · May 4, 2010
 D
Quigley, Mike
Illinois · Apr 21, 2010
Giffords, Gabrielle
· Mar 16, 2010
 R
Aderholt, Robert B.
Alabama · Mar 2, 2010
Griffith, Parker
· Feb 25, 2010
 D
Pingree, Chellie
Maine · Feb 23, 2010
 D
Lynch, Stephen F.
Massachusetts · Feb 4, 2010
 D
Scott, Robert C. "Bobby"
Virginia · Feb 2, 2010
Kosmas, Suzanne
· Jun 15, 2009
Massa, Eric
· May 7, 2009
 D
Matsui, Doris O.
California · May 4, 2009
 D
Tonko, Paul
New York · Apr 27, 2009
 D
Smith, Adam
Washington · Mar 30, 2009
 D
Murphy, Christopher
Connecticut · Mar 24, 2009
 D
Courtney, Joe
Connecticut · Mar 16, 2009
 R
Wittman, Robert J.
Virginia · Mar 16, 2009
 R
Cole, Tom
Oklahoma · Mar 10, 2009
Faleomavaega, Eni
· Mar 10, 2009
 D
Titus, Dina
Nevada · Mar 10, 2009
 D
Hirono, Mazie K.
Hawaii · Mar 9, 2009
 D
Meeks, Gregory W.
New York · Mar 9, 2009
 D
Welch, Peter
Vermont · Mar 5, 2009
 R
Boozman, John
Arkansas · Mar 4, 2009
Bordallo, Madeleine
· Mar 4, 2009
Childers, Travis
· Mar 4, 2009
 D
Cleaver, Emanuel
Missouri · Mar 4, 2009
 D
Davis, Danny K.
Illinois · Mar 4, 2009
 D
Doggett, Lloyd
Texas · Mar 4, 2009
Ellsworth, Brad
· Mar 4, 2009
 D
Larson, John B.
Connecticut · Mar 4, 2009
 D
McCollum, Betty
Minnesota · Mar 4, 2009
Mitchell, Harry
· Mar 4, 2009
 R
Moran, Jerry
Kansas · Mar 4, 2009
 D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Mar 4, 2009
Pierluisi, Pedro
· Mar 4, 2009
 D
Thompson, Mike
California · Mar 4, 2009
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1240: Teaching Geography is Fundamental Act. 111th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-1240/
MLA
"H.R. 1240: Teaching Geography is Fundamental Act." 111th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-1240/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1240, 111th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-1240/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1240: Teaching Geography is Fundamental Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-1240/)
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