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Union Calendar No. 186

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 3030

[Report No. 108–310] 

To amend the Community Service Block Grant Act to provide for quality 

improvements. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 5, 2003

Mr. OSBORNE (for himself, Mr. BOEHNER, Mr. CASTLE, Mr. UPTON, and Mr. 

WILSON of South Carolina) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce 

OCTOBER 10, 2003

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 

House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on September 5, 2003] 

A BILL

To amend the Community Service Block Grant Act to 

provide for quality improvements.

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

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Improving the Commu3 nity Services Block Grant Act of 2003’’. 

4 SEC. 2. COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT ACT AMEND5 MENTS. 

6 (a) PURPOSES AND GOALS.—Section 672 of the Com7 munity Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9901 note) is 

8 amended to read as follows: 

9 ‘‘SEC. 672 PURPOSES AND GOALS. 

10 ‘‘The purpose of this subtitle is to reduce poverty—

11 ‘‘(1) by strengthening and coordinating local ef12 forts to expand opportunities for individuals and 

13 families to become economically self-sufficient and to 

14 improve and revitalize low-income communities in 

15 urban and rural areas, by providing resources to 

16 States for support of local eligible entities, including 

17 community action agencies and other community18 based organizations—

19 ‘‘(A) to plan, coordinate, and mobilize a 

20 broad range of Federal, State, local, and private 

21 assistance or investment in such a manner as to 

22 use these resources effectively to reduce poverty 

23 and in initiatives that are responsive to specific 

24 local needs and conditions; 

25 ‘‘(B) to coordinate a range of services that 

26 meet the needs of low-income families and indi-
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1 viduals, that support strong and healthy fami2 lies, and that assist them in developing the skills 

3 needed to become self sustaining while ensuring 

4 that these services are provided effectively and ef5 ficiently; and 

6 ‘‘(C) to design and implement comprehen7 sive approaches to assist eligible individuals in 

8 gaining employment and achieving economic 

9 self-sufficiency; 

10 ‘‘(2) by improving and revitalizing the low-in11 come communities in urban and rural areas by pro12 viding resources to States for support of local eligible 

13 entities and their partners—

14 ‘‘(A) to broaden the resource base of initia15 tives and projects directed to the elimination of 

16 poverty and the redevelopment of the low-income 

17 community, including partnerships with non18 governmental and governmental institutions to 

19 develop the community assets and services that 

20 reduce poverty, such as—

21 ‘‘(i) other private, religious, charitable, 

22 and community-based organizations; 

23 ‘‘(ii) individual citizens, and business, 

24 labor, and professional groups, that are able 
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1 to influence the quantity and quality of op2 portunities and services for the poor; and 

3 ‘‘(iii) local government leadership; and 

4 ‘‘(B) to coordinate community-wide re5 sources and services that will have a significant, 

6 measurable impact on the causes of poverty in 

7 the community and that will help families and 

8 individuals to achieve economic self-sufficiency 

9 and to test innovative, community-based ap10 proaches to attacking the causes and effects of 

11 poverty and of community breakdown, includ12 ing— 

13 ‘‘(i) innovative initiatives to prevent 

14 and reverse loss of investment, jobs, public 

15 services, and infrastructure in low- and 

16 moderate-income communities; and 

17 ‘‘(ii) innovative partnerships to lever18 age the assets and services that reduce pov19 erty, as provided in subparagraph (A); and 

20 ‘‘(3) by ensuring maximum participation of resi21 dents of low-income communities and of members of 

22 the groups served by grants made under this subtitle 

23 in guiding the eligible entities and in their programs 

24 funded under this subtitle, to ameliorate the par25 ticular problems and needs of low-income residents 
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1 and to develop the permanent social and economic as2 sets of the low-income community in order to reduce 

3 the incidence of poverty.’’. 

4 (b) DEFINITIONS.—Section 673(1)(A) of the Commu5 nity Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(1)(A)) is 

6 amended—

7 (1) in clause (i) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

8 (2) in clause (ii) by striking the period at the 

9 end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

10 (3) by adding at the end the following: 

11 ‘‘(iii) that successfully develops and 

12 meets the locally determined goals described 

13 in section 678E(b)(1), as determined by the 

14 State, and meets State goals, standards, 

15 and performance requirements as provided 

16 for in section 678B(a).’’. 

17 (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 

18 674 of the Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 

19 9903) is amended—

20 (1) in subsection (a) by striking ‘‘1999 through 

21 2003’’ and inserting ‘‘2004 through 2009’’; and 

22 (2) in subsection (b)(2)—

23 (A) by striking ‘‘678F’’ and inserting 

24 ‘‘678E to assist States, eligible entities, and their
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1 partners in projects supported by this subtitle’’; 

2 and 

3 (B) in subparagraph (B) by striking ‘‘mon4 itoring (to correct programmatic deficiencies of 

5 eligible entities)’’ and inserting ‘‘monitoring (in6 cluding technical assistance and training to cor7 rect programmatic deficiencies of eligible enti8 ties)’’. 

9 (d) USES OF FUNDS.—Section 675C of the Community 

10 Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9907) is amended—

11 (1) in subsection (a)(3)(A) by striking ‘‘Begin12 ning on October 1, 2000, a’’ and inserting ‘‘A’’; and 

13 (2) in subsection (b)(1)(F) by striking ‘‘neighbor14 hood-based’’ and inserting ‘‘community-based’’. 

15 (e) APPLICATION AND PLAN.—Section 676 of the Com16 munity Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9908) is 

17 amended—

18 (1) in subsection (b)—

19 (A) by striking ‘‘Beginning with fiscal year 

20 2000, to’’ and inserting ‘‘To’’; 

21 (B) in paragraph (1)—

22 (i) in subparagraph (B)—

23 (I) by striking ‘‘youth develop24 ment programs that support’’ and in25 serting ‘‘youth development programs, 
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1 which may include mentoring pro2 grams, that support’’; and 

3 (II) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

4 (ii) in subparagraph (C) by adding 

5 ‘‘and’’ at the end; and 

6 (iii) by adding at the end the fol7 lowing: 

8 ‘‘(D) initiatives to improve economic condi9 tions and mobilize new resources in rural areas 

10 to eliminate obstacles to the self-sufficiency of 

11 families and individuals in rural communities;’’; 

12 (C) in paragraph (2) by striking ‘‘commu13 nity and neighborhood-based’’ and inserting 

14 ‘‘community-based’’; 

15 (D) in paragraph (3)—

16 (1) in the matter preceding subpara17 graph (A) by striking ‘‘information pro18 vided by eligible entities in the State, con19 taining’’ and inserting ‘‘an assurance that 

20 the State will provide information, includ21 ing’’; and 

22 (ii) in subparagraph (D) by striking 

23 ‘‘community and neighborhood-based’’ and 

24 inserting ‘‘community-based’’; 
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1 (E) in paragraph (9) by striking ‘‘and com2 munity organizations’’ and inserting ‘‘and com3 munity-based organizations’’; 

4 (F) in paragraph (10) by striking ‘‘commu5 nity organization’’ and inserting ‘‘community6 based organization’’; 

7 (G) in paragraph (12) by striking ‘‘and’’ at 

8 the end; 

9 (H) by redesignating paragraph (13) as 

10 paragraph (15); and 

11 (I) by inserting after paragraph (12) the 

12 following: 

13 ‘‘(13) an assurance that the State will take swift 

14 action to improve performance or, when appropriate, 

15 to terminate the funding under this subtitle of low16 performing eligible entities that do not meet the ap17 plicable locally determined goals described in section 

18 678E(b)(1) or do not meet the State goals, standards, 

19 and requirements as provided for in section 678B(a); 

20 ‘‘(14) an assurance that the State will provide a 

21 justification to the Secretary if it continues to fund 

22 persistently low-performing eligible entities; and’’; 

23 (2) in subsection (c)(2) by striking ‘‘plan, or’’ 

24 and all that follows through the period at the end, 

25 and inserting ‘‘plan, to meet a State requirement, as 
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1 described in section 678C(a), or to meet the locally de2 termined goals as described in section 678E(b)(1).’’; 

3 and 

4 (3) by striking subsection (f). 

5 (f) TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND OTHER

6 ACTIVITIES.—Section 678A(a)(1)(A) of the Community 

7 Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9913(a)(1)(A)) is 

8 amended—

9 (1) by inserting ‘‘dissemination regarding best 

10 practices,’’ after ‘‘technical assistance,’’; and 

11 (2) by inserting ‘‘(including to assist in the de12 velopment of reporting systems and electronic data 

13 systems)’’ after ‘‘collection activities’’. 

14 (g) MONITORING OF ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—Section 

15 678B of the Community Services Block Grant Act (42 

16 U.S.C. 9914) is amended—

17 (1) in subsection (a)—

18 (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) 

19 by inserting ‘‘and the locally determined per20 formance goals described in section 678E(b)(1)’’ 

21 after ‘‘a State’’; and 

22 (B) in paragraph (3)—

23 (i) by inserting ‘‘appropriate’’ before 

24 ‘‘goals’’; and 
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1 (ii) by striking ‘‘established by the 

2 State’’; and 

3 (2) in the last sentence of subsection (c) by strik4 ing ‘‘Chairperson of the Committee on Education’’ 

5 and all that follows through ‘‘Human Resources of the 

6 Senate’’ and inserting ‘‘appropriate congressional 

7 committees’’. 

8 (h) CORRECTIVE ACTION; TERMINATION AND REDUC9 TION OF FUNDING.—Section 678C(a) of the Community 

10 Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9915(a)) is amended 

11 in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘estab12 lished by the State’’. 

13 (i) ACCOUNTABILITY AND REPORTING REQUIRE14 MENTS.—Section 678E of the Community Services Block 

15 Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9917) is amended—

16 (1) in subsection (a)—

17 (A) in paragraph (1)(A) by striking ‘‘By 

18 October 1, 2001, each’’ and inserting ‘‘Each’’; 

19 and 

20 (B) in paragraph (2)—

21 (i) in the 1st sentence by inserting ‘‘in22 cluding any activities under section 678C’’ 

23 before the period at the end; 

24 (ii) by striking the 2d sentence;
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1 (iii) in the 3d sentence by striking 

2 ‘‘also’’; and 

3 (iv) in the 3d sentence by inserting 

4 ‘‘information on the timeliness of the dis5 tribution of block grant funds to eligible en6 tities as provided in section 675C(a),’’ after 

7 ‘‘including’’; 

8 (2) in subsection (b)—

9 (A) in paragraph (2) in the matter pre10 ceding subparagraph (A) by striking ‘‘beginning 

11 after September 30, 1999’’; 

12 (B) in paragraph (3) by striking ‘‘Com13 mittee on Education’’ and all that follows 

14 through ‘‘Human Resources of the Senate’’ and 

15 inserting ‘‘appropriate congressional commit16 tees’’; 

17 (C) by adding at the end the following: 

18 ‘‘(5) COORDINATION OF REPORTING REQUIRE19 MENTS.—To the maximum extent possible, the Sec20 retary shall coordinate reporting requirements for all 

21 programs of the Department of Health and Human 

22 Services managed by eligible entities so as to consoli23 date and reduce the number of reports required about 

24 individuals, families, and uses of grant funds.’’; and 
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1 (D) by redesignating such subsection as sub2 section (c); and 

3 (3) by inserting after subsection (a) the fol4 lowing: 

5 ‘‘(b) LOCAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND REPORTING RE6 QUIREMENTS.—

7 ‘‘(1) LOCALLY DETERMINED GOALS.—In order to 

8 be designated as an eligible entity and to receive a 

9 grant under this subtitle, an eligible entity shall es10 tablish locally determined goals for reducing poverty 

11 in the community, including goals for—

12 ‘‘(A) leveraging and mobilizing community 

13 resources; 

14 ‘‘(B) fostering coordination of Federal, 

15 State, local, private, and other assistance; and 

16 ‘‘(C) promoting community involvement. 

17 ‘‘(2) DEMONSTRATION THAT GOALS WERE

18 MET.—In order for an eligible entity to receive a sec19 ond or subsequent grant made under this subtitle 

20 after the effective date of this paragraph, such entity 

21 shall demonstrate to the State that it has met the 

22 goals described in paragraph (1).’’. 

23 (j) TREATMENT OF BENEFICIARIES.—Section 679 of 

24 the Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9920) 

25 is amended by adding at the end the following: 
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1 ‘‘(f) TREATMENT OF BENEFICIARIES.—In providing 

2 assistance under a program described in subsection (a), a 

3 religious organization shall not discriminate against a ben4 eficiary, or a potential beneficiary, of such assistance on 

5 the basis of religion or of a religious belief.’’. 

6 (k) DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY.—

7 Section 680 of the Community Services Block Grant Act 

8 (42 U.S.C. 9921) is amended—

9 (1) in subsection (a)—

10 (A) in paragraph (2)—

11 (i) in subparagraph (A) by inserting 

12 ‘‘(including financial assistance for con13 struction or substantial rehabilitation of 

14 buildings and facilities, and for loans or in15 vestments in private business enterprises 

16 owned by community development corpora17 tions)’’ after ‘‘assistance’’; 

18 (ii) by redesignating subparagraphs 

19 (B), (C), (D), and (E) as subparagraphs 

20 (D), (E), (F), and (G), respectively; and 

21 (iii) by inserting after subparagraph 

22 (A) the following: 

23 ‘‘(B) FEDERAL INTEREST.—The Secretary 

24 shall establish procedures that permit funds pro25 vided under a grant made under this paragraph,
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1 or intangible assets acquired with such funds, to 

2 become the sole property of the grantee before the 

3 expiration of the 12-year period beginning after 

4 the fiscal year for which such grant is made if 

5 such grantee agrees to use such funds or such 

6 property for purposes and uses consistent with 

7 the purposes and uses for which such grant is 

8 made. 

9 ‘‘(C) REPLACEMENT ACTIVITIES.—The Sec10 retary shall establish procedures to allow a grant 

11 made under this paragraph to be used by a 

12 grantee to carry out activities substantially 

13 similar to the activities for which such grant is 

14 made if, due to no fault of such grantee, such 

15 grantee cannot carry out the activities for which 

16 such grant is made. Such procedures shall re17 quire that the substantially similar activities 

18 serve the same impact area and have the same 

19 goals, objectives, and outcomes as the activities 

20 for which such grant is made.’’; 

21 (B) in paragraph (3)(B) by inserting 

22 ‘‘water and wastewater’’ after ‘‘community’’; and 

23 (C) in paragraph (4) by striking ‘‘neighbor24 hood-based’’ and inserting ‘‘community-based’’; 

25 and 
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1 (2) in subsection (c) by striking ‘‘Chairperson of 

2 the Committee on Education’’ and all that follows 

3 through ‘‘Human Resources of the Senate’’ and insert4 ing ‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’. 

5 (l) COMMUNITY FOOD AND NUTRITION PROGRAMS.—

6 Section 681 of the Community Services Block Grant Act 

7 (42 U.S.C. 9922) is amended—

8 (1) in subsection (c) in the matter preceding 

9 paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘Committee on Education’’ 

10 and all that follows through ‘‘Human Resources of the 

11 Senate’’ and inserting ‘‘appropriate congressional 

12 committees’’; and 

13 (2) in subsection (d) by striking ‘‘1999 through 

14 2003’’ and inserting ‘‘2004 through 2009’’. 

15 (m) NATIONAL OR REGIONAL PROGRAMS DESIGNED

16 TO PROVIDE INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR LOW-INCOME

17 YOUTH.—Section 682 of the Community Services Block 

18 Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9923) is amended—

19 (1) in subsection (b)(5)—

20 (A) by inserting ‘‘(which may be accom21 plished through mentoring)’’ after ‘‘youth’’; and 

22 (B) by inserting ‘‘to improve academic 

23 achievement’’ after ‘‘study practices’’; and 

24 (2) in subsection (g) by striking ‘‘1999 through 

25 2003’’ and inserting ‘‘2004 through 2009’’. 
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1 SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. 

2 This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall 

3 take effect on the 1st day of the 1st fiscal year beginning 

4 after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Union Calendar No. 186

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 3030

[Report No. 108–310] 

A BILL

To amend the Community Service Block Grant Act 

to provide for quality improvements. 

OCTOBER 10, 2003

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 

and ordered to be printed