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[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4706 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4706

 To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to carry out programs and 
  activities that connect Americans, especially children, youth, and 
                      families, with the outdoors.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 21, 2014

 Mr. Kind (for himself, Mr. Connolly, and Mr. Price of North Carolina) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
   Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 
   each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the 
                jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
 To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to carry out programs and 
  activities that connect Americans, especially children, youth, and 
                      families, with the outdoors.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Healthy Kids Outdoors Act of 2014''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds as follows:
            (1) Children today are spending less time outdoors than any 
        generation in human history, as evidenced by studies that show 
        children enjoy half as much time outdoors today as they did 
        just 20 years ago, while spending more than 7\1/2\ hours every 
        day in front of electronic media.
            (2) The health of our children is at risk as evidenced by 
        the growing obesity crisis where, in the past 30 years, 
        childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and 
        quadrupled in adolescents, costing the economy of the United 
        States billions of dollars each year.
            (3) Our military readiness is declining as nearly 1 in 4 
        applicants to the military is rejected for being overweight or 
        obese, which is the most common reason for medical 
        disqualification.
            (4) Research has shown that military children and families 
        are facing increased stress and mental strain and challenges 
        due to multiple, extended deployments. Military family service 
        organizations have developed programs that connect military 
        children and families with positive, meaningful outdoor 
        experiences that benefit mental and physical health, but they 
        lack sufficient resources to meet increasing demand.
            (5) In addition to the negative economic impact of 
        childhood obesity, the outdoor retail industry, many local 
        tourist destinations or ``gateway communities'', and State fish 
        and wildlife agencies rely on revenue generated when 
        individuals spend time outdoors to create jobs in local 
        communities.
            (6) Over the past several years, urbanization, changing 
        land use patterns, increasing road traffic, and inadequate 
        solutions to addressing these challenges in the built 
        environment have combined to make it more difficult for many 
        Americans to walk or bike to schools, parks, and play areas or 
        experience the natural environment in general.
            (7) Spending time in green spaces outside the home, 
        including public lands, parks, play areas, and garden, can 
        increase concentration, inhibition of initial impulses, and 
        self-discipline and has been shown to reduce stress and mental 
        fatigue. In one study, children who were exposed to greener 
        environments in a public housing area demonstrated less 
        aggression, violence, and stress.
            (8) Visitation to our Nation's public lands has declined or 
        remained flat in recent years, and yet, connecting with nature 
        and the great outdoors in our communities is critical to 
        fostering the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts who will 
        visit, appreciate, and become stewards of our Nation's public 
        lands.
            (9) Spending time outdoors in nature is beneficial to our 
        children's physical, mental, and emotional health and has been 
        proven to decrease symptoms of attention deficit and 
        hyperactivity disorder, stimulate brain development, improve 
        motor skills, result in better sleep, reduce stress, increase 
        creativity, improve mood, and reduce children's risk of 
        developing myopia.
            (10) Children who spend time playing outside are more 
        likely to take risks, seek out adventure, develop self-
        confidence, and respect the value of nature. A direct childhood 
        experience with nature before the age of 11 promotes a long-
        term connection to nature.
            (11) Conservation education and outdoor recreation 
        experiences such as camping, hiking, boating, hunting, fishing, 
        archery, recreational shooting, wildlife watching, and others 
        are critical to engaging young people in the outdoors.
            (12) As children become more disconnected from the natural 
        world, the hunting and angling conservation legacy of America 
        is at risk.
            (13) Hunters and anglers play a critical role in 
        reconnecting young people with nature, protecting our natural 
        resources, and fostering a lifelong understanding of the value 
        of conserving the natural world.
            (14) Research demonstrates that hunters who become engaged 
        in hunting as children are among the most active and interested 
        hunters as adults. The vast majority of hunters report they 
        were introduced to hunting between the ages of 10 and 12, and 
        the overwhelming majority of children are introduced to hunting 
        by an adult.
            (15) Parks and recreation, youth-serving, service-learning, 
        conservation, health, education, and built-environment 
        organizations, facilities, and personnel provide critical 
        resources and infrastructure for connecting children and 
        families with nature.
            (16) It takes many dedicated men and women to work to 
        preserve, protect, enhance, and restore America's natural 
        resources, and with an aging workforce in the natural resource 
        professions, it is critical for the next generation to have an 
        appreciation for nature and be ready to take over these 
        responsibilities.
            (17) Place-based service-learning opportunities use our 
        lands and waters as the context for learning by engaging 
        students in the process of exploration, action, and reflection. 
        Physical activity outdoors connected with meaningful community 
        service to solve real-world problems, such as removing invasive 
        plants or removing trash from a streambed, strengthens 
        communities by engaging youth as citizen stewards.
            (18) States nationwide and their community based partners 
        have some notable programs that connect children and families 
        with nature; however, most States lack sufficient resources and 
        a comprehensive strategy to effectively engage State agencies 
        across multiple fields.
            (19) States need to engage in cross-sector agency and 
        nonprofit collaboration that involves public health and 
        wellness, parks and recreation, transportation and city 
        planning, and other sectors focused on connecting children and 
        families with the outdoors to increase coordination and 
        effective implementation of the policy tools and programs that 
        a State can bring to bear to provide outdoor opportunities for 
        children and families.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
                    (A) a State; or
                    (B) a consortium from one State that may include 
                such State and municipalities, entities of local or 
                tribal governments, parks and recreation departments or 
                districts, school districts, institutions of higher 
                education, or nonprofit organizations.
            (2) Local partners.--The term ``local partners'' means a 
        municipality, entity of local or tribal government, parks and 
        recreation departments or districts, Indian tribe, school 
        district, institution of higher education, nonprofit 
        organization, or a consortium of local partners.
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.
            (4) State.--The term ``State'' means any of the several 
        States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
        Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, 
        the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, any other 
        territory or possession of the United States, or any Indian 
        tribe.

SEC. 4. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS FOR DEVELOPMENT OR IMPLEMENTATION OF 
              HEALTHY KIDS OUTDOORS STATE STRATEGIES.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary is authorized to issue one 
cooperative agreement per State to eligible entities to develop, 
implement, and update a 5-year State strategy, to be known as a 
``Healthy Kids Outdoors State Strategy'', designed to encourage 
Americans, especially children, youth, and families, to be physically 
active outdoors.
    (b) Submission and Approval of Strategies.--
            (1) Applications.--An application for a cooperative 
        agreement under subsection (a) shall--
                    (A) be submitted not later than 120 days after the 
                Secretary publishes guidelines under subsection (f)(1); 
                and
                    (B) include a Healthy Kids Outdoors State Strategy 
                meeting the requirements of subsection (c) or a 
                proposal for development and submission of such a 
                strategy.
            (2) Approval of strategy; peer review.--Not later than 90 
        days after submission of a Healthy Kids Outdoors State 
        Strategy, the Secretary shall, through a peer review process, 
        approve or recommend changes to the strategy.
            (3) Strategy update.--An eligible entity receiving funds 
        under this section shall update its Healthy Kids Outdoors State 
        Strategy at least once every 5 years. Continued funding under 
        this section shall be contingent upon submission of such 
        updated strategies and reports that document impact evaluation 
        methods consistent with the guidelines in subsection (f)(1) and 
        lessons learned from implementing the strategy.
    (c) Comprehensive Strategy Requirements.--The Healthy Kids Outdoors 
State Strategy under subsection (a) shall include--
            (1) a description of how the eligible entity will encourage 
        Americans, especially children, youth, and families, to be 
        physically active in the outdoors through State, local, and 
        tribal--
                    (A) public health systems;
                    (B) public parks and recreation systems;
                    (C) public transportation and city planning 
                systems; and
                    (D) other public systems that connect Americans, 
                especially children, youth, and families, to the 
                outdoors;
            (2) a description of how the eligible entity will partner 
        with nongovernmental organizations, especially those that serve 
        children, youth, and families, including those serving military 
        families and tribal agencies;
            (3) a description of how State agencies will collaborate 
        with each other to implement the strategy;
            (4) a description of how funding will be spent through 
        local planning and implementation subgrants under subsection 
        (d);
            (5) a description of how the eligible entity will evaluate 
        the effectiveness of, and measure the impact of, the strategy, 
        including an estimate of the costs associated with such 
        evaluation;
            (6) a description of how the eligible entity will provide 
        opportunities for public involvement in developing and 
        implementing the strategy;
            (7) a description of how the strategy will increase 
        visitation to Federal public lands within the State; and
            (8) a description of how the eligible entity will leverage 
        private funds to expand opportunities and further implement the 
        strategy.
    (d) Local Planning and Implementation.--
            (1) In general.--A Healthy Kids Outdoors State Strategy 
        shall provide for subgrants by the cooperative agreement 
        recipient under subsection (a) to local partners to implement 
        the strategy through one or more of the program activities 
        described in paragraph (2).
            (2) Program activities.--Program activities may include--
                    (A) implementing outdoor recreation and youth 
                mentoring programs that provide opportunities to 
                experience the outdoors, be physically active, and 
                teach skills for lifelong participation in outdoor 
                activities, including fishing, hunting, recreational 
                shooting, archery, hiking, camping, outdoor play in 
                natural environments, and wildlife watching;
                    (B) implementing programs that connect communities 
                with safe parks, green spaces, and outdoor recreation 
                areas through affordable public transportation and 
                trail systems that encourage walking, biking, and 
                increased physical activity outdoors;
                    (C) implementing school-based programs that use 
                outdoor learning environments, such as wildlife 
                habitats or gardens, and programs that use service 
                learning to restore natural areas and maintain 
                recreational assets; and
                    (D) implementing education programs for parents and 
                caregivers about the health benefits of active time 
                outdoors to fight obesity and increase the quality of 
                life for Americans, especially children, youth, and 
                families.
    (e) Priority.--In making cooperative agreements under subsection 
(a) and subgrants under subsection (d)(1), the Secretary and the 
recipient under subsection (a), respectively, shall give preference to 
entities that serve individuals who have limited opportunities to 
experience nature, including those who are socioeconomically 
disadvantaged or have a disability or suffer disproportionately from 
physical and mental health stressors.
    (f) Guidelines.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and after notice and opportunity for public 
comment, the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register guidelines 
on the implementation of this Act, including guidelines for--
            (1) developing and submitting strategies and evaluation 
        methods under subsection (b); and
            (2) technical assistance and dissemination of best 
        practices under section 7.
    (g) Reporting.--Not later than 2 years after the Secretary approves 
the Healthy Kids Outdoors State Strategy of an eligible entity 
receiving funds under this section, and every year thereafter, the 
eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary a report on the 
implementation of the strategy based on the entity's evaluation and 
assessment of meeting the goals specified in the strategy.
    (h) Allocation of Funds.--An eligible entity receiving funding 
under subsection (a) for a fiscal year--
            (1) may use not more than 5 percent of the funding for 
        administrative expenses; and
            (2) shall use at least 95 percent of the funding for 
        subgrants to local partners under subsection (d).
    (i) Match.--An eligible entity receiving funding under subsection 
(a) for a fiscal year shall provide a 25-percent match through in-kind 
contributions or cash.

SEC. 5. NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR ENCOURAGING AMERICANS TO BE ACTIVE 
              OUTDOORS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than September 30, 2015, the President, 
in cooperation with appropriate Federal departments and agencies, shall 
develop and issue a national strategy for encouraging Americans, 
especially children, youth, and families, to be physically active 
outdoors. Such a strategy shall include--
            (1) identification of barriers to Americans, especially 
        children, youth, and families, spending healthy time outdoors 
        and specific policy solutions to address those barriers;
            (2) identification of opportunities for partnerships with 
        Federal, State, tribal, and local partners;
            (3) coordination of efforts among Federal departments and 
        agencies to address the impacts of Americans, especially 
        children, youth, and families, spending less active time 
        outdoors on--
                    (A) public health, including childhood obesity, 
                attention deficit disorders and stress;
                    (B) the future of conservation in the United 
                States; and
                    (C) the economy;
            (4) identification of ongoing research needs to document 
        the health, conservation, economic, and other outcomes of 
        implementing the national strategy and State strategies;
            (5) coordination and alignment with Healthy Kids Outdoors 
        State Strategies; and
            (6) an action plan for implementing the strategy at the 
        Federal level.
    (b) Strategy Development.--
            (1) Public participation.--Throughout the process of 
        developing the national strategy under subsection (a), the 
        President may use, incorporate, or otherwise consider existing 
        Federal plans and strategies that, in whole or in part, 
        contribute to connecting Americans, especially children, youth, 
        and families, with the outdoors and shall provide for public 
        participation, including a national summit of participants with 
        demonstrated expertise in encouraging individuals to be 
        physically active outdoors in nature.
            (2) Updating the national strategy.--The President shall 
        update the national strategy not less than 5 years after the 
        date the first national strategy is issued under subsection 
        (a), and every 5 years thereafter. In updating the strategy, 
        the President shall incorporate results of the evaluation under 
        section 6.

SEC. 6. NATIONAL EVALUATION OF HEALTH IMPACTS.

    The Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services, shall--
            (1) develop recommendations for appropriate evaluation 
        measures and criteria for a study of national significance on 
        the health impacts of the strategies under this Act; and
            (2) carry out such a study.

SEC. 7. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND BEST PRACTICES.

    The Secretary shall--
            (1) provide technical assistance to grantees under section 
        4 through cooperative agreements with national organizations 
        with a proven track record of encouraging Americans, especially 
        children, youth, and families, to be physically active 
        outdoors; and
            (2) disseminate best practices that emerge from strategies 
        funded under this Act.

SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the 
Secretary to carry out this Act--
            (1) $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2015;
            (2) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2016; and
            (3) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2017.
    (b) Limitation.--Of the amounts made available to carry out this 
Act for a fiscal year, not more than 5 percent may be made available 
for carrying out section 7.
    (c) Supplement, Not Supplant.--Funds made available under this Act 
shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, any other Federal, 
State, or local funds available for activities that encourage 
Americans, especially children, youth, and families to be physically 
active outdoors.
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