I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2312 
To amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to establish the Office of 
Inclusivity and Sexual Health and a rural outreach grant program carried 
out by that Office, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 12, 2019 
Ms. HAALAND (for herself, Ms. BONAMICI, Ms. MENG, Mr. LOWENTHAL, Ms. 
NORTON, Mr. PAPPAS, and Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and 
Labor 
A BILL 
To amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to establish 
the Office of Inclusivity and Sexual Health and a rural 
outreach grant program carried out by that Office, 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 ‘‘Elder Pride Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
Section 102 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 
U.S.C. 3002) is amended— 
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(1) in paragraph (24)— 
(A) in subparagraph (B) by striking ‘‘and’’ 
at the end, 
(B) in subparagraph (C)(ii) by striking the 
period at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’, and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(D) status as an LGBT individual and 
HIV status’’.’’, 
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (34) through 
(54) as paragraphs (35) through (55), respectively, 
and 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (33) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(34) The term ‘LGBT’ means lesbian, gay, bi-
sexual, or transgender.’’. 
SEC. 3. OFFICE OF INCLUSIVITY AND SEXUAL HEALTH. 
Section 201 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 
U.S.C. 3011) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(g)(1) There is established in the Administration an 
Office of Inclusivity and Sexual Health (referred to in this 
subsection as the ‘Office’). 
‘‘(2)(A) The Office shall be headed by a Director of 
Inclusivity and Sexual Health (referred to in this sub-
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section as the ‘Director’) who shall be appointed by the 
Secretary. 
‘‘(B) The Office shall include an Assistant Director 
of LGBT Policy (referred to in this subsection as the ‘As-
sistant Director’) who shall be appointed by the Director 
to assist the Director in carrying out this subsection, in-
cluding by carrying out the activities under paragraph (4). 
‘‘(3) The Director shall— 
‘‘(A) coordinate activities within the Depart-
ment of Health and Human Services, and between 
other Federal departments and agencies, to assure a 
continuum of improved services for LGBT older in-
dividuals and older individuals of a protected class; 
‘‘(B) promote a continuum of improved sexual 
health services for older individuals, including by en-
suring access to services for LGBT older individuals 
and older individuals of a protected class; 
‘‘(C) collect and disseminate information related 
to the challenges experienced by older individuals of 
a protected class and all older individuals trying to 
seek sexual health services, including information on 
the rise of sexually transmitted diseases among the 
population of older individuals; and 
‘‘(D) administer and evaluate grants that will 
help LGBT older individuals, older individuals of a 
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protected class, and all older individuals seeking sex-
ual health services, including grants under section 
423. 
‘‘(4) The Assistant Director shall— 
‘‘(A) serve as the effective and visible advocate 
on behalf of LGBT older individuals— 
‘‘(i) within the Department of Health and 
Human Services and with other departments 
and agencies of the Federal Government re-
garding all Federal policies affecting such indi-
viduals; and 
‘‘(ii) in the States to promote the enhanced 
delivery of services and implementation of pro-
grams, under this Act and other Federal Acts, 
for the benefit of such individuals; 
‘‘(B) support, conduct, and arrange for re-
search in the field of LGBT aging with a special em-
phasis on gathering statistics on LGBT older indi-
viduals; 
‘‘(C) collect and disseminate information related 
to challenges experienced by LGBT older individuals 
with an emphasis on the challenges experienced by 
LGBT older individuals residing in rural areas and 
LGBT older individuals living with human immuno-
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deficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syn-
drome (HIV/AIDS); and 
‘‘(D) recommend policies and priorities bene-
ficial to LGBT older individuals and promote the 
implementation and adoption of culturally competent 
care and services for such individuals. 
‘‘(5) Not later than 5 years after the date of enact-
ment of this Act and every 5 years thereafter, the Director 
shall submit to Congress a report describing the activities 
carried out under this subsection during the preceding 5 
years.’’. 
SEC. 4. RURAL OUTREACH GRANT PROGRAM. 
Part A of title IV of the Older Americans Act of 1965 
(42 U.S.C. 3032 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘SEC. 423. RURAL OUTREACH GRANT PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘Director’ means 
the Director of the Office of Inclusivity and Sexual 
Health established under section 201(g). 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘eligible en-
tity’— 
‘‘(A) means an entity that submits an ap-
plication to the Director in accordance with 
subsection (c), and is— 
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‘‘(i) a State; 
‘‘(ii) an Indian tribe or tribal organi-
zation; or 
‘‘(iii) an agency, nonprofit organiza-
tion, or institution that— 
‘‘(I) focuses on serving the needs 
of older individuals, LGBT individ-
uals, or individuals of a protected 
class; or 
‘‘(II) focuses on providing sexual 
health services to all older individuals; 
and 
‘‘(B) may include an area agency on aging 
for a rural area or a multipurpose senior cen-
ter. 
‘‘(3) RURAL
AREA.—The term ‘rural area’ 
means an area that is not designated by the United 
States Census Bureau as an urbanized area or 
urban cluster. 
‘‘(b) AUTHORITY FOR GRANTS.—The Director may 
make grants to eligible entities to carry out activities de-
scribed in subsection (d) that are designed— 
‘‘(1) to create a cooperative and lasting part-
nership between LGBT older individuals, or older in-
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dividuals of a protected class, residing in rural areas 
and the eligible entity receiving the grant; 
‘‘(2) to meet the needs of the individuals de-
scribed in paragraph (1); and 
‘‘(3) to provide comprehensive sexual health 
services to all older individuals residing in rural 
areas. 
‘‘(c) APPLICATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—An eligible entity seeking a 
grant under this section shall submit an application 
to the Director at such time, in such manner, and 
containing such information as the Director may 
reasonably require, including the contents described 
in paragraph (2). 
‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—An application for a grant 
under this section shall contain— 
‘‘(A) a description of the proposed activi-
ties to be supported by the grant; 
‘‘(B) a description of the size and charac-
teristics of the population in a rural area to be 
served by such proposed activities; 
‘‘(C) a description of the public and private 
resources expected to be made available in con-
nection with such activities; 
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‘‘(D) a demonstrated intent to partner 
with local organizations in rural areas in car-
rying out such activities; 
‘‘(E) evidence in a form acceptable to the 
Director that such activities will meet urgent 
needs that are not met by available public and 
private sources; and 
‘‘(F) such other information or certifi-
cations that the Director determines necessary 
to achieve the purposes described in paragraphs 
(1) through (3) of subsection (b). 
‘‘(d) USE OF FUNDS.—An eligible entity may use 
funds made available by a grant under this section to 
carry out activities that include initiates that— 
‘‘(1) engage in education and training relating 
to community outreach to LGBT older individuals, 
or older individuals of a protected class, residing in 
rural areas; 
‘‘(2) reduce isolation and improve access to care 
for LGBT older individuals, or older individuals of 
a protected class, residing in rural areas by building 
relationships between such individuals and the local 
community; 
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‘‘(3) foster relationships between local service 
providers and LGBT older individuals, or older indi-
viduals of a protected class, residing in rural areas; 
‘‘(4) improve cultural competency with respect 
to LGBT individuals, and older individuals of a pro-
tected class, among organizations and personnel pro-
viding services to older individuals residing in rural 
areas; 
‘‘(5) expand the use of non-discrimination poli-
cies that— 
‘‘(A) protect sexual orientation and gender 
identity; and 
‘‘(B) create community spaces that are in-
clusive to LGBT older individuals and older in-
dividuals of a protected class; and 
‘‘(6) focus on providing sexual health services to 
older individuals residing in rural areas. 
‘‘(e) STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES.—The Director 
shall establish standards and guidelines for activities sup-
ported by a grant under this section. Such standards and 
guidelines shall permit an eligible entity receiving such a 
grant to refine or adapt the standards and guidelines for 
an individual project, where such a refinement or adapta-
tion is made necessary by a local circumstance. 
‘‘(f) COORDINATION WITH LOCAL ENTITIES.— 
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‘‘(1) COOPERATION.—An eligible entity receiv-
ing a grant under this section shall, in carrying out 
activities supported by the grant, agree to cooperate 
and coordinate with— 
‘‘(A) the agencies of the relevant State and 
local governments responsible for providing 
services to LGBT older individuals, or older in-
dividuals of a protected class, in the area served 
by such activities; and 
‘‘(B) other public and private organizations 
and agencies providing services to LGBT older 
individuals, or older individuals of a protected 
class, in such area. 
‘‘(2) PRIORITIZATION.—An eligible entity re-
ceiving a grant under this section shall prioritize co-
operating and coordinating with public and private 
organizations and agencies that primarily serve pop-
ulations of older individuals with the greatest social 
need. 
‘‘(g) REPORTS.—Not later than 2 years after the date 
of enactment of the Elder Pride Act, and every 2 years 
thereafter, the Director shall submit to Congress a report 
describing the activities carried out under this section dur-
ing the preceding 2 years.’’. 
Æ 
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