I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1360 
To require the Secretary of the Treasury to use revenue generated by certain 
fines, penalties, and settlements that are not designated for restitution 
or any other purpose to fund evidence-based youth mentoring projects, 
justice reinvestment efforts, and innovations in medical research and 
development. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 13, 2015 
Mr. FATTAH (for himself, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania, Mr. 
CONNOLLY, and Mr. COHEN) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Commit-
tees on Education and the Workforce, Science, Space, and Technology, 
and 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 require the Secretary of the Treasury to use revenue 
generated by certain fines, penalties, and settlements 
that are not designated for restitution or any other pur-
pose to fund evidence-based youth mentoring projects, 
justice reinvestment efforts, and innovations in medical 
research and development. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘America’s Fund for 
Future Opportunities and Outcomes in the United States 
Act of 2015’’ or ‘‘America’s FOCUS Act of 2015’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) The United States faces increasing competi-
tion from countries with populations of a billion or 
more inhabitants, who contribute to the human cap-
ital of these countries and improve their perform-
ance in the global economy. 
(2) To ensure that the United States retains its 
leadership position in the global economy, the United 
States should maximize the opportunities and out-
comes of its citizenry. 
(3) The United States can achieve this goal by 
investing in STEM education and character develop-
ment for youth, justice reinvestment efforts, and in-
novations in medical research and development. 
(4) To fund these investments in the public in-
terest, the United States should use revenue gen-
erated by acts perpetrated against the public inter-
est. 
(5) As corporate and financial wrongdoing 
touches the lives of all Americans, revenue generated 
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by such acts should serve as the basis for these in-
vestments. 
(6) This revenue should be used to assist pro-
grams and organizations seeking to better the Na-
tion through their work in the youth mentoring, jus-
tice reinvestment, and medical research fields. 
(7) In 1956 and 1958, Congress issued Federal 
charters to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and 
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America in recognition 
of their work helping children reach their full poten-
tial and succeed in American public life. Youth men-
toring organizations still carry out this work and are 
putting children on the path to self-sufficiency. 
These organizations include— 
(A) the Boys and Girls Clubs of America; 
(B) Big Brothers Big Sisters of America; 
(C) the Boy Scouts of America; 
(D) the Girl Scouts of the USA; 
(E) MENTOR: the National Mentoring 
Partnership; 
(F) the United Way; 
(G) Girls Inc.; 
(H) Amachi; 
(I) the Y.M.C.A.; 
(J) FIRST Robotics; 
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(K) the United States D.R.E.A.M. Acad-
emy; 
(L) GEAR UP; 
(M) 4–H; 
(N) the National Urban League; 
(O) the First Tee; 
(P) the Civil Air Patrol; 
(Q) the National Pan-Hellenic Council; 
(R) the National CARES Mentoring Move-
ment; 
(S) the National Alliance of Faith and 
Justice; and 
(T) the National Council of Youth Sports. 
(8) Innovations in medical research and devel-
opment significantly benefit the American people. 
For example, through innovations in the diagnosis 
and treatment of life-threatening diseases, Ameri-
cans are now living longer and more productive lives, 
contributing to the economic growth of the United 
States. Additional investments in medical research 
and development will contribute to overall public 
health and productivity in America. 
(9) Through participation in the Justice Rein-
vestment Initiative, States have implemented evi-
dence-based criminal justice reforms. These reforms 
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are cost effective, redirecting revenue to better serve 
the public safety needs of local communities. In ad-
dition, these reforms have decreased risks of recidi-
vism and instituted alternatives to incarceration for 
non-violent offenders. According to a July 2013 re-
port from the Urban Institute, States participating 
in the Justice Reinvestment Initiative may achieve 
$3.3 billion in savings over the next 10 years. Addi-
tional funding to the Initiative would better enable 
States and local governments to carry out this work 
and achieve these savings. 
SEC. 3. AMERICA’S FOCUS FUND. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 
Treasury a separate account to be known as the America’s 
FOCUS Fund (hereafter in this Act referred to as the 
‘‘Fund’’). 
(b) REVENUE DEPOSITED IN FUND.—Except as pro-
vided in subsection (c), the Secretary of the Treasury shall 
deposit in the Fund— 
(1) all revenue generated by civil and criminal 
fines and penalties for the violation or alleged viola-
tion of Federal law; 
(2) all revenue generated by legal settlements 
reached between corporations and the Federal Gov-
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ernment for the violation or alleged violation of Fed-
eral law; and 
(3) any gift, bequest, or donation to the Fund 
from a private entity or individual, if such gift, be-
quest, or donation does not attach any condition in-
consistent with Federal law or regulations. 
(c) EXCEPTIONS.—The Secretary may not deposit in 
the Fund— 
(1) revenue designated for deposit in the Crime 
Victims Fund established by section 1402 of the Vic-
tims of Crime Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10601); or 
(2) revenue that has been designated by Fed-
eral law or court order for deposit in a fund other 
than the General Fund. 
(d) USE OF FUNDS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Revenue in the Fund shall 
be used for the following purposes: 
(A) YOUTH
MENTORING
GRANTS.—Not 
more than 33 percent of the total revenue in 
the Fund as calculated on a quarterly basis 
shall be used to award grants for evidence- 
based youth mentoring and STEM education, 
in the manner provided in section 4. 
(B) JUSTICE
REINVESTMENT
GRANTS.— 
Not more than 33 percent of the total revenue 
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in the Fund as calculated on a quarterly basis 
shall be used to award grants for evidence- 
based justice reinvestment, in the manner pro-
vided in section 5. 
(C) MEDICAL INNOVATION GRANTS.—Not 
more than 33 percent of the total revenue in 
the Fund as calculated on a quarterly basis 
shall be used to award grants and prizes for in-
novations in medical research and development, 
in the manner provided in section 6. 
(D) REDUCING THE FEDERAL DEBT.—The 
Secretary shall use the remaining revenue for 
Federal budget deficit reduction or, if there is 
no Federal budget deficit for the fiscal year, for 
reducing the Federal debt in such manner as 
the Secretary considers appropriate. 
(2) REQUIREMENT TO SUPPLEMENT, NOT SUP-
PLANT OTHER FUNDS.—Grant funds awarded under 
this Act shall be used to supplement, and not sup-
plant, other Federal, State, and local funds des-
ignated to carry out the activities funded by the 
grants. 
(e) RETENTION OF SUMS IN FUND.—Sums deposited 
in the Fund shall remain in the Fund and be available 
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for expenditure for grants under this Act without fiscal 
year limitation. 
SEC. 4. YOUTH MENTORING GRANTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) YOUTH
MENTORING
GRANTS.—The Sec-
retary of Education, in cooperation with the Federal 
Mentoring Council, shall award grants to eligible en-
tities that provide evidence-based youth mentoring 
programs, using the revenue designated for such 
purpose in subparagraph (A) of section 3(d)(1). 
(2) STEM EDUCATION
GRANTS.—The Asso-
ciate Administrator for Education for the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration shall award 
grants to eligible entities that offer STEM education 
to individuals under the age of 21, using the revenue 
designated for such purpose in subparagraph (A) of 
section 3(d)(1). 
(b) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—An entity is eligible for a 
grant under this section if it is— 
(1) a national non-profit, community-based or-
ganization with at least 2 years of experience in ad-
ministering STEM education programs or youth 
mentoring programs; or 
(2) a State or local government. 
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(c) APPLICATION.—An entity seeking to receive a 
grant under this section shall submit an application at 
such time and in such form as the Secretary may reason-
ably require. 
(d) DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS.—Of the funds avail-
able under this section, 25 percent shall be allocated for 
the award of grants to State and local governments. 
(e) USE OF FUNDS.— 
(1) STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—A State or local gov-
ernment that receives a grant under this section 
shall distribute the grant funds to non-profit, 
community-based organizations and local edu-
cational agencies within the jurisdiction of such 
government that provide evidence-based men-
toring or STEM education to individuals under 
the age of 21. 
(B) FUNDS RESERVED FOR VULNERABLE 
YOUTH.—A State or local government that re-
ceives grant funds under this section shall allo-
cate not less than 50 percent of such funds for 
distribution to organizations described in sub-
paragraph (A) that provide evidence-based men-
toring or STEM education to vulnerable youth. 
(2) OTHER ENTITIES.— 
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(A) IN GENERAL.—An organization other 
than a State or local government that receives 
a grant under this section shall use the grant 
funds to establish or expand one or more pro-
grams that provide evidence-based mentoring or 
STEM education to individuals under the age 
of 21. 
(B) FUNDS
RESERVED
FOR
PERSISTENT 
POVERTY
COUNTIES.—An organization other 
than a State or local government that receives 
grant funds under this section shall allocate not 
less than 10 percent of such funds for programs 
that 
provide 
evidence-based 
mentoring 
or 
STEM education in persistent poverty counties. 
(f) ANNUAL AWARD
OF GRANTS.—To the extent 
funds are available, the grants under this section shall be 
awarded at least once during each fiscal year, with the 
first grants to be awarded within 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act. 
(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) STEM EDUCATION
PROGRAM.—The term 
‘‘STEM education program’’ means a program to 
educate students in one or more of the following dis-
ciplines: science, technology, engineering, or mathe-
matics. 
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(2) PERSISTENT
POVERTY
COUNTIES.—The 
term ‘‘persistent poverty counties’’ means any coun-
ty that has had 20 percent or more of its population 
living in poverty over the past 30 years, as measured 
by the 1990, 2000, and 2010 decennial censuses. 
(3) VULNERABLE YOUTH.—The term ‘‘vulner-
able youth’’ includes individuals under the age of 
21— 
(A) who experience emotional and adjust-
ment problems; 
(B) who have left or are at risk of leaving 
secondary school without a diploma; 
(C) who lack the skills to succeed in the 
workforce after graduation; 
(D) who live in an unstable family or com-
munity environment; 
(E) who are involved in the juvenile justice 
system; 
(F) who are homeless or live in foster care; 
(G) who have physical or mental disabil-
ities; 
(H) who receive special education; 
(I) who are or have been victims of human 
trafficking; or 
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(J) who live in neighborhoods with high 
rates of illegal drug use. 
SEC. 5. JUSTICE REINVESTMENT GRANTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Attorney General shall use 
the revenue designated for justice reinvestment grants in 
subparagraph (B) of section 3(d)(1) to fund evidence- 
based justice reinvestment projects as part of the Justice 
Reinvestment Initiative and programs established under 
the Second Chance Act within the Department of Justice. 
(b) USE OF FUNDS.— 
(1) STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
paragraphs (2) and (3), 50 percent of the funds 
under this section shall be used to award grants 
to State and local governments for evidence- 
based justice reinvestment projects. 
(B) FUNDS
RESERVED
FOR
PERSISTENT 
POVERTY
COUNTIES.—The Attorney General 
shall allocate not less than 10 percent of such 
funds for projects that support persistent pov-
erty counties. 
(2) FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.—The Attorney 
General may use not more than 25 percent of the 
funds under this section to support Federal justice 
reinvestment projects. 
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(3) SECOND CHANCE ACT PROGRAMS.—The At-
torney General shall allocate not more than 25 per-
cent of the funds in this section to grant programs 
established under the Second Chance Act within the 
Department of Justice. 
(c) APPLICATION.—An entity seeking to receive a 
grant under this section shall submit an application at 
such time and in such form as the Attorney General may 
reasonably require. 
(d) ANNUAL AWARD OF GRANTS.—To the extent 
funds are available, the Attorney General shall award 
grants under this section at least once during each fiscal 
year, with the first grants to be awarded within 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(e) PERSISTENT POVERTY COUNTIES DEFINED.—In 
this section, the term ‘‘persistent poverty counties’’ means 
any county that has had 20 percent or more of its popu-
lation living in poverty over the past 30 years, as meas-
ured by the 1990, 2000, and 2010 decennial censuses. 
SEC. 6. MEDICAL INNOVATION GRANTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the National In-
stitutes of Health shall use the revenue designated for 
medical innovation in subparagraph (C) of section 3(d)(1) 
to fund entities that conduct innovative medical research 
and development. 
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