I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 5934 
To improve the effectiveness and performance of certain Federal financial 
assistance programs, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 12, 2023 
Ms. PEREZ (for herself and Ms. FOXX) introduced the following bill 
OCTOBER 25, 2023 
Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Accountability 
A BILL 
To improve the effectiveness and performance of certain Fed-
eral financial assistance programs, and for other pur-
poses. 
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 ‘‘Streamlining Federal 
Grants Act of 2023’’. 
SEC. 2. PURPOSE. 
The purposes of this Act are to— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:18 Nov 05, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5934.IH
H5934
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
(1) improve the effectiveness and performance 
of Federal grant and cooperative agreement pro-
grams; 
(2) simplify the application and reporting re-
quirements of Federal grant and cooperative agree-
ment programs; 
(3) improve the delivery of services to the pub-
lic, particularly services to communities and organi-
zations that historically have not received Federal 
grants or cooperative agreements; and 
(4) facilitate greater coordination among agen-
cies that award Federal grants and non-Federal en-
tities responsible for delivering services to the public. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) AGENCY.—The term ‘‘agency’’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 551 of title 5, 
United States Code. 
(2) AGENCY CO-CHAIR.—The term ‘‘agency co- 
chair’’ means the agency designated by the Director 
or the Council under section 5(e)(1). 
(3) APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’’ means— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:18 Nov 05, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5934.IH
H5934
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
(A) the Committee on Homeland Security 
and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; and 
(B) the Committee on Oversight and Ac-
countability of the House of Representatives. 
(4) CONSULTATION WITH NON-FEDERAL ENTI-
TIES.—The term ‘‘consultation with non-Federal en-
tities’’ means regular and ongoing engagement 
with— 
(A) recipients and potential recipients of 
grants or cooperative agreements and entities 
that represent those recipients and potential re-
cipients; and 
(B) particular attention to the recipients 
and potential recipients described in subpara-
graph (A) that have not historically received 
grants or cooperative agreements. 
(5) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT.—The term ‘‘co-
operative agreement’’ has the meaning given the 
term in section 6302 of title 31, United States Code. 
(6) COUNCIL.—The term ‘‘Council’’ means the 
Grants Council established under section 5(a). 
(7) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means 
the Director of the Office of Management and Budg-
et. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:18 Nov 05, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5934.IH
H5934
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
(8) FEDERAL
FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE.—The 
term ‘‘Federal financial assistance’’ has the meaning 
given the term in section 7501 of title 31, United 
States Code. 
(9) GRANT.—The term ‘‘grant’’ has the mean-
ing given the term ‘‘grant agreement’’ in section 
6302 of title 31, United States Code. 
(10) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ 
has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the 
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 
Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 
(11) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.— 
The term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 101 of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001). 
(12) LOCAL
GOVERNMENT.—The term ‘‘local 
government’’ means any unit of government within 
a State, including— 
(A) a county; 
(B) a borough; 
(C) a municipality; 
(D) a city; 
(E) a town; 
(F) a township; 
(G) a parish; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:18 Nov 05, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5934.IH
H5934
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
(H) a local public authority, including any 
public housing agency (as defined in section 
3(b) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 
(42 U.S.C. 1437(b))); 
(I) a special district; 
(J) a school district; 
(K) an intrastate district; 
(L) a council of governments, whether or 
not incorporated as a nonprofit corporation 
under State law; and 
(M) any other agency or instrumentality of 
a multi-State, regional, or intra-State or local 
government. 
(13) NON-FEDERAL ENTITY.—The term ‘‘non- 
Federal entity’’ means a State, local government, In-
dian Tribe, institution of higher education, or non-
profit organization. 
(14) NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION.—The term 
‘‘nonprofit organization’’— 
(A) means any corporation, trust, associa-
tion, cooperative, or other organization that— 
(i) is operated primarily for scientific, 
educational, service, charitable, or similar 
purposes in the public interest; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:18 Nov 05, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5934.IH
H5934
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
(ii) is not organized primarily for 
profit; 
(iii) uses net proceeds to maintain, 
improve, or expand the operations of the 
organization; and 
(iv) is not an institution of higher 
education; and 
(B) includes faith-based and community- 
based organizations. 
(15) SENIOR AGENCY OFFICIAL FOR GRANTS.— 
The term ‘‘senior agency official for grants’’ means 
an agency official designated under section 4(a). 
(16) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means any 
State of the United States, the District of Columbia, 
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin 
Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Common-
wealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Trust 
Territory of the Pacific Islands, any instrumentality 
thereof, and any multi-State, regional, or interstate 
entity that has governmental functions. 
SEC. 4. SENIOR AGENCY OFFICIALS FOR GRANTS. 
(a) SENIOR AGENCY OFFICIAL FOR GRANTS.—Not 
later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the head of each agency shall— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:18 Nov 05, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5934.IH
H5934
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
(1) designate a senior official of the agency to 
be responsible for— 
(A) agency-wide grant and cooperative 
agreement policy, management, strategic plan-
ning, and implementation; and 
(B) the responsibilities of the agency under 
this Act; and 
(2) notify the Director of the designation under 
paragraph (1). 
(b) LIST.—The Director shall— 
(1) maintain a list of senior agency officials for 
grants; and 
(2) not later than 90 days after the date of en-
actment of this Act, make the list maintained under 
paragraph (1) available to the public on the website 
of the Office of Management and Budget. 
SEC. 5. GRANTS COUNCIL. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 80 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall establish 
a council to be known as the Grants Council. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Council shall be composed 
of— 
(1) the Controller of the Office of Federal Fi-
nancial Management of the Office of Management 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:18 Nov 05, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5934.IH
H5934
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
and Budget, who shall act as the Chair of the Coun-
cil; 
(2) with respect to each agency that distributes 
grants or enters into cooperative agreements, the 
senior agency official for grants of the agency; and 
(3) other relevant agency officials, as deter-
mined necessary by the Chair. 
(c) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.—The Administrator 
of General Services shall provide administrative support 
for the Council. 
(d) SOLICITATION
OF FEEDBACK.—The Director 
shall— 
(1) consistently and regularly solicit input and 
collect feedback and user experience information 
with respect to the application, administration, and 
reporting of grants and cooperative agreements, in-
cluding from non-Federal entities; and 
(2) incorporate the information collected under 
paragraph (1) into the work of the Council. 
(e) IMPLEMENTATION ASSISTANCE.— 
(1) AGENCY CO-CHAIR.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall des-
ignate an agency with representation on the 
Council to serve as the agency co-chair to assist 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:18 Nov 05, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5934.IH
H5934
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
the Director in carrying out the responsibilities 
under this section. 
(B) TERM.—The term of service of the 
agency co-chair shall be 2 years. 
(C) RENEWAL.—At the discretion of the 
Council, an agency may serve as the agency co- 
chair for not more than 2 consecutive terms. 
(D) SUCCESSOR.—Upon the expiration of 
a term of service of an agency co-chair, the 
members of the Council shall designate a suc-
cessor agency co-chair. 
(2) INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUPS.—The Di-
rector may use interagency working groups to assist 
in carrying out the responsibilities under this sec-
tion. 
(f) INTERAGENCY DUTIES.—The Director, in con-
sultation with the Council, shall direct, coordinate, and as-
sist agencies in— 
(1) designing and implementing common data 
standards under chapter 64 of title 31, United 
States Code; 
(2) creating guidelines for simplified notice of 
funding opportunities that improve the user experi-
ence for grants and cooperative agreements; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:18 Nov 05, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5934.IH
H5934
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
(3) improving interagency and intergovern-
mental coordination of information collection and 
data sharing relating to grant and cooperative agree-
ment programs, including for the purpose of per-
formance management and program evaluation; 
(4) improving the timeliness, completeness, and 
quality of information received by agencies from re-
cipients of grants and cooperative agreements; 
(5) improving the performance of grants and 
cooperative agreements; 
(6) ensuring the consistent application and in-
terpretation of Governmentwide Federal financial as-
sistance policy, oversight, and management; 
(7) supporting the development of the Federal 
financial assistance workforce; 
(8) establishing policies and guidelines to pro-
hibit conflicts of interest by officials involved in de-
termining grant awards and grant recipients; and 
(9) identifying and improving other procedures 
and policies relating to the application, administra-
tion, and reporting of grants and cooperative agree-
ments, as identified by the Council. 
(g) REPORT ON IMPROVEMENTS.—Not later than 1 
year after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 
2 years thereafter until the date that is 15 years after 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:18 Nov 05, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5934.IH
H5934
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
the date of enactment of this Act, the Director, in con-
sultation with the Council, shall submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees a report relating to the imple-
mentation of this Act. 
(h) REPORT ON RECOMMENDED CHANGES IN LAW 
AND REGULATIONS.—Not later than 4 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Director, in consultation 
with the Council, shall submit to the appropriate congres-
sional committees a report containing recommendations 
for changes in law and regulations to improve the effec-
tiveness, performance, and coordination of grant and coop-
erative agreement programs. 
SEC. 6. AGENCY GRANT IMPROVEMENT PLANS. 
(a) AGENCY GUIDANCE.—Not later than 270 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director, in 
consultation with the Council, shall issue guidance for the 
development of agency plans to— 
(1) streamline and simplify the application, ad-
ministrative, and reporting procedures for each 
grant and cooperative agreement program adminis-
tered by the agency; 
(2) simplify and improve user experience with 
respect to notices of funding opportunity, including 
by implementing— 
(A) the use of plain language; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:18 Nov 05, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5934.IH
H5934
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
(B) the listing of the availability of, and 
contact information for, training and assistance 
relating to applying for, administering, and re-
porting on grants and cooperative agreements; 
and 
(C) the inclusion of a summary of the 
funding opportunity of not more than 500 
words; 
(3) demonstrate active participation by the 
agency in the Council; 
(4) demonstrate appropriate coordination with 
the Grants Quality Service Management Office, or 
any successor organization, with respect to the adop-
tion by the agency, or plans for adoption by the 
agency, of grant management solutions or services 
that meet usability and modernization standards es-
tablished by the Director; 
(5) ensure potential applicants for grant and 
cooperative agreement programs have opportunities 
to receive training and assistance; 
(6) improve the abilities of recipients of grants 
and cooperative agreements to provide timely, com-
plete, and high-quality information in response to 
Federal reporting requirements; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:18 Nov 05, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5934.IH
H5934
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
(7) ensure that individuals with limited English 
proficiency can meaningfully access information re-
lating to grants and cooperative agreements con-
sistent with, and without unduly burdening, the mis-
sion of the agency; 
(8) improve the abilities of recipients of grants 
and cooperative agreements to provide meaningful 
access to applicants and beneficiaries of the grants 
and cooperative agreements who are individuals with 
limited English proficiency; and 
(9) establish specific annual goals and objec-
tives to further the purposes of this Act and meas-
ure annual performance in achieving those goals and 
objectives. 
(b) REVIEW OF PLANS AND REPORTS.—Upon re-
quest by the Director, the head of each agency shall sub-
mit to the Director information and reporting relating to 
the implementation of this Act by the agency. 
(c) EXEMPTIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director may exempt an 
agency, a component of an agency, or a particular 
grant or cooperative agreement program of an agen-
cy from the requirements of this Act if the Director 
determines that the agency does not administer a 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:18 Nov 05, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5934.IH
H5934
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
significant number of grant and cooperative agree-
ment programs. 
(2) LIST OF EXEMPTED AGENCIES.—The Direc-
tor shall— 
(A) maintain a list of agencies, components 
of agencies, and grant and cooperative agree-
ment programs exempted under paragraph (1); 
and 
(B) make the list maintained under sub-
paragraph (A) available to the public on the 
website of the Office of Management and Budg-
et. 
(d) AGENCY PLANS.—Subject to subsection (e), not 
later than the earlier of 1 year after the date on which 
the Director issues guidance under subsection (a) and 635 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, the head of 
each agency shall develop, implement, and submit to the 
Director and the appropriate congressional committees a 
plan in response to the guidance. 
(e) EXTENSION.—If the head of an agency is unable 
to comply with the deadline established under subsection 
(d) to develop and implement a plan, the Director may 
extend the period during which the agency may develop 
and implement the plan by not more than 1 year. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:18 Nov 05, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5934.IH
H5934
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
(f) COMMENT
AND
CONSULTATION
ON
AGENCY 
PLANS.— 
(1) COMMENT.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The head of each agen-
cy shall publish the plan developed in accord-
ance with the guidance issued under subsection 
(a) in the Federal Register. 
(B) PUBLIC COMMENT.—With respect to a 
plan published in the Federal Register by the 
head of an agency in accordance with subpara-
graph (A)— 
(i) the head of the agency shall review 
public comments on the plan submitted 
through the Federal Register and by other 
means; and 
(ii) to the maximum extent prac-
ticable, the head of the agency shall hold 
a public forum on the plan. 
(2) CONSULTATION.—The senior agency official 
for grants of each agency shall participate in con-
sultation with non-Federal entities during the devel-
opment and implementation of the plan developed in 
accordance with the guidance issued under sub-
section (a). 
(g) ANNUAL REPORT.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:18 Nov 05, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5934.IH
H5934
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of the submission of the plan of an agency 
under subsection (d), and annually thereafter, the 
senior agency official for grants of the agency or the 
head of the agency, as applicable, shall submit to the 
Director and the appropriate congressional commit-
tees a report on— 
(A) the implementation of the plan; and 
(B) the performance of the agency in 
meeting the goals and objectives described in 
subsection (a)(9). 
(2) INCLUSION IN OTHER REPORTS.—Effective 
on the date on which the head of an agency submits 
a plan under subsection (d), the head of the agency 
shall update and include the goals and objectives de-
scribed in subsection (a)(9) in each performance 
plan of the agency required under section 1115 of 
title 31, United States Code. 
SEC. 7. GRANTS.GOV. 
(a) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Director, in coordination 
with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall 
submit to the appropriate congressional committees a re-
port that— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:18 Nov 05, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5934.IH
H5934
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
(1) contains findings from a study on the acces-
sibility and user experience of Grants.gov, or any 
successor website; and 
(2) provides recommendations based on the 
findings described in paragraph (1) to improve the 
access to the function of Grants.gov, or any suc-
cessor website. 
(b) IMPROVEMENTS.—Not later than 3 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Director, in coordi-
nation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
shall implement the recommendations described in sub-
section (a)(2). 
SEC. 8. ANALYSIS OF ACCESS TO FEDERAL GRANTS. 
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees 
a report that— 
(1) identifies challenges experienced by non- 
Federal entities, including by faith-based and com-
munity-based organizations, rural communities, and 
small communities, in applying for, accessing, ad-
ministering, and reporting on grants and cooperative 
agreements; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:18 Nov 05, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00017
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5934.IH
H5934
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
(2) identifies the reasons that the entities de-
scribed in paragraph (1) elect not to participate in 
grants and cooperative agreements; 
(3) includes options to improve access to grants 
and cooperative agreements for the entities described 
in paragraph (1); 
(4) analyzes the extent to which agencies that 
award grants collect information on the number and 
characteristics, including the geographic distribution, 
of applicants for competitive grants and cooperative 
agreements; and 
(5) if the information described in paragraph 
(4) is available, analyzes the information. 
SEC. 9. EVALUATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 5 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
of the United States, in consultation with non-Federal en-
tities, shall submit to the appropriate congressional com-
mittees an evaluation of the effectiveness of this Act. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The evaluation under subsection (a) 
shall— 
(1) assess the implementation of this Act and 
the extent to which the implementation meets the 
purposes of this Act; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:18 Nov 05, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00018
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5934.IH
H5934
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
(2) make specific recommendations to further 
the implementation of this Act; 
(3) evaluate the actual performance of each 
agency in achieving the goals and objectives stated 
in the plan of the agency developed in accordance 
with the guidance issued under section 6(a); and 
(4) assess the level of coordination among the 
Director and non-Federal entities in implementing 
this Act. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:18 Nov 05, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00019
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H5934.IH
H5934
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB