I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1678 
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a Parks, Jobs, and 
Equity Program to support job creation, economic revitalization, and 
park development for communities impacted by COVID–19. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 9, 2021 
Ms. BARRAGA´N (for herself, Mr. TURNER, and Mr. NEGUSE) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a Parks, 
Jobs, and Equity Program to support job creation, eco-
nomic revitalization, and park development for commu-
nities impacted by COVID–19. 
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 ‘‘Parks, Jobs, and Eq-
uity Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:02 May 01, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1678.IH
H1678
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti-
ty’’ means— 
(A) a city or town of a State or territory 
of the United States, or an Indian Tribe, 
that— 
(i) represents or otherwise serves a 
qualifying urban area; or 
(ii) has a population of 30,000 or 
more in the most recent census; 
(B) a special purpose district serving— 
(i) a qualifying urban area; or 
(ii) a city or town with a population 
of 30,000 or more in the most recent cen-
sus and managing open space for public 
recreation; and 
(C) the District of Columbia. 
(2) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ 
has the meaning given that term in section 4 of the 
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 
Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 
(3) LOW-INCOME COMMUNITY.—The term ‘‘low- 
income community’’ means any census block group 
in which 51 percent or more households have an an-
nual income equal at or below 80 percent of the me-
dian income of the area in which the household is 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:04 May 06, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1678.IH
H1678
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
located, as reported by the Department of Housing 
and Urban Development. 
(4) PARKS, JOBS AND EQUITY PROGRAM.—The 
term ‘‘Parks, Jobs, and Equity Program’’ means the 
program established under section 3(a). 
(5) POVERTY
LEVEL.—The term ‘‘poverty 
level’’ means the income poverty guidelines for the 
nonfarm population of the United States, as pre-
scribed by the Office of Management and Budget. 
(6) QUALIFYING
URBAN
AREA.—The term 
‘‘qualifying urban area’’ means an area identified by 
the Census Bureau as an area with a population of 
30,000 or more in the most recent census. 
(7) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
SEC. 3. GRANTS AUTHORIZED. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish the 
Parks, Jobs, and Equity Program to support park devel-
opment and delivery of recreation services, and in so 
doing, help create or preserve jobs, and provide economic 
stimulus in communities impacted by COVID–19. 
(b) FUNDING.—The Secretary, acting through the 
Parks, Jobs, and Equity Program, shall provide funding 
to States, territories, the District of Columbia, and Indian 
Tribes according to the following formula: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:02 May 01, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1678.IH
H1678
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(1) 49 percent divided equally among the 
States. For the purposes of this paragraph, the Dis-
trict of Columbia and the territories of the United 
States shall collectively be treated as a single State 
and shall receive shares of apportionment in propor-
tion to qualifying urban areas. 
(2) 49 percent divided proportionally among 
States based on each State’s share of urban popu-
lation, as defined by the Census Bureau, to the total 
urban population of the United States, based on the 
most recent census. 
(3) 2 percent for competitive grants to be 
awarded by the Secretary to Indian Tribes that 
qualify as an eligible entity. 
SEC. 4. ALLOCATION. 
(a) AMOUNTS TO STATES, TERRITORIES, AND THE 
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.—The Governor of a State or ter-
ritory (or a designated liaison officer) or the Mayor of the 
District of Columbia shall distribute funds provided to the 
State, territory, or District of Columbia under this Act 
as follows: 
(1) Not less than 50 percent of funds shall be 
provided to eligible entities for eligible uses that ben-
efit a low-income community. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:04 May 06, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1678.IH
H1678
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(2) Funds to eligible entities shall be not less 
than $50,000 and not more than $1,000,000. 
(3) Not more than 2.5 percent of funds may be 
used for administrative expenses of the State, terri-
tory, or the District of Columbia. 
(4) Not more than 10 percent of funds provided 
to an eligible entity may be used for administrative 
expenses. 
(b) AMOUNTS TO INDIAN TRIBES.— 
(1) AMOUNT.—Grant amounts under this Act 
to an eligible Indian Tribe shall be not less than 
$50,000 and not more than $1,000,000. 
(2) ADMINISTRATIVE
EXPENSES.—An Indian 
Tribe may not retain more than 10 percent of each 
grant received under this Act for administrative ex-
penses. 
(c) TIMING.— 
(1) DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS.—The Secretary 
shall distribute funds made available to carry out 
this Act not more than 45 days after such funds are 
made available to the Secretary. 
(2) APPLICATION
PROCEDURES.—The Gov-
ernors or Executive Officers of States and territories 
and the governing body of each Indian Tribe shall— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:04 May 06, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1678.IH
H1678
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(A) devise accelerated application proce-
dures by which eligible entities may apply for 
funds under this Act; 
(B) inform eligible entities and low-income 
communities about the opportunity to apply for 
funds under this Act, the application proce-
dures by which eligible entities may apply for 
funds, and the eligible uses for funding; 
(C) distribute funds to eligible entities not 
later than 180 days after distribution from the 
Secretary; and 
(D) direct each eligible entity that receives 
funds under this Act to spend such funds not 
later than 2 years after the funds are made 
available to that eligible entity. 
(3) EXTENSION.—Governors and Executive Of-
ficers of a State or territory and the governing body 
of an Indian Tribe may grant extensions of the 
deadlines in this subsection for not more than 180 
additional days for good cause shown. 
SEC. 5. ELIGIBLE USES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—A grant recipient may use a grant 
awarded under this Act— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:02 May 01, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1678.IH
H1678
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(1) to acquire land or water that will be used 
to provide outdoor recreation opportunities to the 
public; 
(2) to develop or renovate outdoor recreational 
facilities that provide outdoor recreation opportuni-
ties to the public; 
(3) to improve delivery of recreation services to 
the public (including supporting park personnel, 
training, recreation programming, and purchase of 
recreation equipment and supplies); and 
(4) to develop native event sites and cultural 
gathering spaces. 
(b) PRIORITIES.—Priority shall be given to projects 
that— 
(1) create or significantly enhance park and 
recreational opportunities for a community in a 
qualifying urban area that lacks parks and/or out-
door recreation areas within one-half mile or a 10- 
minute walk; 
(2) improve outdoor recreation opportunities for 
high-need populations based on income, age, or other 
measures of vulnerability and need; 
(3) provide opportunities for employment or job 
training either in park construction or rehabilitation 
or delivery of recreation services; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:04 May 06, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1678.IH
H1678
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(4) engage and empower underserved commu-
nities and youth; and 
(5) take advantage of coordination among var-
ious levels of government. 
(c) LIMITATIONS ON USE.—A grant recipient may 
not use grant funds for— 
(1) maintenance activities; 
(2) facilities that support semiprofessional or 
professional athletics; 
(3) indoor facilities such as recreation centers 
or facilities that support primarily nonoutdoor pur-
poses; 
(4) activities that are not in accordance with 
Comprehensive State Plans under section 200305 of 
title 54, United States Code; or 
(5) acquisition of land or interests in land that 
restrict access to specific persons. 
SEC. 6. REPORTING. 
(a) REQUIREMENT.—Each year that a State or Ter-
ritory that receives a grant under this Act shall submit 
to the Secretary performance and financial reports that— 
(1) summarize the status of and activities con-
ducted under each subgrant during the report pe-
riod; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:02 May 01, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1678.IH
H1678
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(2) provide a description of each subgrant 
project’s accomplishments and impact during the re-
port period, such as new park access opportunities, 
new recreation opportunities (facilities and services), 
jobs created, and other community benefits. 
(b) AVAILABILITY
TO CONGRESS.—The Secretary 
shall make such reports submitted under subsection (a) 
available to the House Committee on Natural Resources 
and Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. 
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary for the purposes of this Act, $500,000,000, to re-
main available until expended. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:02 May 01, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H1678.IH
H1678
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS