I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1028 
To provide additional support for the efforts of community coalitions, health 
care providers, parents, and others to prevent and reduce underage 
drinking, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 12, 2009 
Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD (for herself, Mrs. BONO MACK, Ms. DELAURO, and Mr. 
WAMP) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To provide additional support for the efforts of community 
coalitions, health care providers, parents, and others to 
prevent and reduce underage drinking, 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 ‘‘Support 21 Act of 
2009’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds as follows: 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
19:15 Feb 14, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1028.IH
H1028
PWALKER on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
(1) The age-21 minimum drinking law, enacted 
in 1984, has been a remarkably effective public 
health and safety policy. 
(2) In 1984, when Congress passed the Na-
tional Minimum Drinking Age Act, resulting in a 
uniform minimum age of 21 for purchase or public 
possession of alcohol in the United States, 67.2 per-
cent of 12th graders had drunk alcohol in the past 
month. Since that time, the percentage has fallen by 
one-third, to 44.4 percent. 
(3) The age-21 law has also significantly re-
duced drinking and driving traffic fatalities. The 
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 
(NHTSA) estimates that the age-21 law saves 900 
lives each year. The law has saved over 17,000 lives 
since its inception. 
(4) The adolescent brain is not fully developed 
at age 21. Underage drinking limits memory and im-
pedes thinking skills, leading to poor academic per-
formance including lower grades, absenteeism, and 
dropout. 
(5) In addition, alcohol use prior to age 21 can 
hinder brain development and function, causing 
long-term and irreversible damage. 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
19:15 Feb 14, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1028.IH
H1028
PWALKER on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
(6) Early initiation of alcohol use among ado-
lescents greatly increases the risk for lifetime alcohol 
abuse and dependence. 
(7) The 2007 Surgeon General’s Call to Action 
to Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking calls on 
parents, communities, and health care providers to 
engage in a national effort to prevent and reduce 
underage drinking. 
(8) The screening of adolescents for alcohol use 
by health care providers and the provision of brief 
interventions to discourage such use is a valuable 
and cost-effective tool to reduce youth drinking. 
(9) Appropriate reimbursement to health care 
professionals for youth alcohol screening, brief inter-
vention, and referral to appropriate treatment, if 
necessary, is essential to encouraging these effective 
practices. 
(10) The Institute of Medicine concluded that 
there is evidence that adult-oriented media cam-
paigns on underage drinking can be effective, and 
are an important part of creating a sustained na-
tional commitment to preventing and reducing un-
derage drinking. 
(11) Community awareness, support, and mobi-
lization provide an important context for the effec-
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
19:15 Feb 14, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1028.IH
H1028
PWALKER on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
tive enforcement of the age-21 minimum drinking 
law. 
SEC. 3. NATIONAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN ON MINIMUM LEGAL 
DRINKING AGE EDUCATION AND ENFORCE-
MENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation, 
acting through the Administrator of the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration, shall establish and admin-
ister a program under which at least 2 high-visibility cam-
paigns in support of enforcement of the minimum legal 
drinking age will be carried out per year for the purposes 
specified in subsection (b) in each of years 2010 through 
2014. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the semiannual cam-
paigns under this section shall be to achieve both of the 
following objectives: 
(1) Educate the public about the public health 
and safety benefits and basis for age-21 minimum 
legal drinking age laws. 
(2) Build public and parental support for and 
cooperation with enforcement of age-21 laws. 
(c) ADVERTISING.—The Secretary may use, or au-
thorize the use of, funds available to carry out this section 
to pay for the development, production, and use of broad-
cast and print media advertising in carrying out minimum 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
19:15 Feb 14, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1028.IH
H1028
PWALKER on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
legal drinking age education and enforcement campaigns 
under this section, including advertising directed at non- 
English speaking populations and those who listen, read, 
or watch nontraditional media. 
(d) CONSULTATION REQUIREMENT.—In developing 
and implementing the semiannual media campaign, the 
Secretary shall direct the entity carrying out the campaign 
to consult with interested parties including public health 
and consumer groups, law enforcement, and community 
coalitions. The progress of this consultative process is to 
be covered in the report under subsection (f). 
(e) COORDINATION WITH STATES.—The Secretary 
shall coordinate with the States in carrying out the min-
imum legal drinking age education and enforcement cam-
paigns under this section, including advertising funded 
under subsection (c), with a view to— 
(1) relying on States to provide the law enforce-
ment resources for the campaigns; and 
(2) providing means necessary for complemen-
tary education efforts associated with the minimum 
legal drinking age enforcement campaigns. 
(f) ANNUAL REPORT.—The Secretary shall conduct 
an annual report on the effectiveness of campaigns re-
ferred to in subsection (a). 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
19:15 Feb 14, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1028.IH
H1028
PWALKER on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
(g) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$22,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, and $22,000,000 for 
each of the fiscal years 2011 through 2014. 
SEC. 4. GRANTS TO PREVENT AND REDUCE UNDERAGE 
DRINKING. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—For the purposes of this sec-
tion— 
(1) the term ‘‘Administrator’’ means the Ad-
ministrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental 
Health Services Administration; 
(2) the term ‘‘eligible entity’’ means an organi-
zation that— 
(A) on or before the date of submitting an 
application for a grant under this subsection is 
currently receiving or has received grant funds 
under the Drug-Free Communities Act of 1997 
(21 U.S.C. 1521 et seq.); 
(B) can provide evidence of preexisting pe-
diatric health care provider involvement in their 
coalition; 
(C) has a documented strategy to identify 
and reduce the barriers that pediatric health 
care providers in their communities face in pro-
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
19:15 Feb 14, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1028.IH
H1028
PWALKER on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
viding alcohol education to their patients and 
their caregivers; 
(D) has a documented strategy to increase 
the amount, frequency, and intensity of alcohol 
education provided by pediatric health care pro-
viders to their patients and their caregivers; 
and 
(E) has a documented strategy to build on 
the national media campaign described in sec-
tion 3 above to enhance support for enforce-
ment of the minimum legal drinking age; 
(3) the term ‘‘pediatric health care provider’’ 
shall mean a provider of primary health care to indi-
viduals under the age of 21; 
(4) the term ‘‘professional pediatric medical or-
ganization’’ shall mean a national organization 
whose members consist primarily of pediatric health 
care providers; 
(5) the term ‘‘children and young adults’’ 
means any person under 21 years of age; 
(6) the term ‘‘alcohol education’’ means evi-
dence-based education about the effects of alcohol 
use and abuse on children, young adults, and adults; 
(7) the term ‘‘screening and brief intervention’’ 
shall mean using validated patient interview tech-
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
19:15 Feb 14, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1028.IH
H1028
PWALKER on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
niques to identify and assess the existence and ex-
tent of alcohol use, then providing brief advice and 
other brief motivational enhancement techniques de-
signed to increase patient insight regarding their 
own alcohol use and any realized or potential con-
sequences of this behavior, as well as to effect the 
desired related behavioral change; and 
(8) the term ‘‘caregivers’’ means the parents, 
family members, or legal guardians of the child or 
young adult. 
(b) SUPPLEMENTAL GRANTS TO WORK WITH LOCAL 
PEDIATRIC HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND CAREGIVERS 
TO PREVENT AND REDUCE UNDERAGE DRINKING AND 
TO ENHANCE THE NATIONAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN ON THE 
ENFORCEMENT
OF
THE MINIMUM LEGAL DRINKING 
AGE.— 
(1) AUTHORIZATION
OF
PROGRAM.—The Ad-
ministrator, in consultation with the Director of the 
Office of National Drug Control Policy, may make 
supplemental grants to eligible entities to implement 
strategies to— 
(A) work with local pediatric health care 
providers to identify and reduce the barriers to 
providing alcohol education to their patients 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
19:15 Feb 14, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1028.IH
H1028
PWALKER on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
and their caregivers, and screening and brief 
intervention to their patients; 
(B) work with local pediatric health care 
providers to increase the amount, frequency, 
and intensity of alcohol education they provide 
to children and young adults and their care-
givers, and screening and brief intervention to 
children and young adults; 
(C) serve as a resource to pediatric health 
care providers by providing them with access to 
the community sectors involved in collaborating 
on the implementation of comprehensive, com-
munitywide programs, strategies, and services 
to reduce underage alcohol use and abuse; 
(D) provide science-based alcohol informa-
tion and education to caregivers of children and 
young adults through relevant community sec-
tors, such as schools, workplaces, and local 
media, to reach the maximum number of care-
givers in the community; and 
(E) undertake local activities to amplify 
and enhance the national media campaign on 
the enforcement of the minimum legal drinking 
age. 
(2) APPLICATION.— 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
19:15 Feb 14, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1028.IH
H1028
PWALKER on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
(A) IN GENERAL.—An eligible entity desir-
ing a supplemental grant under this subsection 
shall submit an application to the Adminis-
trator at such time, in such manner, and ac-
companied by such information as the Adminis-
trator may require. 
(B) CRITERIA.—As part of an application 
for a grant under this subsection, the Adminis-
trator shall require an eligible entity to dem-
onstrate— 
(i) the participation of local pediatric 
health care providers in their coalition; 
(ii) the development and implementa-
tion of a multisector strategy to identify 
and remove existing barriers to the provi-
sion of alcohol education by pediatric 
health care providers to children and 
young adults and their caregivers, and 
screening and brief intervention to children 
and young adults; 
(iii) the development and implementa-
tion of a multisector strategy to increase 
alcohol education by pediatric health care 
providers to children and young adults and 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
19:15 Feb 14, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1028.IH
H1028
PWALKER on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
their caregivers, and screening and brief 
intervention to children and young adults; 
(iv) the ability to serve as a resource 
to pediatric health care providers by pro-
viding them with access to the community 
sectors that currently develop and imple-
ment programs, strategies, and services to 
reduce underage drinking and drug use; 
(v) the development and implementa-
tion of a multisector strategy to provide 
science-based information and education to 
caregivers of children and young adults; 
and 
(vi) the development and implementa-
tion of a multi-sector strategy to enhance 
and amplify the national media campaign 
on the enforcement of the minimum legal 
drinking age. 
(3) USES OF FUNDS.—An eligible entity that 
receives a grant under this subsection shall use the 
grant funds to implement strategies, in coordination 
with pediatric health care providers, to— 
(A) prevent and reduce underage drinking 
by identifying and removing barriers to the abil-
ity of pediatric health care providers to provide 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
19:15 Feb 14, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1028.IH
H1028
PWALKER on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
alcohol education to children and young adults 
and their caregivers, and screening and brief 
intervention to children and young adults; 
(B) increase the amount, frequency, and 
intensity of alcohol education by pediatric 
health care providers to children and young 
adults and their caregivers, and screening and 
brief intervention to children and young adults; 
(C) provide pediatric health care providers 
with access to all of the community sectors col-
laborating to reduce underage alcohol use and 
abuse; 
(D) serve as a resource for pediatric health 
care providers by providing them access to the 
community’s programs, strategies, and services 
to reduce underage alcohol use and abuse; 
(E) increase the provision of science-based 
alcohol information and education to caregivers 
of children and young adults through relevant 
community sectors, such as schools, workplaces, 
and local media, to reach the maximum number 
of caregivers in the community; 
(F) obtain specialized training and tech-
nical assistance by the entity funded under sec-
tion 4 of Public Law 107–82, as amended by 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
19:15 Feb 14, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1028.IH
H1028
PWALKER on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
Public Law 109–469 (21 U.S.C. 1521 note); 
and 
(G) undertake activities and programs that 
will enhance and amplify the national media 
campaign on the enforcement of the minimum 
legal drinking age. 
(4) GRANT TERMS.—A grant under this sub-
section— 
(A) shall be made for a period of not more 
than 4 years; and 
(B) shall not be in an amount of more 
than $100,000 per fiscal year. 
(5) 
SUPPLEMENT
NOT
SUPPLANT.—Grant 
funds provided under this subsection shall be used to 
supplement, not supplant, Federal and non-Federal 
funds available for carrying out the activities de-
scribed in this subsection. 
(6) EVALUATION.—A grant under this sub-
section shall be subject to the evaluation require-
ments set forth by the Administrator. 
(7) ADMINISTRATIVE
EXPENSES.—Not more 
than 6 percent of a grant under this subsection may 
be expended for administrative expenses. 
(8) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
19:15 Feb 14, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1028.IH
H1028
PWALKER on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
this subsection $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, and 
$5,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2011 through 
2014. 
(c) GRANTS
TO PEDIATRIC HEALTH CARE PRO-
VIDERS TO REDUCE UNDERAGE DRINKING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services, acting through the Administrator 
of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
Administration, shall make one or more grants to 
professional pediatric medical organizations to in-
crease among the members of such organizations ef-
fective practices to reduce the prevalence of alcohol 
use among individuals under the age of 21, including 
college students. 
(2) PURPOSES.—Grants under this section shall 
be made to promote the practices of— 
(A) screening children and adolescents for 
alcohol use; 
(B) offering brief interventions to children 
and adolescents to discourage such use; 
(C) educating parents about the dangers of 
and methods of discouraging such use; 
(D) diagnosing and treating alcohol abuse 
disorders; and 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
19:15 Feb 14, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1028.IH
H1028
PWALKER on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
(E) referring patients, when necessary, to 
other appropriate care. 
(3) USE OF FUNDS.—An organization receiving 
a grant under this section may use such funding to 
promote the practices specified in paragraph (2) 
among its members by— 
(A) providing training to health care pro-
viders; 
(B) disseminating best practices, including 
culturally and linguistically appropriate best 
practices, and developing, printing, and distrib-
uting materials; and 
(C) offering other activities approved by 
the Secretary. 
(4) APPLICATION.—An organization desiring a 
grant under this section shall submit an application 
to the Secretary at such time, and in such manner, 
and accompanied by such information as the Sec-
retary may require. Each application shall include— 
(A) a description of the organization and 
how its members are qualified to provide the 
services specified in paragraph (2); 
(B) a description of activities to be com-
pleted; and 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
19:15 Feb 14, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1028.IH
H1028
PWALKER on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
(C) a timeline for the completion of such 
activities. 
(5) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this subsection $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, and 
$3,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2011 through 
2014. 
SEC. 5. CDC FOCUS ON REDUCING UNDERAGE DRINKING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services shall establish within the Centers for Dis-
ease Control and Prevention, a focus on underage drinking 
prevention. 
(b) PURPOSES.—The Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention focus on underage drinking prevention 
shall include the following activities: 
(1) Synthesize, expand on, and widely dissemi-
nate existing research on population-based strategies 
for 
reducing 
underage 
drinking, 
including 
translational research, and make this research easily 
accessible to the general public. 
(2) Improve and conduct public health surveil-
lance on alcohol use and alcohol-related conditions in 
States by increasing the use of surveys such as but 
not limited to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveil-
lance System to monitor binge and excessive drink-
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
19:15 Feb 14, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1028.IH
H1028
PWALKER on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
ing among 18- to 20-year-olds that is not duplicative 
of research currently being conducted or supported 
by the Department of Health and Human Services. 
(3) Develop models of State-level epidemiolog-
ical surveillance of underage drinking by funding in 
at least 5 States or large metropolitan areas new 
epidemiologists focused on excessive drinking and 
underage alcohol use. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this sub-
section $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, and $5,000,000 
for each of the fiscal years 2011 through 2014. 
SEC. 6. NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES STUDY. 
(a) IN
GENERAL.—The National Academy of 
Sciences shall conduct a review of the research literature 
regarding the influence of drinking alcohol on the develop-
ment of the adolescent brain and the public policy implica-
tions of this research, and report to the Congress on its 
findings. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection 
$500,000 for fiscal year 2010. 
Æ 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
19:15 Feb 14, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00017
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H1028.IH
H1028
PWALKER on PROD1PC71 with BILLS