Grant Assistance and Technical Education Act
Bill: H.R.8815 | Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Adam (D-WA)
Policy area: Health

Summary:
Grant Assistance and Technical Education Act
This bill supports the capacity of community-based organizations to obtain federal funding for public health and related programs.
In particular, the bill establishes a position within the Office of Minority Health to assist such organizations apply for and meet conditions of grants available through the Department of Health and Human Services. It also creates grants for state and local public health entities to provide technical assistance and similar assistance to community-based organizations to carry out and obtain federal funding for public health programs.

To amend the Public Health Service Act, to establish within the Office 
of Minority Health, the position of Outreach Coordinator, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This title may be cited as the ``Grant Assistance and Technical 
Education Act''.

SEC. 2. OUTREACH COORDINATOR.

    Section 1707(d) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300u-
6(d)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) Outreach coordinator.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In carrying out subsection (b), 
                the Secretary shall establish within the Office, the 
                position of Outreach Coordinator. The Outreach 
                Coordinator shall be appointed by the Secretary, and 
                shall report directly to the Director in the Office of 
                Minority Health.
                    ``(B) Duties.--The duties of the Outreach 
                Coordinator shall consist of assisting community-based 
                organizations navigate the application for, and any 
                associated conditions on the receipt of, funding 
                available to nongovernmental organizations under grant 
                programs administered by the Secretary.
                    ``(C) Priority.--In providing assistance under 
                subparagraph (B), the Outreach Coordinator shall give 
                priority to community-based organizations that--
                            ``(i) have had a significant impact on the 
                        community served by the organization involved, 
                        with respect to providing culturally competent 
                        and culturally specific care;
                            ``(ii) demonstrate a connection to 
                        marginalized groups in the community served by 
                        the organization involved; and
                            ``(iii) have less experience in applying 
                        for an receiving funding described in 
                        subparagraph (B).''.

SEC. 3. ASSISTANCE TO COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS.

    Section 1707(e) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300u-
6(e)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) Assistance to community-based organizations.--The 
        Deputy Assistant Secretary shall award grants to State and 
        local public health entities for purposes of--
                    ``(A) coordinating with community-based 
                organizations for the purposes of public health 
                messaging and assisting in carrying out programs 
                administered by the Secretary;
                    ``(B) hiring and training employees of such 
                entities;
                    ``(C) subgranting funds to community-based 
                organizations to carry out programs to promote health 
                priorities in marginalized communities; and
                    ``(D) providing technical assistance to such 
                organizations to meet reporting requirements under 
                grant programs administered by the Secretary.''.
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