Title: Back to Basics Job Creation Act of 2017
Policy area: Social Welfare

Summary:
Back to Basics Job Creation Act of 2017
This bill amends title XX (Block Grants to State for Social Services) of the Social Security Act to require the Department of Health and Human Services to make grants to states, Indians tribes, or local governments to assist low-income individuals and individuals who have been unemployed for at least three months in developing self-employment opportunities.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 272 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 272

   To amend title XX of the Social Security Act to provide grants to 
       support job creation initiatives, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 4, 2017

Mr. Lewis of Georgia introduced the following bill; which was referred 
                   to the Committee on Ways and Means

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To amend title XX of the Social Security Act to provide grants to 
       support job creation initiatives, 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 Act may be cited as the ``Back to Basics Job Creation Act of 
2017''.

SEC. 2. BACK TO BASICS JOB CREATION GRANT PROGRAM.

    Subtitle A of title XX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397 
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 2010. BACK TO BASICS JOB CREATION GRANT PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Grants.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation with the 
        Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Commerce, shall make 
        grants to eligible entities to assist low-income individuals 
        and individuals who have been unemployed for at least 3 months 
        in developing self-employment opportunities.
            ``(2) Timing of grant awards.--Not later than 90 days after 
        the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall 
        obligate not less than half of any funds appropriated for 
        grants under this section.
            ``(3) Preference.--In awarding grants under this section, 
        the Secretary shall give preference to eligible entities--
                    ``(A) that serve communities that have experienced 
                high levels of poverty and unemployment and low levels 
                of reemployment, as determined by the Secretary using 
                data reported by the Census Bureau and the Bureau of 
                Labor Statistics;
                    ``(B) that demonstrate an ability to administer 
                activities using the grant funds without acquiring new 
                administrative structures or resources, such as 
                staffing, technology, evaluation activities, training, 
                research, and programming; and
                    ``(C) that have established partnerships with other 
                government agencies, community based organizations, 
                financial institutions, educational institutions, or 
                business organizations.
    ``(b) Use of Funds.--
            ``(1) In general.--An eligible entity awarded a grant under 
        this section shall use the grant--
                    ``(A) to provide education and training for 
                business and financial literacy, certification, small 
                business plan development, entrepreneurship, and patent 
                and copyright processes; and
                    ``(B) to provide funding for new small businesses 
                that pay employees at a living wage.
            ``(2) Limitations.--An eligible entity awarded a grant 
        under this section may not use the grant--
                    ``(A) to subsidize private or public employment; or
                    ``(B) for any activity in violation of Federal, 
                State, or local law.
            ``(3) Administrative expenses.--An eligible entity awarded 
        a grant under this section may use not more than 10 percent of 
        the grant funds for administrative expenses, except that none 
        of the funds may be used for salaries.
            ``(4) Deadline on use of grant funds.--An eligible entity 
        awarded a grant under this section shall expend the grant funds 
        before December 31, 2019, except that the Secretary may provide 
        an extension.
    ``(c) No Effect on Means-Tested Benefits.--For purposes of 
determining eligibility and benefit amounts under any means-tested 
assistance program, any assistance funded by a grant under this section 
shall be disregarded.
    ``(d) Reporting Requirements.--The Secretary shall submit a report 
on the implementation of this section to the Committee on Ways and 
Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of 
the Senate whenever either committee shall so request.
    ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated for grants under this section $5,000,000,000 for fiscal 
year 2018. The amounts appropriated under this section are authorized 
to remain available through December 31, 2018.
    ``(f) Definitions.--For purposes of this section--
            ``(1) the term `eligible entity' means a State, an Indian 
        tribe, or a local government;
            ``(2) the term `Indian tribe' has the meaning given such 
        term by section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and 
        Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b); and
            ``(3) the term `means-tested assistance program' means a 
        benefit program for which eligibility is based on income.''.
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