Title: Elder Pride Act
Policy area: Social Welfare

Summary:
Elder Pride Act
This bill includes an older individual's status as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) and an individual's human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status within the scope of greatest social needs for purposes of certain grants and services and makes other changes to the functions of the Administration on Aging, certain grant programs, and other activities concerning older LGBT individuals. Under current law, certain programs and services for older Americans must target those with the greatest economic and social needs.
Specifically, the bill establishes the Office of Inclusivity and Sexual Health within the administration to support services for older LGBT individuals. It also establishes a program for states, tribes, and others to provide education and resources for sexual health and other services for older LGBT individuals in rural areas.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2312 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2312

  To amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to establish the Office of 
   Inclusivity and Sexual Health and a rural outreach grant program 
          carried out by that Office, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 12, 2019

 Ms. Haaland (for herself, Ms. Bonamici, Ms. Meng, Mr. Lowenthal, Ms. 
Norton, Mr. Pappas, and Ms. Wasserman Schultz) introduced the following 
    bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to establish the Office of 
   Inclusivity and Sexual Health and a rural outreach grant program 
          carried out by that Office, 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 ``Elder Pride Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    Section 102 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3002) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (24)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (B) by striking ``and'' at the 
                end,
                    (B) in subparagraph (C)(ii) by striking the period 
                at the end and inserting ``; and'', and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(D) status as an LGBT individual and HIV 
                status''.'',
            (2) by redesignating paragraphs (34) through (54) as 
        paragraphs (35) through (55), respectively, and
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (33) the following:
            ``(34) The term `LGBT' means lesbian, gay, bisexual, or 
        transgender.''.

SEC. 3. OFFICE OF INCLUSIVITY AND SEXUAL HEALTH.

    Section 201 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3011) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(g)(1) There is established in the Administration an Office of 
Inclusivity and Sexual Health (referred to in this subsection as the 
`Office').
    ``(2)(A) The Office shall be headed by a Director of Inclusivity 
and Sexual Health (referred to in this subsection as the `Director') 
who shall be appointed by the Secretary.
    ``(B) The Office shall include an Assistant Director of LGBT Policy 
(referred to in this subsection as the `Assistant Director') who shall 
be appointed by the Director to assist the Director in carrying out 
this subsection, including by carrying out the activities under 
paragraph (4).
    ``(3) The Director shall--
            ``(A) coordinate activities within the Department of Health 
        and Human Services, and between other Federal departments and 
        agencies, to assure a continuum of improved services for LGBT 
        older individuals and older individuals of a protected class;
            ``(B) promote a continuum of improved sexual health 
        services for older individuals, including by ensuring access to 
        services for LGBT older individuals and older individuals of a 
        protected class;
            ``(C) collect and disseminate information related to the 
        challenges experienced by older individuals of a protected 
        class and all older individuals trying to seek sexual health 
        services, including information on the rise of sexually 
        transmitted diseases among the population of older individuals; 
        and
            ``(D) administer and evaluate grants that will help LGBT 
        older individuals, older individuals of a protected class, and 
        all older individuals seeking sexual health services, including 
        grants under section 423.
    ``(4) The Assistant Director shall--
            ``(A) serve as the effective and visible advocate on behalf 
        of LGBT older individuals--
                    ``(i) within the Department of Health and Human 
                Services and with other departments and agencies of the 
                Federal Government regarding all Federal policies 
                affecting such individuals; and
                    ``(ii) in the States to promote the enhanced 
                delivery of services and implementation of programs, 
                under this Act and other Federal Acts, for the benefit 
                of such individuals;
            ``(B) support, conduct, and arrange for research in the 
        field of LGBT aging with a special emphasis on gathering 
        statistics on LGBT older individuals;
            ``(C) collect and disseminate information related to 
        challenges experienced by LGBT older individuals with an 
        emphasis on the challenges experienced by LGBT older 
        individuals residing in rural areas and LGBT older individuals 
        living with human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune 
        deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS); and
            ``(D) recommend policies and priorities beneficial to LGBT 
        older individuals and promote the implementation and adoption 
        of culturally competent care and services for such individuals.
    ``(5) Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this 
Act and every 5 years thereafter, the Director shall submit to Congress 
a report describing the activities carried out under this subsection 
during the preceding 5 years.''.

SEC. 4. RURAL OUTREACH GRANT PROGRAM.

    Part A of title IV of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 
3032 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 423. RURAL OUTREACH GRANT PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Director.--The term `Director' means the Director of 
        the Office of Inclusivity and Sexual Health established under 
        section 201(g).
            ``(2) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity'--
                    ``(A) means an entity that submits an application 
                to the Director in accordance with subsection (c), and 
                is--
                            ``(i) a State;
                            ``(ii) an Indian tribe or tribal 
                        organization; or
                            ``(iii) an agency, nonprofit organization, 
                        or institution that--
                                    ``(I) focuses on serving the needs 
                                of older individuals, LGBT individuals, 
                                or individuals of a protected class; or
                                    ``(II) focuses on providing sexual 
                                health services to all older 
                                individuals; and
                    ``(B) may include an area agency on aging for a 
                rural area or a multipurpose senior center.
            ``(3) Rural area.--The term `rural area' means an area that 
        is not designated by the United States Census Bureau as an 
        urbanized area or urban cluster.
    ``(b) Authority for Grants.--The Director may make grants to 
eligible entities to carry out activities described in subsection (d) 
that are designed--
            ``(1) to create a cooperative and lasting partnership 
        between LGBT older individuals, or older individuals of a 
        protected class, residing in rural areas and the eligible 
        entity receiving the grant;
            ``(2) to meet the needs of the individuals described in 
        paragraph (1); and
            ``(3) to provide comprehensive sexual health services to 
        all older individuals residing in rural areas.
    ``(c) Applications.--
            ``(1) In general.--An eligible entity seeking a grant under 
        this section shall submit an application to the Director at 
        such time, in such manner, and containing such information as 
        the Director may reasonably require, including the contents 
        described in paragraph (2).
            ``(2) Contents.--An application for a grant under this 
        section shall contain--
                    ``(A) a description of the proposed activities to 
                be supported by the grant;
                    ``(B) a description of the size and characteristics 
                of the population in a rural area to be served by such 
                proposed activities;
                    ``(C) a description of the public and private 
                resources expected to be made available in connection 
                with such activities;
                    ``(D) a demonstrated intent to partner with local 
                organizations in rural areas in carrying out such 
                activities;
                    ``(E) evidence in a form acceptable to the Director 
                that such activities will meet urgent needs that are 
                not met by available public and private sources; and
                    ``(F) such other information or certifications that 
                the Director determines necessary to achieve the 
                purposes described in paragraphs (1) through (3) of 
                subsection (b).
    ``(d) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity may use funds made 
available by a grant under this section to carry out activities that 
include initiates that--
            ``(1) engage in education and training relating to 
        community outreach to LGBT older individuals, or older 
        individuals of a protected class, residing in rural areas;
            ``(2) reduce isolation and improve access to care for LGBT 
        older individuals, or older individuals of a protected class, 
        residing in rural areas by building relationships between such 
        individuals and the local community;
            ``(3) foster relationships between local service providers 
        and LGBT older individuals, or older individuals of a protected 
        class, residing in rural areas;
            ``(4) improve cultural competency with respect to LGBT 
        individuals, and older individuals of a protected class, among 
        organizations and personnel providing services to older 
        individuals residing in rural areas;
            ``(5) expand the use of non-discrimination policies that--
                    ``(A) protect sexual orientation and gender 
                identity; and
                    ``(B) create community spaces that are inclusive to 
                LGBT older individuals and older individuals of a 
                protected class; and
            ``(6) focus on providing sexual health services to older 
        individuals residing in rural areas.
    ``(e) Standards and Guidelines.--The Director shall establish 
standards and guidelines for activities supported by a grant under this 
section. Such standards and guidelines shall permit an eligible entity 
receiving such a grant to refine or adapt the standards and guidelines 
for an individual project, where such a refinement or adaptation is 
made necessary by a local circumstance.
    ``(f) Coordination With Local Entities.--
            ``(1) Cooperation.--An eligible entity receiving a grant 
        under this section shall, in carrying out activities supported 
        by the grant, agree to cooperate and coordinate with--
                    ``(A) the agencies of the relevant State and local 
                governments responsible for providing services to LGBT 
                older individuals, or older individuals of a protected 
                class, in the area served by such activities; and
                    ``(B) other public and private organizations and 
                agencies providing services to LGBT older individuals, 
                or older individuals of a protected class, in such 
                area.
            ``(2) Prioritization.--An eligible entity receiving a grant 
        under this section shall prioritize cooperating and 
        coordinating with public and private organizations and agencies 
        that primarily serve populations of older individuals with the 
        greatest social need.
    ``(g) Reports.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment 
of the Elder Pride Act, and every 2 years thereafter, the Director 
shall submit to Congress a report describing the activities carried out 
under this section during the preceding 2 years.''.
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