Poverty Reduction and Prevention Act

Bill: 108-s-1786
Sponsor: Sen. Alexander, Lamar [R-TN]
Introduced: 2003-10-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Auditing
Authorization
Bank accounts
Block grants
Charitable contributions
Charities
Church and social problems
College costs
Commerce
Community development
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional reporting requirements
Crime and Law Enforcement
Economic development
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Education savings accounts
Energy
Energy assistance for the poor
Families
Federal-state relations
Finance and Financial Sector
Foundations
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Governmental investigations
Higher education
Housing and Community Development
Housing authorities
Income
Income tax
Infrastructure
Nonprofit organizations
Performance measurement
Police-community relations
Poor children
Poverty
Public housing
Public-private partnerships
Religion
Rural economic development
Saving and investment
State taxation
Tax credits
Taxation
Welfare eligibility
Youth
Youth services

Summary:
action_date: 2003-10-28
text: 
Poverty Reduction and Prevention Act - Amends the Community Services Block Grant Act to: (1) extend the community services block grant (CSBG) program; (2) stipulate that 125 percent of the official poverty line is the minimum level a State can set as its maximum eligibility requirement and 60 percent of State median income is the maximum level a State can set as its maximum eligibility requirement; (3) revise fund use, application and plan, and corrective action provisions; (4) require States to implement a financial and organizational assessment protocol; (5) require States to submit a separate CSBG audit; (6) include &quot;religion&quot; among the prohibited categories of exclusion; (7) revise the Secretary of Health and Human Services' discretionary authority; (8) extend community food and nutrition programs; and (9) extend national or regional programs to provide instructional activities to low-income youth.
 
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Amendments of 2003 - Amends the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 to: (1) extend the low-income home energy assistance program; and (2) establish extreme weather- and energy cost-based triggers for the release of emergency funds.
 
Assets for Independence Reauthorization Act - Amends the Assets for Independence Act extend the programs under such Act. Revises provisions respecting: (1) qualified expenses; (2) the reserve fund; (3) eligibility for participation; and (4) deposits by qualified entities.

action_date: 2003-11-24
text: 
Poverty Reduction and Prevention Act - 
Title I: Community Services Block Grant Act 
- (Sec. 101) Amends the Community Services Block Grant Act to revise community services block grant (CSBG) program purposes and goals to include a focus on reducing poverty and expanding opportunities for individuals and families to become economically self-sufficient. 
 
(Sec. 102) Revises the poverty line determination so that 125 percent of the Federal poverty line is the minimum level a State can set as its maximum eligibility requirement and 60 percent of State median income is the maximum level a State can set as its maximum eligibility requirement. 
 
(Sec. 103) Authorizes CSBG appropriations through FY 2009.
 
(Sec. 104) Provides that grants to States shall be for ameliorating the causes of poverty and the conditions caused by poverty.
 
(Sec. 105) Revises fund use provisions. Stipulates that States should use funds for: (1) managerial and program training and technical assistance; (2) statewide coordination and communication among eligible entities and State-operated or supported programs and services and other locally-operated programs and services targeted to low-income individuals and families; (3) supporting innovative partnerships, programs, and activities conducted by Community Action Agencies and their partners; (4) targeted funding; (5) supporting State charity tax credits; (6) identification of exemplary entities as Centers of Innovation; and (7) development of eligible entities' partnerships with local law enforcement agencies, local housing authorities, private foundations and other public and private partners. 
 
(Sec. 106) Revises application and plan provisions.
 
(Sec. 107) Provides that in designating eligible entities in underserved areas, a State shall deem private nonprofit eligible entities that are providing related services in an unserved area to be of demonstrated effectiveness, consistent with the needs identified by a community needs assessment.
 
(Sec. 108) States that tripartite boards shall be the mechanism for determining consideration of eligible entities.
 
(Sec. 109) Revises training and technical assistance provisions. Requires that training funds are to be used for development of a common State financial and organizational protocol.
 
(Sec. 110) Requires States to conduct full onsite biennial reviews of eligible entities, and follow-up annual reviews.
 
Directs States, beginning in FY 2006, to implement a financial and organizational assessment protocol to monitor the financial and administrative compliance of eligible entities. Directs that such protocol be developed jointly by the States and eligible entities.
 
(Sec. 111) Revises corrective and termination provisions. Continues an eligible entity's funding while the Secretary of Health and Human Services approves or disapproves a reduction or termination of funding.
 
(Sec. 112) Requires States to submit to the Secretary: (1) separate CSBG audits; and (2) financial reports every six months. Directs the Secretary to withhold funds for State noncompliance, and authorizes the Secretary to provide funds directly to eligible entities in such State.
 
(Sec. 113) Requires: (1) State and eligible entities to participate in a performance measurement system, which may also include subcontracting local agencies; and (2) the Secretary, with State and eligible entity consultation, to establish performance standards for State administration of CSBG funds; and (3) annual State reports. 
 
Requires eligible entity annual CSBG plans to include goals for: (1) leveraging community resources; (2) coordinating Federal, State, and local assistance; and (3) promoting community involvement.
 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) coordinate and consolidate eligible entity reporting; and (2) establish CSBG funding and monitoring performance measurements for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). 
 
Obligates specified funds for the Secretary's annual CSBG report.
 
(Sec. 114) Includes "religion" among the prohibited categories of CSBG exclusion.
 
(Sec. 116) Revises the Secretary's discretionary authority respecting grants for: (1) community economic development; (2) rural community development; and (3) neighborhood innovation projects.
 
(Sec. 117) Authorizes appropriations for community food and nutrition programs through FY 2009.
 
(Sec. 118) Authorizes appropriations for national or regional programs to provide instructional activities to low-income youth through FY 2009.
 

Title II: Low-Income Home Energy Assistance 
- Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Amendments of 2003 - (Sec. 202) Amends the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 to authorize appropriations for the low-income home energy assistance program and the incentive program for leveraging non-federal resources through FY 2010. 
 
(Sec. 203) Establishes extreme weather- and energy cost-based triggers for the release of emergency funds.
 
(Sec. 204) Directs the Comptroller General to evaluate and report on the Residential Energy Assistance Challenge program.
 
(Sec. 205) Directs the Secretary to conduct a study and report on the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981. Authorizes FY 2004 and 2005 appropriations for such purpose.
 

Title III: Assets for Independence Reauthorization Act
 - Assets for Independence Reauthorization Act - (Sec. 302) Amends the Assets for Independence Act respecting the assets for independence programs to: (1) revise the definition of &quot;qualified expense&quot;; (2) define &quot;qualified education purchase plan&quot;; (3) permit individual development accountholders to save in a postsecondary education account for their children or dependents; (4) repeal the provision permitting grandfathering of statewide programs; (5) permit up to 20 percent of non-federal funds to be used by grantees for program and operating costs; (6) expand income eligibility criteria; (7) revise eligible entity deposit provisions; and (8) authorize appropriations through FY 2008.

action_date: 2004-02-12
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on November 24, 2003. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Poverty Reduction and Prevention Act - 
Title I: Community Services Block Grant Act 
- (Sec. 101) Amends the Community Services Block Grant Act to revise community services block grant (CSBG) program purposes and goals to include a focus on reducing poverty and expanding opportunities for individuals and families to become economically self-sufficient. 
 
(Sec. 102) Revises the poverty line determination so that 125 percent of the Federal poverty line is the minimum level a State can set as its maximum eligibility requirement and 60 percent of State median income is the maximum level a State can set as its maximum eligibility requirement. 
 
(Sec. 103) Authorizes CSBG appropriations through FY 2009.
 
(Sec. 104) Provides that grants to States shall be for ameliorating the causes of poverty and the conditions caused by poverty.
 
(Sec. 105) Revises fund use provisions. Stipulates that States should use funds for: (1) managerial and program training and technical assistance; (2) statewide coordination and communication among eligible entities and State-operated or supported programs and services and other locally-operated programs and services targeted to low-income individuals and families; (3) supporting innovative partnerships, programs, and activities conducted by Community Action Agencies and their partners; (4) targeted funding; (5) supporting State charity tax credits; (6) identification of exemplary entities as Centers of Innovation; and (7) development of eligible entities' partnerships with local law enforcement agencies, local housing authorities, private foundations and other public and private partners. 
 
(Sec. 106) Revises application and plan provisions.
 
(Sec. 107) Provides that in designating eligible entities in underserved areas, a State shall deem private nonprofit eligible entities that are providing related services in an unserved area to be of demonstrated effectiveness, consistent with the needs identified by a community needs assessment.
 
(Sec. 108) States that tripartite boards shall be the mechanism for determining consideration of eligible entities.
 
(Sec. 109) Revises training and technical assistance provisions. Requires that training funds are to be used for development of a common State financial and organizational protocol.
 
(Sec. 110) Requires States to conduct full onsite biennial reviews of eligible entities, and follow-up annual reviews.
 
Directs States, beginning in FY 2006, to implement a financial and organizational assessment protocol to monitor the financial and administrative compliance of eligible entities. Directs that such protocol be developed jointly by the States and eligible entities.
 
(Sec. 111) Revises corrective and termination provisions. Continues an eligible entity's funding while the Secretary of Health and Human Services approves or disapproves a reduction or termination of funding.
 
(Sec. 112) Requires States to submit to the Secretary: (1) separate CSBG audits; and (2) financial reports every six months. Directs the Secretary to withhold funds for State noncompliance, and authorizes the Secretary to provide funds directly to eligible entities in such State.
 
(Sec. 113) Requires: (1) State and eligible entities to participate in a performance measurement system, which may also include subcontracting local agencies; and (2) the Secretary, with State and eligible entity consultation, to establish performance standards for State administration of CSBG funds; and (3) annual State reports. 
 
Requires eligible entity annual CSBG plans to include goals for: (1) leveraging community resources; (2) coordinating Federal, State, and local assistance; and (3) promoting community involvement.
 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) coordinate and consolidate eligible entity reporting; and (2) establish CSBG funding and monitoring performance measurements for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). 
 
Obligates specified funds for the Secretary's annual CSBG report.
 
(Sec. 114) Includes "religion" among the prohibited categories of CSBG exclusion.
 
(Sec. 116) Revises the Secretary's discretionary authority respecting grants for: (1) community economic development; (2) rural community development; and (3) neighborhood innovation projects.
 
(Sec. 117) Authorizes appropriations for community food and nutrition programs through FY 2009.
 
(Sec. 118) Authorizes appropriations for national or regional programs to provide instructional activities to low-income youth through FY 2009.
 

Title II: Low-Income Home Energy Assistance 
- Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Amendments of 2004 - (Sec. 202) Amends the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 to authorize appropriations for the low-income home energy assistance program and the incentive program for leveraging non-Federal resources through FY 2010. 
 
(Sec. 203) Establishes extreme weather- and energy cost-based triggers for the release of emergency funds.
 
(Sec. 204) Directs the Comptroller General to evaluate and report on the Residential Energy Assistance Challenge program.
 
(Sec. 205) Directs the Secretary to conduct a study and report on the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981. Authorizes FY 2004 and 2005 appropriations for such purpose.
 

Title III: Assets for Independence Reauthorization Act
 - Assets for Independence Reauthorization Act - (Sec. 302) Amends the Assets for Independence Act respecting the assets for independence programs to: (1) revise the definition of &quot;qualified expense&quot;; (2) define &quot;qualified education purchase plan&quot;; (3) permit individual development accountholders to save in a postsecondary education account for their children or dependents; (4) repeal the provision permitting grandfathering of statewide programs; (5) permit up to 20 percent of non-Federal funds to be used by grantees for program and operating costs; (6) expand income eligibility criteria; (7) revise eligible entity deposit provisions; and (8) authorize appropriations through FY 2008.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-03-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality.
action_date: 2004-02-24
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2004-02-24
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2004-02-24
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2004-02-24
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2004-02-24
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2004-02-24
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2004-02-12
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S1402-1413; text as passed Senate: CR S1402)
action_date: 2004-02-12
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S1402-1413; text as passed Senate: CR S1402)
action_date: 2003-11-24
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 414.
action_date: 2003-11-24
text: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Gregg with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 108-210.
action_date: 2003-11-24
text: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Gregg with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 108-210.
action_date: 2003-10-29
text: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
action_date: 2003-10-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2003-10-28
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S13378-13380)
action_date: 2003-10-28
text: Introduced in Senate