113 HR 4885 IH: Social Impact Bond Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2014-06-18
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

		I
		113th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		H. R. 4885
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			June 18, 2014
			Mr. Young of Indiana (for himself, Mr. Delaney, Mr. Griffin of Arkansas, Mr. Larson of Connecticut, Mr. Reed, Mr. Polis, Mr. Ross, Mr. Kennedy, and Mr. Schock) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, 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

		A BILL
		To encourage and support partnerships between the public and private sectors to improve our
			 nation’s social programs, and for other purposes.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Social Impact Bond Act.
		2.Social Impact BondsTitle XX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397) is amended—
			(1)in the heading, by striking to States and inserting and Programs for; and
			(2)by adding at the end the following:

					CSocial Impact Bonds
						2051.PurposesThe purposes of this subtitle are the following:
							(1)To improve the lives of families and individuals in need in the United States by funding social
			 programs that achieve real results.
							(2)To ensure Federal funds are used effectively on social services to produce positive outcomes for
			 both service recipients and taxpayers.
							(3)To establish the use of social impact bonds to address some of our nation’s most pressing problems.
							(4)To facilitate the creation of public-private partnerships that bundle philanthropic and other
			 private resources with existing public spending to scale up effective
			 social interventions already being implemented by private organizations,
			 non-profits, charitable organizations, and local governments across the
			 country.
							(5)To bring pay-for-performance to the social sector, allowing the United States to improve the impact
			 and effectiveness of vital social programs.
							2052.Social impact bond application
							(a)NoticeNot later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury,
			 in consultation with the Federal Interagency Council on Social Impact
			 Bonds, shall publish in the Federal Register a notice that the Department
			 is seeking proposals from States or local government for social impact
			 bond projects in accordance with this section.
							(b)Required outcomes for social impact bond projectTo qualify as a social impact bond project under this subtitle, a project must produce a
			 measurable, clearly defined outcome that results in social benefit and
			 Federal savings through any of the following:
								(1)Increasing work and earnings by individuals who have been unemployed in the United States for more
			 than six consecutive months.
								(2)Increasing employment and earnings of individuals age 16 to 24.
								(3)Increasing employment among individuals receiving Federal disability benefits.
								(4)Reducing the dependence of low-income families on Federal means-tested benefits.
								(5)Improving rates of high school graduation.
								(6)Reducing teen and unplanned pregnancies.
								(7)Improving birth outcomes among low-income families and individuals.
								(8)Reducing rates of asthma, diabetes, or other preventable diseases among low-income families and
			 individuals.
								(9)Increasing the proportion of children living in two-parent families.
								(10)Reducing incidences of child abuse and neglect.
								(11)Increasing adoptions of children from foster care.
								(12)Reducing recidivism among individuals released from prison.
								(13)Other measurable outcomes defined by the State or local government that result in positive social
			 outcomes and Federal savings.
								(c)Feasibility study requiredThe notice described in subsection (a) shall require a State or local government to submit a
			 feasibility study for the social impact bond project that contains the
			 following information:
								(1)The outcome goals of the project.
								(2)A description of each intervention in the project and anticipated outcome of such intervention.
								(3)Rigorous evidence demonstrating that the intervention can be expected to produce the desired
			 outcomes.
								(4)The target population that will be served by the project.
								(5)The expected social benefits to participants who receive the intervention and others who may be
			 impacted.
								(6)Projected Federal, State, and local government costs and other costs to conduct the project.
								(7)Projected Federal, State, and local government savings and other savings, including an estimate
			 prepared by the State or local government of the savings to the Federal,
			 State, and local government, on a program-by-program basis and in the
			 aggregate, if the project is implemented and the outcomes are achieved.
								(8)If savings resulting from the successful completion of the project are estimated to accrue to the
			 State or local government, the likelihood of the State or local government
			 to realize those savings.
								(9)A plan for delivering the intervention through a social impact bond model.
								(10)A description of the expertise of each service provider that will administer the intervention.
								(11)An explanation of the experience of the State or local government, the intermediary, or the service
			 provider in raising private and philanthropic capital to fund social
			 service investments.
								(12)The detailed roles and responsibilities of each entity involved in the project, including any State
			 or local government entity, intermediary, service provider, independent
			 evaluator, investor, or other stakeholder.
								(13)A summary of the experience of the service provider delivering the proposed intervention, a similar
			 intervention, or a summary demonstrating the service provider has the
			 expertise necessary to deliver the intervention.
								(14)A summary of the unmet need in the area where the intervention will be delivered or among the
			 target population who will receive the intervention.
								(15)The payment terms, the methodology used to calculate outcome payments, the payment schedule, and
			 performance thresholds.
								(16)The project budget.
								(17)The project timeline.
								(18)The criteria used to determine the eligibility of an individual for the project, including how
			 selected populations will be identified, how they will be referred to the
			 project, and how they will be enrolled in the project.
								(19)The evaluation design.
								(20)The metrics that will be used to determine whether the outcomes have been achieved and how such
			 metrics will be measured.
								(21)A summary explaining the independence of the evaluator from the other entities involved in the
			 project and the evaluator’s experience in conducting rigorous evaluations
			 of program effectiveness including, where available, well-implemented
			 randomized controlled trials on the intervention or similar interventions.
								(22)The capacity of the service provider to deliver the intervention to the number of participants the
			 State or local government proposes to serve in the project.
								(d)Project intermediary information requiredThe feasibility study described in subsection (c) shall also contain the following information
			 about the intermediary for the social impact bond project (whether the
			 intermediary is the service provider or other entity):
								(1)Experience and capacity for providing or facilitating the provision of the type of intervention
			 proposed.
								(2)The mission and goals.
								(3)Information on whether the intermediary is already working with service providers that provide this
			 intervention or an explanation of the capacity of the intermediary to
			 begin working with service providers to provide the intervention.
								(4)Experience working in a collaborative environment across government and nongovernmental entities.
								(5)Previous experience collaborating with public or private entities to implement evidence-based
			 programs.
								(6)Ability to raise or provide funding to cover operating costs (if applicable to the project).
								(7)Capacity and infrastructure to track outcomes and measure results, including—
									(A)capacity to track and analyze program performance; and
									(B)experience with performance-based contracting and achieving project milestones and targets.
									(8)Role in delivering the intervention.
								(9)How the intermediary would monitor program success, including a description of the interim
			 benchmarks and outcome measures.
								2053.Awarding social impact bond contracts
							(a)Timeline in awarding contractNot later than six months after receiving an application in accordance with section 2052, the
			 Secretary shall determine whether to enter into a contract for a social
			 impact bond project with a State or local government.
							(b)Considerations in Awarding ContractIn determining whether to enter into a contract for a social impact bond project (the application
			 for which was submitted under section 2052) the Secretary, in consultation
			 with the Federal Interagency Council on Social Impact Bonds (established
			 by section 2056) and the head of any Federal agency administering a
			 similar intervention or serving a population similar to that served by the
			 project, shall consider each of the following:
								(1)The value to the Federal Government of the outcome expected to be achieved if the outcomes
			 specified in the contract are met.
								(2)The ability of the State or local government in collaboration with the intermediary and the service
			 providers to achieve the outcomes.
								(3)The savings to the Federal Government if the outcomes specified in contract are met.
								(4)The savings to the State and local governments if the outcomes specific in the contract are met.
								(5)The expected quality of the evaluation that would be conducted with respect to the contract.
								(c)Contract Authority
								(1)Contract requirementsIn accordance with this section, the Secretary, in consultation with the Federal Interagency
			 Council on Social Impact Bonds and the head of any Federal agency
			 administering a similar intervention or serving a population similar to
			 that served by the project, may enter into a contract for a social impact
			 bond project with a State or local government if the Secretary determines
			 that each of the following requirements are met:
									(A)The State or local government agrees to achieve an outcome specified in the contract in order to
			 receive payment.
									(B)The Federal payment to the State or local government for each outcome specified is less than or
			 equal to the value of the outcome to the Federal Government over a period
			 not to exceed 10 years, as determined by the Secretary, in consultation
			 with the State or local government.
									(C)The duration of the project does not exceed 10 years.
									(D)The State or local government has demonstrated, through the application submitted under section
			 2052, that, based on prior rigorous experimental evaluations or rigorous
			 quasi-experimental studies, the intervention can be expected to achieve
			 each outcome specified in the contract.
									(E)The State, local government, intermediary, or service provider has experience raising private or
			 philanthropic capital to fund social service investments (if applicable to
			 the project).
									(F)The State or local government has shown that each service provider has experience delivering the
			 intervention, a similar intervention, or has otherwise demonstrated the
			 expertise necessary to deliver the intervention.
									(2)PaymentThe Secretary shall pay the State or local government only if the independent evaluator described
			 in section 2055 determines that the social impact bond project has met the
			 requirements specified in the contract and achieved an outcome specified
			 in the contract.
								(3)LimitationThe Secretary may not enter into a contract for a social impact bond project under paragraph (1)
			 after the date that is 10 years after the date of the enactment of the Social Impact Bond Act.
								(d)Notice of contract awardNot later than 30 days after entering into a contract under this section, the Secretary shall
			 publish a notice in the Federal Register that includes, with regard to
			 such contract, the following:
								(1)The outcome goals of the social impact bond project.
								(2)A description of each intervention in the project.
								(3)The target population that will be served by the project.
								(4)The expected social benefits to participants who receive the intervention and others who may be
			 impacted.
								(5)The detailed roles, responsibilities, and purposes of each Federal, State, or local government
			 entity, intermediary, service provider, independent evaluator, investor,
			 or other stakeholder.
								(6)The payment terms, the methodology used to calculate outcome payments, the payment schedule, and
			 performance thresholds.
								(7)The project budget.
								(8)The project timeline.
								(9)The project eligibility criteria.
								(10)The evaluation design.
								(11)The metrics that will be used to determine whether the outcomes have been achieved and how these
			 metrics will be measured.
								(12)The estimate prepared by the State or local government of the savings to the Federal, State, and
			 local government, on a program-by-program basis and in the aggregate, if
			 the contract is entered into and implemented and the outcomes are
			 achieved.
								2054.Feasibility study funding
							(a)Requests for funding for feasibility studiesThe Secretary shall reserve a portion of the funding provided in section 2057 to assist States or
			 local governments in developing feasibility studies required by section
			 2052. To be eligible to receive funding to assist with completing a
			 feasibility study, a State or local government shall submit an application
			 for feasibility study funding containing the following information:
								(1)A description of the outcome goals of the social impact bond project.
								(2)A description of the intervention, including anticipated program design, target population, an
			 estimate regarding the number of individuals to be served, and setting for
			 the intervention.
								(3)Evidence to support the likelihood that such intervention will produce the desired outcome.
								(4)The expected social benefits to participants who receive the intervention and others who may be
			 impacted.
								(5)Estimated costs to conduct the project.
								(6)Estimates of Federal, State, and local government savings and other savings if the project is
			 implemented and the outcomes are achieved.
								(7)An estimated timeline for implementation and completion of the project, which shall not exceed 10
			 years.
								(8)With respect to a project for which the State or local government selects an intermediary to
			 operate the project, any partnerships needed to successfully execute the
			 project and the ability of the intermediary to foster such partnerships.
								(9)The expected resources needed to complete the feasibility study for the State or local government
			 to apply for social impact bond funding under section 2052.
								(b)Federal selection of applications for feasibility studyNot later than 6 months after receiving an application for feasibility study funding under
			 subsection (a), the Secretary, in consultation with the Federal
			 Interagency Council on Social Impact Bonds and the head of any Federal
			 agency administering a similar intervention or serving a population
			 similar to that served by the project, shall select State or local
			 government feasibility study proposals for funding based on the following:
								(1)The likelihood that the proposal will achieve the desired outcome.
								(2)The value of the outcome expected to be achieved.
								(3)The potential savings to the Federal Government if the social impact bond project is successful.
								(4)The potential savings to the State and local governments if the project is successful.
								(c)Public disclosureNot later than 30 days after selecting a State or local government for feasibility study funding
			 under this section, the Secretary shall cause to be published on the
			 website of the Federal Interagency Council on Social Impact Bonds
			 information explaining why a State or local government was granted
			 feasibility study funding.
							(d)Funding restriction
								(1)Feasibility study restrictionThe Secretary may not provide feasibility study funding under this section for more than 50 percent
			 of the estimated total cost of the feasibility study reported in the State
			 or local government application submitted under subsection (a).
								(2)Aggregate restrictionOf the total amount appropriated under section 2057, the Secretary may not use more than
			 $10,000,000 to provide feasibility study funding to States or local
			 governments under this section.
								(e)Submission of feasibility study requiredNot later than six months after the receipt of feasibility study funding under this section, a
			 State or local government receiving such funding shall complete the
			 feasibility study and submit the study to the Federal Interagency Council
			 on Social Impact Bonds.
							2055.Evaluations
							(a)Contract AuthorityFor each State or local government awarded a social impact bond project approved by the Secretary
			 under this Act, the head of the relevant agency, as determined by the
			 Federal Interagency Council on Social Impact Bonds, shall enter into a
			 contract with such State or local government to pay for the independent
			 evaluation to determine whether the State or local government project has
			 met an outcome specified in the contract in order for the State or local
			 government to receive outcome payments under this subtitle.
							(b)Evaluator QualificationsThe head of the relevant agency may not enter into a contract with a State or local government
			 unless the head determines that the evaluator is independent of the other
			 parties to the contract and has demonstrated substantial experience in
			 conducting rigorous evaluations of program effectiveness including, where
			 available, well-implemented randomized controlled trials on the
			 intervention or similar interventions.
							(c)Methodologies To Be UsedThe evaluation used to determine whether a State or local government will receive outcome payments
			 under this subtitle shall use experimental designs using random assignment
			 or other research methodologies that allow for the strongest possible
			 causal inferences when random assignment is not feasible.
							(d)Progress Report
								(1)Submission of reportThe independent evaluator shall—
									(A)not later than two years after a project has been approved by the Secretary and biannually
			 thereafter until the project is concluded, submit to the head of the
			 relevant agency and the Federal Interagency Council on Social Impact Bonds
			 a written report summarizing the progress that has been made in achieving
			 each outcome specified in the contract; and
									(B)at the scheduled time of the first outcome payment and at the time of each subsequent payment,
			 submit to the head of the relevant agency and the Federal Interagency
			 Council on Social Impact Bonds a written report that includes the results
			 of the evaluation conducted to determine whether an outcome payment should
			 be made along with information on the unique factors that contributed to
			 achieving or failing to achieve the outcome, the challenges faced in
			 attempting to achieve the outcome, and information on the improved future
			 delivery of this or similar interventions.
									(2)Submission to CongressNot later than 30 days after receipt of the written report pursuant to paragraph (1)(B), the
			 Federal Interagency Council on Social Impact Bonds shall submit such
			 report to each committee of jurisdiction in the House of Representatives
			 and the Senate.
								(e)Final Report
								(1)Submission of reportWithin six months after the social impact bond project is completed, the independent evaluator
			 shall—
									(A)evaluate the effects of the activities undertaken pursuant to the contract with regard to each
			 outcome specified in the contract; and
									(B)submit to the head of the relevant agency and the Federal Interagency Council on Social Impact
			 Bonds a written report that includes the results of the evaluation and the
			 conclusion of the evaluator as to whether the State or local government
			 has fulfilled each obligation of the contract, along with information on
			 the unique factors that contributed to the success or failure of the
			 project, the challenges faced in attempting to achieve the outcome, and
			 information on the improved future delivery of this or similar
			 interventions.
									(2)Submission to CongressNot later than 30 days after receipt of the written report pursuant to paragraph (1)(B), the
			 Federal Interagency Council on Social Impact Bonds shall submit such
			 report to each committee of jurisdiction in the House of Representatives
			 and the Senate.
								(f)Limitation on Cost of EvaluationsOf the amount made available for social impact bond projects in section 2057, the Secretary may not
			 obligate more than 15 percent to evaluate the implementation and outcomes
			 of such projects.
							2056.Federal interagency council on social impact bonds
							(a)EstablishmentThere is established the Federal Interagency Council on Social Impact Bonds (in this section,
			 referred to as the Council) to—
								(1)coordinate the efforts of social impact bond projects funded by this subtitle;
								(2)advise and assist the Secretary in the development and implementation of such projects;
								(3)advise the Secretary on specific programmatic and policy matter related to such projects;
								(4)provide subject-matter expertise to the Department of the Treasury with regard to such projects;
								(5)ensure that each State or local government that has entered into a contract with the Secretary for
			 a social impact bond project under this subtitle and each evaluator
			 selected by the head of the relevant agency under section 2055 has access
			 to Federal administrative data to assist the State or local government and
			 the evaluator in evaluating the performance and outcomes of the project;
			 and
								(6)address issues that will influence the future of social impact bond projects in the United States.
								(b)Composition of CouncilThe Chair of the council shall be a member of the National Economic Council or the Domestic Policy
			 Council. The Council shall be composed of one designee, designated by the
			 head of the relevant agency, from each of the following:
								(1)Office of Management and Budget.
								(2)Department of Labor.
								(3)Department of Health and Human Services.
								(4)Social Security Administration.
								(5)Department of Agriculture.
								(6)Department of Justice.
								(7)Department of Housing and Urban Development.
								(8)Department of Education.
								(9)Department of Veterans Affairs.
								(10)Department of the Treasury.
								2057.Funding
							(a)In generalOut of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, there is hereby appropriated
			 $300,000,000, to remain available until 10 years after the date specified
			 in section 2053(c)(3), to carry out the activities authorized under this
			 subtitle.
							(b)LimitationOf the amounts made available under subsection (a), the Secretary may not use more than $1,000,000
			 in any fiscal year to support the review, approval, and oversight of
			 social impact bond projects, including activities conducted by—
								(1)the Federal Interagency Council on Social Impact Bonds; and
								(2)any other agency consulted by the Secretary before approving a social impact bond project or a
			 feasibility study under section 2054.
								2058.WebsiteThe Federal Interagency Council on Social Impact Bonds shall establish and maintain a public
			 website that shall display the following:
							(1)A copy of, or method of accessing, each notice published regarding a social impact bond project
			 pursuant to this subtitle.
							(2)For each State or local government that has entered into a contract with the Secretary for a social
			 impact bond project, the website shall contain the following information:
								(A)The outcome goals of the project.
								(B)A description of each intervention in the project.
								(C)The target population that will be served by the project.
								(D)The expected social benefits to participants who receive the intervention and others who may be
			 impacted.
								(E)The detailed roles, responsibilities, and purposes of each Federal, State, or local government
			 entity, intermediary, service provider, independent evaluator, investor,
			 or other stakeholder.
								(F)The payment terms, methodology used to calculate outcome payments, the payment schedule, and
			 performance thresholds.
								(G)The project budget.
								(H)The project timeline.
								(I)The project eligibility criteria.
								(J)The evaluation design.
								(K)The metrics used to determine whether the proposed outcomes have been achieved and how these
			 metrics are measured.
								(3)A copy of the progress reports and the final reports relating to each social impact bond project.
							(4)An estimate of the savings to the Federal, State, and local government, on a program-by-program
			 basis and in the aggregate, resulting from the successful completion of
			 the social impact bond project.
							2059.Community Reinvestment ActSection 804 of the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 (12 U.S.C. 2903) is amended by adding at the
			 end the following:

								(e)Social impact bond projectsIn assessing and taking into account, under subsection (a), the record of a financial institution,
			 the appropriate Federal financial supervisory agency shall consider, as a
			 factor, investments made by the financial institution in social impact
			 bond projects under subtitle C of title XX of the Social Security Act..
						2060.RegulationsThe Secretary, in consultation with the Federal Interagency Council on Social Impact Bonds, may
			 issue regulations as necessary to carry out this subtitle.
						2061.DefinitionsIn this subtitle:
							(1)AgencyThe term agency has the meaning given that term in section 551 of title 5, United States Code.
							(2)InterventionThe term intervention means a specific service delivered to achieve an impact through a social impact bond project.
							(3)SecretaryThe term Secretary means the Secretary of the Treasury.
							(4)Social impact bond projectThe term social impact bond project means a project that finances social services using a social impact bond model.
							(5)Social impact bond modelThe term social impact bond model means a method of financing social services in which—
								(A)Federal funds are awarded to a State or local government only if a State or local government
			 achieves certain outcomes agreed upon by the State or local government and
			 the Secretary; and
								(B)the State or local government coordinates with service providers, investors (if applicable to the
			 project), and (if necessary) an intermediary to identify—
									(i)an intervention expected to produce the outcome;
									(ii)a service provider to deliver the intervention to the target population; and
									(iii)investors to fund the delivery of the intervention.
									(6)StateThe term State means each State of the United States, the District of Columbia, each commonwealth, territory or
			 possession of the United States, and each federally recognized Indian
			 tribe.
							.


116 HR 6026 IH: Civil Rights Legacy Protection Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2020-02-28
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I116th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 6026IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESFebruary 28, 2020Mr. Cohen (for himself and Mr. Thompson of Mississippi) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the JudiciaryA BILLTo prohibit the destruction of civil rights memorials, and for other purposes.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Civil Rights Legacy Protection Act.2.Prohibition on destruction of certain property(a)In generalChapter 65 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:1370.Prohibiting destruction of civil rights memorials(a)Destruction of propertyWhoever, in a circumstance described in subsection (b), intentionally defaces, damages, or destroys a protected memorial under subsection (c) or any structure, plaque, statue, or monument on public property that commemorates a covered civil rights event or a covered civil rights figure shall—(1)in the case that such defacement, damage, or destruction is in an amount that is equal to or less than $5,000, be required to complete up to 300 hours of community service, fined under this title, or imprisoned not more than a year; or(2)in the case that such defacement, damage, or destruction is in an amount that is more than $5,000, be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 3 years.(b)CircumstancesA circumstance described in this subsection is that—(1)in committing the offense described in subsection (a), the defendant travels or causes another to travel in interstate or foreign commerce, or uses the mail or an instrumentality of interstate or foreign commerce; or(2)the structure, plaque, statue, or monument described in subsection (a) is located on property owned by, or under the jurisdiction of, the Federal Government.(c)Protected memorialsThe following are protected memorials:(1)Emmett Till Memorial, Mississippi.(2)Mississippi Freedom Trail Markers, Mississippi.(3)Edmund Pettus Bridge, Alabama.(4)Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument, Alabama.(5)Civil Rights Memorial Center, Memorial to Peace & Justice, Alabama.(6)Virginia Civil Rights Memorial, Virginia.(7)Landmark for Peace Memorial in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park, Indiana.(8)Harriet Ross Tubman Memorial, Massachusetts.(9)National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel, Tennessee.(10)Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Monument, Colorado.(11)Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Monument, Maryland.(12)African American Civil War Memorial, Washington, DC.(13)Freedom Riders National Monument, Alabama.(14)African Burial Ground National Monument, New York.(15)Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument, Ohio.(16)Reconstruction Era National Park, South Carolina.(17)George Washington Carver National Monument, Missouri.(18)Medgar and Myrlie Evers National Monument, Mississippi.(19)Markers on the Civil Rights Trail.(d)RestitutionWhoever is convicted of an offense under this section shall be ordered to pay restitution.(e)Covered events and figuresIn this section—(1)the term covered civil rights figure means any figure on the list submitted by the United States Commission on Civil Rights pursuant to section 3(a) of the Civil Rights Legacy Protection Act; and(2)the term covered civil rights event means any event on the list submitted by the United States Commission on Civil Rights pursuant to section 3(a) of the Civil Rights Legacy Protection Act..(b)Table of sectionsThe table of sections for chapter 65 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following item:1370. Prohibiting destruction of civil rights memorials..3.United States Commission on Civil Rights(a)In generalNot later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the United States Commission on Civil Rights shall develop and submit to the Attorney General a list of covered civil rights events and covered civil rights figures as follows:(1)Covered civil rights eventFor purposes of developing a list of covered civil rights events, the United States Commission on Civil Rights shall include on the list any event that—(A)memorializes the struggle to secure equal rights for groups suffering from discrimination on the basis of race, religion, disability, gender identity, or sexual orientation during the Civil Rights Movement and other social movements; and(B)left a positive impression on a unit of local government, a State, or the United States.(2)Covered civil rights figureFor purposes of developing a list of covered civil rights figures, the United States Commission on Civil Rights shall include on the list any person who—(A)is known for dedication and advocacy toward expanding personal civil liberties and ending racial and other forms of discrimination, disenfranchisement, and segregation; or(B)(i)worked to secure equal rights for groups suffering from discrimination on the basis of race, religion, disability, gender identity, or sexual orientation during the Civil Rights Movement and other social movements; and(ii)has left a positive impression and legacy on a unit of local government, a State, or the United States.(b)Modifications to listThe United States Commission on Civil Rights shall review annually and modify as necessary the list submitted by the Commission pursuant to (a).(c)Publishing listThe Attorney General shall ensure that the list submitted by the United States Commission on Civil Rights pursuant to subsection (a), and any modifications made by the Commission pursuant to subsection (b), shall be made available to the public on the Department of Justice website.


117 HR 1752 IH: Choosing Our Own Lives Over Fast Firearms Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2021-03-10
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I117th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 1752IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESMarch 10, 2021Mr. Krishnamoorthi (for himself, Mr. Blumenauer, Ms. Blunt Rochester, Mr. Brown, Mr. Carbajal, Mr. Carson, Mr. Case, Mr. Casten, Ms. Castor of Florida, Mr. Cicilline, Ms. Clarke of New York, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Danny K. Davis of Illinois, Ms. Dean, Ms. DeGette, Ms. DeLauro, Mrs. Demings, Mr. DeSaulnier, Mr. Deutch, Mr. Doggett, Ms. Escobar, Ms. Eshoo, Mr. Espaillat, Mr. Evans, Mr. Foster, Mr. Garamendi, Mr. Green of Texas, Mr. Grijalva, Ms. Haaland, Mr. Hastings, Mrs. Hayes, Mr. Himes, Ms. Jackson Lee, Ms. Johnson of Texas, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Keating, Mr. Khanna, Mr. Lawson of Florida, Ms. Lee of California, Mr. Lieu, Mr. Lowenthal, Ms. McCollum, Mr. McGovern, Mr. McNerney, Ms. Meng, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Mr. Morelle, Mr. Moulton, Ms. Norton, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, Ms. Omar, Mr. Pallone, Mr. Pascrell, Mr. Payne, Mr. Perlmutter, Mr. Price of North Carolina, Mr. Quigley, Mr. Raskin, Ms. Roybal-Allard, Mr. Ruppersberger, Mr. Rush, Mr. Sablan, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Sires, Mr. Soto, Ms. Speier, Mr. Suozzi, Mr. Takano, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Ms. Tlaib, Mr. Tonko, Mr. Vargas, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, and Ms. Wilson of Florida) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the JudiciaryA BILLTo provide for a 3-day waiting period before a person may receive a handgun, with exceptions.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Choosing Our Own Lives Over Fast Firearms Act or the COOL OFF Act.2.3-day waiting period required before receipt of a handgun, with exceptions(a)Transfers between persons who are not firearms licenseesSection 922 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:(aa)(1)Except as provided in paragraph (2), it shall be unlawful for a person not licensed under this chapter, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, to receive a handgun from another person not licensed under this chapter unless at least 3 business days (meaning a day on which State offices are open) have elapsed since the recipient most recently offered to take possession of the handgun.(2)Paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to a handgun transfer that meets the conditions of subsection (t)(7)..(b)Transfers by firearms licensees to non-LicenseesSection 922(t) of such title is amended—(1)in paragraph (1)—(A)by striking and at the end of subparagraph (B)(ii);(B)by striking the period and inserting ; and at the end of subparagraph (C); and(C)by adding at the end the following:(D)in the case of a handgun transfer that does not meet the conditions of paragraph (7), 3 business days (meaning a day on which State offices are open) have elapsed since the licensee contacted the system.; and(2)by adding at the end the following:(7)A handgun transfer meets the conditions of this paragraph if—(A)the transferee is a law enforcement agency or any law enforcement officer, armed private security professional, or member of the armed forces, to the extent the officer, professional, or member is acting within the course and scope of employment and official duties;(B)the transfer is a loan between spouses, between domestic partners, between parents and their children, between siblings, between aunts or uncles and their nieces or nephews, or between grandparents and their grandchildren, for a lawful purpose;(C)the transfer is temporary and necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm, if the possession by the transferee lasts only as long as immediately necessary to prevent the imminent death or great bodily harm; or(D)the transfer is temporary and the transferor has no reason to believe that the transferee will use or intends to use the firearm in a crime or is prohibited from possessing firearms under State or Federal law, and the transfer takes place and the transferee’s possession of the firearm is exclusively—(i)at a shooting range or in a shooting gallery or other area designated for the purpose of target shooting;(ii)while reasonably necessary for the purposes of hunting, trapping, or fishing, if the transferor—(I)has no reason to believe that the transferee intends to use the firearm in a place where it is illegal; and(II)has reason to believe that the transferee will comply with all licensing and permit requirements for such hunting, trapping, or fishing; or(iii)while in the presence of the transferor..(c)PenaltiesSection 924(a)(1)(B) of such title is amended by striking or (q) and inserting (q), or (aa).(d)Effective dateThe amendments made by this section shall apply to conduct engaged in after the 90-day period that begins with the date of the enactment of this Act.


117 HR 2413 IH: Paving the Way for Rural Communities Act of 2021
U.S. House of Representatives
2021-04-08
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I117th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 2413IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESApril 8, 2021Mr. Kustoff (for himself and Mr. Crawford) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural ResourcesA BILLTo provide an exemption from certain requirements for federally funded projects and activities in areas not in metropolitan statistical areas, and for other purposes.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Paving the Way for Rural Communities Act of 2021.2.Federally funded projects and activities not in metropolitan statistical areasNotwithstanding any other provision of law, the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and division A of subtitle III of title 54, United States Code (formerly known as the National Historic Preservation Act), shall not apply to any project or activity that—(1)is not located in a metropolitan statistical area (as defined by the Office of Management and Budget); and(2)is carried out using Federal funds.


116 HR 5267 IH: International Violence Against Women Act of 2019
U.S. House of Representatives
2019-11-26
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I116th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 5267IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESNovember 26, 2019Ms. Schakowsky (for herself, Mr. Engel, Mrs. Lowey, Mr. McGovern, Ms. Speier, Mr. Garamendi, Mrs. Demings, Mr. Larsen of Washington, Mr. Carbajal, Mr. Pallone, Mr. Payne, Ms. Moore, Ms. Meng, Ms. Lee of California, Mr. Deutch, Ms. Titus, Ms. Velázquez, Mr. Moulton, Mr. Lowenthal, Ms. McCollum, Mr. Hastings, Mr. Rush, Ms. Norton, Mr. Khanna, Mr. Vargas, Mr. Raskin, Mr. Connolly, Ms. Brownley of California, Mr. Pocan, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Suozzi, Ms. Jayapal, Mr. Sean Patrick Maloney of New York, Mr. Richmond, Ms. Pingree, Mrs. Napolitano, Mr. Blumenauer, Mr. Takano, Mr. Schiff, Mr. Cicilline, Ms. DeGette, Mr. Cartwright, Miss Rice of New York, Mr. DeFazio, Mr. Schneider, Mr. Gomez, Ms. Roybal-Allard, Ms. Frankel, Ms. Houlahan, Mr. Smith of Washington, Mr. Luján, Mr. Grijalva, Ms. DelBene, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Mr. Soto, Mr. Kilmer, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Danny K. Davis of Illinois, Mrs. Beatty, Ms. Johnson of Texas, Mr. Welch, Mr. Ted Lieu of California, Mr. O'Halleran, Ms. Kuster of New Hampshire, Ms. Castor of Florida, Ms. Eshoo, Mr. Kind, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Ms. Wild, Mr. Larson of Connecticut, Mrs. Hayes, Mr. Clay, Mr. Foster, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Casten of Illinois, Ms. Clarke of New York, Mrs. Dingell, Mr. Beyer, Mr. Serrano, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, Mr. Price of North Carolina, Mr. Huffman, Mrs. Lawrence, Ms. Fudge, Ms. Lofgren, Ms. Pressley, Mr. Levin of Michigan, Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney of New York, Mr. David Scott of Georgia, Ms. Barragán, Ms. Wexton, Ms. Mucarsel-Powell, Ms. Blunt Rochester, Mr. Bera, Mr. Yarmuth, Mr. Cox of California, Mr. McEachin, Mr. Brown of Maryland, Ms. Tlaib, Mr. Costa, Mrs. Luria, Mr. Pappas, Mr. Langevin, Mr. Cleaver, Mr. Evans, Mrs. Bustos, Mr. Pascrell, Ms. Kelly of Illinois, Mr. Tonko, Mr. Meeks, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, Ms. Haaland, Mr. Cuellar, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Trone, Mr. Malinowski, Mr. Espaillat, Mr. Cárdenas, Mr. Lawson of Florida, Ms. Omar, Ms. Adams, Ms. Sánchez, Ms. Jackson Lee, and Mr. Cisneros) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign AffairsA BILLTo prevent international violence against women, and for other purposes.

		1.Short title and table of contents
 (a)Short titleThis Act may be cited as the International Violence Against Women Act of 2019. (b)Table of contentsThe table of contents for this Act is as follows:

					Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents.
					Sec. 2. Findings.
					Sec. 3. Statement of policy.
					Sec. 4. Definitions.
					Title I—Strategy, Policy, and Programs
					Sec. 101. United States Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence Globally.
					Sec. 102. Implementation of the United States Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based
			 Violence Globally.
					Sec. 103. Monitoring the United States Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence
			 Globally.
					Title II—Oversight and Accountability
					Sec. 201. Office of Global Women’s Issues.
					Sec. 202. Senior Coordinator for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment.
					Sec. 203. Briefing and assessment.
					Sec. 204. Addressing violence against women and girls in humanitarian relief, peacekeeping,
			 conflict, and postconflict settings.
 2.FindingsCongress makes the following findings: (1)An estimated one out of every three women throughout the world will be beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime.
 (2)Up to 70 percent of women in some countries report experiencing gender-based violence at some point in their lives.
 (3)Intimate partner violence is the most prevalent form of violence against women, preventing them from playing more active roles in the social, economic, and political development of their communities.
 (4)Sexual violence among adolescents and pre-adolescents is alarmingly high. National surveys in Swaziland, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Haiti have found that between 28 and 38 percent of girls and between 9 and 18 percent of boys report experiencing sexual violence before reaching 18 years of age.
 (5)Adult male respondents in six countries who had experienced violence as children were significantly more likely to report perpetrating intimate partner violence themselves according to the International Men and Gender Equality Survey dataset. Analysis by the International Center for Research on Women further shows that men who witnessed violence against their mothers are consistently and significantly more likely to report perpetrating sexual violence. Further, sexually aggressive behaviors start young for these men, and overlap significantly with other forms of physical violence.
 (6)Gender-based violence harms economies and the workers that fuel them. Despite under-reporting, striking statistics document prevalent forms of gender-based violence globally that affect the world of work. Worldwide, women are concentrated in low-wage, insecure jobs in workplaces where they lack bargaining power, protections against gender-based violence, safe and confidential reporting systems, recourse to justice, and access to legal, medical, and psychosocial services.
 (7)Women living in poverty are particularly vulnerable to gender-based violence. Lack of economic opportunities often compel women to use desperate and dangerous means to provide for themselves and their families, risking significant exposure to sexual exploitation and abuse. These women often cannot afford critical social and medical services.
 (8)Research conducted in India, Colombia, South Africa, and Uganda indicates that when women have greater control of assets, they are less likely to experience intimate partner violence. Additionally, when women participate in the economy, they are able to develop a wider support network, which allows them to more easily escape intimate partner violence.
 (9)Gender-based violence impacts livelihoods and food security by reducing work capacity and productivity, including the ability to grow food for consumption. Studies have shown that women affected by gender-based violence are exposed to illnesses and injuries that hamper their ability to work productively and care for their families. Diminished food production consequently increases hunger and women’s vulnerability to further violence.
 (10)Country studies indicate that the risk of HIV among women who have experienced violence may be up to three times higher than among those who have not experienced violence. The World Health Organization found that women who experience intimate partner violence are at more than 50 percent greater risk of HIV infection, and in some instances their risk of HIV infection increases four-fold. Women living with HIV are more likely to experience violence than other women, and fear of violence can prevent women from accessing HIV/AIDS information and receiving treatment and counseling.
 (11)Addressing gender norms and inequities is essential to reducing HIV risk and increasing access to HIV prevention, care, and treatment services for women and men.
 (12)Prevalence of sexual and physical violence is higher among persons with disabilities, particularly for adolescents and intimate partners with disabilities, and for men and women with intellectual impairments living in institutions. The World Health Organization reports that rates of gender-based violence are between 4 and 10 times greater among persons with disabilities compared to non-disabled persons.
 (13)Displaced, refugee, and stateless women and girls in humanitarian emergencies, conflict settings, and natural disasters face extreme violence and threats, including—
 (A)being forced to exchange sex for food and humanitarian supplies; and (B)being at increased risk of rape, sexual exploitation, and abuse.
 (14)Rape and sexual assault against women and girls are used to torture, intimidate, and terrorize communities. Rape and sexual assault are used as tools of war in conflict zones, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, El Salvador, and South Sudan. UNFPA, the United Nation’s reproductive health and rights agency, leads the Gender Based Violence Area of Responsibility, which is responsible for global coordination and collaboration on GBV prevention and response in humanitarian settings and is a leading provider of post-rape care and other reproductive health services and commodities in humanitarian settings.
 (15)Child and forced marriage of girls— (A)is a harmful practice that deprives girls of their dignity and rights and creates barriers to development for communities and countries;
 (B)is projected to affect more than 150,000,000 girls who will become brides between 2019 and 2030; (C)can prematurely end girls’ education, increase vulnerability to gender-based violence, and significantly raise the risk of maternal and infant morbidity or mortality, including the risk of obstetric fistula and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS;
 (D)is perpetuated by poverty, a lack of educational or employment opportunities for girls, a lack of legal policies and enforcement of laws, and religious, cultural, and social factors related to girls’ perceived lack of value, factors which become particularly acute in conflict and disaster settings where fears of sexual violence and overstretched coping mechanisms often drive child and forced marriage; and
 (E)child marriage is estimated to contribute, on average, to a loss in earnings of about nine percent for women who married early, which translates into a loss of about one percent in earnings for the entire labor force when factoring in all working adults.
 (16)Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is carried out most often on girls between infancy and 15 years of age and has impacted more than 200,000,000 girls and women who are alive today. FGM/C can cause long-term health problems, including infertility, complications in childbirth, increased risk of newborn deaths, and psychological trauma. Mental health is one of the least explored domains of impact of gender-based violence; indeed, self-harm and suicide is the leading cause of death globally for adolescent girls aged 15–19.
 (17)World Bank data shows that gender inequality directly corresponds to increased levels of political and economic instability within states. Gender-based violence impedes women’s meaningful participation in social, political, and economic spheres, which is essential to the stability and democratization of a country. Since women disproportionately experience gender-based violence during conflict and post-conflict reconstruction, they can play a pivotal role in preventing, mitigating, and resolving conflict, and countering extremism.
 (18)Gender-based violence is a contributing factor to human trafficking. Experts in the field have reported that women and girls who have experienced gender-based violence and live in societies that tolerate severe gender discrimination appear to be more vulnerable to being trafficked. Comprehensive efforts to reduce human trafficking must include efforts to prevent and respond to gender-based violence due to the intertwined relationship of the two crimes.
 (19)Health services are among the first places survivors of violence seek assistance. Health-focused nongovernmental organizations and United Nations agencies like UNFPA, the Reproductive Health and Rights Agency, have critical opportunities to reach affected women and girls.
 (20)Gender-based violence also manifests online; gender-based cyberviolence is a growing concern, with women and girls disproportionately affected and targeted based on their appearance, activism, and sexuality.
 (21)Taking meaningful action to address gender-based violence is an imperative acknowledgment of a woman’s agency and personal right to leading a dignified life.
 (22)Addressing gender norms and inequities is essential to reducing HIV risk and increasing access to HIV prevention, care, and treatment services for women and men.
 3.Statement of policyIt is the policy of the United States— (1)to take effective action to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls around the world as a matter of basic human rights and to promote gender equality, economic growth, and improved public health;
 (2)to systematically integrate and coordinate efforts to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls internationally into United States foreign policy and foreign assistance programs, including peace-building efforts and humanitarian relief and recovery;
 (3)to support and build local capacity in developing countries, including the capacity of governments at all levels and nongovernmental organizations, especially women-led organizations to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls;
 (4)to consult, cooperate, coordinate, and collaborate with a wide variety of nongovernmental partners with demonstrated experience in preventing and responding to violence against women and girls, including faith-based organizations and women-led organizations;
 (5)to employ a multisectoral approach to preventing and responding to violence against women and girls internationally, including activities in the economic, education, health, nutrition, legal, and judicial sectors;
 (6)to work at all levels, from the individual to the family, community, local, national, and international levels, to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls around the world;
 (7)to enhance training by United States personnel of professional foreign military and police forces and judicial officials, including specific and thorough instruction on preventing and responding to violence against women and girls around the world;
 (8)to engage men and boys as partners, as an essential element of making sustained reductions in violence against women and girls;
 (9)to include the prevention of child and forced marriage as an important part of United States Government efforts to prevent violence against girls and promote gender equality and global health;
 (10)to require that all United States contractors and grantees establish appropriate policies and take effective measures to prevent violence against women and girls and sexual exploitation and abuse within their workforce;
 (11)to exert sustained international leadership to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls, including in bilateral and multilateral fora; and
 (12)to implement the United States Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence Globally. 4.DefinitionsIn this Act:
 (1)Ambassador-at-LargeThe term Ambassador-at-Large means the Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues at the Department of State appointed by the President pursuant to section 201(a).
 (2)Appropriate congressional committeesThe term appropriate congressional committees means— (A)the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and
 (B)the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate. (3)Gender analysisThe term gender analysis means the examination of the differential impact of policies on different genders.
 (4)Gender-based violenceThe term gender-based violence— (A)means any harmful threat or act directed at an individual or group based on actual or perceived biological sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or lack of adherence to varying socially constructed norms around masculinity and femininity;
 (B)is rooted in structural gender inequalities, patriarchy, and power imbalances; and (C)includes the use or threat of physical, psychological, sexual, economic, legal, political, social and other forms of control or abuse.
 (5)OfficeThe term Office means the Office of Global Women’s Issues established by the Secretary of State pursuant to section 201(a).
 (6)Senior CoordinatorThe term Senior Coordinator means the Senior Coordinator for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment at the United States Agency for International Development appointed pursuant to section 202.
 (7)Violence against women and girlsThe term violence against women and girls— (A)means any act of violence against women or girls that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or psychological harm or suffering to women or girls, including threats of such acts, coercion, or arbitrary deprivations of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life; and
 (B)includes— (i)physical, sexual, and psychological violence occurring in the family, including battering, sexual abuse of female children in the household, dowry-related violence, marital rape, female genital cutting and mutilation, forced child marriage, and other harmful practices to women and girls, nonspousal violence, and violence related to exploitation;
 (ii)physical, sexual, and psychological violence occurring within the general community, including rape, sexual abuse, sexual harassment and intimidation at work, in educational institutions and elsewhere, trafficking in women and girls, and forced prostitution; and
 (iii)physical, sexual, and psychological violence perpetrated or condoned by the state, wherever it occurs.
					IStrategy, Policy, and Programs
			101.United States Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence Globally
 (a)In generalNot later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 4 years thereafter, the Ambassador-at-Large, in consultation with the Senior Coordinator, shall—
 (1)develop or update, in consultation with civil society, including service providers, a United States global strategy to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls, using evidence-based interventions and standards that address the root causes of, and provide comprehensive responses to, violence against women and girls;
 (2)submit the strategy under paragraph (1) to the appropriate congressional committees for comment and review; and
 (3)make the strategy publicly available on the internet. (b)Initial strategyFor the purposes of this section, the United States Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence Globally, issued in August 2012 and updated in 2016, shall be deemed to fulfill the initial requirement of subsection (a).
 (c)Implementation planNot later than 60 days after submission of the strategy under subsection (a), the Ambassador-at-Large, in consultation with the Senior Coordinator, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees an implementation plan detailing how the strategy will be implemented in the upcoming 4 fiscal years, including the budget resources requested, and the specific activities to be supported, by each Executive agency under the strategy.
 (d)Collaboration and coordinationIn developing the strategy under subsection (a), the Ambassador-at-Large and the Senior Coordinator shall consult with—
 (1)the heads of relevant Federal agencies; (2)the Senior Policy Operating Group on Trafficking in Persons; and
 (3)representatives of civil society, including nongovernmental organizations, faith-based organizations, multilateral organizations, local and international civil society groups, and local service providers and beneficiaries with demonstrated experience in addressing violence against women and girls or promoting gender equality internationally.
 (e)ContentThe implementation plan required under subsection (c) shall— (1)identify eligible low-income and lower-middle income countries with significant levels of violence against women and girls, including within displaced communities, that have the governmental or nongovernmental organizational capacity to manage and implement gender-based violence prevention and response program activities and should, when possible, be geographically, ethnically, and culturally diverse from one another;
 (2)select 5 to 20 of the eligible countries identified under paragraph (1) in which to develop comprehensive and holistic individual country plans that incorporate at least two of the program activities listed in section 102(b);
 (3)assess and describe the current or potential capacity of the government of each eligible country selected under paragraph (2) and civil society organizations in each such eligible country to address and respond to violence against women and girls;
 (4)identify coordination mechanisms with Federal agencies that— (A)have existing programs relevant to the strategy;
 (B)will be involved in new program activities; and (C)are engaged in broader United States strategies around development;
 (5)describe the monitoring and evaluation mechanisms established for each eligible country, and their intended use in assessing overall progress in prevention and response;
 (6)project general levels of resources needed to achieve the stated objectives in each eligible country, including an accounting of—
 (A)activities and funding already expended by the Department of State, the United States Agency for International Development, and other Federal agencies, donor country governments, and multilateral institutions; and
 (B)leveraged private sector resources; (7)integrate gender analysis into the strategy for each country; and
 (8)include, as appropriate, strategies designed to accommodate the needs of stateless, disabled, internally displaced refugees and religious or ethnic minority women and girls.
					102.Implementation of the United States Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence
			 Globally
 (a)In generalThe Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development are authorized to provide assistance to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls internationally.
 (b)Program activities supportedAssistance provided under this section shall be used to carry out, in each of the countries identified in the strategy required pursuant to subsection 101(e)(2), two or more of the following program activities:
 (1)Increasing legal and judicial protections by— (A)supporting programs that strengthen a coordinated community response to violence against women and girls, including through coordination between judges, police, prosecutors, and legal advocates to enhance prospects for perpetrator accountability;
 (B)supporting efforts and providing resources to provide training and technical assistance to police, prosecutors, forensic physicians, lawyers, corrections officers, judges, and judicial officials, and where appropriate, to nonlawyer advocates and traditional community authorities on violence against women and girls;
 (C)supporting efforts to reform and revise criminal and civil laws to prohibit violence against women and girls and create accountability for perpetrators;
 (D)enhancing the capacity of the justice sector, including keeping official records of all complaints, collecting and safeguarding evidence, systematizing and tracking data on cases of violence against women and girls, and undertaking investigations and evidence gathering expeditiously;
 (E)helping women and girls who are victims of violence gain access to the justice sector and supporting them throughout the legal process, including establishing victim and witness units for courts and promoting support for survivor services, including hotlines and shelters;
 (F)promoting civil remedies in cases of domestic violence that— (i)prioritize victim safety and confidentiality and offender accountability;
 (ii)grant women and children restraining, protection, or removal orders with appropriate criminal sanctions for violations against perpetrators of violence;
 (iii)strengthen and promote women’s custodial rights over children and protect children; and (iv)grant courts authority to provide specific relief pursuant to a restraining or removal order, including restitution, spousal maintenance, child support, payment of debt, or return or equitable distribution of property;
 (G)reducing the incidence of violence against women and girls committed by government officials by developing confidential mechanisms for reporting violence against women and girls committed by government officials and institutions and developing laws to punish the perpetrators and remove immunity from state officials;
 (H)promoting broader legal protection for women and girls against all forms of violence against women and girls, such as female infanticide and female genital mutilation, and practices that are associated with higher rates of violence against women and girls, such as child and forced marriage; and
 (I)increasing the number of women advocates trained to respond to violence against women and girls at police stations, including the creation of domestic violence units and increasing the number of women police.
 (2)Carrying out health care initiatives, including— (A)promoting the integration of programs to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls into existing programs addressing child survival, women’s health, reproductive health, family planning, mental health, and HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment;
 (B)training of health care providers, including traditional birth attendants, on methods to safely and confidentially assess women and girls seeking health services for intimate partner, family, and sexual violence;
 (C)developing and enforcing national and operational women’s health, reproductive health, children's health, and HIV/AIDS policies that prevent and respond to violence against women and girls, with accompanying resources, including through cooperative efforts with ministries of health;
 (D)developing information gathering systems within the health care sector that, consistent with safety and confidentiality concerns, collect and compile data on the type of violence against women and girls, access to care, age of victims, and relationship of victims to perpetrators;
 (E)working with governments to develop partnerships with civil society organizations to create referral networks systems for psychosocial, legal, economic, or other support services; and
 (F)integrating screening and assessment for gender-based violence into HIV/AIDS programming and other health programming into all country operation plans, and increasing women's access to information, strategies, and services to protect themselves from HIV/AIDS.
 (3)Conducting public awareness programs to change social norms and attitudes, including— (A)supporting women survivors of violence to educate their communities on the impacts of violence;
 (B)engaging men, including faith and traditional leaders; (C)providing funding and programmatic support for mass media social change campaigns; and
 (D)supporting community efforts to change attitudes about harmful traditional practices, including child marriage, female genital mutilation, and so-called honor killings.
 (4)Improving economic opportunities for women and girls, including— (A)supporting programs to help women meet their economic needs and to increase their economic opportunities, in both rural and urban areas, including through support for—
 (i)the establishment and development of businesses (micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises) through access to financial and nonfinancial services; and
 (ii)education, literacy, and numeracy programs, leadership development and job skills training, especially in nontraditional fields and expected growth sectors;
 (B)supporting programs to help increase property rights, social security, and home ownership and land tenure security for women by—
 (i)promoting equitable extension of property and inheritance rights, particularly rights to familial and marital property;
 (ii)promoting legal literacy, including among faith and traditional leaders, about women’s property rights; and
 (iii)helping women to make land claims and protecting women’s existing claims and advocating for equitable land titling and registration for women, including safeguards for women title-holders in the case of domestic violence disputes;
 (C)integrating activities to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls into existing economic opportunity programs by—
 (i)integrating education on violence against women and girls into women’s microfinance, microenterprise, and job skills training programs; and
 (ii)training providers of economic opportunity services and programs in sensitivity to violence against women and girls; and
 (D)addressing violence against women and girls in the workplace. (5)Improving educational opportunities for women and girls, including—
 (A)supporting efforts and providing resources to provide training for all teachers and school administrators on school-related violence, in particular increasing awareness of violence against women and girls, and to improve reporting, referral, and implementation of codes of conduct;
 (B)working to ensure the safety of girls during their travel to and from school and on school grounds; (C)supporting programs for girls and boys on the unacceptability of violence against women and girls;
 (D)comprehensive sexuality education programs which include consent education; and (E)conducting national and baseline surveys to collect data on school-related violence against women and girls.
 (c)Building local capacityNot less than 10 percent of the amount of assistance provided to an eligible country under this section should be provided to community-based nongovernmental or faith-based organizations, with priority given to nongovernmental organizations led by women.
				103.Monitoring the United States Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence Globally
 (a)In generalIn each strategy submitted under section 101(a), the Ambassador-at-Large and Senior Coordinator shall include an analysis of best practices for preventing and addressing violence against women and girls internationally, which shall include—
 (1)a description of successful efforts by foreign governments, multilateral institutions, nongovernmental organizations, educational organizations, and faith-based organizations in preventing and responding to violence against women and girls;
 (2)recommendations related to best practices, effective strategies, and improvements to enhance the impact of prevention and response efforts; and
 (3)the impact of activities funded by the strategy in preventing and reducing violence against women and girls internationally.
 (b)AmendmentsThe Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 is amended— (1)in section 116(d) (22 U.S.C. 2151n(d))—
 (A)in paragraph (11)(C), by striking and at the end; (B)in paragraph (12)(C)(ii), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and
 (C)by adding at the end the following new paragraph:  (13)wherever applicable, the nature and extent of violence against women and girls (as such term is defined in section 4 of the International Violence Against Women Act of 2019).; and
 (2)in section 502B (22 U.S.C. 2304)— (A)by redesignating the second subsection designated as subsection (i) as subsection (j); and
 (B)by adding at the end the following new subsection:  (k)Inclusion of information relating to violence against women and girlsThe report required by subsection (b) shall include, wherever applicable, the nature and extent of violence against women and girls (as such term is defined in section 4 of the International Violence Against Women Act of 2019)..
 (c)Monitoring and evaluationIn coordination with relevant officials, and consistent with the monitoring and evaluation policies of their respective agencies, the Ambassador-at-Large and the Senior Coordinator shall develop a plan for monitoring and independent evaluation of programs, projects, and activities carried out under this Act. The plan shall—
 (1)apply rigorous monitoring and evaluation methodologies to focus on learning, accountability, and policymaking, choosing from among a wide variety of qualitative, quantitative, summative, and formative methods common in the field of social scientific inquiry, including impact evaluations; and
 (2)be included in the implementation plan required under section 101(c). (d)Research and data collectionThe Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development shall—
 (1)produce original research or analysis of effective interventions to prevent or respond to violence against women and girls internationally;
 (2)collect and analyze new or existing data on the scope and extent of all forms of violence against women and girls internationally, including under documented forms of violence and violence against marginalized groups;
 (3)conduct research on effective interventions to respond to violence against women and girls internationally, including efforts to scale up effective programming; and
 (4)support systemic data collection using internationally comparable indicators, norms, and methodologies for measuring the scope, prevalence, and incidence of violence against women and girls internationally.
					IIOversight and Accountability
			201.Office of Global Women’s Issues
 (a)EstablishmentThe Secretary of State shall establish in the Office of the Secretary of the Department of State the Office of Global Women’s Issues. The Office shall be headed by an Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues, who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Ambassador-at-Large shall report directly to the Secretary and shall have the rank and status of Ambassador-at-Large.
 (b)PurposeIn addition to the duties described in subsection (c) and duties determined by the Secretary of State, the Ambassador-at-Large shall coordinate efforts of the United States Government as directed by the Secretary regarding approaches that promote equality and advance the status of women and girls in United States foreign policy.
				(c)Duties
 (1)In generalThe Ambassador-at-Large— (A)in consultation with the Senior Coordinator, shall direct activities, policies, programs, and funding relating to gender equality and the advancement of women and girls internationally, including those intended to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls, for all bureaus and offices of the Department of State and in the international programs of all other Federal agencies;
 (B)shall actively promote and advance the integration of gender analysis into the programs, structures, processes, and capacities of bureaus and offices of the Department of State and in the international programs of other Federal agencies;
 (C)shall direct United States Government resources, as appropriate, to respond to needs for promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women in United States Government foreign policies and international programs, including to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls internationally;
 (D)may design, support, and implement activities regarding empowerment of women internationally, including for the prevention of and response to violence against women and girls internationally;
 (E)shall conduct regular consultation with civil society organizations working to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls internationally;
 (F)shall ensure that programs, projects, and activities designed to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls internationally are subject to rigorous monitoring and evaluation, and that there is a uniform set of indicators and standards for such monitoring and evaluation that is used across all Federal agencies;
 (G)shall serve as the principal advisor to the Secretary of State regarding gender equality, women's empowerment, and violence against women and girls as a foreign policy matter; and
 (H)is authorized to represent the United States in diplomatic and multilateral fora on matters relevant to the status of women and girls, including violence against women and girls internationally.
 (2)Information sharing and transparencyThe Office— (A)shall be the central repository of data on all United States programs, projects, and activities that relate to prevention and response to violence against women and girls; and
 (B)shall produce a full accounting of United States Government spending on such programs, projects, and activities.
						202.Senior Coordinator for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment
 (a)EstablishmentThere is established in the United States Agency for International Development the position of Senior Coordinator for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment. The Senior Coordinator shall—
 (1)report to the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development; and (2)conduct the activities of the Administrator under this Act.
 (b)DutiesThe Senior Coordinator— (1)in consultation with the Ambassador-at-Large, shall direct activities, policies, programs, and funding of the United States Agency for International Development relating to gender equality and women’s empowerment, including those intended to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls;
 (2)shall actively promote and advance the integration of gender analysis into the programs, structures, processes, and capacities of all bureaus and offices of the United States Agency for International Development as required by the Agency’s Gender Equality and Female Empowerment Policy;
 (3)shall direct United States Agency for International Development resources for gender equality and women’s empowerment, including to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls internationally;
 (4)may design, support, and implement activities led by the United States Agency for International Development regarding gender equality and women’s empowerment, including for the prevention and response to violence against women and girls internationally;
 (5)shall conduct regular consultation with civil society organizations working to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls internationally;
 (6)shall serve as the principal advisor to the Administrator regarding gender equality, women’s empowerment, and violence against women and girls; and
 (7)shall track and analyze monitoring and evaluation data and findings on international prevention and response programs of the United States Agency for International Development, consistent with Agency-wide monitoring and evaluation activities, to assist in the preparation of the strategy developed under section 101(a).
 203.Briefing and assessmentNot later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Ambassador-at-Large and the Senior Coordinator shall provide, to the appropriate congressional committees—
 (1)a briefing on international violence against women and girls prevention and response strategies, programming, and associated outcomes; and
 (2)an assessment of human and financial resources necessary to fulfill the purposes and duties under this Act.
				204.Addressing violence against women and girls in humanitarian relief, peacekeeping, conflict, and
			 postconflict settings
 (a)Activities of the department of State with USAIDThe Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development shall ensure that—
 (1)bilateral and multilateral assistance made available for humanitarian relief, conflict mitigation, and post-conflict reconstruction including funds made available through Safe from the Start and other programs and efforts—
 (A)prevents and responds to violence against women and girls from the very onset of and throughout a crisis;
 (B)builds the capacity of humanitarian actors, including multilateral agencies and those leading relevant humanitarian cluster responses and Areas of Responsibility (AOR), such as the GBV AOR;
 (C)builds the capacity of local partners to address the special protection needs of women and children;
 (D)supports survivors of violence through education, essential medical and psychosocial assistance, trauma counseling, family and community reinsertion and reunification, and economic opportunity programs; and
 (E)provides legal services for women and girls who are victims of violence; (2)specialists in violence against women and girls are designated and deployed, as appropriate, as an integral part of Disaster Assistance Response Teams to ensure the integration of prevention and response to violence against women and girls internationally in strategies and programming; and
 (3)contractors, grantees, and governments that carry out programs with United States assistance— (A)train humanitarian workers in preventing and responding to violence against women and girls, including in the use of mechanisms to report violence against women and girls;
 (B)conduct appropriate public outreach to make known to the host community the mechanisms to report violence against women and girls; and
 (C)promptly and appropriately respond to reports of violence against women and girls and treat survivors in accordance with best practices regarding confidentiality.
						(b)Emergency response to credible reports of critical or widespread violence against women and girls
 (1)In generalThe Secretary of State, acting through the heads of relevant bureaus and offices of the Department of State, shall—
 (A)identify critical or widespread incidents of violence against women and girls in situations of armed conflict when such incidents occur, through consultation with other Federal departments and agencies, the United Nations, international organizations, and nongovernmental organizations;
 (B)determine emergency response measures not later than 45 days after such identification; and (C)brief Congress, upon request, on the implementation of such emergency response measures and outcomes not later than 90 days after such determination.
 (2)ContentThe emergency measures developed under paragraph (1) shall include a description of bilateral diplomatic efforts with—
 (A)the government of the country in which the violence is occurring; (B)governments in the region in which the violence is occurring; and
 (C)other donor governments.


 HR 3866 ENR: To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1265 Hurffville Road in Deptford Township, New Jersey, as the “First Lieutenant Salvatore S. Corma II Post Office Building”.
U.S. House of Representatives

text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I
One Hundred Fourteenth Congress of the United States of America At the Second SessionBegun and held at the City of Washington on Monday, the fourth day of January, two thousand and sixteen
H. R. 3866

AN ACT
To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1265 Hurffville Road in Deptford Township, New Jersey, as the First Lieutenant Salvatore S. Corma II Post Office Building.

1.First Lieutenant Salvatore S. Corma II Post Office Building
(a)DesignationThe facility of the United States Postal Service located 1265 Hurffville Road in Deptford Township, New Jersey, shall be known and designated as the First Lieutenant Salvatore S. Corma II Post Office Building.  (b)ReferencesAny reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the First Lieutenant Salvatore S. Corma II Post Office Building.
 Speaker of the House of Representatives.Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate.


116 S619 IS: Improving Rural Access to Power Act of 2019
U.S. Senate
2019-02-28
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II116th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 619IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESFebruary 28, 2019Mr. Tester (for himself and Mr. Moran) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban AffairsA BILLTo amend the Federal Home Loan Bank Act to provide investment authority to support rural
			 infrastructure development, and for other purposes.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Improving Rural Access to Power Act of 2019. 2.Cooperative associations that support rural infrastructure developmentSection 11 of the Federal Home Loan Bank Act (12 U.S.C. 1431) is amended by adding at the end the following:

				(m)Cooperative associations that support rural infrastructure development
 (1)In generalEach Federal Home Loan Bank is authorized to purchase investment-grade securities from nonmember lenders that—
 (A)are organized as cooperatives; (B)have received financing from the Federal Financing Bank; and
 (C)have demonstrated experience in making loans to cooperatives that are eligible to receive loans or commitments for loans from the Rural Utilities Service (or any successor agency).
 (2)Secured investmentsThe securities described in paragraph (1) shall be secured investments collateralized by loans of the cooperative lender.
 (3)DiscretionThe purchase of the securities described in paragraph (1) shall be at the sole discretion of each Federal Home Loan Bank, consistent with such regulations, restrictions, and limitations as may be prescribed by the Agency..


115 S3463 IS: Blocking Deadly Fentanyl Imports Act
U.S. Senate
2018-09-18
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II115th CONGRESS2d SessionS. 3463IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESSeptember 18, 2018Mr. Toomey (for himself and Mr. Jones) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign RelationsA BILLTo gather information about the illicit production of illicit fentanyl in foreign countries and to
			 withhold bilateral assistance from countries that do not have emergency
			 scheduling procedures for new illicit drugs, cannot prosecute criminals
			 for the manufacture or distribution of controlled substance analogues, or
			 do not require the registration of tableting machines and encapsulating
			 machines.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Blocking Deadly Fentanyl Imports Act. 2.Amendment to definition of major illicit drug producing countrySection 481(e)(2) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2291(e)(2)) is amended—
 (1)in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking in which; (2)in subparagraph (A), by inserting in which before 1,000;
 (3)in subparagraph (B)— (A)by inserting in which before 1,000; and
 (B)by striking or at the end; (4)in subparagraph (C)—
 (A)by inserting in which before 5,000; and (B)by inserting or after the semicolon; and
 (5)by adding at the end the following:  (D)that is a significant source of illicit fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, or the precursors of fentanyl and fentanyl analogues;
					.
 3.International narcotics control strategy reportSection 489(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2291h(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

 (9)A separate section that contains the following: (A)An identification of the countries that are the most significant exporters of illicit fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, and fentanyl precursor chemicals during the preceding calendar year.
 (B)An identification of the countries that are the most significant sources of diversion or chemicals described in subparagraph (A) for illicit uses.
 (C)A description of the extent to which each country identified pursuant to subparagraphs (A) and (B) has cooperated with the United States to prevent the chemicals described in subparagraph (A) from being exported from such country to the United States..
		4.Withholding of bilateral and multilateral assistance
 (a)In generalSection 490(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2291j(a)) is amended— (1)in paragraph (1), by striking clause (i) or (ii) of section 489(a)(8)(A) of this Act and inserting paragraph (8)(A) or (9) of section 489(a); and
 (2)in paragraph (2), by striking clause (i) or (ii) of section 489(a)(8)(A) of this Act and inserting paragraph (8)(A) or (9) of section 489(a). (b)Designation of countries without emergency scheduling proceduresSection 706(2) of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003 (22 U.S.C. 2291j–1(2)) is amended—
 (1)in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking also; (2)in subparagraph (A)(ii), by striking and at the end;
 (3)by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (E); (4)by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:

 (B)designate each country, if any, identified in such report that has failed to adopt and utilize emergency scheduling procedures for new illicit drugs and other synthetics that are comparable to the procedures authorized under title II of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 811 et seq.) for adding drugs and other substances to the controlled substances schedules;; and
 (5)in subparagraph (E), as redesignated, by striking so designated and inserting designated under subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or (D). (c)Designation of countries without ability To prosecute criminals for the manufacture or distribution of fentanyl analoguesSection 706(2) of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003 (22 U.S.C. 2291j–1(2)), as amended by subsection (b), is further amended by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:

 (C)designate each country, if any, identified in such report that is incapable of prosecuting criminals for the manufacture or distribution of controlled substance analogues (as defined in section 102(32) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802(32)) in the same manner as criminals are prosecuted for the manufacture or distribution of controlled substances;.
			(d)Designation of countries that do not require the registration of pill presses and tableting
 machinesSection 706(2) of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003 (22 U.S.C. 2291j–1(2)), as amended by subsections (b) and (c), is further amended by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following:

 (D)designate each country, if any, identified in such report that does not require the registration of tableting machines and encapsulating machines in a manner comparable to the registration requirements set forth in part 1310 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations; and.


116 HR 55 IH: Connecting Broadband Deserts Act of 2019
U.S. House of Representatives
2019-01-03
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I116th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 55IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJanuary 3, 2019Mr. Rush introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and CommerceA BILLTo amend the Communications Act of 1934 to direct the Federal Communications Commission to conduct
			 an annual inquiry on the availability of advanced telecommunications
			 capability in broadband deserts, and for other purposes.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Connecting Broadband Deserts Act of 2019. 2.Annual inquiry on deployment of advanced telecommunications capability in broadband desertsTitle I of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

				14.Annual inquiry on deployment of advanced telecommunications capability in broadband deserts
 (a)In generalThe Commission shall, not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this section, and annually thereafter, initiate a notice of inquiry concerning the availability of advanced telecommunications capability in broadband deserts and shall complete the inquiry not later than 180 days after its initiation. In the inquiry, the Commission shall determine whether advanced telecommunications capability is being deployed in broadband deserts in a reasonable and timely fashion, including the extent to which digital redlining is occurring. If the Commission determines that advanced telecommunications capability is not being deployed in broadband deserts in a reasonable and timely fashion, it shall take immediate action to accelerate deployment of such capability in broadband deserts by removing barriers to infrastructure investment and by promoting competition in the telecommunications market.
 (b)DefinitionsIn this section: (1)Advanced telecommunications capabilityThe term advanced telecommunications capability has the meaning given such term in section 706 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (47 U.S.C. 1302).
 (2)Broadband desertThe term broadband desert means a census block— (A)that is located in an urban area; and
 (B)in which fewer than 33 percent of end-user premises (as defined by the Commission for purposes of Form 477) do not have access to advanced telecommunications capability.
 (3)Digital redliningThe term digital redlining means a practice whereby a provider of advanced telecommunications capability excludes certain areas when expanding or upgrading service due to income or other reasons.
 (4)Urban areaThe term urban area means an urbanized area or urban cluster area with a population equal to or greater than 25,000, as determined by the most recent rural-urban classification by the Bureau of the Census..


113 HR 562 IH: VRAP Extension Act of 2013
U.S. House of Representatives
2013-02-06
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

		I
		113th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. R. 562
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			February 6, 2013
			Mr. Miller of Florida
			 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
			 Committee on Veterans’
			 Affairs

		A BILL
		To provide for a three-month extension of the Veterans
		  Retraining Assistance Program administered by the Secretary of Veterans
		  Affairs, and for other purposes.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 VRAP Extension Act of 2013.
		2.Three-month
			 extension of Veterans Retraining Assistance Program
			(a)ExtensionSection 211 of the VOW to Hire Heroes Act
			 of 2011 (Public Law 112–56; 125 Stat. 713; 38 U.S.C. 4100 note) is
			 amended—
				(1)in subsection
			 (a)(2)(B), by striking March 31, 2014 and inserting June
			 30, 2014; and
				(2)in subsection (k), by striking March
			 31, 2014 and inserting June 30, 2014.
				(b)Interim
			 report
				(1)Report
			 requiredNot later than 30
			 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans
			 Affairs, in collaboration with the Secretary of Labor, shall submit to the
			 appropriate committees of Congress an interim report on the retraining
			 assistance provided under section 211 of the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011
			 (Public Law 112–56; 125 Stat. 713; 38 U.S.C. 4100 note).
				(2)ElementsThe report required by paragraph (1) shall
			 include the following:
					(A)The total number
			 of—
						(i)eligible veterans
			 who have participated in the program established under such section as of the
			 date of the enactment of this Act; and
						(ii)associates
			 degrees or certificates awarded (or other similar evidence of the completion of
			 the program of education or training earned) to veterans participating in the
			 program established under such section as of such date.
						(B)Data related to
			 the employment status of eligible veterans who participated in such
			 program.