108th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 657
To amend title IV of the Social Security Act to provide grants to
promote responsible fatherhood, to encourage teen pregnancy prevention strategies,
and for other purposes.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 19, 2003
Mr. BAYH (for himself and Mr. LIEBERMAN) introduced the following bill; which
was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance
A BILL
To amend title IV of the Social Security Act to provide grants to
promote responsible fatherhood, to encourage teen pregnancy prevention strategies,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) SHORT TITLE- This Act may be cited as the `Strengthening Families Act
of 2003'.
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS- The table of contents of this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 3. Responsible fatherhood grants.
Sec. 4. National clearinghouse for responsible fatherhood programs.
Sec. 5. Block grants to States to encourage media campaigns.
Sec. 6. Grants to conduct policy reviews and demonstration projects to coordinate
services for low-income, noncustodial parents.
Sec. 7. Court-supervised noncustodial parent employment grant program.
Sec. 8. Teen pregnancy prevention grants.
Sec. 9. Teen pregnancy prevention resource center.
Sec. 10. Establishing national goals to prevent teen pregnancy.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Nearly 24,000,000 children in the United States, or 34 percent of all
such children, live apart from their biological father.
(2) Sixty percent of couples who divorce have at least 1 child.
(3) The number of children living with only a mother increased from just
over 5,000,000 in 1960, to 17,000,000 in 1999, and between 1981 and 1991
the percentage of children living with only 1 parent increased from 19 percent
to 25 percent.
(4) Forty percent of children who live in households without a father have
not seen their father in at least 1 year and 50 percent of such children
have never visited their father's home.
(5) The most important factor in a child's upbringing is whether the child
is brought up in a loving, healthy, supportive environment.
(6) Children who live without contact with their biological father are,
in comparison to children who have such contact--
(A) 5 times more likely to live in poverty;
(B) more likely to bring weapons and drugs into the classroom;
(C) twice as likely to commit crime;
(D) twice as likely to drop out of school;
(E) more likely to commit suicide;
(F) more than twice as likely to abuse alcohol or drugs; and
(G) more likely to become pregnant as teenagers.
(7) Violent criminals are overwhelmingly males who grew up without fathers.
(8) Between 20 and 30 percent of families in poverty are headed by women
who have suffered domestic violence during the past year and between 40
and 60 percent of women with children receiving welfare were abused sometime
during their life.
(9) Responsible fatherhood includes active participation in financial support
and child care, as well as the formation and maintenance of a positive,
healthy, and nonviolent relationship between father and child and a cooperative
relationship between parents.
(10) States should be encouraged to implement programs that provide support
for responsible fatherhood, promote marriage, and increase the incidence
of marriage, and should not be restricted from implementing such programs.
(11) Fatherhood programs should promote and provide support services for--
(A) loving and healthy relationships between parents and children; and
(B) cooperative parenting.
(12) There is a social need to reconnect children and fathers.
(13) The promotion of responsible fatherhood and encouragement of married
2-parent families should not--
(A) denigrate the standing or parenting efforts of single mothers or other
caregivers;
(B) lessen the protection of children from abusive parents; or
(C) compromise the safety or health of the custodial parent;
but should increase the chance that children will have two caring parents
to help them grow up healthy and secure.
(14) The promotion of responsible fatherhood must always recognize and promote
the values of nonviolence.
(15) For the future of the United States and the future of our children,
Congress, States, and local communities should assist parents to become
more actively involved in their children's lives.
(16) Child support is an important means by which a parent can take financial
responsibility for a child and emotional support is an important means by
which a parent can take social responsibility for a child.
(17) The United States is making significant progress in reducing teen births,
with national teen birth rates declining 26 percent since 1991.
(18) Despite declining national and State rates, in the United States 4
out of 10 girls get pregnant at least once by age 20, nearly 1,000,000 girls
each year. There are nearly 500,000 teen births each year.
(19) Although teen pregnancy and birth rates are declining, the United States
still has the highest rates of teen pregnancy and birth in the industrialized
world, nearly twice as high as the next highest nation, Great Britain.
(20) Some 52 percent of all mothers on welfare had their first child as
a teenager, according to the most recent data available. Almost 1/2 of all
teen
mothers and over 3/4 of unmarried teen mothers began receiving welfare within
5 years of the birth of their first child.
(21) At present, 79 percent of births to teen mothers are out-of-wedlock
and nearly 1/2 of all non-marital first births occur to teens.
(22) Children of teen mothers are more likely to be born prematurely and
at low birth weight, to perform poorly in school, and to suffer abuse and
neglect than children born to older women. Girls born to teen mothers are
22 percent more likely to become teen mothers, and sons of teen mothers
are more likely to end up in jail.
(23) Teen mothers are likely to have a second birth relatively soon, about
1/4 of teenage mothers have a second child within 24 months of the first
birth, which can further impede the teen mother's ability to finish school
or keep a job and to escape poverty.
(24) Teen pregnancy and childbearing costs United States taxpayers at least
$7,000,000,000 per year.
(25) Teen marriages are twice as likely to fail as marriages where the woman
is at least 25 years old.
(26) Many of the fathers of children born to teen mothers are older. Half
of those young men who impregnate a minor teen (under age 18) are 3 or more
years older than the young woman. Eight of 10 teen fathers do not marry
the mothers of their first children and these absent fathers pay less than
$800 annually in child support, often because they are quite poor themselves.
(27) Over 90 percent of both adults and teens believe it is important that
teens be given a strong message from society that they should abstain from
sex until they are at least out of high school. A substantial majority of
both adults and teens also believe that, while teens should not be sexually
active, those that are should have access to contraception.
(28) A synthesis of research on the effectiveness of media campaigns in
the United States suggests that these campaigns may reduce risky health
behaviors by as much as 5 to 10 percent at a very low cost.
(29) There is rigorous evaluation research about a variety of programs that
are effective in delaying the onset of sex, improving contraceptive use,
or preventing pregnancy among adolescents.
(30) Between 1995 and 2010, the number of girls who are 15 to 19 years old
is estimated to increase by 2,200,000. If current fertility rates remain
the same, there would be a 26 percent increase in the number of pregnancies
and births among teenagers between 1995 and 2010.
(31) If teen birth rates had stayed at the 1991 peak level through 2001,
there would have been nearly 800,000 additional babies born to teenagers.
(32) The national teen birth rate for Hispanic teens--the fastest growing
group--is declining the slowest.
SEC. 3. RESPONSIBLE FATHERHOOD GRANTS.
Part D of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 651 et seq.) is amended
by adding at the end the following:
`SEC. 469C. RESPONSIBLE FATHERHOOD GRANTS.
`(a) GRANTS TO STATES TO CONDUCT DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS-
`(1) AUTHORITY TO AWARD GRANTS-
`(A) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall award grants to up to 10 eligible
States to conduct demonstration programs to carry out the purposes described
in paragraph (2).
`(B) ELIGIBLE STATE- For purposes of this subsection, an eligible State
is a State that submits to the Secretary the following:
`(i) APPLICATION- An application for a grant under this subsection,
at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the
Secretary may require.
`(ii) STATE PLAN- A State plan that includes the following:
`(I) PROJECT DESCRIPTION- A description of the types of projects the
State will fund under the grant, including a good faith estimate of
the number and characteristics of clients to be served under such
projects and how the State intends to achieve at least 2 of the purposes
described in paragraph (2).
`(II) COORDINATION EFFORTS- A description of how the State will coordinate
and cooperate with State and local entities responsible for carrying
out other programs that relate to the purposes intended to be achieved
under the demonstration program, including as appropriate, entities
responsible for carrying out jobs programs and programs serving children
and families.
`(III) RECORDS, REPORTS, AND AUDITS- An agreement to maintain such
records, submit such reports, and cooperate with such reviews and
audits as the Secretary finds necessary for purposes of oversight
of the demonstration program.
`(iii) CERTIFICATIONS- The following certifications from the chief executive
officer of the State:
`(I) A certification that the State will use funds provided under
the grant to promote at least 2 of the purposes described in paragraph
(2).
`(II) A certification that the State will return any unused funds
to the Secretary in accordance with the reconciliation process under
paragraph (4).
`(III) A certification that the funds provided under the grant will
be used for programs and activities that target low-income participants
and that not less than 50 percent of the participants in each program
or activity funded under the grant shall be--
`(aa) parents of a child who is, or within the past 24 months has
been, a recipient of assistance or services under a State program funded under
this part and is described in section 454(4)(A)(i); or
`(bb) parents, including an expectant parent or a married parent,
whose income (after adjustment for court-ordered child support paid or received)
does not exceed 150 percent of the poverty line.
`(IV) A certification that programs or activities funded under the
grant will be provided with information regarding the prevention of
domestic violence and that the State will
consult with representatives of State and local domestic violence centers.
`(V) A certification that funds provided to a State under this subsection
shall not be used to supplement or supplant other Federal, State,
or local funds that are used to support programs or activities that
are related to the purposes described in paragraph (2).
`(C) PREFERENCES AND FACTORS OF CONSIDERATION- In awarding grants under
this subsection, the Secretary shall take into consideration the following:
`(i) DIVERSITY OF ENTITIES USED TO CONDUCT PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES-
The Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, achieve a balance among
the eligible States awarded grants under this subsection with respect
to the size, urban or rural location, and employment of differing or
unique methods of the entities that the States intend to use to conduct
the programs and activities funded under the grants.
`(ii) PRIORITY FOR CERTAIN STATES- The Secretary shall give priority
to awarding grants to eligible States that have--
`(I) demonstrated progress in achieving at least 1 of the purposes
described in paragraph (2) through previous State initiatives; or
`(II) demonstrated need with respect to reducing the incidence of
out-of-wedlock births or absent fathers in the State.
`(2) PURPOSES- The purposes described in this paragraph are the following:
`(A) PROMOTING RESPONSIBLE FATHERHOOD THROUGH MARRIAGE PROMOTION- To promote
marriage or sustain marriage through such activities as counseling, mentoring,
disseminating information about the benefits of marriage and 2-parent
involvement for children, enhancing relationship skills, education regarding
how to control aggressive behavior, disseminating information on the causes
of domestic violence and child abuse, marriage preparation programs, premarital
counseling, marital inventories, skills-based marriage education, financial
planning seminars, including improving a family's ability to effectively
manage family business affairs by means such as education, counseling,
or mentoring on matters related to family finances, including household
management, budgeting, banking, and handling of financial transactions
and home maintenance, and divorce education and reduction programs, including
mediation and counseling.
`(B) PROMOTING RESPONSIBLE FATHERHOOD THROUGH PARENTING PROMOTION- To
promote responsible parenting through such activities as counseling, mentoring,
and mediation, disseminating information about good parenting practices,
skills-based parenting education, encouraging child support payments,
and other methods.
`(C) PROMOTING RESPONSIBLE FATHERHOOD THROUGH FOSTERING ECONOMIC STABILITY
OF FATHERS- To foster economic stability by helping fathers improve their
economic status by providing such activities as work first services, job
search, job training, subsidized employment, job retention, job enhancement,
and encouraging education, including career-advancing education, dissemination
of employment materials, coordination with existing employment services
such as welfare- to-work programs, referrals to local employment training
initiatives, and other methods.
`(3) RESTRICTION ON USE OF FUNDS- No funds provided under this subsection
may be used for costs attributable to court proceedings regarding matters
of child visitation or custody, or for legislative advocacy.
`(4) RECONCILIATION PROCESS-
`(A) 3-YEAR AVAILABILITY OF AMOUNTS ALLOTTED- Each eligible State that
receives a grant under this subsection for a fiscal year shall return
to the Secretary any unused portion of the grant for such fiscal year
not later than the last day of the second succeeding fiscal year, together
with any earnings on such unused portion.
`(B) PROCEDURE FOR REDISTRIBUTION- The Secretary shall establish an appropriate
procedure for redistributing to eligible entities that have expended the
entire amount of a grant made under this subsection for a fiscal year
any amount that is returned to the Secretary by eligible States under
subparagraph (A).
`(A) IN GENERAL- Subject to subparagraph (B), the amount of each grant
awarded under this subsection shall be an amount sufficient to implement
the State plan submitted under paragraph (1)(B)(ii).
`(B) MINIMUM AMOUNTS- No eligible State shall--
`(i) in the case of the District of Columbia or a State other than the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam,
American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands,
receive a grant for a fiscal year in an amount that is less than $1,000,000;
and
`(ii) in the case of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States
Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands, receive a grant for a fiscal year in an amount that
is less than $500,000.
`(6) DEFINITION OF STATE- In this subsection the term `State' means each
of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,
the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth
of the Northern Mariana Islands.
`(7) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There is authorized to be appropriated
$20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2008 for purposes of making
grants to States under this subsection.
`(b) GRANTS TO ELIGIBLE ENTITIES TO CONDUCT DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS-
`(1) AUTHORITY TO AWARD GRANTS-
`(A) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall award grants to eligible entities
to conduct demonstration programs to carry out the purposes described
in (a)(2).
`(B) ELIGIBLE ENTITY- For purposes of this subsection, an eligible entity
is a local government, local public agency, community-based or nonprofit
organization, or private entity, including any charitable or faith-based
organization that submits to the Secretary the following:
`(i) APPLICATION- An application for a grant under this subsection,
at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the
Secretary may require.
`(ii) PROJECT DESCRIPTION- A description of the programs or activities
the entity intends to carry out with funds provided under the grant,
including a good faith estimate of the number and characteristics of
clients to be served under such programs or activities and how the entity
intends to achieve at least 2 of the purposes described in subsection
(a)(2).
`(iii) COORDINATION EFFORTS- A description of how the entity will coordinate
and cooperate with State and local entities responsible for carrying
out other programs that relate to the purposes intended to be achieved
under the demonstration program, including as appropriate, entities
responsible for carrying out jobs programs and programs serving children
and families.
`(iv) RECORDS, REPORTS, AND AUDITS- An agreement to maintain such records,
submit such reports, and cooperate with such reviews and audits as the
Secretary finds necessary for purposes of oversight of the demonstration
program.
`(v) CERTIFICATIONS- The following certifications:
`(I) A certification that the entity will use funds provided under
the grant to promote at least 2 of the purposes described in subsection
(a)(2).
`(II) A certification that the entity will return any unused funds
to the Secretary in accordance with the reconciliation process under
paragraph (3).
`(III) A certification that the funds provided under the grant will
be used for programs and activities that target low-income participants
and that not less than 50 percent of the participants in each program
or activity funded under the grant shall be--
`(aa) parents of a child who is, or within the past 24 months has
been, a recipient of assistance or services under a State program funded under
this part and is described in section 454(4)(A)(i); or
`(bb) parents, including an expectant parent or a married parent,
whose income (after adjustment for court-ordered child support paid or received)
does not exceed 150 percent of the poverty line.
`(IV) A certification that the entity will consult with representatives
of State and local domestic violence centers.
`(V) A certification that funds provided to an entity under this subsection
shall not be used to supplement or supplant other Federal, State,
or local funds provided to the entity that are used to support programs
or activities that are related to the purposes described in subsection
(a)(2).
`(C) PREFERENCES AND FACTORS OF CONSIDERATION- In awarding grants under
this subsection, the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, achieve
a balance among the eligible entities awarded grants under this subsection
with respect to the size, urban or rural location, and employment of differing
or unique methods of the entities.
`(2) RESTRICTION ON USE OF FUNDS- No funds provided under this subsection
may be used for costs attributable to court proceedings regarding matters
of child visitation or custody, or for legislative advocacy.
`(3) RECONCILIATION PROCESS-
`(A) 3-YEAR AVAILABILITY OF AMOUNTS ALLOTTED- Each eligible entity that
receives a grant under this subsection for a fiscal year shall return
to the Secretary any unused portion of the grant for such fiscal year
not later than the last day of the second succeeding fiscal year, together
with any earnings on such unused portion.
`(B) PROCEDURE FOR REDISTRIBUTION- The Secretary shall establish an appropriate
procedure for redistributing to eligible entities that have expended the
entire amount of a grant made under this subsection for a fiscal year
any amount that is returned to the Secretary by eligible entities under
subparagraph (A).
`(4) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There is authorized to be appropriated
$30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2008 for purposes of making
grants to eligible entities under this subsection.'.
SEC. 4. NATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSE FOR RESPONSIBLE FATHERHOOD PROGRAMS.
Section 469C of the Social Security Act, as added by section 3, is amended
by adding at the end the following:
`(c) MEDIA CAMPAIGN NATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSE FOR RESPONSIBLE FATHERHOOD-
`(1) MEDIA CAMPAIGN AND NATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSE-
`(A) IN GENERAL- From any funds appropriated under paragraph (3), the
Secretary shall contract with a nationally recognized, nonprofit fatherhood
promotion organization described in paragraph (2) to--
`(i) develop, promote, and distribute to interested States, local governments,
public agencies, and private entities a media campaign that encourages
the appropriate involvement of both parents in the life of any child
of the parents, with a priority for programs that specifically address
the issue of responsible fatherhood; and
`(ii) develop a national clearinghouse to assist States and communities
in efforts to promote and support marriage and responsible fatherhood
by collecting, evaluating, and making available (through the Internet
and by other means) to other States information regarding the media
campaigns established under subsection (d).
`(B) COORDINATION WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAMS- The Secretary shall
ensure that the nationally recognized nonprofit fatherhood promotion organization
with a contract under subparagraph (A) coordinates the media campaign
developed under clause (i) of such paragraph and the national clearinghouse
developed under clause (ii) of such paragraph with a national, State,
or local domestic violence program.
`(2) NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED, NONPROFIT FATHERHOOD PROMOTION ORGANIZATION
DESCRIBED- The nationally recognized, nonprofit fatherhood promotion organization
described in this paragraph is an organization that has at least 4 years
of experience in--
`(A) designing and disseminating a national public education campaign,
as evidenced by the production and successful placement of television,
radio, and print public service announcements that promote the importance
of responsible fatherhood, a track record of service to Spanish-speaking
populations and historically under served or minority populations, the
capacity to fulfill requests for information and a proven history of fulfilling
such requests, and a mechanism through which the public can request additional
information about the campaign; and
`(B) providing consultation and training to community-based organizations
interested in implementing fatherhood outreach, support, or skill development
programs with an emphasis on promoting married fatherhood as the ideal.
`(3) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There is authorized to be appropriated
$5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2008 to carry out this
subsection.'.
SEC. 5. BLOCK GRANTS TO STATES TO ENCOURAGE MEDIA CAMPAIGNS.
(a) IN GENERAL- Section 469C of the Social Security Act, as added by section
3 and amended by section 4, is amended by adding at the end the following:
`(d) BLOCK GRANTS TO STATES FOR MEDIA CAMPAIGNS PROMOTING RESPONSIBLE FATHERHOOD-
`(1) DEFINITIONS- In this subsection:
`(A) BROADCAST ADVERTISEMENT- The term `broadcast advertisement' means
a communication intended to be aired by a television or radio broadcast
station, including a communication intended to be transmitted through
a cable channel.
`(B) CHILD AT RISK- The term `child at risk' means each young child whose
family income does not exceed the poverty line.
`(C) POVERTY LINE- The term `poverty line' has the meaning given such
term in section 673(2) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981
(including any revision required by such section) that is applicable to
a family of the size involved.
`(D) PRINTED OR OTHER ADVERTISEMENT- The term `printed or other advertisement'
includes any communication intended to be distributed through a newspaper,
magazine, outdoor advertising facility, mailing, or any other type of
general public advertising, but does not include any broadcast advertisement.
`(E) STATE- The term `State' means each of the 50 States, the District
of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin
Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands.
`(F) YOUNG CHILD- The term `young child' means an individual under age
5.
`(2) STATE CERTIFICATIONS- Not later than October 1 of each of fiscal year
for which a State desires to receive an allotment under this subsection,
the chief executive officer of the State shall submit to the Secretary a
certification that the State shall--
`(A) use such funds to promote the formation and maintenance of married
2-parent families, strengthen fragile families, and promote responsible
fatherhood through media campaigns conducted in accordance with the requirements
of paragraph (4);
`(B) return any unused funds to the Secretary in accordance with the reconciliation
process under paragraph (5); and
`(C) comply with the reporting requirements under paragraph (6).
`(3) PAYMENTS TO STATES- For each of fiscal years 2004 through 2008, the
Secretary shall pay to each State that submits a certification under paragraph
(2), from any funds appropriated under paragraph (8), for the fiscal year
an amount equal to the amount of the allotment determined for the fiscal
year under paragraph (7).
`(4) ESTABLISHMENT OF MEDIA CAMPAIGNS- Each State receiving an allotment
under this subsection for a fiscal year shall use the allotment to conduct
media campaigns as follows:
`(A) CONDUCT OF MEDIA CAMPAIGNS-
`(i) RADIO AND TELEVISION MEDIA CAMPAIGNS-
`(I) PRODUCTION OF BROADCAST ADVERTISEMENTS- At the option of the
State, to produce broadcast advertisements that promote the formation
and maintenance of married 2-parent families, strengthen fragile families,
and promote responsible fatherhood.
`(II) AIR-TIME CHALLENGE PROGRAM- At the option of the State, to establish
an air-time challenge program under which the State may spend amounts
allotted under this section to purchase time from a broadcast station
to air a broadcast advertisement produced under clause (i), but only
if the State obtains an amount of time of the same class and during
a comparable period to air the advertisement using non-Federal contributions.
`(ii) OTHER MEDIA CAMPAIGNS- At the option of the state, to conduct
a media campaign that consists of the production and distribution of
printed or other advertisements that promote the formation and maintenance
of married 2-parent families, strengthen fragile families, and promote
responsible fatherhood.
`(B) ADMINISTRATION OF MEDIA CAMPAIGNS- A State may administer media campaigns
funded under this subsection directly or through grants, contracts, or
cooperative agreements with public agencies, local governments, or private
entities, including charitable and faith-based organizations.
`(C) CONSULTATION WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSISTANCE CENTERS- In developing
broadcast and printed advertisements to be used in the media campaigns
conducted under subparagraph (A), the State or other entity administering
the campaign shall consult with representatives of State and local domestic
violence centers.
`(D) NON-FEDERAL CONTRIBUTIONS- In this subsection, the term `non-Federal
contributions' includes contributions by the State and by public and private
entities. Such contributions may be in cash or in kind. Such term does
not include any amounts provided by the Federal Government, or services
assisted or subsidized to any significant extent by the Federal Government,
or any amount expended by a State before October 1, 2003.
`(5) RECONCILIATION PROCESS-
`(A) 3-YEAR AVAILABILITY OF AMOUNTS ALLOTTED- Each State that receives
an allotment under this subsection shall return to the Secretary any unused
portion of the amount allotted to a State for a fiscal year not later
than the last day of the second succeeding fiscal year together with any
earnings on such unused portion.
`(B) PROCEDURE FOR REDISTRIBUTION OF UNUSED ALLOTMENTS- The Secretary
shall establish an appropriate procedure for redistributing to States
that have expended the entire amount allotted under this subsection any
amount that is--
`(i) returned to the Secretary by States under subparagraph (A); or
`(ii) not allotted to a State under this section because the State did
not submit a certification under paragraph (2) by October 1 of a fiscal
year.
`(6) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS-
`(A) MONITORING AND EVALUATION- Each State receiving an allotment under
this subsection for a fiscal year shall monitor and evaluate the media
campaigns conducted using funds made available under this subsection in
such manner as the Secretary, in consultation with the States, determines
appropriate.
`(B) ANNUAL REPORTS- Not less frequently than annually, each State receiving
an allotment under this subsection for a fiscal year shall submit to the
Secretary reports on the media campaigns conducted under this subsection
at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary
may require.
`(7) AMOUNT OF ALLOTMENTS-
`(A) IN GENERAL- Except as provided in subparagraph (B), of the amount
appropriated for the purpose of making allotments under this subsection
for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall allot to each State that submits
a certification under paragraph (2) for the fiscal year an amount equal
to the sum of--
`(i) the amount that bears the same ratio to 50 percent of such funds
as the number of young children in the State (as determined by the Secretary
based on the most recent March supplement to the Current Population
Survey of the Bureau of the Census before the beginning of the calendar
year in which such fiscal year begins) as bears to the number of such
children in all States; and
`(ii) the amount that bears the same ratio to 50 percent of such funds
as the number of children at risk in the State (as determined by the
Secretary based on the most recent March supplement to the Current Population
Survey of the Bureau of the Census before the beginning of the calendar
year in which such fiscal year begins) bears to the number of such children
in all States.
`(B) MINIMUM ALLOTMENTS- No allotment for a fiscal year under this subsection
shall be less than--
`(i) in the case of the District of Columbia or a State other than the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam,
American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands,
1 percent of the amount appropriated for the fiscal year under paragraph
(8); and
`(ii) in the case of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States
Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands, 0.5 percent of such amount.
`(C) PRO RATA REDUCTIONS- The Secretary shall make such pro rata reductions
to the allotments determined under subparagraph (A) as are necessary to
comply with the requirements of subparagraph (B).
`(8) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There is authorized to be appropriated
$20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2008 for purposes of making
allotments to States under this subsection.'.
(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall conduct
an evaluation of the impact of the media campaigns funded under section
469C(d) of the Social Security Act, as added by subsection (a).
(2) REPORT- Not later than December 31, 2006, the Secretary of Health and
Human Services shall report to Congress the results of the evaluation under
paragraph (1).
(3) FUNDING- Of the amount appropriated in accordance with section 469C(d)(8)
of the Social Security Act (as added by subsection (a)) for fiscal year
2004, $1,000,000 of such amount shall be transferred and made available
for purposes of conducting the evaluation required under this subsection,
and shall remain available until expended.
SEC. 6. GRANTS TO CONDUCT POLICY REVIEWS AND DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS TO COORDINATE
SERVICES FOR LOW-INCOME, NONCUSTODIAL PARENTS.
Part D of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 651), as amended
by section 3, is amended by adding at the end the following:
`SEC. 469D. GRANTS TO CONDUCT POLICY REVIEWS AND DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS
TO COORDINATE SERVICES FOR LOW-INCOME, NONCUSTODIAL PARENTS.
`(a) POLICY REVIEWS- The Secretary shall make grants to States desiring to
conduct policy reviews and develop recommendations with the goals of--
`(1) obtaining and retaining employment, increasing child support payments,
and increasing the involvement of low-income, noncustodial parents with
their children; and
`(2) coordinating policies and services for low-income, noncustodial parents
among the different systems or programs in which such parents are involved,
including the criminal justice system, the State program funded under part
A, the State program funded under this part, and job training or employment
programs.
`(b) DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS-
`(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall make grants to States desiring to conduct
a demonstration project for the purpose of--
`(A) testing innovative policies and to better coordinate policies and
services for low-income, noncustodial parents to accomplish the goals
described in subsection (a); or
`(B) if the State conducted a policy review with a grant made under subsection
(a) and desires to implement the recommendations of that review, implementing
such recommendations.
`(2) USE OF FUNDS- Funds made available under a grant made under this subsection
may be used to provide a wide variety of services to, and to implement policies
regarding, low-income, noncustodial parents, including providing economic
incentives (with or without penalty) to increase the employment of such
parents or to increase the amount of child support paid by such parents.
`(c) APPLICATION- A State desiring to receive a grant to conduct a policy
review under subsection (a) or a grant to conduct a demonstration project
under subsection (b) shall submit an application to the Secretary at such
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may
require.
`(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- Out of any money in the Treasury of
the United States not otherwise appropriated, there are authorized to be appropriated
to carry out this section, $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 through
2008.'.
SEC. 7. COURT-SUPERVISED NONCUSTODIAL PARENT EMPLOYMENT GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) AUTHORITY TO AWARD GRANTS- The Secretary of Health and Human Services
and the Secretary of Labor (in this section referred to as the `Secretaries')
jointly shall award grants to eligible States for the purpose of establishing,
in coordination with counties and other local governments, court-supervised
employment programs for noncustodial parents who have a history of nonpayment
of child support obligations, as determined by a court, and who are determined
by the court to be in need of employment services or placement in order to
pay such child support obligations. A noncustodial parent described in the
preceding sentence who is an ex-offender shall be eligible to participate
in a program established with a grant made under this section.
(b) ELIGIBLE STATE- In this section, the term `eligible State' means a State
that has obtained a commitment from at least 1 county within the State to
establish a court-supervised employment program to provide noncustodial parents
described in subsection (a) with an option to participate in that program
prior to the court entering a finding that the noncustodial parent is in contempt
of court for failure to pay a child support obligation and, possibly be subject
to criminal penalties.
(c) ADMINISTRATION- An eligible State that receives a grant under this section
may contract with a public, private, faith-based or community-based organization
to administer (in conjunction with the court of jurisdiction) the court-supervised
employment program .
(d) PROGRAM GOALS AND REQUIREMENT-
(1) GOALS- The goals of a court-supervised employment program established
with funds made available under a grant made under this section shall include
the following:
(A) To assist noncustodial parents described in subsection (a) establish
a pattern of regular child support payments by obtaining and maintaining
unsubsidized employment.
(B) To increase the dollar amount and total number of court-ordered child
support collected.
(C) To help noncustodial parents described in subsection (a) improve relationships
with their children.
(2) REQUIREMENT- A court-supervised employment program established with
funds made available under a grant made under this section shall not permit
a noncustodial parent placed in the program to graduate from the program
and avoid penalties for failure to pay a child support obligation until
the noncustodial parent completes at least 6 months of continuous, timely
payment of the parent's child support obligations.
(e) USE OF FUNDS- Services provided under a court-supervised employment program
established with funds made available under a grant made under this section
may include the following:
(2) Supervised job search.
(5) Court liaison services.
(6) Educational assessment.
(7) Educational referrals.
(8) Vocational assessment.
(9) Counseling on responsible fatherhood.
(10) Support funds for services such as transportation or short-term training.
(11) Referral for support services.
(12) Employment retention services.
(13) Outreach to community agencies concerning bonding programs.
(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretaries shall determine the amount of each grant
to be awarded under this section, taking into account the number of counties
participating in an eligible State and the population of the noncustodial
parents to be served by the employment programs in that State.
(2) PRIORITY FOR CERTAIN PROGRAMS- In awarding grants under this section,
the Secretaries shall give priority to eligible States with programs that
are designed to target noncustodial parents whose income does not exceed
150 percent of the poverty line (as defined in section 673(2) of the Community
Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2)), including any revision required
by such section applicable to a family of the size involved).
(g) MATCHING REQUIREMENT-
(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretaries may not award a grant to an eligible State
under this section unless the eligible State agrees that, with respect to
the costs to be incurred by the eligible State in supporting the court-supervised
employment program established with funds provided under the grant, the
State will make available non-Federal contributions in an amount equal to
25 percent of the amount of Federal funds paid to the State under such grant.
(2) NON-FEDERAL CONTRIBUTIONS- In this subsection, the term `non-Federal
contributions' includes contributions by the State and by public and private
entities that may be in cash or in kind, but does not include any amounts
provided by the Federal Government, or services assisted or subsidized to
any significant extent by the Federal Government or any amount expended
by a State before October 1, 2003.
(h) APPLICATION- In order to receive a grant under this section, an eligible
State shall submit an application to the Secretaries, at such time and in
such manner as the Secretaries may require, and that includes the following:
(1) Evidence of an agreement between the State and 1 or more counties to
establish a court-supervised employment program that meets the requirements
of this section.
(2) The number of potential noncustodial parents to be served by the program.
(3) The purposes specific to that State's program.
(4) The income of the target population.
(5) The amount of proposed grant funds to be awarded.
(6) A certification that the State matching requirements of subsection (g)
will be satisfied if the grant is awarded to that State.
(7) Such other information as the Secretaries deem appropriate.
(i) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There are authorized to be appropriated
to award grants under this section, $200,000,000 for each of fiscal years
2004 through 2008.
SEC. 8. TEEN PREGNANCY PREVENTION GRANTS.
Section 403(a)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 603(a)(2)) is amended
to read as follows:
`(2) GRANTS TO PREVENT TEEN PREGNANCY-
`(i) IN GENERAL- Each State that submits a plan that meets the requirements
of clause (ii) shall be entitled to receive from the Secretary a teen
pregnancy prevention grant in the amount determined under subparagraph
(B) for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2008.
`(ii) PLAN REQUIREMENTS- A plan meets the requirements of this clause
if the plan--
`(I) describes the State's numerical goal for reducing teen pregnancy
and teen births;
`(II) identifies the strategies to be used to achieve such goal; and
`(III) describes the efforts the State will make to involve young
men, as well as young women, in delaying pregnancy and parenting.
`(iii) SET-ASIDE FOR GRANTS TO INDIAN TRIBES- An amount equal to 1.5
percent of the amount appropriated under subparagraph (G) for a fiscal
year shall be reserved for awarding grants to Indian tribes under this
section in such manner, and subject to such requirements, as the Secretary,
in consultation with such tribes, determines appropriate.
`(i) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall allot to each State with a plan
approved under subparagraph (A) an amount equal to--
`(I) with respect to fiscal year 2004, the amount that bears the same
ratio to the amount of funds appropriated under subparagraph (G) for
such fiscal year as the proportion of births in the State to teens
under age 20 bears to the number of such births in all States in the
most recent year for which data is available; and
`(II) with respect to each of fiscal years 2005 through 2008, the
amount that bears the same ratio to 50 percent of the amount of funds
appropriated under subparagraph (G) for each such fiscal year as the
proportion of births in the State to teens under age 20 bears to the
number of such births in all States in the most recent year for which
data is available.
`(ii) INCENTIVE FUNDS- In addition to the amount determined for a State
under clause (i)(II), in the case of a State that is a high achieving
State (as defined in clause (iii)), the Secretary shall allot to such
high achieving State with respect to each of fiscal years 2005 through
2008, the amount that bears the same ratio to 50 percent of the amount
of funds appropriated under subparagraph (G) for each such fiscal year
as the proportion of teens under age 20 in the high achieving State
bears to the number of such teens in all such high achieving States
in the most recent year for which data is available.
`(iii) DEFINITION OF HIGH ACHIEVING STATE- In this paragraph, the term
`high achieving State' means a State that has achieved an annual decline
in the teen birth rate for the State as compared to the preceding year
(or the most recent year for which data is available) of at least 2.5
percent.
`(iv) DETERMINATION OF TEEN BIRTH RATES- For purposes of this subparagraph,
the teen birth rate for a State shall be determined on the basis of
the birth rate per 1,000 women, ages 15 through 19, who reside in the
State.
`(i) IN GENERAL- A State or Indian tribe shall use funds provided under
a grant made under this paragraph to implement teen pregnancy prevention
strategies that--
`(I) are abstinence-first;
`(II) replicate or substantially incorporate the elements of 1 or
more teen pregnancy prevention programs, including certain youth development
programs and service learning programs, that have been proven effective
(on the basis of rigorous scientific research)
`(III) delay or decrease sexual activity, increase contraceptive use
among sexually active teens, or reduce teenage pregnancies without
increasing risky behavior; and
`(IV) incorporate outreach or media programs.
`(ii) DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION FLEXIBILITY- States and Indian tribes
receiving a grant under this paragraph shall have flexibility to determine
how to use funds made available under the grant to design and implement
the teen pregnancy prevention strategies described in clause (i).
`(iii) DEFINITIONS- In this paragraph:
`(I) ABSTINENCE-FIRST- The term `abstinence first' means a strategy
that strongly emphasizes abstinence as the best and only certain way
to avoid pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections and that discusses
the scientifically proven effectiveness, benefits, and limitations
of contraception and other approaches in a manner that is medically
accurate.
`(II) MEDICALLY ACCURATE- The term `medically accurate' means information
that is supported by research recognized as accurate and objective
by leading medical, psychological, psychiatric, or public health organizations
and agencies and, where relevant, is published in a peer-reviewed
journal (as defined by the American Medical Association).
`(III) RIGOROUS SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH- The term `rigorous scientific
research' means research that typically uses randomized control trials
and other similar strong experimental designs.
`(D) SUBGRANT OR CONTRACT RECIPIENTS- A State to which a grant is made
under this paragraph for a fiscal year may award subgrants or contracts
to--
`(i) State or local nonprofit coalitions working to prevent teenage
pregnancy;
`(ii) State, local, or tribal agencies;
`(iv) entities that provide after school programs;
`(v) nonprofit community or faith-based organizations; or
`(vi) other organizations designated by the State.
`(E) SUPPLEMENTATION OF FUNDS- A State to which a grant is made under
this paragraph for a fiscal year shall use funds provided under the grant
to supplement and not supplant funds that would otherwise be available
to the State for preventing teen pregnancy.
`(F) DATA REPORTING- A State to which a grant is made under this paragraph
for a fiscal year shall cooperate with the Secretary to collect information
and report on outcomes of programs funded under the grant, as specified
by the Secretary.
`(G) APPROPRIATION- Out of any money in the Treasury of the United States
not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated for making grants under
this paragraph--
`(i) for fiscal year 2004, $50,000,000; and
`(ii) for each of fiscal years 2005 through 2008, $100,000,000.
`(i) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall, by grant, contract, or interagency
agreement, conduct an evaluation of the grants made under this paragraph.
`(I) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall prepare an interim and final
report summarizing and synthesizing outcomes and lessons learned from
the evaluation conducted under this subparagraph.
`(II) REQUIRED INFORMATION- Each report required under subclause (I)
shall include--
`(aa) a rigorous scientific evaluation of at least 3 activities conducted
under each grant evaluated that are selected to represent a diversity of strategies;
and
`(bb) an assessment of the ability to replicate and expand activities
that have proven effective on a smaller scale.
`(iii) APPROPRIATION- Out of any money in the Treasury of the United
States not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated to the Secretary
for the purpose of carrying out this subparagraph, $5,000,000 for fiscal
year 2004, to remain available through fiscal year 2008.
SEC. 9. TEEN PREGNANCY PREVENTION RESOURCE CENTER.
(a) AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH-
(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section
referred to as the `Secretary') shall make a grant to a nationally recognized,
nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that meets the requirements described
in paragraph (2) to establish and operate a national teen pregnancy prevention
resource center (in this section referred
to as the `Resource Center') to carry out the purposes and activities described
in subsection (b).
(2) CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTS- The requirements described in this paragraph
are the following:
(A) The organization has at least 5 years of experience in working with
diverse sectors of society to reduce teen pregnancy.
(B) The organization has a demonstrated ability to work with and provide
assistance to a broad range of individuals and entities, including teens,
parents, the entertainment and news media, State, tribal, and local organizations,
networks of teen pregnancy prevention practitioners, businesses, faith
and community leaders, and researchers.
(C) The organization is research-based and has capabilities in scientific
analysis and evaluation.
(D) The organization has comprehensive knowledge and data about teen pregnancy
prevention strategies.
(E) The organization has experience operating a resource center that carries
out activities similar to the activities described in subsection (b)(2).
(b) PURPOSES AND ACTIVITIES-
(1) PURPOSES- The purposes of the Resource Center are to--
(A) provide information and technical assistance to States, Indian tribes,
local communities, and other public or private organizations seeking to
reduce rates of teen pregnancy;
(B) support parents in their essential role in preventing teen pregnancy
by equipping parents with information and resources to promote and strengthen
communication with their children; and
(C) assist the entertainment industry by providing information and helping
that industry develop content and messages for teens and adults that can
help prevent teen pregnancy.
(2) ACTIVITIES- The Resource Center shall carry out the purposes described
in paragraph (1) through the following activities:
(A) Synthesizing and disseminating research and information regarding
effective and promising practices to prevent teen pregnancy.
(B) Developing and providing information on how to design and implement
effective programs to prevent teen pregnancy.
(C) Helping States, local communities, and other organizations increase
their knowledge of existing resources that can be used to advance teen
pregnancy prevention efforts, build their capacity to access such resources,
and develop partnerships with other programs and funding streams.
(D) Linking organizations working to reduce teen pregnancy with experts
and peer groups, including the creation of technical assistance networks.
(E) Providing consultation and resources about how to reduce teen pregnancy
through a broad array of strategies, including enlisting the help of various
sectors of society such as parents, other adults (such as coaches, teachers,
and mentors), community or faith-based groups, the entertainment and news
media, business, and teens themselves.
(F) Assisting organizations seeking to reduce teen pregnancy in their
efforts to work with all forms of media and to reach a variety of audiences
(such as teens, parents, and ethnically diverse groups) to communicate
effective messages about preventing teen pregnancy, including messages
that focus on abstinence, responsible behavior, family communication,
relationships, and values.
(G) Providing resources for parents and other adults that help to foster
strong connections with children, which has been proven effective in reducing
sexual activity and teen pregnancy, including online access to research,
parent guides, tips, and alerts about upcoming opportunities to use the
entertainment media as a discussion starter.
(H) Working directly with individuals and organizations in the entertainment
industry to provide consultation and serve as a source of factual information
on issues related to teen pregnancy prevention.
(1) IN GENERAL- The organization operating the Resource Center may use a
portion of the funds appropriated to carry out this section to develop and
implement media campaigns directly or through grants, contracts, or cooperative
agreements with other entities. Such campaigns may include the production
and distribution of printed materials and messages for print media, television
and radio broadcast media, the Internet, or such other media as may be appropriate
for reaching large numbers of young people, parents, and community leaders.
(2) MATCHING- To the extent possible, funds used to develop and implement
media campaigns under this subsection should be matched with non-Federal
resources, including in-kind contributions, from public and private entities.
(d) COLLABORATION WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS- The organization operating the
Resource Center shall collaborate with other organizations that have expertise
and interest in teen pregnancy prevention and that can help to reach out to
diverse audiences.
(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- Out of any money in the Treasury of the
United States not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated to the Secretary
of Health and Human Services to carry out this section, $10,000,000 for each
of fiscal years 2004 through 2008.
SEC. 10. ESTABLISHING NATIONAL GOALS TO PREVENT TEEN PREGNANCY.
Section 905 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation
Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. 710 note) is amended to read as follows:
`SEC. 905. ESTABLISHING NATIONAL GOALS TO PREVENT TEEN PREGNANCY.
`(a) IN GENERAL- Not later than January 1, 2004, the Secretary of Health and
Human Services shall establish a national goal of reducing teen pregnancy
by at least 33 percent by January 1, 2014.
`(b) REPORT- Not later than June 30, 2004, and annually thereafter, the Secretary
of Health and Human Services shall report to Congress with respect to the
progress that has been made in meeting the national goal established under
subsection (a) and with respect to State level progress on reducing teen pregnancy.'.
END