HR 4898
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4898
To provide assistance to Best Buddies to support the expansion
and development of mentoring programs, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 19, 2007
Mr. HOYER (for himself and Mr. BLUNT) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor
A BILL
To provide assistance to Best Buddies to support the expansion
and development of mentoring programs, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Best Buddies Empowerment for People with
Intellectual Disabilities Act of 2007'.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
(a) Findings- Congress finds the following:
(1) Best Buddies is the first national social and recreational program
in the United States for people with mental retardation.
(2) Best Buddies is dedicated to helping people with intellectual disabilities
become part of mainstream society.
(3) Best Buddies is determined to end social isolation for people with
intellectual disabilities by establishing meaningful friendships with
their non-disabled peers in order to help increase the self-esteem,
confidence, and abilities of people with and without intellectual disabilities.
(4) Since 1989, Best Buddies has enhanced the lives of people with intellectual
disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and
integrated employment.
(5) Best Buddies is an international organization spanning 1300 middle
school, high school, and college campuses.
(6) The Best Buddies organization implements programs that will positively
impact more than 350,000 individuals this year and expect to be able
to reach 500,000 people by 2010.
(7) The Best Buddies Jobs program continues the integration of people
with intellectual disabilities into the community through supported
employment.
(8) The Best Buddies Citizens program pairs people with mental retardation
in one-to-one friendships with other individuals in the corporate and
civic communities.
(9) The Best Buddies Colleges program pairs people with mental retardation
in one-to-one friendships with college students.
(10) The Best Buddies High Schools program pairs students with mental
retardation in one-to-one friendships with high school students.
(11) The Best Buddies e-Buddies program creates respective e-mail friendships
between people with and without intellectual disabilities.
(b) Purpose- The purposes of this Act are to--
(1) provide support to Best Buddies to increase participation in and
public awareness about Best Buddies programs that serve people with
intellectual disabilities;
(2) dispel negative stereotypes about people with intellectual disabilities;
and
(3) promote the extraordinary gifts of people with intellectual disabilities.
SEC. 3. ASSISTANCE FOR BEST BUDDIES.
(a) Education Activities- The Secretary of Education may award grants
to, or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with, Best Buddies
to carry out the following:
(1) Activities to promote the expansion of Best Buddies, including activities
to increase the participation of individuals with intellectual disabilities
within the United States.
(2) The design and implementation of Best Buddies education and outreach
programs, including character education and volunteer programs that
support the purposes of this Act, that can be integrated into classroom
instruction and are consistent with academic content standards.
(1) IN GENERAL- Amounts appropriated to carry out this Act may not be
used for direct treatment of diseases, medical conditions, or mental
health conditions.
(2) ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITIES- Not more than three percent of amounts
appropriated to carry out this Act may be used for administrative activities.
(c) Rule of Construction- Nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit
the use of non-Federal funds by Best Buddies.
SEC. 4. APPLICATION AND ANNUAL REPORT.
(1) IN GENERAL- To be eligible for a grant, contract, or cooperative
agreement under section 3(a), Best Buddies shall submit an application
at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the
Secretary of Education or Secretary of State, as applicable, may require.
(2) CONTENT- At a minimum, an application under this subsection shall
contain the following:
(A) A description of activities to be carried out with the grant,
contract, or cooperative agreement.
(B) Information on specific measurable goals and objectives to be
achieved through activities carried out with the grant, contract,
or cooperative agreement.
(1) IN GENERAL- As a condition on receipt of any funds under section
3(a), Best Buddies shall agree to submit an annual report at such time,
in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary of
Education or Secretary of State, as applicable, may require.
(2) CONTENT- At a minimum, each annual report under this subsection
shall describe the degree to which progress has been made toward meeting
the specific measurable goals and objectives described in the applications
submitted under subsection (a).
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated for grants, contracts, or cooperative
agreements under section 3(a), $10,000,000 to the Secretary of Education
for fiscal year 2009, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the
four succeeding fiscal years.
SEC. 6. BUDGET NEUTRAL.
The following provisions of law are hereby repealed:
(1) Section 5523 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 7265b).
(2) Section 5533 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 7267b).
END
