[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2258 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2258
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a Parks, Jobs, and
Equity Program to support job creation, economic revitalization, and
park development for communities impacted by COVID-19.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 24, 2021
Mr. Hickenlooper (for himself, Mr. Padilla, Ms. Duckworth, Mr.
Blumenthal, and Mr. Van Hollen) introduced the following bill; which
was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a Parks, Jobs, and
Equity Program to support job creation, economic revitalization, and
park development for communities impacted by COVID-19.
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 ``Parks, Jobs, and Equity Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
(A) a city or town of a State or territory of the
United States, or an Indian Tribe, that--
(i) represents or otherwise serves a
qualifying urban area; or
(ii) has a population of 30,000 or more in
the most recent census;
(B) a special purpose district serving--
(i) a qualifying urban area; or
(ii) a city or town with a population of
30,000 or more in the most recent census and
managing open space for public recreation; and
(C) the District of Columbia.
(2) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' has the
meaning given that term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
(3) Low-income community.--The term ``low-income
community'' means any census block group in which 51 percent or
more households have an annual income equal at or below 80
percent of the median income of the area in which the household
is located, as reported by the Department of Housing and Urban
Development.
(4) Parks, jobs and equity program.--The term ``Parks,
Jobs, and Equity Program'' means the program established under
section 3(a).
(5) Poverty level.--The term ``poverty level'' means the
income poverty guidelines for the nonfarm population of the
United States, as prescribed by the Office of Management and
Budget.
(6) Qualifying urban area.--The term ``qualifying urban
area'' means an area identified by the Census Bureau as an area
with a population of 30,000 or more in the most recent census.
(7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
SEC. 3. GRANTS AUTHORIZED.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish the Parks, Jobs, and
Equity Program to support park development and delivery of recreation
services, and in so doing, help create or preserve jobs, and provide
economic stimulus in communities impacted by COVID-19.
(b) Funding.--The Secretary, acting through the Parks, Jobs, and
Equity Program, shall provide funding to States, territories, the
District of Columbia, and Indian Tribes according to the following
formula:
(1) 49 percent divided equally among the States. For the
purposes of this paragraph, the District of Columbia and the
territories of the United States shall collectively be treated
as a single State and shall receive shares of apportionment in
proportion to qualifying urban areas.
(2) 49 percent divided proportionally among States based on
each State's share of urban population, as defined by the
Census Bureau, to the total urban population of the United
States, based on the most recent census.
(3) 2 percent for competitive grants to be awarded by the
Secretary to Indian Tribes that qualify as an eligible entity.
SEC. 4. ALLOCATION.
(a) Amounts to States, Territories, and the District of Columbia.--
The Governor of a State or territory (or a designated liaison officer)
or the Mayor of the District of Columbia shall distribute funds
provided to the State, territory, or District of Columbia under this
Act as follows:
(1) Not less than 50 percent of funds shall be provided to
eligible entities for eligible uses that benefit a low-income
community.
(2) Funds to eligible entities shall be not less than
$50,000 and not more than $1,000,000.
(3) Not more than 2.5 percent of funds may be used for
administrative expenses of the State, territory, or the
District of Columbia.
(4) Not more than 10 percent of funds provided to an
eligible entity may be used for administrative expenses.
(b) Amounts to Indian Tribes.--
(1) Amount.--Grant amounts under this Act to an eligible
Indian Tribe shall be not less than $50,000 and not more than
$1,000,000.
(2) Administrative expenses.--An Indian Tribe may not
retain more than 10 percent of each grant received under this
Act for administrative expenses.
(c) Timing.--
(1) Distribution of funds.--The Secretary shall distribute
funds made available to carry out this Act not more than 45
days after such funds are made available to the Secretary.
(2) Application procedures.--The Governors or Executive
Officers of States and territories and the governing body of
each Indian Tribe shall--
(A) devise accelerated application procedures by
which eligible entities may apply for funds under this
Act;
(B) inform eligible entities and low-income
communities about the opportunity to apply for funds
under this Act, the application procedures by which
eligible entities may apply for funds, and the eligible
uses for funding;
(C) distribute funds to eligible entities not later
than 180 days after distribution from the Secretary;
and
(D) direct each eligible entity that receives funds
under this Act to spend such funds not later than 2
years after the funds are made available to that
eligible entity.
(3) Extension.--Governors and Executive Officers of a State
or territory and the governing body of an Indian Tribe may
grant extensions of the deadlines in this subsection for not
more than 180 additional days for good cause shown.
SEC. 5. ELIGIBLE USES.
(a) In General.--A grant recipient may use a grant awarded under
this Act--
(1) to acquire land or water that will be used to provide
outdoor recreation opportunities to the public;
(2) to develop or renovate outdoor recreational facilities
that provide outdoor recreation opportunities to the public;
(3) to improve delivery of recreation services to the
public (including supporting park personnel, training,
recreation programming, and purchase of recreation equipment
and supplies); and
(4) to develop native event sites and cultural gathering
spaces.
(b) Priorities.--Priority shall be given to projects that--
(1) create or significantly enhance park and recreational
opportunities for a community in a qualifying urban area that
lacks parks and/or outdoor recreation areas within one-half
mile or a 10-minute walk;
(2) improve outdoor recreation opportunities for high-need
populations based on income, age, or other measures of
vulnerability and need;
(3) provide opportunities for employment or job training
either in park construction or rehabilitation or delivery of
recreation services;
(4) engage and empower underserved communities and youth;
and
(5) take advantage of coordination among various levels of
government.
(c) Limitations on Use.--A grant recipient may not use grant funds
for--
(1) maintenance activities;
(2) facilities that support semiprofessional or
professional athletics;
(3) indoor facilities such as recreation centers or
facilities that support primarily nonoutdoor purposes;
(4) activities that are not in accordance with
Comprehensive State Plans under section 200305 of title 54,
United States Code; or
(5) acquisition of land or interests in land that restrict
access to specific persons.
SEC. 6. REPORTING.
(a) Requirement.--Each year that a State or Territory that receives
a grant under this Act shall submit to the Secretary performance and
financial reports that--
(1) summarize the status of and activities conducted under
each subgrant during the report period; and
(2) provide a description of each subgrant project's
accomplishments and impact during the report period, such as
new park access opportunities, new recreation opportunities
(facilities and services), jobs created, and other community
benefits.
(b) Availability to Congress.--The Secretary shall make such
reports submitted under subsection (a) available to the House Committee
on Natural Resources and Senate Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources.
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for the
purposes of this Act, $500,000,000, to remain available until expended.
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