[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8423 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8423
To amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to establish a LGBTQI rural
outreach grant program, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 16, 2024
Ms. Bonamici (for herself, Mr. Pocan, Ms. Davids of Kansas, Mr. Tonko,
Ms. Schakowsky, Ms. Jackson Lee, Ms. Lee of California, Ms. Norton, Mr.
Horsford, Ms. Garcia of Texas, Mr. Casten, and Ms. Jayapal) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education
and the Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to establish a LGBTQI rural
outreach grant program, 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 ``Elder Pride Act of 2024''.
SEC. 2. RURAL OUTREACH GRANT PROGRAM.
Part A of title IV of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C.
3031 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 423. RURAL OUTREACH GRANT PROGRAM.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means an
entity that submits an application to the Assistant Secretary
in accordance with subsection (c) and is--
``(A) a State;
``(B) an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization; or
``(C) an agency, nonprofit organization, or
institution that--
``(i) focuses on serving the needs of older
individuals, LGBTQI individuals, older LGBTQI
individuals, or individuals of another
protected class; or
``(ii) focuses on providing sexual health
services to all older individuals, including
services for individuals with HIV; and
``(D) may include an area agency on aging for a
rural area or a multipurpose senior center.
``(2) LGBTQI.--The term `LGBTQI', used with respect to an
individual, means a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer,
or intersex individual.
``(3) Protected class.--The term `protected class' means a
group of individuals sharing a common characteristic or
identity who are legally protected against discrimination.
``(4) Rural area.--The term `rural area' means an area that
is not designated by the United States Census Bureau as an
urbanized area or urban cluster.
``(b) Authority for Grants.--The Assistant Secretary may make
grants to eligible entities to carry out activities described in
subsection (d) that are designed--
``(1) to create a cooperative and lasting partnership
between LGBTQI older individuals, or older individuals of a
protected class, residing in rural areas and the eligible
entity receiving the grant;
``(2) to meet the needs of the individuals described in
paragraph (1); and
``(3) to provide comprehensive sexual health services to
all older individuals residing in rural areas.
``(c) Applications.--
``(1) In general.--An eligible entity seeking a grant under
this section shall submit an application to the Assistant
Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Assistant Secretary may reasonably require,
including the contents described in paragraph (2).
``(2) Contents.--An application for a grant under this
section shall contain--
``(A) a description of the proposed activities to
be supported by the grant;
``(B) a description of the size and characteristics
of the population in a rural area to be served by such
proposed activities;
``(C) a description of the public and private
resources expected to be made available in connection
with such activities;
``(D) a demonstrated intent to partner with local
organizations in rural areas in carrying out such
activities;
``(E) evidence in a form acceptable to the
Assistant Secretary that such activities will meet
urgent needs that are not met by available public and
private sources; and
``(F) such other information or certifications that
the Assistant Secretary determines necessary to achieve
the purposes described in paragraphs (1) through (3) of
subsection (b).
``(d) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity may use funds made
available by a grant under this section to carry out activities that
include initiatives that--
``(1) engage in education and training relating to
community outreach to LGBTQI older individuals, or older
individuals of a protected class, residing in rural areas;
``(2) reduce isolation and improve access to care for
LGBTQI older individuals, or older individuals of a protected
class, residing in rural areas by building relationships
between such individuals and the local community;
``(3) foster relationships between local service providers
and LGBTQI older individuals, or older individuals of a
protected class, residing in rural areas;
``(4) improve cultural competency with respect to LGBTQI
individuals, and older individuals of a protected class, among
organizations and personnel providing services to older
individuals residing in rural areas;
``(5) expand the use of nondiscrimination policies that--
``(A) prohibit discrimination on the basis of
sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex
characteristics (including intersex traits); and
``(B) create community spaces that are inclusive to
LGBTQI older individuals and older individuals of a
protected class; and
``(6) focus on providing sexual health services to older
individuals residing in rural areas, including services for
individuals with HIV.
``(e) Supplement Not Supplant.--As a condition of receiving funds
under this section, an eligible entity shall use such funds received
under this section only to supplement the level of state or local funds
that would, in the absence of the receipt of funds under this section,
be made available for related LGBTQI services.
``(f) Standards and Guidelines.--The Assistant Secretary shall
establish standards and guidelines for activities supported by grants
under this section. Such standards and guidelines shall permit an
eligible entity receiving such grant to refine or adapt the standards
and guidelines for an individual project if the refinement or
adaptation is made necessary by a local circumstance.
``(g) Coordination With Local Entities.--
``(1) Cooperation.--An eligible entity that receives a
grant under this section shall, in carrying out activities
supported by the grant, agree to cooperate and coordinate
with--
``(A) the agencies of the relevant State and local
governments responsible for providing services to
LGBTQI older individuals, or older individuals of a
protected class, in the area served by such activities;
and
``(B) other public and private organizations and
agencies providing services to LGBTQI older
individuals, or older individuals of a protected class,
in such area.
``(2) Prioritization.--An eligible entity receiving a grant
under this section shall prioritize cooperating and
coordinating with public and private organizations and agencies
that primarily serve populations of older individuals with the
greatest social need.
``(h) Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the effective date of
this section, and annually thereafter, the Assistant Secretary shall
submit to the Congress and make available to the public a report
describing the activities carried out under this section during the
then preceding 2-year period.
``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is to be authorized
for rural outreach grant activities under section 423, $5,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2025 and 2029.''.
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