[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1790 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1790

  To make grants to carry out activities to prevent the incidence of 
unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections among teens 
 in racial or ethnic minority or immigrant communities, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 16, 2007

   Mr. Obama introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
  referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To make grants to carry out activities to prevent the incidence of 
unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections among teens 
 in racial or ethnic minority or immigrant communities, 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 ``Communities of Color Teen Pregnancy 
Prevention Act of 2007''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Each year, nearly 750,000 American teens ages 15 
        through 19 become pregnant.
            (2) In 2002, the pregnancy rate for African American and 
        Latino teens ages 15 through 19 was double the rate for white 
        teens (134.2 and 131.5 compared to 65.0).
            (3) An estimated 4,883 youth ages 13 through 24 were 
        diagnosed with HIV or AIDS in 2004, representing approximately 
        13 percent of all individuals given a diagnosis during that 
        year.
            (4) African American youth comprised the largest single 
        group of young people affected by HIV, accounting for 55 
        percent of all HIV infections among youth ages 13 through 24 in 
        2004.
            (5) Although African American teens (ages 13 through 19) 
        represent only 16 percent of United States teens, they 
        accounted for 69 percent of new AIDS cases reported among teens 
        in 2005.
            (6) In 2005, Latino teens, ages 13 through 19, accounted 
        for 17 percent of AIDS cases among teens, the same as their 
        proportion of the United States teenage population that year. 
        Latinos ages 20 through 24 accounted for 22 percent of new AIDS 
        reported among young adults, but represented 18 percent of 
        United States young adults.
            (7) Recent estimates suggest that while 15- to 24-year olds 
        represent 25 percent of the ever sexually active population, 
        they acquire nearly one-half of all new sexually transmitted 
        infections.
            (8) In 2005, the gonorrhea rate among African American 
        teens ages 15 through 19 was 17 times higher than among white 
        teens of the same age. The rates of primary and secondary 
        syphilis were 19 times higher among black teens ages 15 through 
        19 than among their white peers.
            (9) In 2005, nearly three-fourths of all reported cases of 
        gonorrhea occurred among African American teens, for whom the 
        gonorrhea rate was 2,106 per 100,000 population.

SEC. 3. COMMUNITY-BASED AND SCHOOL-BASED INTERVENTION PROGRAMS.

    (a) Community-Based Intervention Programs.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services 
        (referred to in this Act as the ``Secretary'') shall make 
        grants to public and nonprofit private entities for the purpose 
        of carrying out projects to prevent teen pregnancies in racial 
        or ethnic minority or immigrant communities with a substantial 
        incidence or prevalence of cases of teen pregnancy as compared 
        to the average number of such cases in communities in the State 
        involved (referred to in this Act as ``eligible communities'').
            (2) Requirements regarding purpose of grants.--A grant may 
        be made under paragraph (1) only if, with respect to the 
        expenditure of the grant to carry out the purpose described in 
        such paragraph, the applicant involved agrees to use one or 
        more of the following strategies:
                    (A) Promote effective communication among families 
                about preventing teen pregnancy, particularly 
                communication among parents or guardians and their 
                children.
                    (B) Educate community members about the 
                consequences of teen pregnancy.
                    (C) Encourage young people to postpone sexual 
                activity and prepare for a healthy, successful 
                adulthood, including by teaching them skills to avoid 
                making or receiving unwanted verbal, physical, and 
                sexual advances.
                    (D) Provide information about the health benefits 
                and side effects of all contraceptives and barrier 
                methods as a means to prevent pregnancy and reduce the 
                risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections, 
                including HIV/AIDS.
                    (E) Provide educational information, including 
                medically accurate information about the health 
                benefits and side effects of all contraceptives and 
                barrier methods, for young people in such communities 
                who are already sexually active or are at risk of 
                becoming sexually active and inform young people in 
                such communities about the responsibilities and 
                consequences of being a parent, and how early pregnancy 
                and parenthood can interfere with educational and other 
                goals.
            (3) Utilizing effective strategies.--A grant may be made 
        under paragraph (1) only if the applicant involved agrees that, 
        in carrying out the purpose described in such paragraph, the 
        applicant will, whenever possible, use strategies that have 
        been demonstrated to be effective (on the basis of rigorous 
        scientific research), or that incorporate characteristics of 
        effective programs.
    (b) School-Based Projects.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary may make grants to public 
        and nonprofit private entities for the purpose of establishing 
        and operating for eligible communities, in association with 
        public secondary schools for such communities, projects for one 
        or more of the following:
                    (A) To carry out activities, including counseling, 
                to prevent unintended pregnancy and sexually 
                transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS, among 
                teens.
                    (B) To provide necessary social and cultural 
                support services regarding teen pregnancy.
                    (C) To provide health and educational services 
                related to the prevention of unintended pregnancy and 
                sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS, 
                among teens.
                    (D) To promote better health and educational 
                outcomes among pregnant teens.
                    (E) To provide training for individuals who plan to 
                work in school-based support programs regarding the 
                prevention of unintended pregnancy and sexually 
                transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS, among 
                teens.
            (2) Priority.--In making grants under paragraph (1), the 
        Secretary shall give priority to providing for projects under 
        such paragraph in eligible communities.
            (3) Required coalition.--A grant may be made under 
        paragraph (1) only if the applicant involved has formed an 
        appropriate coalition of entities for purposes of carrying out 
        a project under such paragraph, including--
                    (A) one or more public secondary schools for the 
                eligible community involved; and
                    (B) entities to provide the services of the 
                project.
            (4) Training.--A grant under paragraph (1) may be expended 
        to train individuals to provide the services described in 
        subparagraphs (A) and (B) of such paragraph for the project 
        involved.
    (c) Reporting and Evaluation.--
            (1) Report.--A grant may be made under subsection (a) or 
        (b) only if the applicant involved agrees to submit to the 
        Secretary, in accordance with the criteria of the Secretary, a 
        report that provides information on the project under such 
        subsection, including project outcomes and increased education 
        and awareness about the prevention of unintended pregnancy and 
        sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS, among 
        teens. The Secretary shall make such reports available to the 
        public.
            (2) Evaluations.--Not later than 12 months after the date 
        of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall, directly or 
        through contract, provide for evaluations of at least 10 
        percent or not less than 6 projects carried out with grants 
        under each of subsections (a) and (b). Each such evaluation 
        shall describe--
                    (A) the activities carried out with the grant; and
                    (B) the extent to which the activities were 
                effective in changing attitudes and behavior to achieve 
                the project strategies consistent with--
                            (i) subsection (a)(2) for grants under 
                        subsection (a); or
                            (ii) subsection (b)(1) for grants under 
                        subsection (b).
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) Community-based intervention programs.--For the purpose 
        of carrying out subsection (a), there is authorized to be 
        appropriated $40,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008 
        through 2012.
            (2) School-based projects.--For the purpose of carrying out 
        subsection (b), there is authorized to be appropriated 
        $10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2012.
            (3) Evaluations.--Of the total amount appropriated to carry 
        out this section for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall reserve 
        10 percent of such amount to carry out subsection (c)(2).

SEC. 4. MULTIMEDIA CAMPAIGNS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall make grants to public and 
nonprofit private entities for the purpose of carrying out multimedia 
campaigns to provide public education and increase awareness with 
respect to the issue of reducing the rates of unintended pregnancy and 
sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS, among teens, and 
related social, physical, and emotional issues.
    (b) Priority.--In making grants under subsection (a), the Secretary 
shall give priority to campaigns described in such subsection that are 
directed toward eligible communities.
    (c) Requirements.--A grant may be made under subsection (a) only if 
the applicant involved agrees that the multimedia campaign under such 
subsection will--
            (1) provide information on the prevention of unintended 
        pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/
        AIDS, among teens;
            (2) provide information that identifies organizations in 
        the communities involved that--
                    (A) provide health and educational services related 
                to the prevention of unintended pregnancy and sexually 
                transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS, for teens; 
                and
                    (B) provide necessary social and cultural support 
                services; and
            (3) coincide with efforts of the National Clearinghouse for 
        Teen Pregnancy Prevention that are made under section 5(b)(1).
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purpose of carrying 
out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $6,000,000 for 
each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2012.

SEC. 5. NATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSE.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall make grants to a nonprofit 
private entity to establish and operate a National Clearinghouse for 
Teen Pregnancy Prevention (referred to in this section as the 
``Clearinghouse'') for the purposes described in subsection (b).
    (b) Purposes of Clearinghouse.--The purposes referred to in 
subsection (a) regarding the Clearinghouse are as follows:
            (1) To provide information and technical assistance to 
        States, Indian tribes, local communities, and other public or 
        private entities to develop content and messages for teens and 
        adults that address and seek to reduce the rate of unintended 
        pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/
        AIDS, among teens.
            (2) To support parents in their essential role in 
        preventing unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted 
        infections, including HIV/AIDS, among teens by equipping 
        parents with information and resources to promote and 
        strengthen communication with their children about sex, values, 
        and positive relationships, including healthy relationships.
    (c) Requirements for Grantee.--A grant may be made under subsection 
(a) only if the applicant involved is an organization that meets the 
following conditions:
            (1) The organization is a nationally recognized, 
        nonpartisan organization that has at least 10 years of 
        experience focusing on preventing teen pregnancy and working 
        with diverse groups to reduce the rate of teen pregnancy.
            (2) 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; reproductive health 
        providers; businesses; faith and community leaders; and 
        researchers.
            (3) The organization has experience in the use of 
        culturally competent and linguistically appropriate methods to 
        address teen pregnancy in eligible communities.
            (4) The organization conducts or supports research and has 
        experience with scientific analyses and evaluations.
            (5) The organization has comprehensive knowledge and data 
        about strategies for the prevention of teen pregnancy.
            (6) The organization has experience in carrying out 
        functions similar to the functions described in subsection (b).
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purpose of carrying 
out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $1,500,000 for 
each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2012.

SEC. 6. RESEARCH.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Director of the 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall make grants to public 
or nonprofit private entities to conduct, support, and coordinate 
research on the prevention of unintended pregnancy and sexually 
transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS, among teens in eligible 
communities, including research on the factors contributing to the 
disproportionate rates of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted 
infections in such communities and research-based strategies for 
addressing such disparities.
    (b) Research.--In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
support research that--
            (1) investigates the incidence and prevalence of teen 
        pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/
        AIDS, among teens in communities described in such subsection;
            (2) examines--
                    (A) the relationships between teen pregnancy and 
                one or more of--
                            (i) the mental and physical health and 
                        well-being of teens in the communities;
                            (ii) teen access to a full range of family 
                        planning services;
                            (iii) the scholastic achievement of such 
                        teens;
                            (iv) family structure and communication; 
                        and
                            (v) other factors contributing to 
                        disproportionate rates of teen pregnancy and 
                        sexually transmitted infections among teens in 
                        such communities;
                    (B) the variance in the rates of teen pregnancy and 
                by--
                            (i) location (such as inner cities, inner 
                        suburbs, outer suburbs, and rural areas);
                            (ii) population subgroup (such as Hispanic, 
                        Asian-Pacific Islander, African-American, and 
                        Native American);
                            (iii) level of acculturation; and
                            (iv) socioeconomic status (such as income, 
                        educational attainment of the parents of the 
                        teen, and school attendance of the teen);
                    (C) the importance of the physical and social 
                environment as a factor in placing communities at risk 
                of increased rates of pregnancy and sexually 
                transmitted infections; and
                    (D) the importance of aspirations and motivations 
                as factors affecting young people's risk of teen 
                pregnancy;
            (3) is used to propose or identify additional strategies 
        that will address the disproportionate rates of teen pregnancy 
        and sexually transmitted infections in such communities; and
            (4) wherever possible, includes efforts to link the 
        measures to relevant databases, including health databases.
    (c) Priority.--In making grants under subsection (a), the Secretary 
shall give priority to research that incorporates--
            (1) interdisciplinary approaches; or
            (2) a strong emphasis on community-based participatory 
        research.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purpose of carrying 
out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $7,500,000 for 
each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2012.

SEC. 7. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) Medically Accurate Information.--A grant may be made under this 
Act only if the applicant involved agrees that all information provided 
pursuant to the grant will be age-appropriate, factually and medically 
accurate and complete, and scientifically based.
    (b) Cultural Context of Services.--A grant may be made under this 
Act only if the applicant involved agrees that information, activities, 
and services under the grant that are directed toward a particular 
population group will be provided in the language and cultural context 
that is most appropriate for individuals in such group.
    (c) Application for Grant.--A grant may be made under this Act only 
if an application for the grant is submitted to the Secretary and the 
application is in such form, is made in such manner, and contains such 
agreements, assurances, and information as the Secretary determines to 
be necessary to carry out the program involved.

SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS.

    For purposes of this Act:
            (1) The term ``eligible community'' has the meaning 
        indicated for such term in section 3(a)(1).
            (2) The term ``HIV/AIDS'' means the human immunodeficiency 
        virus, and includes the acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
            (3) The term ``medically accurate'' with respect to 
        information, means information that is supported by research, 
        recognized as accurate and objective by leading medical, 
        psychological, psychiatric, and public health organizations and 
        agencies, and where relevant, published in peer review 
        journals.
            (4) The term ``racial or ethnic minority or immigrant 
        communities'' means communities with a substantial number of 
        residents who are members of racial or ethnic minority groups 
        or who are immigrants.
            (5) The term ``Secretary'' has the meaning indicated for 
        such term in section 3(a)(1).
                                 <all>