II 110th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1790 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.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Communities of Color Teen Pregnancy Prevention Act of 2007.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).