[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1360 Introduced in House (IH)]

114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1360

 To require the Secretary of the Treasury to use revenue generated by 
 certain fines, penalties, and settlements that are not designated for 
restitution or any other purpose to fund evidence-based youth mentoring 
  projects, justice reinvestment efforts, and innovations in medical 
                       research and development.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 13, 2015

 Mr. Fattah (for himself, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Brady of Pennsylvania, 
 Mr. Connolly, and Mr. Cohen) introduced the following bill; which was 
  referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the 
    Committees on Education and the Workforce, Science, Space, and 
 Technology, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To require the Secretary of the Treasury to use revenue generated by 
 certain fines, penalties, and settlements that are not designated for 
restitution or any other purpose to fund evidence-based youth mentoring 
  projects, justice reinvestment efforts, and innovations in medical 
                       research and development.

    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 ``America's Fund for Future 
Opportunities and Outcomes in the United States Act of 2015'' or 
``America's FOCUS Act of 2015''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The United States faces increasing competition from 
        countries with populations of a billion or more inhabitants, 
        who contribute to the human capital of these countries and 
        improve their performance in the global economy.
            (2) To ensure that the United States retains its leadership 
        position in the global economy, the United States should 
        maximize the opportunities and outcomes of its citizenry.
            (3) The United States can achieve this goal by investing in 
        STEM education and character development for youth, justice 
        reinvestment efforts, and innovations in medical research and 
        development.
            (4) To fund these investments in the public interest, the 
        United States should use revenue generated by acts perpetrated 
        against the public interest.
            (5) As corporate and financial wrongdoing touches the lives 
        of all Americans, revenue generated by such acts should serve 
        as the basis for these investments.
            (6) This revenue should be used to assist programs and 
        organizations seeking to better the Nation through their work 
        in the youth mentoring, justice reinvestment, and medical 
        research fields.
            (7) In 1956 and 1958, Congress issued Federal charters to 
        the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and Big Brothers Big 
        Sisters of America in recognition of their work helping 
        children reach their full potential and succeed in American 
        public life. Youth mentoring organizations still carry out this 
        work and are putting children on the path to self-sufficiency. 
        These organizations include--
                    (A) the Boys and Girls Clubs of America;
                    (B) Big Brothers Big Sisters of America;
                    (C) the Boy Scouts of America;
                    (D) the Girl Scouts of the USA;
                    (E) MENTOR: the National Mentoring Partnership;
                    (F) the United Way;
                    (G) Girls Inc.;
                    (H) Amachi;
                    (I) the Y.M.C.A.;
                    (J) FIRST Robotics;
                    (K) the United States D.R.E.A.M. Academy;
                    (L) GEAR UP;
                    (M) 4-H;
                    (N) the National Urban League;
                    (O) the First Tee;
                    (P) the Civil Air Patrol;
                    (Q) the National Pan-Hellenic Council;
                    (R) the National CARES Mentoring Movement;
                    (S) the National Alliance of Faith and Justice; and
                    (T) the National Council of Youth Sports.
            (8) Innovations in medical research and development 
        significantly benefit the American people. For example, through 
        innovations in the diagnosis and treatment of life-threatening 
        diseases, Americans are now living longer and more productive 
        lives, contributing to the economic growth of the United 
        States. Additional investments in medical research and 
        development will contribute to overall public health and 
        productivity in America.
            (9) Through participation in the Justice Reinvestment 
        Initiative, States have implemented evidence-based criminal 
        justice reforms. These reforms are cost effective, redirecting 
        revenue to better serve the public safety needs of local 
        communities. In addition, these reforms have decreased risks of 
        recidivism and instituted alternatives to incarceration for 
        non-violent offenders. According to a July 2013 report from the 
        Urban Institute, States participating in the Justice 
        Reinvestment Initiative may achieve $3.3 billion in savings 
        over the next 10 years. Additional funding to the Initiative 
        would better enable States and local governments to carry out 
        this work and achieve these savings.

SEC. 3. AMERICA'S FOCUS FUND.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury a separate 
account to be known as the America's FOCUS Fund (hereafter in this Act 
referred to as the ``Fund'').
    (b) Revenue Deposited in Fund.--Except as provided in subsection 
(c), the Secretary of the Treasury shall deposit in the Fund--
            (1) all revenue generated by civil and criminal fines and 
        penalties for the violation or alleged violation of Federal 
        law;
            (2) all revenue generated by legal settlements reached 
        between corporations and the Federal Government for the 
        violation or alleged violation of Federal law; and
            (3) any gift, bequest, or donation to the Fund from a 
        private entity or individual, if such gift, bequest, or 
        donation does not attach any condition inconsistent with 
        Federal law or regulations.
    (c) Exceptions.--The Secretary may not deposit in the Fund--
            (1) revenue designated for deposit in the Crime Victims 
        Fund established by section 1402 of the Victims of Crime Act of 
        1984 (42 U.S.C. 10601); or
            (2) revenue that has been designated by Federal law or 
        court order for deposit in a fund other than the General Fund.
    (d) Use of Funds.--
            (1) In general.--Revenue in the Fund shall be used for the 
        following purposes:
                    (A) Youth mentoring grants.--Not more than 33 
                percent of the total revenue in the Fund as calculated 
                on a quarterly basis shall be used to award grants for 
                evidence-based youth mentoring and STEM education, in 
                the manner provided in section 4.
                    (B) Justice reinvestment grants.--Not more than 33 
                percent of the total revenue in the Fund as calculated 
                on a quarterly basis shall be used to award grants for 
                evidence-based justice reinvestment, in the manner 
                provided in section 5.
                    (C) Medical innovation grants.--Not more than 33 
                percent of the total revenue in the Fund as calculated 
                on a quarterly basis shall be used to award grants and 
                prizes for innovations in medical research and 
                development, in the manner provided in section 6.
                    (D) Reducing the federal debt.--The Secretary shall 
                use the remaining revenue for Federal budget deficit 
                reduction or, if there is no Federal budget deficit for 
                the fiscal year, for reducing the Federal debt in such 
                manner as the Secretary considers appropriate.
            (2) Requirement to supplement, not supplant other funds.--
        Grant funds awarded under this Act shall be used to supplement, 
        and not supplant, other Federal, State, and local funds 
        designated to carry out the activities funded by the grants.
    (e) Retention of Sums in Fund.--Sums deposited in the Fund shall 
remain in the Fund and be available for expenditure for grants under 
this Act without fiscal year limitation.

SEC. 4. YOUTH MENTORING GRANTS.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Youth mentoring grants.--The Secretary of Education, in 
        cooperation with the Federal Mentoring Council, shall award 
        grants to eligible entities that provide evidence-based youth 
        mentoring programs, using the revenue designated for such 
        purpose in subparagraph (A) of section 3(d)(1).
            (2) STEM education grants.--The Associate Administrator for 
        Education for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
        shall award grants to eligible entities that offer STEM 
        education to individuals under the age of 21, using the revenue 
        designated for such purpose in subparagraph (A) of section 
        3(d)(1).
    (b) Eligible Entity.--An entity is eligible for a grant under this 
section if it is--
            (1) a national non-profit, community-based organization 
        with at least 2 years of experience in administering STEM 
        education programs or youth mentoring programs; or
            (2) a State or local government.
    (c) Application.--An entity seeking to receive a grant under this 
section shall submit an application at such time and in such form as 
the Secretary may reasonably require.
    (d) Distribution of Funds.--Of the funds available under this 
section, 25 percent shall be allocated for the award of grants to State 
and local governments.
    (e) Use of Funds.--
            (1) State and local governments.--
                    (A) In general.--A State or local government that 
                receives a grant under this section shall distribute 
                the grant funds to non-profit, community-based 
                organizations and local educational agencies within the 
                jurisdiction of such government that provide evidence-
                based mentoring or STEM education to individuals under 
                the age of 21.
                    (B) Funds reserved for vulnerable youth.--A State 
                or local government that receives grant funds under 
                this section shall allocate not less than 50 percent of 
                such funds for distribution to organizations described 
                in subparagraph (A) that provide evidence-based 
                mentoring or STEM education to vulnerable youth.
            (2) Other entities.--
                    (A) In general.--An organization other than a State 
                or local government that receives a grant under this 
                section shall use the grant funds to establish or 
                expand one or more programs that provide evidence-based 
                mentoring or STEM education to individuals under the 
                age of 21.
                    (B) Funds reserved for persistent poverty 
                counties.--An organization other than a State or local 
                government that receives grant funds under this section 
                shall allocate not less than 10 percent of such funds 
                for programs that provide evidence-based mentoring or 
                STEM education in persistent poverty counties.
    (f) Annual Award of Grants.--To the extent funds are available, the 
grants under this section shall be awarded at least once during each 
fiscal year, with the first grants to be awarded within 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (g) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) STEM education program.--The term ``STEM education 
        program'' means a program to educate students in one or more of 
        the following disciplines: science, technology, engineering, or 
        mathematics.
            (2) Persistent poverty counties.--The term ``persistent 
        poverty counties'' means any county that has had 20 percent or 
        more of its population living in poverty over the past 30 
        years, as measured by the 1990, 2000, and 2010 decennial 
        censuses.
            (3) Vulnerable youth.--The term ``vulnerable youth'' 
        includes individuals under the age of 21--
                    (A) who experience emotional and adjustment 
                problems;
                    (B) who have left or are at risk of leaving 
                secondary school without a diploma;
                    (C) who lack the skills to succeed in the workforce 
                after graduation;
                    (D) who live in an unstable family or community 
                environment;
                    (E) who are involved in the juvenile justice 
                system;
                    (F) who are homeless or live in foster care;
                    (G) who have physical or mental disabilities;
                    (H) who receive special education;
                    (I) who are or have been victims of human 
                trafficking; or
                    (J) who live in neighborhoods with high rates of 
                illegal drug use.

SEC. 5. JUSTICE REINVESTMENT GRANTS.

    (a) In General.--The Attorney General shall use the revenue 
designated for justice reinvestment grants in subparagraph (B) of 
section 3(d)(1) to fund evidence-based justice reinvestment projects as 
part of the Justice Reinvestment Initiative and programs established 
under the Second Chance Act within the Department of Justice.
    (b) Use of Funds.--
            (1) State and local governments.--
                    (A) In general.--Except as provided in paragraphs 
                (2) and (3), 50 percent of the funds under this section 
                shall be used to award grants to State and local 
                governments for evidence-based justice reinvestment 
                projects.
                    (B) Funds reserved for persistent poverty 
                counties.--The Attorney General shall allocate not less 
                than 10 percent of such funds for projects that support 
                persistent poverty counties.
            (2) Federal government.--The Attorney General may use not 
        more than 25 percent of the funds under this section to support 
        Federal justice reinvestment projects.
            (3) Second chance act programs.--The Attorney General shall 
        allocate not more than 25 percent of the funds in this section 
        to grant programs established under the Second Chance Act 
        within the Department of Justice.
    (c) Application.--An entity seeking to receive a grant under this 
section shall submit an application at such time and in such form as 
the Attorney General may reasonably require.
    (d) Annual Award of Grants.--To the extent funds are available, the 
Attorney General shall award grants under this section at least once 
during each fiscal year, with the first grants to be awarded within 180 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (e) Persistent Poverty Counties Defined.--In this section, the term 
``persistent poverty counties'' means any county that has had 20 
percent or more of its population living in poverty over the past 30 
years, as measured by the 1990, 2000, and 2010 decennial censuses.

SEC. 6. MEDICAL INNOVATION GRANTS.

    (a) In General.--The Director of the National Institutes of Health 
shall use the revenue designated for medical innovation in subparagraph 
(C) of section 3(d)(1) to fund entities that conduct innovative medical 
research and development.
    (b) Use of Funds.--
            (1) Grants.--
                    (A) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph 
                (2), the funds available under this section shall be 
                used to award grants to entities that conduct 
                innovative medical research and development to provide 
                faster cures for medical ailments and diseases.
                    (B) Application.--An entity seeking to receive a 
                grant under this paragraph shall submit an application 
                at such time and in such form as the Director may 
                reasonably require.
            (2) Prizes.--The Director may use not more than 15 percent 
        of the funds available under this section to award monetary 
        prizes to entities that have used their own funding and 
        research facilities to produce innovative results in medical 
        research and development.
    (c) Annual Award of Grants and Prizes.--To the extent funds are 
available, the Director of the National Institutes of Health shall 
award the grants and prizes under this section at least once during 
each fiscal year, with the first grants and prizes to be awarded within 
180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
                                 <all>