[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1225 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1225
To amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to establish the Office of
Older LGBT Policy and a rural outreach grant program carried out by
such Office, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 29, 2019
Mr. Casey introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to establish the Office of
Older LGBT Policy and a rural outreach grant program carried out by
such Office, 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 2019''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
Section 102 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3002) is
amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (34) through (40) and
paragraphs (41) through (54) as paragraphs (35) through (41)
and paragraphs (43) through (56), respectively;
(2) by inserting after paragraph (33) the following:
``(34) The term `LGBT' means lesbian, gay, bisexual, or
transgender.''; and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (41), as so redesignated,
the following:
``(42) The term `older LGBT individual' means an older
individual that identifies as LGBT.''.
SEC. 3. OFFICE OF OLDER LGBT POLICY.
(a) Establishment.--
(1) In general.--Section 201 of the Older Americans Act of
1965 (42 U.S.C. 3011) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(g)(1) There is established in the Administration an Office of
Older LGBT Policy (referred to in this subsection as the `Office').
``(2) The Office shall be headed by a Director of the Office of
Older LGBT Policy (referred to in this subsection as the `Director')
who shall be appointed by the Assistant Secretary.
``(3) The Director shall--
``(A) coordinate activities within the Department of Health
and Human Services, and between other Federal departments and
agencies, to assure a continuum of improved services for older
LGBT individuals;
``(B) serve as the effective and visible advocate on behalf
of older LGBT individuals--
``(i) within the Department of Health and Human
Services and with other departments and agencies of the
Federal Government regarding all Federal policies
affecting such individuals; and
``(ii) in the States to promote the enhanced
delivery of services and implementation of programs,
under this Act and other Federal Acts, for the benefit
of such individuals;
``(C) support, conduct, and arrange for research in the
field of LGBT aging with a special emphasis on gathering
statistics on older LGBT individuals;
``(D) collect and disseminate information related to
challenges experienced by older LGBT individuals with an
emphasis on the challenges experienced by older LGBT
individuals residing in rural areas and older LGBT individuals
living with human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune
deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS);
``(E) recommend policies and priorities beneficial to older
LGBT individuals and promote the implementation and adoption of
culturally competent care and services for such individuals;
and
``(F) administer and evaluate grants that will help older
LGBT individuals, including grants under section 423.
``(4) Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of the
Elder Pride Act of 2019, and every 5 years thereafter, the Director
shall submit to Congress a report describing the activities carried out
under this subsection during the preceding 5 fiscal years.''.
SEC. 4. RURAL OUTREACH GRANT PROGRAM.
Part A of title IV of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C.
3032 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 423. RURAL OUTREACH GRANT PROGRAM.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Director.--The term `Director' means the Director of
the Office of Older LGBT Policy, established under section
201(g).
``(2) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity'--
``(A) means an entity that submits an application
to the Director in accordance with subsection (d), and
is--
``(i) a State; or
``(ii) an agency, organization, or
institution that focuses on serving the needs
of older individuals or LGBT individuals; and
``(B) may include an area agency on aging for a
rural area or a multipurpose senior center.
``(3) 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) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to provide eligible
entities with resources and incentives to devise a long-term
comprehensive strategy for connecting with older LGBT individuals
residing in rural areas and meeting the needs of such individuals.
``(c) Authority for Grants.--The Director may, for the purpose
described in subsection (b), make grants to eligible entities to carry
out activities approved by the Director in accordance with subsection
(e).
``(d) Applications.--
``(1) In general.--An eligible entity seeking a grant under
this section shall submit an application to the Director at
such time, in such manner, and containing such information as
the Director 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 served by such
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 Director
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 Director determines necessary to achieve the
purpose described in subsection (b).
``(e) Approved Activities.--
``(1) In general.--A grant under this section shall be
available only for activities approved by the Director to carry
out a strategy designed to create a cooperative and lasting
partnership between older LGBT individuals residing in rural
areas and the eligible entity receiving the grant.
``(2) Approved activities.--Activities approved by the
Director may include initiatives that--
``(A) engage in education and training around
community outreach to older LGBT individuals residing
in rural areas;
``(B) reduce isolation and improve access to care
for older LGBT individuals residing in rural areas by
building relationships between such individuals and the
local community;
``(C) foster relationships between local LGBT-
affirming service providers and older LGBT individuals
residing in rural areas;
``(D) improve LGBT cultural competency among
organizations and personnel providing services to older
individuals residing in rural areas; and
``(E) expand the use of nondiscrimination policies
that--
``(i) protect sexual orientation and gender
identity; and
``(ii) create community spaces that are
inclusive to older LGBT individuals.
``(f) Standards and Guidelines.--The Director shall establish
standards and guidelines for approved activities supported by a grant
under this section. Such standards and guidelines shall permit an
eligible entity receiving such a grant to refine or adapt the standards
and guidelines for an individual project, where such a refinement or
adaptation is made necessary by a local circumstance.
``(g) Coordination With Local Entities.--
``(1) Cooperation.--An eligible entity receiving a grant
under this section shall, in carrying out the approved
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 older
LGBT individuals in the area served by such activities;
and
``(B) other public and private organizations and
agencies providing services for older LGBT individuals
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 economically underserved populations, as
determined by the Director.
``(h) Reports.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment
of the Elder Pride Act of 2019, and every 2 years thereafter, the
Director shall submit to Congress a report describing the activities
carried out under this section during the preceding 2 fiscal years.''.
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