[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 124 (Tuesday, October 5, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10437-S10445]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
By Mr. DODD (for himself, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Kennedy, Mrs. Clinton,
Ms. Collins, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Johnson, and Mrs.
Murray):
S. 2887. A bill to improve the Child Care Access Means Parents in
School Program; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions.
Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I am pleased to rise today with Senators
Snowe, Kennedy, Collins, Murray, Durbin, Lautenberg, Clinton and
Johnson to introduce legislation which would supply greatly needed
support to
[[Page S10438]]
college students struggling to balance their roles as parents with
their roles as students. The Child Care Access Means Parents in School
Act, CCAMPIS, would increase access to, support for, and retention of
low-income, nontraditional students who are struggling to complete
college degrees while caring for their children.
The typical college student is no longer an 18 year old recent high
school graduate. According to a 2002 study by the National Center for
Education Statistics, only 27 percent of undergraduates meet the
``traditional'' undergraduate criteria of earning a high school
diploma, enrolling full-time, depending on parents for financial
support and not working or working part-time. This means that 73
percent of today's students are considered nontraditional in some way.
Clearly, nontraditional students--older students with children and
various job and life experiences--are filling the ranks of college
classes. Why? Because they recognize the importance of college to
future success. It is currently estimated that a full-time worker with
a bachelor's degree earns about 60 percent more than a full-time worker
with only a high school diploma. This amounts to a lifetime gap in
earnings of more than $1 million.
Today's nontraditional students face barriers unheard of by
traditional college students of earlier years. Many are parents and
must provide for their children while in school. Access to affordable,
quality and convenient child care is a necessity for these students.
But obtaining the child care that they need is often difficult because
of their limited income and nontraditional schedules, compounded by
declining assistance for child care through other supports. Campus
based child care can fill the gap. It is conveniently located,
available during the right hours, and of high quality and lower cost.
Unfortunately, it is unavailable at many campuses. Even when programs
do exist, they are often available to only a fraction of the eligible
students. That is where the Dodd-Snowe CCAMPIS Act comes in.
The Dodd-Snowe CCAMPIS Act increases and expands the availability of
campus based child care in three ways. First, it raises the minimum
grant amount from $10,000 to $30,000. For most institutions of higher
education, $10,000 has proven too small relative to the effort to
complete a Federal application. Grant offices on campuses often pass
small grants over in favor of those that appear more cost effective.
Second, the Dodd-Snowe CCAMPIS Act ensures that a wider range of
students are able to access services. Present language defines low-
income students as students eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant.
This language excludes graduate students, international students, and
students who may be low-income but make slightly more than is allowed
to qualify for Pell grants. CCAMPIS will open eligibility for these
additional populations.
Third, the CCAMPIS Act raises the program's current authorization
level from $45 million to $75 million so that we not only expand
existing programs, we create new ones.
Research demonstrates that campus based child care is of high quality
and that it increases the educational success of both parents and
students. Furthermore, recipients of campus based child care assistance
who are on public assistance are more likely to never return to welfare
and to obtain jobs paying good wages.
Currently, there are approximately 1,850 campus based child care
programs but over 4,000 colleges and universities eligible to
participate in the CCAMPIS program. Currently, CCAMPIS funds only 343
programs in 25 states and the District of Columbia. Meanwhile, the
number of nontraditional students across America is increasing. As
these numbers increase, the need for campus based child care will be
increasingly unmet.
This is a modest measure that will make a major difference to
students. It will offer them new hope for starting and staying in
school. I am hopeful that it can be considered and enacted as part of
the Higher Education Act. I look forward to working with my colleagues
to move this important measure forward.
I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the
Record.
There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the
Record, as follows:
S. 2887
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. CHILD CARE ACCESS MEANS PARENTS IN SCHOOL PROGRAM.
(a) Minimum Grant.--Section 419N(b)(2)(B) of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070e(b)(2)(B)) is amended
by striking ``$10,000'' and inserting ``$30,000''.
(b) Definition of Low-Income Student.--Section 419N(b)(7)
of such Act is amended to read as follows:
``(7) Definition of low-income student.--For the purpose of
this section, the term `low-income student' means a student
who--
``(A) is eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant for the
fiscal year for which the determination is made;
``(B) would otherwise be eligible to receive a Federal Pell
Grant for the fiscal year for which the determination is
made, except that the student fails to meet the requirements
of--
``(i) section 401(c)(1) because the student is enrolled in
a graduate or first professional course of study; or
``(ii) section 484(a)(5) because the student is in the
United States for a temporary purpose; or
``(C) is from a family with an income that is less than 275
percent of the poverty line (as defined by the Office of
Management and Budget, and revised annually in accordance
with section 673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant
Act) applicable to a family of the size involved.''.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 419N(g) of
such Act is amended by striking ``$45,000,000 for fiscal year
1999'' and inserting ``$75,000,000 for fiscal year 2005''.
Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I am extremely pleased to join my colleague
from Connecticut, Senator Dodd, to introduce the Child Care Access
Means Parents in School Act of 2004. Senator Dodd and I have worked
together to ensure access to quality child care, and this bill
represents the next step in our shared commitment to this important
issue. This legislation provides grants to colleges in order to provide
child care for low-income students.
Countless college students have recently returned to college. At this
time, we should remind ourselves that many Americans face obstacles
that prevent them from participating in higher education. The absence
of affordable and accessible child care is, unfortunately, one such
obstacle.
For many parents with young children, the availability of on-campus
child care services is central to their ability to attend college.
Campus-based child care is conveniently located, available at the hours
that fit students' schedules and often available at a lower cost than
community-based child care centers. Student parents rate access to
campus-based child care as an important factor affecting their college
enrollment. Unfortunately, such services are often in very short
supply, particularly for low-income parents who may find the cost of
existing services prohibitive.
Higher education is becoming ever more crucial to getting a job in
today's global job market. The majority of new jobs require education
beyond high school. Getting the skills necessary to meet the demands of
today's marketplace simply requires higher and higher levels of
educational achievement. For many low-income students who are parents,
the availability of campus-based child care is key to their ability to
receive a higher education and thus achieve the American dream. Student
parents are more likely to remain in school, and to graduate sooner and
at a higher rate if they have campus-based child care. Child care
services are particularly critical for older students who choose to go
back to school to get their degree or to improve their skills through
advanced education. Children placed in campus-based child care also
reap numerous benefits, given its high quality. In fact, children in
high-quality child care exhibit higher earnings as adults, higher rates
of secondary school graduation, lower rates of teen pregnancy, and a
reduced need for special education or costly social services.
Research shows that programs such as the High/Scope Perry Preschool
Program in Ypsilanti, Michigan and the Chicago Child-Parent Centers
demonstrate overwhelmingly that quality child care is a wise investment
and is cost efficient. According to analysis of these programs the
public saves $7 for every $1 invested in child care. These savings
counted only the benefits to the public at large--in reduced costs of
crime, welfare and remedial education
[[Page S10439]]
and in taxes paid when the preschoolers became adult workers--without
even taking into account participants' increased earnings or the
increased contribution to economic growth those earnings represent.
The Child Care Access Means Parents in School Act of 2004 will amend
title IV of the Higher Education Act to help provide campus-based child
care to low-income parents seeking a college degree. Under the bill,
the Secretary of Education will award 3-year grants to institutions of
higher education to support or help establish a campus-based child care
program serving the needs of low-income student parents. The Secretary
will award $75 million in grants--equal to 1 percent of total Pell
grant funding--based on an application submitted by the institution,
and the grant amount will be linked to the institution's Pell grant
funding level. This bill ensures that a wide range of low-income
students are able to access child care services.
Under the bill low-income students are defined as students eligible
to receive a Federal Pell Grant, or students who would be eligible to
receive a Pell grant if they were not in the United States temporarily,
and students who are from a family with an income that is less than 275
percent of the poverty line (as defined by the Office of Management and
Budget). Students typically qualify for Pell grants if their income is
under $30,000 per year and in Maine, this means approximately 17,000
students could have access to high quality child care services while
they earn their college degree. This bill will make a true difference
in the lives of many low-income students who need child care to attend
school.
This bill raises the minimum CCAMPIS grant to $30,000 and authorizes
$75 million as research has found that the existing minimum grant of
$10,000 is often too small relative to the effort for many institutions
to complete a federal application. We have found that grant offices on
campuses often pass small grants over in favor of those that are most
cost effective.
Because the bill we are introducing today will help bring the
American dream within the reach of American parents who need child care
in order to attend college, I urge my colleagues to support this
important legislation which will truly make a difference in the lives
of many American parents.
______
By Mr. DODD (for himself, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Levin, and Mr.
Kennedy):
S. 2888. A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to
establish a scholarship program to encourage and support students who
have contributed substantial public services; to the Committee on
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise to introduce, along with Senators
Edwards, Levin and Kennedy, the Youth Service Scholarship Act. This Act
would authorize the Secretary of Education to award college
scholarships of up to $5,000 a year to high school students and
undergraduates who perform community service.
A recent study titled Community Service and Service Learning in U.S.
Public Schools reveals that 66 percent of public schools involve
students in community service. This means that approximately 54,000
public schools in America currently engage about 13.7 million students
in community service each year. Other studies have shown that nearly 84
percent of high school students participate in volunteer activities
either in or out of school, and two-thirds of college students have
recently participated in volunteer activities.
The Youth Service Scholarship Act is dedicated to assist low-income
students who dedicate a significant portion of their time to volunteer
service with money for college. This Act would authorize the Secretary
of Education to award college scholarships of up to $5,000 to high
school students who perform over 600 hours of community service in two
years. In order to be considered, high school applicants must maintain
a 2.0 grade point average, submit character recommendations, and write
an essay on the nature of their community service. Additional money is
available if the student continues to participate in a significant
amount of community service once they are in college.
Volunteerism not only brings support and services to communities in
need, it provides significant benefits to the students who participate.
Research has shown that students who volunteer are 50 percent less
likely to use drugs and alcohol, or engage in destructive behavior.
Additionally, students who volunteer are more likely to receive good
grades, be philanthropic, graduate, and be interested in going to
college.
In the 21st Century, higher education is not a luxury, it is a
necessity. For many of our low-income youth, finding money to pay for
college is an obstacle to enrollment. This scholarship program provides
aid to motivated and inspirational youth.
I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the Youth Service
Scholarship Act. I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be
printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the
Record, as follows:
S. 2888
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 ``Youth Service Scholarship
Act of 2004''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) young people under 18 years of age are now our Nation's
most impoverished age group, with 1 of every 5 living in
poverty, a higher proportion than in 1968, and the percentage
of minority children living in poverty is about twice as
high;
(2) more than 1 of 4 families is headed by a single parent
and the percentage of such families has risen steadily over
the past few decades, rising 13 percent since 1990;
(3) there is a need to engage youth as active participants
in decisionmaking that affects their lives, including in the
design, development, implementation, and evaluation of youth
development programs at the Federal, State, and community
levels;
(4) existing outcome driven youth development strategies,
pioneered by community-based organizations, hold real promise
for promoting positive behaviors and preventing youth
problems;
(5) formal evaluations of youth development programs have
documented significant reductions in drug and alcohol use,
school misbehavior, aggressive behavior, violence, truancy,
high-risk sexual behavior, and smoking;
(6) compared to youth in the United States generally, youth
participating in community-based organizations are more than
26 percent more likely to report having received recognition
for good grades than youth in the United States generally and
nearly 20 percent more likely to rate the likelihood of their
going to college as very high; and
(7) the availability and use of Federal resources can be an
effective incentive to leverage broader community support to
enable local programs, activities, and services to provide
the full array of developmental core resources, remove
barriers to access, promote program effectiveness, and
facilitate coordination and collaboration within the
community.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.
Subpart 2 of part A of title IV of the Higher Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a-11 et seq.) is amended--
(1) by redesignating section 407E as section 406E; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``Chapter 4--Public Service Incentives
``SEC. 407A. PURPOSE.
``The purpose of this chapter is to establish a scholarship
program to reward low-income students who have, during high
school, and who continue, during college, to make significant
public service contributions to their communities.
``SEC. 407B. SCHOLARSHIPS AUTHORIZED.
``(a) Qualifications for Scholarships.--The Secretary is
authorized to award a scholarship to enable a student to pay
the cost of attendance at an institution of higher education
during the student's first 4 academic years of undergraduate
education, if the student--
``(1) in order to be eligible for the first year of such
scholarship, performed not less than 300 hours of qualifying
public service during each of 2 academic years of the
student's secondary school enrollment;
``(2) in order to be eligible for the second or any
subsequent year of such scholarship, performed not less than
300 hours of qualifying public service during the academic
year of postsecondary school attendance preceding the
academic year for which the student seeks such scholarship;
``(3) was eligible for a free or reduced price lunch under
the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C.
1721 et seq.);
``(4) is eligible to receive Federal Pell Grants for the
year in which the scholarships are awarded, except that a
student shall not be required to comply or verify compliance
with section 484(a)(5) for purposes of receiving a
scholarship under this chapter; and
``(5) otherwise demonstrates compliance with regulations
prescribed by the Secretary under section 407G.
``(b) Definition of Qualifying Public Service.--For
purposes of subsection (a), the
[[Page S10440]]
term `qualifying public service' means service that would be
eligible for treatment as community service under the
National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12501
et seq.) or under the Federal work-study program under part
C.
``SEC. 407C. AMOUNT OF SCHOLARSHIP.
``(a) Amount of Award.--
``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2) and
subsection (b), the amount of a scholarship awarded under
this chapter for any academic year shall be equal to $5,000.
``(2) Adjustment for insufficient appropriations.--If,
after the Secretary determines the total number of students
selected under section 407D for an academic year, funds
available to carry out this chapter for the academic year are
insufficient to fully fund all awards under this chapter for
the academic year, the amount of the scholarship paid to each
student under this chapter shall be reduced proportionately.
``(b) Assistance Not To Exceed Cost of Attendance.--A
scholarship awarded under this chapter to any student, in
combination with the Federal Pell Grant assistance and other
student financial assistance available to such student, may
not exceed the student's cost of attendance.
``SEC. 407D. SELECTION OF SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS.
``The Secretary shall designate a panel to select students
for the award of scholarships under this chapter. Such panel
shall be composed of 9 individuals who are selected by the
Secretary and shall be composed of equal numbers of youths,
community representatives, and teachers. The Secretary shall
ensure that no individual assigned under this section to
review any application has any conflict of interest with
regard to the application that might impair the impartiality
with which the individual conducts the review under this
section.
``SEC. 407E. APPLICATIONS.
``Any eligible student desiring to obtain a scholarship
under this section shall submit to the Secretary an
application at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information or assurances as the Secretary may require. Such
application shall--
``(1) demonstrate that the eligible student is maintaining
satisfactory academic progress and is achieving a grade point
average of at least 2.0 (on a scale of 4), or its equivalent;
``(2) include a recommendation from--
``(A) the supervisor of the community service project of
the applicant; and
``(B) another individual not related to, but familiar with
the character of the applicant such as a teacher, coach, or
employer; and
``(3) include an essay by the applicant on the nature of
the community service performed by the applicant.
``SEC. 407F. PROGRAM DISSEMINATION AND PROMOTION.
``(a) Development and Dissemination.--The Secretary shall
develop and disseminate to the public information on the
availability of, and application process for, scholarships
under this chapter.
``(b) Promotion.--In disseminating information about the
scholarship program under this chapter, the Secretary shall--
``(1) disseminate such information directly or through
arrangements with local educational agencies, public and
private elementary schools and secondary schools, nonprofit
organizations, consumer groups, Federal, State, or local
agencies, and the media; and
``(2) at a minimum, include a description and the purpose
of the scholarship program, an explanation of how to obtain
an application, and a description of the application process
and procedures.
``SEC. 407G. REGULATIONS.
``The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as may be
necessary to carry out this chapter.
``SEC. 407H. EVALUATION.
``Not earlier than 2 years after the first fiscal year for
which funds are made available under this chapter, the
Secretary shall prepare and submit to Congress an evaluation
of the effectiveness of the program under this chapter. Such
evaluation shall include--
``(1) an evaluation of the demand, by grade level and types
of community service sites, for the scholarships provided
under this chapter;
``(2) general data on the background of program
participants and the types of service performed; and
``(3) an itemization of the costs of administering the
program under this chapter.
``SEC. 407I. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this
chapter $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2005 and such sums as are
necessary for each of the 3 succeeding fiscal years.''.
______
By Mr. DODD (for himself and Mr. Bond):
S. 2892. A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize
and extend certain programs to provide coordinated services and
research with respect to children and families with HIV/AIDS; to the
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Children and
Family HIV/AIDS Research and Care Act of 2004. This bipartisan
legislation will address the special needs of children and youth with
HIV/AIDS--needs that are too often overlooked, both domestically and
internationally. This legislation recognizes the simple fact that when
it comes to HIV prevention, research, care, and treatment, children and
youth are not just small adults. To give them a chance for a healthy
future, we must ensure that their unique needs are met.
I want to begin by thanking my good friend Senator Bond of Missouri
for joining me in introducing this important legislation. Senator Bond
has provided crucial support for children and for children's health.
Over the years, he has been a leader in the fight to protect children
from birth defects and developmental disabilities. He has also done a
great deal to ensure that our nation's children's hospitals and
community health centers have the resources they need to continue to
provide essential care to children and families. I am very pleased to
work with him to move this legislation forward.
Children's growing bodies are especially susceptible to the rapid
advancement of HIV infection. Because their immune systems are still
immature, the disease typically progresses more rapidly and differently
in children than in adults. For example, children with HIV infection
are more prone to neurological abnormalities and certain opportunistic
infections than adults. In addition, because children's bodies are
growing and developing, HIV/AIDS can have profound effects on
children's physical growth and ability to reach developmental
milestones such as crawling, walking and learning to talk.
While research has definitively shown that initiating drug treatment
in children in a timely manner promotes normal growth and development,
and prolongs life, treating children with HIV/AIDS presents particular
challenges. Appropriately formulated and dosed HIV/AIDS drugs are
urgently needed to ensure that children receive optimal care.
Currently, liquid formulations that young children can swallow are not
always readily available. In addition, pediatric dosing and safety
information for these powerful drugs is often lacking, particularly for
younger children. This lack of information puts children at risk; too
much medication can be toxic and too little will not effectively
suppress the virus. Over time, under-dosing can lead to drug
resistance, a particularly serious concern for children who will need
to use these medications for years, if not decades.
Appropriate HIV/AIDS care and treatment for children and youth also
requires that special attention be paid to their social development
needs. Children and youth have unique concerns regarding disclosure and
stigma that may be exacerbated by frequent absences from school and
social activities, and the onset of sexual maturity. Working with
schools and other social and community institutions is imperative to
promoting a sense of normalcy. Because children are not typically
medical decision-makers, developing long-term care partnerships with
parents and other caregivers is also crucial to successful care and
treatment. At the same time, maximizing each child's own ability to
take active participation in different aspects of his or her own care
can increase a child's sense of ownership over treatment, improving
adherence and overall health.
By reauthorizing and expanding Title IV of the Ryan White CARE Act
this legislation will help to ensure that the unique care and treatment
needs of children are addressed. This program is a lifeline for more
than 53,000 women, children, and youth affected by HIV/AIDS served
annually by Title IV-funded projects. Through 91 grants in 35 states,
the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, Title IV
projects provide medical care, case management, support services,
mental health, transportation, child care, and other crucial services
to families affected by HIV/AIDS. Title IV is the smallest of the four
main titles of the Ryan White CARE Act, yet reaches the highest
proportion of minorities.
Key to the success of Title IV projects is the model of ``family-
centered care.'' This model of care treats the whole family as the
client, whether several family members are infected by HIV, or just a
parent or child. The family-centered care model is crucial to
developing strong partnerships between consumers and providers, leading
to better health outcomes for women,
[[Page S10441]]
children, and youth. By allowing affected family members to receive
services, as well as the infected individuals, Title IV projects
promote health at the family level, thereby prolonging life, improving
quality of life, and saving money by keeping people out of the
hospital.
I would like to take a moment to recognize the work done by the
Children, Youth and Family AIDS Network of Connecticut, which provides
Title IV services to more than 500 children, youth, women, and families
affected by HIV/AIDS in my home state. I have heard from many of these
individuals about just how important these services are to their
quality of life.
While recommitting the Health Resources and Services Administration
(HRSA) to family-centered care and the unique work of Title IV, this
legislation will also expand the innovative strategies Title IV
projects have used to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission. Since
1994, when the administration of preventive drug interventions was
shown to significantly reduce perinatal HIV transmission, the number of
newborns infected with HIV has decreased dramatically. Yet mother-to-
children transmission does continue to occur, largely due to missed
opportunities for identifying HIV-positive pregnant women and providing
the supportive services needed to ensure adherence to recommended
treatment regimens. We propose to fund demonstration grants to assess
the effectiveness of two strategies in reducing mother-to-children
transmission: (1) Increasing routine, voluntary HIV testing of pregnant
women and (2) increasing access to prenatal care, intensive case
management, and supportive services for HIV-positive pregnant women.
In addition, this bill will encourage research into key care and
treatment questions affecting the pediatric populations. These include:
the long-term health effects of preventive drug regimens on HIV-exposed
children; the long-term health, psycho-social, and prevention needs for
children and adolescents perinatally HIV-infected; the transition to
adulthood for HIV-infected children; and safer and more effective
treatment options for infants, children, and adolescents with HIV
disease.
Since history suggests that a vaccine may prove to be the most
effective, affordable, long-term approach to stopping the spread of
HIV, this legislation will also ensure that children are not an
afterthought when it comes to the development of an HIV vaccine.
Currently, some of the populations hardest hit by the pandemic--infants
and youth--are at risk of being left behind in the search for an
effective vaccine. Because we cannot assume that a vaccine tested in
adults will also be safe and effective when used in pediatric
populations, it will be important to ensure that promising vaccines are
tested in infants and youth as early as is medically and ethically
appropriate. Failure to begin planning for the inclusion of these
groups in clinical trials could mean significant delays in the
availability of a pediatric HIV vaccine, at the cost of countless
thousands of lives. This legislation will ensure that we begin now to
address the logistical, regulatory, medical, and ethical issues
presented by pediatric testing of HIV vaccines so that children can
share in the benefits of any advances in vaccines research.
I want to thank several organizations for lending their expertise to
the development of this legislation, in particular the Elizabeth Glaser
Pediatric AIDS Foundation, the AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth and
Families, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, all of whom support
this bill. I would also like to note that the AMS Vaccine Advocacy
Coalition is endorsing this legislation. I would ask unanimous consent
that three letters of endorsement be printed in the Record.
HIV/AIDS is the single greatest health care catastrophe facing the
world today. We need to do much more to seek effective treatments and,
eventually, a cure for this horrible illness. This legislation is by no
means sufficient to reach that goal, but it is a step towards ensuring
that children are not left behind as we make progress, and then when we
do finally eradicate HIV/AIDS once and for all, children and youth are
able to benefit immediately. I urge all of my colleagues to join us in
support of this legislation.
There being no objection, the letters were ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
AIDS Alliance for Children,
Youth and Families,
Washington, DC, October 5, 2004.
Senator Christopher J. Dodd,
Subcommittee on Children and Families,
Senator Christopher S. Bond,
Subcommittee on Aging,
Washington, DC.
Dear Senators Dodd and Bond:
As the national non-profit organization dedicated to women,
children, youth and families affected by HIV/AIDS, we would
like to extend our sincere gratitude for you introduction of
the Children and Family HIV/AIDS Research and Care Act of
2004. We greatly appreciate your leadership on this issue.
The Children and Family HIV/AIDS Research and Care Act
provides many important services to some of the most
vulnerable populations of HIV-positive people: women,
children, infants, youth and male caregivers. This bill
reauthorizes Title IV of the Ryan White CARE Act, strengthens
the model of family-centered care, reinforces other
provisions in the CARE Act serving these groups, expands
efforts to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission (MTCT),
and ensures that biomedical research efforts in the fight
against HIV--especially the search for a preventive vaccine--
take into consideration the special needs of pediatric
populations.
Title IV of the Ryan White CARE Act is a lifeline to more
than 53,000 women, children, youth, infants and male
caregivers served each year. Through grants to 91
organizations across 35 states, the District of Columbia,
Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, grantees and
hundreds of subgrantees provide medical care, support
services, case management, outreach and other services to
thousands of families affected by HIV/AIDS. Title IV saves
lives by providing treatment and care, improves quality of
life by keeping people healthier, and saves money by reducing
hospitalization. Title IV projects have also led the way in
reducing MTCT from more than 2,000 babies born HIS-positive
each year to fewer than 300. It is essential this program be
reauthorized and expanded, and we appreciate your support.
In addition, biomedical research on a potential HIV vaccine
and other research into antiretroviral treatment,
psychosocial and prevention needs, and transitioning from
pediatric into adult health care settings are all complicated
research issues that must pay special attention to the needs
of children. Children and youth are not merely ``mini-
adults'' for whom the same treatment, care and prevention
regimens apply. In terms of both physiological and
psychosocial development, children and adolescents have
different needs than adults, and research efforts must be
attuned to these concerns. This bill would address those
issues by developing a pediatric HIV vaccination testing plan
and expand other research efforts relevant to infants,
children, and youth affected by HIV/AIDS.
We fully endorse this legislation, and again thank you for
your efforts to introduce and support it. We look forward to
working with our offices to promote this bill and see its
provisions enacted into law.
Sincerely,
Ivy Turnbull,
President.
David C. Harvey,
Executive Director.
____
Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric
AIDS Foundation,
Washington, DC, October 5, 2004.
Hon. Christopher J. Dodd,
U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Christopher S. Bond,
U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Dear Senators Dodd and Bond:
On behalf of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS
Foundation, I would like to commend your leadership in
introducing the Children and Family HIV/AIDS Research and
Care Act of 2004. We applaud your attention to the needs of
children with HIV/AIDS and offer our strong endorsement of
this bipartisan legislation.
The Foundation was created more than 15 years ago to help
children with HIV/AIDS and is now the worldwide leader in the
fight against pediatric AIDS and other serious and life-
threatening diseases affecting children. While we have made
great strides in caring for children with HIV/AIDS since the
early days of the pandemic, it is an unfortunate fact that
their unique needs are still too often overlooked. As we have
learned firsthand, children with HIV/AIDS are not small
adults. To give them the best possible chance for a healthy
future, it is essential that their specific prevention, care
and treatment needs are met.
The Children and Family HIV/AIDS Research and Care Act of
2004 will address those needs by reauthorizing Title IV of
the Ryan White CARE Act and expanding its focus on reaching
and caring for adolescents with HIV/AIDS. To further reduce
mother-to-child transmission of HIV, this legislation will
also promote routine, voluntary prenatal HIV testing and
intensive care management for HIV-positive pregnant women. In
addition, because children are at risk of being left behind
in the search for an effective HIV vaccine, the bill will
require federal agencies funding and regulating HIV vaccine
[[Page S10442]]
research to develop plans and guidelines for including
pediatric populations in clinical trials as quickly as is
medically and ethically appropriate. This legislation will
also encourage research on key remaining pediatric research
questions, including how to provide safer and more effective
treatment options for children with HIV/AIDS.
Thank you again for your commitment to ensuring that the
unique prevention, care and treatment needs of children with
HIV/AIDS are met. We appreciate the opportunity to join you
in helping children to reap the benefits of the very best
that science and medicine have to offer and look forward to
working with you toward passage of this critical legislation.
Sincerely,
Mark Isaac,
Vice President, Public Policy
and Communication.
____
AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition,
New York, NY, October 5, 2004.
Hon. Christopher Bond,
U.S. Senate,
Hon. Christopher Dodd,
U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Dear Senators Bond and Dodd: On behalf of the AIDS Vaccine
Advocacy Coalition, I would like to express our strong
support for the Children and Family HIV/AIDS Research and
Care Act of 2004. We applaud your efforts to provide
coordinated services and research with respect to children
and families with HIV/AIDS.
Founded in 1995, AVAC is an internationally recognized non-
profit organization committed to accelerating the ethical
development and global delivery of vaccines against HIV/AIDS.
We are committed to a broad, sustainable response to manage
the long haul from basic science, to product development,
through multiple clinical trials and, eventually and most
importantly, to a safe, efficacious, accessible and
affordable vaccine in use for the people and communities that
need it most.
Unless issues surrounding the testing of vaccine candidates
in relevant pediatric populations are addressed now, they
likely won't have timely access to an effective vaccine when
one is developed and licensed. That would not only deny young
people of an important HIV prevention tool, but it would
severely hamper global efforts to stop the AIDS pandemic.
We, therefore, strongly endorse your effort to enact
legislation that prioritizes this critical research issue and
calls for a plan of action to move forward. We appreciate the
opportunity to join you now to ensure that the research and
development process delivers treatment and prevention to the
populations that need it most and look forward to working
with you toward passage of this legislation.
Sincerely,
Mitchell Warren,
Executive Director.
Mr. BOND. Mr. President, currently, more than 3,700 children and
youth under the age of 13 are living with HIV or AIDS in the United
States and of the more than 40,000 Americans newly infected with HIV
each year, half are young people under the age of 25 years old. When we
think about this devastating virus we do not often associate it with
children, especially infants or newborn babies, but the fact is this
disease does not discriminate on the basis of age. It affects children
in very specific and very different ways than adults.
For instance, the medical experience of children with HIV/AIDS can
differ significantly from that of adults. Because children's immune
systems are still immature, the disease typically progresses more
rapidly in children than in adults and can have different
manifestations. For example, the majorities of children with HIV have
neurological abnormalities and are more susceptible to certain
opportunistic infections than adults. In addition, because children's
bodies are growing and developing, HIV/AIDS can have profound effects
on children's physical growth and ability to reach developmental
milestones such as crawling, walking and learning to walk.
Medication for young children living with HIV/AIDS can also be very
different than that of an adult living with HIV/AIDS. For example,
children of certain ages cannot swallow pills and require liquid
formulations of life-saving HIV/AIDS drugs that are not always readily
available. In addition, dosing and safety information for these
powerful drugs are often strikingly different for children and adults,
and for younger children, this information is typically completely
missing. This lack of information puts children at risk by requiring
health care providers to estimate correct dosing. Too much medication
can be toxic, and too little will not effectively suppress the virus.
Over time, under-dosing can lead to drug resistance.
Children are not just small adults and their growing bodies are
especially susceptible to the rapid advancement of HIV infection. Early
awareness that a child has HIV infection, combined with good care and
support, can enhance survival and quality of life, which is why I am
introducing, with my colleague Senator Dodd, The Children Family HIV/
AIDS Research and Care Act of 2004. This legislation will address those
needs of children and adolescents living with HIV/AIDS by reauthorizing
Title IV of the Ryan White CARE Act and expanding its focus on reaching
and caring for adolescents with HIV/AIDS. Moreover, this legislation
will continue to work to reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV, by
promoting routine, voluntary prenatal HIV testing and intensive care
management for HIV-positive pregnant women. In addition, because
children are at risk of being left behind in the search for an
effective HIV vaccine, the bill will require federal agencies funding
and regulating HIV vaccine research to develop plans and guidelines for
including pediatric populations in clinical trials as quickly as is
medically and ethically appropriate. This legislation will also
encourage research on key remaining pediatric research questions,
including how to provide safer and more effective treatment options for
children with HIV/AIDS.
For a young person living with HIV or AIDS there is no cure and there
is no remission. It is with them at home, on the playground, in the
classroom, and at a Friday night sleepover. It will be with them as
they enter high school, go to college and get their first job. For a
person born with this virus it is a permanent part of their life. This
bill will help to ensure that the needs of infants, children, and
adolescents living with HIV/AIDS are not overlooked.
______
By Ms. MURKOWSKI:
S. 2893. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow
individuals a refundable credit against income tax for the purchase of
private health insurance, and for other purposes; to the Committee on
Finance.
Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I believe all Americans should have
access to affordable, high-quality health care. Rising health care
costs impose a burden on families and small businesses and put coverage
out of reach for many Americans. According to the most recent Census
Bureau findings, 45 million Americans lack health insurance; about
200,000 of the 45 million were Alaskans. The vast majority, nearly 80
percent, of uninsured Alaskans in 2003-2004 were employed or members of
working families.
As part of the effort to address this problem, I have introduced
legislation that will increase the number of insured Americans. The
SAVE (Securing Access, Value, and Equality) Health Care Act offers a
solution to the problems of accessibility, portability, and choice.
My plan does not just increase funding for current government
programs; my plan provides a path to greater opportunity, more freedom,
and more control over your own health care and your own future.
The SAVE Health Care Act would provide working class Americans with a
tax credit that they can use to purchase health insurance. The act
targets three-quarters of the total number of uninsured Americans by
setting eligibility at 350 percent of poverty, or an Alaskan's annual
income of $41,000 for an individual or $82,000 for a family of four.
To help make health coverage more affordable for low and middle-
income individuals and families who do not have employer-provided
coverage and who are not eligible for the expanded public programs,
this legislation would provide a refundable tax credit of up to $1,000
for individuals and up to $3,000 for families, which could be advanced
on a monthly basis.
The SAVE Act would also cover an additional 50 percent of any health
insurance premiums not covered by the basic credit. This provision is
targeted to help those who need health insurance the most--those who
are sick, have pre-existing health conditions, or older Americans whose
insurance prices are higher and who do not have access to employer-
based insurance.
A tax credit proposal without this type of additional assistance
would only help insure the young and the healthy because their premiums
are
[[Page S10443]]
the lowest and most within reach financially. The additional credit is
a key part of providing coverage to Americans with the greatest need.
The SAVE Act would allow those who have access to employer-sponsored
plans to have up to one-half of the credit they are eligible for to
help them pay for their portion of the health insurance premiums. This
credit amount is a balance designed to help employees afford their
portion of employer-sponsored coverage without providing employers an
incentive to shift more costs to their employees.
The SAVE Act includes a provision that would make the premiums for
qualified high-deductible health insurance plans that coordinate with
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) tax-deductible. Both individuals and
their employers can contribute tax free dollars to an HSA, and the
individual can use these dollars for qualifying out-of-pocket medical
expenses.
The SAVE Act provides small business owners a refundable tax credit
for contributions they make to their employees' HSAs in the amount of
$500 per worker with family coverage and $200 per worker with
individual coverage. More than half of the uninsured are small business
employees and their families.
In addition to reducing the number of our nation's uninsured, this
legislation will create an incentive for personal savings while shaping
a health care marketplace driven by consumer choice.
The SAVE Act would extend and expand the State high risk pool health
insurance grant program that was established under the Trade Adjustment
Act of 2002. Alaska is one of 31 States that currently operates a high
risk pool. I commend the work of the Alaska Comprehensive Health
Insurance Association (ACHIA), the nonprofit organization that provides
health insurance to 467 Alaska residents who would otherwise be denied
coverage because of medical conditions. Under this legislation, Alaska
will receive a portion of the $75 million allocated in this legislation
to continue to operate our high risk pool and to continue insuring
Alaskans that really need this program.
The SAVE Act would establish a grant program in which States would be
encouraged to establish Voluntary Choice Cooperatives, or VCCs. VCCs
essentially increase the clout of small businesses in negotiating with
insurers. Premiums are generally higher for small businesses because
they do not have as much purchasing power as large companies. This
limits the ability of small businesses to bargain for lower rates. They
also have higher administrative costs because they have fewer employees
among whom to spread the fixed cost of a health benefits plan.
Moreover, VCCs decrease the risk of adverse selection and spread the
cost of health care over a broader group.
I believe this well-rounded approach will provide significant help
with the cost and availability of health insurance, and make a real
difference in reducing the number of uninsured Americans.
______
By Mr. KENNEDY:
S. 2894. A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for
the coordination of Federal Government policies and activities to
prevent obesity in childhood, to provide for State childhood obesity
prevention and control, and to establish grant programs to prevent
childhood obesity within homes, schools, and communities; to the
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, it's an honor to introduce the
``Prevention of Childhood Obesity Act''. The goal of this legislation
is to deal more effectively with the growing health epidemic of obesity
now faced by millions of children today. Currently, 9,000,000 children
have this chronic condition, and it's putting them at high risk for
diabetes, high blood pressure, and other preventable diseases. In
addition, obese children frequently grow up to become obese adults, and
they impose at least 11 billion dollars in medical costs on the nation
each year.
Childhood obesity is the direct result of too much food and too
little physical activity. One of the results is the epidemic now
plaguing the nation. Children watch over 40,000 food advertisements on
television a year--one food commercial every minute, urging them to eat
large helpings of candy, snacks, fast foods and cereal high in sugar.
Young students have access to vending machines that now put high-fat
or high-sugar snacks and beverages in them. Yet they have no
opportunity for physical activity or instruction in physical education.
They live in neighborhoods with instant access to fast foods, but no
supermarket, no outdoor produce stand, or few fruits and vegetables.
These same neighborhoods also have no bike paths, sidewalks, tracks for
walking or running, and no parks or open spaces.
The result is millions of children without nutritious foods, a safe
physical environment, that allows them to be active, and healthy
information. Today, only 2 percent of the nation's children meet
Department of Agriculture standards for daily intake. Less than a third
meet the recommended guidelines for exercise, and millions have
developed obesity.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, regular physical
activity and healthy eating and a positive environment for such
behavior are essential factors in reducing the epidemic of obesity. Our
legislation focuses, therefore, on coordinating federal, state,
community and school efforts to see that our children have access to a
healthy environment.
This bill appoints a federal commission to see that Federal food
policies promote good nutrition. Guidelines for food and physical
activity advertisements will be established by a summit conference of
representatives from education, industry, and health care.
At the State level, the bill provides grants and coordinates efforts
by the states to implement and evaluate ways to prevent obesity. It
offers grants for early childhood activities and school and after-
school programs, and for developing curricular, training educators, and
implementing policies to reduce poor foods, increase physical
education, and help communities build sidewalks, bike trails, and
create parks that encourage healthy activity and sports.
We know that regular physical activity and healthy eating can prevent
childhood obesity. We need a coordinated and focused nationwide effort
to halt this health epidemic facing millions of children, and prevent
the chronic diseases and unnecessary suffering that afflict millions of
children today. It's time for Congress to do its part, and I urge my
colleagues to support us.
______
By Mr. FITZGERALD:
S. 2898. A bill to require the review of Government programs at least
once every 5 years for purposes of evaluating their performance; to the
Committee on Governmental Affairs.
Mr. FITZGERALD. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Program
Assessment and Results Act, or ``PAR Act.'' This bill is a companion
bill to H.R. 3826 that Congressman Todd Platts, Chairman of the House
Government Reform Subcommittee on Government Efficiency and Financial
Management, introduced on February 25, 2004.
The PAR Act builds upon the reforms adopted by Congress in the early
1990s, such as the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993
(GPRA). This bill would increase the effectiveness, and accountability
of the Federal Government by requiring the review of Federal programs
at least once every five years to evaluate their performance.
Information obtained from these reviews would be incorporated in the
President's budget requests and would assist Congress in its oversight
and funding of Federal programs.
The PAR Act would strengthen the program evaluation requirements
under the strategic planning requirements of GPRA, the one area that
the Government Accountability Office (GAO) recognized as a government-
wide deficiency under GPRA. GAO found that most agencies were
implementing the requirement for program evaluation merely by making
lists of observations rather than presenting and analyzing performance
data.
To build upon the framework of reforms established by GPRA, the PAR
Act would require the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to work
with Federral agencies to carefully and periodically assess the
strengths and
[[Page S10444]]
weaknesses of all Federal programs. This legislation would enable
policy makers to compare data from different agents to determine how
different programs with similar goals are achieving their results.
The PAR Act would improve the accountability of Federal programs in a
number of areas. Congress would be able to use this information to make
more informed budget decisions and conduct more effective oversight.
Federal managers would use the information to improve the way they
manage programs. Moreover, taxpayers will be able to track the progress
of these programs with more precision.
The ultimate result of the PAR Act will be a more effective and
efficient government. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to support
passage of this legislation.
I ask unanimous consent that the bill be printed in the Record
following my remarks.
There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the
Record, as follows:
S. 2898
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 ``Program Assessment and
Results Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) inefficiency and ineffectiveness in Federal programs
undermines the confidence of the American people in the
Government and reduces the Federal Government's ability to
adequately address vital public needs;
(2) insufficient information on program performance
seriously disadvantages Federal managers in their efforts to
improve program efficiency and effectiveness;
(3) congressional policy making, spending decisions, and
program oversight are handicapped by insufficient attention
to program performance and results;
(4) programs performing similar or duplicative functions
that exist within a single agency or across multiple agencies
should be identified and their performance and results shared
among all such programs to improve their performance and
results;
(5) advocates of good government continue to seek ways to
improve accountability, focus on results, and integrate the
performance of programs with decisions about budgets;
(6) with the passage of the Government Performance and
Results Act of 1993, the Congress directed the executive
branch to seek improvements in the effectiveness, efficiency,
and accountability of Federal programs by having agencies
focus on program results; and
(7) the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993
provided a strong framework for the executive branch to
monitor the long-term goals and annual performance of its
departments and agencies.
SEC. 3. PURPOSE.
The purposes of this Act are--
(1) to improve the Government Performance and Results Act
of 1993 by implementing a program assessment and evaluation
process that attempts to determine the strengths and
weaknesses of Federal programs with a particular focus on the
results produced by individual programs;
(2) to use the information gathered in the assessment and
evaluation process to build on the groundwork laid in the
Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 to help the
executive branch make informed management decisions and
evidence-based funding requests aimed at achieving positive
results; and
(3) to provide congressional policy makers the information
needed to conduct more effective oversight, to make better-
informed authorization decisions, and to make more evidence-
based spending decisions that achieve positive results for
the American people.
SEC. 4. PROGRAM ASSESSMENT.
(a) Requirement for Program Assessments.--Chapter 11 of
title 31, United States Code, as amended by the Government
Performance and Results Act of 1993, is amended by adding at
the end the following new section:
``Sec. 1120. Program assessment
``(a) Assessment.--The Director of the Office of Management
and Budget to the maximum extent practicable shall conduct,
jointly with agencies of the Federal Government, an
assessment of each program at least once every 5 fiscal
years.
``(b) Assessment Requirements.--In conducting an assessment
of a program under subsection (a), the Director of the Office
of Management and Budget and the head of the relevant agency
shall--
``(1) coordinate to determine the programs to be assessed;
and
``(2) evaluate the purpose, design, strategic plan,
management, and results of the program, and such other
matters as the Director considers appropriate.
``(c) Criteria for Identifying Programs to Assess.--The
Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall develop
criteria for identifying programs to be assessed each fiscal
year. In developing the criteria, the Director shall take
into account the advantages of assessing during the same
fiscal year any programs that are performing similar
functions, have similar purposes, or share common goals, such
as those contained in strategic plans under section 306 of
title 5. To the maximum extent possible, the Director shall
assess a representative sample of Federal spending each
fiscal year.
``(d) Criteria for More Frequent Assessments.--The Director
of the Office of Management and Budget shall make every
effort to assess programs more frequently than required under
subsection (a) in cases in which programs are determined to
be of higher priority, special circumstances exist,
improvements have been made, or the head of the relevant
agency and the Director determine that more frequent
assessment is warranted.
``(e) Publication.--At least 90 days before completing the
assessments under this section to be conducted during a
fiscal year, the Director of the Office of Management and
Budget shall--
``(1) make available in electronic form through the Office
of Management and Budget website or any successor website,
and provide to the Committee on Government Reform of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Governmental
Affairs of the Senate--
``(A) a list of the programs to be assessed during that
fiscal year; and
``(B) the criteria that will be used to assess the
programs; and
``(2) provide a mechanism for interested persons to comment
on the programs being assessed and the criteria that will be
used to assess the programs.
``(f) Report.--(1) The results of the assessments conducted
during a fiscal year shall be submitted in a report to
Congress at the same time that the President submits the next
budget under section 1105 of this title after the end of that
fiscal year.
``(2) The report shall--
``(A) include the performance goals for each program
assessment;
``(B) specify the criteria used for each assessment;
``(C) describe the results of each assessment, including
any significant limitation in the assessments;
``(D) describe significant modifications to the Federal
Government performance plan required under section
1105(a)(28) of this title made as a result of the
assessments; and
``(E) be available in electronic form through the Office of
Management and Budget website or any successor website.
``(g) Classified Information.--(1) With respect to program
assessments conducted during a fiscal year that contain
classified information, the President shall submit on the
same date as the report is submitted under subsection (f)--
``(A) a copy of each such assessment (including the
classified information), to the appropriate committees of
jurisdiction of the House of Representatives and the Senate;
and
``(B) consistent with statutory law governing the
disclosure of classified information, an appendix containing
a list of each such assessment and the committees to which a
copy of the assessment was submitted under subparagraph (A),
to the Committee on Government Reform of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Governmental Affairs of
the Senate.
``(2) Upon request from the Committee on Government Reform
of the House of Representatives or the Committee on
Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the Director of the
Office of Management and Budget shall, consistent with
statutory law governing the disclosure of classified
information, provide to the Committee a copy of--
``(A) any assessment described in subparagraph (A) of
paragraph (1) (including any assessment not listed in any
appendix submitted under subparagraph (B) of such paragraph);
and
``(B) any appendix described in subparagraph (B) of
paragraph (1).
``(3) In this subsection, the term `classified information'
refers to matters described in section 552(b)(1)(A) of title
5.
``(h) Inherently Governmental Functions.--The functions and
activities authorized or required by this section shall be
considered inherently Governmental functions and shall be
performed only by Federal employees.
``(i) Termination.--This section shall not be in effect
after September 30, 2013.''.
(b) Guidance.--Not later than 6 months after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of
Management and Budget shall prescribe guidance to implement
the requirements of section 1120 of title 31, United States
Code, as added by subsection (a), including guidance on a
definition of the term ``program''.
(c) Conforming and Clerical Amendments.--
(1) Section 1115(g) of title 31, United States Code, is
amended by striking ``1119'' and inserting ``1120''.
(2) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 11 of
title 31, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end
the following:
``1120. Program assessment.''.
SEC. 5. STRATEGIC PLANNING AMENDMENTS.
(a) Change in Deadline for Strategic Plan.--Subsection (a)
of section 306 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by
striking ``No later than September 30, 1997,'' and inserting
``Not later than September 30 of each year following a year
in which an election for President occurs, beginning with
September 30, 2005, ''.
[[Page S10445]]
(b) Change in Period of Coverage of Strategic Plan.--
Subsection (b) of section 306 of title 5, United States Code,
is amended to read as follows:
``(b) Each strategic plan shall cover the 4-year period
beginning on October 1 of the year following a year in which
an election for President occurs.''.
____________________