[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 51 (Wednesday, March 25, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3788-S3789]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DODD (for himself and Mr. Hatch):
  S. 694. A bill to provide assistance to Best Buddies to support the 
expansion and development of mentoring programs, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce with Senator Orrin 
Hatch the Best Buddies Empowerment for People with Intellectual 
Disabilities Act of 2009. The bill we are introducing would help to 
better integrate individuals with intellectual disabilities into their 
communities, improve their quality of life and promote the 
extraordinary gifts of these individuals.
  I am proud to introduce this bill with my good friend Senator Hatch. 
He has been a long time leader in the cause of Americans with 
disabilities. We, as a society, have an obligation to do all we can to 
better include individuals with disabilities within our communities and 
help them to reach their full potential.
  Yet, as one study on teen attitudes notes: ``Legal mandates cannot, 
however, mandate acceptance by peers, neighbors, fellow employees, 
employers or any of the other groups of individuals who directly impact 
the lives of people with disabilities.'' People with intellectual 
disabilities have indeed gained many rights that have improved their 
lives; however, negative stereotypes abound. Social isolation, 
unfortunately, is the norm for too many people with intellectual 
disabilities.
  Early intervention, effective education, and appropriate support all 
go a long way toward helping individuals with intellectual disabilities 
achieve the best of his or her abilities and lead a meaningful life in 
the community. I would like to tell you about the accomplishments of 
Best Buddies, a remarkable non-profit organization that is dedicated to 
helping people with intellectual disabilities develop relationships 
that will provide the support needed to help them reach their 
potential.
  Founded in 1989, Best Buddies is the only national social and 
recreational program in the United States for people with intellectual 
disabilities. Best Buddies works to enhance the lives of people with 
intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for friendship and 
integrated employment. Through more than one thousand volunteer-run 
chapters at middle schools, high schools and colleges, students with 
and without intellectual disabilities are paired up in a one-to-one 
mentoring friendship. Best Buddies also facilitates an Internet pen pal 
program, an adult friendship program, and a supported employment 
program.
  Approximately 7,000,000 people in the U.S. have an intellectual 
disability; every one of these individuals would benefit from the kind 
of relationships that the Best Buddies programs help to establish. The 
resulting friendships are mutually beneficial, increasing the self-
esteem, confidence, and abilities of people both with and without 
intellectual disabilities.
  The legislation we introduce today would allow the Secretary of 
Education to award grants to promote the expansion of the Best Buddies 
programs and to increase participation in and public awareness about 
these programs. The bill authorizes $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2010 
and such sums as necessary through fiscal year 2014. If passed, this 
legislation would allow Best Buddies to expand their valuable work and 
offer programs in every state in the America, helping to create a more 
inclusive society with a direct and positive impact on more than 1.2 
million citizens.
  I thank my colleague Senator Hatch for working with me on this 
important legislation. I urge my colleagues to join with me in 
supporting this legislation that will make a positive--and needed--
difference in the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities 
and in the lives of those with whom they develop relationships through 
the Best Buddies program.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 694

       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 ``Best Buddies Empowerment for 
     People with Intellectual Disabilities Act of 2009''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       (1) Best Buddies operates the first national social and 
     recreational program in the United States for people with 
     intellectual disabilities.
       (2) Best Buddies is dedicated to helping people with 
     intellectual disabilities become part of mainstream society.
       (3) Best Buddies is determined to end social isolation for 
     people with intellectual disabilities by promoting meaningful 
     friendships between them and their non-disabled peers in 
     order to help increase the self-esteem, confidence, and 
     abilities of people with and without intellectual 
     disabilities.
       (4) Since 1989, Best Buddies has enhanced the lives of 
     people with intellectual disabilities by providing 
     opportunities for 1-to-1 friendships and integrated 
     employment.
       (5) Best Buddies is an international organization spanning 
     1,300 middle school, high school, and college campuses.
       (6) Best Buddies implements programs that will positively 
     impact more than 400,000 individuals in 2009 and expects to 
     impact 500,000 people by 2010.
       (7) The Best Buddies Middle Schools program matches middle 
     school students with intellectual disabilities with other 
     middle school students and supports 1-to-1 friendships 
     between them.
       (8) The Best Buddies High Schools program matches high 
     school students with intellectual disabilities with other 
     high school students and supports 1-to-1 friendships between 
     them.
       (9) The Best Buddies Colleges program matches adults with 
     intellectual disabilities with college students and creates 
     1-to-1 friendships between them.
       (10) The Best Buddies e-Buddies program supports e-mail 
     friendships between people with and without intellectual 
     disabilities.
       (11) The Best Buddies Citizens program pairs adults with 
     intellectual disabilities in 1-to-1 friendships with other 
     individuals in the corporate and civic communities.
       (12) The Best Buddies Jobs program promotes the integration 
     of people with intellectual disabilities into the community 
     through supported employment.
       (b) Purpose.--The purposes of this Act are to--
       (1) provide support to Best Buddies to increase 
     participation in and public awareness about Best Buddies 
     programs that serve people with intellectual disabilities;
       (2) dispel negative stereotypes about people with 
     intellectual disabilities; and
       (3) promote the extraordinary contributions of people with 
     intellectual disabilities.

     SEC. 3. ASSISTANCE FOR BEST BUDDIES.

       (a) Education Activities.--The Secretary of Education may 
     award grants to, or enter

[[Page S3789]]

     into contracts or cooperative agreements with, Best Buddies 
     to carry out activities to promote the expansion of Best 
     Buddies, including activities to increase the participation 
     of people with intellectual disabilities in social 
     relationships and other aspects of community life, including 
     education and employment, within the United States.
       (b) Limitations.--
       (1) In general.--Amounts appropriated to carry out this Act 
     may not be used for direct treatment of diseases, medical 
     conditions, or mental health conditions.
       (2) Administrative activities.--Not more than 5 percent of 
     amounts appropriated to carry out this Act for a fiscal year 
     may be used for administrative activities.
       (c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this Act shall be 
     construed to limit the use of non-Federal funds by Best 
     Buddies.

     SEC. 4. APPLICATION AND ANNUAL REPORT.

       (a) Application.--
       (1) In general.--To be eligible for a grant, contract, or 
     cooperative agreement under section 3(a), Best Buddies shall 
     submit an application at such time, in such manner, and 
     containing such information as the Secretary of Education may 
     require.
       (2) Content.--At a minimum, an application under this 
     subsection shall contain the following:
       (A) A description of activities to be carried out under the 
     grant, contract, or cooperative agreement.
       (B) Information on specific measurable goals and objectives 
     to be achieved through activities carried out under the 
     grant, contract, or cooperative agreement.
       (b) Annual Report.--
       (1) In general.--As a condition of receipt of any funds 
     under section 3(a), Best Buddies shall agree to submit an 
     annual report at such time, in such manner, and containing 
     such information as the Secretary of Education may require.
       (2) Content.--At a minimum, each annual report under this 
     subsection shall describe the degree to which progress has 
     been made toward meeting the specific measurable goals and 
     objectives described in the applications submitted under 
     subsection (a).

     SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of 
     Education for grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements 
     under section 3(a), $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, and 
     such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding 
     fiscal years.
                                 ______