[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 128 (Thursday, September 20, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6548-S6552]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
By Mr. REED:
S. 3582. A bill to improve quality and accountability for educator
preparation programs; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions.
Mr. REED. Mr. President, we know that public education lays the
foundation for economic growth and the ongoing vitality of our
democracy.
We also know that there is more work to be done to improve our
schools. To achieve this goal, we need to focus on the professionals
who have the greatest impact on student learning at school--teachers
and principals.
Last year, I introduced the Effective Teaching and Leading Act to
support teachers, librarians, and principals currently on the job
through a comprehensive system of induction, professional development,
and evaluation.
Today, I am pleased to be introducing the Educator Preparation Reform
Act with Representative Honda to improve how we prepare teachers,
principals, and other educators so that they can be effective right
from the start.
Our legislation builds on the success of the Teacher Quality
Partnership Program, which I helped author. We have added a specific
focus on principals with the addition of a residency program for new
principals.
Improving instruction is a team effort, with principals at the helm.
This bill better connects teacher preparation with principal
preparation. The Educator Preparation Reform Act will also allow
partnerships to develop preparation programs for other areas of
instructional need, such as for school librarians, counselors, or other
academic support professionals.
The bill revamps the accountability and reporting requirements for
teacher preparation programs to provide greater transparency on key
quality measures such as admissions standards, requirements for
clinical practice, placement of graduates, retention in the field of
teaching, and teacher performance, including student learning outcomes.
All programs, whether traditional or alternative routes to
certification, will report on the same measures.
Under this legislation, states will be required to identify at-risk
and low performing programs and provide them with technical assistance
and a timeline for improvement. Programs that are at-risk or low
performing will be restricted in their ability to offer TEACH grants.
States would be encouraged to close programs that do not improve.
The Educator Preparation Reform Act refocuses the state set-aside for
higher education in Title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act on activities to support the development and implementation of
performance assessments to measure new teachers' readiness for the
classroom and for technical assistance for struggling teacher
preparation programs.
We have been fortunate to work with many stakeholders in developing
the key provisions of this legislation. Organizations that have
endorsed the Educator Preparation Reform Act include: the Alliance for
Excellent Education, American Association of Colleges for Teacher
Education, American Association of State Colleges and Universities,
American Council on Education, American Psychological Association,
Association of American Universities, Association of Jesuit Colleges
and Universities, Association of Public and Land-grant Universities,
Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, First Focus Campaign
for Children, Higher Education Consortium for Special Education,
Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, National Association
of Elementary School Principals, National Association of Independent
Colleges and Universities, National Association of Secondary School
Principals, National Association of State Directors of Special
Education,
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National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, National Science Teachers
Association, National School Boards Association Opportunity to Learn
Action Fund, Public Education Network, Rural School and Community
Trust, Silicon Valley Education Foundation, Teacher Education Division
of the Council for Exceptional Children, American Association of
Colleges of Teacher Education, The Higher Education Task Force,
National Association of Elementary School Principals, and National
Association of Secondary School Principals.
I look forward to working with these organizations, my colleagues,
and others as I seek to include this legislation during the effort next
Congress to reauthorize both the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
and the Higher Education Act. I encourage my colleagues to join me in
supporting this legislation.
By Mrs. HAGAN (for herself, Mr. Kerry, and Mrs. Gillibrand):
S. 3583. A bill to authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development to establish and carry out a community revitalization
program to provide Federal grants to communities for the rehabilitation
of critically needed parks, recreational areas, and facilities, the
development of improved recreational programs, and for other purposes;
to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Mrs. HAGAN. Mr. President, I rise today to highlight the impact that
local parks, greenways, and recreational opportunities have in
neighborhoods and communities across the country.
Many Americans are dealing with the effects of a stagnant economy,
the rising cost of health care, and threats to the overall quality of
life in their communities. Research shows that investment in parks and
recreation creates jobs, attracts business, increases property values,
positively impacts public health, promotes conservation in a non-
regulatory fashion, and contributes to a higher quality of life for
hard-working Americans and their families. Additionally, recreation for
disabled veterans has proven to be a powerful tool in the
rehabilitation process, providing a number of significant therapeutic
benefits for those who have served our country. Yet, many of our most
populated areas are suffering from limited green space, deteriorating
community facilities, and a lack of access to safe, quality recreation
opportunities.
I have seen first-hand the tremendous impact that parks, greenways,
and recreation opportunities have had in my hometown of Greensboro, a
three time winner of the National Recreation and Park Association's
Gold Medal Award. North Carolina's beautiful capital city, Raleigh,
which is often referred to as ``a city within a park'', has been
recognized over the last several years by publications such as Forbes,
Business Week, and the Wall Street Journal as the best city for
business, best city for jobs, and the nation's best place to live. All
of these accolades are due in large part to the high quality of the
parks and recreational facilities present throughout the community and
were often noted when describing the criteria for making these ``best
of'' selections.
For all of these reasons, today I am introducing the Community Parks
Revitalization Act with Senator Kerry and Senator Gillibrand. The bill
will authorize the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to
provide grants and technical assistance to rehabilitate community parks
and recreational infrastructure. This legislation would also help
communities provide improved opportunities for returning veterans,
military families, and at-risk youth. Specifically, the Community Parks
for Revitalization Act would provide matching grants to support
localities by creating jobs and leveraging private investment by
supporting capital projects that rehabilitate, and construct new, parks
and recreation areas and facilities.
The act will combat childhood obesity by connecting youth with the
outdoors and improving overall public health by increasing access to
recreational areas and facilities; by providing innovative, cost-
effective, and non-regulatory solutions to environmental challenges;
and by addressing the recreation needs of disabled veterans, military
families, as well as disadvantaged youth.
I ask all of my colleagues to please join me in supporting this
timely legislation.
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. 3583
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 ``Community Parks
Revitalization Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) According to the 2010 United States Census, over 80
percent of the population of the United States lives in urban
areas.
(2) Urban parks are a critical part of our Nation's urban
infrastructure, playing a vital role in revitalizing
neighborhoods, stimulating our Nation's economy, combating
national issues such as obesity and juvenile delinquency, and
protecting our environment.
(3) Urban parks are a catalyst for active outdoor
recreation, an industry which in 2010 supported 6,100,000
American jobs, generated $646,000,000,000 in retail sales and
services across the United States, generated $39,900,000,000
in Federal tax revenues, and $39,900,000,000 in State and
local tax revenues.
(4) Studies also show that approximately 20 jobs are
created for every $1,000,000 invested in parks and
conservation projects.
(5) Studies have found that parkland saves cities millions
of dollars in storm water management and air pollution
expenses by capturing precipitation, reducing runoff, and
absorbing air pollutants.
(6) Between 2001 and 2012, as funding for local parks and
recreation significantly declined, the number of adults
classified as overweight or obese steadily increased from 61
percent to 67 percent. Similarly, during this same period,
the number of children and adolescents classified as
overweight or obese nearly tripled, going from 12 percent in
2001 to 33 percent in 2011.
(7) Physical inactivity contributes to obesity and takes a
toll on our Nation's economy, as the annual costs of medical
spending and lost productivity from individuals in the United
States being obese and overweight are estimated to be
$147,000,000,000. Access to urban parks is critical to
combating this issue. A study by the Centers for Disease
Control found that the creation of, or enhanced access to,
places for physical activity, such as parks, led to a 25.6
percent increase in the percentage of people exercising on 3
or more days a week which improves the physical and mental
health of our citizens.
(8) Access to urban parks is critical to combating obesity
and its residual impact on health care expenses. A study by
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the
creation of, or enhanced access to, places for physical
activity, such as parks, led to a 25.6 percent increase in
the percentage of people exercising on 3 or more days a week,
which improves the physical and mental health of our
citizens.
(9) According to the Centers for Disease control and
Prevention, over the 25 years preceding the date of enactment
of this Act, rates of obesity have more than tripled among
adolescents ages 12 to 19 and doubled among adults ages 20 to
74 and children ages 6 to 11.
(10) Physical inactivity contributes to obesity. A study by
the CDC found that the creation of, or enhanced access to,
places for physical activity led to a 25.6 percent increase
in the percentage of people exercising on 3 or more days a
week. Physical activity can improve physical and mental
health. The annual costs of medical spending and lost
productivity from individuals in the United States being
obese and overweight are estimated to be $147,000,000,000.
(11) Urban parks also decrease juvenile delinquency by
providing quality after school programs. According to the
Juvenile Justice Bulletin, without structured, supervised
activities in the after school hours, youth are at greater
risk of being victims of crime or participating in anti-
social behaviors, especially during the hours of 2:00 pm to
6:00 pm.
(12) The National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center
reported that students who spend no time in extracurricular
activities, such as those offered in after-school programs
through parks and recreation agencies, are 49 percent more
likely to have used drugs and 37 percent more likely to
become teen parents than are those students who spend 1 to 4
hours per week in extracurricular activities.
(13) According to the Juvenile Justice Bulletin, without
structured, supervised activities in the after-school hours,
youth are at greater risk of being victims of crime or
participating in anti-social behaviors. Juveniles are at the
highest risk of being a victim of crime between 2:00 p.m. and
6:00 p.m., and the peak hour for juvenile crime is between
3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., the first hour after most students
are dismissed from school.
SEC. 3. PURPOSES.
The purposes of this Act are--
(1) to authorize the Secretary to establish and carry out a
community revitalization program to provide Federal grants to
communities for the rehabilitation of critically
[[Page S6550]]
needed parks, recreational areas, and facilities, the
development of improved recreational programs, and for other
purposes;
(2) to improve urban areas through economic development;
(3) to prevent and improve chronic disease outcomes,
including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression, and
obesity;
(4) to improve recreational areas and facilities and expand
recreation services in urban areas with a high incidence of
crime and to help expand recreation opportunities for at-risk
youth;
(5) to promote collaboration between local agencies
involved in parks and recreation, law enforcement, youth
social services, and juvenile justice system;
(6) to ensure accessibility to therapeutic recreation
services and to provide recreation opportunities for injured
or disabled members of the Armed Forces; and
(7) to encourage the rehabilitation of existing and
construction of new urban recreational areas and facilities
with environmentally beneficial components, when possible,
such as sustainable landscape features and upcycled and
recycled materials, and to prioritize the selection of
projects that provide environmental benefits to urban areas,
including by updating lighting, planting trees, increasing
the urban forestry canopy, improving stormwater management,
increasing green infrastructure, employing water conservation
measures, and adding green spaces to urban areas.
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act, the following definitions shall apply:
(1) The term ``recreational areas and facilities'' means
indoor or outdoor parks, buildings, sites, or other
facilities that are dedicated to recreation purposes and
administered by public or private nonprofit agencies to serve
the recreation needs of community residents, with emphasis on
public facilities readily accessible to residential
neighborhoods, including multiple-use community centers that
have recreation as a primary purpose, but excluding major
sports arenas, exhibition areas, and conference halls used
primarily for commercial sports, spectator, or display
activities.
(2) The term ``rehabilitation and construction grants''
means matching capital grants to local governments for the
purpose of rebuilding, remodeling, expanding, or developing
existing or building new recreational areas and facilities,
including improvements in park landscapes, infrastructure,
buildings, and support facilities, and the provision of
lighting, emergency phones, or other capital improvements to
improve the security of urban parks, but excluding routine
maintenance and upkeep activities.
(3) The term ``innovation and recreation program'' grants
means matching grants to local governments to cover costs of
personnel, facilities, equipment, supplies, or services
designed to demonstrate innovative and cost effective ways to
augment park and recreation opportunities, or support new or
existing programs, which increase access to recreation
opportunities for returning veterans and active duty military
and their families or provide constructive alternatives for
youth at risk for engaging in criminal behavior.
(4) The term ``recovery action program grants'' means
matching grants to local governments for development of local
park and recreation recovery action programs, including for
resource and needs assessment, coordination, citizen
involvement and planning, and program development activities
to encourage public definition of goals and develop
priorities and strategies for overall recreation system
recovery.
(5) The term ``maintenance'' means all commonly accepted
practices necessary to keep recreational areas and facilities
operating in a state of good repair and to protect such areas
and facilities from deterioration resulting from normal wear
and tear.
(6) The term ``local government'' means any city, county,
town, township, parish, village, or any local or regional
special district such as a park district, conservation
district, or park authority.
(7) The term ``private nonprofit agency'' means a
community-based, non-profit organization, corporation, or
association organized for purposes of providing recreation,
conservation, and educational services directly to urban
residents on either a neighborhood or community-wide basis
through voluntary donations, voluntary labor, or public or
private grants.
(8) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Housing
and Urban Development.
(9) The term ``State'' means any State of the United States
(or any instrumentality of a State approved by the Governor),
the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico.
(10) The term ``insular areas'' means Guam, the Virgin
Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
SEC. 5. FEDERAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS.
(a) Regulations.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall promulgate
regulations establishing a community revitalization program
to provide Federal rehabilitation and construction grants,
innovation and recreation programming grants, and recovery
action program grants in accordance with this Act.
(b) Requirements.--The regulations required under
subsection (a) shall include--
(1) eligibility requirements for the grant program
established pursuant to such subsection;
(2) the timing and form of applications required to be
submitted to the Secretary by local governments seeking such
grants;
(3) required elements of any grant application required to
be submitted to the Secretary by local governments seeking
such grants;
(4) criteria for priority selection and approval by the
Secretary in choosing which local governments receive grant
funds;
(5) guidelines for seeking modification of a project to be
funded or which is funded by the grant program established
pursuant to such subsection; and
(6) penalties placed on local governments that received
amounts under the grant program established pursuant to such
subsection for failing to comply with the reporting and
recordkeeping requirements set forth in section 13, up to and
including rescission of grant amounts for repetitive
violations.
SEC. 6. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND PRIORITY CRITERIA.
(a) Eligibility Requirements.--
(1) In general.--In developing the regulations required
under section 5(a), the Secretary shall set forth eligibility
requirements for receiving grants under the community
revitalization program established pursuant to this Act.
(2) Considerations.--The eligibility requirements required
to be established under paragraph (1) shall be based on--
(A) evidence of a commitment to ongoing planning,
rehabilitation, service, operation, and maintenance programs
for park and recreations systems, as described in section 8;
(B) population density (the number of persons per square
mile of land area);
(C) total population under 18 years of age or over 59 years
of age;
(D) the number of unemployed people as a percentage of the
civilian labor force;
(E) the percent of households without automobiles
available;
(F) the percent of persons with income below 125 percent of
the poverty level;
(G) the percent of single-headed households with children
present; and
(H) any additional criteria the Secretary determines
appropriate.
(b) Partial Eligibility Waiver.--
(1) Generally.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary is
authorized to designate local governments in standard
metropolitan statistical areas, as defined by the most
current census, that do not meet all of the eligibility
requirements required under subsection (a) as eligible to
receive grants under this Act.
(2) Limitation of funds.--Grants to local governments
described in paragraph (1) shall not exceed, in the
aggregate, 15 percent of the funds appropriated pursuant to
this Act for rehabilitation and construction, innovation and
recreation program, and recovery action program grants.
(c) Eligibility Certification.--As part of any application
process set forth pursuant to the regulations prescribed
under section 5, a responsible official for a local
government that has applied for a grant under this Act shall
certify that the local government meets all of the
eligibility requirements established under this Act with
respect to receipt of grant amounts under the community
revitalization program established pursuant to this Act. If a
local government applies for a partial eligibility waiver
under subsection (b), such certification shall specify which
of the eligibility requirements are met by the local
government.
(d) Priority Criteria.--
(1) General priority criteria.--The Secretary shall
establish priority criteria for the selection and approval of
projects to be funded by grant amounts made available
pursuant to this Act. The priority criteria established under
this subsection shall be based on factors such as--
(A) a higher population density of the project
neighborhood;
(B) demonstrated deficiencies in the condition of existing
recreational areas and facilities in the project
neighborhood;
(C) demonstrated deficiencies in access to neighborhood
recreation opportunities, particularly for minority and low-
and moderate-income residents, veterans or active duty
military families, and residents with physical or mental
disabilities;
(D) the number of unemployed people as a percentage of the
civilian labor force of the project neighborhood;
(E) public participation in determining rehabilitation or
development needs;
(F) the extent to which a project or program supports or
complements target activities undertaken as part of a local
government's overall community development and urban
revitalization program;
(G) the extent to which such a project would--
(i) provide employment opportunities for minorities, youth,
and low- and moderate-income residents in the project
neighborhood; and
(ii) provide for participation of neighborhood, nonprofit,
or tenant organizations in the proposed rehabilitation and
construction activity or in subsequent maintenance, staffing,
or supervision of recreational areas and facilities;
(H) the amount of State, local, and private support for the
project as evidenced by commitments of non-Federal resources
to project construction or operation; and
(I) any additional criteria the Secretary determines
appropriate.
(2) Priority criteria for rehabilitation and construction
grants.--In addition to
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the general priority criteria established under paragraph
(1), the Secretary shall establish priority criteria for the
selection and approval of projects to be funded by a
rehabilitation and construction grant made pursuant to this
Act, including whether the project--
(A) builds recreational areas and facilities in areas that
are located within half a mile of public housing or a school
and do not currently have indoor or outdoor facilities;
(B) creates, maintains, or revitalizes playgrounds or
active play areas for children;
(C) connects children to the outdoors for physical activity
and access to nature;
(D) promotes physical activity for individuals and the
community at large;
(E) works collaboratively with local governments, colleges,
and universities, and other institutions to track the
longitudinal rates of chronic diseases in the community such
as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression, and obesity;
(F) uses environmentally beneficial components such as
sustainable landscape features and upcycled and recycled
materials;
(G) provides environmental benefits to urban areas,
including by--
(i) updating lighting;
(ii) planting trees;
(iii) increasing the urban forestry canopy;
(iv) improving stormwater management;
(v) increasing green infrastructure;
(vi) employing water conservation measures; or
(vii) adding green spaces;
(H) connects to public transportation;
(I) uses LEED Green Building Standards or contains energy
efficiency components such as energy efficient lighting and
HVAC systems, and uses SITES sustainable landscape standards,
or other sustainable components and practices;
(J) contains safe trails or routes, such as trails,
bikeways, and sidewalks that connect to neighborhoods and
enhance access to parks and recreational areas and
facilities;
(K) enhances or expands youth development in neighborhoods
and communities by engaging youth in environmental
stewardship, conservation, and service projects;
(L) updates existing equipment or facilities to be in
compliance with the most recent accessibility guidelines
published by the United States Access Board, specifically by
removing architectural barriers so that sites comply or
exceed the requirements of the final guidelines for the
accessibility of recreational areas and facilities; or
(M) constructs new facilities or sites to comply with or
exceed the minimum requirements of the final guidelines for
the accessibility of recreational sites and facilities
published by the United States Access Board.
(3) Priority criteria for innovation and recreation program
grants.--In addition to the general priority criteria
established under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall
establish priority criteria for the selection and approval of
programs to be funded by an innovation and recreation program
grant made pursuant to this Act, including whether the
project or program--
(A) promotes the unique integration of recreation with
other community services, such as transportation, public
housing and public safety, either to expand or update current
services, or to link programs within the social service
structure of a neighborhood or between neighborhoods;
(B) utilizes new management and cost-saving or service-
efficient approaches for improving the delivery of recreation
services;
(C) serves communities with a high population of active
military families or veterans;
(D) ensures accessibility to therapeutic recreation
services and provides recreation opportunities for injured or
disabled members of the Armed Forces;
(E) employs veterans, youth, or uses youth volunteers;
(F) targets youth are at the greatest risk of becoming
involved in violence and crime;
(G) demonstrates past success in providing constructive
alternatives to youth at risk for engaging in criminal
behavior;
(H) demonstrates collaboration between local park and
recreation, juvenile justice, law enforcement, and youth
social service agencies and nongovernmental entities,
including private, nonprofit agencies; and
(I) shows the greatest potential of being continued with
non-Federal funds or may serve as models for other
communities.
SEC. 7. REHABILITATION AND INNOVATION AND RECREATION PROGRAM
GRANTS.
(a) Authorization.--Upon approval of an application by the
chief executive of an eligible local government, the
Secretary may provide 70 percent matching rehabilitation and
construction grants and innovation and recreation program
grants directly to such eligible local government.
(b) Transfer.--At the discretion of a local government
receiving a rehabilitation and construction grant or
innovation and recreation program grant pursuant to
subsection (a), and if consistent with an approved
application, such a grant may be transferred in whole or in
part to private nonprofit agencies, provided that assisted
recreational areas and facilities owned or managed by such
private nonprofit agencies offer recreation opportunities to
the general population within the jurisdictional boundaries
of the local government.
(c) Payments.--Grant payments may be made only for
rehabilitation and construction or innovation and recreation
projects and programs approved by the Secretary. In the case
of rehabilitation and construction and innovation projects,
such payments may be made periodically in keeping with the
rate of progress toward the satisfactory completion of a
project, except that the Secretary may, when appropriate,
make advance payments on approved rehabilitation and
construction and innovation projects in an amount not to
exceed 20 percent of the total project cost.
(d) Modification of Project.--The Secretary may authorize
modification of an approved rehabilitation and construction
or innovation project only when a grantee has adequately
demonstrated that such modification is necessary because of
circumstances not foreseeable at the time such project was
proposed.
(e) Special Considerations for Innovation and Recreation
Program.--Innovation grants shall correspond to the goals,
priorities, and implementation strategies expressed in local
park and recreation recovery action programs, with particular
regard to the special considerations listed in section 8(b)
of this Act.
SEC. 8. LOCAL COMMITMENTS TO SYSTEM RECOVERY AND MAINTENANCE.
(a) Recovery Action Programs.--
(1) In general.--As a requirement for project approval, a
local government applying for a grant under this Act shall
submit to the Secretary evidence of its commitment to ongoing
planning, rehabilitation, service, operation, and maintenance
programs for its park and recreation systems. Such commitment
shall be expressed in a local park and recreation recovery
action program that maximizes coordination of all community
resources, including other federally supported urban
development and recreation programs.
(2) Interim preliminary action programs.--During an initial
interim period to be established by regulation, the recovery
action program requirement under paragraph (1) may be
satisfied by submission of preliminary action programs of a
local government that define objectives, priorities, and
implementation strategies for overall system recovery and
maintenance and commit such local government to a scheduled
program development process.
(3) 5-year action program.--Following the interim period
under paragraph (2), each local government applicant shall
submit to the Secretary, as a condition of eligibility, a 5-
year park and recreation recovery action program that
demonstrates--
(A) identification of recovery objectives, priorities, and
implementation strategies;
(B) adequate planning for rehabilitation of specific
recreational areas and facilities, including projections of
the cost of proposed projects;
(C) capacity and commitment to assure that facilities
provided or improved under this Act shall thereafter continue
to be adequately maintained, protected, staffed, and
supervised;
(D) intention to maintain total local public outlays for
park and recreation purposes at levels at least equal to
those in the year preceding that in which grant assistance is
sought, except in any case where a reduction in park and
recreation outlays is proportionate to a reduction in overall
spending by the applicant; and
(E) the relationship of the park and recreation recovery
action program to overall community development and urban
revitalization efforts.
(4) Continuing planning process.--Where appropriate, the
Secretary may encourage local governments to meet recovery
action program requirements through a continuing planning
process which includes periodic improvements and updates in
recovery action program submissions to eliminate identified
gaps in program information and policy development.
(b) Recovery Action Program Special Considerations.--
Recovery action programs shall address, at a minimum, the
following special considerations:
(1) Rehabilitation of existing recreational areas and
facilities, including--
(A) general systemwide renovation;
(B) special rehabilitation requirements for recreational
areas and facilities in areas of high population
concentration and economic distress; and
(C) restoration of outstanding or unique structures,
landscaping, or similar features in parks of historical or
architectural significance.
(2) Local commitments to innovative and cost-effective
programs and projects at the neighborhood level to augment
recovery of park and recreation systems, including--
(A) recycling of abandoned schools and other public
buildings for recreation purposes;
(B) multiple use of operating educational and other public
buildings;
(C) purchase of recreation services on a contractual basis;
(D) use of mobile facilities and recreational, cultural,
and educational programs or other innovative approaches to
improving access for neighborhood residents;
(E) integration of the recovery action program with
federally assisted projects to maximize recreation
opportunities through conversion of abandoned railroad and
highway rights-of-way, waterfront, and other redevelopment
efforts and such other federally assisted projects, as
appropriate;
(F) conversion to recreational use of street space,
derelict land, and other public lands not now designated for
neighborhood recreational use; and
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(G) use of various forms of compensated and uncompensated
land regulation, tax inducements, or other means to encourage
the private sector to provide neighborhood park and
recreation facilities and programs.
(c) Publication of Requirements.--The Secretary shall
establish and publish in the Federal Register requirements
for preparation, submission, and updating of local park and
recreation recovery action programs.
(d) Innovation and Recreation Program Grant.--
(1) Eligibility.--In order to be eligible to receive an at-
risk youth recreation grant, a local government shall--
(A) include in its 5-year park and recreation recovery
action program the goal of--
(i) utilizing new ideas, concepts, and approaches aimed at
improving facility design, operations, or programming in the
delivery of recreation services;
(ii) increased access of therapeutic or other recreation
services to veterans and military families; or
(iii) reducing crime and juvenile delinquency; and
(B) provide a description of implementation strategies to
achieve such goals.
(2) Coordination.--The description of implementation
strategies under paragraph (1) shall also address how the
local government is coordinating its recreation programs with
other community development or service agencies.
(e) Recovery Action Program Grants.--The Secretary is
authorized to provide up to 50 percent matching grants to
eligible local government applicants for recovery action
program development and planning to meet the objectives of
this section.
SEC. 9. STATE ACTION INCENTIVE; FEDERAL GRANTS, INCREASE.
The Secretary is authorized to increase Federal
rehabilitation and construction grants and innovation and
recreation program grants authorized under section 7, by
providing an additional match equal to the total match
provided by a State of up to 15 percent of the total project
or program costs. In no event may the Federal matching amount
exceed 85 percent of total project or program cost. The
Secretary shall further encourage the States to assist in
assuring that local recovery plans and programs are
adequately implemented by cooperating with the Department of
Housing and Urban Development in monitoring local park and
recreation recovery action programs and in assuring
consistency of such plans and programs, where appropriate,
with State recreation policies as set forth in statewide
comprehensive outdoor recreation plans.
SEC. 10. MATCHING REQUIREMENTS; NON-FEDERAL SHARE OF PROJECT
OR PROGRAM COSTS.
(a) Non-Federal Sources.--The non-Federal share of project
or program costs assisted under this Act may be derived
from--
(1) general or special purpose State or local revenues;
(2) State categorical grants;
(3) special appropriations by State legislatures;
(4) donations of land, buildings, or building materials;
(5) in-kind construction, technical, and planning services;
or
(6) any combination of paragraphs (1) through (5).
(b) Prohibited Sources.--No moneys from any Federal grant
program other than general revenue sharing and the community
development and energy efficiency and conservation block
grant programs shall be used to match Federal grants under
this program.
(c) Private Contributions.--The Secretary shall encourage
States and private interests to contribute, to the maximum
extent possible, to the non-Federal share of project or
program costs.
SEC. 11. CONVERSION OF RECREATION PROPERTY.
No property improved or developed with assistance under
this Act shall, without the approval of the Secretary, be
converted for uses other than for public recreation. The
Secretary shall approve such conversion only if the Secretary
determines it to be consistent with the current local park
and recreation recovery action program and only upon such
conditions as the Secretary determines necessary to assure
the provision of adequate recreation properties and
opportunities of reasonably equivalent location and
usefulness.
SEC. 12. COORDINATION OF PROGRAM.
The Secretary shall--
(1) coordinate the urban revitalization and livable
communities program with other Federal departments and
agencies and with State agencies that administer programs and
policies affecting urban areas such as the White House Office
of Urban Policy and departments that administer programs and
policies affecting climate change, green jobs, housing, urban
development, natural resources management, employment,
transportation, community services, and voluntary action;
(2) encourage maximum coordination of the program between
appropriate State agencies and local government applicants;
and
(3) require that local government applicants include
provisions for participation of community and neighborhood
residents, including youth, and for public-private
coordination in recovery action program planning and project
selection.
SEC. 13. REPORT; RECORDKEEPING; AUDIT AND EXAMINATION.
(a) Report.--Each recipient of assistance under this Act
shall submit to the Secretary, for each fiscal year such
assistance is received, an annual report detailing the
projects and programs undertaken with such assistance, the
number of jobs created by such assistance, and any other
information the Secretary determines appropriate based on the
priority criteria established by the Secretary under sections
5 and 6.
(b) Recordkeeping.--Each recipient of assistance under this
Act shall keep such records as the Secretary shall prescribe,
including records that fully disclose the amount and
disposition of project or program undertakings in connection
with which assistance under this Act is given or used, and
the amount and nature of that portion of the cost of the
project or program undertaking supplied by other sources, and
such other records as will facilitate an effective audit.
(c) Audit and Examination.--The Secretary and the
Comptroller General of the United States, or their duly
authorized representatives, shall have access, for the
purpose of audit and examination, to any books, documents,
papers, and records of a recipient of assistance under this
Act that are pertinent to such assistance.
SEC. 14. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated
such sums as necessary to carry out this Act for each of
fiscal years 2013 through 2022.
(b) Recovery Action Program Grants.--Not more than 3
percent of the funds appropriated pursuant to subsection (a)
in any fiscal year may be used for grants for the development
of local park and recreation recovery action programs
pursuant to section 8 of this Act.
(c) Innovation and Recreation Program Grants.--Not more
than 10 percent of the funds appropriated pursuant to
subsection (a) in any fiscal year may be used for innovation
grants pursuant to section 7 of this Act.
(d) Discretionary Fund.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Act or any other law or regulation, not
more than 2 percent of the funds appropriated pursuant to
subsection (a) in any fiscal year may be used to provide
rehabilitation and construction grants, innovation and
recreation program grants, and recovery action program grants
to be used in the insular areas. Such sums will not be
subject to the matching provisions of this Act, and may only
be subject to such conditions, reports, plans, and
agreements, if any, as determined by the Secretary.
SEC. 15. LIMITATION OF USE OF FUNDS.
Not more than 10 percent of funds appropriated pursuant to
section 14 for rehabilitation and construction grants in any
fiscal year may be used for the acquisition of lands or
interests in land.
SEC. 16. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.
(a) Interim Report.--Not later than 5 years after the date
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to
Congress an interim report containing such findings and
recommendations as the Secretary determines appropriate with
respect to the community revitalization program established
pursuant to this Act.
(b) Final Report.--Not later than 10 years after the date
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to
Congress a report describing the overall impact of the
community revitalization program established pursuant to this
Act.
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