[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 123 (Tuesday, July 18, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S3055]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 878. Mr. PADILLA submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
him to the bill S. 2226, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2024 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle G of title X, add the following:
SEC. 10____. OUTDOOR RECREATION LEGACY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means an
entity that represents or otherwise serves a qualifying area.
(2) Eligible nonprofit organization.--The term ``eligible
nonprofit organization'' means an organization that is
described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986 and is exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of
such code.
(3) Entity.--The term ``entity'' means--
(A) a State;
(B) a political subdivision of a State, including--
(i) a city;
(ii) a county; and
(iii) a special purpose district that manages open space,
including a park district; and
(C) an Indian Tribe, urban Indian organization, or Alaska
Native or Native Hawaiian community or organization.
(4) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' has the
meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
(5) Low-income community.--The term ``low-income
community'' means any census block group in which 30 percent
or more of the population are individuals with an annual
household equal to, or less than, the greater of--
(A) an amount equal to 80 percent of the median income of
the area in which the household is located, as reported by
the Department of Housing and Urban Development; and
(B) an amount equal to 200 percent of the Federal poverty
line.
(6) Outdoor recreation legacy partnership program.--The
term ``Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program'' means
the program established under subsection (b)(1).
(7) Qualifying area.--The term ``qualifying area'' means--
(A) an urbanized area or urban cluster that has a
population of 25,000 or more in the most recent census;
(B) 2 or more adjacent urban clusters with a combined
population of 25,000 or more in the most recent census; or
(C) an area administered by an Indian Tribe or an Alaska
Native or Native Hawaiian community organization.
(8) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(9) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several
States, the District of Columbia, and each territory of the
United States.
(b) Establishment of Program.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish an outdoor
recreation legacy partnership program under which the
Secretary may award grants to eligible entities for
projects--
(A) to acquire land and water for parks and other outdoor
recreation purposes in qualifying areas; and
(B) to develop new or renovate existing outdoor recreation
facilities that provide outdoor recreation opportunities to
the public in qualifying areas.
(2) Priority.--In awarding grants to eligible entities
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall give priority to
projects that--
(A) create or significantly enhance access to park and
recreational opportunities in an urban neighborhood or
community;
(B) engage and empower underserved communities and youth;
(C) provide employment or job training opportunities for
youth or underserved communities;
(D) establish or expand public-private partnerships, with a
focus on leveraging resources; and
(E) take advantage of coordination among various levels of
government.
(c) Matching Requirement.--
(1) In general.--As a condition of receiving a grant under
subsection (b), an eligible entity shall provide matching
funds in the form of cash or an in-kind contribution in an
amount equal to not less than 100 percent of the amounts made
available under the grant.
(2) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive all or part of the
matching requirement under paragraph (1) if the Secretary
determines that--
(A) no reasonable means are available through which the
eligible entity can meet the matching requirement; and
(B) the probable benefit of the project outweighs the
public interest in the matching requirement.
(3) Administrative expenses.--Not more than 10 percent of
funds provided to an eligible entity under a grant awarded
under subsection (b) may be used for administrative expenses.
(d) Considerations.--In awarding grants to eligible
entities under subsection (b), the Secretary shall consider
the extent to which a project would--
(1) provide recreation opportunities in underserved
communities in which access to parks is not adequate to meet
local needs;
(2) provide opportunities for outdoor recreation and public
land volunteerism;
(3) support innovative or cost-effective ways to enhance
parks and other recreation--
(A) opportunities; or
(B) delivery of services;
(4) support park and recreation programming provided by
cities, including cooperative agreements with community-based
eligible nonprofit organizations;
(5) develop Native American event sites and cultural
gathering spaces; and
(6) provide benefits such as community resilience,
reduction of urban heat islands, enhanced water or air
quality, or habitat for fish or wildlife.
(e) Eligible Uses.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), a grant
recipient may use a grant awarded under subsection (b) for a
project described in paragraph (1) or (2) of that subsection.
(2) Limitations on use.--A grant recipient may not use
grant funds for--
(A) incidental costs related to land acquisition, including
appraisal and titling;
(B) operation and maintenance activities;
(C) facilities that support semiprofessional or
professional athletics;
(D) indoor facilities, such as recreation centers or
facilities that support primarily non-outdoor purposes; or
(E) acquisition of land or interests in land that restrict
access to specific persons.
(f) Review and Evaluation Requirements.--In carrying out
the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program, the
Secretary shall--
(1) conduct an initial screening and technical review of
applications received;
(2) evaluate and score all qualifying applications; and
(3) provide culturally and linguistically appropriate
information to eligible entities (including low-income
communities and eligible entities serving low-income
communities) on--
(A) the opportunity to apply for grants under this section;
(B) the application procedures by which eligible entities
may apply for grants under this section; and
(C) eligible uses for grants under this section.
(g) Reporting.--
(1) Annual reports.--Not later than 30 days after the last
day of each report period, each State lead agency that
receives a grant under this section shall annually submit to
the Secretary performance and financial reports that--
(A) summarize project activities conducted during the
report period; and
(B) provide the status of the project.
(2) Final reports.--Not later than 90 days after the
earlier of the date of expiration of a project period or the
completion of a project, each State lead agency that receives
a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary a
final report containing such information as the Secretary may
require.
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