[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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