[House Report 108-118]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



108th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session                                                    108-118
======================================================================
 
         RUNAWAY, HOMELESS, AND MISSING CHILDREN PROTECTION ACT

                                _______
                                

  May 20, 2003.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

    Mr. Boehner, from the Committee on Education and the Workforce, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                             together with

                            ADDITIONAL VIEWS

                        [To accompany H.R. 1925]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

  The Committee on Education and the Workforce, to whom was 
referred the bill (H.R. 1925) to reauthorize programs under the 
Runaway and Homeless Youth Act and the Missing Children's 
Assistance Act, and for other purposes, having considered the 
same, report favorably thereon with an amendment and recommend 
that the bill as amended do pass.
  The amendment is as follows:
  Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

  This Act may be cited as the ``Runaway, Homeless, and Missing 
Children Protection Act''.

         TITLE I--AMENDMENTS TO RUNAWAY AND HOMELESS YOUTH ACT

SEC. 101. AMENDMENT TO FINDINGS.

  Section 302 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5701) is 
amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 302. FINDINGS.

  ``The Congress finds that--
          ``(1) youth who have become homeless or who leave and remain 
        away from home without parental permission, are at risk of 
        developing, and have a disproportionate share of, serious 
        health, behavioral, and emotional problems because they lack 
        sufficient resources to obtain care and may live on the street 
        for extended periods thereby endangering themselves and 
        creating a substantial law enforcement problem for communities 
        in which they congregate;
          ``(2) many such young people, because of their age and 
        situation, are urgently in need of temporary shelter and 
        services, including services that are linguistically 
        appropriate and acknowledge the environment of youth seeking 
        these services;
          ``(3) in view of the interstate nature of the problem, it is 
        the responsibility of the Federal Government to develop an 
        accurate national reporting system to report the problem, and 
        to assist in the development of an effective system of care 
        (including preventive and aftercare services, emergency shelter 
        services, extended residential shelter, and street outreach 
        services) outside the welfare system and the law enforcement 
        system;
          ``(4) to make a successful transition to adulthood, runaway 
        youth, homeless youth, and other street youth need 
        opportunities to complete high school or earn a general 
        equivalency degree, learn job skills, and obtain employment; 
        and
          ``(5) improved coordination and collaboration between the 
        Federal programs that serve runaway and homeless youth are 
        necessary for the development of a long-term strategy for 
        responding to the needs of this population.''.

SEC. 102. GRANT PROGRAM CONFORMING AMENDMENT.

  The heading for part A of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 
U.S.C. 5711 et seq.) is amended by striking ``Runaway and Homeless 
Youth'' and inserting ``Basic Center''.

SEC. 103. GRANTS FOR SERVICES PROVIDED.

  Section 311(a)(2)(C) of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 
5711(a)(2)(C)) is amended--
          (1) in clause (ii) by striking ``and'';
          (2) in clause (iii) by striking the period and inserting ``; 
        and''; and
          (3) after clause (iii) by inserting the following:
                          ``(iv) at the request of runaway and homeless 
                        youth, testing for sexually transmitted 
                        diseases.''.

SEC. 104. REPEAL OF OBSOLETE PROVISION RELATING TO CERTAIN ALLOTMENTS.

  Section 311(b) the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5711(b)) 
is amended--
          (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``Subject to paragraph (3), 
        the'' and inserting ``The'';
          (2) by striking paragraph (3); and
          (3) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (3).

SEC. 105. ELIGIBILITY PROVISION.

  Section 312(a) of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 
5712(a)) is amended by striking ``juveniles'' each place it appears and 
inserting ``youth''.

SEC. 106. RECOGNITION OF STATE LAW RELATING TO CAPACITY LIMITATION ON 
                    ELIGIBLE RUNAWAY AND HOMELESS YOUTH CENTERS.

  Section 312(b)(2)(A) of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 
5712(b)(2)(A)) is amended by inserting after ``youth'' the following: 
``, except where the applicant assures that the State where the center 
or locally controlled facility is located has a State or local law or 
regulation that requires a higher maximum to comply with licensure 
requirements for child and youth serving facilities''.

SEC. 107. MATERNITY GROUP HOMES.

  (a) Eligibility.--Section 322(a)(1) of the Runaway and Homeless Youth 
Act (42 U.S.C. 5714-2(a)(1)) is amended--
          (1) by inserting after ``group homes,'' the following: 
        ``including maternity group homes,''; and
          (2) by inserting after ``use of credit,'' the following: 
        ``parenting skills (as appropriate),''.
  (b) Definition.--Section 322 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act 
(42 U.S.C. 5714-2) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection:
  ``(c) Definition.--In this part, the term `maternity group home' 
means a community-based, adult-supervised transitional living 
arrangement that provides pregnant or parenting youth and their 
children with a supportive and supervised living arrangement in which 
such pregnant or parenting youth are required to learn parenting 
skills, including child development, family budgeting, health and 
nutrition, and other skills to promote their long-term economic 
independence in order to ensure the well-being of their children.''.

SEC. 108. LIMITED EXTENSION OF 540-DAY SHELTER ELIGIBILITY PERIOD.

  Section 322(a)(2) of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 
5714-2(a)(2)) is amended by inserting after ``days'' the following: ``, 
except that a youth in a program under this part who is under the age 
of 18 years on the last day of the 540-day period may, if otherwise 
qualified for the program, remain in the program until the earlier of 
the youth's 18th birthday or the 180th day after the end of the 540-day 
period''.

SEC. 109. PART A PLAN COORDINATION ASSURANCES.

  Section 312(b)(4)(B) of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 
5712(b)(4)(B)) is amended by striking ``personnel'' and all that 
follows through the semicolon and inserting ``McKinney-Vento school 
district liaisons, designated under section 722(g)(1)(J)(ii) of the 
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11432 (g)(1)(J)(ii)), 
to assure that runaway and homeless youth are provided information 
about the educational services available to such youth under subtitle B 
of title VII of that Act;''.

SEC. 110. PART B PLAN COORDINATION AGREEMENT.

  Section 322(a) of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5714-
2(a)) is amended--
          (1) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon at the end of 
        paragraph (13);
          (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (14) and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
          (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
          ``(15) to coordinate services with McKinney-Vento school 
        district liaisons, designated under section 722(g)(1)(J)(ii) of 
        the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
        11432(g)(1)(J)(ii)), to assure that runaway and homeless youth 
        are provided information about the educational services 
        available to such youth under subtitle B of title VII of that 
        Act.''.

SEC. 111. PART B PLAN DEVELOPMENT.

  Section 322(a)(7) of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 
5714-2(a)(7)) is amended to read as follows:
          ``(7) to develop an adequate plan to ensure proper referral 
        of homeless youth to social service, law enforcement, 
        educational (including post-secondary education), vocational, 
        training (including services and programs for youth available 
        under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998), welfare (including 
        programs under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity 
        Reconciliation Act of 1996), legal service, and health care 
        programs and to help integrate and coordinate such services for 
        youths;''.

SEC. 112. COORDINATION OF PROGRAMS.

  Section 341 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5714-21) 
is amended--
          (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' after the semicolon 
        at the end;
          (2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
          (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
          ``(3) shall consult, as appropriate, the Secretary of Housing 
        and Urban Development to ensure coordination of programs and 
        services for homeless youth.''.

SEC. 113. CLARIFICATION OF GRANT AUTHORITY.

  Section 343(a) of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5714-
23(a)) is amended by inserting after ``service projects'' the 
following: ``regarding activities under this title''.

SEC. 114. TECHNICAL AMENDMENT RELATING TO DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS.

  The section heading of section 344 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth 
Act (42 U.S.C. 5714-24) is amended by striking ``temporary''.

SEC. 115. REPEAL OF OBSOLETE PROVISION RELATING TO STUDY.

  The Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5701 et seq.) is 
amended by striking section 345 (42 U.S.C. 5714-25).

SEC. 116. AGE LIMIT FOR HOMELESS YOUTH.

  Section 387(3)(A)(i) of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 
5732a(3)(A)(i)) is amended by inserting after ``of age'' the following: 
``, or, in the case of a youth seeking shelter in a center under part 
A, not more than 18 years of age''.

SEC. 117. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

  (a) Other Than Part E.--Section 388(a)(1) of the Runaway and Homeless 
Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5751(a)(1)) is amended by striking ``such sums as 
may be necessary for fiscal years 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003'' and 
inserting ``$105,000,000 for fiscal year 2004, and such sums as may be 
necessary for fiscal years 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008''.
  (b) Part E.--Section 388(a)(4) of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act 
(42 U.S.C. 5751(a)(4)) is amended by striking ``2000, 2001, 2002, and 
2003'' and inserting ``2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008''.
  (c) Part B Allocation.--Section 388(a)(2)(B) of the Runaway and 
Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5751(a)(2)(B)) is amended by striking 
``not less than 20 percent, and not more than 30 percent'' and 
inserting ``45 percent and, in those fiscal years in which continuation 
grant obligations and the quality and number of applicants for parts A 
and B warrant not more than 55 percent''.

SEC. 118. REPORT ON PROMISING STRATEGIES TO END YOUTH HOMELESSNESS.

  Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the 
United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, shall submit to the 
Congress a report on promising strategies to end youth homelessness.

SEC. 119. STUDY OF HOUSING SERVICES AND STRATEGIES.

  The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall conduct a study of 
programs funded under part B of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 
U.S.C. 5714-1 et seq.) to report on long-term housing outcomes for 
youth after exiting the program. The study of any such program should 
provide information on housing services available to youth upon exiting 
the program, including assistance in locating and retaining permanent 
housing and referrals to other residential programs. In addition, the 
study should identify housing models and placement strategies that 
prevent future episodes of homelessness.

SEC. 120. RESTRICTION ON USE OF FUNDS.

  The Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5701 et seq.) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new section:

``SEC. 389. RESTRICTION ON USE OF FUNDS.

  ``(a) In General.--None of the funds contained in this title may be 
used for any program of distributing sterile needles or syringes for 
the hypodermic injection of any illegal drug.
  ``(b) Separate Accounting.--Any individual or entity who receives any 
funds contained in this title and who carries out any program described 
in subsection (a) shall account for all funds used for such program 
separately from any funds contained in this title.''.

       TITLE II--AMENDMENTS TO MISSING CHILDREN'S ASSISTANCE ACT

SEC. 201. AMENDMENT TO FINDINGS.

  Section 402 of the Missing Children's Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5771) 
is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 402. FINDINGS.

  ``The Congress finds that--
          ``(1) each year thousands of children are abducted or removed 
        from the control of a parent having legal custody without such 
        parent's consent, under circumstances which immediately place 
        the child in grave danger;
          ``(2) many missing children are at great risk of both 
        physical harm and sexual exploitation;
          ``(3) in many cases, parents and local law enforcement 
        officials have neither the resources nor the expertise to mount 
        expanded search efforts;
          ``(4) abducted children are frequently moved from one 
        locality to another, requiring the cooperation and coordination 
        of local, State, and Federal law enforcement efforts;
          ``(5) the National Center for Missing and Exploited 
        Children--
                  ``(A) serves as the national resource center and 
                clearinghouse;
                  ``(B) works in partnership with the Department of 
                Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the 
                Department of the Treasury, the Department of State, 
                and many other agencies in the effort to find missing 
                children and prevent child victimization; and
                  ``(C) operates a national and increasingly worldwide 
                network, linking the Center online with each of the 
                missing children clearinghouses operated by the 50 
                States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, as 
                well as with Scotland Yard in the United Kingdom, the 
                Royal Canadian Mounted Police, INTERPOL headquarters in 
                Lyon, France, and others, which enable the Center to 
                transmit images and information regarding missing 
                children to law enforcement across the United States 
                and around the world instantly.''.

SEC. 202. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

  (a) Annual Grant to National Center for Missing and Exploited 
Children.--Section 404(b)(2) of the Missing Children's Assistance Act 
(42 U.S.C. 5773(b)(2)) is amended by striking ``2005'' and inserting 
``2008''.
  (b) In General.--Section 408(a) of the Missing Children's Assistance 
Act (42 U.S.C. 5777(a)) is amended by striking ``2005.'' and inserting 
``2008''.

                                Purpose

    H.R. 1925, the Runaway, Homeless, and Missing Children 
Protection Act, reauthorizes programs under the Runaway and 
Homeless Youth Act and the Missing Children's Assistance
    Act through fiscal year 2008. H.R. 1925 strengthens the 
programs and services that address the problems and needs of 
runaway and homeless youth. The Act also continues federal 
support of programs that assist in the recovery of missing and 
exploited children.

                            Committee Action


                             108TH CONGRESS

Subcommittee hearing

    On Tuesday, April 29, 2003, the Subcommittee on Select 
Education held a hearing in Washington, D.C. on ``Missing, 
Exploited, and Runaway Youth: Strengthening the System.'' The 
purpose of the hearing was to learn about activities and 
initiatives currently funded under the Runaway and Homeless 
Youth Act and the Missing Children's Assistance Act and to 
discuss issues related to reauthorization. Testifying before 
the Committee were Mr. Ernie Allen, President and Chief 
Executive Officer, National Center for Missing and Exploited 
Children, Alexandria, Virginia; Ms. Mai Fernandez, Managing 
Director, Latin American Youth Center, Washington, D.C.; and 
Mr. Michael Hughes, a Covenant House youth participant, 
Covenant House, Washington, DC.

Legislative action

    On May 1, 2003, Representative Phil Gingrey (R-GA) 
introduced H.R. 1925, the Runaway, Homeless, and Missing 
Children Protection Act, a bipartisan bill to reauthorize the 
programs under the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act and the 
Missing Children's Assistance Act through fiscal year 2008. The 
bill's original cosponsors include Chairman Boehner (R-OH), 
Ranking Member Miller (D-CA), Select Education Subcommittee 
Chairman Hoekstra (R-MI), and Select Education Ranking Member 
Hinojosa (D-TX).
    On May 7, 2003, the Subcommittee on Select Education 
considered H.R. 1925 in legislative session and reported it 
favorably, as amended, to the Committee on Education and the 
Workforce by voice vote. The Subcommittee considered one 
amendment:
     The Subcommittee adopted, by voice vote, a 
substitute amendment offered by Representative Phil Gingrey (R-
GA). The substitute amendment: (1) clarifies that the 
authorization of appropriations for Parts A, B, C, D, and E 
begins with the fiscal year 2004; (2) instructs the Secretary 
of HHS to consult with the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
Development to ensure the coordination of programs and services 
for homeless youth; (3) clarifies that the authority to make 
grants for research, evaluation, demonstration, and service 
projects under Section 343 covers all Parts under the Runaway 
and Homeless Youth Act; (4) changes Section 110 in the 
introduced bill from an evaluation on housing services and 
strategies to a study of housing services and strategies 
(Section 115 in substitute); (5) renames Part A the ``Basic 
Center Grant Program'' (changed from the current law heading of 
``Runaway and Homeless Youth Grant Program''); (6) clarifies 
that the authorization of appropriations for the National 
Center for Missing and Exploited Children is $20 million for 
each of fiscal years 2004 through 2008, continuing the 
authorization begun in the PROTECT Act (P.L. 108-21); (7) 
clarifies that the remaining activities under the Act are 
reauthorized from fiscal years 2004 through 2008, continuing 
the authorization begun in the PROTECT Act (P.L. 108-21); and 
(8) strikes the cyber tipline language from Section 203 of the 
introduced bill since the PROTECT Act (108-21) has already 
enacted such language.
    On May 15, 2003 the Committee on Education and the 
Workforce considered H.R. 1925 in legislative session and 
reported it favorably, as amended, to the House of 
Representatives by voice vote. The Committee considered 5 
amendments and adopted the following 3 amendments:
     The Committee adopted, by voice vote, a substitute 
amendment offered by Representative Phil Gingrey (R-GA). The 
substitute amendment: (1) removes the FY 1992 hold harmless 
from the law because this provision is now obsolete; (2) 
redesignates the coordination with the Secretary of Housing and 
Urban Development language that is in Sec. 315 of the bill and 
places it in Sec. 341 of current law where there is other 
coordination language.
     The Committee adopted, by voice vote, an amendment 
offered by Representative Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), which makes the 
testing of runaway and homeless youth for sexually transmitted 
diseases through Basic Center Programs an allowable use of 
funds. The testing must be done only at the request of the 
runaway and homeless youth.
     The Committee adopted, by voice vote, an amendment 
offered by Representative Musgrave (R-CO), which prohibits any 
Runaway and Homeless Youth Act funds to be used for any program 
of distributing sterile needles or syringes for the hypodermic 
injection of any illegal drug.

                                Summary


        TITLE I--AMENDMENT TO THE RUNAWAY AND HOMELESS YOUTH ACT

    H.R. 1925, the Runaway, Homeless, and Missing Children 
Protection Act authorizes programs and activities under the 
Runaway and Homeless Youth Act through fiscal year 2008. In 
general, the bill authorizes grants to local public and private 
organizations to establish and operate local runaway and 
homeless youth shelters.
    H.R. 1925 allows applicants for Basic Center grants located 
in a State where State or local law or regulation requires a 
higher maximum capacity of individuals for licensure 
requirements to comply with the law or regulation. 
Additionally, the bill defines a homeless youth for the 
purposes of part A (Basic Center Program) as a youth not more 
than 18 years of age. This new provision allows youth between 
18 and 21 to continue to receive services and referrals at a 
Basic Center and ensures that temporary residential services 
are limited to younger youth.
    The bill makes several improvements to the Transitional 
Living Program. It defines the term ``group homes'' in the 
Transitional Living Program to include ``maternity group 
home''. Maternity group homes are defined as community-based, 
adult supervised transitional youth living arrangements that 
provide pregnant or parenting youth and their children with a 
supportive and supervised living arrangement. The bill allows 
those youth who are participating in the Transitional Living 
Program (and who must be 16 to 21 years old to participate) who 
come to the end of their 18-month stay before they reach the 
age of 18 an exception to stay in the Transitional Living 
Program until they turn 18. This title also ensures that 
applicants for the Transitional Living Program include in their 
plan proper referral to educational programs (including post-
secondary education) and training programs (including services 
and programs available for youth under the Workforce Investment 
Act of 1998 and the Personal Responsibility and Work 
Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996).
    The bill ensures that both Basic Center and Transitional 
Living Program grantees coordinate with McKinney-Vento school 
district liaisons to ensure that runaway and homeless youth are 
provided information about the educational services and 
programs available to them under Subtitle B of Title VII of the 
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
    H.R. 1925 instructs the Secretary of Heath and Human 
Services (HHS) to consult with the Secretary of Housing and 
Urban Development to ensure the coordination of programs and 
services for homeless youth. The Secretary of HHS is required 
to work with the United States Interagency Council on 
Homelessness to produce a report on promising strategies to end 
youth homelessness. Additionally, the bill requires a study of 
Transitional Living Programs to report on long-term housing 
outcomes for youth after exiting the program.
    Under this title funds are authorized for parts A (Basic 
Center Program), B (Transitional Living Program), C (National 
Communications System), and D (Coordination, Training, 
Research, and Other Activities) at $105 million for fiscal year 
2004 and at such sums for fiscal years 2005 through 2008. Part 
E (Street Outreach Program) is authorized at such sums for 
fiscal years 2004 through 2008. H.R. 1925 changes current law 
allocations for parts A and B by requiring 45 percent of the 
consolidated funding for part B services, and, in those fiscal 
years in which continuation grant obligations and the quality 
and number of applicants for parts A (Basic Center Program) and 
B (Transitional Living Program) warrant, not more than 55 
percent of funding, for part B grants.

     TITLE II--AMENDMENTS TO THE MISSING CHILDREN'S ASSISTANCE ACT

    The Missing Children's Assistance Act addresses the needs 
of missing, abducted, and sexually exploited children. This 
title coordinates and supports various federal missing 
children's programs through the Department of Justice's Office 
of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and includes 
the authorization for the National Center for Missing and 
Exploited Children. H.R. 1925 streamlines and consolidates the 
Act's findings. The bill increases the authorization level of 
the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children from $10 
million to $20 million for each of the fiscal years 2004 
through 2008, as was begun in the Prosecutorial Remedies and 
Other Tools to End the Exploitation of Children Today Act of 
2003 (PROTECT Act). Additionally, the bill extends the 
authorization of the remaining activities under the Act at such 
sums for each of the fiscal years 2004 through 2008.

                            Committee Views


                     RUNAWAY AND HOMELESS YOUTH ACT

    The Runaway and Homeless Youth Act establishes and 
authorizes funding for programs that help meet the needs of 
runaway and homeless youth, including street-based outreach and 
education, youth and family counseling, emergency shelter, 
transitional housing, and services such as academic and 
employment preparation, life skills training, and health care. 
These grants, which are administered by the Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS), are used to develop or 
strengthen community-based shelters that are not a part of the 
law enforcement, juvenile justice, child welfare or mental 
health systems. Eligible entities under this bill remain 
unchanged. Public and nonprofit private entities, and 
combinations of these entities are eligible to receive grants 
under this Act. Organizations that have received grants in the 
past remain eligible, including faith-based and community 
organizations.
    The U.S. Department of Justice estimated that in 1999, 
nearly 1.7 million youth had a runaway or homeless episode. 
Other reports have estimated higher numbers, but determining 
the exact number of youth in this population is a difficult 
task. The Committee recognizes the many challenges runaway and 
homeless youth face, such as health, behavioral, and emotional 
problems. The Committee encourages programs funded under this 
Act to provide services that acknowledge and are appropriate to 
the clients served.
    Through the Basic Center Program, financial assistance is 
provided to establish or strengthen community-based programs 
that address the immediate needs of runaway and homeless youth 
and their families. The central purpose of these programs is to 
provide youth with emergency short-term shelter, food, 
clothing, counseling, and referrals for health care, education, 
and other community services. The Basic Centers seek to reunite 
young people with their families, whenever possible, or to 
locate appropriate alternative safe placements. Current law 
requires applicants for a Basic Center grant to operate centers 
that have a maximum capacity of not more than 20 youth. 
However, H.R. 1925 provides an exemption for applicants for 
Basic Center grants located in a State where law or regulation 
requires a higher maximum capacity of individuals for facility 
licensing requirements. The Committee provides this exemption 
with the understanding that applicants for the Basic Center 
Program must meet State and local licensing requirements. 
However, the Committee believes that youth are best served in 
centers that limit temporary residential services to 20 or 
fewer youth.
    Additionally, the Committee added a clarification in the 
definition of homeless youth by specifying that youth seeking 
shelter in a part A Basic Center program shall not be more than 
18 years of age. This clarification stems from safety concerns 
when older youth are housed overnight in the same facility with 
younger youth. It is the intent of the Committee that the older 
youth remain eligible for all other services provided by part A 
programs, including counseling, family reunification, and 
substance abuse prevention and education. The Committee 
encourages Basic Center Programs to provide referrals and 
services to older youth to ensure that these youth receive 
residential services at temporary shelters serving youth 18 
years or older.
    The Transitional Living Program (TLP) provides grants to 
public and private organizations to support projects that 
provide longer-term residential services to older youth. TLPs 
assist these homeless youth in developing skills and resources 
to promote their independence and prevent future dependency on 
social services. TLPs provide housing and a range of services 
for up to 18 months to youth ages 16-21 who are unable to 
return to their homes for safety reasons or other factors. 
These services include counseling in basic life skills, 
interpersonal skills, educational advancement, job attainment 
skills, and physical and mental health care. Under current law, 
a homeless youth accepted into the Transitional Living Program 
is eligible to receive shelter and services for up to 540 days 
(18 months). H.R. 1925 provides an exception for youth who have 
not reached 18 years of age at the end of the 540 days. The 
youngest participants (who enter the program at 16 years of 
age) are now able to stay in the program until their 18th 
birthday, or up to 720 days. This adjustment was made to 
alleviate the problems encountered by minors, including 
difficulties signing leases and legal documents due to their 
minor status. The inability of minors to sign a housing lease 
increases their chances of returning to homelessness at the end 
of the program. Allowing youth to stay in the program until the 
age of 21 will assure that they are legally able to secure 
housing and progress to independence after exiting the program.
    Currently, the Transitional Living Program includes 
maternity group homes, which provide safe, stable, nurturing 
environments for young mothers who cannot live safely with 
their own families. A range of coordinated services, such as 
childcare, education, job training, counseling and advice on 
parenting, child development and life skills are provided to 
these young mothers. It is estimated that as many as 30 percent 
of current Transitional Living Program grants are currently 
funding maternity group homes. H.R. 1925 amends the definition 
of the term ``group homes'' in the Transitional Living Program 
to include ``maternity group homes,'' which are defined as 
community-based, adult supervised transitional youth living 
arrangements that provide pregnant or parenting youth and their 
children with a supportive and supervised living arrangement. 
As is current practice, fathers of infants and small children 
may participate and receive services. While participating in a 
maternity group home, the pregnant and parenting youth are 
required to learn parenting skills which include child 
development, family budgeting, health and nutrition, and other 
skills to promote their long-term economic independence in 
order to ensure the well-being of their children. The 
Committee's intent is that maternity group homes receiving 
funds under this Act employ these funds to serve pregnant and 
parenting runaway and homeless youth. This provision affords 
pregnant and parenting runaway and homeless youth access to 
transitional living opportunities, an alternative to the 
environments of violence and despair that many young pregnant 
and parenting mothers face.
    H.R. 1925 improves federal coordination to ensure 
collaboration between the U.S. Departments of Health and Human 
Services, Education, Labor, Housing and Urban Development, and 
Justice in providing programs and services targeting runaway 
and homeless youth. Additionally, the bill instructs the 
Secretary of HHS to consult with the U.S. Interagency Council 
on Homelessness to submit a report to Congress on promising 
strategies to end youth homelessness. Because many runaway and 
homeless youth have interacted with the foster care system, 
juvenile justice, and other public custodial systems, there is 
a significant need for information on strategies to prevent 
youth who have had contact with these systems from becoming 
homeless. State child welfare and juvenile justice agencies 
will be able to incorporate the report's strategies to improve 
discharge planning and aftercare services for youth at risk of 
becoming homeless. Strengthened federal coordination will also 
improve runaway and homeless youths' access to federally funded 
programs and services for which they are eligible.
    H.R. 1925 changes the current law allocation of funds. 
Currently, of the amounts appropriated to carry out parts A 
(Basic Center Program) and B (Transitional Living Program), not 
less than 20 percent and not more than 30 percent can be used 
to carry out part B. Part B (Transitional Living Program) will 
now have a larger portion of the consolidated account, 45 
percent and up to 55 percent in those fiscal years in which 
continuation grant obligations and the quality and number of 
applicants for parts A (Basic Center Program) and B 
(Transitional Living Program) warrant, in order to accommodate 
increased demand for the TLP program. TLP programs provide a 
long-term solution for older youth by not only providing 
housing, but also life skills, counseling, education and 
training, and substance abuse prevention services. Furthermore, 
the new 45 percent minimum for part B mirrors current actual 
funding. The last two appropriations cycles have provided part 
B with 45 percent of the funds from the consolidated account in 
order to both meet the growing need and provide funds for 
programs that serve pregnant and parenting youth, as is now 
explicitly allowed in part B. The bill authorizes parts A 
(Basic Center Program), B (Transitional Living Program), C 
(National Communications System), and D (Coordination, 
Training, Research, and Other Activities) at $105 million for 
fiscal year 2004 and at such sums for fiscal years 2005 through 
2008.
    In addition to the funds that directly support basic 
centers and transitional living programs, approximately 10 
percent of the appropriations are used to fund projects that 
support and strengthen the work of the shelters. This includes 
the national toll-free runway and homeless youth hotline; 
training and technical assistance activities; research and 
demonstration projects; and methods to improve program 
administration, outreach, and prevention activities among local 
shelters. The Committee strongly supports the continuation of 
these types of activities.
    H.R. 1925 continues to fund part E, the Education and 
Prevention Services To Reduce Sexual Abuse of Runaway, 
Homeless, and Street Youth Program (Street Outreach Program) at 
such sums as may be necessary. The Street Outreach Program 
funds local youth service providers to conduct street-based 
outreach and education and offer emergency shelter and related 
services to young people who have been, or are at risk of 
being, sexually abused or exploited. The goal of these efforts 
is to inform young people about services that can help them 
find suitable housing and address the problems that led them to 
be on the street.
    During Full Committee consideration of H.R. 1925, 
Representative Grijalva (D-AZ) offered an amendment, which 
passed by voice vote, on the testing of runaway and homeless 
youth for sexually transmitted diseases. This activity would be 
an allowable use of funds for Basic Center Programs. 
Additionally, the testing must be done only at the request of 
the runaway and homeless youth.
    Representative Musgrave (R-CO) also offered an amendment 
that passed by voice vote during Full Committee consideration 
of H.R. 1925. The Musgrave amendment prohibits any Runaway and 
Homeless Youth Act funds from being used for any program of 
distributing sterile needles or syringes for the hypodermic 
injection of any illegal drug. Additionally, if a grantee does 
distribute sterile needles, it must account for the non-federal 
funds used for the needle program separately from the federal 
funds the grantee receives under the Runaway and Homeless Youth 
Act.
    During consideration of H.R. 1925, Representative Grijalva 
(D-AZ) offered and withdrew an amendment to allow Basic Center 
Programs to provide temporary health care coverage to runaway 
and homeless youth. The Committee would like to clarify that 
the Medicaid program can already cover homeless youth under age 
21, which is the age group that may receive services through 
the Basic Center Programs. Early and periodic screening, 
diagnostic and treatment services are a mandatory service under 
Medicaid. These services cover comprehensive health care, 
physical exams, lab tests, and other necessary health care such 
as diagnostic services and treatment. Section 1902(b)(2) of the 
Social Security Act clearly specifies that the Secretary of HHS 
shall not approve any Medicaid state plan, which imposes, as a 
condition of eligibility for medical assistance under the plan, 
any residence requirement which excludes any individual who 
resides in the State, regardless of whether or not the 
residence is maintained permanently or at a fixed address. 
Therefore, runaway and homeless youth without an address can 
qualify for this program. It is the Committee's understanding 
that the 1996 TANF rules are used to calculate income for 
Medicaid eligibility for children and families. These rules 
specify that family income will not be used to determine 
eligibility for youths who are living for an extended period on 
their own. Such youths would be eligible for Medicaid unless 
they have their own income or resources, which exceed the 
eligibility levels in their state. The Committee also 
understands that Section 1920A of the Social Security Act 
provides that States are able to presume eligibility for youths 
under 19 years of age in order to speed up the process so that 
runaway and homeless youth may receive immediate services on 
the basis of preliminary information.
    H.R. 1925, the Runaway, Homeless, and Missing Children 
Protection Act, has the support of the National Alliance to End 
Homelessness, Volunteers of America, and the Child Welfare 
League of America. In particular, Volunteers of America sent a 
letter to the Committee on Education and the Workforce on May 
8, 2003 to offer its strong support of the bill. In the letter, 
Charles Gould, President of the organization, wrote:

          Volunteers of America is delighted to express our 
        support for the Runaway, Homeless, and Missing Children 
        Protection Act, H.R. 1925. This bill would provide 
        young people in crisis with housing, services, and 
        support, whether their needs are short-term or long-
        term. We appreciate * * * the speed in which the bill 
        has progressed through the reauthorization process.

                   MISSING CHILDREN'S ASSISTANCE ACT

    H.R. 1925 also addresses the needs of missing, abducted, 
and sexually exploited children by reauthorizing the Missing 
Children's Assistance Act. The program was created to 
coordinate and support various federal missing children's 
programs through the Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile 
Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and includes the 
authorization for the National Center for Missing and Exploited 
Children. For nineteen years, the Center has successfully 
served as the nation's resource center and clearinghouse for 
information on missing and exploited children. The Center 
provides assistance to families and law enforcement agencies in 
locating and recovering missing and exploited children, both 
nationally and internationally. The Center has worked in 
partnership with the U.S. Justice Department, U.S. Treasury 
Department, the U.S. State Department, and other agencies in 
the effort to recover missing children and to protect all 
children from victimization. H.R. 1925 increases the 
authorization level of the National Center for Missing and 
Exploited Children from $10 million to $20 million through 
fiscal year 2008. This legislation also extends the 
authorization of the remaining activities under the Act through 
fiscal year 2008. The Committee believes that we must continue 
to support the Center and its efforts to locate and recover 
missing children and help prevent child abductions, 
molestations and sexual exploitation.

                      Section-by-Section Analysis

    Section 1. Establishes the short title of the act to be the 
``Runaway, Homeless, and Missing Children Protection Act.''

         TITLE I--AMENDMENTS TO RUNAWAY AND HOMELESS YOUTH ACT

    Section 101. Amendments to Findings. Amends section 302 to 
consolidate and streamline findings.
    Section 102. Grant Program Conforming Amendment. Changes 
heading of part A of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act by 
striking ``Runaway and Homeless Youth'' and inserting ``Basic 
Center''.
    Section 103. Grants for Services Provided. Amends section 
311(a)(2)(C) regarding the testing of runaway and homeless 
youth for sexually transmitted diseases.
    Section 104. Repeal of Obsolete Provision Relating to 
Certain Allotments. Amends section 311(b) by making technical 
changes.
    Section 105. Eligibility Provision. Amends section 312(a) 
of the act by replacing the word juvenile with the word youth 
throughout the section.
    Section 106. Recognition of State Law Relating to Capacity 
Limitation on Eligible Runaway and Homeless Youth Centers. 
Amends section 312(b)(2)(A) of the act regarding licensure 
requirements for children and youth serving facilities.
    Section 107. Maternity Group Homes. Amends section 
322(a)(1) of the act by adding the definition of maternity 
group homes.
    Section 108. Limited Extension of 540-day Shelter 
Eligibility Period. Amends section 322 (a)(2) of the act 
regarding age limit extension for youth participation in 
programs of this act.
    Section 109. Part A Plan Coordination Assurances. Amends 
section 312(b)(4)(B) of the act by requiring the grantee to 
coordinate with McKinney-Vento school district liaisons.
    Section 110. Part B Plan Coordination Agreement. Amends 
section 322(a) of the act by requiring the grantee to 
coordinate with McKinney-Vento school district liaisons and 
requires information to be provided to homeless and runaway 
youth regarding educational services available under subtitle B 
of title VII of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
    Section 111. Part B Plan Development. Amends section 
322(a)(7) of the act regarding referral of homeless youth to 
various social services.
    Section 112. Coordination of Programs. Amends 341 of the 
act by requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services to 
consult with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 
regarding coordination of programs and services for homeless 
youth.
    Section 113. Clarification of Grant Authority. Amends 
section 343(a) of the act by clarifying that the authority to 
make grants for research, evaluation, demonstration, and 
service projects covers all Parts under the act.
    Section 114. Technical Amendment Relating to Demonstration 
Projects. Amends heading of section 344 of the act by removing 
the word temporary.
    Section 115. Repeal of Obsolete Provision Relating to 
Study. Amends the act by striking section 345 pertaining to an 
already executed, required one-time study of runaway youth.
    Section 116. Age Limit for Homeless Youth. Amends section 
387(3)(A)(i) to set age limit for youth seeking shelter in a 
center under part A.
    Section 117. Authorization of Appropriations. Amends 
sections 388 (a)(1), (a)(4), and (a)(2)(B) of the act regarding 
appropriations for this act.
    Section 118. Report on Promising Strategies to End Youth 
Homelessness. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services, in consultation with the United States Interagency 
Council on Homelessness, to submit a report to Congress 
regarding promising strategies to end youth homelessness.
    Section 119. Study of Housing Services and Strategies. 
Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct 
a study of programs funded under part B of this act regarding 
on long-term housing outcomes for youth.
    Section 120. Restriction on Use of Funds. Adds a new 
Section 389 to prohibit the use of funds for any program of 
distributing sterile needles or syringes for the injection of 
illegal drugs. Also requires any individual or entity who 
receives funds under this title and uses it for these programs 
must account for all funds used for the program separately from 
funds contained in the title.

       TITLE II--AMENDMENTS TO MISSING CHILDREN'S ASSISTANCE ACT

    Section 201. Amendment to Findings. Amends 402 of this act 
pertaining to research as well as, recognition of the National 
Center for Missing and Exploited Children as the national 
resource center and clearinghouse, it's partnership with 
Federal law enforcement agencies, and the online linking of 
missing children clearinghouses operated by the States and 
international government agencies.
    Section 202. Authorization of Appropriations. Amends 
section 404(b)(2) and 408(a) of this act to authorize 
appropriations for an annual grant to the National Center for 
Missing and Exploited Children and in general.

                       Explanation of Amendments

    The Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute is explained in 
the body of this report.

              Application of Law to the Legislative Branch

    Section 102(b)(3) of Public Law 104-1 requires a 
description of the application of this bill to the legislative 
branch. H.R. 1925 reauthorizes programs under the Runaway and 
Homeless Youth Act and the Missing Children's Assistance Act 
through fiscal year 2008. H.R. 1925 strengthens the programs 
and services that address the problems and needs of runaway and 
homeless youth. The Act also continues federal support of 
programs that assist in the recovery of missing and exploited 
children. The bill does not prevent legislative branch 
employees' coverage under this legislation.

                       Unfunded Mandate Statement

    Section 423 of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment 
Control Act (as amended by Section 101(a)(2) of the Unfunded 
Mandates Reform Act, P.L. 104-4) requires a statement of 
whether the provisions of the reported bill include unfunded 
mandates. H.R. 1925 reauthorizes programs under the Runaway and 
Homeless Youth Act and the Missing Children's Assistance Act 
through fiscal year 2008. H.R. 1925 strengthens the programs 
and services that address the problems and needs of runaway and 
homeless youth. The Act also continues federal support of 
programs that assist in the recovery of missing and exploited 
children. As such, the bill does not contain any unfunded 
mandates.


                             Correspondence

                     Congress of the United States,
                                   House of Representatives
                                      Washington, DC, May 19, 2003.
Hon. John Boehner,
Chairman, Committee on Education and the Workforce,
Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: Due to other legislative duties, I was 
unavoidably detained during Committee consideration of H.R. 
1925, ``Runaway, Homeless, and Missing Children Protection 
Act.'' Consequently, I missed roll call number one on amendment 
number four offered by Representative Musgrave. Had I been 
present, I would have voted in favor of the amendment.
    I would appreciate your including this letter in the 
Committee Report to accompany H.R. 1925. Thank you for your 
attention to this matter.
            Sincerely,
                                          Marsha Blackburn,
                                                Member of Congress.

  Statement of Oversight Findings and Recommendations of the Committee

    In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII and clause 
(2)(b)(1) of rule X of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives, the Committee's oversight findings and 
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.

   New Budget Authority and Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate

    With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(2) of rule 
XIII of the House of Representatives and section 308(a) of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and with respect to 
requirements of 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the House of 
Representatives and section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act 
of 1974, the Committee has received the following cost estimate 
for H.R. 1925 from the Director of the Congressional Budget 
Office:

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                      Washington, DC, May 16, 2003.
Hon. John A. Boehner,
Chairman, Committee on Education and the Workforce,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 1925, the Runaway, 
Homeless, and Missing Children Protection Act of 2003.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Donna Wong.
            Sincerely,
                                          Barry B. Anderson
                               (For Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Director).
    Enclosure.

H.R. 1925--Runaway, Homeless, and Missing Children Protection Act

    Summary: H.R. 1925 would reauthorize programs established 
by Runaway and Homeless Youth Act and extend authority to 
appropriate funds for programs under the Missing Children 
Protection Act. Programs authorized under the Runaway and 
Homeless Youth Act are currently authorized through 2003 and 
programs authorized under the Missing Children Protection Act 
are authorized through 2005.
    In total, the bill would authorize appropriations of $121 
million in 2004. CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 1925 
would authorize $751 million over the 2004-2008 period, 
assuming that annual authorization levels are adjusted for 
anticipated inflation when specific annual authorizations are 
not provided. (Without such inflation adjustments, the 
authorization total would be $722 million over the 2004-2008 
period.) CBO estimates that appropriation of the authorized 
levels would result in additional outlays of $630 million over 
the 2004-2008 period, if adjustments for inflation are included 
(and $607 million without such inflation adjustments).
    H.R. 1925 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA). 
State, local, and tribal governments would be eligible to 
receive grant funds authorized by the bill.
    Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated 
budgetary impact of H.R. 1925 is shown in Table 1. The costs of 
this legislation fall within budget functions 500 (education, 
training, employment, and social services) and 750 
(administration of justice).

 TABLE 1.--ESTIMATED BUDGETARY EFFECTS OF H.R. 1925, THE RUNAWAY, HOMELESS, AND MISSING CHILDREN PROTECTION ACT
                                                     OF 2003
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     By fiscal year, in millions of dollars--
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                                                   2003    2004    2005    2006    2007    2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION

                                         With Adjustments for Inflation

Spending Under Current Law:
    Budget Authority/Authorization Level \1\....................     138      39      40       0       0       0
    Estimated Outlays...........................................     128      79      40      32      16       2
Proposed Changes:
    Estimated Authorization Level...............................       0     121     123     166     169     172
    Estimated Outlays...........................................       0      63     116     132     151     168
Spending Under H.R. 1925:
    Estimated Authorization Level...............................     138     160     163     166     169     172
    Estimated Outlays...........................................     128     142     156     164     167     170

                                        Without Adjustments for Inflation

Spending Under Current Law:
    Budget Authority/Authorization Level \1\....................     138      39      39       0       0       0
    Estimated Outlays...........................................     128      79      40      31      16       2
Proposed Changes:
    Estimated Authorization Level...............................       0     120     120     160     160     160
    Estimated Outlays...........................................       0      63     114     128     144     158
Spending Under H.R. 1925:
    Estimated Authorization Level...............................     138     159     159     160     160     160
    Estimated Outlays...........................................     128     142     155     159     160     160
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The 2003 level is the amount appropriated for that year for programs authorized under the Runaway and
  Homeless Youth Act and the Missing Children Protection Act. The 2004 and 2005 levels are the amounts
  authorized for programs under the Missing Children Protection Act.

Note.--Components may not sum to totals because of rounding.

    Basis of estimate: H.R. 1925 would authorize funding 
through 2008 for various programs created under the Runaway and 
Homeless Youth Act and Missing Children Protection Acts. 
Programs authorized under the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act 
are currently authorized through 2003 and programs authorized 
under the Missing Children Protection Act are authorized 
through 2005.
    H.R. 1925 would authorize the appropriation of $121 million 
in 2004. CBO estimates that this bill would authorize total 
funding of $751 million over the 2004-2008 period assuming that 
``such sums'' amounts provided after 2004 are adjusted for 
inflation. If the authorized amounts are appropriated, outlays 
would increase by $63 million in the first year and by $630 
million over the five-year period.
    Table 2 presents CBO's estimates with adjustments for 
inflation for the various components of each title under H.R. 
1925. When the 2004 authorized amounts are specified, CBO's 
estimate of authorized levels is the amount for 2004 with those 
amounts adjusted for inflation in later years. When the 
programs are authorized at such sums as may be necessary in 
2004, the 2004 authorized amount is the 2003 appropriated 
amount adjusted for inflation. The estimated outlays reflect 
historical rates of spending for the affected programs.

Title I--Amendments to the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act

    Title I of H.R. 1925 would reauthorize and revise programs 
currently authorized under the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act. 
H.R. 1925 would authorize a total of $121 million for 2004 
programs under title I. CBO estimates the total funding for 
title I for the 2004-2008 period would be about $629 million, 
assuming adjustments for inflation, with resulting outlays of 
$558 million over those five years.
    Consolidated Runaway and Homeless Youth Program. H.R. 1925 
would authorize $105 million in 2004 and such sums as may be 
necessary in 2005 through 2008 for runaway and homeless youth 
programs. The programs provide grants to local, public, and 
private organizations to establish runaway and homeless youth 
shelters and provide services. There are two main runaway and 
homeless youth programs within the authorization. The basic 
centers program provides formula grants to states for 
organizations that provide temporary shelter, outreach and 
counseling services. The transitional living program provides 
longer term residential services to homeless youths ages 16-21. 
The maternity group homes component of the transitional living 
program funds community-based, adult-supervised group homes for 
young mothers and their children. The programs received a total 
of $90 million of funding in 2003.

  TABLE 2.--DETAILED EFFECTS OF H.R. 1925, THE RUNAWAY, HOMELESS, AND MISSING CHILDREN PROTECTION ACT OF 2003,
                                         WITH ADJUSTMENTS FOR INFLATION
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     By fiscal year, in millions of dollars--
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                                                   2003    2004    2005    2006    2007    2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION

Spending Under Current Law:
    Budget Authority/Authorization Level \1\....................     138      39      40       0       0       0
    Estimated Outlays...........................................     128      79      40      32      16       2
Proposed Changes:

    Title I--Amendments to the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act

Runaway and Homeless Youth Programs:
    Estimated Authorization Level...............................       0     105     107     109     112     114
    Estimated Outlays...........................................       0      55     101     107     110     113
Sexual Abuse Prevention:
    Estimated Authorization Level...............................       0      16      16      16      17      17
    Estimated Outlays...........................................       0       8      15      16      16      17
Subtotal, Title I:
    Estimated Authorization Level...............................       0     121     123     126     128     131
    Estimated Outlays...........................................       0      63     116     123     127     130

   Title II--Amendments to the Missing Children Assistance Act

National Center of Missing and Exploited Children:
    Authorization Level.........................................       0       0       0      20      20      20
    Estimated Outlays...........................................       0       0       0       4      12      19
Other Programs:
    Estimated Authorization Level...............................       0       0       0      20      21      21
    Estimated Outlays...........................................       0       0       0       4      12      20
Subtotal, Title II:
    Estimated Authorization Level...............................       0       0       0      40      41      41
    Estimated Outlays...........................................       0       0       0       9      24      39
Total Proposed Changes:
    Estimated Authorization Level...............................       0     121     123     166     169     172
    Estimated Outlays...........................................       0      63     116     132     151     168
Total Spending Under H.R. 1925:
    Estimated Authorization Level...............................     138     160     163     166     169     172
    Estimated Outlays...........................................     128     142     156     164     167     170
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The 2003 level is the amount appropriated for that year for programs authorized under the Runaway and
  Homeless Youth Act and the Missing Children Protection Act. The 2004 and 2005 levels are the amounts
  authorized for programs under the Missing Children Protection Act.

Notes.--Components may not sum to totals because of rounding.

    Education and Prevention Grants to Reduce Sexual Abuse of 
Runaway, Homeless, and Street Youth. H.R. 1925 also would 
authorize such sums as may be necessary in 2004 through 2008 
for treatment, counseling and referral for runaway and homeless 
youth who are being subjected to sexual abuse. CBO estimates 
the authorized amount would be about $16 million in 2004. The 
program is funded at $15 million in 2003.

Title II--Amendments to the Missing Children Protection Act

    Current law authorizes the appropriations of $20 million 
annually over the 2004-2005 period for the National Center for 
Missing and Exploited Children and such sums as may be 
necessary for each of 2004 and 2005 for other components of the 
Missing Children program. H.R. 1925 would authorize the 
appropriation of $20 million annually over the 2006-2008 period 
for the National Center and such sums as may be necessary for 
each of 2006 through 2008 for the other components of the 
Missing Children program.
    Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: H.R. 1925 
contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as 
defined in UMRA and would extend authorizations for grants in 
the Runaway and Homeless Youth program and the Missing Children 
program. Both nonprofit and public entities, including state, 
local, and tribal governments, would be eligible for grants in 
that program. Any requirements for receiving such grants would 
be conditions of assistance and therefore voluntary actions 
that would not be considered intergovernmental mandates as 
defined in UMRA.
    Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: Runaway and Homeless 
Youth: Donna Wong and Missing Children: Mark Grabowicz. Impact 
on State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Leo Lex. Impact on the 
Private Sector: Kate Bloniarz.
    Estimate approved by: Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant 
Director for Budget Analysis.

         Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives

    In accordance with Clause (3)(c) of House Rule XIII, the 
goal of H.R. 1925 reauthorizes programs under the Runaway and 
Homeless Youth Act and the Missing Children's Assistance Act 
through fiscal year 2008. H.R. 1925 strengthens the programs 
and services that address the problems and needs of runaway and 
homeless youth. The Act also continues federal support of 
programs that assist in the recovery of missing and exploited 
children. The Committee expects the Department of Health and 
Human Services to comply with H.R. 1925 and implement the 
changes to the law in accordance with the changes.

                   Constitutional Authority Statement

    Under clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 
of Representatives, the Committee must include a statement 
citing the specific powers granted to Congress in the 
Constitution to enact the law proposed by H.R. 1925. The 
Committee believes that the amendments made by this bill, which 
authorize appropriations for education assistance, are within 
Congress' authority under Article I, section 8, clause 1 of the 
Constitution.

                           Committee Estimate

    Clauses 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives requires an estimate and a comparison by the 
Committee of the costs that would be incurred in carrying out 
H.R. 1925. However, clause 3(d)(3)(B) of that rule provides 
that this requirement does not apply when the Committee has 
included in its report a timely submitted cost estimate of the 
bill prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget 
Office under section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act.

         Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported

  In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law 
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new 
matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is 
proposed is shown in roman):

JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION ACT OF 1974

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



                 TITLE III--RUNAWAY AND HOMELESS YOUTH


                              short title

    Sec. 301. This title may be cited as the ``Runaway and 
Homeless Youth Act''.

                               [findings

    [Sec. 302. The Congress hereby finds that--
          [(1) juveniles who have become homeless or who leave 
        and remain away from home without parental permission, 
        are at risk of developing serious health and other 
        problems because they lack sufficient resources to 
        obtain care and may live on the street for extended 
        periods thereby endangering themselves and creating a 
        substantial law enforcement problem for communities in 
        which they congregate;
          [(2) the exact nature of the problem is not well 
        defined because national statistics on the size and 
        profile of the runaway youth population are not 
        tabulated;
          [(3) many such young people, because of their age and 
        situation, are urgently in need of temporary shelter 
        and counseling services;
          [(4) the problem of locating, detaining, and 
        returning runaway children should not be the 
        responsibility of already overburdened police 
        departments and juvenile justice authorities;
          [(5) in view of the interstate nature of the problem, 
        it is the responsibility of the Federal Government to 
        develop an accurate national reporting system to report 
        the problem, and to assist in the development of an 
        effective system of care (including preventive 
        services, emergency shelter services, and extended 
        residential shelter) outside the welfare system and the 
        law enforcement system;
          [(6) runaway and homeless youth have a 
        disproportionate share of health, behavioral, and 
        emotional problems compared to the general population 
        of youth, but have less access to health care and other 
        appropriate services and therefore may need access to 
        longer periods of residential care, more intensive 
        aftercare service, and other assistance;
          [(7) to make a successful transition to adulthood, 
        runaway youth, homeless youth, and other street youth 
        need opportunities to complete high school or earn a 
        general equivalency degree, learn job skills, and 
        obtain employment;
          [(8) services for runaway and homeless youth are 
        needed in urban, suburban, and rural areas;
          [(9) early intervention services (such as home-based 
        services) are needed to prevent runaway and homeless 
        youth from becoming involved in the juvenile justice 
        system and other law enforcement systems; and
          [(10) street-based services that target runaway and 
        homeless youth where they congregate are needed to 
        reach youth who require assistance but who would not 
        otherwise avail themselves of such assistance or 
        services without street-based outreach.]

SEC. 302. FINDINGS.

  The Congress finds that--
          (1) youth who have become homeless or who leave and 
        remain away from home without parental permission, are 
        at risk of developing, and have a disproportionate 
        share of, serious health, behavioral, and emotional 
        problems because they lack sufficient resources to 
        obtain care and may live on the street for extended 
        periods thereby endangering themselves and creating a 
        substantial law enforcement problem for communities in 
        which they congregate;
          (2) many such young people, because of their age and 
        situation, are urgently in need of temporary shelter 
        and services, including services that are 
        linguistically appropriate and acknowledge the 
        environment of youth seeking these services;
          (3) in view of the interstate nature of the problem, 
        it is the responsibility of the Federal Government to 
        develop an accurate national reporting system to report 
        the problem, and to assist in the development of an 
        effective system of care (including preventive and 
        aftercare services, emergency shelter services, 
        extended residential shelter, and street outreach 
        services) outside the welfare system and the law 
        enforcement system;
          (4) to make a successful transition to adulthood, 
        runaway youth, homeless youth, and other street youth 
        need opportunities to complete high school or earn a 
        general equivalency degree, learn job skills, and 
        obtain employment; and
          (5) improved coordination and collaboration between 
        the Federal programs that serve runaway and homeless 
        youth are necessary for the development of a long-term 
        strategy for responding to the needs of this 
        population.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


    Part A--[Runaway and Homeless Youth] Basic Center Grant Program

                        AUTHORITY TO MAKE GRANTS

    Sec. 311. (a) Grants for Centers and Services.--
          (1) * * *
          (2) Services provided.--Services provided under 
        paragraph (1)--
                  (A) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

                  (C) may include--
                          (i) * * *
                          (ii) home-based services for families 
                        with youth at risk of separation from 
                        the family; [and]
                          (iii) drug abuse education and 
                        prevention services[.]; and
                          (iv) at the request of runaway and 
                        homeless youth, testing for sexually 
                        transmitted diseases.
    (b)(1) * * *
    (2) [Subject to paragraph (3), the] The amount allotted 
under paragraph (1) with respect to each State for a fiscal 
year shall be not less than $100,000, except that the amount 
allotted to the Virgin Islands of the United States, Guam, 
American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands shall be not less than $45,000 each.
    [(3) If, as a result of paragraph (2), the amount allotted 
under paragraph (1) with respect to a State for a fiscal year 
would be less than the aggregate amount of grants made under 
this part to recipients in such State for fiscal year 1992, 
then the amounts allotted to satisfy the requirements of such 
paragraph shall be reduced pro rata to the extent necessary to 
allot under paragraph (1) with respect to such State for the 
fiscal year an amount equal to the aggregate amount of grants 
made under this part to recipients in such State for fiscal 
year 1992.]
    [(4)] (3) In selecting among applicants for grants under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall give priority to private 
entities that have experience in providing the services 
described in such subsection.

                              eligibility

    Sec. 312. (a) To be eligible for assistance under section 
311(a), an applicant shall propose to establish, strengthen, or 
fund an existing or proposed runaway and homeless youth center, 
a locally controlled project (including a host family home) 
that provides temporary shelter, and counseling services to 
[juveniles] youth who have left home without permission of 
their parents or guardians or to other homeless [juveniles] 
youth.
    (b) In order to qualify for assistance under section 
311(a), an applicant shall submit a plan to the Secretary 
including assurances that the applicant--
          (1) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

          (4) shall develop an adequate plan for ensuring--
                  (A) * * *
                  (B) coordination with [personnel of the 
                schools to which runaway and homeless youth 
                will return, to assist such youth to stay 
                current with the curricula of those schools;] 
                McKinney-Vento school district liaisons, 
                designated under section 722(g)(1)(J)(ii) of 
                the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 
                U.S.C. 11432 (g)(1)(J)(ii)), to assure that 
                runaway and homeless youth are provided 
                information about the educational services 
                available to such youth under subtitle B of 
                title VII of that Act; and

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


                              ELIGIBILITY

    Sec. 322. (a) To be eligible for assistance under this 
part, an applicant shall propose to establish, strengthen, or 
fund a transitional living youth project for homeless youth and 
shall submit to the Secretary a plan in which such applicant 
agrees, as part of such project--
          (1) to provide, directly or indirectly, shelter (such 
        as group homes, including maternity group homes, host 
        family homes, and supervised apartments) and services 
        (including information and counseling services in basic 
        life skills which shall include money management, 
        budgeting, consumer education, and use of credit, 
        parenting skills (as appropriate), interpersonal skill 
        building, educational advancement, job attainment 
        skills, and mental and physical health care) to 
        homeless youth;
          (2) to provide such shelter and such services to 
        individual homeless youth throughout a continuous 
        period not to exceed 540 days, except that a youth in a 
        program under this part who is under the age of 18 
        years on the last day of the 540-day period may, if 
        otherwise qualified for the program, remain in the 
        program until the earlier of the youth's 18th birthday 
        or the 180th day after the end of the 540-day period;

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

          [(7) to develop an adequate plan to ensure proper 
        referral of homeless youth to social service, law 
        enforcement, educational, vocational, training, 
        welfare, legal service, and health care programs and to 
        help integrate and coordinate such services for 
        youths;]
          (7) to develop an adequate plan to ensure proper 
        referral of homeless youth to social service, law 
        enforcement, educational (including post-secondary 
        education), vocational, training (including services 
        and programs for youth available under the Workforce 
        Investment Act of 1998), welfare (including programs 
        under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity 
        Reconciliation Act of 1996), legal service, and health 
        care programs and to help integrate and coordinate such 
        services for youths;

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

          (13) not to disclose records maintained on individual 
        homeless youth without the informed consent of the 
        individual youth to anyone other than an agency 
        compiling statistical records; [and]
          (14) to provide to the Secretary such other 
        information as the Secretary may reasonably require[.]; 
        and
          (15) to coordinate services with McKinney-Vento 
        school district liaisons, designated under section 
        722(g)(1)(J)(ii) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
        Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11432(g)(1)(J)(ii)), to 
        assure that runaway and homeless youth are provided 
        information about the educational services available to 
        such youth under subtitle B of title VII of that Act.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

  (c) Definition.--In this part, the term ``maternity group 
home'' means a community-based, adult-supervised transitional 
living arrangement that provides pregnant or parenting youth 
and their children with a supportive and supervised living 
arrangement in which such pregnant or parenting youth are 
required to learn parenting skills, including child 
development, family budgeting, health and nutrition, and other 
skills to promote their long-term economic independence in 
order to ensure the well-being of their children.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


     Part D--Coordinating, Training, Research, and Other Activities

SEC. 341. COORDINATION.

  With respect to matters relating to the health, education, 
employment, and housing of runaway and homeless youth, the 
Secretary--
          (1) in conjunction with the Attorney General, shall 
        coordinate the activities of agencies of the Department 
        of Health and Human Services with activities under any 
        other Federal juvenile crime control, prevention, and 
        juvenile offender accountability program and with the 
        activities of other Federal entities; [and]
          (2) shall coordinate the activities of agencies of 
        the Department of Health and Human Services with the 
        activities of other Federal entities and with the 
        activities of entities that are eligible to receive 
        grants under this title[.]; and
          (3) shall consult, as appropriate, the Secretary of 
        Housing and Urban Development to ensure coordination of 
        programs and services for homeless youth.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


 AUTHORITY TO MAKE GRANTS FOR RESEARCH, EVALUATION, DEMONSTRATION, AND 
                            SERVICE PROJECTS

  Sec. 343. (a) The Secretary may make grants to States, 
localities, and private entities (and combinations of such 
entities) to carry out research, evaluation, demonstration, and 
service projects regarding activities under this title designed 
to increase knowledge concerning, and to improve services for, 
runaway youth and homeless youth.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


  [TEMPORARY] DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO YOUTH IN 
                              RURAL AREAS

  Sec. 344. (a) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


[SEC. 345. STUDY.

  [The Secretary shall conduct a study of a representative 
sample of runaways to determine the percent who leave home 
because of sexual abuse. The report on the study shall 
include--
          [(1) in the case of sexual abuse, the relationship of 
        the assaulter to the runaway; and
          [(2) recommendations on how Federal laws may be 
        changed to reduce sexual assaults on children.
The study shall be completed to enable the Secretary to make a 
report to the committees of Congress with jurisdiction over 
this Act, and to make such report available to the public, 
within one year of the date of the enactment of this section.]

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


Part F--General Provisions

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 387. DEFINITIONS.

  In this title:
          (1) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

          (3) Homeless youth.--The term ``homeless youth'' 
        means an individual--
                  (A) who is--
                          (i) not more than 21 years of age, 
                        or, in the case of a youth seeking 
                        shelter in a center under part A, not 
                        more than 18 years of age; and

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 388. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

  (a) In General.--
          (1) Authorization.--There is authorized to be 
        appropriated to carry out this title (other than part 
        E) such [sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 
        2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003] $105,000,000 for fiscal 
        year 2004, and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal 
        years 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008.
          (2) Allocation.--
                  (A) * * *
                  (B) Part b.--Of the amount reserved under 
                subparagraph (A), [not less than 20 percent, 
                and not more than 30 percent] 45 percent and, 
                in those fiscal years in which continuation 
                grant obligations and the quality and number of 
                applicants for parts A and B warrant not more 
                than 55 percent, shall be reserved to carry out 
                part B.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

          (4) Part e.--There is authorized to be appropriated 
        to carry out part E such sums as may be necessary for 
        fiscal years [2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003] 2004, 2005, 
        2006, 2007, and 2008.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 389. RESTRICTION ON USE OF FUNDS.

  (a) In General.--None of the funds contained in this title 
may be used for any program of distributing sterile needles or 
syringes for the hypodermic injection of any illegal drug.
  (b) Separate Accounting.--Any individual or entity who 
receives any funds contained in this title and who carries out 
any program described in subsection (a) shall account for all 
funds used for such program separately from any funds contained 
in this title.

                       TITLE IV--MISSING CHILDREN

                              SHORT TITLE

    Sec. 401. This title may be cited as the ``Missing 
Children's Assistance Act''.

                               [FINDINGS

    [Sec. 402. The Congress hereby finds that--
          [(1) each year thousands of children are abducted or 
        removed from the control of a parent having legal 
        custody without such parent's consent, under 
        circumstances which immediately place them in grave 
        danger;
          [(2) many of these children are never reunited with 
        their families;
          [(3) often there are no clues to the whereabouts of 
        these children;
          [(4) many missing children are at great risk of both 
        physical harm and sexual exploitation;
          [(5) in many cases, parents and local law enforcement 
        officials have neither the resources nor the expertise 
        to mount expanded search efforts;
          [(6) abducted children are frequently moved from one 
        locality to another, requiring the cooperation and 
        coordination of local, State, and Federal law 
        enforcement efforts;
          [(7) on frequent occasions, law enforcement 
        authorities quickly exhaust all leads in missing 
        children cases, and require assistance from distant 
        communities where the child may be located;
          [(8) Federal assistance is urgently needed to 
        coordinate and assist in this interstate problem;
          [(9) for 14 years, the National Center for Missing 
        and Exploited Children has--
                  [(A) served as the national resource center 
                and clearinghouse congressionally mandated 
                under the provisions of the Missing Children's 
                Assistance Act of 1984; and
                  [(B) worked in partnership with the 
                Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of 
                Investigation, the Department of the Treasury, 
                the Department of State, and many other 
                agencies in the effort to find missing children 
                and prevent child victimization;
          [(10) Congress has given the Center, which is a 
        private nonprofit corporation, access to the National 
        Crime Information Center of the Federal Bureau of 
        Investigation, and the National Law Enforcement 
        Telecommunications System;
          [(11) since 1987, the Center has operated the 
        National Child Pornography Tipline, in conjunction with 
        the United States Customs Service and the United States 
        Postal Inspection Service and, beginning this year, the 
        Center established a new CyberTipline on child 
        exploitation, thus becoming ``the 911 for the 
        Internet'';
          [(12) in light of statistics that time is of the 
        essence in cases of child abduction, the Director of 
        the Federal Bureau of Investigation in February of 1997 
        created a new NCIC child abduction (``CA'') flag to 
        provide the Center immediate notification in the most 
        serious cases, resulting in 642 ``CA'' notifications to 
        the Center and helping the Center to have its highest 
        recovery rate in history;
          [(13) the Center has established a national and 
        increasingly worldwide network, linking the Center 
        online with each of the missing children clearinghouses 
        operated by the 50 States, the District of Columbia, 
        and Puerto Rico, as well as with Scotland Yard in the 
        United Kingdom, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, 
        INTERPOL headquarters in Lyon, France, and others, 
        which has enabled the Center to transmit images and 
        information regarding missing children to law 
        enforcement across the United States and around the 
        world instantly;
          [(14) from its inception in 1984 through March 31, 
        1998, the Center has--
                  [(A) handled 1,203,974 calls through its 24-
                hour toll-free hotline (1-800-THE-LOST) and 
                currently averages 700 calls per day;
                  [(B) trained 146,284 law enforcement, 
                criminal and juvenile justice, and healthcare 
                professionals in child sexual exploitation and 
                missing child case detection, identification, 
                investigation, and prevention;
                  [(C) disseminated 15,491,344 free 
                publications to citizens and professionals; and
                  [(D) worked with law enforcement on the cases 
                of 59,481 missing children, resulting in the 
                recovery of 40,180 children;
          [(15) the demand for the services of the Center is 
        growing dramatically, as evidenced by the fact that in 
        1997, the Center handled 129,100 calls, an all-time 
        record, and by the fact that its new Internet website 
        (www.missingkids.com) receives 1,500,000 ``hits'' every 
        day, and is linked with hundreds of other websites to 
        provide real-time images of breaking cases of missing 
        children;
          [(16) in 1997, the Center provided policy training to 
        256 police chiefs and sheriffs from 50 States and Guam 
        at its new Jimmy Ryce Law Enforcement Training Center;
          [(17) the programs of the Center have had a 
        remarkable impact, such as in the fight against infant 
        abductions in partnership with the healthcare industry, 
        during which the Center has performed 668 onsite 
        hospital walk-throughs and inspections, and trained 
        45,065 hospital administrators, nurses, and security 
        personnel, and thereby helped to reduce infant 
        abductions in the United States by 82 percent;
          [(18) the Center is now playing a significant role in 
        international child abduction cases, serving as a 
        representative of the Department of State at cases 
        under The Hague Convention, and successfully resolving 
        the cases of 343 international child abductions, and 
        providing greater support to parents in the United 
        States;
          [(19) the Center is a model of public/private 
        partnership, raising private sector funds to match 
        congressional appropriations and receiving extensive 
        private in-kind support, including advanced technology 
        provided by the computer industry such as imaging 
        technology used to age the photographs of long-term 
        missing children and to reconstruct facial images of 
        unidentified deceased children;
          [(20) the Center was 1 of only 10 of 300 major 
        national charities given an A+ grade in 1997 by the 
        American Institute of Philanthropy; and
          [(21) the Center has been redesignated as the 
        Nation's missing children clearinghouse and resource 
        center once every 3 years through a competitive 
        selection process conducted by the Office of Juvenile 
        Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the Department of 
        Justice, and has received grants from that Office to 
        conduct the crucial purposes of the Center.]

SEC. 402. FINDINGS.

  The Congress finds that--
          (1) each year thousands of children are abducted or 
        removed from the control of a parent having legal 
        custody without such parent's consent, under 
        circumstances which immediately place the child in 
        grave danger;
          (2) many missing children are at great risk of both 
        physical harm and sexual exploitation;
          (3) in many cases, parents and local law enforcement 
        officials have neither the resources nor the expertise 
        to mount expanded search efforts;
          (4) abducted children are frequently moved from one 
        locality to another, requiring the cooperation and 
        coordination of local, State, and Federal law 
        enforcement efforts;
          (5) the National Center for Missing and Exploited 
        Children--
                  (A) serves as the national resource center 
                and clearinghouse;
                  (B) works in partnership with the Department 
                of Justice, the Federal Bureau of 
                Investigation, the Department of the Treasury, 
                the Department of State, and many other 
                agencies in the effort to find missing children 
                and prevent child victimization; and
                  (C) operates a national and increasingly 
                worldwide network, linking the Center online 
                with each of the missing children 
                clearinghouses operated by the 50 States, the 
                District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, as well 
                as with Scotland Yard in the United Kingdom, 
                the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, INTERPOL 
                headquarters in Lyon, France, and others, which 
                enable the Center to transmit images and 
                information regarding missing children to law 
                enforcement across the United States and around 
                the world instantly.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


               DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS OF THE ADMINISTRATOR

    Sec. 404. (a) * * *
  (b) Annual Grant to National Center for Missing and Exploited 
Children.--
          (1) * * *
          (2) Authorization of appropriations.--There is 
        authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator to 
        carry out this subsection, $20,000,000 for each of the 
        fiscal years 2004 through [2005] 2008.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


                    AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS

    Sec. 408. (a) In General.--To carry out the provisions of 
this title, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums 
as may be necessary for fiscal years 2004 through [2005.] 2008.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


                            ADDITIONAL VIEWS

    The Grijalva Amendment to H.R. 1925 authorized $50 million 
for health care coverage for runaway and homeless youth. While 
the Minority agrees that these youth are eligible for Medicaid, 
it has been demonstrated that there remains a high need, but 
low utilization of medical, mental, and substance abuse 
treatment among homeless youth.\1\ In most states, homeless 
minors may consent to treatment for mental health, alcohol and 
substance abuse, and sexually transmitted diseases,\2\ yet a 
number of barriers limit their access to the health care 
system.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ Farrow, J.A., Deischer, M.D., Brown, M.D., Kulig, M.D. & Kipke, 
M.D. (1992). Health and Health Needs of Runaway and Homeless Youth. 
Journal of Adolescent Health, 13: 717-726.
    Johnson, T.P., Aschkenasy, J.R., Herbers, M.R., & Gillenwater, S.A. 
(1993). Self-Reported Risk Factors for AIDS Among Homeless Youth. 
Annual Meeting of the Society for Pediatric Research, Washington, D.C.
    Kennedy, M.R. (1991). Homeless and Runaway Youth Mental Health 
Issues: No Access to the System. Journal of Adolescent Health, 12: 576-
579.
    \2\ Kennedy et al. (1990).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The barriers for homeless youth to access health care 
services are programmatic as well as symptomatic of the 
homeless youth community. While temporary shelter programs 
offer referral, counseling and even transportation to health 
services, they are not required to have Medicaid eligibility 
workers on site to facilitate enrollment. Complex eligibility, 
document requirements and ineffective communication between 
applicants and the service system have all been cited as 
reasons why Medicaid is not enrolling all of the persons 
currently eligible to be enrolled.\3\ These same reasons apply 
to homeless youth who have the added burden of their age and 
concentration of health problems as a result of their housing 
status.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \3\ Robertson, Marjorie J., Ph.D. and Toro, Paul, Ph.D. (1999). 
Homeless Youth: Research, Intervention and Policy, In Linda Fosburg and 
Deborah Dennis (Eds.), Practical Lessons, the 1998 National Symposium 
on Homelessness Research, Washington, D.C.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The Grijalva Amendment would have enabled providers of 
services to homeless and runaway youth a means for assisting 
youth in overcoming these barriers. Youth in unstable living 
arrangements find difficulty keeping appointments and receiving 
follow-up care. Another significant barrier to accessing health 
care is youth's mistrust of health care professionals in formal 
settings.\4\ Emergency shelters and low-demand drop-in centers 
often serve as intervention sites where youth can be connected 
to health care services. The shelters and centers funded 
through the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act represent the front 
line resource for services to runaway and homeless youth and 
are uniquely familiar with the challenges these youth face. The 
ability of these centers and shelters to serve as a front-end 
to the established health care systems such as Medicaid would 
have greatly improved services for these vulnerable youth.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \4\ Kennedy et al. (1990).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Raul M. Grijalva.

                                
