HR 4898 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To provide assistance to Best Buddies to support the expansion and development of mentoring programs, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

December 19, 2007

Mr. HOYER (for himself and Mr. BLUNT) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and LaborCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To provide assistance to Best Buddies to support the expansion and development of mentoring programs, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Best Buddies Empowerment for People with Intellectual Disabilities Act of 2007'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

(a) Findings- Congress finds the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) Best Buddies is the first national social and recreational program in the United States for people with mental retardation.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) Best Buddies is dedicated to helping people with intellectual disabilities become part of mainstream society.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) Best Buddies is determined to end social isolation for people with intellectual disabilities by establishing meaningful friendships with their non-disabled peers in order to help increase the self-esteem, confidence, and abilities of people with and without intellectual disabilities.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) Since 1989, Best Buddies has enhanced the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) Best Buddies is an international organization spanning 1300 middle school, high school, and college campuses.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) The Best Buddies organization implements programs that will positively impact more than 350,000 individuals this year and expect to be able to reach 500,000 people by 2010.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) The Best Buddies Jobs program continues the integration of people with intellectual disabilities into the community through supported employment.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(8) The Best Buddies Citizens program pairs people with mental retardation in one-to-one friendships with other individuals in the corporate and civic communities.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(9) The Best Buddies Colleges program pairs people with mental retardation in one-to-one friendships with college students.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(10) The Best Buddies High Schools program pairs students with mental retardation in one-to-one friendships with high school students.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(11) The Best Buddies e-Buddies program creates respective e-mail friendships between people with and without intellectual disabilities.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Purpose- The purposes of this Act are to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) provide support to Best Buddies to increase participation in and public awareness about Best Buddies programs that serve people with intellectual disabilities;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) dispel negative stereotypes about people with intellectual disabilities; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) promote the extraordinary gifts of people with intellectual disabilities.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. ASSISTANCE FOR BEST BUDDIES.

(a) Education Activities- The Secretary of Education may award grants to, or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with, Best Buddies to carry out the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) Activities to promote the expansion of Best Buddies, including activities to increase the participation of individuals with intellectual disabilities within the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) The design and implementation of Best Buddies education and outreach programs, including character education and volunteer programs that support the purposes of this Act, that can be integrated into classroom instruction and are consistent with academic content standards.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Limitations-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Amounts appropriated to carry out this Act may not be used for direct treatment of diseases, medical conditions, or mental health conditions.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITIES- Not more than three percent of amounts appropriated to carry out this Act may be used for administrative activities.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Rule of Construction- Nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit the use of non-Federal funds by Best Buddies.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. APPLICATION AND ANNUAL REPORT.

(a) Application-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- To be eligible for a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under section 3(a), Best Buddies shall submit an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary of Education or Secretary of State, as applicable, may require.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) CONTENT- At a minimum, an application under this subsection shall contain the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) A description of activities to be carried out with the grant, contract, or cooperative agreement.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) Information on specific measurable goals and objectives to be achieved through activities carried out with the grant, contract, or cooperative agreement.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Annual Report-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- As a condition on receipt of any funds under section 3(a), Best Buddies shall agree to submit an annual report at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary of Education or Secretary of State, as applicable, may require.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) CONTENT- At a minimum, each annual report under this subsection shall describe the degree to which progress has been made toward meeting the specific measurable goals and objectives described in the applications submitted under subsection (a).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There are authorized to be appropriated for grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements under section 3(a), $10,000,000 to the Secretary of Education for fiscal year 2009, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the four succeeding fiscal years.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 6. BUDGET NEUTRAL.

The following provisions of law are hereby repealed:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) Section 5523 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7265b).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) Section 5533 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7267b).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink