Version	Word Count	Changes From Previous Version	Percent Change
Introduced in House	869	n/a	n/a
Engrossed in House	862	3	11%
Referred in Senate	857	5 Show Changes Hide Changes	7%

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HR 1824 EHRFSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

111th CONGRESSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

1st SessionCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

H. R. 1824CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

AN ACTCommentsClose 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 2009’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

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





(1) Best Buddies operates the first national social and recreational program in the United States for people with intellectual disabilities.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 promoting meaningful friendships between them and 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 1-to-1 friendships and integrated employment.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) Best Buddies is an international organization spanning 1,300 middle school, high school, and college campuses.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) Best Buddies implements programs that will positively impact more than 400,000 individuals in 2009 and expects to impact 500,000 people by 2010.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) The Best Buddies Middle Schools program matches middle school students with intellectual disabilities with other middle school students and supports 1-to-1 friendships between them.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(8) The Best Buddies High Schools program matches high school students with intellectual disabilities with other high school students and supports 1-to-1 friendships between them.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(9) The Best Buddies Colleges program matches adults with intellectual disabilities with college students and creates 1-to-1 friendships between them.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





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





(11) The Best Buddies Citizens program pairs adults with intellectual disabilities in 1-to-1 friendships with other individuals in the corporate and civic communities.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(12) The Best Buddies Jobs program promotes the integration of people with intellectual disabilities into the community through supported employment.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 contributions 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 activities to promote the expansion of Best Buddies, including activities to increase the participation of people with intellectual disabilities in social relationships and other aspects of community life, including education and employment, within the United States.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 5 percent of amounts appropriated to carry out this Act for a fiscal year 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 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 under the grant, contract, or cooperative agreement.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





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





(b) Annual Report-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- As a condition of 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 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 to the Secretary of Education for grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements under section 3(a), $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Passed the House of Representatives April 22, 2009.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Attest:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Clerk.

111th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1824

AN ACT

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

Clerk.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink