America's Fund for Future Opportunities and Outcomes in the United States Act of 2013 or the America's FOCUS Act of 2013 - Establishes a separate account in the U.S. Treasury to be known as the America's FOCUS Fund, into which shall be deposited: (1) revenue generated by civil and criminal fines and penalties for violations or alleged violations of federal law; (2) revenue generated by legal settlements reached between corporations and the federal government for violations or alleged violations of federal law; and (3) gifts, bequests, or donations to the Fund from private entities or individuals.
Requires that, of the total revenue in the Fund: (1) up to 33% be used to award grants for youth mentoring and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education; (2) up to 33% be used to award grants for justice reinvestment; (3) up to 33% be used to award grants and prizes for innovations in medical research and development; and (4) the remaining revenue be used to reduce the federal budget deficit or, if there is no deficit, to reduce the federal debt.
Directs the Secretary of Education to award the grants for youth mentoring programs, and the Associate Administrator for Education for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to award the grants for STEM education programs, to: (1) national non-profit, community-based organizations with at least two years of experience in administering such programs; and (2) state or local governments.
Requires that, of the funds available for justice reinvestment, the Department of Justice (DOJ): (1) award 50% to state and local governments for justice reinvestment projects, (2) use up to 25% of the funds to support federal justice reinvestment projects, and (3) allocate up to 25% of the funds to grant programs established under the Second Chance Act within DOJ.
Requires the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to use the revenue designated for medical innovation to fund entities that conduct innovative medical research and development. Authorizes the Director to use up to 15% of those funds to award monetary prizes to entities that have used their own funding and research facilities to produce innovative results.
Requires that the grant funds be used to supplement, not supplant, other federal, state, and local funds designated to carry out those activities.
[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3580 Introduced in House (IH)]
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3580
To require the Secretary of the Treasury to use revenue generated by
certain fines, penalties, and settlements that are not designated for
restitution or any other purpose to fund evidence-based youth mentoring
projects, justice reinvestment efforts, and innovations in medical
research and development.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 21, 2013
Mr. Fattah introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on
Education and the Workforce, Science, Space, and Technology, and Energy
and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of the Treasury to use revenue generated by
certain fines, penalties, and settlements that are not designated for
restitution or any other purpose to fund evidence-based youth mentoring
projects, justice reinvestment efforts, and innovations in medical
research and development.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``America's Fund for Future
Opportunities and Outcomes in the United States Act of 2013'' or
``America's FOCUS Act of 2013''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The United States faces increasing competition from
countries with populations of a billion or more inhabitants,
who contribute to the human capital of these countries and
improve their performance in the global economy.
(2) To ensure that the United States retains its leadership
position in the global economy, the United States should
maximize the opportunities and outcomes of its citizenry.
(3) The United States can achieve this goal by investing in
STEM education and character development for youth, justice
reinvestment efforts, and innovations in medical research and
development.
(4) To fund these investments in the public interest, the
United States should use revenue generated by acts perpetrated
against the public interest.
(5) As corporate and financial wrongdoing touches the lives
of all Americans, revenue generated by such acts should serve
as the basis for these investments.
(6) This revenue should be used to assist programs and
organizations seeking to better the Nation through their work
in the youth mentoring, justice reinvestment, and medical
research fields.
(7) In 1998, Congress issued Federal charters to the Boys
and Girls Clubs of America and Big Brothers Big Sisters of
America in recognition of their work helping children reach
their full potential and succeed in American public life. Youth
mentoring organizations still carry out this work and are
putting children on the path to self-sufficiency. These
organizations include--
(A) the Boys and Girls Clubs of America;
(B) Big Brothers Big Sisters of America;
(C) National CARES Mentoring Movement;
(D) the First Tee;
(E) Amachi;
(F) FIRST Robotics;
(G) the U.S. DREAM Academy;
(H) GEAR UP;
(I) the YMCA;
(J) Civil Air Patrol;
(K) the National Council of Youth Sports;
(L) Girls Inc.; and
(M) National Urban League.
(8) Innovations in medical research and development
significantly benefit the American people. For example, through
innovations in the diagnosis and treatment of life-threatening
diseases, Americans are now living longer and more productive
lives, contributing to the economic growth of the United
States. Additional investments in medical research and
development will contribute to overall public health and
productivity in America.
(9) Through participation in the Justice Reinvestment
Initiative, State governments have implemented evidence-based
criminal justice reforms. These reforms are cost effective,
redirecting revenue to better serve the public safety needs of
local communities. In addition, these reforms have decreased
risks of recidivism and instituted alternatives to
incarceration for non-violent offenders. According to a July
2013 report from the Urban Institute, States participating in
the Justice Reinvestment Initiative may achieve $3.3 billion in
savings over the next 10 years. Additional funding to the
Initiative would better enable State and local governments to
carry out this work and achieve these savings.
SEC. 3. AMERICA'S FOCUS FUND.
(a) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury a separate
account to be known as the America's FOCUS Fund (hereafter in this Act
referred to as the ``Fund'').
(b) Revenue Deposited in Fund.--Except as provided in subsection
(c), the Secretary of the Treasury shall deposit in the Fund--
(1) all revenue generated by civil and criminal fines and
penalties for the violation or alleged violation of Federal
law;
(2) all revenue generated by legal settlements reached
between corporations and the Federal Government for the
violation or alleged violation of Federal law; and
(3) any gift, bequest, or donation to the Fund from a
private entity or individual, if such gift, bequest, or
donation does not attach any condition inconsistent with
Federal law or regulations.
(c) Exceptions.--The Secretary may not deposit in the Fund--
(1) revenue designated for deposit in the Crime Victims
Fund established by section 1402 of the Victims of Crime Act of
1984 (42 U.S.C. 10601); or
(2) revenue that has been designated by Federal law or
court order for deposit in a fund other than the General Fund.
(d) Use of Funds.--
(1) In general.--Revenue in the Fund shall be used for the
following purposes:
(A) Youth mentoring grants.--Not more than 33
percent of the total revenue in the Fund as calculated
on a quarterly basis shall be used to award grants for
evidence-based youth mentoring and STEM education, in
the manner provided in section 4.
(B) Justice reinvestment grants.--Not more than 33
percent of the total revenue in the Fund as calculated
on a quarterly basis shall be used to award grants for
evidence-based justice reinvestment, in the manner
provided in section 5.
(C) Medical innovation grants.--Not more than 33
percent of the total revenue in the Fund as calculated
on a quarterly basis shall be used to award grants and
prizes for innovations in medical research and
development, in the manner provided in section 6.
(D) Reducing the federal debt.--The Secretary shall
use the remaining revenue for Federal budget deficit
reduction or, if there is no Federal budget deficit for
the fiscal year, for reducing the Federal debt in such
manner as the Secretary considers appropriate.
(2) Requirement to supplement, not supplant other funds.--
Grant funds awarded under this Act shall be used to supplement,
and not supplant, other Federal, State, and local funds
designated to carry out the activities funded by the grants.
(e) Retention of Sums in Fund.--Sums deposited in the Fund shall
remain in the Fund and be available for expenditure for grants under
this Act without fiscal year limitation.
SEC. 4. YOUTH MENTORING GRANTS.
(a) In General.--
(1) Youth mentoring grants.--The Secretary of Education, in
cooperation with the Federal Mentoring Council, shall award
grants to eligible entities that provide evidence-based youth
mentoring programs, using the revenue designated for such
purpose in subparagraph (A) of section 3(d)(1).
(2) STEM education grants.--The Associate Administrator for
Education for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
shall award grants to eligible entities that offer STEM
education to individuals under the age of 21, using the revenue
designated for such purpose in subparagraph (A) of section
3(d)(1).
(b) Eligible Entity.--An entity is eligible for a grant under this
section if it is--
(1) a national non-profit, community-based organization
with at least 2 years of experience in administering STEM
education programs or youth mentoring programs; or
(2) a State or local government.
(c) Application.--An entity seeking to receive a grant under this
section shall submit an application at such time and in such form as
the Secretary may reasonably require.
(d) Distribution of Funds.--Of the funds available under this
section, 25 percent shall be allocated for the award of grants to State
and local governments.
(e) Use of Funds.--
(1) State and local governments.--
(A) In general.--A State or local government that
receives a grant under this section shall distribute
the grant funds to non-profit, community-based
organizations and local educational agencies within the
jurisdiction of such government that provide evidence-
based mentoring or STEM education to individuals under
the age of 21.
(B) Funds reserved for vulnerable youth.--A State
or local government that receives grant funds under
this section shall allocate not less than 50 percent of
such funds for distribution to organizations described
in subparagraph (A) that provide evidence-based
mentoring or STEM education to vulnerable youth.
(2) Other entities.--
(A) In general.--An organization other than a State
or local government that receives a grant under this
section shall use the grant funds to establish or
expand one or more programs that provide evidence-based
mentoring or STEM education to individuals under the
age of 21.
(B) Funds reserved for persistent poverty
counties.--An organization other than a State or local
government that receives grant funds under this section
shall allocate not less than 10 percent of such funds
for programs that provide evidence-based mentoring or
STEM education in persistent poverty counties.
(f) Annual Award of Grants.--To the extent funds are available, the
grants under this section shall be awarded at least once during each
fiscal year, with the first grants to be awarded within 90 days after
the date of the enactment of this Act.
(g) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) STEM education program.--The term ``STEM education
program'' means a program to educate students in one or more of
the following disciplines: science, technology, engineering, or
mathematics.
(2) Persistent poverty counties.--The term ``persistent
poverty counties'' means any county that has had 20 percent or
more of its population living in poverty over the past 30
years, as measured by the 1990, 2000, and 2010 decennial
censuses.
(3) Vulnerable youth.--The term ``vulnerable youth''
includes individuals under the age of 21--
(A) who experience emotional and adjustment
problems;
(B) who have left or are at risk of leaving
secondary school without a diploma;
(C) who lack the skills to succeed in the workforce
after graduation;
(D) who live in an unstable family or community
environment;
(E) who are involved in the juvenile justice
system;
(F) who are homeless or live in foster care;
(G) who have physical or mental disabilities;
(H) who receive special education;
(I) who are or have been victims of human
trafficking; or
(J) who live in neighborhoods with high rates of
illegal drug use.
SEC. 5. JUSTICE REINVESTMENT GRANTS.
(a) In General.--The Attorney General shall use the revenue
designated for justice reinvestment grants in subparagraph (B) of
section 3(d)(1) to fund evidence-based justice reinvestment projects as
part of the Justice Reinvestment Initiative and programs established
under the Second Chance Act within the Department of Justice.
(b) Use of Funds.--
(1) State and local governments.--
(A) In general.--Except as provided in paragraphs
(2) and (3), 50 percent of the funds under this section
shall be used to award grants to State and local
governments for evidence-based justice reinvestment
projects.
(B) Funds reserved for persistent poverty
counties.--The Attorney General shall allocate not less
than 10 percent of such funds for projects that support
persistent poverty counties.
(2) Federal government.--The Attorney General may use not
more than 25 percent of the funds under this section to support
Federal justice reinvestment projects.
(3) Second chance act programs.--The Attorney General shall
allocate not more than 25 percent of the funds in this section
to grant programs established under the Second Chance Act
within the Department of Justice.
(c) Application.--An entity seeking to receive a grant under this
section shall submit an application at such time and in such form as
the Attorney General may reasonably require.
(d) Annual Award of Grants.--To the extent funds are available, the
Attorney General shall award grants under this section at least once
during each fiscal year, with the first grants to be awarded within 90
days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(e) Persistent Poverty Counties Defined.--In this section, the term
``persistent poverty counties'' means any county that has had 20
percent or more of its population living in poverty over the past 30
years, as measured by the 1990, 2000, and 2010 decennial censuses.
SEC. 6. MEDICAL INNOVATION GRANTS.
(a) In General.--The Director of the National Institutes of Health
shall use the revenue designated for medical innovation in subparagraph
(C) of section 3(d)(1) to fund entities that conduct innovative medical
research and development.
(b) Use of Funds.--
(1) Grants.--
(A) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph
(2), the funds available under this section shall be
used to award grants to entities that conduct
innovative medical research and development to provide
faster cures for medical ailments and diseases.
(B) Application.--An entity seeking to receive a
grant under this paragraph shall submit an application
at such time and in such form as the Director may
reasonably require.
(2) Prizes.--The Director may use not more than 15 percent
of the funds available under this section to award monetary
prizes to entities that have used their own funding and
research facilities to produce innovative results in medical
research and development.
(c) Annual Award of Grants and Prizes.--To the extent funds are
available, the Director of the National Institutes of Health shall
award the grants and prizes under this section at least once during
each fiscal year, with the first grants and prizes to be awarded within
90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, Science, Space, and Technology, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, Science, Space, and Technology, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, Science, Space, and Technology, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, Science, Space, and Technology, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Research and Technology.
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Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.