The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Justice was published in the Senate section on pages S8001-S8006 on Nov. 13, 2013.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
By Mr. LEAHY (for himself, Mr. Portman, Mr. Durbin, Ms.
Klobuchar, Mr. Franken, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Brown, Ms. Landrieu, and Mr. Menendez):
S. 1690. A bill to reauthorize the Second Chance Act of 2007; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, today I join with Senator Portman to introduce the bipartisan Second Chance Reauthorization Act, a bill that builds on recent successes and takes important new steps to ensure that people coming out of prison have the opportunity to turn their lives around, rather than returning to a life of crime. Investing in community-based reentry programs prevents crime, reduces prison costs, improves public safety, and saves taxpayer dollars. It is also the right thing to do.
This important legislation improves Federal reentry policy and funds collaborations between State and local corrections agencies, nonprofits, educational institutions, service providers, and families to ensure that former offenders have the resources and support they need to become contributing members of the community. Our bill also seeks to expand upon the successes of the original Second Chance Act by continuing, improving, and consolidating its programs, while reauthorizing these important grant programs at reduced levels in recognition of current fiscal constraints.
In 2008, I joined with Senators Biden, Specter, and Brownback as an original cosponsor of the Second Chance Act, and helped to shepherd that legislation through the Senate. I was proud when the Senate recognized the value of the Second Chance Act and, after a great deal of work and compromise, passed the bill unanimously.
The bipartisan spirit of this legislation also continues in the House, where today Representatives Sensenbrenner and Davis will introduce an identical version of the Senate bill authored by myself and Senator Portman. Together, we have been working hard for the past several months to reach an agreement that is fair, fiscally responsible, and meets the needs of key stakeholders. As a result, we have the support of faith groups, law enforcement, and community groups who provide services to the mentally ill and those struggling with addiction. This broad coalition has one thing in common--we all want to see our justice system work better.
In the past few decades, Congress and the states have passed new criminal laws creating longer sentences for more and more crimes. As a result, our country currently incarcerates more than two million people, and more than 13 million people spend some time in jail or prison each year. This has resulted in severely stretched budgets and we have fewer resources for programs that actually prevent crime in the first place. We cannot afford to stay on our current path, and I am working on separate legislation to address the exploding costs of our Federal prisons. The Second Chance Reauthorization Act helps support innovative reentry programs at the state and local level which have brought down costs and reduced recidivism, and the federal system should replicate these efforts.
More than 650,000 ex-offenders are released from prison each year. The experience inmates have in prison, how we prepare them to rejoin society, and how we integrate them into the broader community when they are released are issues that profoundly affect the communities in which we live.
The Second Chance Act funds grants for key reentry programs and requires that these programs demonstrate measurable positive results, including a reduction in recidivism.
The Second Chance Act of 2008 authorized research into educational methods used in prisons and jails. Today's reauthorization bill directs the Attorney General to review that research, identify best practices, and implement them in our prisons and jails.
The bill also makes nonprofit organizations eligible for grants promoting family-based substance abuse treatment and training in technology careers. It gives priority consideration to applicants that conduct individualized post-release employment planning, demonstrate connections to employers within the local community, or track and monitor employment outcomes.
This legislation also makes improvements to federal reentry policy that have the added benefit of reducing Bureau of Prison costs. It continues the successful Elderly and Family Reunification for Certain Non-Violent Offenders Pilot Program and expands the pool of inmates eligible to apply for the program.
Finally, the Second Chance Reauthorization Act promotes accountability by requiring periodic audits of grantees to ensure that federal dollars are spent responsibly. Grantees who have unresolved audit problems will not be eligible for funding in future years.
As a former prosecutor, I believe strongly in securing tough and appropriate prison sentences for people who break our laws. But it is also important that we do everything we can to ensure that when people get out of prison, they enter our communities as productive members of society, so we can start to reverse the dangerous cycle of recidivism and violence. The Second Chance Reauthorization Act helps break this cycle.
I thank Senator Portman, Representative Sensenbrenner, and Representative Davis for their hard work and cooperation in leading these efforts. We have come together in a truly exceptional way in this bipartisan, bicameral effort. I am proud of the work we have done so far and I look forward to joining with Democrats and Republicans to get this bill passed and signed into law.
Mr. President, President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows:
S. 1690
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 ``Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2013''.
SEC. 2. IMPROVEMENTS TO EXISTING PROGRAMS.
(a) Reauthorization of Adult and Juvenile Offender State and Local Demonstration Projects.--Section 2976 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3797w) is amended--
(1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:
``(a) Grant Authorization.--The Attorney General shall make grants to States, local governments, territories, or Indian tribes, or any combination thereof (in this section referred to as an `eligible entity'), in partnership with interested persons (including Federal corrections and supervision agencies), services providers, and nonprofit organizations for the purpose of strategic planning and implementation of adult and juvenile offender reentry projects.'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``or reentry courts,'' after ``community,'';
(B) in paragraph (6), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(C) in paragraph (7), by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(8) promoting employment opportunities consistent with the Transitional Jobs strategy (as defined in section 4 of the Second Chance Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17502)).'';
(3) by striking subsections (d), (e), and (f) and inserting the following:
``(d) Combined Grant Application; Priority Consideration.--
``(1) In general.--The Attorney General shall develop a procedure to allow applicants to submit a single application for a planning grant under subsection (e) and an implementation grant under subsection (f).
``(2) Priority consideration.--The Attorney General shall give priority consideration to grant applications under subsections (e) and (f) that include a commitment by the applicant to partner with a local evaluator to identify and analyze data that will--
``(A) enable the grantee to target the intended offender population; and
``(B) serve as a baseline for purposes of the evaluation.
``(e) Planning Grants.--
``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (3), the Attorney General may make a grant to an eligible entity of not more than $75,000 to develop a strategic, collaborative plan for an adult or juvenile offender reentry demonstration project as described in subsection (h) that includes--
``(A) a budget and a budget justification;
``(B) a description of the outcome measures that will be used to measure the effectiveness of the program in promoting public safety and public health;
``(C) the activities proposed;
``(D) a schedule for completion of the activities described in subparagraph (C); and
``(E) a description of the personnel necessary to complete the activities described in subparagraph (C).
``(2) Maximum total grants and geographic diversity.--
``(A) Maximum amount.--The Attorney General may not make planning grants and implementation grants to 1 eligible entity in a total amount that is more than a $1,000,000.
``(B) Geographic diversity.--The Attorney General shall make every effort to ensure equitable geographic distribution of grants under this section and take into consideration the needs of underserved populations, including rural and tribal communities.
``(3) Period of grant.--A planning grant made under this subsection shall be for a period of not longer than 1 year, beginning on the first day of the month in which the planning grant is made.
``(f) Implementation Grants.--
``(1) Applications.--An eligible entity desiring an implementation grant under this subsection shall submit to the Attorney General an application that--
``(A) contains a reentry strategic plan as described in subsection (h), which describes the long-term strategy and incorporates a detailed implementation schedule, including the plans of the applicant to fund the program after Federal funding is discontinued;
``(B) identifies the local government role and the role of governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations that will be coordinated by, and that will collaborate on, the offender reentry strategy of the applicant, and certifies the involvement of such agencies and organizations;
``(C) describes the evidence-based methodology and outcome measures that will be used to evaluate the program funded with a grant under this subsection, and specifically explains how such measurements will provide valid measures of the impact of that program; and
``(D) describes how the project could be broadly replicated if demonstrated to be effective.
``(2) Requirements.--The Attorney General may make a grant to an applicant under this subsection only if the application--
``(A) reflects explicit support of the chief executive officer, or their designee, of the State, unit of local government, territory, or Indian tribe applying for a grant under this subsection;
``(B) provides extensive discussion of the role of Federal corrections, State corrections departments, community corrections agencies, juvenile justice systems, and tribal or local jail systems in ensuring successful reentry of offenders into their communities;
``(C) provides extensive evidence of collaboration with State and local government agencies overseeing health, housing, child welfare, education, substance abuse, victims services, and employment services, and with local law enforcement agencies;
``(D) provides a plan for analysis of the statutory, regulatory, rules-based, and practice-based hurdles to reintegration of offenders into the community;
``(E) includes the use of a State, local, territorial, or tribal task force, described in subsection (i), to carry out the activities funded under the grant;
``(F) provides a plan for continued collaboration with a local evaluator as necessary to meeting the requirements under subsection (h); and
``(G) demonstrates that the applicant participated in the planning grant process or engaged in comparable planning for the reentry project.
``(3) Priority considerations.--The Attorney General shall give priority to grant applications under this subsection that best--
``(A) focus initiative on geographic areas with a disproportionate population of offenders released from prisons, jails, and juvenile facilities;
``(B) include--
``(i) input from nonprofit organizations, in any case where relevant input is available and appropriate to the grant application;
``(ii) consultation with crime victims and offenders who are released from prisons, jails, and juvenile facilities;
``(iii) coordination with families of offenders;
``(iv) input, where appropriate, from the juvenile justice coordinating council of the region;
``(v) input, where appropriate, from the reentry coordinating council of the region; and
``(vi) other interested persons, as appropriate;
``(C) demonstrate effective case assessment and management abilities in order to provide comprehensive and continuous reentry, including--
``(i) planning for prerelease transitional housing and community release that begins upon admission for juveniles and jail inmates, and, as appropriate, for prison inmates, depending on the length of the sentence;
``(ii) establishing prerelease planning procedures to ensure that the eligibility of an offender for Federal, tribal, or State benefits upon release is established prior to release, subject to any limitations in law, and to ensure that offenders obtain all necessary referrals for reentry services, including assistance identifying and securing suitable housing; and
``(iii) delivery of continuous and appropriate mental health services, drug treatment, medical care, job training and placement, educational services, vocational services, and any other service or support needed for reentry;
``(D) review the process by which the applicant adjudicates violations of parole, probation, or supervision following release from prison, jail, or a juvenile facility, taking into account public safety and the use of graduated, community-based sanctions for minor and technical violations of parole, probation, or supervision (specifically those violations that are not otherwise, and independently, a violation of law);
``(E) provide for an independent evaluation of reentry programs that include, to the maximum extent possible, random assignment and controlled studies to determine the effectiveness of such programs;
``(F) target moderate and high-risk offenders for reentry programs through validated assessment tools; and
``(G) target offenders with histories of homelessness, substance abuse, or mental illness, including a prerelease assessment of the housing status of the offender and behavioral health needs of the offender with clear coordination with mental health, substance abuse, and homelessness services systems to achieve stable and permanent housing outcomes with appropriate support service.
``(4) Amount.--The amount of a grant made under this subsection may not be more than $925,000.
``(5) Period of grant.--A grant made under this subsection shall be effective for a 2-year period--
``(A) beginning on the date on which the planning grant awarded under subsection (e) concludes; or
``(B) in the case of an implementation grant awarded to an eligible entity that did not receive a planning grant, beginning on the date on which the implementation grant is awarded.'';
(4) in subsection (h)--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs
(3) and (4), respectively; and
(B) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
``(1) In general.--As a condition of receiving financial assistance under subsection (f), each application shall develop a comprehensive reentry strategic plan that--
``(A) contains a plan to assess inmate reentry needs and measurable annual and 3-year performance outcomes;
``(B) uses, to the maximum extent possible, randomly assigned and controlled studies, or rigorous quasi-experimental studies with matched comparison groups, to determine the effectiveness of the program funded with a grant under subsection (f); and
``(C) includes as a goal of the plan to reduce the rate of recidivism for offenders released from prison, jail or a juvenile facility with funds made available under subsection
(f).
``(2) Local evaluator.--A partnership with a local evaluator described in subsection (d)(2) shall require the local evaluator to use the baseline data and target population characteristics developed under a subsection (e) planning grant to derive a feasible and meaningful target goal for recidivism reduction during the 3-year period beginning on the date of implementation of the program.'';
(5) in subsection (i)(1)--
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking
``under this section'' and inserting ``under subsection
(f)''; and
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``subsection (e)(4)'' and inserting ``subsection (f)(2)(D)'';
(6) in subsection (j)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``for an implementation grant under subsection (f)'' after ``applicant'';
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in subparagraph (E), by inserting ``, where appropriate'' after ``support''; and
(ii) by striking subparagraphs (F), (G), and (H), and inserting the following:
``(F) increased number of staff trained to administer reentry services;
``(G) increased proportion of individuals served by the program among those eligible to receive services;
``(H) increased number of individuals receiving risk screening needs assessment, and case planning services;
``(I) increased enrollment in, and completion of treatment services, including substance abuse and mental health services among those assessed as needing such services;
``(J) increased enrollment in and degrees earned from educational programs, including high school, GED, vocational training, and college education;
``(K) increased number of individuals obtaining and retaining employment;
``(L) increased number of individuals obtaining and maintaining housing;
``(M) increased self-reports of successful community living, including stability of living situation and positive family relationships;
``(N) reduction in drug and alcohol use; and
``(O) reduction in recidivism rates for individuals receiving reentry services after release, as compared to either baseline recidivism rates in the jurisdiction of the grantee or recidivism rates of the control or comparison group.'';
(C) in paragraph (3), by striking ``facilities.'' and inserting ``facilities, including a cost-benefit analysis to determine the cost effectiveness of the reentry program.'';
(D) in paragraph (4), by striking ``this section'' and inserting ``subsection (f)''; and
(E) in paragraph (5), by striking ``this section'' and inserting ``subsection (f)'';
(7) in subsection (k)(1), by striking ``this section'' each place the term appears and inserting ``subsection (f)'';
(8) in subsection (l)--
(A) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``beginning on the date on which the most recent implementation grant is made to the grantee under subsection (f)'' after ``2-year period''; and
(B) in paragraph (4), by striking ``over a 2-year period'' and inserting ``during the 2-year period described in paragraph (2)'';
(9) in subsection (o)(1), by striking ``appropriated'' and all that follows and inserting the following: ``appropriated
$35,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018.''; and
(10) by adding at the end the following:
``(p) Definition.--In this section, the term `reentry court' means a program that--
``(1) monitors juvenile and adult eligible offenders reentering the community;
``(2) provides continual judicial supervision;
``(3) provides juvenile and adult eligible offenders reentering the community with coordinated and comprehensive reentry services and programs, such as--
``(A) drug and alcohol testing and assessment for treatment;
``(B) assessment for substance abuse from a substance abuse professional who is approved by the State or Indian tribe and licensed by the appropriate entity to provide alcohol and drug addiction treatment, as appropriate;
``(C) substance abuse treatment from a provider that is approved by the State or Indian tribe, and licensed, if necessary, to provide medical and other health services;
``(D) health (including mental health) services and assessment;
``(E) aftercare and case management services that--
``(i) facilitate access to clinical care and related health services; and
``(ii) coordinate with such clinical care and related health services; and
``(F) any other services needed for reentry;
``(4) convenes community impact panels, victim impact panels, or victim impact educational classes;
``(5) provides and coordinates the delivery of community services to juvenile and adult eligible offenders, including--
``(A) housing assistance;
``(B) education;
``(C) job training;
``(D) conflict resolution skills training;
``(E) batterer intervention programs; and
``(F) other appropriate social services; and
``(6) establishes and implements graduated sanctions and incentives.''.
(b) Grants for Family-Based Substance Abuse Treatment.--Part DD of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3797s et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 2921 (42 U.S.C. 3797s), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting ``nonprofit organizations,'' before ``and Indian'';
(2) in section 2923 (42 U.S.C. 3797s-2), by adding at the end the following:
``(c) Priority Considerations.--The Attorney General shall give priority consideration to grant applications for grants under section 2921 that are submitted by a nonprofit organization that demonstrates a relationship with State and local criminal justice agencies, including--
``(1) within the judiciary and prosecutorial agencies; or
``(2) with the local corrections agencies, which shall be documented by a written agreement that details the terms of access to facilities and participants and provides information on the history of the organization of working with correctional populations.''; and
(3) by striking section 2926(a) (42 U.S.C. 3797s-5(a)), and inserting the following:
``(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018.''.
(c) Grant Program To Evaluate and Improve Educational Methods at Prisons, Jails, and Juvenile Facilities.--Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3711 et seq.) is amended--
(1) by redesignating part KK (42 U.S.C. 3797ee et seq.) as part LL;
(2) by redesignating the second part designated as part JJ, as added by the Second Chance Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-199; 122 Stat. 677), relating to grants to evaluate and improve educational methods, as part KK;
(3) by redesignating the second section designated as section 3001 and section 3002 (42 U.S.C. 3797dd and 3797dd-1), as added by the Second Chance Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-199; 122 Stat. 677), relating to grants to evaluate and improve educational methods, as sections 3005 and 3006, respectively;
(4) in section 3005, as so redesignated--
(A) in subsection (a)--
(i) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(ii) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) implement methods to improve academic and vocational education for offenders in prisons, jails, and juvenile facilities consistent with the best practices identified in subsection (c).'';
(B) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and
(C) by inserting after subsection (b), the following:
``(c) Best Practices.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2013, the Attorney General shall identify and publish best practices relating to academic and vocational education for offenders in prisons, jails, and juvenile facilities. The best practices shall consider the evaluations performed and recommendations made under grants made under subsection (a) before the date of enactment of the Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2013.''; and
(5) in section 3006, as so redesignated, by striking ``to carry'' and all that follows through ``2010'' and inserting
``for each of fiscal years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 for grants for purposes described in section 3005(a)(4)''.
(d) Careers Training Demonstration Grants.--Section 115 of the Second Chance Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17511) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by striking ``and Indian'' and inserting ``nonprofit organizations, and Indian''; and
(B) by striking ``technology career training to prisoners'' and inserting ``career training, including subsidized employment, when part of a training program, to prisoners and reentering youth and adults'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) by striking ``technology careers training'';
(B) by striking ``technology-based''; and
(C) by inserting ``, as well as upon transition and reentry into the community'' after ``facility'';
(3) by striking subsections (c) and (e);
(4) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
``(c) Priority Consideration.--Priority consideration shall be given to any application under this section that--
``(1) provides assessment of local demand for employees in the geographic areas to which offenders are likely to return;
``(2) conducts individualized reentry career planning upon the start of incarceration or post-release employment planning for each offender served under the grant;
``(3) demonstrates connections to employers within the local community; or
``(4) tracks and monitors employment outcomes.''; and
(5) by adding at the end the following:
``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section
$10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018.''.
(e) Offender Reentry Substance Abuse and Criminal Justice Collaboration Program.--Section 201(f)(1) of the Second Chance Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17521(f)(1)) is amended to read as follows:
``(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018.''.
(f) Community-based Mentoring and Transitional Service Grants to Nonprofit Organizations.--
(1) In general.--Section 211 of the Second Chance Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17531) is amended--
(A) in the header, by striking ``MENTORING GRANTS TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS'' and inserting ``COMMUNITY-BASED MENTORING AND TRANSITIONAL SERVICE GRANTS TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS'';
(B) in subsection (a), by striking ``mentoring and other'';
(C) in subsection (b), by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
``(2) transitional services to assist in the reintegration of offenders into the community, including--
``(A) educational, literacy, and vocational, services and the Transitional Jobs strategy;
``(B) substance abuse treatment and services;
``(C) coordinated supervision and comprehensive services for offenders, including housing and mental and physical health care;
``(D) family services; and
``(E) validated assessment tools to assess the risk factors of returning inmates; and''; and
(D) in subsection (f), by striking ``this section'' and all that follows and inserting the following: ``this section
$15,000,000 for fiscal years 2014 through 2018.''.
(2) Table of contents amendment.--The table of contents in section 2 of the Second Chance Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17501 note) is amended by striking the item relating to section 211 and inserting the following:
``Sec. 211. Community-based mentoring and transitional service grants.''.
(g) Definitions.--
(1) In general.--Section 4 of the Second Chance Act of 2007
(42 U.S.C. 17502) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
``In this Act--
``(1) the term `exoneree' means an individual who--
``(A) has been convicted of a Federal, tribal, or State offense that is punishable by a term of imprisonment of more than 1 year;
``(B) has served a term of imprisonment for not less than 6 months in a Federal, tribal, or State prison or correctional facility as a result of the conviction described in subparagraph (A); and
``(C) has been determined to be factually innocent of the offense described in subparagraph (A);
``(2) the term `Indian tribe' has the meaning given in section 901 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3791);
``(3) the term `offender' includes an exoneree; and
``(4) the term `Transitional Jobs strategy' means an employment strategy for youth and adults who are chronically unemployed or those that have barriers to employment that--
``(A) is conducted by State, tribal, and local governments, State, tribal, and local workforce boards, and nonprofit organizations;
``(B) provides time-limited employment using individual placements, team placements, and social enterprise placements, without displacing existing employees;
``(C) pays wages in accordance with applicable law, but in no event less than the higher of the rate specified in section 6(a)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206(a)(1)) or the applicable State or local minimum wage law, which are subsidized, in whole or in part, by public funds;
``(D) combines time-limited employment with activities that promote skill development, remove barriers to employment, and lead to unsubsidized employment such as a thorough orientation and individual assessment, job readiness and life skills training, case management and supportive services, adult education and training, child support-related services, job retention support and incentives, and other similar activities;
``(E) places participants into unsubsidized employment; and
``(F) provides job retention, re-employment services, and continuing and vocational education to ensure continuing participation in unsubsidized employment and identification of opportunities for advancement.''.
(2) Table of contents amendment.--The table of contents in section 2 of the Second Chance Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17501 note) is amended by striking the item relating to section 4 and inserting the following:
``Sec. 4. Definitions.''.
(h) Extension of the Length of Section 2976 Grants.--Section 6(1) of the Second Chance Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17504(1)) is amended by inserting ``or under section 2976 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3797w)'' after ``and 212''.
SEC. 3. AUDIT AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF GRANTEES.
(a) Definition.--In this section, the term ``unresolved audit finding'' means an audit report finding or recommendation that a grantee has used grant funds for an unauthorized expenditure or otherwise unallowable cost that is not closed or resolved during a 1-year period beginning on the date of an initial notification of the finding or recommendation.
(b) Audit Requirement.--Beginning in fiscal year 2013, and every 3 years thereafter, the Inspector General of the Department of Justice shall conduct an audit of not less than 5 percent of all grantees that are awarded funding under--
(1) section 2976(b) of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3797w(b));
(2) part CC of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3797q et seq.), as amended by this Act;
(3) part DD of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3797s et seq.);
(4) part JJ of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3797dd et seq.); or
(5) section 115, 201, or 211 of the Second Chance Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17511, 17521, and 17531).
(c) Mandatory Exclusion.--A grantee that is found to have an unresolved audit finding under an audit conducted under subsection (b) may not receive grant funds under the grant programs described in paragraphs (1) through (5) of subsection (b) in the fiscal year following the fiscal year to which the finding relates.
(d) Priority of Grant Awards.--The Attorney General, in awarding grants under the programs described in paragraphs
(1) through (5) of subsection (b) shall give priority to eligible entities that during the 2-year period preceding the application for a grant have not been found to have an unresolved audit finding.
SEC. 4. FEDERAL REENTRY IMPROVEMENTS.
(a) Responsible Reintegration of Offenders.--Section 212 of the Second Chance Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17532) is repealed.
(b) Federal Prisoner Reentry Initiative.--Section 231 of the Second Chance Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17541) is amended--
(1) in subsection (g)--
(A) in paragraph (3), by striking ``carried out during fiscal years 2009 and 2010'' and inserting ``carried out during fiscal years 2014 through 2018''; and
(B) in paragraph (5)(A)--
(i) in clause (i), by striking ``65 years'' and inserting
``60 years''; and
(ii) in clause (ii), by striking ``or 75 percent'' and inserting ``or \2/3\'';
(2) by striking subsection (h);
(3) by redesignating subsection (i) as subsection (h); and
(4) in subsection (h), as so redesignated, by striking
``2009 and 2010'' and inserting ``2014 through 2018''.
(c) Enhancing Reporting Requirements Pertaining to Community Corrections.--Section 3624(c) of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (5), in the second sentence, by inserting
``, and number of prisoners not being placed in community corrections facilities for each reason set forth'' before ``, and any other information''; and
(2) in paragraph (6), by striking ``the Second Chance Act of 2007'' and inserting ``the Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2013''.
(d) Termination of Study on Effectiveness of Depot Naltrexone for Heroin Addiction.--Section 244 of the Second Chance Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17554) is repealed.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations for Research.--Section 245 of the Second Chance Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17555) is amended--
(1) by striking ``243, and 244'' and inserting ``and 243''; and
(2) by striking ``$10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2009 and 2010'' and inserting ``$5,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018''.
(f) Federal Prisoner Recidivism Reduction Programming Enhancement.--
(1) In general.--Section 3621 of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
(A) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (h); and
(B) by inserting after subsection (f) the following:
``(g) Partnerships to Expand Access to Reentry Programs Proven to Reduce Recidivism.--
``(1) Definition.--The term `demonstrated to reduce recidivism' means that the Director of Bureau of Prisons has determined that appropriate research has been conducted and has validated the effectiveness of the type of program on recidivism.
``(2) Eligibility for recidivism reduction partnership.--A faith-based or community-based nonprofit organization that provides mentoring or other programs that have been demonstrated to reduce recidivism is eligible to enter into a recidivism reduction partnership with a prison or community-based facility operated by the Bureau of Prisons.
``(3) Recidivism reduction partnerships.--The Director of the Bureau of Prisons shall develop policies to require wardens of prisons and community-based facilities to enter into recidivism reduction partnerships with faith-based and community-based nonprofit organizations that are willing to provide, on a volunteer basis, programs described in paragraph (2).
``(4) Reporting requirement.--The Director of the Bureau of Prisons shall submit to Congress an annual report on the last day of each fiscal year that--
``(A) details, for each prison and community-based facility for the fiscal year just ended--
``(i) the number of recidivism reduction partnerships under this section that were in effect;
``(ii) the number of volunteers that provided recidivism reduction programming; and
``(iii) the number of recidivism reduction programming hours provided; and
``(B) explains any disparities between facilities in the numbers reported under subparagraph (A).''.
(2) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraph (1) shall take effect 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
(g) Repeals.--
(1) Section 2978 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3797w-2) is repealed.
(2) Part CC of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3797q et seq.) is repealed.
SEC. 5. TASK FORCE ON FEDERAL PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES
RELATING TO REENTRY OF OFFENDERS.
(a) Task Force Required.--The Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the heads of such other agencies of the Federal Government as the Attorney General considers appropriate, and in collaboration with interested persons, service providers, nonprofit organizations, States, tribal, and local governments, shall establish an interagency task force on Federal programs and activities relating to the reentry of offenders into the community (referred to in this section as the ``Task Force'').
(b) Duties.--The Task Force shall--
(1) identify such programs and activities that may be resulting in overlap or duplication of services, the scope of such overlap or duplication, and the relationship of such overlap and duplication to public safety, public health, and effectiveness and efficiency;
(2) identify methods to improve collaboration and coordination of such programs and activities;
(3) identify areas of responsibility in which improved collaboration and coordination of such programs and activities would result in increased effectiveness or efficiency;
(4) develop innovative interagency or intergovernmental programs, activities, or procedures that would improve outcomes of reentering offenders and children of offenders;
(5) develop methods for increasing regular communication among agencies that would increase interagency program effectiveness;
(6) identify areas of research that can be coordinated across agencies with an emphasis on applying evidence-based practices to support, treatment, and intervention programs for reentering offenders;
(7) identify funding areas that should be coordinated across agencies and any gaps in funding; and
(8) in collaboration with the National Adult and Juvenile Offender Reentry Resources Center, identify successful programs currently operating and collect best practices in offender reentry from demonstration grantees and other agencies and organizations, determine the extent to which such programs and practices can be replicated, and make information on such programs and practices available to States, localities, nonprofit organizations, and others.
(c) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Task Force shall submit a report, including recommendations, to Congress on barriers to reentry.
(2) Contents.--The report required under paragraph (1) shall identify Federal and other barriers to successful reentry of offenders into the community and analyze the effects of such barriers on offenders and on children and other family members of offenders, including--
(A) admissions and evictions from Federal housing programs;
(B) child support obligations and procedures;
(C) Social Security benefits, veterans benefits, food stamps, and other forms of Federal public assistance;
(D) Medicaid Program and Medicare Program procedures, requirements, regulations, and guidelines;
(E) education programs, financial assistance, and full civic participation;
(F) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program funding criteria and other welfare benefits;
(G) employment and training;
(H) reentry procedures, case planning, and transitions of persons from the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons to a Federal parole or probation program or community corrections;
(I) laws, regulations, rules, and practices that may require a parolee to return to the same county that they were living in before their arrest and therefore prevent offenders from changing their setting upon release; and
(J) trying to establish pre-release planning procedures for prisoners to ensure that a prisoner's eligibility for Federal or State benefits (including Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security and veterans benefits) upon release is established prior to release, subject to any limitations in law, and to ensure that prisoners are provided with referrals to appropriate social and health services or are referred to appropriate nonprofit organizations.
(d) Updated Reports.--On an annual basis, the Task Force shall submit to Congress an updated report on the activities of the Task Force, including specific recommendations on issues described in subsections (b) and (c).
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By Mr. HARKIN (for himself and Mr. Heller):
S. 1694. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a credit against income tax for the purchase of hearing aids; to the Committee on Finance.
Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows:
S. 1694
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 ``Hearing Aid Assistance Tax Credit Act''.
SEC. 2. CREDIT FOR HEARING AIDS.
(a) In General.--Subpart A of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to nonrefundable personal credits) is amended by inserting after section 25D the following new section:
``SEC. 25E. CREDIT FOR HEARING AIDS.
``(a) Allowance of Credit.--In the case of an individual, there shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by this chapter an amount equal to the amount paid during the taxable year, not compensated by insurance or otherwise, by the taxpayer for the purchase of any qualified hearing aid.
``(b) Maximum Amount.--The amount allowed as a credit under subsection (a) shall not exceed $500 per qualified hearing aid.
``(c) Qualified Hearing Aid.--For purposes of this section, the term `qualified hearing aid' means a hearing aid--
``(1) which is described in sections 874.3300 and 874.3305 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, and is authorized under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act for commercial distribution, and
``(2) which is intended for use--
``(A) by the taxpayer, or
``(B) by an individual with respect to whom the taxpayer, for the taxable year, is allowed a deduction under section 151(c) (relating to deduction for personal exemptions for dependents).
``(d) Election Once Every 5 Years.--This section shall apply with respect to any individual for any taxable year only if there is an election in effect with respect to such individual (at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may by regulations prescribe) to have this section apply for such taxable year. An election to have this section apply with respect to any individual may not be made for any taxable year if such an election is in effect with respect to such individual for any of the 4 taxable years preceding such taxable year.
``(e) Denial of Double Benefit.--No credit shall be allowed under subsection (a) for any expense for which a deduction or credit is allowed under any other provision of this chapter.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subpart A of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 25D the following new item:
``Sec. 25E. Credit for hearing aids.''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2013.
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By Mr. MARKEY:
S. 1698. A bill to provide for the establishment of clean technology consortia to enhance the economic, environmental, and energy security of the United States by promoting domestic development, manufacture, and deployment of clean technologies; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Mr. MARKEY. Mr. President, today I am introducing the Consortia-Led Energy and Advanced Manufacturing Networks Act.
For more than a century, America's innovation community has been the foundation of our high-tech economy and generated broad-based growth to support a strong middle class. While our innovators remain the best in the world, we have seen a disturbing trend in recent years. When it comes to moving innovations out of the lab and into the factory, we are getting beat. Breakthroughs achieved in U.S. research universities and laboratories are all too often being commercialized and manufactured overseas. As recent research by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and others has demonstrated, innovation and production are closely related. When manufacturing facilities move overseas, we lose more than just those manufacturing jobs. We can lose our ability to continue to innovate in that industry and lose our hold on those jobs forever.
At the same time, we have some industries in the United States dominated by deeply entrenched companies that are resistant to innovation or adaptation of century-old business models. In those sectors, we need to look at ways of partnering with our innovators on proof-of-concept and demonstration projects so that more breakthroughs can bridge the so-called ``Valley of Death'' between the lab bench and commercialization of a new technology. That will ensure that innovative and potentially disruptive technologies can actually reach the market, and provide badly needed competition in industries where incumbents may be failing to innovate. This is what my legislation is intended to address.
In order to reach their full market potential, scientific breakthroughs must be translated into commercial applications, demonstrated, connected to appropriate markets, and scaled up. The bill I am introducing today would fertilize America's innovation ecosystems by making available $100 million to 6 or more consortia to support these types of activities and help shepherd innovations through the commercialization process. Consortia could include a mix of research universities, large and small companies, national laboratories, venture capital, and state and nonprofit entities with expertise in technology commercialization. The bill includes rigorous cost-share requirements to ensure that taxpayers are only partnering on the best ideas in which the private sector also has significant capital committed.
We have seen the benefits of regional innovation ecosystems in places like Silicon Valley; Boston, Cambridge and the Route 128 Corridor; the Research Triangle in North Carolina; Austin, TX; and elsewhere. The geographic proximity of institutions in these areas improves the flow of information between scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs, and it facilitates the sharing of skilled human resources and facilities. Most critically when it comes to commercializing innovations, these regions have demonstrated a unique ability to pull investor capital off the sidelines and channel it into new production. We need to bolster these existing ecosystems and help nurture new ones.
America's universities and research institutions are truly national treasures. Our venture capitalists and entrepreneurs are the sharpest in the world. When we sprinkle the right mix of scientific brain power and capitalist drive, we get something uniquely American and extremely potent.
This legislation will help link inventors with investors, professors with producers, and get technologies out of laboratories and into factories. It provides the type of responsible and forward-looking partnership that we need with the private sector right now. This legislation builds on provisions I included in both the Waxman-Markey bill and the America COMPETES reauthorization, bills that passed the U.S. House of Representatives in 2009 and 2010, respectively.
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