II
Calendar No. 487
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3552
[Report No. 117–148]
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 1, 2022
Mr. Booker (for himself and Mr. Portman) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
September 13, 2022
Reported by Mr. Peters, with an amendment
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic
A BILL
To provide an increased allocation of funding under certain programs for assistance in areas of persistent poverty, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Targeting Resources to Communities in Need Act of 2022
.
Definitions
In this Act:
Appropriate committees of Congress
The term appropriate committees of Congress means—
the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on the Budget, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate;
the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on the Budget, the Committee on Energy and Commerce, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Committee on Oversight and Reform of the House of Representatives; and
any other committee of Congress that has jurisdiction over a department or agency with a role developing or implementing measures under section 4(a).
Area of persistent poverty
The term area of persistent poverty means an area that is a high-poverty census tract or a persistent poverty county.
Director
The term Director means the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
High-poverty census tract
The term high-poverty census tract means a census tract that has a poverty rate of not less than 20 percent in the most recent American Community Survey 5-year survey by the Bureau of the Census.
Persistent poverty county
The term persistent poverty county means—
a county, parish, or other equivalent county division (as determined by the Bureau of the Census) with a poverty rate of not less than 20 percent in the Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates by the Bureau of the Census for 1997, 2007, 2017, and the most recent year for which the estimates are available; or
any territory or possession of the United States.
Publication of list of areas of persistent poverty
In general
Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Bureau of the Census shall publish a list of all areas of persistent poverty.
Update
The Bureau of the Census shall update annually the list published under subsection (a).
Increasing share of Federal resources to areas of persistent poverty and other high-poverty areas
Guidance and measures To increase Federal investments
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director, in consultation with Federal agencies, shall develop and implement guidance and measures to increase the share of Federal investments targeted to areas of persistent poverty and other areas with high and persistent poverty (including any other areas that the Director, in consultation with Federal agencies, determines to be appropriate areas to target).
Guidance for agencies
Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall issue guidance to agencies regarding—
identifying the scope of programs subject to increased targeted investment described in subsection (a);
identifying the manner and share of targeted investment described in subsection (a); and
outlining measures to track increased investment in areas of persistent poverty and other areas with high and persistent poverty over time.
Minimum investment amount
In developing the guidance and measures under subsection (a), the Director shall include a minimum goal that Federal investments targeted to areas of persistent poverty or other areas with high and persistent poverty be in an amount that is greater than the amount that is proportional to the population of such areas in the United States relative to the population of the United States as a whole.
Reports to Congress
The Director shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress an annual report that includes—
a list of the programs, by agency, that are included in the effort to increase the share of Federal investments targeted to areas of persistent poverty and other areas with high and persistent poverty; and
for each program listed under paragraph (1)—
the amount of funds that were directed under the program toward an area of persistent poverty or other area with high and persistent poverty during the previous fiscal year;
the percentage change from the fiscal year before the previous fiscal year in the amount of funds that were directed under the program toward an area of persistent poverty or other area with high and persistent poverty; and
to the extent practicable, an assessment of the economic impact of the program, including data on impacted individuals, disaggregated by household income, race, gender, age, national origin, disability status, and whether the individuals live in an urban area, suburban area, or rural area.
GAO reports
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Comptroller General of the United States shall report to the appropriate committees of Congress on the effectiveness of the measures implemented pursuant to section 4(a), including an assessment regarding the impact of the measures on increasing Federal funds spent in areas of persistent poverty and other areas with high and persistent poverty.
Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2022, $5,000,000 for salaries and expenses (including for entering contracts with non-Federal persons) to carry out this Act.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Targeting Resources to Communities in Need Act of 2022
.
Increasing share of Federal resources to areas of persistent poverty and other high-poverty areas
Increasing share of Federal resources
Guidance and measures to increase Federal investments
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director, in consultation with Federal agencies, shall implement guidance and measures to increase the share of Federal investments targeted to—
areas of persistent poverty; and
other areas of high and persistent poverty that the Director, in consultation with Federal agencies, determines to be appropriate.
Guidance for agencies
Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall issue guidance to Federal agencies identifying—
the scope and type of programs subject to the guidance and measures required under paragraph (1);
the share of Federal investments to be targeted to covered areas;
the manner in which Federal investments are to be targeted to covered areas; and
measures to track the Federal investments targeted to covered areas over time.
Investment amount
In developing the guidance and measures under paragraph (1), the Director shall include a minimum goal that Federal investments targeted to covered areas be in an amount that is greater than the amount that is proportional to the population of covered areas in the United States relative to the population of the United States as a whole.
Reports to Congress
Each fiscal year, the Director, in consultation with Federal agencies, shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that includes—
a list of the programs, by agency, under which the amount of Federal funds targeted to covered areas were increased in the previous fiscal year, in accordance with such paragraph; and
for each program listed under subparagraph (A)—
the amount of funds that were targeted under the program to a covered area during the previous fiscal year;
the percent change from the fiscal year before the previous fiscal year in the amount of funds that were targeted under the program toward a covered area; and
to the extent practicable, an assessment of the economic impact of the program on the covered area, including data on the categories of individuals impacted by the targeting of funds to covered areas under the program, disaggregated by household income, race, gender, age, national origin, disability status, and whether the individuals live in an urban area, suburban area, or rural area.
Publication of list of areas of persistent poverty
In general
Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Bureau of the Census shall publish a list of all areas of persistent poverty.
Update
The Bureau of the Census shall update annually the list published under paragraph (1).
GAO reports
Initial report
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall provide to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the effectiveness of the measures implemented under subsection (a), including an assessment regarding the impact of increasing Federal investments spent in covered areas.
Subsequent reports
Not later than 10 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress at least 2 reports, in addition to the report under paragraph (1), providing the information described in paragraph (1).
Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2023, $5,000,000 for salaries and expenses (including for entering contracts with non-Federal persons) to carry out this Act.
Definitions
In this section:
Appropriate committees of Congress
The term appropriate committees of Congress means—
the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on the Budget, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate;
the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on the Budget, the Committee on Energy and Commerce, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Committee on Oversight and Reform of the House of Representatives; and
any other committee of Congress that has jurisdiction over an agency with a role developing or implementing measures under subsection (a).
Area of persistent poverty
The term area of persistent poverty means an area that is a high-poverty census tract or a persistent poverty county.
Covered area
The term covered area means an area of persistent poverty or other area of high and persistent poverty described in subsection (a)(1).
Director
The term Director means the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
High-poverty census tract
The term high-poverty census tract—
means a census tract that has a poverty rate of not less than 20 percent in the most recent American Community Survey 5-year data published by the Bureau of the Census; or
in the case of an area where no such data is collected from the American Community Survey, includes a census tract in such an area with a poverty rate of not less than 20 percent in the most recent decennial census of population conducted by the Bureau of the Census.
Persistent poverty county
The term persistent poverty county means—
a county, parish, or other equivalent county division (as determined by the Bureau of the Census) with a poverty rate of not less than 20 percent in the Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates by the Bureau of the Census during—
the most recent year for which the estimates are available; and
at least 25 of the most recent 30 years; or
for an area for which Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates are not available, a county, parish, or equivalent level of geography, with a poverty rate of not less than 20 percent, as determined by the Bureau of the Census, during—
the most recent year for which an estimate is available; and
at least 25 of the most recent 30 years.
September 13, 2022
Reported with an amendment