[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 105 (Wednesday, June 16, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4592-S4596]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTION
By Mr. TUBERVILLE:
S. 2079. A bill to limit donations made pursuant to settlement
agreements to which the United States is a party, and for other
purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. TUBERVILLE. Mr. President, today, I want to discuss an issue that
many folks may not be familiar with, but they should be. After today,
they will be. When I first heard about this, I couldn't believe it was
true, but I have learned up here that just when you think you have seen
or heard the worst, the swamp will always surprise you.
One of the many important roles of the Department of Justice is to
represent the United States in civil and criminal trials. Sometimes the
DOJ decides that a pretrial monetary settlement for a lawsuit is the
best route to take. The DOJ directs the money from the settlement to
the victims or to the Treasury. That is the way our system is supposed
to work.
But during the Obama administration, the DOJ took a different course.
Rather than direct settlement money to victims, the DOJ pushed the
defendants to give money instead to third-party organizations favored
by the Department. This was a slush fund for groups chosen by the DOJ.
What is more, the DOJ would count the dollar amount of any donation as
double toward the settlement. Money paid to the victims or the Treasury
would only count dollar for dollar. So it was a huge incentive for
these defendants to pay a third party, and these third parties often
had nothing to do with the lawsuit.
When companies like JPMorgan, Bank of America, or Citigroup had to
pay settlements based on mortgage lending practices, the DOJ
intentionally directed millions of dollars to liberal activist groups.
You don't have to take my word for it; here is an email from the Office
of the Associate Attorney General in 2013 talking about the DOJ
settlement with JPMorgan:
Can you explain to Tony the best way to allocate some money
toward an organization of our choosing?
Those are the key words there: ``of our choosing.''
Let me continue to quote: We have been discussing having the
agreement provide that JPM agreed to pay $9 billion but that, if, by
the time we sign the settlement agreement, JPM has given $60 million to
X, they will have to pay only 8 billion.
I think that is OK. We understand that we would not have control over
what X organization does with the money.
The ``Tony'' referred to there is Tony West, an Associate Attorney
General, who was at that time No. 3 in the Department of Justice.
Two days later, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
wrote to the Office of the Associate Attorney General to lobby on
behalf of a group called VOICE. The Leadership Conference on Civil and
Human Rights includes the biggest activist arms of the political left,
including the ACLU, Planned Parenthood, Big Labor's AFL-CIO, and the
teachers unions.
On No. 3 here, but when the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human
Rights contacted the DOJ, it was because VOICE wanted funds from the
JPMorgan settlement. Not surprisingly, VOICE ended up receiving $1
million from JPMorgan.
They had a listening ear in the Obama administration. This is what he
wrote to Tony about the settlement with Citigroup. Chart 4.
They were concerned with the possibility of Citi picking a group
like, ``The Pacific Legal Foundation does conservative property rights
free legal services.'' The DOJ was clear: Conservative groups couldn't
have the access to the same funds that liberal groups could. It was
obvious.
Here was the result, chart No. 5.
From Bank of America alone, the National Council of La Raza, now
known as UnidosUS, received $1.5 million. The National Urban League
received $1.2 million. VOICE got another million dollars, on top of the
first million.
This won't shock you, but both La Raza and the Urban League were big
supporters of President Obama's agenda. They are also both members of
the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights today. La Raza
consistently lobbied Congress to pass President Obama's misguided
immigration reform bill. Urban League was a routine cheerleader of the
Obama administration's Big Government approach to public housing. They
were rewarded for their advocacy with millions of dollars from the DOJ.
In total across the Federal Government, the money directed to third
parties added up to a total of $668 million, according to the
nonpartisan Regulatory Transparency Project.
On chart No. 6, out of the $668 million, at the end of the day, they
could only locate $9.5 million, which is 1.4 percent of the total money
given. We don't even know exactly where or how the rest of the money
was spent.
Folks, I have one word for you on this. This is called corruption.
This is the swamp. The fact that this practice ever existed should make
Americans' blood boil. Political appointees at one of the most powerful
Departments in the country used their position of power to extract
money from companies, and then they gave that money to their like-
minded friends. That is what is wrong with Washington, DC.
We have grown used to hearing about this type of behavior from
dictatorships around the world, like Russia or Venezuela. We should
not, we cannot accept this type of behavior here in the United States
of America.
Well, President Trump didn't. His administration, very early in his
tenure, put a stop to this practice. They were right to do so. It
should never have happened in the first place. But now, with a new
President in office and with so many high-profile Obama administration
retreads throughout the administration and in the White House, this
corrupt practice could and probably will return. Congress cannot allow
this to happen. I don't care if it is a Republican or a Democrat or an
Independent in the White House; the power of the purse lies with us,
the folks in this building. It is called the 117th U.S. Congress--
elected officials, not bureaucrats.
We need a permanent fix. If the Federal Government is diverting
settlement funds away from victims into politically connected groups,
they are undermining Congress's role. There is a way to stop this.
Earlier today, I introduced the Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act. This
bill would ensure that all settlement funds would go first to the
victims and then to the Treasury--no third party. No administration
should be allowed to force donations to politically connected groups at
the direct expense of victims.
I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this commonsense
solution. Let's ensure our Federal Government works on behalf of all of
its citizens, not just the ones with connections to people in power.
______
By Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mrs. Capito, Ms. Duckworth, and Ms.
Murkowski):
S. 2086. A bill to improve the identification and support of children
and families who experience trauma; to the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Mr. DURBIN. 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. 2086
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 ``Resilience Investment,
Support, and Expansion from Trauma Act'' or the ``RISE from
Trauma Act''.
TITLE I--COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING
SEC. 101. TRAUMA AND RESILIENCE-RELATED COORDINATING BODIES.
Title V of the Public Health Service Act is amended by
inserting after section 520A (42 U.S.C. 290bb-32) the
following:
[[Page S4593]]
``SEC. 520B. LOCAL COORDINATING BODIES TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY
TRAUMA, PREVENTION, AND RESILIENCE.
``(a) Grants.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary, in coordination with the
Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
and the Assistant Secretary, shall award grants to State,
county, local, or Indian tribe or tribal organizations (as
such terms are defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination Act and Education Assistance Act) or nonprofit
private entities for demonstration projects to enable such
entities to act as coordinating bodies to prevent or mitigate
the impact of trauma and toxic stress in a community, or
promote resilience by fostering protective factors.
``(2) Amount.--The Secretary shall award such grants in
amounts of not more than $6,000,000.
``(3) Duration.--The Secretary shall award such grants for
periods of 4 years.
``(b) Eligible Entities.--
``(1) In general.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
this section, an entity shall include 1 or more
representatives from at least 5 of the categories described
in paragraph (2).
``(2) Composition.--The categories referred to in paragraph
(1) are--
``(A) governmental agencies, such as public health, mental
health, human services, or child welfare agencies, that
provide training related to covered services or conduct
activities to screen, assess, provide services or referrals,
prevent, or provide treatment to support infants, children,
youth, and their families as appropriate, that have
experienced or are at risk of experiencing trauma;
``(B) faculty or qualified staff at an institution of
higher education (as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher
Education Act of 1965) or representatives of a local member
of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, in an area
related to screening, assessment, service provision or
referral, prevention, or treatment to support infants,
children, youth, and their families, as appropriate, that
have experienced or are at risk of experiencing trauma;
``(C) hospitals, health care clinics, or other health care
institutions, such as mental health and substance use
disorder treatment facilities;
``(D) criminal justice representatives related to adults
and juveniles, which may include law enforcement or judicial
or court employees;
``(E) local educational agencies (as defined in section
8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 7801)) or agencies responsible for early childhood
education programs, which may include Head Start and Early
Head Start agencies;
``(F) workforce development, job training, or business
associations;
``(G) nonprofit, community-based faith, human services,
civic, or social services organizations, including
participants in a national or community service program (as
described in section 122 of the National and Community
Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12572)), providers of after-
school programs, home visiting programs, family resource
centers, agencies that serve victims of domestic and family
violence or child abuse, or programs to prevent or address
the impact of violence and addiction; and
``(H) the general public, including individuals who have
experienced trauma who can appropriately represent
populations and activities relevant to the community that
will be served by the entity.
``(3) Qualifications.--In order for an entity to be
eligible to receive the grant under this section, the
representatives included in the entity shall, collectively,
have training and expertise concerning childhood trauma,
resilience, and covered services.
``(c) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
this section, an entity shall submit an application to the
Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Secretary may require.
``(d) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the
Secretary shall give priority to entities proposing to serve
communities or populations that have faced or currently face
high rates of community trauma, including from
intergenerational poverty, civil unrest, discrimination, or
oppression, which may include an evaluation of--
``(1) an age-adjusted rate of drug overdose deaths that is
above the national overdose mortality rate, as determined by
the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention;
``(2) an age-adjusted rate of violence-related (or
intentional) injury deaths that is above the national
average, as determined by the Director of the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention; and
``(3) a rate of involvement in the child welfare or
juvenile justice systems that is above the national average,
as determined by the Secretary.
``(e) Use of Funds.--An entity that receives a grant under
this section to act as a coordinating body may use the grant
funds to--
``(1) bring together stakeholders who provide or use
services in, or have expertise concerning, covered settings
to identify community needs and resources related to covered
services, and to build on any needs assessments conducted by
organizations or groups represented on the coordinating body;
``(2)(A) collect data, on indicators to reflect local
priority issues, including across multiple covered settings
and disaggregated by age, race, and any other appropriate
metrics; and
``(B) use the data to identify unique community challenges
and barriers, community strengths and assets, gaps in
services, and high-need areas, related to covered services;
``(3) build awareness, skills, and leadership (including
through trauma-informed and resilience-focused training and
public outreach campaigns) on covered services in covered
settings;
``(4) develop a strategic plan, in partnership with members
of the served community or population, that identifies--
``(A) policy goals and coordination opportunities to
address community needs and local priority issues (including
coordination in applying for or utilizing existing grants,
insurance coverage, or other government programs), including
for communities of color and relating to delivering and
implementing covered services; and
``(B) a comprehensive, integrated approach for the entity
and its members to prevent and mitigate the impact of
exposure to trauma or toxic stress in the community, and to
assist the community in healing from existing and prior
exposure to trauma through promotion of resilience and
fostering protective factors;
``(5) implement such strategic plans in the local
community, including through the delivery of covered services
in covered settings; and
``(6) identify funding sources and partner with community
stakeholders to sustainably continue activities after the end
of the grant period.
``(f) Supplement Not Supplant.--Amounts made available
under this section shall be used to supplement and not
supplant other Federal, State, and local public funds and
private funds expended to provide trauma-related coordination
activities.
``(g) Evaluation.--At the end of the period for which
grants are awarded under this section, the Secretary shall
conduct an evaluation of the activities carried out under
each grant under this section. In conducting the evaluation,
the Secretary shall assess the outcomes of the grant
activities carried out by each grant recipient, including
outcomes related to health, education, child welfare,
criminal justice involvement, or other measurable outcomes
pertaining to wellbeing and societal impact.
``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this section $600,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2022 through 2029.
``(i) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Covered services.--The term `covered services' means
culturally responsive services, programs, models, or
interventions that are evidence-based, evidence-informed, or
promising best practices to support infants, children, youth,
and their families as appropriate by preventing or mitigating
the impact of trauma and toxic stress or promoting resilience
by fostering protective factors, which may include the best
practices developed under section 7132(d) of the SUPPORT for
Patients and Communities Act (Public Law 115-271).
``(2) Covered setting.--The term `covered setting' means
the settings in which individuals may come into contact with
infants, children, youth, and their families, as appropriate,
who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing trauma,
including schools, hospitals, settings where health care
providers, including primary care and pediatric providers,
provide services, early childhood education and care
settings, home visiting settings, after-school program
facilities, child welfare agency facilities, public health
agency facilities, mental health treatment facilities,
substance use disorder treatment facilities, faith-based
institutions, domestic violence agencies, violence
intervention organizations, child advocacy centers, homeless
services system facilities, refugee services system
facilities, juvenile justice system facilities, law
enforcement agency facilities, Healthy Marriage Promotion or
Responsible Fatherhood service settings, child support
service settings, and service settings focused on individuals
eligible for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families; and''.
SEC. 102. EXPANSION OF PERFORMANCE PARTNERSHIP PILOT FOR
CHILDREN WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED OR ARE AT RISK OF
EXPERIENCING TRAUMA.
(a) In General.--Section 526 of the Departments of Labor,
Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related
Agencies Appropriations Act, 2014 (42 U.S.C. 12301 note ) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following:
``(4) `To improve outcomes for infants, children, and
youth, and their families as appropriate, who have
experienced or are at risk of experiencing trauma' means to
increase the rate at which individuals who have experienced
or are at risk of experiencing trauma, including those who
are low-income, homeless, involved with the child welfare
system, involved in the juvenile justice system, have been
victims of violence (including community, family, or sexual
violence), unemployed, or not enrolled in or at risk of
dropping out of an educational institution and live in a
community that has faced acute or long-term exposure to
substantial discrimination, historical oppression,
intergenerational poverty, civil unrest, a high rate of
violence or drug overdose deaths, achieve success in meeting
educational, employment, health, developmental, community
reentry, permanency from foster care, or other key goals.'';
[[Page S4594]]
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking ``Fiscal Year
2014'' and inserting ``Fiscal Years 2022 Through 2026'';
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as
subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and by moving such
subparagraphs, as so redesignated, 2 ems to the right;
(C) by striking ``Federal agencies'' and inserting the
following:
``(1) Disconnected youth pilots.--Federal agencies''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Trauma-informed care pilots.--Federal agencies may
use Federal discretionary funds that are made available in
this Act or any appropriations Act, including across
different or multiple years, for any of fiscal years 2022
through 2026 to carry out up to 10 Performance Partnership
Pilots. Such Pilots shall--
``(A) be designed to improve outcomes for infants,
children, and youth, and their families as appropriate, who
have experienced or are at risk of experiencing trauma; and
``(B) involve Federal programs targeted on infants,
children, and youth, and their families as appropriate, who
have experienced or are at risk of experiencing trauma.'';
(3) in subsection (c)(2)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``2018'' and inserting
``2025''; and
(B) in subparagraph (F), by inserting before the semicolon
``, including the age range for such population''; and
(4) in subsection (e), by striking ``2018'' and inserting
``2025''.
(b) Requirement.--Not later than 9 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of
Management and Budget, working with the Attorney General and
the Secretary of Labor, Secretary of Health and Human
Services, Secretary of Education, and Secretary of Housing
and Urban Development, and any other appropriate agency
representative, shall, with respect to carrying out this
section--
(1) explore authorities to enable the issuance of
appropriate start-up funding;
(2) issue guidance documents, template waivers and
performance measurements, best practices and lessons learned
from prior pilot programs, recommendations for how to sustain
projects after award periods, and other technical assistance
documents as needed; and
(3) align application timing periods to provide maximum
flexibility, which may include the availability of initial
planning periods for awardees.
SEC. 103. HOSPITAL-BASED INTERVENTIONS TO REDUCE
READMISSIONS.
Section 393 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
280b-1a) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(c) Hospital-based Interventions to Reduce
Readmissions.--
``(1) Grants.--The Secretary shall award grants to eligible
entities to deliver and evaluate hospital-based interventions
to improve outcomes and reduce subsequent reinjury or
readmissions of patients that present at a hospital after
overdosing, attempting suicide, or suffering violent injury
or abuse.
``(2) Eligible entities.--To be eligible to receive a grant
under this subsection and entity shall--
``(A) be a hospital or health system (including health
systems operated by Indian tribes or tribal organizations as
such terms are defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination Act and Education Assistance Act); and
``(B) submit to the Secretary an application at such time,
in such manner, and containing such information as the
Secretary may require, which shall include demonstrated
experience furnishing successful hospital-based trauma
interventions to improve outcomes and prevent reinjury or
readmission for patients presenting after overdosing,
attempting suicide, or suffering violent injury or abuse.
``(3) Use of funds.--An entity shall use amounts received
under a grant under this subsection to deliver, test, and
evaluate hospital-based trauma-informed interventions for
patients who present at hospitals with drug overdoses,
suicide attempts, or violent injuries (such as domestic
violence or intentional penetrating wounds, including
gunshots and stabbings), or other presenting symptoms
associated with exposure to trauma, violence, substance
misuse, or suicidal ideation, to provide comprehensive
education, screening, counseling, discharge planning, skills
building, and long-term case management services to such
individuals, and their guardians or caregivers as
appropriate, to prevent hospital readmission, injury, and
improve health, wellness, and safety outcomes. Such
interventions may be furnished in coordination or partnership
with qualified community-based organizations and may include
or incorporate the best practices developed under section
7132(d) of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act
(Public Law 115-271).
``(4) Quality measures.--An entity that receive a grant
under this section shall submit to the Secretary a report on
the data and outcomes developed under the grant, including
any quality measures developed, evaluated, and validated to
prevent hospital readmissions for the patients served under
the program involved.
``(5) Sustainable coverage.--The Secretary, acting through
the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services, shall evaluate existing authorities, flexibilities,
and policies and disseminate appropriate and relevant
information to eligible entities on the opportunities for
health insurance coverage and reimbursement for the
activities described in paragraph (3).''.
SEC. 104. TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION GUIDELINES FOR COMMUNITY
FIGURES.
(a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human
Services shall study and establish guidelines for use by
States with respect to standards for training, certification,
and partnership or supervision from licensed clinical
professionals as appropriate, of community figures, including
community mentors and trusted leaders, peers (including young
adults and youth) with lived experiences, faith-based
leaders, coaches and arts program leaders, and community
paraprofessional providers such as out-of-school providers,
to--
(1) educate and promote an understanding of trauma, toxic
stress, and resilience;
(2) promote resilience by fostering protective factors and
providing peer support services;
(3) provide case management services and promote linkages
to community services; and
(4) deliver appropriate, culturally responsive, and trauma-
informed practices.
(b) Recommendations.--Training and certification guidelines
under subsection (a) shall include recommendations for
experience, education, and supervision requirements for, and
partnerships between, such trained and certified community
figures and other health care providers such that the trained
and certified community figures may be reimbursed through the
State Medicaid plan under title XIX of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) for furnishing services to
individuals enrolled in such plan.
TITLE II--WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
SEC. 201. TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT OF INDIVIDUALS FROM
COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED HIGH LEVELS
OF TRAUMA, VIOLENCE, OR ADDICTION.
Part B of title VII of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 293 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``SEC. 742. INDIVIDUALS FROM COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE
EXPERIENCED HIGH LEVELS OF TRAUMA, VIOLENCE, OR
ADDICTION.
``In carrying out activities under this part, the Secretary
shall ensure that emphasis is provided on the recruitment of
individuals from communities that have experienced high
levels of trauma, violence, or addiction and that appropriate
activities under this part are carried out in partnership
with community-based organizations that have expertise in
addressing such challenges to enhance service delivery.''.
SEC. 202. FUNDING FOR THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE CORPS.
Section 10503(b)(2) of the Patient Protection and
Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 254b-2(b)(2)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(G) $360,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through
2026, of which $50,000,000 shall be allocated in each such
fiscal year for awards to eligible individuals whose
obligated service locations are in schools or community-based
settings as described in section 338N of the Public Health
Service Act.''.
SEC. 203. INFANT AND EARLY CHILDHOOD CLINICAL WORKFORCE.
Part P of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 280g) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 399V-7. INFANT AND EARLY CHILDHOOD CLINICAL WORKFORCE.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the
Associate Administrator of the Maternal and Child Health
Bureau, shall establish an Infant and Early Childhood Mental
Health Clinical Leadership Program to award grants to
eligible entities to establish a national network of training
institutes for infant and early childhood clinical mental
health.
``(b) Eligible Entities.--To be eligible to receive a grant
under this section, an entity shall--
``(1) be--
``(A) an institution of higher education as defined in
section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, including
historically Black colleges and universities (as defined for
purposes of section 322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1061)), and Tribal colleges (as defined for
purposes of section 316(b) of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c)).; or
``(B) be a hospital with affiliation with such an
institution of higher education, or a State professional
medical society or association of infant mental health
demonstrating an affiliation or partnership with such an
institution of higher education; and
``(2) submit to the Secretary an application at such time,
in such manner, and containing such information as the
Secretary may require.
``(c) Use of Grant.--An entity shall use amounts received
under a grant under this section to establish training
institutes to--
``(1) equip aspiring and current mental health
professionals, including clinical social workers,
professional counselors, marriage and family therapists,
clinical psychologists, child psychiatrists, school
psychologists, school counselors, school social workers,
[[Page S4595]]
nurses, home visitors, community health workers, and
developmental and behavioral pediatricians with
specialization in infant and early childhood clinical mental
health, and those pursuing certification or licensure in such
professions; and
``(2) emphasize equipping trainees with culturally
responsive skills in prevention, mental health consultation,
screening, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment for infants
and children, and their parents as appropriate, who have
experienced or are at risk of experiencing trauma, including
from intergenerational poverty, civil unrest, discrimination,
or oppression, exposure to violence or overdose, as well as
prevention of secondary trauma, through--
``(A) the provision of community-based training and
supervision in evidence-based assessment, diagnosis, and
treatment, which may be conducted through partnership with
qualified community-based organizations;
``(B) the development of graduate education training
tracks;
``(C) the provision of scholarships, stipends, and trainee
supports, including to enhance recruitment, retention, and
career placement of students from populations under-
represented populations in the mental health workforce; and
``(D) the provision of mid-career training to develop the
capacity of existing health practitioners.
``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this section, $25,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.''.
SEC. 204. TRAUMA-INFORMED TEACHING AND SCHOOL LEADERSHIP.
(a) Partnership Grants.--Section 202 of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1022a) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(6)--
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (H) through (K) as
subparagraphs (I) through (L), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after subparagraph (G) the following:
``(H) how the partnership will prepare general education
and special education teachers, including early childhood
educators, to support positive learning outcomes and social
and emotional development for students who have experienced
trauma (including students who are involved in the foster
care or juvenile justice systems or runaway or homeless
youth) and in alternative education settings in which high
populations of youth with trauma exposure may learn
(including settings for correctional education, juvenile
justice, pregnant, expecting and parenting students, or youth
who have re-entered school after a period of absence due to
dropping out);'';
(2) in subsection (d)(1)(A)(i)--
(A) in subclause (II), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(B) by redesignating subclause (III) as subclause (IV); and
(C) by inserting after subclause (II) the following:
``(III) such teachers, including early childhood educators,
to adopt evidence-based approaches for improving behavior
(such as positive behavior interventions and supports and
restorative justice practices), supporting social and
emotional learning, mitigating the effects of trauma,
improving the learning environment in the school, preventing
secondary trauma, compassion fatigue, and burnout, and for
alternatives to punitive discipline practices, including
suspensions, expulsions, corporal punishment, referrals to
law enforcement, and other actions that remove students from
the learning environment; and''; and
(3) in subsection (d), by adding at the end the following:
``(7) Trauma-informed and resilience-focused practice and
work in alternative education settings.--Developing the
teaching skills of prospective and, as applicable, new, early
childhood, elementary school, and secondary school teachers
to adopt evidence-based trauma-informed and resilience-
focused teaching strategies--
``(A) to--
``(i) recognize the signs of trauma and its impact on
learning;
``(ii) maximize student engagement and promote the social
and emotional development of students;
``(iii) implement alternative practices to suspension and
expulsion that do not remove students from the learning
environment; and
``(iv) engage with other school personnel, including
administrators and nonteaching staff, to foster a shared
understanding of the items described in clauses (i), (ii),
and (iii); and
``(B) including programs training teachers, including early
childhood educators, to work with students with exposure to
traumatic events (including students involved in the foster
care or juvenile justice systems or runaway and homeless
youth) and in alternative academic settings for youth unable
to participate in a traditional public school program in
which high populations of students with trauma exposure may
learn (such as students involved in the foster care or
juvenile justice systems, pregnant and parenting students,
runaway and homeless students, students exposed to family
violence or trafficking, and other youth who have re-entered
school after a period of absence due to dropping out).''.
(b) Administrative Provisions.--Section 203(b)(2) of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1022b(b)(2)) is
amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(2) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) to eligible partnerships that have a high-quality
proposal for trauma-informed and resilience-focused training
programs for general education and special education
teachers, including early childhood educators.''.
(c) Grants for the Development of Leadership Programs.--
Section 202(f)(1)(B) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1022a(f)(1)(B)) is amended--
(1) in clause (v), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in clause (vi), by striking the period and inserting
``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(vii) identify students who have experienced trauma and
connect those students with appropriate school-based or
community-based interventions and services.''.
SEC. 205. TOOLS FOR FRONT-LINE PROVIDERS.
Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in
coordination with appropriate stakeholders with subject
matter expertise which may include the National Child
Traumatic Stress Network or other resource centers funded by
the Department of Health and Human Services, shall carry out
activities to develop accessible and easily understandable
toolkits for use by front-line service providers (including
teachers, early childhood educators, school and out-of-school
program leaders, paraeducators and school support staff, home
visitors, mentors, social workers, counselors, health care
providers, child welfare agency staff, individuals in
juvenile justice settings, faith leaders, first responders,
kinship caregivers, domestic violence agencies, child
advocacy centers, homeless services personnel, and youth
development and community-based organization personnel) for
appropriately identifying, responding to, and supporting
infants, children, and youth, and their families, as
appropriate, who have experienced or are at risk of
experiencing trauma or toxic stress. Such toolkits shall
incorporate best practices developed under section 7132(d) of
the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act (Public Law 115-
271), and include actions to build a safe, stable, and
nurturing environment for the infants, children, and youth
served in those settings, capacity building, and strategies
for addressing the impact of secondary trauma, compassion
fatigue, and burnout among such front-line service providers
and other caregivers.
SEC. 206. CHILDREN EXPOSED TO VIOLENCE INITIATIVE.
Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act
of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10101) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``PART OO--CHILDREN EXPOSED TO VIOLENCE AND ADDICTION INITIATIVE
``SEC. 3051. GRANTS TO SUPPORT CHILDREN EXPOSED TO VIOLENCE
AND SUBSTANCE USE.
``(a) In General.--The Attorney General may make grants to
States, units of local government, Indian tribes and tribal
organizations (as such terms are defined in section 4 of the
Indian Self-Determination Act and Education Assistance Act),
and nonprofit organizations to reduce violence and substance
use by preventing children's trauma from exposure to violence
or substance use and supporting infants, children, and youth,
and their families, who have been harmed by violence, trauma,
or substance use to heal.
``(b) Use of Funds.--
``(1) In general.--A grant under subsection (a) may be used
to implement trauma-informed policies and practices that
support infants, children, youth, and their families, as
appropriate, by--
``(A) building public awareness and education about the
importance of addressing childhood trauma as a means to
reduce violence and substance use and improve educational,
economic, developmental, and societal outcomes for infants,
children, and youth;
``(B) providing training, tools, and resources to develop
the skills and capacity of parents (including foster
parents), adult guardians, and professionals who interact
directly with infants, children, and youth, in an organized
or professional setting, to reduce the impact of trauma,
grief, and exposure to violence on children, including
through the best practices developed under section 7132(d) of
the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act (Public Law 115-
271); and
``(C) supporting community collaborations and providing
technical assistance to communities, organizations, and
public agencies on how they can coordinate to prevent and
mitigate the impact of trauma from exposure to violence and
substance use on children in their homes, schools, and
communities.
``(2) Priority.--Priority in awarding grants under this
section shall be given to communities that seek to address
multiple types of violence and serve children who have
experienced poly-victimization.
``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section
$11,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.''.
SEC. 207. ESTABLISHMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT CHILD AND YOUTH
TRAUMA COORDINATING CENTER.
(a) Establishment of Center.--
(1) In general.--The Attorney General, in coordination with
the Civil Rights Division,
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shall establish a National Law Enforcement Child and Youth
Trauma Coordinating Center (referred to in this section as
the ``Center'') to provide assistance to adult- and juvenile-
serving State, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies
(including those operated by Indian tribes and tribal
organizations as such terms are defined in section 4 of the
Indian Self-Determination Act and Education Assistance Act)
in interacting with infants, children, and youth who have
been exposed to violence or other trauma, and their families
as appropriate.
(2) Age range.--The Center shall determine the age range of
infants, children, and youth to be covered by the activities
of the Center.
(b) Duties.--The Center shall provide assistance to adult-
and juvenile-serving State, local, and tribal law enforcement
agencies by--
(1) disseminating information on the best practices for law
enforcement officers, which may include best practices based
on evidence-based and evidence-informed models from programs
of the Department of Justice and the Office of Justice
Services of the Bureau of Indian Affairs or the best
practices developed under section 7132(d) of the SUPPORT for
Patients and Communities Act (Public Law 115-271), such as--
(A) models developed in partnership with national law
enforcement organizations, Indian tribes, or clinical
researchers; and
(B) models that include--
(i) trauma-informed approaches to conflict resolution,
information gathering, forensic interviewing, de-escalation,
and crisis intervention training;
(ii) early interventions that link child and youth
witnesses and victims, and their families as appropriate, to
age-appropriate trauma-informed services; and
(iii) preventing and supporting officers who experience
secondary trauma;
(2) providing professional training and technical
assistance; and
(3) awarding grants under subsection (c).
(c) Grant Program.--
(1) In general.--The Attorney General, acting through the
Center, may award grants to State, local, and tribal law
enforcement agencies or to multi-disciplinary consortia to--
(A) enhance the awareness of best practices for trauma-
informed responses to infants, children, and youth who have
been exposed to violence or other trauma, and their families
as appropriate; and
(B) provide professional training and technical assistance
in implementing the best practices described in subparagraph
(A).
(2) Application.--Any State, local, or tribal law
enforcement agency seeking a grant under this subsection
shall submit an application to the Attorney General at such
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the
Attorney General may require.
(3) Use of funds.--A grant awarded under this subsection
may be used to--
(A) provide training to law enforcement officers on best
practices, including how to identify and appropriately
respond to early signs of trauma and violence exposure when
interacting with infants, children, and youth, and their
families, as appropriate; and
(B) establish, operate, and evaluate a referral and
partnership program with trauma-informed clinical mental
health, substance use, health care, or social service
professionals in the community in which the law enforcement
agency serves.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated to the Attorney General--
(1) $6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026
to award grants under subsection (c); and
(2) $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026
for other activities of the Center.
____________________