,i #aaeth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #cijj ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,october #b1 #bjag,mr4 ,flores 7for himself and ,mr4 ,hultgren7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce ,a ,,bill ,to amend section #eaj of the ,social ,security ,act regarding a youth empowerment program4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,youth ,empowerment ,act of #bjag4 #b4 ,youth empowerment program 7a7 ,in general ,section #eaj of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #gaj7 is amended to read as follows3 #eaj4 ,youth empowerment program 7a7 ,in general 7#a7 ,allotments to ,states ,for the purpose described in subsection 7b71 the ,secretary shall1 for each of fiscal years #bjah and #bjai1 allot to each ,state which has transmitted an application for the fiscal year under section #eje7;a7 an amount equal to the product of-- 7,a7 the amount appropriated pursuant to subsection 7e77#a7 for the fiscal year1 minus the amount reserved under subsection 7e77#b7 for the fiscal year2 and 7,b7 the proportion that the number of low-income children in the ,state bears to the total of such numbers of children for all the ,states4 7#b7 ,other allotments 7,a7 ,other entities ,for the purpose described in subsection 7b71 the ,secretary shall1 for each of fiscal years #bjah and #bjai1 for any ,state which has not transmitted an application for the fiscal year under section #eje7;a71 allot to one or more entities in the ,state the amount that would have been allotted to the ,state under paragraph 7#a7 if the ,state had submitted such an application4 7,b7 ,process ,the ,secretary shall select the recipients of allotments under subparagraph 7,a7 by means of a competitive grant process under which-- 7i7 not later than #cj days after the deadline for the ,state involved to submit an application for the fiscal year under section #eje7;a71 the ,secretary publishes a notice soliciting grant applications2 and 7ii7 not later than #abj days after such deadline1 all such applications must be submitted4 7b7 ,purpose 7#a7 ,in general ,except for research under paragraph 7#e7 and information collection and reporting under paragraph 7#f71 the purpose of an allotment under subsection 7a7 to a ,state 7or to another entity in the ,state pursuant to subsection 7a77#b77 is to enable the ,state or other entity to implement education exclusively on sexual risk avoidance 7meaning voluntarily refraining from sexual activity74 7#b7 ,required components ,education on sexual risk avoidance pursuant to an allotment under this section shall-- 7,a7 ensure that the unambiguous and primary emphasis and context for each topic described in paragraph 7#c7 is a message to youth that normalizes the optimal health behavior of avoiding nonmarital sexual activity2 7,b7 be medically accurate and complete2 7,c7 be age-appropriate2 and 7,d7 be based on adolescent learning and developmental theories for the age group receiving the education4 7#c7 ,topics ,education on sexual risk avoidance pursuant to an allotment under this section shall address each of the following topics3 7,a7 ,the holistic individual and societal benefits associated with personal responsibility1 self-regulation1 goal setting1 healthy decisionmaking1 and a focus on the future4 7,b7 ,the advantage of refraining from nonmarital sexual activity in order to improve the future prospects and physical and emotional health of youth4 7,c7 ,the increased likelihood of avoiding poverty when youth attain self-sufficiency and emotional maturity before engaging in sexual activity4 7,d7 ,the foundational components of healthy relationships and their impact on the formation of healthy marriages and safe and stable families4 7,e7 ,how other youth risk behaviors1 such as drug and alcohol usage1 increase the risk for teen sex4 7,f7 ,how to resist and avoid1 and receive help regarding1 sexual coercion and dating violence1 recognizing that even with consent teen sex remains a youth risk behavior4 7#d7 ,contraception ,education on sexual risk avoidance pursuant to an allotment under this section shall ensure that-- 7,a7 any information provided on contraception is medically accurate and ensures that students understand that contraception offers physical risk reduction1 but not risk elimination2 and 7,b7 the education does not include demonstrations1 simulations1 or distribution of contraceptive devices4 7#e7 ,research 7,a7 ,in general ,a ,state or other entity receiving an allotment pursuant to subsection 7a7 may use up to #bj percent of such allotment to build the evidence base for sexual risk avoidance education by conducting or supporting research4 7,b7 ,requirements ,any research conducted or supported pursuant to subparagraph 7,a7 shall be-- 7i7 rigorous2 7ii7 evidence-based2 and 7iii7 designed and conducted by independent researchers who have experience in conducting and publishing research in peer-reviewed outlets4 7#f7 ,information collection and reporting ,a ,state or other entity receiving an allotment pursuant to subsection 7a7 shall1 as specified by the ,secretary-- 7,a7 collect information on the programs and activities funded through the allotment2 and 7,b7 submit reports to the ,secretary on the data from such programs and activities4 7c7 ,national evaluation 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 in consultation with appropriate ,state and local agencies1 conduct one or more rigorous evaluations of the education funded through this section and associated data2 and 7,b7 submit a report to the ,congress on the results of such evaluations1 together with a summary of the information collected pursuant to subsection 7b77#f74 7#b7 ,consultation ,in conducting the evaluations required by paragraph 7#a71 including the establishment of evaluation methodologies1 the ,secretary shall consult with relevant stakeholders4 7d7 ,applicability of certain provisions 7#a7 ,sections #ejc1 #ejg1 and #ejh apply to allotments under subsection 7a7 to the same extent and in the same manner as such sections apply to allotments under section #ejb7;c74 7#b7 ,sections #eje and #ejf apply to allotments under subsection 7a7 to the extent determined by the ,secretary to be appropriate4 7e7 ,funding 7#a7 ,in general ,to carry out this section1 there is appropriated1 out of any money in the ,treasury not otherwise appropriated1 #ge1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjah and #bjai4 7#b7 ,reservation ,the ,secretary shall reserve1 for each of fiscal years #bjah and #bjai1 not more than #bj percent of the amount appropriated pursuant to paragraph 7#a7 for administering the program under this section1 including the conducting of national evaluations and the provision of technical assistance to the recipients of allotments4 4 7b7 ,effective date ,the amendment made by this section takes effect on ,october #a1 #bjag4