,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #dhja ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,october #bc1 #bjai,mr4 ,ryan 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,underwood1 ,mr4 ,gonzalez of ,ohio1 and ,mr4 ,stivers7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,public ,health ,service ,act to reauthorize the ,healthy ,start program4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,healthy ,start ,reauthorization ,act of #bjai4 #b4 ,reauthorization of healthy start program ,section #ccj;,h of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bed;c-#h7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a7-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#a71 by striking 1 during fiscal year #bjja and subsequent years12 and 7,b7 in paragraph 7#b71 by inserting or increasing above the national average after areas with high2 7#b7 in subsection 7b7-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#a71 by striking consumers of project services1 public health departments1 hospitals1 health centers under section #ccj and inserting participants and former participants of project services1 public health departments1 hospitals1 health centers under section #ccj1 ,state substance abuse agencies2 and 7,b7 in paragraph 7#b7-- 7i7 in subparagraph 7,a71 by striking such as low birthweight and inserting including poor birth outcomes 7such as low birthweight and preterm birth7 and social determinants of health2 7ii7 by redesignating subparagraph 7,b7 as subparagraph 7,c72 7iii7 by inserting after subparagraph 7,a71 the following3 7,b7 ,communities with-- 7i7 high rates of infant mortality or poor perinatal outcomes2 or 7ii7 high rates of infant mortality or poor perinatal outcomes in specific subpopulations within the community4 2 and 7iv7 in subparagraph 7,c7 7as so redesignated7-- 7,i7 by redesignating clauses 7i7 and 7ii7 as clauses 7ii7 and 7iii71 respectively2 7,,ii7 by inserting before clause 7ii7 7as so redesignated7 the following3 7i7 collaboration with the local community in the development of the project2 2 7,,iii7 in clause 7ii7 7as so redesignated71 by striking and at the end2 7,,iv7 in clause 7iii7 7as so redesignated71 by striking the period and inserting 2 and2 and 7,v7 by adding at the end the following3 7iv7 the use and collection of data demonstrating the effectiveness of such program in decreasing infant mortality rates and improving perinatal outcomes1 as applicable1 or the process by which new applicants plan to collect this data4 2 7#c7 in subsection 7c7-- 7,a7 by striking ,recipients of grants and inserting the following3 7#a7 ,in general ,recipients of grants 2 and 7,b7 by adding at the end the following3 7#b7 ,other programs ,the ,secretary shall ensure coordination of the program carried out pursuant to this section with other programs and activities related to the reduction of the rate of infant mortality and improved perinatal and infant health outcomes supported by the ,department4 2 7#d7 in subsection 7e7-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#a71 by striking appropriated-- and all that follows through the end and inserting appropriated #ace1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbj through #bjbd42 and 7,b7 in paragraph 7#b77;,b71 by adding at the end the following3 8,evaluations may also include1 to the extent practicable1 information related to-- 7i7 progress toward achieving any grant metrics or outcomes related to reducing infant mortality rates1 improving perinatal outcomes1 or reducing the disparity in health status2 7ii7 recommendations on potential improvements that may assist with addressing gaps1 as applicable and appropriate2 and 7iii7 the extent to which the grantee coordinated with the community in which the grantee is located in the development of the project and delivery of services1 including with respect to technical assistance and mentorship programs4 2 and 7#e7 by adding at the end the following3 7f7 ,,gao report 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #d years after the date of the enactment of this subsection1 the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall conduct an independent evaluation1 and submit to the appropriate ,committees of ,congress a report1 concerning the ,healthy ,start program under this section4 7#b7 ,evaluation ,in conducting the evaluation under paragraph 7#a71 the ,comptroller ,general shall consider1 as applicable and appropriate1 information from the evaluations under subsection 7e77#b77;,b74 7#c7 ,report ,the report described in paragraph 7#a7 shall review1 assess1 and provide recommendations1 as appropriate1 on the following3 7,a7 ,the allocation of ,healthy ,start program grants by the ,health ,resources and ,services ,administration1 including considerations made by such ,administration regarding disparities in infant mortality or perinatal outcomes among urban and rural areas in making such awards4 7,b7 ,trends in the progress made toward meeting the evaluation criteria pursuant to subsection 7e77#b77;,c71 including programs which decrease infant mortality rates and improve perinatal outcomes1 programs that have not decreased infant mortality rates or improved perinatal outcomes1 and programs that have made an impact on disparities in infant mortality or perinatal outcomes4 7,c7 ,the ability of grantees to improve health outcomes for project participants1 promote the awareness of the ,healthy ,start program services1 incorporate and promote family participation1 facilitate coordination with the community in which the grantee is located1 and increase grantee accountability through quality improvement1 performance monitoring1 evaluation1 and the effect such metrics may have toward decreasing the rate of infant mortality and improve perinatal outcomes4 7,d7 ,the extent to which such ,federal programs are coordinated across agencies and the identification of opportunities for improved coordination in such ,federal programs and activities4 4