,i #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #giba ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,july #ca1 #bjbj,ms4 ,velzquez introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,oversight and ,reform ,a ,,bill ,to authorize the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services to award grants to community-based nonprofit organizations to operate navigator programs1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,connecting ,communities to ,grant ,opportunities ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,grants for community-based organizations providing certain services as a result of pandemic-related programs 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 in collaboration with the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development1 the ,secretary of ,labor1 and the ,administrator of the ,small ,business ,administration1 shall award grants to community-based nonprofit organizations to operate a navigator program4 7b7 ,navigator programs ,a navigator program shall consist of recruiting1 training1 assigning1 and employing eligible navigators to facilitate application for1 or procurement of1 eligible benefits during the emergency period1 including by performing any of the following3 7#a7 ,acting as contacts1 including by assisting in the application for any eligible benefit provided to individuals1 families1 or small business concerns4 7#b7 ,screening individuals1 families1 or small business concerns that are potentially eligible1 but currently not receiving1 an eligible benefit4 7#c7 ,coordinating with appropriate ,federal agencies to distribute materials relating to eligible benefits4 7#d7 ,conducting ongoing outreach to populations regarding eligible benefits4 7c7 ,application ,to seek a grant under this section1 a community-based nonprofit organization shall submit an application to the ,secretary-- 7#a7 containing such agreements1 assurances1 and information1 and submitted in such form and manner1 as the ,secretary may require2 7#b7 including a complete description of the organization's plan for the operation of a navigator program1 including-- 7,a7 a description of the training program to be implemented for navigator personnel2 7,b7 a plan for publicizing the availability of the navigator services to be provided2 7,c7 a plan for providing service to non-,english speaking persons seeking navigator services that-- 7i7 is based on data from the ,bureau of the ,census1 is consistent with the demographics of the local areas where the navigator program will operate1 and outlines which languages are most prevalent and commonly requested in such areas for translation services2 or 7ii7 is based on qualitative and quantitative observation from community service providers1 including providers of health and mental health services1 social services1 transportation1 and other relevant community services2 and 7,d7 a plan for facilitating access to navigators by persons with hearing impairments2 7#c7 explaining the organization's inability to operate the navigator program without ,federal assistance2 and 7#d7 providing assurances that the organization will1 to the extent practicable1 seek1 recruit1 and hire navigators who are members of racial and ethnic minority groups and women in order to increase diversity within the navigator program4 7d7 ,priority ,in awarding grants under this section1 the ,secretary shall give priority to applicants that demonstrate-- 7#a7 an intent to provide navigator programs in or serving residents living in a qualified census tract1 as defined in section #db7;d77#e77;,b77ii77,i7 of the of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf 7#bf ,u4,s4,c4 #db7;d77#e77;,b77ii77,i772 and 7#b7 that the applicant has previous experience in providing services to such residents4 7e7 ,renewal of grants ,the ,secretary may renew a grant to a community-based nonprofit organization under this section1 without limitations on the duration of such renewal1 if the organization demonstrates that it-- 7#a7 has used the funds provided to it under this section in accordance with its approved application2 and 7#b7 has made progress in achieving the objectives specified in the approved application4 7f7 ,no-,cost extensions ,notwithstanding subsection 7e71 the ,secretary may extend the period of a grant under this section1 without limitations as to the duration of such extension1 to provide additional time to complete the objectives of the grant award4 7g7 ,suspension of funds in certain cases ,if the ,secretary determines that the recipient of a grant under this section is not in substantial compliance with the terms and requirements of the grant agreement1 the ,secretary may revoke or suspend funding for the grant1 in whole or in part4 7h7 ,rule of construction ,nothing in this ,act shall be construed to limit a community-based nonprofit organization from receiving a grant under this section for a population otherwise served by such organization with other ,federal funds4 7i7 ,reports to ,congress 7#a7 ,grantee report to ,congress ,not later than #ij days after the end of each fiscal year for which a grantee receives a grant under this section1 the grantee shall submit to the ,secretary a report that contains an evaluation of the results of the activities1 including financial expenditures1 made during such fiscal year to carry out the program for which the grant is received4 7#b7 ,annual reports to ,congress ,not later than ,january #a following the end of each fiscal year for which funds are appropriated to carry out this ,act1 the ,secretary shall submit to the ,congress a report describing the progress achieved through programs funded through grants under this section for the preceding fiscal year4 7j7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,the term eligible benefit means any benefit under any of the following ,acts 7including the amendments made by such ,acts73 7,a7 ,the ,coronavirus ,preparedness and ,response ,supplemental ,appropriations ,act1 #bjbj 7,public ,law #aaf-abc74 7,b7 ,the ,families ,first ,coronavirus ,response ,act 7,public ,law #aaf-abg74 7,c7 ,the ,,cares ,act 7,public ,law #aaf-acf74 7,d7 ,the ,paycheck ,protection ,program and ,health ,care ,enhancement ,act 7,public ,law #aaf-aci74 7,e7 ,paycheck ,protection ,program ,flexibility ,act of #bjbj 7,public ,law #aaf-adb74 7#b7 ,the term eligible navigator means a navigator with direct knowledge of the communities to be served4 7#c7 ,the term emergency period means the period beginning on ,january #ca1 #bjbj1 and ending on the date that is #ab months after the later of-- 7,a7 the end of any emergency or disaster declared by the ,president pursuant to the ,national ,emergencies ,act 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #afja et seq47 or the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eaba et seq47 with respect to ,,sars-,co,v-#b or another coronavirus with pandemic potential 7including any renewals thereof72 and 7,b7 the end of any emergency declared by the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services pursuant to section #cai of the ,public ,health ,service ,act with respect to ,,sars-,co,v-#b or another coronavirus with pandemic potential 7including any renewals thereof74 7#d7 ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services4 7k7 ,authorization of appropriations ,to carry out this section1 there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #ajj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal year #bjba and fiscal year #bjbb1 to remain available until expended4