,i #aagth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #iejd ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,december #ac1 #bjbb,mr4 ,casten 7for himself and ,ms4 ,meng7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,ways and ,means1 and in addition to the ,committee on the ,budget1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to provide targeted funding for ,states and other eligible entities through the ,social ,services ,block ,grant program to increase the availability of menstrual products for individuals with limited access to such products4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,period ,,proud 7,providing ,resources for ,our ,underserved and ,disadvantaged7 ,act of #bjbb4 #b4 ,targeted funding for menstrual products through the ,social ,services ,block ,grant ,program 7a7 ,increase in funding for ,social ,services ,block ,grant ,program 7#a7 ,in general ,the amount specified in subsection 7c7 of section #bjjc of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acig;b7 for purposes of subsections 7a7 and 7b7 of such section is deemed to be #a1ijj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbd through #bjbg1 of which1 the amount equal to #bjj1jjj1jjj1 reduced by the amounts reserved under paragraph 7#b77;,b7 for each such fiscal year1 shall be obligated by ,states in accordance with subsection 7b74 7#b7 ,appropriation 7,a7 ,in general ,out of any money in the ,treasury of the ,united ,states not otherwise appropriated1 there is appropriated #bjj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbd through #bjbg1 to carry out this section4 7,b7 ,reservations 7i7 ,purposes ,the ,secretary shall reserve1 from the amount appropriated under subparagraph 7,a7 to carry out this section-- 7,i7 for each of fiscal years #bjbd through #bjbg1 not more than #b percent of the amount appropriated for the fiscal year for purposes of entering into an agreement with an eligible entity described in subparagraph 7,c7 to assist in providing technical assistance and training1 to support effective policy1 practice1 research1 and cross-system collaboration among grantees and subgrantees1 and to assist in the administration of the program described in this section2 and 7,,ii7 for fiscal year #bjbd1 an amount1 not to exceed #b1jjj1jjj1 for purposes of conducting an evaluation under subsection 7d74 7ii7 ,no ,state entitlement to reserved funds ,the ,state entitlement under section #bjjb7;a7 of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acig;a7a77 shall not apply to the amounts reserved under clause 7i74 7,c7 ,eligible entity described ,an eligible entity described in this subparagraph is a nonprofit organization described in section #eja7;c77#c7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf and exempt from taxation under section #eja7;a7 of such ,code1 that-- 7i7 has experience in more than #a ,state in the area of community distributions of basic need services1 including experience collecting1 warehousing1 and distributing basic necessities such as menstrual products2 7ii7 demonstrates competency to implement a project1 provide fiscal accountability1 collect data1 and prepare reports and other necessary documentation2 and 7iii7 demonstrates a willingness to share information with researchers1 practitioners1 and other interested parties4 7b7 ,rules governing use of additional funds 7#a7 ,in general ,funds are used in accordance with this subsection if-- 7,a7 the ,state1 in consultation with relevant stakeholders1 including agencies1 professional associations1 and nonprofit organizations1 distributes the funds to eligible entities to-- 7i7 decrease the unmet need for menstrual products by low-income menstruating individuals through-- 7,i7 the distribution of free menstrual products2 7,,ii7 community outreach to assist in participation in existing menstrual product distribution programs2 or 7,,iii7 improving access to menstrual products among low-income individuals2 and 7ii7 increase the ability of communities and low-income families in such communities to provide for the need for menstrual products of low-income adults2 and 7,b7 the funds are used subject to the limitations in section #bjje of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acig;d74 7#b7 ,allowable uses by eligible entities 7,a7 ,in general ,an eligible entity receiving funds made available under subsection 7a7 shall use the funds for any of the following3 7i7 ,to pay for the purchase and distribution of menstrual products among low-income individuals4 7ii7 ,to integrate activities carried out under subparagraph 7,a7 with other basic needs assistance programs serving low-income families1 including the following3 7,i7 ,programs funded by the temporary assistance for needy families program under part ,a of title ,,iv of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fja et seq471 including the ,state maintenance of effort provisions of such program4 7,,ii7 ,programs designed to support the health of eligible children1 such as the ,children's ,health ,insurance ,program under title ,,xxi of the ,social ,security ,act1 the ,medicaid program under title ,,xix of such ,act1 or ,state funded health care programs4 7,,iii7 ,programs funded through the special supplemental nutrition program for women1 infants1 and children under section #ag of the ,child ,nutrition ,act of #aiff4 7,,iv7 ,programs that offer early home visiting services1 including the maternal1 infant1 and early childhood home visiting program 7including the ,tribal home visiting program7 under section #eaa of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #gaa74 7iii7 ,to provide training or technical assistance in carrying out activities under this section4 7iv7 ,to cover administrative costs4 7,b7 ,limitation on use of funds for administrative costs ,an eligible entity receiving funds made available under this section shall not use more than #i percent of the funds for administrative costs incurred pursuant to this section4 7#c7 ,availability of funds 7,a7 ,funds distributed to eligible entities ,funds made available under subsection 7a7 that are distributed to an eligible entity by a ,state for a fiscal year may be expended by the eligible entity only in such fiscal year or the succeeding fiscal year4 7,b7 ,evaluation ,funds reserved under subsection 7a77#b77;,b77i77,,ii7 to carry out the evaluation under subsection 7d7 shall be available for expenditure through ,september #cj1 #bjbh4 7#d7 ,no effect on other programs ,any assistance or benefits received by a family through funds made available under subsection 7a7 shall be disregarded for purposes of determining the family's eligibility for1 or amount of1 benefits under any other ,federal needs-based programs4 7c7 ,annual reports ,section #bjjd of the ,social ,security ,act shall apply with respect to payments made to a ,state under this section in the same way it applies with respect to payments made to a ,state under section #bjjb of such ,act4 7d7 ,evaluation ,the ,secretary1 in consultation with ,states1 the eligible entities described in subsection 7a77#b77;,c7 receiving funds made available under this section1 shall-- 7#a7 not later than ,december #cj1 #bjcj1 complete an evaluation of the effectiveness of the assistance program carried out pursuant to this section1 such as the effect of activities carried out under this ,act on mitigating the health risks of unmet menstrual products need among individuals in low-income families2 7#b7 not later than ,march #ca1 #bjca1 submit to the ,committees on ,energy and ,commerce and on ,ways and ,means of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,finance of the ,senate a report on the results of the evaluation2 and 7#c7 not later than ,april #cj1 #bjca1 publish the results of the evaluation on the internet website of the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services4 7e7 ,guidance ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall issue guidance regarding how the provisions of this section should be carried out1 including information regarding eligible entities1 allowable use of funds1 and reporting requirements4 7f7 ,best practices ,the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 in cooperation with the ,secretary of ,education1 shall develop best practices for school officials to use in discussing menstruation with students1 and shall publish this information on the internet website of the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services4 7g7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,menstrual products ,the term menstrual products means menstrual cups1 menstrual discs1 menstrual underwear1 and sanitary napkins and tampons1 that conform to applicable industry standards4 7#b7 ,eligible entities ,the term eligible entity means a ,state or local governmental entity1 an ,indian tribe or tribal organization 7as defined in section #d of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act71 or a nonprofit organization described in section #eja7;c77#c7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf and exempt from taxation under section #eja7;a7 of such ,code that-- 7,a7 has experience in the area of community distributions of basic need services1 including experience collecting1 warehousing1 and distributing basic necessities such as diapers1 food1 or menstrual products2 7,b7 demonstrates competency to implement a project1 provide fiscal accountability1 collect data1 and prepare reports and other necessary documentation2 and 7,c7 demonstrates a willingness to share information with researchers1 practitioners1 and other interested parties4 7#c7 ,state ,the term ,state has the meaning given in section #aaja7;a77#a7 of the ,social ,security ,act for purposes of title ,,xx of such ,act4 7h7 ,limitation on authorization of appropriations ,for the administration of this section1 there are authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services not more than #f1jjj1jjj for fiscal years #bjbd through #bjbg4 7i7 ,exemption from sequestration ,funds made available to carry out this section shall be exempt from reduction under any order issued under the ,balanced ,budget and ,emergency ,deficit ,control ,act of #aihe4