,,ii #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bcbc ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #ac1 #bjba,mr4 ,warnock 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,ossoff1 and ,mr4 ,padilla7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,banking1 ,housing1 and ,urban ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to amend title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 to establish the ,helping ,obtain ,prosperity for ,everyone program1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,helping ,obtain ,prosperity for ,everyone program 7a7 ,program establishment 7#a7 ,in general ,chapter #ec of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by inserting after section #ecjg the following3 #ecjh4 ,helping ,obtain ,prosperity for ,everyone program 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,area of persistent poverty ,the term area of persistent poverty means-- 7,a7 a county that has consistently had greater than or equal to #bj percent of the population living in poverty during the most recent #cj-year period for which data is available1 as measured by the #aiij and #bjjj decennial censuses and the most recent ,small ,area ,income and ,poverty ,estimates1 as estimated by the ,bureau of the ,census2 7,b7 a census tract with a poverty rate of at least #bj percent as measured by the most recent #e-year data series available from the ,american ,community ,survey of the ,bureau of the ,census for all ,states and ,puerto ,rico2 or 7,c7 any other territory or possession of the ,united ,states of which at least #bj percent of the population has consistently lived in poverty over the most recent #cj-year period for which data is available1 as measured by the #aiij1 #bjjj1 and #bjaj decennial censuses or equivalent data of the ,bureau of the ,census4 7#b7 ,covered project ,the term covered project means any project eligible under this chapter carried out by an eligible entity that would serve an area of persistent poverty4 7#c7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means an eligible recipient or subrecipient under section #ecjg1 #ecaj1 or #ecaa that seeks to carry out a covered project4 7#d7 ,program ,the term program means the ,helping ,obtain ,prosperity for ,everyone program established under subsection 7b74 7b7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary shall carry out a program1 to be known as the ,helping ,obtain ,prosperity for ,everyone program1 to award grants to eligible entities-- 7#a7 to carry out planning or engineering work for covered projects1 which may include studies or analyses to assess the transit needs of an area of persistent poverty2 and 7#b7 to develop technical or financing plans for covered projects4 7c7 ,application ,an eligible entity seeking a grant under the program1 or a ,state department of transportation acting on behalf of an eligible entity seeking a grant under the program1 shall submit to the ,secretary an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 7d7 ,federal share ,the ,federal share of the cost of an activity described in subsection 7b7 shall be not less than #ij percent4 7e7 ,outreach ,not later than #a year after the date on which the ,secretary establishes the program1 the ,secretary shall conduct outreach1 including through personal contact1 webinars1 online materials1 and other appropriate methods determined by the ,secretary1 to eligible entities with respect to grant opportunities under the program4 7f7 ,partnerships 7#a7 ,in general ,the recipient of a grant under the program may enter into a partnership with a nonprofit organization or other entity to assist the recipient in carrying out the activities described in subsection 7b74 7#b7 ,encouragement ,the ,secretary shall encourage recipients of grants under the program to enter into partnerships with nonprofit organizations that could assist the recipient in ensuring that a covered project results in lower emissions or no emissions4 7g7 ,rural areas ,of the amounts made available to carry out the program each fiscal year1 the ,secretary shall ensure that not less than #bj percent is used to carry out covered projects in rural areas4 4 7#b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of sections for chapter #ec of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section #ecjg the following3 #ecjh4 ,helping ,obtain ,prosperity for ,everyone program4 4 7b7 ,funding ,section #ecch7;a7 of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#a7-- 7,a7 in the matter preceding subparagraph 7,a71 by inserting #ecjh1 after #ecjg12 7,b7 in subparagraph 7,d71 by striking and at the end2 7,c7 in subparagraph 7,e71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 and2 and 7,d7 by adding at the end the following3 7,f7 #be1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbb through #bjbf4 2 and 7#b7 in paragraph 7#b7-- 7,a7 in subparagraph 7,m71 by striking and at the end2 7,b7 in subparagraph 7,n77ii71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 and2 and 7,c7 by adding at the end the following3 7,o7 #be1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbb through #bjbf shall be available to carry out section #ecjh4 4