,,ii #aahth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bbhf ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #ab1 #bjbc,mr4 ,peters 7for himself and ,mr4 ,cornyn7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to improve the effectiveness and performance of certain ,federal financial assistance programs1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,streamlining ,federal ,grants ,act of #bjbc4 #b4 ,purpose ,the purposes of this ,act are to-- 7#a7 improve the effectiveness and performance of ,federal grant and cooperative agreement programs2 7#b7 simplify the application and reporting requirements of ,federal grant and cooperative agreement programs2 7#c7 improve the delivery of services to the public1 particularly services to communities and organizations that historically have not received ,federal grants or cooperative agreements2 and 7#d7 facilitate greater coordination among agencies that award ,federal grants and non-,federal entities responsible for delivering services to the public4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,agency ,the term agency has the meaning given the term in section #eea of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#b7 ,agency co-chair ,the term agency co-chair means the agency designated by the ,director or the ,council under section #e7;e77#a74 7#c7 ,appropriate congressional committees ,the term appropriate congressional committees means-- 7,a7 the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs of the ,senate2 and 7,b7 the ,committee on ,oversight and ,accountability of the ,house of ,representatives4 7#d7 ,consultation with non-,federal entities ,the term consultation with non-,federal entities means regular and ongoing engagement with-- 7,a7 recipients and potential recipients of grants or cooperative agreements and entities that represent those recipients and potential recipients2 and 7,b7 particular attention to the recipients and potential recipients described in subparagraph 7,a7 that have not historically received grants or cooperative agreements4 7#e7 ,cooperative agreement ,the term cooperative agreement has the meaning given the term in section #fcjb of title #ca1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#f7 ,council ,the term ,council means the ,grants ,council established under section #e7;a74 7#g7 ,director ,the term ,director means the ,director of the ,office of ,management and ,budget4 7#h7 ,federal financial assistance ,the term ,federal financial assistance has the meaning given the term in section #geja of title #ca1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#i7 ,grant ,the term grant has the meaning given the term grant agreement in section #fcjb of title #ca1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#aj7 ,indian ,tribe ,the term ,indian ,tribe has the meaning given the term in section #d of the ,indian ,self ,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd74 7#aa7 ,institution of higher education ,the term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section #aja of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja74 7#ab7 ,local government ,the term local government means any unit of government within a ,state1 including-- 7,a7 a county2 7,b7 a borough2 7,c7 a municipality2 7,d7 a city2 7,e7 a town2 7,f7 a township2 7,g7 a parish2 7,h7 a local public authority1 including any public housing agency 7as defined in section #b7;b7 of the ,united ,states ,housing ,act of #aicg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #adcg7;b7772 7,i7 a special district2 7,j7 a school district2 7,k7 an intrastate district2 7,l7 a council of governments1 whether or not incorporated as a nonprofit corporation under ,state law2 and 7,m7 any other agency or instrumentality of a multi-,state1 regional1 or intra-,state or local government4 7#ac7 ,non-federal entity ,the term non-,federal entity means a ,state1 local government1 ,indian ,tribe1 institution of higher education1 or nonprofit organization4 7#ad7 ,nonprofit organization ,the term nonprofit organization means any corporation1 trust1 association1 cooperative1 or other organization that-- 7,a7 is operated primarily for scientific1 educational1 service1 charitable1 or similar purposes in the public interest2 7,b7 is not organized primarily for profit2 7,c7 uses net proceeds to maintain1 improve1 or expand the operations of the organization2 and 7,d7 is not an institution of higher education4 7#ae7 ,senior agency official for grants ,the term senior agency official for grants means an agency official designated under section #d7;a74 7#af7 ,state ,the term ,state means any ,state of the ,united ,states1 the ,district of ,columbia1 the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 the ,u4,s4 ,virgin ,islands1 ,guam1 ,american ,samoa1 the ,commonwealth of the ,northern ,mariana ,islands1 the ,trust ,territory of the ,pacific ,islands1 any instrumentality thereof1 and any multi-,state1 regional1 or interstate entity that has governmental functions4 #d4 ,senior agency officials for grants 7a7 ,senior agency official for grants ,not later than #fj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the head of each agency shall-- 7#a7 designate a senior official of the agency to be responsible for-- 7,a7 agency-wide grant and cooperative agreement policy1 management1 strategic planning1 and implementation2 and 7,b7 the responsibilities of the agency under this ,act2 and 7#b7 notify the ,director of the designation under paragraph 7#a74 7b7 ,list ,the ,director shall-- 7#a7 maintain a list of senior agency officials for grants2 and 7#b7 not later than #ij days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 make the list maintained under paragraph 7#a7 available to the public on the website of the ,office of ,management and ,budget4 #e4 ,grants council 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #ij days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,director shall establish a council to be known as the ,grants ,council4 7b7 ,membership ,the ,council shall be composed of-- 7#a7 the ,controller of the ,office of ,federal ,financial ,management of the ,office of ,management and ,budget1 who shall act as the ,chair of the ,council2 7#b7 with respect to each agency that distributes grants or enters into cooperative agreements1 the senior agency official for grants of the agency2 and 7#c7 other relevant agency officials1 as determined necessary by the ,chair4 7c7 ,administrative support ,the ,administrator of ,general ,services shall provide administrative support for the ,council4 7d7 ,solicitation of feedback ,the ,director shall-- 7#a7 consistently and regularly solicit input and collect feedback and user experience information with respect to the application1 administration1 and reporting of grants and cooperative agreements1 including from non-,federal entities2 and 7#b7 incorporate the information collected under paragraph 7#a7 into the work of the ,council4 7e7 ,implementation assistance 7#a7 ,agency co-chair 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,director shall designate an agency with representation on the ,council to serve as the agency co-chair to assist the ,director in carrying out the responsibilities under this section4 7,b7 ,term ,the term of service of the agency co-chair shall be #b years4 7,c7 ,renewal ,at the discretion of the ,council1 an agency may serve as the agency co-chair for not more than #b consecutive terms4 7,d7 ,successor ,upon the expiration of a term of service of an agency co-chair1 the members of the ,council shall designate a successor agency co-chair4 7#b7 ,interagency working groups ,the ,director may use interagency working groups to assist in carrying out the responsibilities under this section4 7f7 ,interagency duties ,the ,director1 in consultation with the ,council1 shall direct1 coordinate1 and assist agencies in-- 7#a7 designing and implementing common data standards under chapter #fd of title #ca1 ,united ,states ,code2 7#b7 creating guidelines for simplified notice of funding opportunities that improve the user experience for grants and cooperative agreements2 7#c7 improving interagency and intergovernmental coordination of information collection and data sharing relating to grant and cooperative agreement programs1 including for the purpose of performance management and program evaluation2 7#d7 improving the timeliness1 completeness1 and quality of information received by agencies from recipients of grants and cooperative agreements2 7#e7 ensuring the consistent application and interpretation of governmentwide ,federal financial assistance policy1 oversight1 and management2 7#f7 supporting the development of the ,federal financial assistance workforce2 and 7#g7 identifying and improving other procedures and policies relating to the application1 administration1 and reporting of grants and cooperative agreements1 as identified by the ,council4 7g7 ,report on improvements ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 and every #b years thereafter until the date that is #ae years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,director1 in consultation with the ,council1 shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report relating to the implementation of this ,act4 7h7 ,report on recommended changes in law ,not later than #d years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,director1 in consultation with the ,council1 shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report containing recommendations for changes in law to improve the effectiveness1 performance1 and coordination of grant and cooperative agreement programs4 #f4 ,agency grant improvement plans 7a7 ,agency guidance ,not later than #bgj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,director1 in consultation with the ,council1 shall issue guidance for the development of agency plans to-- 7#a7 streamline and simplify the application1 administrative1 and reporting procedures for each grant and cooperative agreement program administered by the agency2 7#b7 simplify and improve user experience with respect to notices of funding opportunity1 including by implementing-- 7,a7 the use of plain language2 7,b7 the listing of the availability of1 and contact information for1 training and assistance relating to applying for1 administering1 and reporting on grants and cooperative agreements2 and 7,c7 the inclusion of a summary of the funding opportunity of not more than #ejj words2 7#c7 demonstrate active participation by the agency in the ,council2 7#d7 demonstrate appropriate coordination with the ,grants ,quality ,service ,management ,office1 or any successor organization1 with respect to the adoption by the agency1 or plans for adoption by the agency1 of grant management solutions or services that meet usability and modernization standards established by the ,director2 7#e7 ensure potential applicants for grant and cooperative agreement programs have opportunities to receive training and assistance2 7#f7 improve the abilities of recipients of grants and cooperative agreements to provide timely1 complete1 and high-quality information in response to ,federal reporting requirements2 and 7#g7 establish specific annual goals and objectives to further the purposes of this ,act and measure annual performance in achieving those goals and objectives4 7b7 ,review of plans and reports ,upon request by the ,director1 the head of each agency shall submit to the ,director information and reporting relating to the implementation of this ,act by the agency4 7c7 ,exemptions 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,director may exempt an agency1 a component of an agency1 or a particular grant or cooperative agreement program of an agency from the requirements of this ,act if the ,director determines that the agency does not administer a significant number of grant and cooperative agreement programs4 7#b7 ,list of exempted agencies ,the ,director shall-- 7,a7 maintain a list of agencies1 components of agencies1 and grant and cooperative agreement programs exempted under paragraph 7#a72 and 7,b7 make the list maintained under subparagraph 7,a7 available to the public on the website of the ,office of ,management and ,budget4 7d7 ,agency plans ,subject to subsection 7e71 not later than the earlier of #a year after the date on which the ,director issues guidance under subsection 7a7 and #fce days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the head of each agency shall develop1 implement1 and submit to the ,director and the appropriate congressional committees a plan in response to the guidance4 7e7 ,extension ,if the head of an agency is unable to comply with the deadline established under subsection 7d7 to develop and implement a plan1 the ,director may extend the period during which the agency may develop and implement the plan by not more than #a year4 7f7 ,comment and consultation on agency plans 7#a7 ,comment 7,a7 ,in general ,the head of each agency shall publish the plan developed in accordance with the guidance issued under subsection 7a7 in the ,federal ,register4 7,b7 ,public comment ,with respect to a plan published in the ,federal ,register by the head of an agency in accordance with subparagraph 7,a7-- 7i7 the head of the agency shall review public comments on the plan submitted through the ,federal ,register and by other means2 and 7ii7 to the maximum extent practicable1 the head of the agency shall hold a public forum on the plan4 7#b7 ,consultation ,the senior agency official for grants of each agency shall participate in consultation with non-,federal entities during the development and implementation of the plan developed in accordance with the guidance issued under subsection 7a74 7g7 ,annual report 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of the submission of the plan of an agency under subsection 7d71 and annually thereafter1 the senior agency official for grants of the agency or the head of the agency1 as applicable1 shall submit to the ,director and the appropriate congressional committees a report on-- 7,a7 the implementation of the plan2 and 7,b7 the performance of the agency in meeting the goals and objectives described in subsection 7a77#g74 7#b7 ,inclusion in other reports ,effective on the date on which the head of an agency submits a plan under subsection 7d71 the head of the agency shall update and include the goals and objectives described in subsection 7a77#g7 in each performance plan of the agency required under section #aaae of title #ca1 ,united ,states ,code4 #g4 ,grants4gov 7a7 ,report ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,director1 in coordination with the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that-- 7#a7 contains findings from a study on the accessibility and user experience of ,grants4gov1 or any successor website2 and 7#b7 provides recommendations based on the findings described in paragraph 7#a7 to improve the access to the function of ,grants4gov1 or any successor website4 7b7 ,improvements ,not later than #c years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,director1 in coordination with the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 shall implement the recommendations described in subsection 7a77#b74 #h4 ,evaluation 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #e years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states1 in consultation with non-,federal entities1 shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees an evaluation of the effectiveness of this ,act4 7b7 ,contents ,the evaluation under subsection 7a7 shall-- 7#a7 assess the implementation of this ,act and the extent to which the implementation meets the purposes of this ,act2 7#b7 make specific recommendations to further the implementation of this ,act2 7#c7 evaluate the actual performance of each agency in achieving the goals and objectives stated in the plan of the agency developed in accordance with the guidance issued under section #f7;a72 and 7#d7 assess the level of coordination among the ,director and non-,federal entities in implementing this ,act4