US Codex
Bill
Notes

Title II — Grants

H.R. 4949 · 113th Congress · Jun 24, 2014 · Lineage

II Grants

Sec. 201 Initial Entry, Adjustment, and Citizenship Assistance Grants

(a)
Authorization— The Director of Citizenship and Immigration Services, in consultation with the Director of the National Office of New Americans, shall award Initial Entry, Adjustment, and Citizenship Assistance grants to eligible entities.
(b)
Eligibility— An entity eligible to receive a grant under this section is a unit of local government, private organization, community-based organization, or not-for-profit organization—
(1)
that provides authorized direct legal assistance to immigrants to the United States; and
(2)
that submits to the Director of Citizenship and Immigration Services an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as such Director, in consultation with the Director of the National Office of New Americans, may reasonably require.
(c)
Use of funds—
(1)
In General— Funds awarded under this section may be used to provide to an eligible non-citizen legal assistance relating to the immigration status of such non-citizen, or related services. Such assistance may include—
(A)
screening to assess the eligibility of a prospective applicant seeking a change in immigration status;
(B)
completing immigration applications;
(C)
gathering proof of identification, employment, residence, and tax payment;
(D)
gathering proof of relationships to eligible family members;
(E)
applying for any waivers for which an applicant and qualifying family members may be eligible; and
(F)
advising an applicant on the rights and responsibilities of United States citizenship.
(2)
Immigrants eligible for assistance— A non-citizen is eligible to receive the assistance described in paragraph (1) if such non-citizen is—
(A)
seeking to become a permanent resident or naturalized citizen; or
(B)
seeking relief from removal and authorization to remain in the United States lawfully and permanently.
(d)
Priority— In awarding grants under this section, priority shall be given to—
(1)
entities that demonstrate intent to use grant funds to serve individuals living in a State with a foreign-born population of not less than 5 percent that has experienced an increase that is higher than the national average in the population of non-citizen residents during the most recent 10-year period, based on data compiled by the Office of Immigration Statistics or the United States Census Bureau, or units of local government located within such State; or
(2)
entities that demonstrate intent to use grant funds to serve individuals living in any of the 10 States with the highest number of non-citizen residents, based on data compiled by the Office of Immigration Statistics or the United States Census Bureau, or units of local government located within such State.
(e)
Certification— In order to receive a payment under this section, a participating entity shall submit to the Director of Citizenship and Immigration Services a certification that the proposed uses of grant funds by the entity are consistent with this section and meet all necessary criteria determined by the Director of Citizenship and Immigration Services in consultation with the Director of the National Office of New Americans.
(f)
Annual report and evaluation— Not later than 90 days after the end of each fiscal year for which an entity receives grant funds under this section, the entity shall submit to the Director of Citizenship and Immigration Services the following:
(1)
A report that describes—
(A)
the activities undertaken by the entity that were funded entirely or partially by the grant funds;
(B)
the geographic area or areas served by the grant funds;
(C)
an estimate of the number of non-citizens living in the jurisdiction or service area of the entity, which demonstrates that the entity made a reasonable effort to determine such number;
(D)
the number of non-citizens receiving assistance that was funded entirely or partially by grant funds received by the entity; and
(E)
the primary languages spoken in the jurisdiction or service area of the entity.
(2)
An evaluation of any program of the entity using grant funds under this section, including an assessment of—
(A)
the effectiveness of such program and recommendations for improving the program;
(B)
the future needs of immigrants to the United States; and
(C)
the future needs of States and units of local government related to immigrant integration.
(g)
State defined— In this section, the term “State” means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
(h)
Effective period— This section shall be in effect for a period of 10 fiscal years beginning with fiscal year 2016.

Sec. 202 Integration Success Grants

(a)
Grants Authorized— The Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Director of the National Office of New Americans (in this section referred to as the “Director”), may jointly provide grants on a competitive basis to improve the economic, linguistic, and civic integration of immigrants and their children.
(b)
Eligibility— An entity eligible to receive a grant under this section is a State, or a unit of local government working in partnership with a not-for-profit organization or community-based organization, that submits to the Secretaries an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretaries, in consultation with the Director, may reasonably require, which may include—
(1)
a proposal outlining the methods the entity intends to use to effectively carry out the activities funded by the grant;
(2)
a sociodemographic profile of non-citizens living within the jurisdiction or service area of the entity; and
(3)
a description of opportunities and challenges in improving the economic, linguistic, and civic integration of immigrants.
(c)
Use of Funds— An entity awarded a grant under this section may use the grant funds—
(1)
to expand access to, and improve the quality of, programs supporting the economic advancement of immigrants in areas that include financial literacy, small business development, employment navigation, and training opportunities;
(2)
to expand programs that provide basic adult education and contextualized English language skills that improve the literacy, numeracy, workforce skills, and educational attainment of immigrants over the age of 18;
(3)
to expand access to programs that assist immigrants in obtaining recognized postsecondary credentials or employment, or in building measurable skills to lead to the attainment of an industry-recognized credential or certificate; and
(4)
to educate immigrants about United States history, civics, citizenship rights and responsibilities, democracy, opportunities to engage in the civic life of their community, unit of local government, and State, and the navigation of local systems that support the economic, linguistic, and civic integration of individuals and families.
(d)
Priority— In awarding grants under this section, priority shall be given to—
(1)
an entity that uses not less than ten percent of matching funds from non-Federal sources;
(2)
an entity that collaborates with at least one public or private entity to carry out a comprehensive plan to improve the coordination of relevant immigrant integration services and accelerate the integration progress; and
(3)
a State—
(A)
that has a foreign born population of not less than 5 percent and that has experienced an increase in non-citizen residents that is higher than the national average during the most recent 10-year period, based on data compiled by the Office of Immigration Statistics or the United States Census Bureau, or a unit of local government located within such State; or
(B)
that is one of the 10 States with the highest number of non-citizen residents, based on data compiled by the Office of Immigration Statistics or the United States Census Bureau, or a unit of local government located within such State.
(e)
Certification— In order to receive a payment under this section, a participating entity shall provide the Secretaries with a certification that the proposed uses of grant funds by the entity are consistent with this section and meet all necessary criteria determined by the Secretaries in consultation with the Director.
(f)
Annual report and evaluation— Not later than 90 days after the end of each fiscal year for which an entity receives a grant under this section, such entity shall submit to the Secretaries the following:
(1)
A report that describes—
(A)
the activities undertaken by the entity;
(B)
the geographic area or areas served by the grant funds; and
(C)
a description of the sociodemographic characteristics of individuals served by the grant funds; and
(2)
An evaluation of any program of the entity that receives grant funds, including an assessment of—
(A)
the effectiveness of such program and recommendations for improving the program;
(B)
the future needs of immigrants to the United States; and
(C)
the future needs of States and units of local government related to immigrant integration.
(g)
Annual report to States— The Director of the National Office of New Americans shall inform each State annually of the amount of funds available to such State under this section.
(h)
State defined— In this section, the term “State” means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
(i)
Effective period— This section shall be in effect for a period of 10 fiscal years beginning with fiscal year 2016.

Sec. 203 Integration Success Fund

(a)
In General— There is established in the Treasury an account known as the “Integration Success Fund”.
(b)
Authorization of appropriations— There are authorized to be appropriated to the Integration Success Fund such funds as may be necessary to carry out this title.
(c)
Gifts, bequests, and devises— The Director of the National Office of New Americans may solicit, accept, use, and dispose of gifts, bequests, or devises of services or property, both real and personal, for the purpose of awarding grants established under sections 201 and 202. Gifts, bequests, or devises of money and proceeds from sales of other property received as gifts, bequests, or devises shall be deposited in the Integration Success Fund established by subsection (a) and shall be available for disbursement to eligible entities in accordance with this title.