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Week Ending August 1, 2008

H.R.4255 To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide assistance to the Paralympic Program of the United States Olympic Committee, and for other purposes.

The bill directs assistance to the Paralympic Program of the US Olympic Committee from the VA through grants to the USOC to plan, develop, manage and implement the Paralympic Program for veterans and members of the Armed Forces. The bill establishes the Office of National veterans Sports Programs and Special Events to oversee and facilitate the program.

The purpose of the bill is reported to promote lifelong health of disable veterans and Armed Forces Members through regular participation in physical activity and sports and to develop a system that promotes those goals.

The USOC may use the grant to recruit, support, encourage, schedule, facilitate, supervise and implement the instruction and competition activities, training and technical assistance, and coordination and program development activities for veterans and members of the Armed Forces with physical disabilities.

Local organizations would provide training and support within their own communities.

Grants must be approved by the VA after consideration of the activities to be carried out, measurable goals and objectives to be achieved. Administrative funds may be provided not to exceed 10% of the grant amount.

Sponsor:  Rep. Bob Filner (CA-51^st)

Vote: Passed House by voice vote July 31, 2008

Cost to the taxpayers: “There is authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 annually to carry out this section.” “CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 4255 would cost $10 million in 2009 and $50 million over the 2009-2013 period, assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts. Enacting the bill would have no effect on direct spending or revenues”

Earmark Certification:   H.R. 4255 does not contain any congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in clause 9(d), 9(e), or 9(f) of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives.

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MORE INFORMATION

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

(a) Findings- Congress makes the following findings:

(1) In 1998, Congress enacted the Olympic and Amateur Sports Act Amendments of 1998 (33 U.S.C. 101 note), which amended chapter 2205 of title 36, United States Code, and included a statement that the purpose of the Act was `to encourage and provide assistance to amateur athletic programs and competition for amateur athletes with disabilities, including, where feasible, the expansion of opportunities for meaningful participation by such amateur athletes in programs of athletic competition for able-bodied amateur athletes'.

(2) The United States Olympic Committee manages and administers the Paralympic Program for physically disabled athletes.

(3) In 2005, the United States Olympic Committee entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to expand the Paralympic Program to provide special training and rehabilitation to disabled veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces as part of their rehabilitation and return to an active lifestyle.

(4) The Paralympic Program has a significant positive effect on the quality of life of such veterans and servicemembers, including helping to improve the mobility, vitality, and physical, psychological, and social well-being of disabled veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces who participate in the program and reducing the incidence of secondary medical conditions in those participants.

(5) Because of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, the number of disabled veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces has increased substantially and it is therefore necessary to expand the scope and size of the Paralympic Program to provide rehabilitative services through sports to disabled veterans and members of the Armed Forces.

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS OF THE LEGISLATION

Section 1. Short title

This section would provide the short title of H.R. 4255 as the `United States Olympic Committee Paralympics Program Act of 2008.'

Section 2. Findings and purpose

Subsection (a) Findings

This subsection notes that Congress finds that: the United States Olympic Committee manages and administers the Paralympic Program for physically disabled athletes; the United States Olympic Committee entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to expand the Paralympic Program to provide special training and rehabilitation to disabled members and veterans of the Armed Forces; the Paralympic Program helps rehabilitate disabled members and veterans of the Armed Forces, reducing the incidence of secondary medical conditions in those participants; because of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom the number of disabled members and veterans has substantially increased; thereby, justifying the expansion of the Paralympic Program.

Subsection (b) Purpose

This subsection states that the purpose of this Act is to promote a healthy lifestyle of disabled veterans and members of the Armed Forces through physical activity and sports; increase outreach efforts for participation in disabled sports; create partnerships among organizations involved in helping disabled athletes; provide training to organizations that offer paralympic sports training to disabled veterans and members of the Armed Forces in their own communities; provide support to the United States Olympic Committee to increase participation in the Paralympic Program.

Section 3. Department of Veterans Affairs provision of assistance to United States Olympic Committee Paralympic Program

This section creates a new section 521A of title 38, United States Code, that would authorize the VA to provide grants to the USOC to implement the Paralympic Program. The VA would be required to conduct oversight of the use of the grant and the USOC would be required to submit an application to the Secretary that outlines the goal and objectives that would be achieved with the grant funds prior to receiving the grant. In addition, the grant application would provide a list of local and national partnerships that would be participating in activities proposed to be funded by the grant and the amount of grant funds that would be distributed to such other groups. Grant monies could only be used to support, supervise, and implement the activities for disabled veterans and members of the Armed Forces for a program approved by the Secretary that provides services and activities for disabled veterans and members of the Armed Forces.

Section 4. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of National Veterans Sports Programs and Special Events

This section would establish an Office of National Veterans Sports Programs and Special Events. The Office Director will report directly to the Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs. The Office Director would establish and carry out qualifying programs approved by the Secretary and facilitate and encourage participation of disabled veterans in such programs. Subject to the availability of appropriations for such purpose, the Office Director would be authorized to establish a monthly amount of subsistence allowance for certain veterans competing, or selected, for a spot on the U.S. Paralympic Team.

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