[108th Congress Public Law 406]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
[DOCID: f:publ406.108]
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SPECIAL OLYMPICS SPORT AND EMPOWERMENT ACT OF 2004
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Public Law 108-406
108th Congress
An Act
To provide assistance to Special Olympics to support expansion of
Special Olympics and development of education programs and a Healthy
Athletes Program, and for other purposes. <<NOTE: Oct. 30, 2004 - [H.R.
5131]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Special Olympics
Sport and Empowerment Act of 2004.>>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. <<NOTE: 42 USC 15001 note.>>
This Act may be cited as the ``Special Olympics Sport and
Empowerment Act of 2004''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) Special Olympics celebrates the possibilities of a world
where everybody matters, everybody counts, every person has
value, and every person has worth.
(2) The Government and the people of the United States
recognize the dignity and value the giftedness of children and
adults with an intellectual disability.
(3) The Government and the people of the United States are
determined to end the isolation and stigmatization of people
with an intellectual disability.
(4) For more than 36 years, Special Olympics has encouraged
skill, sharing, courage, and joy through year-round sports
training and athletic competition for children and adults with
intellectual disabilities.
(5) Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and
competitive opportunities to 1,500,000 athletes with
intellectual disabilities in 26 sports and plans to expand the
joy of participation through sport to hundreds of thousands of
people with intellectual disabilities within the United States
and worldwide over the next 5 years.
(6) Special Olympics has demonstrated its ability to provide
a major positive effect on the quality of life of people with
intellectual disabilities, improving their health and physical
well-being, building their confidence and self-esteem, and
giving them a voice to become active and productive members of
their communities.
(7) In society as a whole, Special Olympics has become a
vehicle and platform for breaking down artificial barriers,
improving public health, changing negative attitudes in
education, and helping athletes overcome the prejudice that
people with intellectual disabilities face in too many places.
(8) The Government of the United States enthusiastically
supports Special Olympics, recognizes its importance in
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improving the lives of people with intellectual disabilities,
and recognizes Special Olympics as a valued and important
component of the global community.
(b) Purpose.--The purposes of this Act are to--
(1) provide support to Special Olympics to increase athlete
participation in and public awareness about the Special Olympics
movement;
(2) dispel negative stereotypes about people with
intellectual disabilities;
(3) build athletic and family involvement through sport; and
(4) promote the extraordinary gifts of people with
intellectual disabilities.
SEC. 3. ASSISTANCE FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS.
(a) Education Activities.--The Secretary of Education may award
grants to, or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with,
Special Olympics to carry out the following:
(1) Activities to promote the expansion of Special Olympics,
including activities to increase the participation of
individuals with intellectual disabilities within the United
States.
(2) The design and implementation of Special Olympics
education programs, including character education and volunteer
programs that support the purposes of this Act, that can be
integrated into classroom instruction and are consistent with
academic content standards.
(b) International Activities.--The Secretary of State may award
grants to, or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with,
Special Olympics to carry out the following:
(1) Activities to increase the participation of individuals
with intellectual disabilities in Special Olympics outside of
the United States.
(2) Activities to improve the awareness outside of the
United States of the abilities and unique contributions that
individuals with intellectual disabilities can make to society.
(c) Healthy Athletes.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services
may award grants to, or enter into contracts or cooperative
agreements with, Special Olympics for the implementation of on-
site health assessments, screening for health problems, health
education, data collection, and referrals to direct health care
services.
(2) Coordination.--Activities under paragraph (1) shall be
coordinated with private health providers, existing authorized
programs of State and local jurisdictions, or the Department of
Health and Human Services, as applicable.
(d) Limitation.--Amounts appropriated to carry out this section
shall not be used for direct treatment of diseases, medical conditions,
or mental health conditions. Nothing in the preceding sentence shall be
construed to limit the use of non-Federal funds by Special Olympics.
SEC. 4. APPLICATION AND ANNUAL REPORT.
(a) Application.--
(1) In general.--To be eligible for a grant, contract, or
cooperative agreement under subsection (a), (b), or (c) of
section 3, Special Olympics shall submit an application at such
time,
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in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary
of Education, Secretary of State, or Secretary of Health and
Human Services, as applicable, may require.
(2) Content.--At a minimum, an application under this
subsection shall contain the following:
(A) Activities.--A description of activities to be
carried out with the grant, contract, or cooperative
agreement.
(B) Measurable goals.--Information on specific
measurable goals and objectives to be achieved through
activities carried out with the grant, contract, or
cooperative agreement.
(b) Annual Report.--
(1) In general.--As a condition on receipt of any funds
under subsection (a), (b), or (c) of section 3, Special Olympics
shall agree to submit an annual report at such time, in such
manner, and containing such information as the Secretary of
Education, Secretary of State, or Secretary of Health and Human
Services, as applicable, may require.
(2) Content.--At a minimum, each annual report under this
subsection shall describe the degree to which progress has been
made toward meeting the goals and objectives described in the
applications submitted under subsection (a).
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated--
(1) for grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements under
section 3(a), $5,500,000 for fiscal year 2005, and such sums as
may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years;
(2) for grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements under
section 3(b), $3,500,000 for fiscal year 2005, and such sums as
may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years; and
(3) for grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements under
section 3(c), $6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2005 through
2009.
Approved October 30, 2004.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 5131 (S. 2852):
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 150 (2004):
Oct. 6, considered and passed House.
Oct. 10, considered and passed Senate.
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