Sec. 9. Matching grant program expansion
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In recognition of the positive outcomes achieved for individuals served through the refugee matching grant program, under which Federal funds are matched by private sector contributions of cash, goods, and volunteers, the Director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement shall ensure that the thresholds described in paragraph
(2)are met with respect to participation by eligible individuals in such program. Subject to the availability of funds appropriated for this purpose, the percentage of eligible individuals who apply for services under the matching grant program who shall be served through such program is set at the following levels in each of the following fiscal years— at least 60 percent in fiscal year 2020; at least 70 percent in fiscal year 2021; and at least 80 percent in fiscal year 2022, and thereafter. In determining the thresholds in this paragraph, the Director shall exclude individuals who are disabled, under the age of 18, or over the age of 65 unless such individuals are being served as members of an eligible family. Individuals as described in paragraph (2)(B) shall be eligible for services under the matching grant program, and therefore be expected to achieve self-sufficiency, within 180 to 240 days of their enrollment in the program. Subject to the availability of funds appropriated for this purpose, beginning with fiscal year 2020, the Director shall, when setting the amount of the matching grants, ensure that the grant amount is adjusted annually so that it is adequate to provide for services intended to help refugees become self-sufficient within 180 to 240 days, including adjusting the amount for inflation and the cost of living. Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall undertake an assessment of the per capita amount that is provided in the matching grant program. The assessment shall— examine the adequacy of the current per capita grant amount to provide the assistance necessary to enable individuals who are served by the program to achieve self-sufficiency within 240 days; determine the per capita grant amount that would be necessary in order to provide the assistance necessary to enable individuals who are served by the program achieve self-sufficiency within 240 days; and assess the potential impact of any other changes to the operation of the program that the Director or the Office’s non-Federal partners suggest to improve the effectiveness of the program. In conducting the assessment referred to in subparagraph (B), the Director shall consult with representatives of national and local resettlement agencies with experience in providing services under the matching grant program to learn their views on the program, including their views with respect to clauses
(i)through
(iv)of subparagraph (B). Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall report to the appropriate committees of Congress the results of the assessment made pursuant to subparagraph (B). Such report shall include— the Director’s findings pursuant to subparagraph (B); the amount of the per capita grant that will be provided beginning on the first day of the first fiscal year that begins after the date of enactment of this Act; and a summary of the views expressed by the entities described in subparagraph (C). If for any reason the report described in subparagraph
(D)is not filed with the appropriate committees of the Congress on or before the required date for the submission of such report, the per capita matching grant amount for the first fiscal year that begins after the date of enactment of this Act shall be set at the amount set for such grant on September 30 of the previous fiscal year and prorated to reflect a 180- to 240-day grant period.