Introduced in House — H.R. 9839

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 9839

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 22, 2026

Mr. Carey (for himself and Ms. Barragán) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a grant program to, through subgrants to eligible entities, improve certain impacts of participation in programs related to physical activity or youth sports and increase access to youth sports, and for other purposes.

Section 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Sports Training, Recreation, and Opportunities for the Next Generation Act or the STRONG Kids Act.

Sec. 2. Grant program related to physical activity and youth sports

(a) Grant program

The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in conjunction with the Director of the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (in this section referred to as the Secretary), shall establish a program to make grants on a competitive basis to national nonprofits or government organizations, or regional nonprofits or State-based government organizations, that run youth sports programs to, through subgrants in accordance with subsection (b)—

(1)

improve the impacts, with respect to health and positive youth development, of participation in programs related to physical activity or sports for individuals under 18 years of age; and

(2)

increase access to such programs.

(b) Subgrants

A nonprofit or organization that receives a grant under subsection (a) shall make subgrants on a competitive basis to eligible entities to—

(1)

improve the effectiveness of a program related to physical activity or youth sports;

(2)

increase participation in such a program;

(3)

promote safety and health in such a program; or

(4)

support the prevention of and response to physical, mental, and sexual abuse in youth sports through background checks, education, training, and mandatory reporting policies.

(c) Eligibility for subgrants

To be eligible to receive a subgrant under subsection (b), an entity shall—

(1)

be a local nonprofit or government organization; and

(2)

have experience organizing youth sports.

(d) Eligible use of funds for subgrants

(1) In general

An eligible entity that receives a subgrant under subsection (b) shall use any funds received through such subgrant to carry out an activity that meets at least one requirement described in subsection (b), including any of the following:

(A)

For the purpose of lowering barriers to participation, implementing an activity focused on increasing the rate of participation in youth sports among populations less likely to participate due to disability or economic or geographic limitation.

(B)

Implementing a program or policy for coaches related to training and voluntary certification, including with respect to—

(i)

health benefits of youth sports and physical activity;

(ii)

youth development and character development;

(iii)

a code of conduct for coaches;

(iv)

promoting positive lifestyle behaviors;

(v)

promoting a positive sports experience, athletic development, teamwork, leadership, and socialization skills;

(vi)

implementing any applicable protocol issued by the United States Center for SafeSport;

(vii)

an injury prevention strategy, including free online concussion training offered by the Centers for Disease Control; and

(viii)

a risk management strategy, including maintaining a safe venue for physical activity or youth sports.

(C)

Implementing training related to youth development and character development.

(D)

Implementing an evaluation and results implementation process to measure physical, mental, and social health of athletes.

(E)

Educating parents, caregivers, and guardians and raising awareness about the importance of participation in physical activity and youth sports.

(F)

Implementing an athlete code of conduct and instruction.

(G)

Implementing an activity focused on coach and volunteer retention.

(H)

Implementing an activity that—

(i)

focuses on fostering a positive sport experience; and

(ii)

emphasizes athlete development, teamwork, leadership, and socialization skills.

(I)

Implementing an activity that promotes positive lifestyle behaviors, including positive—

(i)

nutrition practices;

(ii)

academic performance;

(iii)

life-long practices; or

(iv)

self-image.

(J)

For the purpose of lowering barriers to participation—

(i)

implementing a program or procedure that enables participation regardless of athletic ability;

(ii)

acquiring or modifying any venue used for physical activity or youth sports;

(iii)

ensuring any such venue complies with requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.); or

(iv)

enabling a league or team to reduce, waive, or cover the full amount of any fee for participation, including through providing scholarships.

(K)

Implementing an activity focused on increasing the capacity of such eligible entity to organize youth sports, including increasing the number of youth league teams organized by such eligible entity to accommodate more youth.

(L)

Establishing a procedure for implementing any applicable prevention, reporting, or training protocol issued by the United States Center for SafeSport with respect to preventing physical, mental, and sexual abuse of athletes, including any protocol related to covering the cost of a background check for a coach or volunteer.

(M)

Establishing a procedure to encourage—

(i)

water drinking;

(ii)

physical movement; and

(iii)

consumption of nutritious snacks.

(N)

Implementing a program for individuals with a physical or mental disability.

(O)

Implementing a parent code of conduct and instruction.

(P)

Encouraging and facilitating participation in—

(i)

the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award program carried out by the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition; and

(ii)

the Presidential Fitness Test administered by the Secretary of Health and Human Services in accordance with Executive Order 14327 (90 Fed. Reg. 37993; relating to the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition, and the reestablishment of the Presidential Fitness Test).

(Q)

With respect to such program and such test, developing a strategy to ensure the Council or Secretary, respectively, recognize youth, regardless of their ability, for continued improvement over time.

(R)

Working with insurance providers or other risk management experts to maintain a safe environment.

(2) Prioritization of certain youth

In carrying out an activity described in paragraph (1), an eligible entity shall prioritize youth with limited resources.

(3) National strategy and other guidance

In the case of an activity described in subparagraph (A), (B), (J), (K), or (L) of paragraph (1), an eligible entity shall carry out such activity in accordance with—

(A)

the national strategy established by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion in the Department of Health and Human Services, entitled National Youth Sports Strategy; or

(B)

notwithstanding any policy or procedure in such national strategy, such other guidance issued by a governing body of a youth sports league.

(e) Application and review requirements for grants

To be eligible to receive a grant under subsection (a), a nonprofit or organization shall submit to the Secretary an application that—

(1)

includes a plan describing how such nonprofit or organization proposes to use any funds received through such grant to—

(A)

make subgrants in accordance with subsection (b), including a description of how the proposed use of funds received through such subgrants will meet at least one requirement described in subsection (b);

(B)

use a managed application process to make such subgrants;

(C)

provide technical assistance in accordance with subsection (g);

(D)

serve youth with limited resources; and

(E)

serve providers of adaptive sports programming for individuals with physical, cognitive, or other disabilities;

(2)

demonstrates experience—

(A)

working with eligible entities to carry out an activity similar to an activity described in subsection (b) or (d);

(B)

serving low-income and under-resourced communities; and

(C)

providing adaptive sports programming;

(3)

describes any policy of such nonprofit or organization related to background checks of staff and volunteers who engage with individuals under 18 years of age; and

(4)

includes a plan for continuing any activity proposed to be carried out using funds received under this section after such nonprofit or organization has expended all such funds.

(f) Deadline for making first grant

The Secretary shall make the first grant under subsection (a) not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act.

(g) Technical assistance for subgrants

As a condition of receiving a grant under subsection (a), a nonprofit or organization shall agree to provide technical assistance to an eligible entity that receives a subgrant under subsection (b) with respect to the eligible uses of funds described in subsection (d).

(h) Amounts

(1) Grants

(A) National

The Secretary shall make a grant to a national nonprofit or government organization in an amount that is not more than $5,000,000.

(B) Regional

The Secretary shall make a grant to a regional nonprofit or State-based government organization in an amount that is not more than $2,500,000.

(2) Subgrants

A nonprofit or organization shall make a subgrant to an eligible entity in an amount that is not less than $10,000 but not more than $50,000.

(i) Reports to Congress

Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 3 years thereafter during the period in which funds are appropriated under subsection (j), the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report evaluating, with respect to the period covered by the report, the effectiveness and outcomes of any activity carried out using funds received under this section.

(j) Funding

(1) In general

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section—

(A)

for fiscal year 2027, an amount that is equal to 50 percent of the amounts received by the Secretary of the Treasury under section 4401 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 4401) with respect to the 2025 calendar year; and

(B)

for each of fiscal years 2028 through 2037, the amount described in paragraph (2).

(2) Adjustment for inflation

For fiscal years 2028 through 2037, the amount authorized by this subsection shall be the amount under paragraph (1)(A), adjusted by the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI–U) published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor for the 12-month period ending June 30 of the preceding fiscal year.