H.R. 3974: Protect Black Women and Girls Act

The proposed bill, known as the Protect Black Women and Girls Act, aims to establish an Interagency Task Force to investigate and address various challenges faced by Black women and girls in the United States. The bill emphasizes several key areas, including education, economic development, healthcare, justice, and civil rights. Below is a summary of the main components and aims of the bill.

1. Establishment of the Interagency Task Force

The bill mandates that the Attorney General, in collaboration with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, will create the Interagency Task Force no later than 180 days after the bill’s enactment. This task force will include representatives from multiple federal agencies, including:

• Department of Health and Human Services
• Department of Education
• Department of Labor
• National Institutes of Health
• Department of Justice
• Department of Housing and Urban Development

2. Purpose of the Task Force

The Task Force is tasked with the following:

• Examining the conditions and experiences of Black women and girls.
• Identifying and evaluating federal, state, and local programs aimed at improving their outcomes.
• Making recommendations to enhance such programs and policies.

3. Duties of the Task Force

The Task Force will focus on several primary areas, including:

Education

• Developing community-led educational support programs for Black girls.
• Creating initiatives to improve educational access for children of incarcerated parents.
• Addressing school discipline practices that disproportionately affect Black girls.

Economic Development

• Promoting entrepreneurship and training for Black women.
• Supporting Black women-owned businesses in accessing government contracts.
• Developing career mentorship programs for Black women and creating pathways for re-entering the workforce.

Healthcare

• Conducting studies on the health and mental health of Black women and girls.
• Improving maternal health outcomes and access to healthcare services.
• Providing community-based mental health and trauma services.

Justice and Civil Rights

• Addressing issues related to domestic violence and sexual violence against Black women.
• Promoting alternatives to incarceration for Black women and girls.
• Providing support for formerly incarcerated women.

Housing

• Increasing access to permanent and transitional housing, especially for women with children and formerly incarcerated women.
• Providing legal representation for women facing eviction.

4. Reporting Requirements

The Task Force is required to submit a report to Congress within one year of its establishment and annually thereafter. This report will outline the activities conducted and ongoing efforts to improve outcomes for Black women and girls.

5. United States Commission on Civil Rights

The bill also calls for the United States Commission on Civil Rights to conduct a comprehensive study on various issues affecting Black women and girls. This includes examining:

• The contract opportunities available to Black women.
• The wage gap and pay equity for Black women.
• The high rates of maternal and infant mortality among Black women.
• The prevalence of violence against Black women and girls.
• Issues related to housing stability and the school-to-prison pipeline.

Relevant Companies

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