A bill to amend the Denali Commission Act of 1998 to modify the authority of the Commission.

Summary: Denali Commission Act Amendments Act of 2007 - Amends the Denali Commission Act of 1998 to provide that no member of the Commission, other than the Federal Co-chairperson, shall be considered to be a federal employee.

Authorizes the Commission to accept, use, and dispose of matching funds provided by public and private sources for projects approved by the Commission.

Provides that each Commission member who is not a federal employee may elect to waive compensation.

Authorizes (current law requires) the Federal Co-chairperson to appoint an Economic Development Committee consisting of specified representatives.

Authorizes the Secretary of Labor to make direct lump sum payments to the Commission to be used to carry out a training program on careers associated with infrastructure development and long-term stability in rural Alaska. Requires the program to focus on: (1) training for construction, operations, and maintenance of Commission projects; (2) management training relating to the operation of Commission projects; (3) initiatives for Alaskan youths to encourage careers that support Commission projects; and (4) training for construction, operations, and maintenance for public infrastructure projects.

Directs the Commission to provide assistance to address the housing needs of teachers in rural Alaska. Authorizes the Commission to assist in housing development activities.

Authorizes appropriations through FY2014.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Denali Commission Act Amendments Act 
of 2007''.

SEC. 2. AUTHORITIES AND DUTIES OF THE DENALI COMMISSION.

    (a) Establishment of Commission.--Section 303(b) of the Denali 
Commission Act of 1998 (42 U.S.C. 3121 note; Public Law 105-277) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) Limitation.--No member of the Commission appointed 
        under paragraph (1), other than the Federal Cochairperson, 
        shall be considered to be a Federal employee for any 
        purpose.''.
    (b) Powers of the Commission.--Section 305 of the Denali Commission 
Act of 1998 (42 U.S.C. 3121 note; Public Law 105-277) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
    ``(e) Matching Funds.--The Commission may accept, use, and dispose 
of matching funds provided by public and private sources for projects 
approved by the Commission.''.
    (c) Commission Personnel Matters.--Section 306 of the Denali 
Commission Act of 1998 (42 U.S.C. 3121 note; Public Law 105-277) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in the first sentence, by striking ``Each 
                member'' and inserting the following:
            ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (4), 
        each member'';
                    (B) in the second sentence, by striking ``The 
                Federal'' and inserting:
            ``(2) Rate of pay.--The Federal'';
                    (C) in the third sentence, by striking ``All 
                members'' and inserting the following:
            ``(3) Federal employees.--All members''; and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) Exception.--Each member of the Commission who is not 
        an officer or employee of the Federal Government may elect to 
        waive compensation under paragraph (1).''; and
            (2) in subsection (c)(1)--
                    (A) by striking ``regulations,'' and inserting 
                ``regulations--'';
                    (B) by striking ``appoint'' and all that follows 
                through the period at the end and inserting the 
                following:
                    ``(A) appoint such personnel as may be necessary to 
                enable the Commission to perform the duties of the 
                Commission; and
                    ``(B) terminate the personnel appointed under 
                subparagraph (A).''.
    (d) Economic Development Committee.--The Denali Commission Act of 
1998 (42 U.S.C. 3121 note; Public Law 105-277) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating the second section 310 (relating to 
        the Economic Development Committee) as section 311; and
            (2) in section 311 (as redesignated by paragraph (1)), by 
        striking ``shall'' each place it appears and inserting ``may''.

SEC. 3. SPECIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE DENALI COMMISSION.

    Section 307 of the Denali Commission Act of 1998 (42 U.S.C. 3121 
note; Public Law 105-277) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
    ``(f) Training Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary of Labor is authorized to 
        make direct lump sum payments to the Commission to be used to 
        carry out a training program on careers associated with 
        infrastructure development and long-term stability in rural 
        Alaska.
            ``(2) Priorities.--The training program authorized under 
        paragraph (1) shall focus on the following priorities:
                    ``(A) Training for construction, operations, and 
                maintenance of Commission projects.
                    ``(B) Management training relating to the operation 
                of Commission projects.
                    ``(C) Initiatives for Alaskan youths to encourage 
                careers that support Commission projects.
                    ``(D) Training for construction, operations, and 
                maintenance for public infrastructure projects.
            ``(3) Availability.--Amounts made available to the 
        Commission under this subsection shall remain available until 
        expended.
    ``(g) Teacher Housing.--
            ``(1) In general.--In carrying out the functions of the 
        Commission under this Act, the Commission shall, as 
        appropriate, provide assistance to address the housing needs of 
        teachers in rural Alaska.
            ``(2) Authorized activities.--In providing assistance under 
        paragraph (1), the Commission may assist in housing development 
        activities, including, but not limited to--
                    ``(A) the acquisition, rehabilitation, and new 
                construction of housing; and
                    ``(B) multisite rehabilitation.''.

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    Section 310(a) of the Denali Commission Act of 1998 (42 U.S.C. 3121 
note; Public Law 105-277) is amended by striking ``for fiscal years 
2000, 2001, 2002, and 2008'' and inserting ``for each of fiscal years 
2009 through 2014.''.

SEC. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    (a) In General.--The amendments made by sections 2 and 3 take 
effect on the date of enactment of this Act.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--The amendment made by section 
4 takes effect on October 1, 2008.