To reauthorize the Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965.

Summary: Appalachian Regional Development Reauthorization Act of 2001 - Amends the Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965 (the Act) to direct the President to establish the Interagency Coordinating Council on Appalachia.Authorizes the Appalachian Regional Commission to provide technical assistance and make grants, enter into contracts, and otherwise provide funds to: (1) increase affordable access to advanced telecommunications in the region; (2) provide education and training for people, businesses, and governments in the region in the use of telecommunications technology; (3) develop relevant technology readiness programs for industry groups and businesses in the region; and (4) support entrepreneurial opportunities in information technology in the region.Eliminates the growth center criteria as a factor in considering programs and projects to be given assistance under the Act. Directs that, for each fiscal year, at least half of the grant expenditures approved by the Commission support activities or projects that benefit counties for which distressed county designations are in effect.Modifies Act provisions to direct that not more than 75 percent of the costs of any activity eligible for financial assistance for a development district that includes one or more counties for which a distressed county designation is in effect be provided from funds appropriated to carry out the Act.Adds Edmonson, Hart, and Metcalfe ( Kentucky), and Grenada, Montgomery, and Panola (Mississippi) to the counties included in the Appalachian region.Reauthorizes appropriations and extends the Act until October 1, 2006.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; AMENDMENTS TO APPALACHIAN REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT 
              ACT OF 1965.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Appalachian 
Regional Development Reauthorization Act of 2001''.
    (b) Amendments to Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965.--
Except as otherwise specifically provided, whenever in this Act an 
amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal 
of, a section or other provision of law, the reference shall be 
considered to be made to a section or other provision of the 
Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965 (40 U.S.C. App.).

SEC. 2. COORDINATION OF APPALACHIAN REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS.

    Section 104 (40 U.S.C. App.) is amended--
            (1) by striking the section heading and all that follows 
        through ``The President'' and inserting the following:

``SEC. 104. COORDINATION OF APPALACHIAN REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS.

    ``(a) Liaison Between Federal Government and Commission.--The 
President''; and
    (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(b) Interagency Coordinating Council.--
            ``(1) In general.--In carrying out subsection (a), the 
        President shall establish an interagency council to be known as 
        the `Interagency Coordinating Council on Appalachia'.
            ``(2) Membership.--The Council shall be composed of--
                    ``(A) the Federal Cochairman, who shall serve as 
                Chairperson of the Council; and
                    ``(B) representatives of Federal agencies that 
                carry out economic development programs in the 
                Appalachian region.''.

SEC. 3. TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY.

    The Act (40 U.S.C. App.) is amended by inserting after section 202 
the following:

``SEC. 203. TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY.

    ``(a) In General.--In order to ensure that the people and 
businesses of the Appalachian region have the knowledge, skills, and 
access to telecommunications services to compete in the technology-
based economy, the Commission may provide technical assistance and make 
grants, enter into contracts, and otherwise provide funds for the 
following purposes:
            ``(1) To increase affordable access to advanced 
        telecommunications in the region.
            ``(2) To provide education and training for people, 
        businesses, and governments in the region in the use of 
        telecommunications technology.
            ``(3) To develop relevant technology readiness programs for 
        industry groups and businesses in the region.
            ``(4) To support entrepreneurial opportunities in 
        information technology in the region.
    ``(b) Sources of Funding.--Assistance provided under this section 
may be provided entirely from appropriations made available to carry 
out this section or in combination with funds available under a Federal 
grant-in-aid program (as defined in section 214(c)), under another 
Federal program, or from any other source.
    ``(c) Federal Share Limitations Specified in Other Laws.--
Notwithstanding any provision of law limiting the Federal share in a 
Federal grant-in-aid program or other Federal program, funds 
appropriated to carry out this section may be used to increase such 
Federal share, as the Commission determines appropriate.
    ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Commission to carry out this section $10,000,000 
for fiscal year 2002 and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 
2003 through 2006. Such sums shall remain available until expended.''.

SEC. 4. PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT CRITERIA.

    (a) Elimination of Growth Center Criteria.--Section 224(a)(1) (40 
U.S.C. App.) is amended by striking ``in an area determined by the 
State have a significant potential for growth or''.
    (b) Distressed Counties and Areas.--Section 224 (40 U.S.C. App.) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) Assistance to Distressed Counties and Areas.--For each fiscal 
year, at least one-half of the amount of grant expenditures approved by 
the Commission under this Act shall support activities or projects that 
benefit severely and persistently distressed counties or areas.''.

SEC. 5. GRANTS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES OF LOCAL DEVELOPMENT 
              DISTRICTS.

    Section 302(a)(1)(A) (40 U.S.C. App.) is amended by inserting ``(or 
75 percent for a development district that includes 1 or more counties 
for which a distressed county designation is in effect under section 
226)'' after ``50 percent''.

SEC. 6. ADDITION OF COUNTIES TO APPALACHIAN REGION.

    Section 403 is amended--
            (1) in the third undesignated paragraph, relating to 
        Kentucky--
                    (A) by inserting ``Edmonson,'' after 
                ``Cumberland,'';
                    (B) by inserting ``Hart,'' after ``Harlan,''; and
                    (C) by inserting ``Metcalfe,'' after ``Menifee,''; 
                and
            (2) in the fifth undesignated paragraph, relating to 
        Mississippi--
                    (A) by inserting ``Grenada,'' after ``Clay,'';
                    (B) by inserting ``Montgomery,'' after ``Monroe,''; 
                and
                    (C) by inserting ``Panola,'' after ``Oktibbeha 
                Pontotoc,''.

SEC. 7. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.

    (a) Strategies.--The Act (40 U.S.C. App.) is amended--
            (1) in the third sentence of section 101(b) by striking 
        ``implementing investment program'' and inserting ``strategy 
        statement'';
            (2) in section 225--
                    (A) in subsection (a) by striking ``(3) describe 
                the development program'' and inserting ``(3) describe 
                the development strategies''; and
                    (B) in subsection (c) by striking ``Appalachian 
                State development programs'' and inserting 
                ``Appalachian State development strategies''; and
            (3) in section 303--
                    (A) in the section heading by striking ``investment 
                programs'' and inserting ``strategy statements'';
                    (B) by striking ``implementing investment program'' 
                each place it appears and inserting ``strategy 
                statement''; and
                    (C) by striking ``implementing investments 
                programs'' and inserting ``strategy statements''.
    (b) Support of Local Development Districts.--Section 102(a)(5) (40 
U.S.C. App.) is amended by inserting ``and support'' after 
``formation''.
    (c) Office Space Leasing.--Section 106(7) (40 U.S.C. App.) is 
amended by striking ``for any term expiring no later than September 30, 
2001''.
    (d) Supplements to Federal Grant-In-Aid Programs.--Section 214 (40 
U.S.C. App.) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a) by striking the third sentence;
            (2) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:
    ``(c) Federal Grant-In-Aid Programs Defined.--
            ``(1) Included programs.--In this section, the term 
        `Federal grant-in-aid programs' means those Federal grant-in-
        aid programs authorized by this Act or another Act for the 
        acquisition or development of land, the construction or 
        equipment of facilities, or other community or economic 
        development or economic adjustment activities, including but 
        not limited to grant-in-aid programs authorized by the 
        following Acts:
                    ``(A) The Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 
                U.S.C. 1251 et seq.).
                    ``(B) The Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention 
                Act (16 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.).
                    ``(C) Title VI of the Public Health Services Act 
                (42 U.S.C. 291 et seq.).
                    ``(D) The Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical 
                Education Act of 1998 (20 U.S.C. 2301 et seq.).
                    ``(E) Part IV of title III of the Communications 
                Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 390 et seq.).
                    ``(F) The Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 
                1965 (16 U.S.C 460l-4 et seq.).
                    ``(G) The Consolidated Farm and Rural Development 
                Act (7 U.S.C. 1921 et seq.).
                    ``(H) Sections 201 and 209 of the Public Works and 
                Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3141 and 
                3149).
                    ``(I) Title I of the Housing and Community 
                Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.).
            ``(2) Excluded programs.--In this section, the term 
        `Federal grant-in-aid programs' does not include--
                    ``(A) the program for the construction of the 
                development highway system authorized by section 201 or 
                any program relating to highway or road construction 
                authorized by title 23, United States Code; or
                    ``(B) any other program for which loans or other 
                Federal financial assistance, except a grant-in-aid 
                program, is authorized by this or any other Act.''; and
            (3) by striking subsection (d).
    (e) Program Development Criteria.--Section 224(a)(2) (40 U.S.C. 
App.) is amended by striking ``per capita income'' and inserting ``per 
capita market income''.

SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    Section 401(a) (40 U.S.C. App.) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(a) In General.--In addition to amounts authorized by section 201 
(and other amounts made available for the Appalachian development 
highway system program) and section 203, there are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Commission to carry out this Act--
            ``(1) $78,000,000 for fiscal year 2002;
            ``(2) $80,000,000 for fiscal year 2003;
            ``(3) $83,000,000 for fiscal year 2004;
            ``(4) $85,000,000 for fiscal year 2005; and
            ``(5) $87,000,000 for fiscal year 2006.''.

SEC. 9. TERMINATION.

    Section 405 (40 U.S.C. App.) is amended by striking ``2001'' and 
inserting ``2006''.

            Passed the House of Representatives August 2, 2001.

            Attest:

                                                 JEFF TRANDAHL,

                                                                 Clerk.