I 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2134 

To amend title 40, United States Code, to establish a Southern New England 

Regional Commission, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 23, 2021 

Mr. CICILLINE (for himself, Mrs. TRAHAN, Mr. LYNCH, Mr. COURTNEY, Mr. 

AUCHINCLOSS, and Mr. NEAL) introduced the following bill; which was 

referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in 

addition to the Committee on Financial Services, 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 amend title 40, United States Code, to establish a Southern New England Regional Commission, and for other 

purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Southern New England 

5 Regional Commission Act’’. 


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 2134 IH

1 SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RE2 GIONAL COMMISSION. 

3 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Section 15301(a) of title 40, 

4 United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 

5 following: 

6 ‘‘(4) The Southern New England Regional 

7 Commission.’’. 

8 (b) PURPOSES FOR ECONOMIC AND INFRASTRUC9 TURE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS.—Section 15501(a) of such 

10 title is amended to read as follows: 

11 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—A Commission may make grants 

12 to States and local governments, Indian tribes, and public 

13 and nonprofit organizations for projects, approved in ac14 cordance with section 15503— 

15 ‘‘(1) to develop the transportation infrastruc16 ture of its region; 

17 ‘‘(2) to develop the basic public infrastructure 

18 of its region; 

19 ‘‘(3) to develop the telecommunications infra20 structure of its region; 

21 ‘‘(4) to assist its region in obtaining job skills 

22 training, skills development and employment-related 

23 education, career pathways, apprenticeships opportu24 nities, entrepreneurship, technology, job coaching to 

25 address the cliff effect, work supports (including 

26 child care), and business development; 


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 2134 IH

1 ‘‘(5) to provide assistance to severely economi2 cally distressed and underdeveloped areas of a region 

3 that lack financial resources for improving basic 

4 health care, two-generational practices that improve 

5 school and workforce readiness and success, and 

6 other public services, including work supports crit7 ical for families seeking employment which may in8 clude quality child care, transportation, health, and 

9 housing; 

10 ‘‘(6) to promote resource conservation, tourism, 

11 recreation, and preservation of open space in a man12 ner consistent with economic development goals; 

13 ‘‘(7) to promote the development of renewable 

14 and alternative energy sources; 

15 ‘‘(8) to support the maritime economy, includ16 ing boat and ship building and repair industries; 

17 ‘‘(9) to assist in developing defense manufac18 turing industries; 

19 ‘‘(10) to promote the adoption of composite and 

20 other innovative materials in public transportation; 

21 ‘‘(11) to grow the capacity for successful com22 munity economic development in its region; 

23 ‘‘(12) to provide for employment training for 

24 populations seeking employment, including parents 


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
4 

•HR 2134 IH

1 in poverty, adults in recovery, and reentry adults, in 

2 areas with worker shortages; and 

3 ‘‘(13) to otherwise achieve the purposes of this 

4 subtitle.’’. 

5 (c) DESIGNATION OF REGION.— 

6 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 

7 157 of such title is amended by adding at the end 

8 the following: 

9 ‘‘§ 15734. Southern New England Regional Commis10 sion 

11 ‘‘The region of the Southern New England Regional 

12 Commission shall include the following counties: 

13 ‘‘(1) RHODE ISLAND.—Each county in the 

14 State of Rhode Island. 

15 ‘‘(2) CONNECTICUT.—The counties of Hartford, 

16 New Haven, Windham, Tolland, Middlesex, and New 

17 London in the State of Connecticut. 

18 ‘‘(3) MASSACHUSETTS.—The counties of 

19 Hampden, Plymouth, Barnstable, Essex, Worcester 

20 and Bristol in the State of Massachusetts.’’. 

21 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 

22 subchapter II of chapter 157 of such title is amend23 ed by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘15734. Southern New England Regional Commission.’’. 

Æ 


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS