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[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 205 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 205

Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the use of census block 
group data, and data from low or no population census tracts or blocks, 
  in the designation of empowerment zones and enterprise communities.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 10, 1994

Ms. Roybal-Allard submitted the following concurrent resolution; which 
            was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 
Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the use of census block 
group data, and data from low or no population census tracts or blocks, 
  in the designation of empowerment zones and enterprise communities.

Whereas subchapter C of chapter 1 of title XIII of the Omnibus Budget 
        Reconciliation Act of 1993 amended the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to 
        include provisions for the establishment of empowerment zones and 
        enterprise communities to provide inventives for job creation and the 
        expansion of manufacturing and industrial facilities;
Whereas any area nominated for designation as an empowerment zone or enterprise 
        community is required by statute to meet prescribed eligibility 
        criteria, which include a requirement that minimum poverty rates within 
        the area be categorized according to the census tracts contained within 
        the area;
Whereas the interim rule published by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Affairs 
        on January 18, 1994 (59 Fed. Reg. 2703) concerning empowerment zones and 
        enterprise communities requires the use of census tract data;
Whereas census tract data are not the most accurate indicators of poverty rates 
        in a geographic area because such data often mask differences within a 
        census tract;
Whereas census data are more accurate at the level of census block groups 
        because the Bureau of the Census develops its data at the block group 
        level and then aggregates the block group data to produce summary 
        statistics at the census tract level;
Whereas the use of census block group data would permit a focus on geographic 
        areas that are eligible for designation as empowerment zones or 
        enterprise communities, and would avoid creating eligibility for 
        substantial geographic areas that should not receive such designation;
Whereas the use of census block group data would allow eligibility for 
        empowerment zone or enterprise community designation for areas, 
        throughout the Nation, that would otherwise be eliminated from 
        consideration for such designation due to the averaging effect of 
        summarizing census block group data across the block groups that 
        comprise a census tract;
Whereas areas containing industrial centers of job growth adjacent to 
        residential concentrations of job seekers could be eligible for 
        designation as empowerment zones or enterprise communities if census 
        tracts or blocks that have no population, or (if more than 75 percent of 
        the tract or block is zoned for commercial or industrial use) have 
        populations of less than 2,000, are treated as counting towards all 
        poverty rate eligibility requirements relating to such designation;
Whereas such treatment of no or low population census tracts or blocks would 
        further the statutory goals of creating job opportunities and promoting 
        economic development; and
Whereas using census block group data, and treating census tracts or blocks that 
        have no population, or (if more than 75 percent of the tract or block is 
        zoned for commercial or industrial use) have populations of less than 
        2,000, as counting towards all poverty rate eligibility requirements, 
        would best implement the intent of the Congress to designate empowerment 
        zones and enterprise communities to assist areas with specific 
        characteristics: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of the Congress that the Secretary of Housing and 
Urban Development should--
            (1) allow census block group data to be used in the same 
        manner as census tract data in determining whether areas are 
        eligible for designation as empowerment zones and enterprise 
        communities authorized by subchapter U of chapter 1 of the 
        Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and
            (2) treat census tracts or blocks that have no population, 
        or (if more than 75 percent of the tract or block is zoned for 
        commercial or industrial use) have populations of less than 
        2,000, as counting towards all poverty rate requirements for 
        designation of such empowerment zones and enterprise 
        communities.

                                 <all>
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