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[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1622 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1622

 To provide economic, planning, and coordination assistance needed for 
         the development of the lower Mississippi River region.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 22, 1999

Mrs. Lincoln (for herself, Mr. Frist, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Hutchinson, Mr. 
 Breaux, and Mr. Durbin) introduced the following bill; which was read 
  twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
 To provide economic, planning, and coordination assistance needed for 
         the development of the lower Mississippi River region.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Delta Regional Authority Act of 
1999''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
            (1) the lower Mississippi River region (referred to in this 
        Act as the ``region''), though rich in natural and human 
        resources, lags behind the rest of the United States in 
        economic growth and prosperity;
            (2) the region suffers from a greater proportion of 
        measurable poverty and unemployment than any other region of 
        the United States, resulting in a drain on the national economy 
        and diminishing national wealth;
            (3) the greatest hope for economic growth and 
        revitalization in the region lies in the creation of jobs, the 
        expansion of businesses, and the development of entrepreneurial 
        local economies;
            (4) the economic progress of the region requires an 
        adequate physical infrastructure, a skilled and trained 
        workforce, enhanced local leadership and civic capacity, and 
        greater opportunities for enterprise development and 
        entrepreneurship;
            (5) a concerted and coordinated effort among Federal, 
        State, and local agencies, the private sector, nonprofit 
        groups, and community-based organizations is needed if the 
        region is to share in the prosperity of the United States;
            (6) economic development planning on a regional or 
        multicounty basis offers the best prospect for achieving the 
        maximum benefit from public and private investments; and
            (7) improving the economy of the region requires a special 
        emphasis on those of the region that are most economically 
        distressed.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
            (1) to promote and encourage the economic development of 
        the region--
                    (A) to ensure that the communities and people in 
                the region have the opportunity to participate more 
                fully in the prosperity of the United States; and
                    (B) to ensure that the economy of the region 
                reaches economic parity with that of the rest of the 
                United States;
            (2) to establish a formal framework for joint Federal-State 
        collaboration in meeting and focusing national attention on the 
        economic development needs of the region;
            (3) to assist the region in obtaining the basic 
        infrastructure, skills training, local leadership capacity, and 
        opportunities for enterprise development that are essential for 
        strong local economies;
            (4) to foster coordination among all levels of government, 
        the private sector, community organizations, and nonprofit 
        groups in crafting common regional strategies that will lead to 
        broader economic growth;
            (5) to strengthen efforts that emphasize regional 
        approaches to economic development and planning;
            (6) to encourage the participation of interested citizens, 
        public officials, groups, agencies, and others in developing 
        and implementing local and regional plans for broad-based 
        economic and community development; and
            (7) to focus special attention on areas of the region that 
        suffer from the greatest economic distress.

SEC. 3. DELTA REGIONAL AUTHORITY.

    The Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1921 et 
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

                 ``Subtitle F--Delta Regional Authority

``SEC. 382A. DEFINITIONS.

    ``In this subtitle:
            ``(1) Authority.--The term `Authority' means the Delta 
        Regional Authority established by section 382B.
            ``(2) Region.--The term `region' means areas in the States 
        of Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, 
        Missouri, and Tennessee, as defined under section 4 of the 
        Lower Mississippi Delta Development Act (Public Law 100-460; 42 
        U.S.C. 3121 note).
            ``(3) Federal grant program.--The term `Federal grant 
        program' means a Federal grant program to provide assistance 
        in--
                    ``(A) acquiring or developing land;
                    ``(B) constructing or equipping a facility; or
                    ``(C) carrying out other community or economic 
                development or economic adjustment activities.

``SEC. 382B. DELTA REGIONAL AUTHORITY.

    ``(a) Establishment.--
            ``(1) In general.--There is established the Delta Regional 
        Authority.
            ``(2) Composition.--The Authority shall be composed of--
                    ``(A) a Federal member, to be appointed by the 
                President, with the advice and consent of the Senate; 
                and
                    ``(B) the Governor (or a designee of the Governor) 
                of each State in the region that elects to participate 
                in the Authority.
            ``(3) Cochairpersons.--The Authority shall be headed by 2 
        cochairpersons, which shall be--
                    ``(A) the Federal member, who shall serve--
                            ``(i) as the Federal cochairperson; and
                            ``(ii) as a liaison between the Federal 
                        Government and the Authority; and
                    ``(B) a State cochairperson, who--
                            ``(i) shall be a Governor of a 
                        participating State in the region; and
                            ``(ii) shall be elected by the State 
                        members for a term of not less than 1 year.
    ``(b) Alternate Members.--
            ``(1) State alternates.--Each State member may have a 
        single alternate, appointed by the Governor from among the 
        members of the cabinet or the personal staff of the Governor.
            ``(2) Alternate federal cochairperson.--The President shall 
        appoint an alternate Federal cochairperson.
            ``(3) Quorum.--A State alternate shall not be counted 
        toward the establishment of a quorum of the Authority in any 
        instance in which a quorum of the State members is required to 
        be present.
            ``(4) Delegation of power.--No power or responsibility of 
        the Authority specified in paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection 
        (b), and no voting right of any Authority member, shall be 
        delegated to any person--
                    ``(A) who is not a Authority member; or
                    ``(B) who is not entitled to vote in Authority 
                meetings.
    ``(c) Voting.--
            ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in section 382I(d), 
        decisions by the Authority shall require the affirmative vote 
        of the Federal cochairperson and of a majority of the State 
        members (not including a member representing a State that is 
        delinquent under subsection (g)(2)(C).
            ``(2) Quorum.--A quorum of State members shall be required 
        to be present for the Authority to make any policy decision, 
        including--
                    ``(A) a modification or revision of a Authority 
                policy decision;
                    ``(B) approval of a State or regional development 
                plan; and
                    ``(C) any allocation of funds among the States.
            ``(3) Project and grant proposals.--The approval of project 
        and grant proposals shall be--
                    ``(A) a responsibility of the Authority; and
                    ``(B) conducted in accordance with section 382I.
            ``(4) Voting by alternate members.--An alternate member 
        shall vote in the case of the absence, death, disability, 
        removal, or resignation of the State or Federal representative 
        for which the alternate member is an alternate.
    ``(d) Duties.--The Authority shall--
            ``(1) develop, on a continuing basis, comprehensive and 
        coordinated plans and programs to establish priorities and 
        approve grants for the economic development of the region, 
        giving due consideration to other Federal, State, and local 
        planning and development activities in the region;
            ``(2) not later than 220 days after the date of enactment 
        of this subtitle, establish priorities in a development plan 
        for the region (including 5-year regional outcome targets);
            ``(3) provide for an understanding of the needs and assets 
        of the region through research, demonstration, investigation, 
        assessment, and evaluation of the region, in cooperation with 
        Federal, State, and local agencies, universities, local 
        development districts, and other nonprofit groups, as 
        appropriate;
            ``(4) review and study, in cooperation with the appropriate 
        agencies, Federal, State, and local public and private programs 
        in the region;
            ``(5) recommend any modification or addition to a program 
        described in paragraph (4) that could increase the 
        effectiveness of the program;
            ``(6) formulate and recommend interstate compacts and other 
        forms of interstate cooperation;
            ``(7) work with State and local agencies in developing 
        appropriate model legislation;
            ``(8) encourage the formation of, build the capacity of, 
        and provide support for, local development districts in the 
        region;
            ``(9) encourage private investment in industrial, 
        commercial, and other economic development projects in the 
        region;
            ``(10) serve as a focal point and coordinating unit for 
        region programs;
            ``(11) provide a forum for consideration of problems of the 
        region and proposed solutions for those problems; and
            ``(12) establish and involve citizens, special advisory 
        councils, and public conferences to consider and resolve issues 
        concerning the region.
    ``(e) Information.--In carrying out the duties of the Authority 
under subsection (d), the Authority may--
            ``(1) hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and 
        places, take such testimony, receive such evidence, and print 
        or otherwise reproduce and distribute the proceedings and 
        reports on actions by the Authority as the Authority considers 
        appropriate;
            ``(2) authorize, through the Federal or State 
        cochairperson, or any other member of the Authority designated 
        by the Authority, the administration of oaths if the Authority 
        determines that testimony shall be taken or evidence shall be 
        received under oath; and
            ``(3) arrange for the head of any Federal, State, or local 
        department or agency to furnish to the Authority such 
        information as may be available to or procurable by the 
        department or agency;
            ``(4) adopt, amend, and repeal bylaws and rules governing 
        the conduct of Authority business and the performance of 
        Authority functions;
            ``(5) request the head of any Federal department or agency 
        to detail to the Authority such personnel as the Authority 
        requires to carry out functions of the Authority, each such 
        detail to be without loss of seniority, pay, or other employee 
        status;
            ``(6) request the head of any State department or agency or 
        local government to detail to the Authority such personnel as 
        the Authority requires to carry out functions of the Authority, 
        each such detail to be without loss of seniority, pay, or other 
        employee status;
            ``(7) provide for coverage of Authority employees in a 
        suitable retirement and employee benefit system by--
                    ``(A) making arrangements or entering into 
                contracts with any participating State government; or
                    ``(B) otherwise providing retirement and other 
                employee benefit coverage;
            ``(8) accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations of 
        services or real, personal, tangible, or intangible property;
            ``(9) enter into and perform such contracts, leases, 
        cooperative agreements, or other transactions as are necessary 
        to carry out Authority duties, including any contracts, leases, 
        cooperative agreements, or any other arrangement with--
                    ``(A) any department, agency, or instrumentality of 
                the United States;
                    ``(B) any State (including a political subdivision, 
                agency, or instrumentality of the State); or
                    ``(C) any person, firm, association, or 
                corporation;
            ``(10) establish and maintain a central office and field 
        offices at such locations as the Authority may select; and
            ``(11) take such other actions and incur such other 
        expenses as are necessary or appropriate.
    ``(f) Federal Agency Cooperation.--Federal agencies shall--
            ``(1) cooperate with the Authority; and
            ``(2) provide such assistance in carrying out this subtitle 
        as the Federal cochairperson may request.
    ``(g) Administrative Expenses.--
            ``(1) In general.--Administrative expenses of the Authority 
        shall be paid--
                    ``(A) by the Federal Government, during the period 
                beginning on the date of enactment of this subtitle and 
                ending on September 30, 2000; and
                    ``(B) after September 30, 2000 (except for the 
                expenses of the Federal cochairperson, including 
                expenses of the alternate and staff of the Federal 
                cochairperson, which shall be paid solely by the 
                Federal Government)--
                            ``(i) by the Federal Government, in an 
                        amount equal to 50 percent of the 
                        administrative expenses; and
                            ``(ii) by the States in the region 
                        represented by the Authority, in an amount 
                        equal to 50 percent of the administrative 
                        expenses.
            ``(2) State share.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The share of administrative 
                expenses of the Authority to be paid by each State 
                shall be determined by the Authority.
                    ``(B) No federal participation.--The Federal 
                cochairperson shall not participate or vote in any 
                decision under subparagraph (A) to determine the share 
                of administrative expenses of the Authority to be paid 
                by a State.
                    ``(C) Delinquent states.--If a State is delinquent 
                in payment of the State's share of administrative 
                expenses of the Authority under this subsection--
                            ``(i) no assistance under this subtitle 
                        shall be furnished to the State (including 
                        assistance to a political subdivision or a 
                        resident of the State); and
                            ``(ii) no member of the Authority from the 
                        State shall participate or vote in any action 
                        by the Authority.
    ``(h) Compensation.--
            ``(1) Federal cochairperson.--The Federal cochairperson 
        shall be compensated by the Federal Government at level III of 
        the Executive Schedule in subchapter II of chapter 53 of title 
        V, United States Code.
            ``(2) Alternate federal cochairperson.--The alternate 
        Federal cochairperson--
                    ``(A) shall be compensated by the Federal 
                Government at level V of the Executive Schedule 
                described in paragraph (1); and
                    ``(B) when not actively serving as an alternate for 
                the Federal cochairperson, shall perform such functions 
                and duties as are delegated by the Federal 
                cochairperson.
            ``(3) State members and alternates.--
                    ``(A) In general.--A State shall compensate each 
                member and alternate representing the State on the 
                Authority at the rate established by law of the State.
                    ``(B) No additional compensation.--No State member 
                or alternate member shall receive any salary, or any 
                contribution to or supplementation of salary from any 
                source other than the State for services provided by 
                the member or alternate to the Authority.
            ``(4) Detailed employees.--
                    ``(A) In general.--No person detailed to serve the 
                Authority under subsection (e)(6) shall receive any 
                salary or any contribution to or supplementation of 
                salary for services provided to the Authority from--
                            ``(i) any source other than the State, 
                        local, or intergovernmental department or 
                        agency from which the person was detailed; or
                            ``(ii) the Authority.
                    ``(B) Violation.--Any person that violates this 
                paragraph shall be fined not more than $5,000, 
                imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.
                    ``(C) Applicable law.--The Federal cochairperson, 
                the alternate Federal cochairperson, and any Federal 
                officer or employee detailed to duty on the Authority 
                under subsection (e)(5) shall not be subject to 
                subparagraph (A), but shall remain subject to sections 
                202 through 209 of title 18, United States Code.
            ``(5) Additional personnel.--
                    ``(A) Compensation.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The Authority may 
                        appoint and fix the compensation of an 
                        executive director and such other personnel as 
                        are necessary to enable the Authority to carry 
                        out the duties of the Authority.
                            ``(ii) Exception.--Compensation described 
                        under clause (i) shall not exceed the maximum 
                        rate for the Senior Executive Service under 
                        section 5382 of title 5, United States Code, 
                        including any applicable locality-based 
                        comparability payment that may be authorized 
                        under section 5304(h)(2)(C) of that title.
                    ``(B) Executive director.--The executive director 
                shall be responsible for--
                            ``(i) the carrying out of the 
                        administrative functions of the Authority;
                            ``(ii) direction of the Authority staff; 
                        and
                            ``(iii) such other duties as the Authority 
                        may assign.
                    ``(C) No federal employee status.--No member, 
                alternate, officer, or employee of the Authority 
                (except the Federal cochairperson of the Authority, the 
                alternate and staff for the Federal cochairperson, and 
                any Federal employee detailed to the Authority under 
                subsection (e)(5)) shall be considered to be a Federal 
                employee for any purpose.
    ``(i) Conflicts of Interest.--
            ``(1) In general.--Except as provided under paragraph (2), 
        no State member, alternate, officer, or employee of the 
        Authority shall participate personally and substantially as a 
        member, alternate, officer, or employee of the Authority, 
        through decision, approval, disapproval, recommendation, the 
        rendering of advice, investigation, or otherwise, in any 
        proceeding, application, request for a ruling or other 
        determination, contract, claim, controversy, or other matter in 
        which, to knowledge of the member, alternate, officer, or 
        employee--
                    ``(A) the member, alternate, officer, or employee;
                    ``(B) the spouse, minor child, partner, or 
                organization (other than a State or political 
                subdivision thereof) of the member, alternate, officer, 
                or employee, in which the member, alternate, officer, 
                or employee is serving as officer, director, trustee, 
                partner, or employee; or
                    ``(C) any person or organization with whom the 
                member, alternate, officer, or employee is negotiating 
                or has any arrangement concerning prospective 
                employment;
    has a financial interest.
            ``(2) Disclosure.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply if the 
        State member, alternate, officer, or employee--
                    ``(A) immediately advises the Authority of the 
                nature and circumstances of the proceeding, 
                application, request for a ruling or other 
                determination, contract, claim, controversy, or other 
                particular matter presenting a conflict of interest;
                    ``(B) makes full disclosure of the financial 
                interest; and
                    ``(C) before the proceeding concerning the matter 
                presenting the conflict of interest, receives a written 
                determination by the Authority that the interest is not 
                so substantial as to be likely to affect the integrity 
                of the services that the Authority may expect from the 
                State member, alternate, officer, or employee.
            ``(3) Violation.--Any person that violates this subsection 
        shall be fined not more than $10,000, imprisoned not more than 
        2 years, or both.
    ``(j) Validity of Contracts, Loans, and Grants.--The Authority may 
declare void any contract, loan, or grant of or by the Authority in 
relation to which the Authority determines that there has been a 
violation of any provision under subsection (h)(4), subsection (i), or 
sections 202 through 209 of title 18, United States Code.

``SEC. 382C. ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANTS.

    ``(a) In General.--The Authority may approve grants to States and 
public and nonprofit entities for projects, approved in accordance with 
section 382I--
            ``(1) to assist the region in obtaining the job training 
        and employment-related education, leadership, business, and 
        civic development (with an emphasis on entrepreneurship), that 
        are needed to build and maintain strong local economies;
            ``(2) to provide assistance to severely distressed and 
        underdeveloped counties that lack financial resources for 
        improving basic services;
            ``(3) to fund--
                    ``(A) research, demonstrations, evaluations, and 
                assessments of the region; and
                    ``(B) training programs, and construction of 
                necessary facilities, and the provision of technical 
                assistance necessary to complete activities described 
                in subparagraph (A); or
            ``(4) to otherwise achieve the objectives of this subtitle.
    ``(b) Funding.--
            ``(1) In general.--Funds for grants under subsection (a) 
        may be provided--
                    ``(A) entirely from appropriations to carry out 
                this section;
                    ``(B) in combination with funds available under 
                another Federal or Federal grant program; or
                    ``(C) from any other source.
            ``(2) Priority of funding.--To best build the foundations 
        for long-term, self-sustaining economies and to complement 
        other Federal and State resources in the region, Federal funds 
        available under this subtitle shall be focused on the 
        activities in the following order or priority:
                    ``(A) Basic infrastructure in distressed counties.
                    ``(B) Job-related infrastructure.
                    ``(C) Job training or employment-related education.
                    ``(D) Leadership and civic development.
                    ``(E) Business development, with emphasis on 
                entrepreneurship.
            ``(3) Federal share in grant programs.--Notwithstanding any 
        provision of law limiting the Federal share in any grant 
        program, funds appropriated to carry out this section may be 
        used to increase a Federal share in a grant program, as the 
        Authority determines to be appropriate.

``SEC. 382D. SUPPLEMENTS TO FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAMS.

    ``(a) Finding.--Congress finds that certain people, States, and 
local communities of the region, including local development districts, 
are unable to take maximum advantage of Federal grant programs for 
which the people are eligible because--
            ``(1) they lack the economic resources to supply the 
        required matching share; or
            ``(2) there are insufficient funds available under the 
        applicable Federal grant law authorizing the program to meet 
        pressing needs of the region.
    ``(b) Federal Grant Program Funding.--In accordance with subsection 
(c), the Federal cochairperson may use amounts made available to carry 
out this subtitle, without regard to any limitations on areas eligible 
for assistance or authorizations for appropriation under any other Act 
to fund all or any portion of the basic Federal contribution to a 
project or activity under a Federal grant program in an amount that is 
above the fixed maximum portion of the cost of the project otherwise 
authorized by the applicable law, not to exceed 80 percent of the costs 
of the project except as provided in section 382F(b).
    ``(c) Certification.--
            ``(1) In general.--In the case of any program or project 
        for which all or any portion of the basic Federal contribution 
        to the project under a Federal grant program is proposed to be 
        made under this section, no Federal contribution shall be made 
        until the Federal official administering the Federal law 
        authorizing the contribution certifies that the program or 
        project--
                    ``(A) meets the applicable requirements of the 
                applicable Federal grant law; and
                    ``(B) could be approved for Federal contribution 
                under the law if funds were available under the law for 
                the program or project.
            ``(2) Certification by authority.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The certifications and 
                determinations required to be made by the Authority for 
                approval of projects under this subtitle in accordance 
                with section 382I--
                            ``(i) shall be controlling; and
                            ``(ii) shall be accepted by the Federal 
                        agencies.
                    ``(B) Acceptance by federal cochairperson.--Any 
                finding, report, certification, or documentation 
                required to be submitted to the head of the department, 
                agency, or instrumentality of the Federal Government 
                responsible for the administration of any Federal grant 
                program shall be accepted by the Federal cochairperson 
                with respect to a supplemental grant for any project 
                under the program.

``SEC. 382E. LOCAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS; CERTIFICATION AND 
              ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.

    ``(a) Definition of Local Development District.--In this section, 
the term ``local development district'' means an entity that is--
            ``(1) organized and operated in a manner that ensures 
        broad-based community participation and an effective 
        opportunity for other nonprofit and citizen groups to 
        contribute to the development and implementation of programs in 
        the region;
            ``(2) certified to the Authority as having a charter or 
        authority that includes the economic development of counties or 
        parts of counties or other political subdivisions within the 
        region--
                    ``(A) by the Governor of each State in which the 
                entity is located; or
                    ``(B) by the State officer designated by the 
                appropriate State law to make the certification; and
            ``(3) is--
                    ``(A) a nonprofit incorporated body organized or 
                chartered under the law of the State in which the 
                entity is located;
                    ``(B) a nonprofit agency or instrumentality of a 
                State or local government;
                    ``(C) a nonprofit agency or instrumentality created 
                through an interstate compact; or
                    ``(D) a nonprofit association or combination of 
                bodies, agencies, and instrumentalities described in 
                subparagraphs (A) through (C).
    ``(b) Grants to Local Development Districts.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Authority may make grants for 
        administrative expenses of local development districts.
            ``(2) Conditions for grants.--
                    ``(A) Maximum amount.--The amount of any grant 
                awarded under paragraph (1) shall not exceed 80 percent 
                of the administrative expenses of the local development 
                district receiving the grant.
                    ``(B) Maximum period.--No grant described in 
                paragraph (1) shall be awarded to a State agency 
                certified as a local development district for a period 
                greater than 3 years.
                    ``(C) Local share.--The contributions of a local 
                development district for administrative expenses may be 
                in cash or in kind, fairly evaluated, including space, 
                equipment, and services.
    ``(c) Duties of Local Development Districts.--Local development 
districts--
            ``(1) shall operate as lead organizations serving 
        multicounty areas in the region at the local level; and
            ``(2) shall serve as a liaison between State and local 
        governments, nonprofit organizations (including community-based 
        groups and educational institutions), the business community, 
        and citizens that--
                    ``(A) are involved in multijurisdictional planning;
                    ``(B) provide technical assistance to local 
                jurisdictions and potential grantees; and
                    ``(C) provide leadership and civic development 
                assistance.

``SEC. 382F. DISTRESSED COUNTIES AND ECONOMICALLY STRONG COUNTIES.

    ``(a) Designations.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
enactment of this subtitle, and annually thereafter, the Authority, in 
accordance with such criteria as the Authority may establish, shall 
designate--
            ``(1) as distressed counties, counties in the region that 
        are the most severely and persistently distressed and 
        underdeveloped;
            ``(2) as economically strong counties, counties in the 
        region that are approaching or have reached economic parity 
        with the rest of the United States; and
            ``(3) as isolated areas of distress, areas located in an 
        economically strong county that have high rates of poverty or 
        unemployment.
    ``(b) Distressed Counties.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Authority shall allocate at least 50 
        percent of the appropriations made available under section 382N 
        for programs and projects designed to serve the needs of 
        distressed counties in the region.
            ``(2) Funding limitations.--The funding limitations under 
        section 382D(b) shall not apply to projects providing basic 
        services to residents in 1 or more distressed counties in the 
        region.
    ``(c) Economically Strong Counties.--
            ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in this subsection, 
        no funds shall be provided under this subtitle for a project 
        located in a county designated as an economically strong county 
        under subsection (a).
            ``(2) Exceptions.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The funding prohibition under 
                paragraph (1) shall not apply to grants to fund the 
                administrative expenses of local development districts 
                under section 382E(b).
                    ``(B) Multicounty projects.--The Authority may 
                approve additional exceptions to the funding 
                prohibition under paragraph (1) for--
                            ``(i) multicounty projects that include 
                        participation by an economically strong county; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) any other type of project, if the 
                        Authority determines that the project could 
                        bring significant benefits to areas of the 
                        region outside an economically strong county.
                    ``(C) Isolated areas of distress.--
                            ``(i) In general.--An isolated area of 
                        distress shall be eligible for assistance at 
                        the discretion of the Authority.
                            ``(ii) Determination.--A determination of 
                        eligibility of an isolated area of distress for 
                        assistance shall be supported--
                                    ``(I) by the most recent Federal 
                                data available; or
                                    ``(II) if no recent Federal data 
                                are available, by the most recent data 
                                available through the government of the 
                                State in which the isolated area of 
                                distress is located.

``SEC. 382G. DEVELOPMENT PLANNING PROCESS.

    ``(a) State Development Plan.--In accordance with policies 
established by the Authority, each State member shall submit on such 
schedule as the Authority shall prescribe a development plan for the 
area of the region represented by the State member.
    ``(b) Content of Plan.--A State development plan submitted under 
subsection (a) shall--
            ``(1) reflect the goals, objectives, and priorities 
        identified in the regional development plan under section 
        382B(d);
            ``(2) describe--
                    ``(A) the organization and continuous process for 
                development planning of the State, including the 
                procedures established by the State for the 
                participation of local development districts in the 
                development planning process;
                    ``(B) the means by which the development planning 
                process of the State is related to overall State-wide 
                planning and budgeting processes; and
                    ``(C) the method of coordinating planning and 
                projects in the region under this subtitle and other 
                Federal, State, and local programs;
            ``(3)(A) identify the goals, objectives, priorities, and 
        expected outcomes of the State for the region, as determined by 
        the Governor;
            ``(B) identify the needs on which those goals, objectives, 
        priorities are based; and
            ``(C) describe the development strategy for achieving and 
        the expected outcomes of those goals, objectives, and 
        priorities; and
            ``(4) describe how strategies proposed in the plan would 
        advance the objectives of this subtitle.
    ``(c) Consultation With Interested Local Parties.--In carrying out 
the development planning process (including the selection of programs 
and projects for assistance), a State shall--
            ``(1) consult with--
                    ``(A) local development districts;
                    ``(B) local units of government; and
                    ``(C) citizen groups; and
            ``(2) take into consideration the goals, objectives, 
        priorities, and recommendations of the entities identified in 
        paragraph (1).
    ``(d) Public Participation.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Authority and applicable State and 
        local development districts shall encourage and assist, to the 
        maximum extent practicable, public participation in the 
        development, revision, and implementation of all plans and 
        programs under this subtitle.
            ``(2) Regulations.--The Authority shall develop guidelines 
        specifying minimum goals for public participation described in 
        paragraph (1), including public hearings.

``SEC. 382H. PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT CRITERIA.

    ``(a) In General.--In considering programs and projects to be 
provided assistance under this subtitle, and in establishing a priority 
ranking of the requests for assistance presented to the Authority, the 
Authority shall follow procedures that ensure, to the maximum extent 
practicable, consideration of--
            ``(1) the relationship of the project or class of projects 
        to overall regional development;
            ``(2) the per capita income and poverty and unemployment 
        rates in the area;
            ``(3) the financial resources available to the applicants 
        for assistance seeking to carry out the project;
            ``(4) the importance of the project or class of projects in 
        relation to other projects or classes of projects that may be 
        in competition for the same funds;
            ``(5) the prospects that the project for which assistance 
        is sought will improve, on a continuing rather than a temporary 
        basis, the opportunities for employment, the average level of 
        income, or the economic and social development of the area 
        served by the project; and
            ``(6) the extent to which the project design provides for 
        detailed outcome measurements by which grant expenditures and 
        the results of the expenditures may be evaluated.
    ``(b) No Relocation Assistance.--No financial assistance authorized 
by this subtitle shall be used to assist a person or entity in 
relocating from 1 area to another.
    ``(c) Reduction of Funds.--Funds may be provided for a program or 
project in a State under this subtitle only if the Authority determines 
that the level of Federal or State financial assistance provided under 
a law other than this subtitle, for the same type of program or project 
in the same area of the State within the region, will not be reduced so 
as to substitute funds authorized by this subtitle.

``SEC. 382I. APPROVAL OF DEVELOPMENT PLANS AND PROJECTS.

    ``(a) In General.--A State or regional development plan or any 
multistate subregional plan that is proposed for development under this 
subtitle shall be reviewed for approval by the Authority in accordance 
with section 382B(e)(3).
    ``(b) Evaluation by State Member.--An application for a grant or 
any other assistance for a project under this subtitle shall be made 
through and evaluated for approval by the State member of the Authority 
representing the applicant.
    ``(c) Certification.--An application for a grant or other 
assistance for a project shall be approved only on certification by the 
State member and the Federal cochairperson that the application--
            ``(1) reflects an intent that the project comply with any 
        applicableState development plan;
            ``(2) meets applicable criteria under section 382H;
            ``(3) provides adequate assurance that the proposed project 
        will be properly administered, operated, and maintained; and
            ``(4) otherwise meets the requirements of this subtitle.
    ``(d) Votes for Decisions.--The certification by a State member of 
an application for a grant or other assistance for a specific project 
under this section shall, when joined by an affirmative vote of the 
Federal cochairperson for the application, be considered to satisfy the 
requirements for affirmative votes for decisions under section 382B.

``SEC. 382J. CONSENT OF STATES.

    Nothing in this subtitle requires any State to engage in or accept 
any program under this subtitle without the consent of the State.

``SEC. 382K. RECORDS.

    ``(a) Records of the Authority.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Authority shall maintain accurate 
        and complete records of all transactions and activities of the 
        Authority financed with Federal funds.
            ``(2) Availability.--All records of the Authority shall be 
        available for audit and examination by the Comptroller General 
        of the United States (including authorized representatives of 
        the Comptroller General).
    ``(b) Records of Recipients of Federal Assistance.--
            ``(1) In general.--Recipients of Federal assistance under 
        this subtitle shall, as required by the Authority, maintain 
        accurate and complete records of transactions and activities 
        financed with Federal funds and report on the transactions and 
        activities to the Authority.
            ``(2) Availability.--All records described in paragraph (1) 
        shall be available for audit by the Comptroller General of the 
        United States and the Authority or their duly authorized 
        representatives.

``SEC. 382L. ANNUAL REPORT.

    ``Not later than 180 days after the end of each fiscal year, the 
Authority shall submit to the President and to Congress a report 
describing the activities carried out under this subtitle.

``SEC. 382M. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the 
Authority to carry out this subtitle $30,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2001 through 2005, to remain available until expended.
    ``(b) Administrative Expenses.--Not more than 5 percent of the 
amount appropriated under subsection (a) shall be used for 
administrative expenses.''.
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