Economic Opportunity for Border Communities Act

Subjects: Commerce


<html><body><pre>[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2917 Introduced in House (IH)]

&lt;DOC&gt;






118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2917

To direct the Secretary of Commerce to develop a national strategy for 
 supporting economic opportunity in border communities, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 26, 2023

 Mr. Vasquez 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 direct the Secretary of Commerce to develop a national strategy for 
 supporting economic opportunity in border communities, and for other 
                               purposes.

    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 ``Economic Opportunity for Border 
Communities Act''.

SEC. 2. NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR SUPPORTING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY IN BORDER 
              COMMUNITIES.

    (a) Development of National Strategy.--The Secretary shall develop 
a national strategy for supporting economic opportunity in border 
communities.
    (b) Goals of National Strategy.--The goals of the national strategy 
developed under subsection (a) are the following:
            (1) Increasing the number of jobs in border communities, 
        with a focus on the following industries:
                    (A) Logistics.
                    (B) International trade.
                    (C) Manufacturing.
                    (D) Transportation.
                    (E) Agriculture.
            (2) Strengthening United States competitiveness in 
        manufacturing.
            (3) Reducing the costs of exports and imports.
            (4) Increasing the number of opportunities for workforce 
        development, including by providing vocational training for the 
        industries described in paragraph (1).
    (c) Content of National Strategy.--The national strategy developed 
under subsection (a) shall include the following:
            (1) Assessment of incentives, including tax incentives, for 
        economic development in border communities.
            (2) Recommendations for statutory or regulatory changes 
        necessary to achieve the goals described in subsection (b).
            (3) Coordination with the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
        Development and the Secretary of Agriculture to evaluate the 
        role of rural housing, infrastructure, and economic development 
        programs in supporting economic development in border 
        communities.
            (4) Coordination with the Secretary of Transportation to 
        evaluate the role of highway and railway infrastructure in 
        supporting economic development in border communities.
    (d) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the 
national strategy developed under subsection (a).
    (e) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Border community.--The term ``border community'' means 
        a municipality not more than 15 miles from a land port of 
        entry.
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Commerce.
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