activities to encompass investment initiatives that promote
public and private sector partnerships to advance the com-
petitiveness of the economy of local communities through
the creation of long-term sustainable employment opportu-
nities.
‘‘(f) DEADLINES.—
‘‘(1) ACTION ON APPLICATIONS.—In the case of
each application submitted under subsection (c) that
is received by a deadline established and published
in the Federal Register, the Secretary shall approve
or disapprove the application on or before the 60th
day after the deadline.
‘‘(2) USE OF ASSISTANCE.—Any agreement re-
lating to an amount of financial assistance under
this section that is entered into by the Secretary and
an eligible recipient under the program shall require
that the eligible recipient provide assistance to busi-
nesses using the amount on or before the 90th day
after the date of receipt of such amount or shall re-
turn any remaining portion of such amount to the
Secretary for subsequent awards under the pro-
gram.’’.
SEC. 29. SPECIAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ADJUST-
MENT ASSISTANCE.
Section 909 of the Public Works and Economic De-
velopment Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3245) (as redesignated
by section 25(1)) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘SEC. 909. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be ap-
propriated to carry out this title $50,000,000 for each of
fiscal years 1995 through 1997. Such sums shall remain
available until expended.
‘‘(b) ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS.—In addition to the ap-
propriations authorized by subsection (a), there are au-
thorized to be appropriated to carry out this title
$120,000,000 for fiscal year 1995, and such sums as may
be necessary for each of fiscal years 1996 and 1997, to
provide assistance for activities related to closures and
realignments of military installations and for defense con-
version activities and to provide assistance in the case of
a natural disaster. Such sums shall remain available until
expended.
‘‘(c) SET-ASIDE
FOR COMPETITIVE COMMUNITIES
PILOT PROGRAM.—Of the amounts appropriated under
subsections (a) and (b), not more than $40,000,000 shall
be available for fiscal year 1995 to carry out section 908,
of which not more than $15,000,000 shall be available
from amounts appropriated under subsection (a) and not
more than $25,000,000 shall be available from amounts
appropriated under subsection (b).’’.
SEC. 30. COMPLIANCE WITH BUY AMERICAN ACT.
None of the funds made available under this title, or
any amendment made by this title, may be expended to
acquire articles, materials, or supplies, or to procure serv-
ices, in violation of the applicable provisions of sections
2 through 4 of title III of the Act of March 3, 1933 (com-
monly known as the ‘‘Buy American Act’’) (41 U.S.C.
10a– 10b–1).
SEC. 31. REGULATORY RELIEF.
The Assistant Secretary for Economic Development,
acting on a petition from an entity impacted adversely by
a Federal regulation on a matter of economic development
described in the Public Works and Economic Development
Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3121 et seq.), shall notify the offi-
cer who is the head of the department or agency that is-
sued and administers the regulation and suggest that the
officer waive regulations that interfere with economic de-
velopment. Nothing in this section shall be construed to
preempt the authority of the head of a department or
agency to waive regulations. Nothing in this section shall
be construed to affect the ability of the Assistant Sec-
retary for Economic Development to carry out the duties
of the Assistant Secretary, as otherwise provided by law.
Passed the House of Representatives October 7,
1994.
Attest:
Clerk.
103D CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 5243
AN ACT
To amend the Public Works and Economic Devel-
opment Act of 1965 to reauthorize economic de-
velopment programs, and for other purposes.