Union Calendar No. 419
104TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 2145
[Report No. 104–693, Part I]
A BILL
To reauthorize and make reforms to programs au-
thorized by the Public Works and Economic De-
velopment Act of 1965 and the Appalachian Re-
gional Development Act of 1965.
SEPTEMBER 6, 1996
The Committee on Banking and Financial Services dis-
charged; committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union and ordered to be
printed
IB
Union Calendar No. 419
104TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 2145
[Report No. 104–693, Part I]
To reauthorize and make reforms to programs authorized by the Public
Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 and the Appalachian
Regional Development Act of 1965.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JULY 31, 1995
Mr. GILCHREST (for himself, Mr. SHUSTER, Mr. MINETA, Mr. WISE, and Mr.
WICKER) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Commit-
tee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Commit-
tee on Banking and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provi-
sions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
JULY 18, 1996
Reported from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
JULY 18, 1996
Referral to the Committee on Banking and Financial Services extended for
a period ending not later than September 6, 1996
SEPTEMBER 6, 1996
Additional sponsor: Mr. NEY
SEPTEMBER 6, 1996
The Committee on Banking and Financial Services discharged; committed to
the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and or-
dered to be printed
A BILL
To reauthorize and make reforms to programs authorized
by the Public Works and Economic Development Act
of 1965 and the Appalachian Regional Development Act
of 1965.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; EFFECTIVE DATE.
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the
‘‘Economic Development Partnership Act of 1995’’.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Except as otherwise ex-
pressly provided, this Act and the amendments made by
this Act shall take effect on October 1, 1995.
TITLE I—PUBLIC WORKS AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
SEC. 101. REAUTHORIZATION OF PUBLIC WORKS AND ECO-
NOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 1965.
The Public Works and Economic Development Act of
1965 (40 U.S.C. 3131 et seq.) is amended by striking all
after the first section and inserting the following:
‘‘SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND DECLARATION.
‘‘(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that—
‘‘(1) the maintenance of the national economy
at a high level is vital to the best interests of the
United States, but that some of our regions, coun-
ties, and communities are suffering substantial and
persistent unemployment and underemployment that
cause hardship to many individuals and their fami-
lies, and waste invaluable human resources;
‘‘(2) to overcome this problem the Federal Gov-
ernment, in cooperation with the States, should help
areas and regions of substantial and persistent un-
employment and underemployment to take effective
steps in planning and financing their public works
and economic development;
‘‘(3) Federal financial assistance, including
grants for public works and development facilities to
communities, industries, enterprises, and individuals
in areas needing development should enable such
areas to help themselves achieve lasting improve-
ment and enhance the domestic prosperity by the es-
tablishment of stable and diversified local economies
and improved local conditions, if such assistance is
preceded by and consistent with sound, long-range
economic planning; and
‘‘(4) under the provisions of this Act, new em-
ployment opportunities should be created by develop-
ing and expanding new and existing public works
and other facilities and resources rather than by
merely transferring jobs from one area of the United
States to another.
‘‘(b) DECLARATION.—Congress declares that, in fur-
therance of maintaining the national economy at a high
level—
‘‘(1) the assistance authorized by this Act
should be made available to both rural and urban
areas;
‘‘(2) such assistance should be made available
for planning for economic development prior to the
actual occurrences of economic distress in order to
avoid such condition; and
‘‘(3) such assistance should be used for long-
term economic rehabilitation in areas where long-
term economic deterioration has occurred or is tak-
ing place.
‘‘TITLE I—ECONOMIC DEVELOP-
MENT 
REGIONAL 
COMMIS-
SIONS
‘‘SEC. 101. ESTABLISHMENT OF REGIONAL COMMISSIONS.
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established for each
region established by section 105 an Economic Develop-
ment Regional Commission (hereinafter in this Act re-
ferred to as a ‘Regional Commission’).
‘‘(b) MEMBERSHIP.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Each Regional Commission
shall be composed of 1 Federal member and 1 State
member from each participating State in the region
represented by the Regional Commission.
‘‘(2) FEDERAL COCHAIRPERSON.—The Federal
member of each Regional Commission shall be the
Secretary of Commerce (hereinafter in this Act re-
ferred to as the ‘Secretary’). The Secretary shall
serve as the Federal Cochairperson of each Regional
Commission.
‘‘(3) STATE MEMBERS.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Each State member of
a Regional Commission shall be the chief execu-
tive officer of the State. The State members of
a Regional Commission shall elect a Cochairper-
son from among such State members for a term
of not less than 1 year.
‘‘(B) ALTERNATES.—Each State member
of a Regional Commission may have a single al-
ternate, appointed by the Chief Executive Offi-
cer from among members of the Chief Execu-
tive Officer’s cabinet or the Chief Executive Of-
ficer’s personal staff. An alternate shall vote in
the event of the absence, death, disability, re-
moval, or resignation of the State representa-
tive for which he or she is an alternate. A State
alternate shall not be counted toward the estab-