(3) SERVICE
OF
PROCESS.—The Board shall 
designate agents upon whom service of process may 
be made in states comprising the Gulf Coast region 
and the District of Columbia. 
(4) BONDS OR FEES.—The Corporation shall 
not be required to post any bond to pursue any ap-
peal and shall not be subject to payments of any fil-
ing fees in United States district courts or courts of 
appeal. 
(d) REAL ESTATE AND OTHER PROPERTY.—In order 
to enable the Corporation to exercise the powers and du-
ties vested in it by this Act: 
(1) The exclusive use, possession, and control of 
necessary real estate, together with all facilities con-
nected therewith, and tools, machinery, equipment, 
accessories, and materials belonging thereto, and all 
laboratories and plants used as auxiliaries thereto; 
and all machinery, lands, and buildings in connec-
tion therewith, and all appurtenances thereof, and 
all other property to be acquired by the Corporation 
in its own name or in the name of the United States 
of America, are hereby entrusted to the Corporation 
for the purposes of the Act. 
(2) The President of the United States is au-
thorized to provide for the transfer to the Corpora-
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tion of the use, possession, and control of such other 
real or personal property of the United States, as he 
may from time to time deem necessary and proper 
for the purposes of the Corporation as herein stated. 
(e) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND REPORTS.— 
(1) The Corporation shall at all times maintain 
complete and accurate accounting of all costs and 
expenses associated with the holding and manage-
ment of any asset or liability acquired by the Cor-
poration and in carrying out the activities of the 
Corporation under this Act. 
(2) The Board shall file with the President and 
with the Congress, in December of each year, a fi-
nancial statement and a complete report as to the 
business of the Corporation covering the preceding 
governmental fiscal year. This report shall include a 
statement of all costs associated with the Corpora-
tion and its associated projects, including an 
itemized statement of the cost of administration, the 
cost of employee salaries and wages, the cost of ma-
terials, and the total number or employees and the 
names, salaries, and duties of those receiving com-
pensation at the rate of more than $35/hour or 
$45,000 a year. 
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(3) The rules of the Office of the Inspector 
General and the Comptroller General of the United 
States shall apply to the activities and accounts of 
the Corporation, including the regular oversight and 
audits of the Corporation. In such connection, the 
Offices of the Inspector General and the Comptroller 
General, and their authorized agents, shall have free 
and open access to all papers, books, record, files, 
accounts, plants, warehouses, offices, and all other 
things, property and places belonging to or under 
the control of or used or employed by the Corpora-
tion, and shall be afforded full facilities for counting 
all cash and verifying transactions with and balances 
in depositories. 
(f) RESERVATION OF RIGHTS AND REMEDIES.—The 
government of the United States hereby reserved the 
right, in case of war or national emergency declared by 
Congress, to take possession of all or any part of the prop-
erty described or referred to in this Act for the purpose 
of national security, defense, or for any other purposes; 
but, it this right is exercised by the Government, it shall 
pay the reasonable and fair damages that may be suffered 
by any party whose contract is hereby violated, after the 
amount of the damages has been fixed by the United 
States Courts of Claims in proceedings instituted and con-
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ducted for that purpose under rules prescribed by the 
court. 
(g) RECOMMENDATIONS
AND FURTHER LEGISLA-
TION.—The President shall, from time to time, as the 
work provided for in the preceding section progresses, rec-
ommend to Congress such legislation as he deems proper 
to carry out the general purposes stated in such section, 
and for the special purpose of bring about in the Gulf 
Coast region in conformity with the general purposes: 
(1) The physical reconstruction and improve-
ment of the devastated Gulf Coast region. 
(2) The improvement of levees and other flood 
control systems. 
(3) The economic and social well-being of the 
people living in the Gulf Coast Region. 
(4) The creation of jobs and job training pro-
grams. 
(5) The economic development of the Gulf 
Coast region. 
(h) APPROPRIATIONS AND AUTHORIZATION.— 
(1) All appropriations necessary to carry out 
the provisions of this Act are hereby authorized. 
(2) For the purpose of carrying out the provi-
sions of this Act the Gulf Coast Civic Works Project 
is authorized to enter into such contracts or agree-
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ments with States as may be necessary, including 
provisions for utilization of existing State adminis-
trative agencies, and the Gulf Coast Civic Works 
Project, or the head of any department of agency 
authorized by him to construct any project or to 
carry on any such public works, shall be authorized 
to acquire real property by purchase, donation, con-
demnation, or otherwise. 
(i) LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT
OF
LOCAL
ADVISORY 
COUNCILS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.— 
(i) DESIGNATION
BY
MUNICIPALI-
TIES.—Not later than 30 days after the 
date of the adoption of a resolution of invi-
tation described in section 101(e)(2), any 
municipality of over 25,000 people in the 
affected area may designate an entity to 
serve in an advisory capacity to the Cor-
poration. 
(ii) 
OTHER
MUNICIPALITIES.—For 
any municipality that does not designate 
an advisory entity under clause (i), the 
Corporation shall provide for the establish-
ment of a local advisory council in each 
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municipality of over 25,000 people in the 
Gulf Coast Region in which the Corpora-
tion operates. 
(B) MEMBERSHIP.—Each local advisory 
council shall consist of such local elected offi-
cials (including municipal officials), community 
groups (such as homeowners and community 
associations), and other interested, qualified, 
groups as the Corporation may determine to be 
appropriate. 
(C) CONSULTATION.—Local advisory coun-
cil will consult with the Corporation to deter-
mine works projects of the Corporation in their 
municipality. The Corporation shall also ensure 
that its consultations involve a broad range of 
local officials and community groups, including 
those that are not part of the formal advisory 
council. The Corporation shall hold public meet-
ings, periodically and in advance of major deci-
sions, in the affected municipality to receive 
input from the affected communities. 
(2) LOCAL
DEVELOPMENT
PLANS.—In exe-
cuting the redevelopment mandate under this title, 
the Corporation— 
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(A) shall take into account and comply 
with any redevelopment plan established by 
State and local government officials; and 
(B) may only solicit bids for such redevel-
opment that are based on and comply with a 
plan developed by local governments, if such a 
plan exists. 
TITLE II—THE GULF COAST 
CIVIC WORKS PROJECT 
SEC. 201. PURPOSE STATEMENT. 
The purpose of this title shall be to create a minimum 
of 100,000 jobs for Gulf Coast residents and evacuees and 
increase employment in the Gulf Coast region, and to 
build a skilled workforce for the rebuilding and developing 
the lands, communities, and infrastructure impacted by 
hurricanes and flooding in the Gulf Coast region. 
SEC. 202. ESTABLISHMENT. 
The Corporation established under title I shall estab-
lish and administer a Gulf Coast Civic Works Project to 
implement, manage, and coordinate numerous useful pub-
lic works projects for the purpose of rebuilding, sus-
taining, and developing the Gulf Coast region. 
SEC. 203. GENERAL ACTIVITIES. 
The Corporation shall conduct the following activi-
ties: 
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(1) Identify areas of the Gulf Coast region that 
are in need of recovery, rebuilding, and development 
projects. 
(2) Cooperate with the local Gulf Coast commu-
nity once a request has been received and approved 
by the Corporation, to ensure that Gulf Coast resi-
dents and evacuees will be hired by local employers 
or directly by the Corporation to complete the work. 
(3) Work in conjunction with local employers on 
recovery, rebuilding, and development projects to 
identify where a shortage of workers who are Gulf 
Coast residents and evacuees exists, and the type of 
workers necessary for such projects to be more effec-
tive and efficient. 
(4) Work in conjunction with other Federal, 
State and local agencies, the private sector and 
membership based community groups to actively re-
cruit Gulf Coast residents and evacuees to rebuild 
the Gulf Coast region through the identified 
projects. 
(5) Identify projects for which there is a short-
age of qualified workers who are Gulf Coast resi-
dents or evacuees and facilitate job training pro-
grams. 
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(6) Where such a shortage exists, participate in 
existing job training programs, and, in conjunction 
with State and local workforce investment boards, 
establish additional job training programs where 
necessary, including areas where there is a con-
centration of Gulf Coast evacuees. 
(7) Assist Gulf Coast residents and evacuees 
employed or trained through the Corporation to gain 
access and information to housing programs. 
SEC. 204. JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS. 
(a) COOPERATION.—The Corporation shall, in con-
junction with State and local workforce investment boards, 
establish job training programs and apprenticeships where 
necessary in order to recruit and train qualified workers 
for specific vacancies in recovery, rebuilding, and develop-
ment projects. The Corporation shall have as a priority 
the recruitment of individuals who reside in the locality 
where the projects exist. The Corporation shall work with 
community based organizations to set up first source hir-
ing halls through which Gulf Coast residents shall have 
priority in getting into job training programs. 
(b) WAGES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Job training or apprentice-
ship programs established or funded under this Act 
shall ensure that trainees are paid in an amount of 
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not less than $10 per hour, and that apprentices are 
paid not less than $15. 
(2) ADJUSTMENT FOR INFLATION.—Beginning 
one year after the date of enactment of this Act and 
each year thereafter, the minimum wages specified 
in paragraph (1) shall be adjusted by the percentage 
increase during the 12-month period ending the pre-
ceding June in the Consumer Price Index for All 
Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor 
Statistics of the Department of Labor. 
SEC. 205. JOB CREATION. 
(a) EMPLOYMENT.—After identifying recovery, re-
building, and development projects and employment in 
other areas in the Gulf Coast region the Corporation shall 
work in conjunction with local employers and other Fed-
eral agencies on such projects to recruit and hire addi-
tional workers from the Gulf Coast region. In the event 
that employers have a need for but do not have sufficient 
funding for additional workers, the Corporation shall be 
permitted to hire and pay the wages of additional workers 
to work on such projects. 
(b) PROJECT CREATION.—After identifying areas of 
the Gulf Coast region that are in need of recovery, rebuild-
ing, and development projects where no such projects 
exist, the Corporation may, subject to available funds, es-
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tablish and fund such projects. In establishing any project 
under this subsection, the Corporation shall hire all nec-
essary developers, contractors, and employees to carry out 
such projects. 
(c) CONSERVATION CORPS.—In addition to the other 
activities described in this title, the Corporation shall es-
tablish a conservation corps composed of individuals be-
tween the age of 17 and 24, who have received a high 
school diploma or the equivalent, to focus on wetland res-
toration, forestation, and urban greenery. 
(d) FIRST SOURCE HIRING.— 
(1) Any contractor receiving Federal funds 
under this Act shall comply with first source hiring 
agreements for interviewing, recruitment, and hiring 
in order to initially provide displaced residents and 
residents from the disaster area with consideration 
for employment. The duration of the first source 
interviewing requirement shall be 25 days, unless 
business necessity requires a shorter period of time. 
A contractor may establish its good faith efforts by 
filling its first available positions with job applicants 
obtained through the first source hiring procedures. 
(2) Any contractor receiving Federal funds 
under this Act shall comply with requirements for 
providing timely, appropriate notification of available 
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positions to the Corporation so that the Corporation 
may train and refer an adequate pool of residents 
from the disaster area to participating employers. 
(e) OUTREACH PARTNERSHIPS.—The Corporation 
shall work with Federal agencies, especially the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency, as well as State and 
local employment offices to make available positions 
known. 
(f) LOCAL HIRING HALLS.—The Corporation shall 
contract with community groups, faith groups, and non-
profit organizations with with connections to local commu-
nities to recruit displaced families to conduct outreach to 
workers displaced from the Gulf Coast, and work with con-
tractors to identify interested candidates outside of the re-
gion who wish to return to work and if necessary enter 
training programs. 
(g) HIRING DECISIONS.—Any contractor receiving 
Federal funds under this Act shall make the final deter-
mination of whether a resident from the disaster area is 
qualified for the position. 
(h) EXCEPTIONS.—Upon application by employer, 
the Corporation may grant an exception to any of all of 
the requirements in any situation where it concludes that 
compliance with this section would not be possible in the 
timeframe provided. 
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(i) SUBCONTRACTS.—Any subcontract entered into 
by any contractor receiving Federal funds under this Act 
shall require the subcontractor to comply with the require-
ments of and shall contain contractual obligations sub-
stantially the same as those set forth in this section. 
SEC. 206. WAGES. 
The Corporations shall ensure that all laborers and 
mechanics employed by the Corporation or by contractors 
or subcontractors in the performance of construction or 
recovery projects will be paid wages at rates not less than 
those prevailing on similar work in the locality as deter-
mined by the Secretary of Labor in accordance with sub-
chapter IV of chapter 31 of part A of subtitle II of title 
40, United States Code (commonly referred to as the 
Davis-Bacon Act). 
SEC. 207. GENERAL PROVISIONS AND GUIDELINES. 
In conducting works projects under this title, the 
Corporation shall adhere to the following rules and guide-
lines: 
(1) All public works projects shall be conducted 
in, and be for the benefit of, the lands of the Gulf 
Coast region, and the individuals, families, commu-
nities, and businesses of the Gulf Coast region. 
(2) The Gulf Coast Civic Works Project shall 
employ a minimum of 100,000 Gulf Coast region 
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residents and evacuees for all works programs and 
other related job opportunities. 
(3) The Gulf Coast Civic Works Project shall 
make job opportunities, job training programs, and 
other beneficial projects known to the Gulf Coast 
communities through advertising and partnerships 
with regional agencies and employment organiza-
tions, and partnerships with community based orga-
nizations. 
(4) Whenever possible, the Gulf Coast Civic 
Works Project shall purchase materials, equipment, 
supplies, and services from local business and pro-
ducers. 
(5) The Gulf Coast Civic Works Project shall 
maintain non-discriminatory practices and shall not 
discriminate in hiring or employment decisions on 
the basis of race, gender, nationality, ethnicity, reli-
gion, or sexual orientation. 
(6) No employee or trainee of the Gulf Coast 
Civic Works Project shall have financial interest in 
any public corporation engaged in business with the 
Gulf Coast Civic Works Project, nor in any corpora-
tion engaged in the manufacture, selling, or distribu-
tion of goods or materials used in construction 
projects authorized by the corporation, nor shall any 
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employee or trainee have any interest in a any busi-
ness that may be adversely affected by the success 
of the Corporation. 
(7) Employees and trainees of the Gulf Coast 
Civic Works Project shall not be considered Federal 
employees for any purpose under the laws of the 
United States. 
SEC. 208. GULF COAST ARTISTS GRANTS. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION.—The Corporation is authorized 
to provide not more than 15 grants per year to eligible 
recipients for artistic and cultural projects which reflect 
the history and culture of the Gulf Coast region. Grants 
shall be provided on the basis of the demonstrated merit 
of the applicant as determined by the Corporation. 
(b) ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS.—To be eligible to receive 
a grant under subsection (a), an individual shall— 
(1) be a resident of the Gulf Coast region; and 
(2) have demonstrated skill or talent in music, 
theater, writing, or the visual arts. 
(c) AMOUNT OF GRANT.—The amount of the grants 
provided under this section shall be determined by the 
Corporation. 
(d) APPLICATION.—To receive a grant under this sec-
tion, an eligible recipient shall submit an application to 
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the Corporation in such form and manner as the Corpora-
tion shall determine. 
(e) USE OF GRANT FUNDS.—A grant provided under 
this section shall be used on an artistic project that— 
(1) showcases the history or culture of the Gulf 
Coast region; or 
(2) has as its subject the effects of Hurricanes 
Katrina or Rita. 
SEC. 209. CHRONICLE OF HURRICANES KATRINA AND RITA 
GRANTS. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION.—The Corporation is authorized 
to provide not more than 5 grants to eligible recipients 
for projects that chronicle the story of Hurricanes Katrina 
and Rita. Grants shall be provided on the basis of the 
demonstrated merit of the applicant as determined by the 
Corporation. 
(b) ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS.—To be eligible to receive 
a grant under subsection (a), an individual shall— 
(1) be a resident of the Gulf Coast region; and 
(2) have demonstrated skill or talent as a writer 
or filmmaker. 
(c) AMOUNT OF GRANT.—The amount of the grants 
provided under this section shall be determined by the 
Corporation. 
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(d) APPLICATION.—To receive a grant under this sec-
tion, an eligible recipient shall submit an application to 
the Corporation in such form and manner as the Corpora-
tion shall determine. 
(e) USE OF GRANT FUNDS.—A grant provided under 
this section shall be used on a project that chronicles, 
through the written word or through film, the story of 
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita from the perspective of sur-
vivors and evacuees. 
SEC. 210. FUNDING. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Corporation such 
sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2008 through 
2012 to carry out this title, provided that 3⁄4 of 1 percent 
of authorized funding be allocated for job training and 
workforce development. 
(b) PARTNERSHIPS.—The Corporation shall make 
every effort to partner with State and local governments 
and private industry in the funding and administration of 
projects under this title. 
Æ 
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