(C) STATE ALTERNATES.—A State alter-
nate shall not be counted toward the establish-
ment of a quorum of the Commission. 
(4) DELEGATION OF POWER.—No power or re-
sponsibility of the Commission specified in para-
graphs (3) and (4) of subsection (c), and no voting 
right of any Commission member, shall be delegated 
to any person— 
(A) who is not a Commission member; or 
(B) who is not entitled to vote in Commis-
sion meetings. 
(c) DECISIONS.— 
(1) REQUIREMENTS
FOR
APPROVAL.—Except 
as provided in subsection (g), decisions by the Com-
mission shall require the affirmative vote of the Fed-
eral cochairperson and of a majority of the State 
members, exclusive of members representing States 
delinquent under subsection (g)(2)(C). 
(2) CONSULTATION.—In matters coming before 
the Commission, the Federal cochairperson, to the 
extent practicable, shall consult with the Federal de-
partments and agencies having an interest in the 
subject matter.
(3) DECISIONS REQUIRING QUORUM OF STATE 
MEMBERS.—The following decisions may not be 
made without a quorum of State members: 
(A) A decision involving Commission pol-
icy. 
(B) Approval of State, regional, or sub-
regional development plans or strategy state-
ments. 
(C) Modification or revision of the Com-
mission’s code. 
(D) Allocation of amounts among the 
States. 
(4) PROJECT AND GRANT PROPOSALS.—The ap-
proval of project and grant proposals is a responsi-
bility of the Commission and shall be carried out in 
accordance with section 9. 
(d) DUTIES.—The Commission shall— 
(1) develop, on a continuing basis, comprehen-
sive and coordinated plans and programs to establish 
priorities and approve grants for the economic devel-
opment of the region, giving due consideration to 
other Federal, State, and local planning and devel-
opment activities in the region; 
(2) not later than 365 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, establish priorities in a devel-
opment plan for the region (including 5-year re-
gional outcome targets); 
(3) assess the needs and capital assets of the 
region based on available research, demonstration 
projects, assessments, and evaluations of the region 
prepared by Federal, State, or local agencies, local 
development districts, and any other relevant source; 
(4)(A) enhance the capacity of, and provide 
support for, local development districts in the region; 
or 
(B) if no local development district exists in an 
area in a participating State in the region, foster the 
creation of a local development district; 
(5) allow the participation of representatives of 
local development districts, and other appropriate or-
ganizations as approved by the Commission, in all 
proceedings of the Commission conducted under sub-
section (e)(1), either in-person or through interactive 
telecommunications; 
(6) encourage private investment in industrial, 
commercial, 
and 
other 
economic 
development 
projects in the region; and 
(7) not later than 365 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, initiate a special resource 
study for the north woods of Maine, which study—
(A) shall be carried out in cooperation with 
appropriate local, State, and Federal officials; 
and 
(B) shall examine land use, ownership, and 
development trends and propose options for fu-
ture management, ownership, conservation, and 
development of land to maximize job creation 
and ecological value. 
(e) ADMINISTRATION.—In carrying out subsection 
(d), the Commission 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 dis-
tribute a description of the proceedings and reports 
on actions by the Commission as the Commission 
considers appropriate; 
(2) authorize, through the Federal or State co-
chairperson or any other member of the Commission 
designated by the Commission, the administration of 
oaths if the Commission determines that testimony 
should be taken or evidence received under oath; 
(3) request from any Federal, State, or local 
department or agency such information as may be 
available to or procurable by the department or
agency that may be of use to the Commission in car-
rying out duties of the Commission; 
(4) adopt, amend, and repeal bylaws and rules 
governing the conduct of Commission business and 
the performance of Commission duties; 
(5) request the head of any Federal department 
or agency to detail to the Commission such per-
sonnel as the Commission requires to carry out du-
ties of the Commission, each such detail to be with-
out 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 Com-
mission such personnel as the Commission requires 
to carry out duties of the Commission, each such de-
tail to be without loss of seniority, pay, or other em-
ployee status; 
(7) provide for coverage of Commission employ-
ees in a suitable retirement and employee benefit 
system by— 
(A) making arrangements or entering into 
contracts with any participating State govern-
ment; or 
(B) otherwise providing retirement and 
other employee benefit coverage;