I
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2688
To establish an Office of Economic Development Information in the Economic
Development Administration.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
OCTOBER 21, 1997
Mr. TRAFICANT introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Com-
mittee on Banking and Financial Services, for a period to be subse-
quently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To establish an Office of Economic Development Information
in the Economic Development Administration.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Economic Development
Information Act of 1997’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND DECLARATION.
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that—
(1) the availability of accurate and timely infor-
mation on economic development programs of the
Federal Government, States, and political subdivi-
sions of States, and of other data of use to public
officials, economic development practitioners, busi-
ness and community leaders, academia, and the gen-
eral public in their pursuit of sound economic devel-
opment, is essential to the maintenance of the na-
tional economy at a high level and to the relief of
those regions, counties, and communities suffering
substantial and persistent unemployment and under-
employment; and
(2) previous efforts of the Economic Develop-
ment Administration to provide such information,
through an Office of Economic Conversion Informa-
tion, have achieved success, primarily in assisting
communities impacted by the closing or realignment
of military or Department of Energy installations, or
the closing or downsizing of defense-related indus-
tries.
(b) DECLARATION.—Congress declares that, in fur-
therance of maintaining the national economy at a high
level—
(1) the provision of economic development in-
formation should be expanded so that such informa-
tion is available to assist all areas suffering from
volving loan funds, venture capital, and other capital
tools.
‘‘(9) Resources that assist economic developers
in understanding and pursuing sustainable develop-
ment and initiatives.
‘‘(d) PUBLIC ACCESS TO DATA SERVICES.—The Of-
fice shall establish the means to ensure easy access by the
public to the Office’s information clearinghouse, and shall
take all appropriate steps to ensure that the clearinghouse
and its resources are as accessible, user-friendly, and cul-
turally neutral as possible. As soon as practicable, and
until replaced by a means determined by the Secretary to
be more effective in accomplishing the purposes of this
section, access to the data services of the Office shall in-
clude each of the following means:
‘‘(1) An Internet web site, with sorted key loca-
tions by economic development related topics for
users to access lists of various Governmentwide and
other economic development web site resources.
‘‘(2) A toll-free nationwide telephone number to
provide direct phone access to the public.
‘‘(3) On-line electronic access through existing
computer network services and publicly available
computer database access facilities.
‘‘(4) Printed manuals and orientation materials.
‘‘(5) Periodic orientation workshops available to
the public.
‘‘(6) On-call information specialists to address
special problems requiring person-to-person assist-
ance.
‘‘(e) COORDINATION WITH OTHER FEDERAL DE-
PARTMENTS AND AGENCIES.—The Secretary shall enter
into such agreements and understandings as may be nec-
essary with other Federal departments and agencies to co-
ordinate the accomplishment of the objectives of this sec-
tion.
‘‘(f) ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEFINED.—In this
section, the term ‘‘economic development’’ includes eco-
nomic adjustment, disaster recovery, industrial retention,
and defense reinvestment.
‘‘(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section
such sums as may be necessary.’’.
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