I
103D CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2449
To establish an interagency task force to conduct a study regarding the
problems affecting smaller cities in the United States and recommend
actions to alleviate such problems.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JUNE 17, 1993
Mr. COSTELLO introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Government Operations
A BILL
To establish an interagency task force to conduct a study
regarding the problems affecting smaller cities in the
United States and recommend actions to alleviate such
problems.
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 ‘‘Depressed Smaller
Cities Improvement Act of 1993’’.
(c) TERMS.—Members of the Task Force shall be ap-
pointed for the life of the Task Force. Any vacancy in
the Task Force shall be filled in the manner in which the
original appointment was made.
(d) CHAIRPERSON.—The Secretary of Housing and
Urban Development shall be the chairperson of the Task
Force.
(e) PROHIBITION OF COMPENSATION.—Members of
the Task Force shall not receive pay or other compensa-
tion on account of their service on the Task Force.
(f) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member of the Task
Force shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in
lieu of subsistence, in accordance with sections 5702 and
5703 of title 5, United States Code.
SEC. 3. DUTIES OF TASK FORCE.
(a) STUDY.—The Task Force shall carry out a study
of the problems affecting depressed smaller cities, includ-
ing problems involving crime, the environment, housing,
labor and unemployment, education, health, and poverty.
The study shall examine and analyze Federal, State, and
local programs to alleviate such problems, the coordination
or lack of coordination among such programs, and the ef-
fectiveness and efficiency of such programs, and shall de-
termine the proper scope and extent of Federal assistance
and programs to reduce the problems affecting such cities.
In conducting the study, the Task Force shall consult with
officials of local governments to obtain and provide advice
regarding measures that may be implemented before the
completion of the study to alleviate such problems and to
coordinate the ongoing efforts of the local governments
with the various Federal agencies.
(b) REPORTS.—
(1) ANNUAL REPORTS.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Task Force shall
submit a report to the Committee on Banking,
Finance and Urban Affairs of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Bank-
ing, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate,
not less than annually until the termination of
the Task Force under section 5.
(B) CONTENTS.—Each report shall de-
scribe the activities of the Task Force during
the previous year in conducting the study under
subsection (a) and the findings and determina-
tions of the Task Force resulting from the
study. Each report shall also—
(i) identify the most pervasive prob-
lems affecting depressed smaller cities and
the extent of such problems;
(ii) describe any efforts to alleviate
such problems that the Task Force consid-
ers to have been effective and efficient;
(iii) identify the immediate and long-
term needs of such cities in alleviating
such problems;
(iv) identify any existing Federal pro-
grams that may be useful to such cities in
alleviating such problems;
(v) include an agenda of actions to be
taken to alleviate such problems, which de-
scribes the priorities of such actions; and
(vi) include recommendations of the
Task Force for actions and legislation by
the Federal Government to assist State
and local governments to alleviate the
problems affecting depressed smaller cities.
(2) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than the termi-
nation of the Task Force under section 5, the Task
Force shall submit to the Committees referred to in
paragraph (1)(A) a final report describing the study
conducted by the Task Force, the activities of the
Task Force, and the findings, conclusions, and rec-
ommendations of the Task Force upon the comple-
tion of the study.
(c) MEETINGS.—To carry out the study under sub-
section (a) and prepare the reports under subsection (b),
the Task Force shall meet not less than quarterly in each
year.
SEC. 4. IDENTIFICATION OF DEPRESSED SMALLER CITIES.
For purposes of this Act, the term ‘‘depressed smaller
city’’ means any unit of general local government that, as
determined by the Task Force for the most recent 12-
month period for which statistics are available, is classified
as a municipality by the United States Bureau of the Cen-
sus, has a population of less than 50,000 and more than
5,000, and meets any 3 of the following 5 criteria:
(1) UNEMPLOYMENT.—The total rate of unem-
ployment for the unit of general local government
(as determined by appropriate available data) is 12
percent or more.
(2) CRIME RATE.—For the unit of general local
government, the ratio of the aggregate number of
violent crimes in the unit (according to statistics
compiled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation) to
the population of the unit, is 5 percent or greater.
(3) LACK
OF
MUNICIPAL
HEALTH
FACILI-
TIES.—The unit of general local government does
not own or operate any municipal health facilities.
(4) INCOME
LEVEL.—The median annual
household income for households residing in the unit
of general local government (as determined by the
Bureau of the Census of the Department of Com-
merce) does not exceed $15,000.
(5) ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS.—The unit of
general local government has substantial environ-
mental problems resulting from industrial activities,
as determined by the Task Force.
SEC. 5. TERMINATION.
The Commission shall terminate upon the expiration
of the 3-year period beginning on the date of the appoint-
ment of the entire membership of the Task Force under
section 2(b).
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out
this Act $750,000, which shall be available during fiscal
years 1995, 1996, and 1997.
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