783 
‘‘(C) any person or organization with 
whom the member, alternate, officer, or em-
ployee is negotiating or has any arrangement 
concerning prospective employment. 
‘‘(2) DISCLOSURE.—Paragraph (1) shall not 
apply if the State member, Indian tribe member, al-
ternate, officer, or employee— 
‘‘(A) immediately advises the Authority of 
the nature and circumstances of the proceeding, 
application, request for a ruling or other deter-
mination, contract, claim, controversy, or other 
particular matter presenting a potential conflict 
of interest; 
‘‘(B) makes full disclosure of the financial 
interest; and 
‘‘(C) before the proceeding concerning the 
matter presenting the conflict of interest, re-
ceives a written determination by the Authority 
that the interest is not so substantial as to be 
likely to affect the integrity of the services that 
the Authority may expect from the State mem-
ber, Indian tribe member, alternate, officer, or 
employee. 
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784 
‘‘(3) VIOLATION.—Any person that violates this 
subsection shall be fined not more than $10,000, im-
prisoned not more than 2 years, or both. 
‘‘(j) 
VALIDITY
OF
CONTRACTS, 
LOANS, 
AND 
GRANTS.—The Authority may declare void any contract, 
loan, or grant of or by the Authority in relation to which 
the Authority determines that there has been a violation 
of any provision under subsection (h)(4) or subsection (i) 
of this chapter, or sections 202 through 209 of title 18, 
United States Code. 
‘‘SEC. 3823. INTERSTATE COOPERATION FOR ECONOMIC 
OPPORTUNITY AND EFFICIENCY. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Authority shall provide as-
sistance to States in developing regional plans to address 
multistate economic issues, including plans— 
‘‘(1) to develop a regional transmission system 
for movement of renewable energy to markets out-
side the region; 
‘‘(2) to address regional transportation con-
cerns, including the establishment of a Northern 
Great Plains Regional Transportation Working 
Group; 
‘‘(3) to encourage and support interstate col-
laboration on federally funded research that is in the 
national interest; and 
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‘‘(4) to establish a Regional Working Group on 
Agriculture Development and Transportation. 
‘‘(b) ECONOMIC ISSUES.—The multistate economic 
issues referred to in subsection (a) shall include— 
‘‘(1) renewable energy development and trans-
mission; 
‘‘(2) transportation planning and economic de-
velopment; 
‘‘(3) information technology; 
‘‘(4) movement of freight and individuals within 
the region; 
‘‘(5) federally funded research at institutions of 
higher education; and 
‘‘(6) conservation land management. 
‘‘SEC. 3824. ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT 
GRANTS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Authority may approve 
grants to States, Indian tribes, local governments, and 
public and nonprofit organizations for projects, approved 
in accordance with section 3830— 
‘‘(1) to assist the region in obtaining the job 
training, employment-related education, and busi-
ness development (with an emphasis on entrepre-
neurship) that are needed to build and maintain 
strong local economies; 
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