I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 141
To establish the SouthEast Crescent Authority, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 7, 2003
Mr. MCINTYRE (for himself, Mr. HAYES, and Mr. MILLER of North Carolina) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on 
Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently 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 the SouthEast Crescent Authority, and for other 
purposes.
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 ‘‘SouthEast Crescent 
Authority Act of 2003’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act, the following definitions apply:
(1) AUTHORITY.—The term ‘‘Authority’’ means 
the SouthEast Crescent Authority established by 
section 3. 
(2) FEDERAL
GRANT
PROGRAM.—The term 
‘‘Federal grant program’’ means a Federal grant 
program to provide assistance in carrying out eco-
nomic and community development activities. 
(3) NON-PROFIT ENTITY.—The term ‘‘non-prof-
it entity’’ means any entity with tax-exempt or non-
profit status, as defined by the Internal Revenue 
Service, that has been formed for the purpose of eco-
nomic development or has a proven record of eco-
nomic development experience. 
(4) REGION.—The term ‘‘region’’ means the 
area covered by the Authority (as described in sec-
tion 16). 
SEC. 3. SOUTHEAST CRESCENT AUTHORITY. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—There is established the 
SouthEast Crescent Authority. 
(2) COMPOSITION.—The Authority shall be 
composed of—
(A) a Federal member, to be appointed by 
the President, with the advice and consent of 
the Senate; and
(B) the Governor of each State in the re-
gion that elects to participate in the Authority. 
(3) COCHAIRPERSONS.—The Authority shall be 
headed by—
(A) the Federal member, who shall serve—
(i) as the Federal cochairperson; and 
(ii) as a liaison between the Federal 
Government and the Authority; and 
(B) a State cochairperson, who—
(i) shall be a Governor of a partici-
pating State in the region; and 
(ii) shall be elected by the State mem-
bers for a term of not less than 1 year. 
(b) ALTERNATE MEMBERS.—
(1) STATE ALTERNATES.—
(A) APPOINTMENT.—The State member of 
a participating State may have a single alter-
nate, who shall be appointed by the Governor of 
the State from among the Governor’s cabinet or 
personal staff. 
(B) VOTING.—An alternate shall vote in 
the event of the absence, death, disability, re-
moval, or resignation of the member for whom 
the individual is an alternate.
(2) ALTERNATE FEDERAL COCHAIRPERSON.—
The President shall appoint an alternate Federal co-
chairperson. 
(3) QUORUM.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the require-
ments of this paragraph, the Authority shall de-
termine what constitutes a quorum of the Au-
thority. 
(B) 
FEDERAL
COCHAIRPERSON.—The 
Federal cochairperson or the Federal cochair-
person’s designee must be present for the estab-
lishment of a quorum of the Authority. 
(C) STATE ALTERNATES.—A State alter-
nate shall not be counted toward the establish-
ment of a quorum of the Authority. 
(4) DELEGATION OF POWER.—No power or re-
sponsibility of the Authority specified in paragraphs 
(3) and (4) of subsection (c), and no voting right of 
any Authority member, shall be delegated to any 
person—
(A) who is not a Authority member; or 
(B) who is not entitled to vote in Authority 
meetings. 
(c) DECISIONS.—
(1) REQUIREMENTS
FOR
APPROVAL.—Except 
as provided in subsection (g), decisions by the Au-
thority 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 Authority, the Federal cochairperson, to the ex-
tent 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 Authority policy. 
(B) Approval of State, regional, or sub-
regional development plans or strategy state-
ments. 
(C) 
Modification 
or 
revision 
of 
the 
Authority’s code. 
(D) Allocation of amounts among the 
States. 
(E) Designation of a distressed county. 
(4) PROJECT AND GRANT PROPOSALS.—The ap-
proval of project and grant proposals is a responsi-
bility of the Authority and shall be carried out in ac-
cordance with section 10. 
(d) DUTIES.—The Authority 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; and
(5) encourage private investment in industrial, 
commercial, 
and 
other 
economic 
development 
projects in the region. 
(e) ADMINISTRATION.—In carrying out subsection 
(d), the Authority 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 Authority as the Authority con-
siders appropriate; 
(2) authorize, through the Federal or State co-
chairperson or any other member of the Authority 
designated by the Authority, the administration of 
oaths if the Authority 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 Authority in car-
rying out duties of the Authority; 
(4) adopt, amend, and repeal bylaws and rules 
governing the conduct of Authority business and the 
performance of Authority duties;
(5) request the head of any Federal department 
or agency to detail to the Authority such personnel 
as the Authority requires to carry out duties of the 
Authority, each such detail to be without loss of se-
niority, pay, or other employee status; 
(6) request the head of any State department 
or agency or local government to detail to the Au-
thority such personnel as the Authority requires to 
carry out duties of the Authority, each such detail 
to be without loss of seniority, pay, or other em-
ployee status; 
(7) provide for coverage of Authority employees 
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; 
(8) accept, use, and dispose of gifts or dona-
tions of services or real, personal, tangible, or intan-
gible property; 
(9) enter into and perform such contracts or 
other transactions as are necessary to carry out Au-
thority duties;
(10) establish and maintain a central office lo-
cated within the Southeast Crescent Authority re-
gion and field offices at such locations as the Au-
thority may select; and 
(11) provide for an appropriate level of rep-
resentation in Washington, D.C. 
(f) FEDERAL AGENCY COOPERATION.—A Federal 
agency shall—
(1) cooperate with the Authority; and 
(2) provide, on request of the Federal cochair-
person, appropriate assistance in carrying out this 
Act, in accordance with applicable Federal laws (in-
cluding regulations). 
(g) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Administrative expenses of 
the Authority (except for the expenses of the Fed-
eral cochairperson, including expenses of the alter-
nate and staff of the Federal cochairperson, which 
shall be paid solely by the Federal Government) 
shall be paid—
(A) by the Federal Government, in an 
amount equal to 50 percent of the administra-
tive expenses; and
(B) by the States in the region partici-
pating in the Authority, in an amount equal to 
50 percent of the administrative expenses. 
(2) STATE SHARE.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—The share of adminis-
trative expenses of the Authority to be paid by 
each State shall be determined by the Author-
ity. 
(B) NO
FEDERAL
PARTICIPATION.—The 
Federal cochairperson shall not participate or 
vote in any decision under subparagraph (A). 
(C) DELINQUENT STATES.—If a State is 
delinquent in payment of the State’s share of 
administrative expenses of the Authority under 
this subsection—
(i) no assistance under this Act shall 
be furnished to the State (including assist-
ance to a political subdivision or a resident 
of the State); and 
(ii) no member of the Authority from 
the State shall participate or vote in any 
action by the Authority. 
(h) COMPENSATION.—
(1) FEDERAL
COCHAIRPERSON.—The Federal 
cochairperson shall be compensated by the Federal
Government at level III of the Executive Schedule in 
subchapter II of chapter 53 of title V, United States 
Code. 
(2) ALTERNATE FEDERAL COCHAIRPERSON.—
The alternate Federal cochairperson—
(A) shall be compensated by the Federal 
Government at level V of the Executive Sched-
ule described in paragraph (1); and 
(B) when not actively serving as an alter-
nate for the Federal cochairperson, shall per-
form such functions and duties as are delegated 
by the Federal cochairperson. 
(3) STATE MEMBERS AND ALTERNATES.—
(A) IN
GENERAL.—A State shall com-
pensate each member and alternate rep-
resenting the State on the Authority at the rate 
established by law of the State. 
(B) NO ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION.—No 
State member or alternate member shall receive 
any salary, or any contribution to or sup-
plementation of salary from any source other 
than the State for services provided by the 
member or alternate to the Authority. 
(4) DETAILED EMPLOYEES.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—No person detailed to 
serve the Authority under subsection (e)(6) 
shall receive any salary or any contribution to 
or supplementation of salary for services pro-
vided to the Authority from—
(i) any source other than the State, 
local, or intergovernmental department or 
agency from which the person was detailed; 
or 
(ii) the Authority. 
(B) VIOLATION.—Any person that violates 
this paragraph shall be fined not more than 
$5,000, imprisoned not more than 1 year, or 
both. 
(C) APPLICABLE
LAW.—The Federal co-
chairperson, the alternate Federal cochair-
person, and any Federal officer or employee de-
tailed to duty on the Authority under sub-
section (e)(5) shall not be subject to subpara-
graph (A), but shall remain subject to sections 
202 through 209 of title 18, United States 
Code. 
(5) ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL.—
(A) COMPENSATION.—
(i) IN GENERAL.—The Authority may 
appoint and fix the compensation of an ex-
ecutive director and such other personnel 
as are necessary to enable the Authority to 
carry out the duties of the Authority. 
(ii) 
EXCEPTION.—Compensation 
under clause (i) shall not exceed the max-
imum rate for the Senior Executive Service 
under section 5382 of title 5, United 
States Code, including any applicable local-
ity-based comparability payment that may 
be authorized under section 5304(h)(2)(C) 
of that title. 
(B) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.—The executive 
director shall be responsible for—
(i) the carrying out of the administra-
tive duties of the Authority; 
(ii) direction of the Authority staff; 
and 
(iii) such other duties as the Author-
ity may assign. 
(C) NO FEDERAL EMPLOYEE STATUS.—No 
member, alternate, officer, or employee of the 
Authority (except the Federal cochairperson of 
the Authority, the alternate and staff for the
Federal cochairperson, and any Federal em-
ployee detailed to the Authority under sub-
section (e)(5)) shall be considered to be a Fed-
eral employee for any purpose. 
(i) CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided under 
paragraph (2), no State member, alternate, officer, 
or employee of the Authority shall participate per-
sonally and substantially as a member, alternate, of-
ficer, or employee of the Authority, through decision, 
approval, disapproval, recommendation, the ren-
dering of advice, investigation, or otherwise, in any 
proceeding, application, request for a ruling or other 
determination, contract, claim, controversy, or other 
matter in which, to knowledge of the member, alter-
nate, officer, or employee any of the following per-
sons has a financial interest: 
(A) The member, alternate, officer, or em-
ployee. 
(B) The spouse, minor child, partner, or 
organization (other than a State or political 
subdivision of the State) of the member, alter-
nate, officer, or employee, in which the member, 
alternate, officer, or employee is serving as offi-
cer, director, trustee, partner, or employee.
(C) Any person or organization with whom 
the member, alternate, officer, or employee is 
negotiating or has any arrangement concerning 
prospective employment. 
(2) DISCLOSURE.—Paragraph (1) shall not 
apply if the State member, alternate, officer, or em-
ployee—
(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, alternate, officer, or employee. 
(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), subsection (i), 
or sections 202 through 209 of title 18, United States 
Code. 
SEC. 
4. 
ECONOMIC 
AND 
COMMUNITY 
DEVELOPMENT 
GRANTS. 
(a) IN
GENERAL.—The Authority may approve 
grants to States and public and nonprofit entities for 
projects, approved in accordance with section 10—
(1) to develop the infrastructure of the region 
for the purpose of facilitating economic development 
in the region (except that grants for this purpose 
may only be made to a State or local government); 
(2) to assist the region in obtaining job train-
ing, employment-related education, and business de-
velopment; 
(3) to provide assistance to severely distressed 
and underdeveloped areas; and 
(4) to otherwise achieve the purposes of this 
Act. 
(b) FUNDING.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Funds for grants under sub-
section (a) may be provided—
(A) entirely from appropriations to carry 
out this section; 
(B) in combination with funds available 
under another State or Federal grant program; 
or 
(C) from any other source. 
(2) FUNDING PRIORITY.—Not less than 50 per-
cent of the amount of expenditures approved by the 
Authority shall support activities or projects that 
benefit severely and persistently distressed counties 
and areas. 
(3) ELIGIBLE PROJECTS.—The Authority may 
provide assistance, make grants, enter into con-
tracts, or otherwise provide funds to eligible entities 
in the region for projects that promote—
(A) business development; 
(B) job training or employment-related 
education; 
(C) local planning and leadership develop-
ment; 
(D) basic public infrastructure, including 
high-tech infrastructure, in distressed counties 
and isolated areas of distress; and
(E) any other project facilitating economic 
development in the region. 
(4) FEDERAL
SHARE.—Notwithstanding any 
provision of law limiting the Federal share in any 
grant program, funds appropriated to carry out this 
section may be used to increase a Federal share in 
a grant program, as the Authority determines appro-
priate. 
SEC. 5. SUPPLEMENTS TO FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAMS. 
(a) FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAM FUNDING.—In ac-
cordance with subsection (b), the Federal cochairperson 
may use amounts made available to carry out this Act, 
without regard to any limitations on areas eligible for as-
sistance or authorizations for appropriation under any 
other Act, to fund all or any portion of the basic Federal 
contribution to a project or activity under a Federal grant 
program in the region in an amount that is above the fixed 
maximum portion of the cost of the project otherwise au-
thorized by applicable law, but not to exceed 80 percent 
of the costs of the project. 
(b) CERTIFICATION.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—In the case of any program 
or project for which all or any portion of the basic 
Federal contribution to the project under a Federal 
grant program is proposed to be made under this
section, no Federal contribution shall be made until 
the Federal official administering the Federal law 
authorizing the contribution certifies that the pro-
gram or project—
(A) meets the applicable requirements of 
the applicable Federal grant law; and 
(B) could be approved for Federal con-
tribution under the law if funds were available 
under the law for the program or project. 
(2) CERTIFICATION BY AUTHORITY.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—The certifications and 
determinations required to be made by the Au-
thority for approval of projects under this Act 
in accordance with section 10—
(i) shall be controlling; and 
(ii) shall be accepted by the Federal 
agencies. 
(B) ACCEPTANCE BY FEDERAL COCHAIR-
PERSON.—Any finding, report, certification, or 
documentation required to be submitted to the 
head of the department, agency, or instrumen-
tality of the Federal Government responsible for 
the administration of any Federal grant pro-
gram shall be accepted by the Federal cochair-
person with respect to a supplemental grant for 
any project under the program. 
SEC. 6. LOCAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS; CERTIFICATION 
AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES. 
(a) DEFINITION
OF LOCAL DEVELOPMENT DIS-
TRICT.—In this section, the term ‘‘local development dis-
trict’’ means an entity designated by the State that—
(1) is—
(A)(i) a planning district in existence on 
the date of enactment of this Act that is recog-
nized by the Economic Development Adminis-
tration of the Department of Commerce; or 
(ii) a development district recognized by 
the State; or 
(B) if an entity described in subparagraph 
(A)(i) or (A)(ii) does not exist, an entity des-
ignated by the Authority that satisfies the cri-
teria developed by the Economic Development 
Administration for a local development district; 
and 
(2) has not, as certified by the Federal cochair-
person—
(A) inappropriately used Federal grant 
funds from any Federal source; or
(B) appointed an officer who, during the 
period in which another entity inappropriately 
used Federal grant funds from any Federal 
source, was an officer of the other entity. 
(b) GRANTS TO LOCAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Authority may make 
grants for administrative expenses under this sec-
tion. 
(2) CONDITIONS FOR GRANTS.—
(A) MAXIMUM AMOUNT.—The amount of 
any grant awarded under paragraph (1) shall 
not exceed 80 percent of the administrative ex-
penses of the local development district receiv-
ing the grant. 
(B) LOCAL SHARE.—The contributions of 
a local development district for administrative 
expenses may be in cash or in kind, fairly evalu-
ated, including space, equipment, and services. 
(c) DUTIES OF LOCAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS.—
A local development district shall—
(1) operate as a lead organization serving 
multicounty areas in the region at the local level; 
and 
(2) serve as a liaison between State and local 
governments, 
nonprofit 
organizations 
(including
community-based groups and educational institu-
tions), the business community, and citizens that—
(A) are involved in multijurisdictional plan-
ning; 
(B) provide technical assistance to local ju-
risdictions and potential grantees; and 
(C) provide leadership and civic develop-
ment assistance. 
SEC. 7. DISTRESSED COUNTIES AND AREAS AND NONDIS-
TRESSED COUNTIES. 
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Authority, in ac-
cordance with such criteria as the Authority may des-
ignate—
(1) as distressed counties, counties in the re-
gion that are the most severely and persistently dis-
tressed and underdeveloped and have high rates of 
poverty, low per capita income, or high rates of un-
employment; and 
(2) as isolated areas of distress, areas located 
in nondistressed counties in the region that are se-
verely and persistently distressed as documented by 
comparable statistical measures.
SEC. 8. DEVELOPMENT PLANNING PROCESS. 
(a) STATE DEVELOPMENT PLAN.—In accordance 
with policies established by the Authority, each State 
member shall submit a development plan for the area of 
the region represented by the State member. 
(b) CONTENT OF PLAN.—A State development plan 
submitted under subsection (a) shall reflect the goals, ob-
jectives, and priorities identified in the regional develop-
ment plan developed under section 3(d)(2). 
(c) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out the develop-
ment planning process, a State shall—
(1) consult with—
(A) local development districts; 
(B) local units of government; and 
(C) institutions of higher learning; and 
(2) take into consideration the goals, objectives, 
priorities, and recommendations of the entities de-
scribed in paragraph (1). 
(d) PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.—The Authority and ap-
plicable State and local development districts shall encour-
age and assist, to the maximum extent practicable, public 
participation in the development, revision, and implemen-
tation of all plans and programs under this Act. 
SEC. 9. PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT CRITERIA. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In considering programs and 
projects to be provided assistance under this Act, and in
establishing a priority ranking of the requests for assist-
ance provided by the Authority, the Authority shall follow 
procedures that ensure, to the maximum extent prac-
ticable, consideration of—
(1) the relationship of the project to overall re-
gional development; 
(2) the per capita income and poverty and un-
employment rates and other socioeconomic indicators 
in an area; 
(3) the financial resources available to the ap-
plicants for assistance seeking to carry out the 
project, with emphasis on ensuring that projects are 
adequately financed to maximize the probability of 
successful economic development; 
(4) the importance of the project in relation to 
other projects that may be in competition for the 
same funds; 
(5) the prospects that the project for which as-
sistance is sought will improve, on a continuing rath-
er than a temporary basis, the opportunities for em-
ployment, the average level of income, or the eco-
nomic development of the area served by the project; 
and 
(6) the extent to which the project design pro-
vides for detailed outcome measurements by which
grant expenditures and the results of the expendi-
tures may be evaluated. 
(b) NO RELOCATION ASSISTANCE.—No financial as-
sistance authorized by this Act shall be used to assist an 
establishment in relocating from 1 area to another. 
(c) REDUCTION OF FUNDS.—Funds may be provided 
for a program or project in a State under this Act only 
if the Authority determines that the level of Federal or 
State financial assistance provided under a law other than 
this Act, for the same type of program or project in the 
same area of the State within the region, will not be re-
duced as a result of funds made available by this Act. 
SEC. 
10. 
APPROVAL 
OF 
DEVELOPMENT 
PLANS 
AND 
PROJECTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—A State or regional development 
plan or any multistate subregional plan that is proposed 
for development under this Act shall be reviewed by the 
Authority. 
(b) EVALUATION BY STATE MEMBER.—An applica-
tion for a grant or any other assistance for a project under 
this Act shall be made through and evaluated for approval 
by the State member of the Authority representing the 
applicant. 
(c) CERTIFICATION.—An application for a grant or 
other assistance for a project shall be approved only on
certification by the State member and Federal cochair-
person that the application for the project—
(1) describes ways in which the project complies 
with any applicable State development plan; 
(2) meets applicable criteria under section 9; 
(3) provides adequate assurance that the pro-
posed project will be properly administered, oper-
ated, and maintained; and 
(4) otherwise meets the requirements of this 
Act. 
(d) VOTES FOR DECISIONS.—Upon certification of an 
application for a grant or other assistance for a specific 
project under this section, an affirmative vote of the Au-
thority under section 3(c) shall be required for approval 
of the application. 
SEC. 11. CONSENT OF STATES. 
Nothing in this Act requires any State to engage in 
or accept any program under this Act without the consent 
of the State. 
SEC. 12. RECORDS. 
(a) RECORDS OF THE AUTHORITY.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Authority shall main-
tain accurate and complete records of all trans-
actions and activities of the Authority.
(2) AVAILABILITY.—All records of the Author-
ity shall be available for audit and examination by 
the Comptroller General of the United States (in-
cluding authorized representatives of the Comp-
troller General). 
(b) RECORDS OF RECIPIENTS OF FEDERAL ASSIST-
ANCE.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—A recipient of Federal funds 
under this Act shall, as required by the Authority, 
maintain accurate and complete records of trans-
actions and activities financed with Federal funds 
and report on the transactions and activities to the 
Authority. 
(2) AVAILABILITY.—All records required under 
paragraph (1) shall be available for audit by the 
Comptroller General of the United States, and the 
Authority (including authorized representatives of 
the Comptroller General, and the Authority). 
SEC. 13. ANNUAL REPORT. 
Not later than 180 days after the end of each fiscal 
year, the Authority shall submit to the President and to 
Congress a report describing the activities carried out 
under this Act.
SEC. 14. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appro-
priated to the Authority to carry out this Act $40,000,000 
for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2008, to remain 
available until expended. 
(b) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.—Not more than 5 
percent of the amount appropriated under subsection (a) 
for a fiscal year shall be used for administrative expenses 
of the Authority. 
SEC. 15. TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY. 
This Act shall have no force or effect on or after Oc-
tober 1, 2008. 
SEC. 16. AREA COVERED BY SOUTHEAST CRESCENT AU-
THORITY. 
SouthEast Crescent Authority region shall include all 
parts of the States of Virginia, North Carolina, South 
Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida that 
are not eligible for assistance from the Appalachian Re-
gional Commission or the Delta Regional Authority.
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