I 
109TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4691 
To establish a Gulf Coast Region Redevelopment Commission to coordinate 
and manage the Federal response to and cooperate with State and 
local entities in rebuilding that part of the Gulf Coast region damaged 
by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 1, 2006 
Ms. KAPTUR (for herself and Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To establish a Gulf Coast Region Redevelopment Commission 
to coordinate and manage the Federal response to and 
cooperate with State and local entities in rebuilding that 
part of the Gulf Coast region damaged by Hurricanes 
Katrina and Rita. 
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 ‘‘Gulf Coast Region Re-
development Commission Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following:
(1) Due to the destruction of Hurricanes 
Katrina and Rita, there are a vast number of issues 
requiring the coordination of Federal, State, and 
local resources, including the reconstruction of basic 
infrastructures, the provision of short-term and per-
manent affordable housing, an increased need for so-
cial services, environmental concerns, the provision 
of adequate health care, and investment in commer-
cial industry. 
(2) A Federal commission would be beneficial to 
participate and help coordinate the recovery and re-
development of the Gulf Coast region due to the un-
precedented scope of these disasters and unmet 
needs of this region. 
(3) There is need for a regional plan to ensure 
that the ensuing development will be the result of a 
well-thought out, comprehensive, and practical plan. 
(4) There is vast expertise across the affected 
region as well as among Federal, State, and local en-
tities that should be coordinated to comprehensively 
address challenges of redevelopment. 
(5) Residents and local officials should have sig-
nificant input as to how their communities are re-
built through local hearings, as well as inclusion in 
the planning process as appropriate in each commu-
nity, linking to voluntary organizations and commu-
nity development corporations where possible. 
(6) There is a need for oversight of the protec-
tive mechanisms essential to reducing the likelihood 
of destruction from future natural disasters, includ-
ing the reinforcement and rebuilding of levees and 
building code standards that incorporate the unique 
features of the Mississippi River and Gulf Coast eco-
systems. 
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT. 
There is established the Gulf Coast Region Redevel-
opment Commission, in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Com-
mission’’. 
SEC. 4. MEMBERS, MEETINGS, TERMS, AND VOTING. 
(a) MEMBERSHIP AND TERMS.— 
(1) INITIAL
APPOINTMENT.—The Commission 
shall be composed of the following members ap-
pointed by the President: 
(A) One member who shall serve as the 
Chair for a term of 3 years, who shall be ap-
pointed with the advice of the Senate. 
(B) Upon recommendation of the Gov-
ernors of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and 
Texas, one member from each of those States
to serve as Vice-Chairs, who shall each serve a 
term of 2 years. 
(C) Four members, no more than two of 
whom shall be members of the same political 
party, to serve for a term of 2 years and to be 
appointed based on recommendations from the 
Speaker and the minority leader of the House 
of Representatives, and the majority leader and 
minority leader of the Senate, who shall each 
submit a recommended candidate to the Presi-
dent. 
(D) Three additional members from each 
of the States of Alabama, Louisiana, Mis-
sissippi, and Texas, to each serve a term of 5 
years. In making appointments under this para-
graph, the President shall consult with and con-
sider the recommendation of each of the Gov-
ernors of such States, and shall give priority to 
individuals who are State and local leaders, city 
and regional planning leaders, housing special-
ists, homebuilders, and manufactured housing 
representatives, transportation specialists, and 
mortgage financing representatives. 
(2) SUBSEQUENT APPOINTMENTS.—
(A) TERMS.—No member of the Commis-
sion may serve more than a single term, but 
may continue to serve until a successor is ap-
pointed. All members appointed after expiration 
of the initial terms shall serve for a term of 5 
years, with the exception of those members ap-
pointed under paragraph (1)(C), whose subse-
quent terms shall be for a period of 2 years. 
(B) VACANCIES.—A vacancy on the Com-
mission shall be filled in the manner in which 
the original appointment was made for the re-
mainder of that term. If there is a vacancy in 
the Chair of the Commission, the Vice-Chair-
men may appoint from among the members an 
interim Chair to serve for the remainder of that 
term. 
(b) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall conduct at 
least 2 meetings each year with the Chair and at least 
a majority of the members present. The Commission may 
conduct such additional meetings by electronic means as 
the Commission considers advisable, including meetings to 
decide matters requiring an affirmative vote. 
(c) VOTING.—Decisions by the Commission shall re-
quire the affirmative vote of the Chair and of a majority 
of the members. In matters coming before the Commis-
sion, the Commission shall, to the extent practicable, con-
sult with the Federal departments and agencies having an 
interest in the subject matter. A decision involving Com-
mission policy, approval of any State, regional, or sub-
regional development plan or strategy statement, any allo-
cation of funds among the States, shall not be made with-
out a quorum of the members. 
(d) COMPENSATION
AND CONFLICTS
OF INTER-
EST.— 
(1) EXECUTIVE SCHEDULE.—Each member of 
the Commission shall be compensated at the annual 
rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the Exec-
utive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United 
States Code. 
(2) CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.— 
(A) GENERAL RULE.—Except as permitted 
by subparagraph (B), no person who is a mem-
ber, officer, or employee of the Commission 
shall participate personally and substantially in 
any decision, recommendation, rendering of ad-
vice, or in any proceeding regarding an applica-
tion, request for a ruling or other determina-
tion, contract, claim, controversy, or other par-
ticular matter before the Commission in which, 
to such person’s knowledge, such person, or the
spouse, child, partner, of such person, or an or-
ganization (other than a State or political sub-
division thereof) in which such person serves as 
officer, director, trustee, partner, or employee, 
or any person or organization with whom such 
person is negotiating or has any arrangement 
concerning prospective employment, has a fi-
nancial interest. 
(B) EXCEPTION
GRANTED
BY
COMMIS-
SION.—Subparagraph (A) shall not apply if the 
member, officer, or employee first advises the 
Commission of the nature and circumstances of 
the issue before the Commission and makes full 
disclosure of the financial interest and receives 
in advance a written determination made by the 
Commission that the interest is not so substan-
tial as to be deemed likely to affect the integrity 
of the services which the Commission may ex-
pect from such member, officer, or employee. 
(C) RESCISSION.—The Commission may, 
in its discretion, declare void and rescind any 
contract, loan, or grant of or by the Commis-
sion in relation to which it finds that there has 
been a violation of this paragraph.
SEC. 5. FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMISSION. 
The Commission shall— 
(1) coordinate the Federal response to Hurri-
canes Katrina and Rita by developing comprehensive 
and coordinated plans and programs for the region, 
and establishing priorities among the activities iden-
tified within such plans and programs; 
(2) develop inventory of the region’s major re-
development needs; 
(3) conduct research and analysis of the re-
gion’s resources with the cooperation of Federal, 
State, and local agencies; 
(4) provide a forum for the discussion of and 
proposed resolution of needs confronting the region; 
(5) identify applicable government programs 
suitable for application with the cooperation of af-
fected Federal, State and local governments and 
public and private entities, and recommend modifica-
tions and additions aimed at enhancing program ef-
fectiveness; 
(6) recommend and aid in interstate coopera-
tion; 
(7) encourage and aid in the rebuilding or cre-
ation of community development corporations, where 
appropriate;
(8) provide investment in commercial industrial 
and recreational projects; and 
(9) manage and oversee the federally-funded 
consolidated budget for the region’s redevelopment. 
SEC. 6. RECOMMENDATIONS. 
The Commission may, from time to time, make rec-
ommendations to the President and appropriate Federal, 
State, and local officials with respect to— 
(1) the expenditure of funds by Federal, State, 
and local departments and agencies in the region in 
the fields of natural resources, agriculture, edu-
cation, training, health and welfare, and other fields 
related to the purposes of this Act; and 
(2) such additional Federal, State, and local 
legislation or administrative actions as the Commis-
sion deems necessary to further the purposes of this 
Act. 
SEC. 7. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LIAISON AND ADVISORS. 
(a) LIAISON.—The President shall provide effective 
and continuing liaison between the Federal Government 
and the Commission and a coordinated review within the 
Federal Government of the plans and recommendations 
submitted by the Commission pursuant to sections 5 and 
6.
(b) ADVISORY AGENCIES.—The following individuals 
or their delegates shall have an active advisory role to the 
Commission: 
(1) The Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, 
Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human 
Services, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, 
Transportation, and Veterans Affairs; and 
(2) the directors of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency and the Environmental Protec-
tion Agency, the Administrator of the Small Busi-
ness Administration, the Chairmen of Freddie Mac, 
Ginnie Mae, and Fannie Mae, the Federal Housing 
Commissioner, and the Chief of Engineers of the 
Army Corps of Engineers. 
SEC. 8. ADMINISTRATIVE POWERS OF COMMISSION. 
The Commission may appoint and fix the compensa-
tion of an executive director and such other personnel as 
may be necessary to enable the Commission to carry out 
its functions, except that such compensation shall not ex-
ceed the maximum rate of basic pay for the Senior Execu-
tive Service under section 5382 of title 5, United States 
Code, including any applicable locality-based com-
parability payment that may be authorized under section 
5304(h)(2)(C) of that title. The executive director shall 
be responsible for carrying out the administrative func-
tions of the Commission, for direction of the Commission 
staff, and for such other duties as the Commission may 
assign. In addition, to carry out its duties under this Act, 
the Commission is authorized to— 
(1) adopt, amend, and repeal bylaws, rules, and 
regulations governing the conduct of its business 
and the performance of its functions; 
(2) request the head of any Federal department 
or agency (who is hereby so authorized) to detail to 
temporary duty with the Commission such personnel 
as the Commission may need for carrying out its 
functions, each such detail to be without loss of se-
niority, pay, or other employee status; 
(3) arrange for the services of personnel from 
any State or local government or any subdivision or 
agency thereof, or any intergovernmental agency; 
(4) enter into and perform such contracts, 
leases (including, notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, the lease of office space for any term), 
cooperative agreements, or other transactions as 
may be necessary in carrying out its functions and 
on such terms as it may consider appropriate, with 
any department, agency, or instrumentality of the 
United States (which is hereby so authorized to the 
extent not otherwise prohibited by law) or with any
State, or any political subdivision, agency, or instru-
mentality thereof, or with any person, firm, associa-
tion, or corporation; 
(5) maintain a temporary office in the District 
of Columbia and establish a permanent office at 
such a central and appropriate location as it may se-
lect and field offices at such other places as it may 
deem appropriate; and 
(6) take such other actions and incur such ex-
penses as may be necessary or appropriate. 
SEC. 9. INFORMATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In order to obtain information 
needed to carry out its duties, the Commission shall— 
(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 so much of its proceedings and reports there-
on as it may deem advisable; 
(2) arrange for the head of any Federal, State, 
or local department or agency (who is hereby so au-
thorized to the extent not otherwise prohibited by 
law) to furnish to the Commission such information 
as may be available to or procurable by such depart-
ment or agency; and
(3) keep accurate and complete records of its 
doings and transactions which shall be made avail-
able for public inspection, and for the purpose of 
audit and examination by the Comptroller General 
or his duly authorized representatives. 
(b) PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.—Public participation in 
the development, revision, and implementation of all plans 
and programs under this Act by the Commission shall be 
provided for, encouraged, and assisted. The Commission 
shall develop and publish regulations specifying minimum 
guidelines for such public participation, including public 
hearings. 
SEC. 10. REPORTING. 
Not later than 6 months after the close of each fiscal 
year, the Commission shall prepare and submit to Con-
gress and to the Governors of Alabama, Louisiana, Mis-
sissippi, and Texas, a report on the activities carried out 
under this Act during such year. 
SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Com-
mission such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal 
years 2006 through 2016 to carry out this Act.
SEC. 12. TERMINATION. 
The Commission shall terminate on the date that is 
10 years after the date on which all initial members shall 
have been appointed. 
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