I
103D CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4388
To establish the Northern Great Plains Rural Development Commission,
and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 11, 1994
Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota (for himself, Mr. POMEROY, Mr. PETERSON
of Minnesota, Mr. MINGE, and Mr. BARRETT of Nebraska) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture
A BILL
To establish the Northern Great Plains Rural Development
Commission, 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 ‘‘Northern Great Plains
Rural Development Act’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that—
(1) the rural economy of the Northern Great
Plains is undergoing a substantial and potentially
threatening transformation;
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(2) the rural Northern Great Plains suffers
from substantial measurable poverty, unemployment,
outmigration, underemployment, aging of the popu-
lation, and low per capita income;
(3) the Northern great plains is highly rural
and has a highly dispersed population, and contains
many Native American reservations;
(4) many of the basic industries of the rural
Northern Great Plains in natural resources are
under stress;
(5) a concerted Federal, State, and local public
and private effort is needed if the rural Northern
Great Plains is to share in the general prosperity of
the United States;
(6) the creation of jobs and expansion of exist-
ing businesses, including small businesses, offer the
greatest hope for rural economic growth and revital-
ization in the Northern Great Plains;
(7) the availability of capital, technology, mar-
ket information, infrastructure development, edu-
cational opportunities, health care, housing, rec-
reational activities, and resource development are es-
sential to successful business development in the
rural Northern Great Plains;
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(8) the transportation needs of the rural North-
ern Great Plains must be addressed through high-
way and bridge construction, air service availability,
and rail service and river transport development;
(9) because of the social, geographic, weather,
historical, and cultural ties of the rural Northern
Great Plains as well as common economic problems,
planning for this unique region is desirable and ur-
gently needed; and
(10) in the rural Northern Great Plains, the
tourism industry offers significant additional poten-
tial for supporting economic development and job
growth, fostered by the wise stewardship of natural
resources.
SEC. 3. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Act is to establish the Northern
Great Plains Development Commission to study and make
recommendations regarding the economic needs and eco-
nomic development of the rural Northern Great Plains by
seeking and encouraging the participation of interested
citizens, public officials, groups, agencies, businesses, and
other entities in developing a 10-year rural economic de-
velopment plan for the Northern Great Plains.
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this Act:
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(1) CHAIRPERSON.—The term ‘‘chairperson’’
means the chairperson of the Commission.
(2) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’
means the Northern Great Plains Rural Develop-
ment Commission.
(3) NORTHERN
GREAT
PLAINS.—The term
‘‘Northern Great Plains’’ means the States of North
Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, and Min-
nesota.
(4) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means a State
in the Northern Great Plains.
SEC. 5. ESTABLISHMENT.
There is established a Commission to be known as
the ‘‘Northern Great Plains Rural Development Commis-
sion’’.
SEC. 6. MEMBERSHIP AND ORGANIZATION.
(a) MEMBERSHIP.—The Commission shall be com-
posed of 10 members, of whom—
(1) 1 member shall be appointed by the Gov-
ernor of each State; and
(2) 1 member shall be appointed from each of
the States by the United States Secretary of Agri-
culture.
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(b) TERM.—Each member of the Commission shall
serve for such term as the official who appoints the mem-
ber determines is appropriate.
(c) QUORUM.—Five members of the Commission
shall constitute a quorum, but the Commission may estab-
lish that a lesser number shall constitute a quorum for
the purpose of conducting hearings.
(d) MEETINGS.—
(1) FIRST MEETINGS.—Five or more members
appointed under subsection (a)(1) shall determine
the date, time, and place of the first meeting, and
shall call the first meeting. At the first meeting, the
members of the Commission shall appoint a chair-
person from among the members appointed under
subsection (a)(1). The first meeting of the Commis-
sion shall be held not later than 45 days after the
date of enactment of this Act.
(2) ADDITIONAL MEETINGS.—The Commission
shall conduct such additional meetings as the com-
mission determines are appropriate.
(e) APPOINTMENTS.—Each appointment under this
Act shall be made not later than 30 days after the date
of enactment of this Act.
(f) VACANCIES.—A vacancy on the Commission shall
not affect the powers of the Commission and shall be filled
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in the same manner in which the original appointment was
made.
(g) HEADQUARTERS.—The Commission shall estab-
lish the location for the headquarters of the Commission.
SEC. 7. DUTIES.
(a) PLAN.—The Commission shall identify and study
the economic development, infrastructure, technology,
telecommunications, capital, employment, transportation,
business resource development, education, health care,
housing, and recreation needs of the Northern Great
Plains and develop a 10-year plan that makes rec-
ommendations and establishes priorities to address the
needs.
(b) PREPARATION OF PLAN.—In developing the plan,
the Commission shall, with respect to the Northern Great
Plains—
(1) sponsor and conduct investigations, research
studies, and field hearings;
(2) review and evaluate available research, stud-
ies, and information on conditions in the areas re-
ferred to in subsection (a);
(3) study the economy, identifying strengths,
weaknesses, participation levels, opportunities, and
methods of addressing outmigration;
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(4) develop a profile of, and a description of re-
sources devoted to, economic development (including
tourism), human resources (including demographics,
outmigration, poverty, Native Americans, education,
and training), infrastructure (including air, water,
highway, rail, and telecommunications), and natural
resources;
(5) study and evaluate the economic develop-
ment resources, coordination, collaboration, and
‘‘best practices’’ of the Federal, State, and local gov-
ernments, nonprofit organizations, universities, busi-
nesses, agricultural and natural resources groups,
foundations, cooperatives, and other organizations;
(6) identify methods of facilitating the employ-
ment and business startups of unemployed, under-
employed, and low-income individuals and house-
holds;
(7) identify effective methods for promoting de-
velopment on Native American reservations;
(8) study the availability of methods of deliver-
ing public, private, and nonprofit capital and tech-
nical assistance for business startups and expan-
sions, including farming and ranching;
(9) evaluate the availability of, need for, and
strategies for providing and maintaining, the infra-
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structure, including air, water, highway, rail, and
telecommunications;
(10) study the structure and potential develop-
ment of major industries, including agriculture, tim-
ber, mining, tourism, and manufacturing (including
the use of advanced technologies and processes and
adding value to raw materials and component parts);
(11) study the competence and availability of
the labor force, including the health, educational,
training, housing, and economic needs of the labor
force;
(12) develop an inventory of water, mineral, en-
ergy, timber, agricultural, fishery, wildlife, and other
natural resources;
(13) assess the comparative cost of doing busi-
ness;
(14) assess the international trading levels,
markets, and practices, and potential opportunities;
(15) assess the interconnection between metro-
politan and rural areas and identify methods
through which the areas can collaborate;
(16) assess methods by which small commu-
nities and regions are collaborating or can collabo-
rate in economic development initiatives;
(17) evaluate—
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(A) the distribution and impact of Federal
spending, including grant-in-aid programs, re-
search, and Federal procurement, and compare
the level of spending in these categories with
spending in other regions of the country; and
(B) the extent to which reliance on Fed-
eral, State, and local government outlays for
poverty programs can be reduced by outlays
targeted for economic development;
(18) identify Federal, State, and local govern-
ment programs, policies, and regulations that en-
hance or obstruct the development of businesses and
well-paying jobs with long-term potential and that
effectively use the skills, education, and training of
the labor force;
(19) evaluate the potential for States to jointly
finance projects and activities of regional benefit;
and
(20) analyze such other issues as the Commis-
sion determines are relevant to future economic de-
velopment.
(c) DEVELOPMENT
OF PLAN.—In developing the
plan, the Commission shall—
(1) provide a forum for the consideration of the
problems of the rural Northern Great Plains and
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proposed solutions, and establish and utilize citizens
groups, special advisory councils, public hearings,
and conferences;
(2) seek and encourage the participation of in-
terested citizens, public officials, groups, agencies,
economic development organizations, natural re-
source organizations, and other organizations;
(3) make the Commission accessible to the indi-
viduals, groups, agencies, and organizations referred
to in paragraph (2) by holding at least 1 well pub-
licized public hearing in each State; and
(4) consult with—
(A) Federal, State, and local government
agencies, including the Departments of Agri-
culture, Commerce, Education, Labor, Health
and Human Services, Housing and Urban De-
velopment, and Transportation, and the Small
Business Administration, bank regulatory agen-
cies, and rural development councils;
(B) banks, insurance companies, venture
capital companies, and other for-profit financial
institutions;
(C) nonprofit and community-based devel-
opment organizations, revolving loan funds, and
other organizations;
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(D) industry and sectoral organizations;
(E) foundations and universities; and
(F) other organizations involved in eco-
nomic development activities.
SEC. 8. COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.
(a) MEMBERS APPOINTED BY GOVERNORS.—Each
member of the Commission appointed by a Governor of
a State may be compensated by the State that the member
represents.
(b) MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE SECRETARY.—
Each member appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture,
who is not otherwise employed by the United States Gov-
ernment, shall receive compensation at a rate determined
by the Secretary, not to exceed the daily equivalent of the
lowest annual rate of basic pay payable for grade GS–15
of the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5,
United States Code, including travel-time, for each day
the member is engaged in the actual performance of the
duties of the Commission. A member of the Commission
appointed by the Secretary who is an officer or employee
of the United States Government shall serve without addi-
tional compensation.
(c) TRAVEL AND OTHER EXPENSES.—Each member
of the Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, includ-
ing per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized
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for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter
57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from the
home or regular place of business of the member in the
performance of services for the Commission. Each member
of the Commission shall also be reimbursed by the United
States Government for other necessary expenses incurred
by the member in the performance of the duties of the
member.
SEC. 9. POWERS AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.
(a) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.—The Commission
may obtain the services of experts and consultants in ac-
cordance with section 3109 of title 5, United States Code.
(b) FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES.—
The Commission may enter into agreements with the Ad-
ministrator of General Services for the procurement of
necessary financial and administrative services, for which
payment shall be made by reimbursement from funds of
the Commission in such amounts as are agreed on by the
chairperson and the Administrator of General Services.
(c) CONTRACTS.—Subject to subsection (d), the Com-
mission may enter into contracts with Federal and State
agencies and private firms, institutions, and agencies for
the conduct of research and surveys, the preparation of
reports, and other activities necessary to carry out the du-
ties of the Commission.
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(d) SUPPLIES, SERVICES, PROPERTY, AND CON-
TRACTS.—The Commission may procure supplies, serv-
ices, and property, and make contracts in any fiscal year,
only to such extent and in such amounts as are provided
in appropriation Acts.
(e) HEARINGS.—The Commission or, on the author-
ization of the Commission, a member of the Commission
may, for the purpose of carrying out this Act, hold such
hearings, sit and act at such times and places, and request
the attendance and testimony of such witnesses and the
production of such books, records, memoranda, papers,
and documents as the Commission or the member consid-
ers appropriate.
(f) INFORMATION.—The Commission may acquire di-
rectly from any executive department, bureau, agency,
board, commission, office, independent establishment, or
instrumentality, information, suggestions, estimates, and
statistics for the purpose of this Act. Each department,
bureau, agency, board, commission, office, establishment,
or instrumentality shall provide, to the extent permitted
by law, the information, suggestions, estimates, and statis-
tics directly to the Commission, upon request by the chair-
person.
(g) PERSONNEL.—
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(1) IN GENERAL.—Without regard to the provi-
sions of title 5, United States Code, governing ap-
pointments in the competitive service, and without
regard to chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter
53 of such title relating to classification and General
Schedule pay rates, the chairperson of the Commis-
sion may appoint, terminate, and fix the compensa-
tion of an Executive Director and such additional
personnel as the chairperson determines are nec-
essary to enable the Commission to carry out the du-
ties of the Commission.
(2) COMPENSATION.—The rate of compensation
of the Executive Director may not exceed a rate
equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of
basic pay payable for level V of the Executive Sched-
ule under section 5316 of such title. The rate of
compensation of all other personnel may not exceed
a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the lowest an-
nual rate of basic pay payable for grade GS–15 of
the General Schedule under section 5332 of such
title.
(h) ASSISTANCE FROM OTHER AGENCIES.—Upon re-
quest of the Commission, the head of any Federal agency
may make any of the facilities and services of the agency
available to the Commission or detail any of the personnel
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(1) IN GENERAL.—Before the end of the 18-
month period beginning on the date of the first
meeting of the Commission under section 6(d)(1),
the Commission shall submit to the Secretary of Ag-
riculture, the President pro tempore of the Senate,
the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and For-
estry of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, the Committee on Agriculture of
the House of Representatives, the President, and the
Governor of each State, a report describing the find-
ings and activities of the Commission and rec-
ommendations in accordance with paragraph (2) re-
garding specific actions that are necessary to pro-
mote the economic development of the rural North-
ern Great Plains while preserving, to the maximum
extent possible, the natural beauty and habitat of
the Northern Great Plains.
(2) RECOMMENDATIONS.—
(A) 
REGIONAL
COLLABORATION.—The
Commission shall, with respect to the Northern
Great Plains—
(i) determine the most effective and
appropriate method for ensuring continued
collaboration within the region on economic
development matters, considering regional
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compacts, cooperatives, foundations, devel-
opment corporations, and other agreements
and organizations;
(ii) identify the organizational struc-
ture, method of financing, functions, and
participating organizations, of the collabo-
ration referred to in clause (i);
(iii) identify methods of effective
multi-community, substate, and small re-
gion development; and
(iv) assess the interconnection be-
tween metropolitan and rural areas and
identify methods of collaboration between
the areas.
(B) BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.—The Com-
mission shall, with respect to the rural North-
ern Great Plains—
(i) recommend methods of diversifying
the rural economy, including the develop-
ment and financing of value-added and
new-use agricultural products;
(ii) develop methods to promote and
finance beginning owner-occupied farming
and ranching operations;
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(iii) recommend methods of promoting
entrepreneurial 
development, 
including
business startups and expansions;
(iv) recommend methods in which the
public, private, and nonprofit sectors can
help increase international trading levels
and penetrate new markets in agricultural,
manufactured, and service products;
(v) evaluate the potential utility of
business and manufacturing networks in
target sectors;
(vi) assess the competitiveness of
manufacturers and the use of modern tech-
nology, process, and information by the
manufacturers, and methods of assisting
manufacturers 
lacking 
the 
technology,
processes, or information;
(vii) recommend methods in which
capital and technical assistance can be pro-
vided on a regional or sectoral basis to
business startups and expansions by pub-
lic, private, and nonprofit organizations;
and
(viii) recommend ways in which Fed-
eral and State resource conservation pro-
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grams can be used to encourage tourism in
the region.
(C) CAPITAL.—The Commission shall, with
respect to the rural Northern Great Plains—
(i) determine if there are capital needs
in the economy, and in what part of the
economy the needs are located, and rec-
ommend how governmental, nonprofit, co-
operative, community-based, microlending,
banking, venture, seed, and nonbanking fi-
nancing sources can assist in meeting the
needs;
(ii) identify such strategies in organi-
zation, regulations, policy, marketing, and
coordination as are needed to implement a
plan to meet the needs referred to in
clause (i); and
(iii) recommend methods of utilizing
secondary financial markets to increase the
capital available for business development.
(D) INFRASTRUCTURE.—The Commission
shall, with respect to the rural Northern Great
Plains—
(i) prepare a plan to preserve, finance,
and operate effective freight railroad serv-
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ice in coordination with States, the Federal
Railroad Administration, the Interstate
Commerce Commission, rail operators,
shippers, and the financial community;
(ii) prepare an assessment and agree-
ment on the capital needs, coordination,
and financing of telecommunications infra-
structure, in cooperation with the Depart-
ment of Agriculture, the National Tele-
communications and Information Adminis-
tration of the Department of Commerce,
the Federal Communications Commission,
the public utilities commission of each
State, telephone companies and coopera-
tives, representative users, and such other
entities as the Commission determines are
appropriate; and
(iii) recommend strategies for ad-
dressing air, water, and highway needs.
(E) HUMAN
RESOURCES.—The Commis-
sion shall, with respect to the rural Northern
Great Plains—
(i) identify methods of facilitating the
employment and business startups of indi-
viduals who are not effectively participat-
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ing in the labor force, including unem-
ployed, underemployed, and low-income in-
dividuals and households;
(ii) identify methods of coordinating
on a regional or sectoral basis education
and training programs that are tied to eco-
nomic development initiatives, especially
programs that address the outmigration of
youth; and
(iii) study the competence and avail-
ability of the labor force and the effects of
the health, educational, training, housing,
and economic needs of the labor force, and
identify regional strategies addressing the
needs.
(F) GOVERNMENT
PROGRAMS, POLICIES,
AND
REGULATIONS.—The Commission shall
submit to the appropriate government, non-
profit, and private sector organizations rec-
ommendations for modifications or additions to
the programs, policies, and regulations referred
to in section 7(b)(18) to promote the rural de-
velopment of the Northern Great Plains.
SEC. 11. TERMINATION.
The Commission shall terminate on the earlier of—
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(1) 120 days after the date of submission of the
final report under section 10; and
(2) 2 years after the date of enactment of this
Act.
SEC. 12. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums
as are necessary to carry out this Act.
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