774 
‘‘(D) movement of freight and individuals 
within the region; 
‘‘(E) federally funded research at institu-
tions of higher education; and 
‘‘(F) conservation land management; 
‘‘(5) work with State, tribal, and local agencies 
in developing appropriate model legislation; 
‘‘(6) enhance the capacity of, and provide sup-
port for, multistate development and research orga-
nizations, local development organizations and dis-
tricts, and resource conservation districts in the re-
gion; 
‘‘(7) encourage private investment in industrial, 
commercial, renewable energy, and other economic 
development projects in the region; and 
‘‘(8) cooperate with and assist State govern-
ments with economic development programs of par-
ticipating States. 
‘‘(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 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:29 Jul 08, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00774
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2498.IH
H2498
sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
775 
on actions by the Authority as the Authority con-
siders appropriate; 
‘‘(2) authorize, through the Federal, State, or 
tribal cochairperson or any other member of the Au-
thority designated by the Authority, the administra-
tion of oaths if the Authority determines that testi-
mony should be taken or evidence received under 
oath; 
‘‘(3) request from any Federal, State, tribal, or 
local agency such information as may be available to 
or procurable by the agency that may be of use to 
the Authority in carrying out the duties of the Au-
thority; 
‘‘(4) adopt, amend, and repeal bylaws and rules 
governing the conduct of business and the perform-
ance of duties of the Authority; 
‘‘(5) request the head of any Federal agency to 
detail to the Authority such personnel as the Au-
thority requires to carry out duties of the Authority, 
each such detail to be without loss of seniority, pay, 
or other employee status; 
‘‘(6) request the head of any State agency, trib-
al government, or local government to detail to the 
Authority such personnel as the Authority requires 
to carry out duties of the Authority, each such detail 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:29 Jul 08, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00775
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2498.IH
H2498
sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
776 
to be without loss of seniority, pay, or other em-
ployee status; 
‘‘(7) provide for coverage of Authority employ-
ees in a suitable retirement and employee benefit 
system by— 
‘‘(A) making arrangements or entering 
into contracts with any participating State gov-
ernment or tribal government; 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, 
leases, cooperative agreements, or other transactions 
as are necessary to carry out Authority duties, in-
cluding any contracts, leases, or cooperative agree-
ments with— 
‘‘(A) any department, agency, or instru-
mentality of the United States; 
‘‘(B) any State (including a political sub-
division, agency, or instrumentality of the 
State); 
‘‘(C) any Indian tribe in the region; or 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:29 Jul 08, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00776
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2498.IH
H2498
sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
777 
‘‘(D) any person, firm, association, or cor-
poration; and 
‘‘(10) establish and maintain a central office 
and field offices at such locations as the Authority 
may select. 
‘‘(f) FEDERAL AGENCY COOPERATION.—A Federal 
agency shall— 
‘‘(1) cooperate with the Authority; and 
‘‘(2) provide, on request of a cochairperson, ap-
propriate assistance in carrying out this chapter, in 
accordance with applicable Federal laws (including 
regulations). 
‘‘(g) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.— 
‘‘(1) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of 
the administrative expenses of the Authority shall 
be— 
‘‘(A) for fiscal year 2014, 100 percent; 
‘‘(B) for fiscal year 2015, 75 percent; and 
‘‘(C) for fiscal year 2016 and each fiscal 
year thereafter, 50 percent. 
‘‘(2) NON-FEDERAL SHARE.— 
‘‘(A) 
IN
GENERAL.—The 
non-Federal 
share of the administrative expenses of the Au-
thority shall be paid by non-Federal sources in 
the States that participate in the Authority. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:29 Jul 08, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00777
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2498.IH
H2498
sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
778 
‘‘(B) SHARE PAID BY EACH STATE.—The 
share of administrative expenses of the Author-
ity to be paid by non-Federal sources in each 
State shall be determined by the Authority. 
‘‘(C) NO FEDERAL PARTICIPATION.—The 
Federal cochairperson shall not participate or 
vote in any decision under subparagraph (B). 
‘‘(D) 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 chapter 
shall be provided to the State (including 
assistance 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
AND
TRIBAL
COCHAIR-
PERSONS.—The Federal cochairperson and the tribal 
cochairperson shall be compensated by the Federal 
Government at the annual rate of basic pay pre-
scribed for level III of the Executive Schedule in 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:29 Jul 08, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00778
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2498.IH
H2498
sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with BILLS