I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2134 
To amend title 40, United States Code, to establish a Southern New England 
Regional Commission, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 23, 2021 
Mr. CICILLINE (for himself, Mrs. TRAHAN, Mr. LYNCH, Mr. COURTNEY, Mr. 
AUCHINCLOSS, and Mr. NEAL) 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 subse-
quently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend title 40, United States Code, to establish a South-
ern New England Regional 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 ‘‘Southern New England 
Regional Commission Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RE-
GIONAL COMMISSION. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Section 15301(a) of title 40, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(4) The Southern New England Regional 
Commission.’’. 
(b) PURPOSES
FOR ECONOMIC
AND INFRASTRUC-
TURE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS.—Section 15501(a) of such 
title is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—A Commission may make grants 
to States and local governments, Indian tribes, and public 
and nonprofit organizations for projects, approved in ac-
cordance with section 15503— 
‘‘(1) to develop the transportation infrastruc-
ture of its region; 
‘‘(2) to develop the basic public infrastructure 
of its region; 
‘‘(3) to develop the telecommunications infra-
structure of its region; 
‘‘(4) to assist its region in obtaining job skills 
training, skills development and employment-related 
education, career pathways, apprenticeships opportu-
nities, entrepreneurship, technology, job coaching to 
address the cliff effect, work supports (including 
child care), and business development; 
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‘‘(5) to provide assistance to severely economi-
cally distressed and underdeveloped areas of a region 
that lack financial resources for improving basic 
health care, two-generational practices that improve 
school and workforce readiness and success, and 
other public services, including work supports crit-
ical for families seeking employment which may in-
clude quality child care, transportation, health, and 
housing; 
‘‘(6) to promote resource conservation, tourism, 
recreation, and preservation of open space in a man-
ner consistent with economic development goals; 
‘‘(7) to promote the development of renewable 
and alternative energy sources; 
‘‘(8) to support the maritime economy, includ-
ing boat and ship building and repair industries; 
‘‘(9) to assist in developing defense manufac-
turing industries; 
‘‘(10) to promote the adoption of composite and 
other innovative materials in public transportation; 
‘‘(11) to grow the capacity for successful com-
munity economic development in its region; 
‘‘(12) to provide for employment training for 
populations seeking employment, including parents 
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in poverty, adults in recovery, and reentry adults, in 
areas with worker shortages; and 
‘‘(13) to otherwise achieve the purposes of this 
subtitle.’’. 
(c) DESIGNATION OF REGION.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 
157 of such title is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘§ 15734. Southern New England Regional Commis-
sion 
‘‘The region of the Southern New England Regional 
Commission shall include the following counties: 
‘‘(1) RHODE
ISLAND.—Each county in the 
State of Rhode Island. 
‘‘(2) CONNECTICUT.—The counties of Hartford, 
New Haven, Windham, Tolland, Middlesex, and New 
London in the State of Connecticut. 
‘‘(3) 
MASSACHUSETTS.—The 
counties 
of 
Hampden, Plymouth, Barnstable, Essex, Worcester 
and Bristol in the State of Massachusetts.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 
subchapter II of chapter 157 of such title is amend-
ed by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘15734. Southern New England Regional Commission.’’. 
Æ 
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