I 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 20
To establish the SouthEast Crescent Authority, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 4, 2005
Mr. MCINTYRE (for himself, Mr. HAYES, Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Mr. 
ETHERIDGE, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Mr. SCOTT of Georgia, and Mr. DAVIS 
of Tennessee) 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 deter-
mined 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 2005’’. 
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