I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2269 
To establish the Gulf Coast Civic Works Commission within the Department 
of Homeland Security Office of Federal Coordinator of Gulf Coast Re-
building to administer the Gulf Coast Civic Works Project to provide 
job-training opportunities and increase employment to aid in the recovery 
of the Gulf Coast region. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 6, 2009 
Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California (for herself, Mr. TAYLOR, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. 
STARK, Mr. CAO, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Ms. LEE of California, Mr. 
RANGEL, and Mr. MELANCON) introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to 
the Committees on Financial Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, 
Natural Resources, and Energy and Commerce, 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 establish the Gulf Coast Civic Works Commission within 
the Department of Homeland Security Office of Federal 
Coordinator of Gulf Coast Rebuilding to administer the 
Gulf Coast Civic Works Project to provide job-training 
opportunities and increase employment to aid in the re-
covery of the Gulf Coast region. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Gulf Coast Civic Works Act’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Purposes. 
Sec. 3. Definitions. 
Sec. 4. Severability. 
TITLE I—THE GULF COAST CIVIC WORKS COMMISSION 
Sec. 101. Establishment of Commission. 
Sec. 102. Capitalization of the Commission. 
Sec. 103. Officer, employees, and other agents of the Commission. 
Sec. 104. Powers of the Commission. 
Sec. 105. Regional coordination. 
Sec. 106. Sealed open proposal process. 
Sec. 107. Sealed open bid process. 
Sec. 108. Environmental protection. 
TITLE II—THE GULF COAST CIVIC WORKS PROJECT 
Sec. 201. Purposes. 
Sec. 202. Establishment; contract authority. 
Sec. 203. General activities. 
Sec. 204. Job-training partnerships. 
Sec. 205. Apprenticeship programs. 
Sec. 206. Job creation. 
Sec. 207. First source hiring and outreach. 
Sec. 208. Wages. 
Sec. 209. Other projects. 
Sec. 210. General provisions and guidelines. 
Sec. 211. Authorization of appropriations. 
SEC. 2. PURPOSES. 
It is the purpose of this Act to— 
(1) establish a Federal authority to implement 
the necessary equitable government response to the 
disaster experienced in the region for all Gulf Coast 
communities; 
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(2) provide a minimum of 100,000 job and 
training opportunities to those whose livelihoods 
have been affected by the devastation of the Gulf 
Coast region, particularly women and individuals 
who qualify as low income; 
(3) create stronger and more sustainable com-
munities better able to mitigate the physical, social, 
and economic impact of future disasters; 
(4) assure that those who are most vulnerable 
to the direct effects of climate change are able to 
prepare for and adapt to those impacts by building 
resilience and reducing risk; 
(5) strengthen the workforce by providing job 
training for thousands of workers that will enable 
them to rebuild communities and make an inde-
pendent living; 
(6) rebuild homes, public infrastructure, his-
toric buildings, and community resources, to protect 
communities from future disasters and restore lives 
and faith in the Federal Government; 
(7) promote sustainable development, energy 
conservation, environmental restoration, and encour-
aging emerging industries and green technologies; 
(8) ensure equitable working conditions by pro-
viding workers with fair wages; 
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(9) utilize the recommendations of community 
organizations and coalitions in order to rebuild and 
strengthen communities; and 
(10) strengthen partnerships between the public 
and private sector that will lead to increased eco-
nomic growth in the region. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) GREEN
BUILDING; 
HIGH-PERFORMANCE 
BUILDING.—The term ‘‘green building’’ or ‘‘high- 
performance building’’ means a building that is de-
signed to achieve integrated systems design and con-
struction so as to significantly reduce or eliminate 
the negative impact of the built environment on the 
following: 
(A) Site conservation and sustainable plan-
ning. 
(B) Water conservation and efficiency. 
(C) Energy efficiency and renewable en-
ergy. 
(D) Conservation of materials and re-
sources. 
(E) Indoor environmental quality and 
human health. 
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(2) GULF
COAST
REGION.—The term ‘‘Gulf 
Coast region’’ means the areas of Louisiana, Mis-
sissippi, Texas, and Alabama that were devastated 
by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. 
(3) INFRASTRUCTURE
PROJECT.—The term 
‘‘infrastructure project’’ means the building, im-
provement, or increase in capacity of a basic instal-
lation, facility, asset, or stock that is associated 
with— 
(A) a levee or other flood protection con-
struction; 
(B) a public facility such as a public 
schoolhouse, public college or university, police 
station, fire station, library, clinic, hospital, job 
center, shelter, or community center; 
(C) a mass transit system; 
(D) a public housing property that is eligi-
ble to receive funding under section 24 of the 
United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 
1437v); 
(E) a road or bridge; 
(F) a public utility system, structure, or 
facility; or 
(G) a drinking water system or a waste-
water system. 
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(4) LEED CERTIFICATION.—The term ‘‘LEED 
certification’’ means the Leadership in Energy and 
Environmental Design green building rating system 
developed and adopted by the United States Green 
Building Council, which measures and evaluates the 
energy and environmental performance of a building. 
(5) LIFE-CYCLE
COST.—The term ‘‘life-cycle 
cost’’ means the cost of a building, as determined by 
the methodology identified in the National Institute 
of Standards and Technology’s special publication 
544 and interagency report 80–2040, available as 
set forth in the Code of Federal Regulations, title 
15, part 230, including the initial cost of its con-
struction or renovation, the marginal cost of future 
energy capacity, the cost of the energy consumed by 
the facility over its expected useful life or, in the 
case of a leased building, over the remaining term of 
the lease, and the cost of operating and maintaining 
the facility as such cost affects energy consumption. 
(6) LOCAL
DEVELOPMENT
PLAN.—The term 
‘‘local development plan’’ means the plan which may 
be prepared or adopted by a local advisory council 
with the consultation and assistance of the Commis-
sion staff and adopted by a town meeting. 
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(7) LOCAL
ADVISORY
COUNCIL.—The term 
‘‘local advisory council’’ means the local council es-
tablished in each municipality to develop and man-
age the Civic Works Project, as described in section 
104. 
(8) PERSON.—The term ‘‘person’’ means an in-
dividual, corporation, municipality, governmental 
agency or authority, business trust, estate, trust, 
partnership, association, joint venture, two or more 
persons having a joint or common interest, or any 
legal entity. A State agency or authority shall not be 
deemed a person within the meaning of this Act. 
(9) REGIONAL POLICY PLAN.—The term ‘‘re-
gional policy plan’’ means the plan prepared as de-
scribed in section 105. 
(10) STATE AGENCY.—The term ‘‘State agen-
cy’’ means any department, board, bureau, commis-
sion, institution, public higher education institution, 
school district, or other governmental entity of a 
State. 
SEC. 4. SEVERABILITY. 
If any provision of this Act, or the application of such 
provision with respect to any person or circumstance, is 
held invalid, the remainder of this Act, and the application 
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of such provision to any other person or circumstance, 
shall not be affected by such holding. 
TITLE I—THE GULF COAST CIVIC 
WORKS COMMISSION 
SEC. 101. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is hereby established within 
the Department of Homeland Security Office of the Fed-
eral Coordinator of Gulf Coast Rebuilding the ‘‘Gulf Coast 
Civic Works Commission’’ (in this Act referred to as the 
‘‘Commission’’). 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Commission shall be 
composed of 16 individuals appointed by the Presi-
dent, by and with the advice and consent of the Sen-
ate, from among individuals who are citizens of the 
United States and residents or evacuees of the Gulf 
Coast Region, and shall have gender, age, ethnic and 
racial diversity reflective of the Gulf Coast Region, 
and shall have diverse experience and knowledge rep-
resentative of all the issues related to complete re-
covery including, but not limited to: housing, worker 
and immigrant rights, infrastructure, social services, 
levee protection, and coastal restoration. 
(2) NOMINATIONS
BY
GOVERNOR
OF
LOU-
ISIANA.—Four members of the Commission shall be 
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appointed under paragraph (1) from among individ-
uals who are nominated for appointment by the Gov-
ernor of Louisiana in consultation with community 
based Gulf Coast Region coalitions. 
(3) NOMINATIONS
BY
GOVERNOR
OF
MIS-
SISSIPPI.—Four members of the Commission shall 
be appointed under paragraph (1) from among indi-
viduals who are nominated for appointment by the 
Governor of Mississippi in consultation with commu-
nity based Gulf Coast Region coalitions. 
(4) NOMINATIONS
BY
GOVERNOR
OF
ALA-
BAMA.—Four members of the Commission shall be 
appointed under paragraph (1) from among individ-
uals who are nominated for appointment by the Gov-
ernor of Alabama in consultation with community 
based Gulf Coast Region coalitions. 
(5) NOMINATIONS BY GOVERNOR OF TEXAS.— 
Four member of the Commission shall be appointed 
under paragraph (1) from among individuals who 
are nominated for appointment by the Governor of 
Texas in consultation with community based Gulf 
Coast Region coalitions. 
(6) POLITICAL PARTY AFFILIATION.—Not more 
than 8 members of the Commission may be affiliated 
with any 1 political party. 
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(c) CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON.— 
(1) CHAIRPERSON.—The Commission shall an-
nually elect a chairperson. The first set of officers 
shall be elected at the Commission’s initial organiza-
tional meeting, which shall be conducted within 30 
days of the effective date of this Act. 
(2) VICE
CHAIRPERSON.—The Commission 
shall annually elect a vice chairperson. The first set 
of officers shall be elected at the Commission’s ini-
tial organizational meeting, which shall be conducted 
within 30 days of the effective date of this Act. 
(3) ACTING CHAIRPERSON.—In the event of a 
vacancy in the position of Chairperson of the Com-
mission or during the absence or disability of the 
Chairperson, the Vice Chairperson shall act as 
Chairperson. 
(d) TERM OF OFFICE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Each member of the Com-
mission appointed shall serve a term of 3 years. 
(2) INTERIM APPOINTMENTS.—Any member ap-
pointed to fill a vacancy occurring before the expira-
tion of the term for which such member’s prede-
cessor was appointed shall be appointed only for the 
remainder of such term. 
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which enters into any contract with the Com-
mission; or 
(B) hold stock in any insured depository 
institution, depository institution holding com-
pany, investment bank, mortgage bank, or any 
other entity which enters into any contract with 
the Commission. 
(3) CERTIFICATION.—Upon taking office, each 
member of the Commission shall certify under oath 
that such member has complied with this subsection 
and such certification shall be filed with the sec-
retary of the Commission. 
(h) CLARIFICATION OF NONLIABILITY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—A director, member, officer, 
or employee of the Commission has no liability under 
the Securities Act of 1933 with respect to any claim 
arising out of or resulting from any act or omission 
by such person within the scope of such person’s em-
ployment in connection with any transaction involv-
ing the disposition of assets (or any interests in any 
assets or any obligations backed by any assets) by 
the Commission. This subsection shall not be con-
strued to limit personal liability for criminal acts or 
omissions, willful or malicious misconduct, acts or 
omissions for private gain, or any other acts or 
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omissions outside the scope of such person’s employ-
ment. 
(2) EFFECT ON OTHER LAW.—This subsection 
shall not be construed as— 
(A) affecting— 
(i) any other immunities and protec-
tions that may be available to person to 
whom paragraph (1) applies under applica-
ble law with respect to such transactions; 
or 
(ii) any other right or remedy against 
the Commission, against the United States 
under applicable law, or against any per-
son other than a person described in para-
graph (1) participating in such trans-
actions; or 
(B) limiting or altering in any way the im-
munities that are available under applicable law 
for Federal officials and employees not de-
scribed in this subsection. 
(i) PRINCIPAL OFFICE.—The principal office of the 
Commission shall be located in the State of Louisiana. 
There may be established agencies or branch offices in the 
District of Columbia and in any municipality in the Gulf 
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Coast region to the extent provided for in the by-laws of 
the Commission. 
(j) PROPERTY
OWNERS’ RIGHTS
AND
PROTEC-
TIONS.— 
(1) NO AUTHORITY TO EXERCISE EMINENT DO-
MAIN.—The Commission shall have no authority to 
acquire interests in property by eminent domain. 
(2) LOCAL INVITATION.—Notwithstanding any 
other provision of this title, the Commission may 
take no action in any municipality unless the local 
government of such municipality has adopted a reso-
lution of invitation for the Commission’s assistance. 
(3) COMPLIANCE WITH LOCAL DEVELOPMENT 
PLANS.—The Commission shall have no authority to 
carry out projects which are not consistent with local 
development plans established by State or local gov-
ernment, or local advisory councils. 
(k) TERMINATION.—Section 14(a)(2)(B) of the Fed-
eral Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.; relating to 
the termination of advisory committees) shall not apply 
to the Commission. 
SEC. 102. CAPITALIZATION OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall have cap-
ital stock subscribed to by the Government in such amount 
as the President may determine to be appropriate, to the 
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extent provided in advance in an appropriation Act for any 
fiscal year. 
(b) CERTIFICATES.—Certificates evidencing shares of 
nonvoting capital stock of the Commission shall be issued 
by the Commission to the President of the United States, 
or to such other person or persons as the President may 
designate from time to time, to the extent of payments 
made for the capital stock of the Commission. 
(c) PUBLIC DEBT TRANSACTION.—For the purpose 
of purchasing shares of capital stock of the Commission, 
the Secretary of the Treasury may use as a public-debt 
transaction the proceeds of any securities issued under 
chapter 31 of title 31, United States Code. 
(d) REPORTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Board shall submit to 
the Director of the Office of Management and Budg-
et and to the Secretary of the Treasury quarterly re-
ports and an annual report on the expenses of the 
Commission during the period covered by the report, 
the financial condition of the Commission as of the 
end of such period, the results of the Commission’s 
operations during such period, and the progress 
made during such period in fulfilling the mission 
and purposes of the Commission, together with a 
copy of the Commission’s financial operating plans 
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and forecasts for the annual or quarterly period (as 
the case may be) succeeding the period covered by 
the report. 
(2) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—Each report sub-
mitted to the Director of the Office of Management 
and Budget and to the Secretary of the Treasury 
under paragraph (1) shall be made available to the 
public. 
(e) 
TERMINATION
OF
AUTHORITY
TO
ISSUE 
STOCK.—No shares of capital stock of the Commission 
may be issued after the end of the 10-year period begin-
ning on the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(f) REVENUE USED TO RETIRE STOCK.—Any net 
revenue of the Commission in excess of amounts required 
to meet on-going expenses and investments shall be paid 
to the Secretary of the Treasury to redeem the capital 
stock of the Commission and shall be deposited in the gen-
eral fund of the Treasury. 
SEC. 103. OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AND OTHER AGENTS OF 
THE COMMISSION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission may appoint 
such managers, assistant managers, officers, employees, 
attorneys, and agents, as are necessary for the transaction 
of its business, fix their compensation, provide benefits in-
cluding pension and health care, define their duties, re-
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quire bonds of such of them as the Commission may des-
ignate, and provide a system of organization to fix respon-
sibility and promote efficiency. 
(b) STAFF.— 
(1) EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR.—The Commission 
shall have an executive director, and hire officers as 
required. The executive director shall be responsible 
for overall management of the Commission’s oper-
ations, and supervising planning matters including 
the preparation and amendment of the local project 
plans, and the assistance to local advisory councils 
in their completion of local plans. 
(2) CHIEF REGULATORY OFFICER.—The Com-
mission shall appoint a chief regulatory officer to su-
pervise the development of regional impact review 
process. The Commission shall also have a clerk 
whose duties shall include the keeping of the Com-
mission’s official records. 
(c) STAFF DUTIES.—The executive director and 
other officers shall— 
(1) coordinate project planning with the rel-
evant Federal, State, regional and municipal au-
thorities, laws and planning processes; 
(2) work with State and municipal governments 
and nonprofit leaders to develop guidelines and regu-
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lations for districts of critical planning concern and 
regional funding priorities; 
(3) assist residents and local officials in form-
ing local advisory councils; 
(4) assist local advisory councils in developing 
proposals of priority projects which have not yet 
been funded by prior Federal assistance for the Gulf 
Coast Civic Works Projects; 
(5) evaluate the adequacy of the respective com-
ponent of each local recovery plan submitted to the 
Commission for certification; 
(6) monitor and publicly record the progress of 
each local advisory council in implementing the re-
spective component of its local plan; and 
(7) report to the Commission on the progress of 
each municipality in implementing the respective 
component of its local comprehensive plan. 
(d) REMOVAL.—Any appointee of the Commission 
may be removed in the discretion of the Commission. 
(e) CONTRACTS, SALARIES, AND WAGES.—No reg-
ular officer or employee of the Commission shall receive 
a salary in excess of that received by the members of the 
Commission, and— 
(1) all contracts to which the Commission is a 
party and which require the employment of laborers 
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and mechanics in the construction, alteration, main-
tenance, or repair of buildings, levees, or other 
projects shall contain a provision that not less than 
the prevailing rate of wages for work of a similar na-
ture prevailing in the vicinity shall be paid to such 
laborers or mechanics; 
(2) in the event any dispute arises as to what 
are the prevailing rates of wages, the question shall 
be referred to the Secretary of Labor for determina-
tion, and his decision shall be final. In the deter-
mination of such prevailing rate or rates, due regard 
shall be given to those rates which have been secured 
through collective agreement by representatives of 
employers and employees; 
(3) where such work as is described in the two 
preceding paragraphs is done directly by the Com-
mission the prevailing rate of wages shall be paid in 
the same manner as though such work had been let 
by contract; and 
(4) insofar as applicable, the workers com-
pensation laws of the United States shall extend to 
persons given employment under the provisions of 
this Act. 
(f) POLITICAL TESTS PROHIBITED
IN EMPLOY-
MENT.— 
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(1) APPOINTMENT.—In the appointment of offi-
cials and the selection of employees for the Commis-
sion, and in the promotion of any such employees or 
officials, no political test or qualification shall be 
permitted or given consideration, but all such ap-
pointments and promotions shall be given and made 
on the basis of merit and efficiency. Any member of 
the Board who is found by the President of the 
United States to be guilty of a violation of this sec-
tion shall be removed from office by the President 
of the United States, and any appointee of the 
Board who is found by the Board to be guilty of a 
violation of this section shall be removed from office 
by the Board. 
(2) COMPENSATION.—In the selection of em-
ployees for works projects authorized by the Com-
mission, made by an official, employee, or other au-
thorized agent of the Commission, and in the deter-
mination of wages or salaries, no political test or 
qualification shall be permitted or given consider-
ation, but all such selection, hiring, appointments 
and promotions shall be given and made on the basis 
of merit and efficiency. 
(3) CONTRACTS.—In the authorization of con-
tracts or agreements made or entered into by an of-
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ficial, employee, or other authorized agent of the 
Commission, and in the determination or rates or 
terms of payment for such contracts and agree-
ments, no political test or qualification shall be per-
mitted or given consideration, but all such contracts 
and agreements shall be given and made on the 
basis of merit, efficiency, and fiscal responsibility. 
SEC. 104. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) In addition to the regulatory and planning powers 
contained in this Act, the Commission shall have those 
powers necessary convenient to carry out the purposes and 
provisions of this Act, including the following powers: 
(1) To sue and be sued, and complain and de-
fend, by and through its own attorneys, in any court 
of law or equity, State or Federal. 
(2) To make use of alternate dispute resolution 
mechanisms such as negotiation, mediation or arbi-
tration. 
(3) To prescribe bylaws that are consistent with 
law to provide for— 
(A) the management and operational struc-
ture of the Commission; 
(B) the manner in which general oper-
ations are to be conducted; and 
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(C) such other matters as the Commission 
determines to be appropriate. 
(4) To fix the compensation and number of, 
and appoint, employees for any position established 
by the Commission. 
(5) To apply for and receive Federal and pri-
vate grants and loans and to expend such funds with 
the approval of the Commission. 
(6) To conduct investigations necessary to en-
sure compliance with the provisions of the Act. 
(7) To negotiate and enter into Civic Works 
Project agreements as described in sections 106 and 
107. 
(8) To appoint hearing officers and, where it 
deems appropriate, to delegate to such hearing offi-
cers the responsibility to hold public hearings under 
this Act and to assemble and report the record for 
decision by the Commission or its designee and rec-
ommend decisions to the Commission or its designee; 
however, any applicant or party aggrieved, following 
a hearing by a hearing officer, shall have the right 
to a public hearing before the Commission in accord-
ance with the provisions of section 103 of this Act. 
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(9) To recommend to State and municipal 
agencies appropriate regulations for consistency with 
the regional policy plan. 
(10) To promulgate and amend rules and regu-
lations as appropriate to carry out its responsibilities 
under this Act. 
(11) To appoint advisory boards, councils, sub-
committees and panels as it deems appropriate to 
carry out its responsibilities under this Act. 
(12) To recommend public acquisition of speci-
fied land areas for preservation or recreational pur-
poses. 
(13) To make use of the services of Federal, 
State, county and local employees as may be avail-
able to the Commission to carry out its responsibil-
ities under this Act. 
(14) To coordinate its regulatory functions with 
local, State, and Federal authorities and, where pos-
sible and appropriate, to conduct joint hearings with 
those authorities. 
(15) To acquire funds and to manage such 
funds. 
(16) To produce an annual report which will be 
included in the annual Executive Office report. 
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(17) To reimburse Commission members for 
reasonable expenses incurred in connection with 
their service on the Commission consistent with De-
partment of Homeland Security administrative and 
budgetary procedures. 
(18) To conduct studies in collaboration with 
local governments, nonprofit organizations, industry 
organizations, and other State and Federal agencies 
in order to create regional comprehensive workforce, 
infrastructure, and environment analysis and devel-
opment plans. 
(19) To assist local governments and commu-
nity planning organizations in developing local com-
prehensive plans and, when requested, to assist local 
governments in carrying out their local planning and 
regulatory responsibilities. 
(20) To review and comment upon local com-
prehensive plans. 
(21) To conduct community outreach and pub-
lic education. 
(22) To conduct an annual public conference on 
workforce development, infrastructure development, 
and land use in the Gulf Coast and to invite to such 
conference any private, local, State, or Federal gov-
ernmental representatives it deems appropriate. 
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(23) To make grants to build the capacity of 
and support capital improvements for community 
colleges, vocational centers, nonprofit organizations, 
and other job-training facilities and programs serv-
ing the affected region. 
(24) To make grants and provide technical as-
sistance to municipalities for use in local planning 
activities. 
(25) To provide technical assistance, adminis-
trative support, and compliance training for small 
businesses and job-training programs serving the af-
fected region. 
(26) To establish a process and procedures for 
participating entities to hire employees, pay wages, 
and developing capital facilities and developments of 
regional impact which are necessary to ensure bal-
anced growth. 
(27) To purchase or lease and hold such real 
and personal property as it deems necessary or con-
venient in the transaction of its business, and may 
dispose of any such personal property held by it. 
(28) To fund the construction of new structures 
and facilities as necessary for the recovery of the 
Gulf Coast region. 
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(29) Coordinate national, State, district, county 
or municipal programs for the recovery and develop-
ment of the Gulf Coast region. 
(30) Formulate and periodically require reports 
of progress on all projects; and, where avoidable 
delay or malfeasance appears, to recommend appro-
priate measures for eliminating such problems, and, 
similarly, to recommend the termination of projects 
for cause. 
(31) Prescribe rules and regulations to— 
(A) assure that as many of the persons 
employed on all work projects as is feasible 
shall be persons residents affected or displaced 
by hurricanes Katrina or Rita; 
(B) utilize and support as many of those 
individuals, communities, community organiza-
tions, faith-based organizations, and businesses 
within the region as is feasible, including for 
the provision of child care to the children of 
working parents; 
(C) govern the selection of such partici-
pating business and organizations on an open- 
bid basis; 
(D) ensure hiring, planning and implemen-
tation adequately involve and look to protect 
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the rights and interests of vulnerable popu-
lations, including women, low-income people, 
people of color, immigrants, the disabled, and 
the elderly; 
(E) develop, conduct, and administer train-
ing and assistance programs, in connection with 
any program under this title, including training 
and assistance programs for Federal wage re-
quirement compliance, in order that business 
enterprises with limited capacity may achieve 
proficiency to compete, on an equal basis, for 
contracts and subcontracts; 
(F) enter into contracts with private con-
tractors, companies, and other public and pri-
vate entities, in compliance with the hiring, bid-
ding, wage requirements of this Act, to com-
plete public projects; 
(G) formulate and administer a system of 
uniform periodic reports of the employment on 
such projects of persons, businesses, organiza-
tions, and communities from the region; and 
(H) investigate wages and working condi-
tions and to make and submit to Congress such 
findings as will aid Congress in prescribing 
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working conditions, rates of pay, and continu-
ance or development of projects. 
(32) To recommend and carry out useful 
projects designed to assure a maximum of employ-
ment and recovery in affected localities. 
(b) NOTICE OF HEARING.—Whenever the Commis-
sion is required to provide notice of a public hearing pur-
suant to the provisions of this Act, the Commission shall 
give notice by publication in a newspaper of general cir-
culation throughout the region once in each of two succes-
sive weeks, the first publication to be not less than four-
teen days before the day of the hearing. Notice shall also 
be posted in a conspicuous place in the Commission’s of-
fices not less than 14 days before the day of the hearing. 
Copies of all documents subject to notice and hearing shall 
be available for public inspection at the Commission’s of-
fice during normal business hours. 
(c) TERMINATION OF CONTRACT FOR CAUSE.—In 
the case of any service contract between the Commission 
and any other person, the Commission may terminate such 
contract for cause, whether by reason of breach of con-
tract, violation of regulations or guidelines of the Commis-
sion, or otherwise, or bar any such person from entering 
into any other contract, after notice and an opportunity 
for an agency hearing on the record. 
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(d) AGENCY AUTHORITY.— 
(1) STATUS.—The Commission in any capacity, 
shall be an agency of the United States for purposes 
of section 1345 of title 28, United States Code, 
without regard to whether the Commission com-
menced the action. 
(2) FEDERAL COURT JURISDICTION.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—All suits of a civil na-
ture at common law or in equity to which the 
Commission, in any capacity, is a party shall be 
deemed to arise under the laws of the United 
States. 
(B) REMOVAL.—The Commission may, 
without bond or security, remove any action, 
suit, or proceeding from a State court to the 
appropriate United States district court before 
the end of the 90-day period beginning on the 
date the action, suit, or proceeding is filed 
against the Commission or the Commission is 
substituted as a party. 
(C) APPEAL OF REMAND.—The Commis-
sion may appeal any order of remand entered 
by any United States district court. 
(3) SERVICE
OF
PROCESS.—The Commission 
shall designate agents upon whom service of process 
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may be made in States comprising the Gulf Coast 
region and the District of Columbia. 
(4) BONDS OR FEES.—The Commission shall 
not be required to post any bond to pursue any ap-
peal and shall not be subject to payments of any fil-
ing fees in United States district courts or courts of 
appeal. 
(e) REAL ESTATE AND OTHER PROPERTY.—In order 
to enable the Commission to exercise the powers and du-
ties vested in it by this Act: 
(1) The exclusive use, possession, and control of 
necessary real estate, together with all facilities con-
nected therewith, and tools, machinery, equipment, 
accessories, and materials belonging thereto, and all 
laboratories and plants used as auxiliaries thereto; 
and all machinery, lands, and buildings in connec-
tion therewith, and all appurtenances thereof, and 
all other property to be acquired by the Commission 
in its own name or in the name of the United States 
of America, are hereby entrusted to the Commission 
for the purposes of the Act. 
(2) The President of the United States is au-
thorized to provide for the transfer to the Commis-
sion of the use, possession, and control of such other 
real or personal property of the United States, as he 
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may from time to time deem necessary and proper 
for the purposes of the Commission as herein stated. 
(f) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND REPORTS.— 
(1) The Commission shall at all times maintain 
complete and accurate accounting of all costs and 
expenses associated with the holding and manage-
ment of any asset or liability acquired by the Com-
mission and in carrying out the activities of the 
Commission under this Act. 
(2) The Board shall file with the President and 
with the Congress, in December of each year, a fi-
nancial statement and a complete report as to the 
business of the Commission covering the preceding 
governmental fiscal year. This report shall include a 
statement of all costs associated with the Commis-
sion and its associated projects, including an 
itemized statement of the cost of administration, the 
cost of employee salaries and wages, the cost of ma-
terials, and the total number or employees and the 
names, salaries, and duties of those receiving com-
pensation at the rate of more than $35/hour or 
$45,000 a year. 
(3) The rules of the Office of the Inspector 
General and the Comptroller General of the United 
States shall apply to the activities and accounts of 
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the Commission, including the regular oversight and 
audits of the Commission. In such connection, the 
Offices of the Inspector General and the Comptroller 
General, and their authorized agents, shall have free 
and open access to all papers, books, record, files, 
accounts, plants, warehouses, offices, and all other 
things, property and places belonging to or under 
the control of or used or employed by the Commis-
sion, and shall be afforded full facilities for counting 
all cash and verifying transactions with and balances 
in depositories. 
(g) RESERVATION OF RIGHTS AND REMEDIES.—The 
Government of the United States hereby reserved the 
right, in case of war or national emergency declared by 
Congress, to take possession of all or any part of the prop-
erty described or referred to in this Act for the purpose 
of national security, defense, or for any other purposes; 
but, if this right is exercised by the Government, it shall 
pay the reasonable and fair damages that may be suffered 
by any party whose contract is hereby violated, after the 
amount of the damages has been fixed by the United 
States Courts of Claims in proceedings instituted and con-
ducted for that purpose under rules prescribed by the 
court. 
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opment or job-training programs as described 
in subsection (a), or apprenticeship programs 
which meets the requirements described in sec-
tion 205 or provide technical assistance and 
training to Gulf Coast residents and evacuees. 
(3) APPLICATION FOR PARTNERSHIP.— 
(A) Organizations seeking to work in part-
nership with the Commission shall submit an 
application to the Commission, or to such agen-
cy as designated by the Commission, outlining 
the details of— 
(i) Civic Works Projects or other re-
covery, 
rebuilding, 
and 
development 
project; 
(ii) the need for partnership; and 
(iii) the need for and intended use of 
grants or other funds awarded under this 
title. 
(B) The Commission shall set forth appli-
cation guidelines and procedure for organiza-
tions seeking to work in partnership with the 
Commission. 
SEC. 205. APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subsection (b), a con-
tract between a contractor, subcontractor, or other em-
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would not be possible as the project could not be completed 
by workers in apprenticeable occupations. 
SEC. 206. JOB CREATION. 
(a) EMPLOYMENT.—After identifying Civic Works 
Projects and other recovery, rebuilding, and development 
projects in the Gulf Coast region the Commission shall 
work in conjunction with local employers and the heads 
of other Federal agencies on such projects to recruit and 
hire additional workers from the Gulf Coast region. In the 
event that contractors or other employers have a need for 
but do not have sufficient funding for additional workers, 
the Commission may to hire for such projects and, from 
the amounts appropriated under section 211, pay the 
wages of additional workers to work on such projects. 
(b) PROJECT CREATION.—After identifying areas of 
the Gulf Coast region that are in need of recovery, rebuild-
ing, and development projects where no such projects 
exist, the Commission may, subject to available funds, es-
tablish and fund such projects. In establishing any project 
under this subsection, the Commission shall hire all nec-
essary developers, contractors, and employees to carry out 
such projects. 
SEC. 207. FIRST SOURCE HIRING AND OUTREACH. 
(a) FIRST SOURCE HIRING REQUIREMENTS.— 
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