Colonias Improvement Act of 2014

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Colonias Improvement Act of 2014''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
        Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
            (2) Covered program.--The term ``covered program'' means--
                    (A) water and waste facility loans and grants under 
                section 306C of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
                Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926c);
                    (B) wastewater assistance to colonias under section 
                307 of the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996 
                (33 U.S.C. 1281 note; Public Law 104-182);
                    (C) drinking water assistance to colonias under 
                section 1456 of the Public Health Service Act (42 
                U.S.C. 300j-16);
                    (D) housing assistance under section 509(f) of the 
                Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1479(f));
                    (E) community development block grant assistance 
                under section 916 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National 
                Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 5306 note; Public Law 
                101-625);
                    (F) assistance under section 108 of the Housing and 
                Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5308); and
                    (G) any other program of the Environmental 
                Protection Agency, the Department of Housing and Urban 
                Development, or the Department of Agriculture that 
                specifically includes assistance for colonias, as 
                determined by the Administrator.

SEC. 3. REVISED DEFINITION.

    (a) Revised Definition Required.--Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in consultation with 
the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and the Secretary of 
Agriculture, shall issue a proposed rule containing a definition of the 
term ``colonia'' that--
            (1) is the same for each covered program, to the extent 
        consistent with the provisions of law described in 
        subparagraphs (A) through (F) of section 2(2) and the 
        requirements of any program described in subparagraph (G) of 
        such section 2(2);
            (2) is limited to a community that--
                    (A) is located within 75 miles of the border 
                between the United States and Mexico; or
                    (B) has applied for or received funding under a 
                covered program before the date of enactment of this 
                Act;
            (3) reflects and preserves the historic, geographic, and 
        cultural character of the communities served by the covered 
        programs; and
            (4) may be used to determine whether an applicant qualifies 
        for assistance under any covered program.
    (b) Exemptions.--The rule issued under subsection (a) may include a 
process by which the Administrator may request a limited exemption from 
the application of the revised definition to a covered program.
    (c) Final Rule.--The Administrator shall ensure that the final rule 
under subsection (a) takes effect not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 4. WEBPAGE.

    The Administrator, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, 
and the Secretary of Agriculture shall establish and regularly update a 
webpage that--
            (1) serves as a clearinghouse for information relating to 
        the covered programs; and
            (2) includes links to information specific to each State in 
        which a covered program operates, including local contact 
        information.

SEC. 5. WORKING GROUP.

    (a) Establishment.--The Administrator shall establish a working 
group that includes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and 
the Secretary of Agriculture--
            (1) to review covered programs;
            (2) to record information relating to each award that is 
        and has been made under a covered program;
            (3) to hold public hearings relating to covered programs; 
        and
            (4) to make recommendations to Congress for improvements to 
        covered programs, including improvements--
                    (A) that address the economic and social 
                development of colonias; and
                    (B) to the application process for covered 
                programs.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report that 
includes--
            (1) the results of the review under subsection (a)(1);
            (2) a summary of the information recorded under subsection 
        (a)(2);
            (3) the recommendations under subsection (a)(3);
            (4) a plan to include transportation planning and health 
        considerations in covered programs;
            (5) a survey of needs that are not met by covered programs;
            (6) a plan to develop key indicators for living standards 
        in communities served by covered programs, including health, 
        education, and housing conditions;
            (7) proposed metrics for tracking the success of covered 
        programs and identifying areas for the improvement of covered 
        programs; and
            (8) any other applicable information, as determined by the 
        Administrator.

SEC. 6. CULTURAL SENSITIVITY.

    The Administrator, and any person working with the Administrator to 
carry out a covered program, shall make every effort--
            (1) to carry out this Act in a manner that is sensitive to 
        the cultural and regional differences among communities served 
        by covered programs; and
            (2) to work with local organizations that carry out 
        activities in communities served by covered programs.

Summary: Colonias Improvement Act of 2014 - Directs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue, in consultation with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA), a rule defining colonia (a type of settlement along the border of the United States and Mexico) that:  is the same for any program of the EPA, HUD, or USDA that specifically includes assistance for colonias (covered program);  is limited to a community that is located within 75 miles of the border or that has applied for or received funding under a covered program before this Act's enactment;  reflects and preserves the historic, geographic, and cultural character of the communities served by the covered program; and may be used to determine whether an applicant qualifies for assistance under a program.  Directs the EPA, HUD, and USDA to establish and update an online clearinghouse with information relating to covered programs and links to information specific to each state.  Requires EPA to establish a working group that includes HUD and USDA to review covered programs, record information relating to each award made under a covered program, hold public hearings, and make recommendations to Congress for improving the programs.