INVEST in Our Communities Act
Bill: S.4077 | Sponsor: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine (D-NV)
Policy area: Commerce

Summary:
Increasing our Nation's Value through Economic Support and Tourism in Our Communities Act or the INVEST in Our Communities Act
This bill modifies and expands the Economic Development Administration's (EDA) public works and economic development programs. For example, the bill (1) establishes grants to support the outdoor recreation, travel, tourism, hospitality, and special event industries; and (2) establishes within the EDA the Office of Rural and Native American Economic Development to develop rural and tribal economic development strategies.

To reauthorize programs of the Economic Development Administration, and 
                          for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Increasing our Nation's Value 
through Economic Support and Tourism in Our Communities Act'' or the 
``INVEST in Our Communities Act''.

SEC. 2. ADMINISTRATION.

    (a) In General.--Section 501 of the Public Works and Economic 
Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3191) is amended by striking 
``Assistant Secretary'' each place it appears and inserting ``Under 
Secretary''.
    (b) Transition.--The individual serving as the Assistant Secretary 
of Commerce for Economic Development on the day before the date of 
enactment of this Act shall be deemed to have been confirmed as the 
Under Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development.
    (c) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, 
paper, or other record of the United States to the Assistant Secretary 
of Commerce for Economic Development shall be deemed to be a reference 
to the Under Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development.

SEC. 3. DEFINITION OF ELIGIBLE RECIPIENT.

    Section 3(4) of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 
1965 (42 U.S.C. 3122(4) is amended by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) Capacity building grants and host grants.--In 
                the case of grants under sections 208 and 219, the term 
                `eligible recipient' also includes a tribal 
                organization and a Native Hawaiian organization (as 
                those terms are defined in section 3 of the NATIVE Act 
                (25 U.S.C. 4352)).''.

SEC. 4. INCREASE IN FEDERAL SHARE FOR TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS AND NATIVE 
              HAWAIIAN ORGANIZATIONS.

    Section 204(c)(1) of the Public Works and Economic Development Act 
of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3144(c)(1)) is amended--
            (1) in the paragraph heading, by inserting ``, tribal 
        organizations, or native hawaiian organizations'' after 
        ``tribes''; and
            (2) by inserting ``, a tribal organization (as defined in 
        section 3 of the NATIVE Act (25 U.S.C. 4352)), or a Native 
        Hawaiian organization (as defined in that section)'' after 
        ``Indian tribe''.

SEC. 5. CAPACITY BUILDING GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Title II of the Public Works and Economic 
Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3141 et seq.) is amended by 
inserting after section 207 the following:

``SEC. 208. CAPACITY BUILDING GRANT PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Definition of Predevelopment Activity.--In this section, the 
term `predevelopment activity' means an activity carried out before a 
project can proceed to the execution stage or the eligible recipient 
can secure financing and partners.
    ``(b) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a program to 
provide to eligible recipients assistance for predevelopment 
activities.
    ``(c) Use of Funds.--An eligible recipient may use funds from a 
grant under this section--
            ``(1) to carry out certain predevelopment activities, 
        including--
                    ``(A) planning and community asset mapping;
                    ``(B) training;
                    ``(C) technical assistance and organizational 
                development;
                    ``(D) feasibility and market studies;
                    ``(E) demonstration projects;
                    ``(F) organizational capacity building;
                    ``(G) organizing and facilitating convenings; and
                    ``(H) other predevelopment activities, as 
                determined appropriate by the Secretary; and
            ``(2) to hire and obtain qualified economic development 
        professionals and services for a 3-year period to develop and 
        carry out a comprehensive economic development strategy, an 
        economic development strategic plan, or other predevelopment 
        activities.
    ``(d) Applications.--To be eligible for a grant under this section, 
an eligible recipient shall submit to the Secretary an application at 
such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the 
Secretary may require, including a specific plan--
            ``(1) on how the eligible recipient will carry out 
        predevelopment activities using grant funds; and
            ``(2) for the continuation of the position created or 
        services obtained as a result of the grant after the end of the 
        3-year term, if applicable.
    ``(e) Waiver of Attorney's and Consultant's Fee Prohibition.--In 
the case of a project under this section that is carried out using 
grant funds by 1 or more eligible recipients with low organizational 
capacity, in the determination of the Secretary, the Secretary may 
waive the prohibition described in section 213.''.
    (b) Additional Eligibility.--
            (1) Grants for public works and economic development.--
        Section 201(a) of the Public Works and Economic Development Act 
        of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3141(a)) is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the 
                end and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) predevelopment activities (as defined in section 
        208(a)).''.
            (2) Grants for economic adjustment.--Section 209(a) of the 
        Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 
        3149(a)) is amended by inserting ``predevelopment activities 
        (as defined in section 208(a)),'' after ``training,''.
            (3) Conforming amendment.--Section 302(a) of the Public 
        Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3162(a)) 
        is amended in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by inserting 
        ``and predevelopment activities (as defined in section 208(a)) 
        under section 201 or 209'' after ``section 209''.
    (c) Increase in Federal Share.--Section 204(c)(3) of the Public 
Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3144(c)(3)) is 
amended--
            (1) in the paragraph heading, by inserting ``and capacity 
        building'' after ``technical assistance''; and
            (2) by striking ``section 207'' and inserting ``sections 
        207 and 208''.
    (d) Direct Expenditure or Redistribution by Recipient.--Section 
217(a) of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 
U.S.C. 3154c(a)) is amended by striking ``or 207'' and inserting ``207, 
or 208''.
    (e) Powers of the Secretary.--Section 601(a)(12) of the Public 
Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3211(a)(12)) is 
amended by striking ``section 207'' and inserting ``sections 207 and 
208''.
    (f) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents contained in section 
1(b) of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (79 Stat. 
552; 112 Stat. 3597; 118 Stat. 1761) is amended by inserting after the 
item relating to section 207 the following:

``Sec. 208. Capacity building grant program.''.

SEC. 6. GRANTS FOR PLANNING AND GRANTS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.

    (a) Administrative Expenses.--Section 203 of the Public Works and 
Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3143) is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
    ``(e) Administrative Expenses.--Administrative expenses described 
in subsection (a) shall include expenses relating to--
            ``(1) carrying out the planning process described in 
        subsection (b); and
            ``(2) hiring professional staff to assist communities or 
        organizations in--
                    ``(A) implementing projects and priorities included 
                in--
                            ``(i) a comprehensive economic development 
                        strategy; or
                            ``(ii) an economic development planning 
                        grant;
                    ``(B) identifying and using other Federal, State, 
                and Tribal economic development programs;
                    ``(C) leveraging private and philanthropic 
                investment;
                    ``(D) preparing disaster coordination and 
                preparation plans;
                    ``(E) collaborating with trade adjustment 
                assistance centers, Hollings Manufacturing Extension 
                Partnership Centers of the National Institute of 
                Standards and Technology, Business Centers and Rural 
                Business Centers of the Minority Business Development 
                Agency, and other relevant Federal economic development 
                technical assistance and service providers to promote 
                domestic manufacturing; and
                    ``(F) carrying out economic development activities 
                in accordance with professional economic development 
                best practices.''.
    (b) Increase in Federal Share.--Section 204(c) of the Public Works 
and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3144(c)) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) Grants for planning and grants for administrative 
        expenses.--In the case of a grant provided under section 203, 
        the Secretary may increase the Federal share above the 
        percentage specified in subsection (a) up to 80 percent of the 
        cost of the project.''.

SEC. 7. HOSPITALITY AND OUTDOOR-RECREATION SUPPORTING TOURISM (HOST) 
              GRANTS.

    (a) In General.--Title II of the Public Works and Economic 
Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3141 et seq.) is amended by adding 
at the end the following:

``SEC. 219. HOSPITALITY AND OUTDOOR-RECREATION SUPPORTING TOURISM 
              (HOST) GRANTS.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Outdoor recreation.--The term `outdoor recreation' 
        means all recreational activities, and the economic drivers of 
        those activities, such as businesses and local economic 
        efforts, undertaken for pleasure that--
                    ``(A) generally involve some level of intentional 
                physical exertion; and
                    ``(B) occur in nature-based environments outdoors.
            ``(2) Tourism, hospitality, or special event activity.--The 
        term `tourism, hospitality, or special event activity' means 
        any economic activity that primarily serves to encourage 
        recreational or business travel within the United States or 
        from abroad, including tourist attractions, business and 
        recreational conventions, large entertainment events and 
        venues, and promotion or organization of any such activity.
    ``(b) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a program to 
provide grants to eligible recipients to support outdoor recreation, 
travel, and tourism, hospitality, or special event activities to spur 
economic development.
    ``(c) Goals.--A project carried out with a grant under this section 
shall be carried out for the goal of--
            ``(1) in the case of an infrastructure project--
                    ``(A) leading to long-term increases in tourist 
                activity in a region, including in communities adjacent 
                to National Park System units, State parks, national 
                marine sanctuaries, National Heritage Areas, Tribal 
                parks, or other natural destinations; and
                    ``(B) using nature-based infrastructure projects 
                and other projects intended to enhance public access to 
                outdoor recreation opportunities; and
            ``(2) in the case of other projects as determined 
        appropriate by the Secretary, supporting the outdoor 
        recreation, travel, tourism, hospitality, and special event 
        industries, in a manner consistent with the National Travel and 
        Tourism Strategy or as recommended by the United States Travel 
        and Tourism Advisory Board, if any.
    ``(d) Eligible Uses.--
            ``(1) In general.--A grant under this section may be used--
                    ``(A) to pay costs associated with obtaining State, 
                Tribal, county, city, community, or regional tourism 
                marketing and promotion campaigns, including through 
                nonprofit or quasigovernmental Destination Marketing 
                Organizations (DMOs);
                    ``(B) to carry out workforce training, recruitment, 
                and research programs that support the outdoor 
                recreation, travel, tourism, hospitality, and special 
                event industries to improve the skills of, and job 
                opportunities for, workers in those industries, 
                including through a program registered under the Act of 
                August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the `National 
                Apprenticeship Act'; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.), and other 
                work and learn models;
                    ``(C) for short-term and long-term economic 
                development planning and coordination for the purpose 
                of responding to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic 
                on the regional outdoor recreation, travel, tourism, 
                hospitality, and special event industries;
                    ``(D) to carry out technical assistance projects, 
                including for small business concerns, entrepreneurs, 
                and small and rural communities, to assist regional 
                economies in--
                            ``(i) the recovery from, and response to, 
                        damage to the outdoor recreation, travel, 
                        tourism, hospitality, and special event 
                        industries as a result of the COVID-19 
                        pandemic; and
                            ``(ii) future development of the outdoor 
                        recreation, travel, tourism, hospitality, and 
                        special event industries;
                    ``(E) to establish local programs to provide 
                assistance to small business concerns in the outdoor 
                recreation, travel, tourism, hospitality, or special 
                events industries--
                            ``(i) for development;
                            ``(ii) to recover from the impacts of a 
                        major disaster or emergency declared under the 
                        Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
                        Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et 
                        seq.) or a public health emergency declared 
                        under section 319 of the Public Health Service 
                        Act (42 U.S.C. 247d); or
                            ``(iii) for expansion;
                    ``(F) to carry out construction activities at 
                facilities or property owned by, or held in trust by a 
                Federal or State government entity for, the eligible 
                recipient that support outdoor recreation, travel, 
                tourism, hospitality, or special events, including 
                activities involving--
                            ``(i) construction of new, or improvements 
                        to existing, outdoor recreation and trail 
                        infrastructure, including public access 
                        enhancements to that infrastructure;
                            ``(ii) nature-based infrastructure projects 
                        to improve access to outdoor recreation;
                            ``(iii) improvement of cultural, arts, 
                        convention, special event, outdoor recreation, 
                        and tourism facilities, such as visitor or 
                        tourist information centers, including 
                        through--
                                    ``(I) general accessibility 
                                upgrades, such as increasing disability 
                                access;
                                    ``(II) improving ventilation, 
                                heating, and cooling systems;
                                    ``(III) increasing energy 
                                efficiency; and
                                    ``(IV) incorporating additional 
                                renewable energy generation associated 
                                with that infrastructure, including 
                                zero-emission vehicle fleets and 
                                charging infrastructure;
                            ``(iv) construction of workforce training 
                        facilities in order to carry out capacity 
                        building programs;
                            ``(v) water or wastewater and stormwater 
                        improvements;
                            ``(vi) pier construction and improvements; 
                        and
                            ``(vii) accessibility enhancements;
                    ``(G) to pay costs associated with upgrades and 
                retrofits to existing outdoor recreation, travel, 
                tourism, hospitality, and special event infrastructure, 
                such as convention centers, to increase travel and 
                tourism activity or to make the infrastructure more 
                functional under social distancing conditions due to a 
                public health emergency declaration under section 319 
                of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d);
                    ``(H) to pay costs associated with providing 
                information to visitors about the health and safety 
                protections, guidance, or requirements of Federal, 
                State, Tribal, or local governments and businesses to 
                reduce the spread of COVID-19;
                    ``(I) to pay the increased costs of filtration and 
                sanitation, including physical modifications to 
                facilities such as convention centers, large event 
                spaces, campsites, or community attractions associated 
                with precautions to provide for safe worker, traveler, 
                or event environments; and
                    ``(J) to pay the costs of salaries and expenses 
                associated with the operations of the eligible 
                recipient, other than salaries and expenses of the 
                executives of the eligible recipient, if the 
                applicant--
                            ``(i) demonstrates the capacity to maintain 
                        the positions for which the funds are used; or
                            ``(ii) demonstrates that the positions for 
                        which the funds are used are temporary or 
                        seasonal.
            ``(2) Prohibition.--Amounts provided under this section may 
        not be used for recruitment efforts to bring in or host 
        particular events, such as sporting competitions or other 
        activities.
    ``(e) Priority.--The Secretary shall give priority to eligible 
recipients that seek to carry out an activity that--
            ``(1) is based on long-term, regionally oriented, 
        coordinated, and collaborative economic development or 
        redevelopment strategies that foster economic growth and 
        resilience;
            ``(2) will promote workforce development;
            ``(3) will involve a minority-owned, rural, Native 
        American, or otherwise underserved small business concern; or
            ``(4) implements strong labor standards, including project 
        labor agreements and community benefit agreements that include 
        local hire provisions to promote effective and efficient 
        delivery of high-quality infrastructure projects.
    ``(f) Regional Distribution.--
            ``(1) In general.--In providing grants under this section, 
        the Secretary shall distribute the funds to eligible recipients 
        in each region served by the Economic Development 
        Administration in accordance with the formula described in 
        paragraph (2)(A).
            ``(2) Formula.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The formula referred to in 
                paragraph (1) shall include consideration of each of 
                the following:
                            ``(i) Using the most recent data from the 
                        Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages and 
                        the Current Employment Statistics, employment 
                        in the leisure and hospitality sectors (other 
                        than food service businesses) as a percentage 
                        of total employment in States in the region, 
                        using a 5-year average.
                            ``(ii) Using the most recent data from the 
                        Arts and Cultural Production and Outdoor 
                        Recreation Satellite Account, employment in 
                        arts and cultural production and outdoor 
                        recreation as a percentage of total employment 
                        in States in the region, using a 5-year 
                        average.
                            ``(iii) The number of international and 
                        domestic visitors in States in the region, 
                        using data from the Department or another 
                        source as the Secretary determines to be 
                        appropriate.
                            ``(iv) The impacts of the COVID-19 
                        pandemic, and other natural or economic 
                        disasters, on the outdoor recreation, travel, 
                        tourism, hospitality, or special event 
                        industries in States in the region.
                            ``(v) Any other data that the Secretary 
                        determines reliably measures the impact of 
                        outdoor recreation, travel, tourism, 
                        hospitality, or special events to the economy 
                        of a State.
                    ``(B) Out of date, discontinued, or inaccurate data 
                sources.--If the Secretary determines that a data 
                source described in clause (i) or (ii) of subparagraph 
                (A) is out of date, discontinued, or otherwise 
                inaccurate, the Secretary may substitute other data 
                sources to obtain the employment statistics described 
                in those clauses, subject to the condition that the 
                Secretary provides to Congress a report describing the 
                new data source used by the Secretary.
    ``(g) Rural Set-Aside.--
            ``(1) In general.--Of the amounts made available for each 
        fiscal year to carry out this section, the Secretary shall 
        ensure that not less than 20 percent is used to provide 
        assistance to eligible recipients located in, or that serve, a 
        rural area (as defined in section 343(a) of the Consolidated 
        Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a))), with a 
        particular focus on rural areas that are located in distressed 
        or underserved communities.
            ``(2) Waiver.--If there are not sufficient qualified 
        eligible recipients located in, or that serve, a rural area (as 
        so defined), to carry out paragraph (1), the Secretary may 
        waive the requirement under that paragraph.
    ``(h) Native American Set-Aside.--
            ``(1) In general.--Of the amounts made available for each 
        fiscal year to carry out this section, the Secretary shall 
        ensure that not less than 5 percent is used to provide 
        assistance to eligible recipients that are Indian tribes, 
        tribal organizations (as defined in section 3 of the NATIVE Act 
        (25 U.S.C. 4352)), and Native Hawaiian organizations (as 
        defined in that section).
            ``(2) Waiver.--If there are not sufficient qualified 
        eligible recipients that are Indian tribes, tribal 
        organizations (as so defined), or Native Hawaiian organizations 
        (as so defined) to carry out paragraph (1), the Secretary may 
        waive the requirement under that paragraph.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents contained in section 
1(b) of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (79 Stat. 
552; 112 Stat. 3597; 118 Stat. 1767) is amended by inserting after the 
item relating to section 218 the following:

``Sec. 219. Hospitality and Outdoor-Recreation Supporting Tourism 
                            (HOST) grants.''.

SEC. 8. TOURISM MARKETING.

    (a) Declaration.--Section 2(b) of the Public Works and Economic 
Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3121(b)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (3), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) tourism marketing is an economic development tool 
        used by communities for economic development and should be 
        considered an eligible use of economic development funding 
        awarded by the Federal Government through the Economic 
        Development Administration.''.
    (b) Grants for Economic Adjustment.--Section 209(a) of the Public 
Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3149(a)) (as 
amended by section 3(b)(2)) is amended by inserting ``travel promotion 
(including funding for tourism marketing, marketing research, 
purchasing advertisements, and attracting business meetings or 
convention travel),'' after ``208(a)),''.

SEC. 9. ECONOMIC DISTRESS FORMULA.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of Commerce shall review the economic distress formula 
under section 301 of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 
1965 (42 U.S.C. 3161) and submit to Congress a report that includes--
            (1) recommendations for modifications to the formula to 
        ensure that all areas, including distressed areas, are eligible 
        to receive a higher percentage of Federal funding than those 
        areas currently are eligible to receive;
            (2) a recommendation on whether to reduce the non-Federal 
        share for projects carried out with grants under that Act (42 
        U.S.C. 3121 et seq.); and
            (3) an analysis of the financial limitations of eligible 
        recipients located within high-density public land counties (as 
        defined in section 7(a)) in accessing Economic Development 
        Administration funding opportunities.

SEC. 10. HIGH-DENSITY PUBLIC LAND COUNTIES.

    (a) Definition of High-Density Public Land County.--In this 
section, the term ``high-density public land county'' means a county 
(or equivalent jurisdiction) of a State, Indian Tribe, or territory of 
the United States--
            (1) that has a population of not more than 100,000 people, 
        according to the most recent annual estimates of population by 
        the Bureau of the Census; and
            (2) in which more than 50 percent of the land is owned or 
        managed by the Federal Government (including land held in trust 
        by the United States for the benefit of an Indian Tribe).
    (b) Requirement.--For purposes of providing assistance under the 
Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3121 et 
seq.) (including sections 209 and 301 of that Act (42 U.S.C. 3149, 
3161)) and other programs of the Economic Development Administration, a 
high-density public land county shall be considered to be--
            (1) an area with a special need arising from actual or 
        threatened severe unemployment or economic adjustment problems 
        resulting from severe changes in economic conditions;
            (2) a distressed area; and
            (3) an underserved area.

SEC. 11. OFFICE OF RURAL AND NATIVE AMERICAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

    (a) In General.--Title V of the Public Works and Economic 
Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3191 et seq.) is amended by adding 
at the end the following:

``SEC. 508. OFFICE OF RURAL AND NATIVE AMERICAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

    ``(a) Establishment.--There is established within the Economic 
Development Administration an Office of Rural and Native American 
Economic Development (referred to in this section as the `Office').
    ``(b) Under Secretaries.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Office shall be jointly headed by--
                    ``(A) a Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Economic 
                Development; and
                    ``(B) a Deputy Under Secretary for Native American 
                Economic Development.
            ``(2) Dedicated staffs.--
                    ``(A) In general.--
                            ``(i) Deputy under secretary for rural 
                        economic development.--The Secretary shall 
                        ensure that the Deputy Under Secretary for 
                        Rural Economic Development has a dedicated 
                        staff to carry out the purposes of the Office 
                        with respect to rural communities.
                            ``(ii) Deputy under secretary for native 
                        american economic development.--The Secretary 
                        shall ensure that the Deputy Under Secretary 
                        for Native American Economic Development has a 
                        dedicated staff to carry out the purposes of 
                        the Office with respect to tribal communities.
                    ``(B) Existing staff and personnel.--
                            ``(i) In general.--For purposes of carrying 
                        out clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (A), 
                        the Secretary may reorganize and redesignate 
                        existing positions or staffing within the 
                        Economic Development Administration.
                            ``(ii) Website.--Any existing personnel 
                        reorganized or redesignated under clause (i) 
                        shall be recognized on the website of the 
                        Economic Development Administration.
    ``(c) Purpose.--The purpose of the Office shall be--
            ``(1) to coordinate all rural and Native American economic 
        development activities carried out by the Secretary;
            ``(2) to provide resources to help rural and Native 
        American communities access economic development assistance 
        programs, including the grants provided by this Act;
            ``(3)(A) to develop rural and tribal economic development 
        strategies and efforts, including the strategies for rural and 
        Native American economic development described in subsection 
        (d); and
            ``(B) to coordinate those strategies and efforts with other 
        Federal agencies, including the Office of Rural Development of 
        the Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Indian Affairs; 
        and
            ``(4) to be a participant in any negotiated rulemakings, or 
        consultations relating to, or having an impact on, projects, 
        programs, or funding that benefit rural or Native American 
        communities.
    ``(d) Strategies for Rural and Native American Economic 
Development.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Office shall, in consultation with 
        rural communities, develop a strategy for rural economic 
        development and, in consultation with Native American 
        communities, develop a strategy for Native American economic 
        development, which shall each, as applicable--
                    ``(A) identify the most pressing priorities and 
                challenges of the United States in promoting rural and 
                Native American prosperity during the 10-year period 
                beginning on the date of enactment of the INVEST in Our 
                Communities Act;
                    ``(B) describe the policy actions that will be 
                taken by the Economic Development Administration, and 
                any other Federal agency implementing rural and Native 
                American economic development programs, if applicable, 
                to accelerate and support social and economic 
                prosperity in rural and tribal areas; and
                    ``(C) identify opportunities to partner with other 
                Federal agencies or across Federal agencies and 
                programs to address the priorities and challenges 
                identified under subparagraph (A).
            ``(2) Submission to congress.--The Office shall submit to 
        the Committees on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, 
        Environment and Public Works, and Indian Affairs of the Senate 
        and the Committees on Agriculture, Transportation and 
        Infrastructure, and Natural Resources of the House of 
        Representatives the strategies for rural economic development 
        and Native American economic development developed under 
        paragraph (1).
    ``(e) Outreach.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Under Secretaries shall establish 
        within the Office a public gateway to help provide a 
        comprehensive, single source of information for civic leaders, 
        economic development professionals, businesses, and individuals 
        in rural and Native American communities to better understand 
        and access programs that support economic development in those 
        communities, including the economic development programs 
        administered by Federal agencies or departments other than the 
        Department.
            ``(2) Inclusions.--In carrying out this subsection, the 
        Under Secretaries shall include the following activities:
                    ``(A) Hotline.--The Office shall establish a 
                telephone hotline to offer information and answer 
                questions about Federal programs to assist rural and 
                Native American communities, including the grants 
                provided under this Act and programs offered by other 
                Federal agencies.
                    ``(B) Website and electronic mail.--The Office 
                shall establish a website and electronic mail portal 
                through which to offer information and answer questions 
                about Federal programs to assist rural and tribal 
                communities, including the grants provided under this 
                Act and programs offered by other Federal agencies, to 
                civic leaders, economic development professionals, 
                businesses, and individuals in rural and tribal 
                communities.
                    ``(C) Outreach and support materials.--The Office 
                shall develop printed and electronic outreach and 
                support materials that offer information and answer 
                questions about Federal programs to assist rural and 
                Native American communities, including the grants 
                provided under this Act and programs offered by other 
                Federal agencies, to civic leaders, economic 
                development professionals, businesses, and individuals 
                in rural and Native American communities.
                    ``(D) Other outreach activities.--The Office may 
                carry out additional activities that offer information 
                and answer questions about Federal programs to assist 
                rural and Native American communities.
            ``(3) Existing efforts.--The outreach efforts and 
        activities described in paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be in 
        coordination with existing efforts and activities of the rural 
        development mission area Department of Agriculture and the 
        Bureau of Indian Affairs.
    ``(f) Dedicated Staff.--The Secretary shall ensure that the Office 
has sufficient staff where appropriate, including in each regional 
office of the Economic Development Administration, to carry out all 
outreach activities under subsection (e) in rural and Native American 
communities.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents contained in section 
1(b) of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (79 Stat. 
552; 112 Stat. 3597) is amended by inserting after the item relating to 
section 507 the following:

``Sec. 508. Office of Rural and Native American Economic 
                            Development.''.

SEC. 12. FLEXIBLE HIRING AND DISASTER AUTHORITIES.

    (a) In General.--Title V of the Public Works and Economic 
Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3191 et seq.) (as amended by section 
11(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 509. FLEXIBLE HIRING AND DISASTER AUTHORITIES.

    ``(a) Appointment and Compensation Authorities.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may appoint and fix the 
        compensation of such temporary personnel as may be necessary to 
        carry out this Act and to implement post-disaster economic 
        recovery responsibilities, without regard to the provisions of 
        subchapter I of chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code, 
        governing appointments in competitive service and compensation 
        of personnel.
            ``(2) Appointment to position within eda.--Notwithstanding 
        chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code, or any other 
        provision of law relating to the examination, certification, 
        and appointment of individuals in the competitive service, the 
        Secretary may convert a temporary employee appointed under 
        paragraph (1) to a permanent appointment in the competitive 
        service in the Economic Development Administration under merit 
        promotion procedures if--
                    ``(A) the employee has served continuously in that 
                appointment for not less than 2 years; and
                    ``(B) the performance of the employee has been at 
                an acceptable level of performance throughout the 
                period or periods referred to in subparagraph (A).
    ``(b) Disaster Team.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--As soon as practicable after the date 
        of enactment of the INVEST in Our Communities Act, the 
        Secretary shall establish a disaster team for the deployment of 
        individuals to carry out post-disaster economic recovery 
        efforts after a major disaster or emergency has been declared 
        under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
        Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) and an agency has been 
        activated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
            ``(2) Membership.--
                    ``(A) Designation of staff.--As soon as practicable 
                after the date of enactment of the INVEST in Our 
                Communities Act, the Secretary shall designate to serve 
                on the disaster team, in conjunction with staff of the 
                Department--
                            ``(i) employees of the Department who are 
                        not employees of the agency; and
                            ``(ii) in consultation with the heads of 
                        other Federal agencies, employees of those 
                        agencies, as appropriate.
                    ``(B) Capabilities.--In designating individuals 
                under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall ensure that 
                the disaster team includes a sufficient number of--
                            ``(i) individuals who are capable of 
                        deploying rapidly and efficiently to respond to 
                        major disasters and emergencies; and
                            ``(ii) in conjunction with permanent agency 
                        staff, highly trained individuals employed 
                        full-time to lead and manage the disaster team.
            ``(3) Training.--The Secretary shall ensure that 
        appropriate and ongoing training is provided to members of the 
        disaster team designed under paragraph (2) to ensure that the 
        members are adequately trained with respect to the programs and 
        policies of the agency relating to post-disaster economic 
        recovery efforts.
            ``(4) Expenses.--In carrying out this subsection, the 
        Secretary may--
                    ``(A) use, with or without reimbursement, any 
                service, equipment, personnel, or facility of any 
                Federal agency with the explicit support of that 
                agency, to the extent such use does not impair or 
                conflict with the authority of the President or the 
                Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management 
                Agency under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
                Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) to 
                direct Federal agencies in any major disaster or 
                emergency declared under that Act; and
                    ``(B) provide members of the disaster team with 
                travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
                subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of 
                agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, 
                United States Code, relating to service as a member of 
                the disaster team.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents contained in section 
1(b) of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (79 Stat. 
552; 112 Stat. 3597) (as amended by section 11(b)) is amended by 
inserting after the item relating to section 508 the following:

``Sec. 509. Flexible hiring and disaster authorities.''.

SEC. 13. COVID-ERA FUNDING AVAILABILITY.

    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any amounts made 
available to carry out the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 
1965 (42 U.S.C. 3121 et seq.) during the period during which the public 
health emergency declared by the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d) on 
January 31, 2020, with respect to COVID-19 is in effect shall be 
available for obligation until September 30, 2030.

SEC. 14. FUNDING FOR HOST GRANTS.

    (a) In General.--Title VII of the Public Works and Economic 
Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3231 et seq.) is amended by adding 
at the end the following:

``SEC. 705. FUNDING FOR HOST GRANTS.

    ``Of the amounts made available under section 701(a) for each of 
fiscal years 2023 through 2027, $100,000,000 shall be used to carry out 
section 219, of which 3 percent shall be used for the administrative 
costs of carrying out that section, including for maintaining the 
formula described in subsection (f)(2) of that section.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents contained in section 
1(b) of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (79 Stat. 
552; 112 Stat. 3597; 118 Stat. 1772) is amended by inserting after the 
item relating to section 704 the following:

``Sec. 705. Funding for HOST grants.''.

SEC. 15. SET ASIDES.

    (a) In General.--Title VII of the Public Works and Economic 
Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3231 et seq.) (as amended by section 
11(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 706. REQUIREMENTS FOR THE USE OF FUNDS.

    ``(a) Planning Assistance.--
            ``(1) In general.--Of the amounts made available for each 
        fiscal year under section 701(a), the Secretary shall set aside 
        an amount equal to 5 percent to provide assistance to eligible 
        recipients for the development of a comprehensive economic 
        development strategy.
            ``(2) Federal share.--The Federal share of the cost of an 
        activity carried out with assistance under paragraph (1) shall 
        be not less than 80 percent.
    ``(b) Technical and Operational Assistance.--Of the amounts made 
available for each fiscal year under section 701(a), the Secretary 
shall set aside an amount equal to 5 percent to provide to eligible 
recipients technical and operational capacity assistance to prepare 
those eligible recipients to better access Federal funding from the 
Economic Development Administration and other sources.
    ``(c) Rural Set-Aside.--
            ``(1) In general.--Of the amounts made available for each 
        fiscal year under section 701(a), the Secretary shall ensure 
        that not less than 15 percent is used to provide assistance to 
        eligible recipients located in, or that serve, a rural area (as 
        defined in section 343(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
        Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a))).
            ``(2) Waiver.--If there are not sufficient qualified 
        eligible recipients located in, or that serve, a rural area (as 
        so defined) to carry out paragraph (1), the Secretary may waive 
        the requirement under that paragraph.
    ``(d) Maximum Grant Amounts.--The Secretary shall consider 
increasing maximum grant amounts set by the Secretary and increasing 
the average amount of funds distributed per grant provided under this 
Act to increase the impact of those investments.
    ``(e) Native American Set-Aside.--
            ``(1) In general.--Of the amounts made available for each 
        fiscal year under section 701(a), the Secretary shall ensure 
        that not less than 5 percent is used to provide assistance to 
        eligible recipients that are Indian tribes, tribal 
        organizations (as defined in section 3 of the NATIVE Act (25 
        U.S.C. 4352)), and Native Hawaiian organizations (as defined in 
        that section).
            ``(2) Waiver.--If there are not sufficient qualified 
        eligible recipients that are Indian tribes, tribal 
        organizations (as so defined), or Native Hawaiian organizations 
        (as so defined) to carry out paragraph (1), the Secretary may 
        waive the requirement under that paragraph.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents contained in section 
1(b) of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (79 Stat. 
552; 112 Stat. 3597; 118 Stat. 1772) (as amended by section 11(b)) is 
amended by inserting after the item relating to section 705 the 
following:

``Sec. 706. Requirements for the use of funds.''.

SEC. 16. COST SHARING.

    Section 204 of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 
1965 (42 U.S.C. 3144) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
                striking ``subsection (c)'' and inserting ``this 
                section''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``30 percent'' 
                and inserting ``40 percent''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) High-Density Public Land Counties.--In the case of a grant 
under this Act to an eligible recipient that is located in or that 
serves a high-density public land county (as defined in section 7(a) of 
the INVEST in Our Communities Act), the Secretary shall--
            ``(1) reduce the non-Federal share of the cost of the 
        project carried out with the grant by 50 percent;
            ``(2) provide to the eligible recipient direct and expanded 
        technical assistance to improve applications from high-density 
        public land counties (as so defined); and
            ``(3) allow the eligible recipient to provide any required 
        non-Federal share in the form of in-kind contributions.
    ``(e) Communities Affected by Disasters.--In the case of a grant 
under section 209(c)(2), the Federal share of the cost of a project 
carried out with the grant shall be 100 percent.
    ``(f) COVID-Era Funding.--
            ``(1) In general.--In the case of a project carried out 
        with a grant under this Act made on or after the date of 
        enactment of the INVEST in Our Communities Act from amounts 
        made available during the period during which the public health 
        emergency declared by the Secretary of Health and Human 
        Services under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 
        U.S.C. 247d) on January 31, 2020, with respect to COVID-19 is 
        in effect, the Federal share of the cost of the project shall 
        be not less than 90 percent.
            ``(2) Certain areas.--The Secretary shall consider 
        increasing the Federal share set by the Secretary under 
        paragraph (1) to be 100 percent of the cost of the project if 
        the project is to be carried out in an area that is 
        experiencing, in the determination of the Secretary, lasting 
        economic impacts as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.''.
                                 <all>