Title: Southern New England Regional Commission Act
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
Southern New England Regional Commission Act
This bill establishes the Southern New England Regional Commission. (Federal regional commissions address perceived regional economic underdevelopment.) The commission is given the same structure and duties as the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission, Southwest Border Regional Commission, and Northern Border Regional Commission.
The bill authorizes those commissions, in addition to their current authorities, to (1) support the maritime economy, (2) assist in developing defense manufacturing industries, and (3) promote the adoption of innovative materials in public transportation.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5124 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 5124

  To amend title 40, United States Code, to establish a Southern New 
          England Regional Commission, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 15, 2019

 Mr. Cicilline (for himself, Mr. Kennedy, Ms. DeLauro, Mr. Lynch, and 
Mr. Courtney) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the 
   Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend title 40, United States Code, to establish a Southern New 
          England Regional Commission, 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 ``Southern New England Regional 
Commission Act''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND REGIONAL COMMISSION.

    (a) Establishment.--Section 15301(a) of title 40, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) The Southern New England Regional Commission.''.
    (b) Purposes for Economic and Infrastructure Development Grants.--
Section 15501(a) of such title is amended to read as follows:
    ``(a) In General.--A Commission may make grants to States and local 
governments, Indian tribes, and public and nonprofit organizations for 
projects, approved in accordance with section 15503--
            ``(1) to develop the transportation infrastructure of its 
        region;
            ``(2) to develop the basic public infrastructure of its 
        region;
            ``(3) to develop the telecommunications infrastructure of 
        its region;
            ``(4) to assist its region in obtaining job skills 
        training, skills development and employment-related education, 
        entrepreneurship, technology, and business development;
            ``(5) to provide assistance to severely economically 
        distressed and underdeveloped areas of its region that lack 
        financial resources for improving basic health care and other 
        public services;
            ``(6) to promote resource conservation, tourism, 
        recreation, and preservation of open space in a manner 
        consistent with economic development goals;
            ``(7) to promote the development of renewable and 
        alternative energy sources;
            ``(8) to support the maritime economy, including boat and 
        ship building and repair industries;
            ``(9) to assist in developing defense manufacturing 
        industries;
            ``(10) to promote the adoption of composite and other 
        innovative materials in public transportation;
            ``(11) to grow the capacity for successful community 
        economic development in its region; and
            ``(12) to otherwise achieve the purposes of this 
        subtitle.''.
    (c) Designation of Region.--
            (1) In general.--Subchapter II of chapter 157 of such title 
        is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 15734. Southern New England Regional Commission
    ``The region of the Southern New England Regional Commission shall 
include the following counties:
            ``(1) Rhode island.--The counties of Providence, 
        Washington, Newport, and Bristol in the State of Rhode Island.
            ``(2) Connecticut.--The counties of Hartford, New Haven, 
        and New London in the State of Connecticut.
            ``(3) Massachusetts.--The counties of Hampden and Bristol 
        in the State of Massachusetts.''.
            (2) Technical and conforming amendment.--The analysis for 
        Subchapter II of chapter 157 of such title is amended by adding 
        at the end the following:

``15734. Southern New England Regional Commission.''.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--The authorization of 
appropriations in section 15751 of title 40, United States Code, shall 
apply with respect to the Southern New England Regional Commission 
beginning with fiscal year 2020.
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