Southwest Regional Border Authority Act

Bill: 108-s-458
Sponsor: Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM]
Introduced: 2003-02-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Advice and consent of the Senate
Arizona
Auditing
Border patrols
Boundaries
California
Canada
Citizen participation
Commerce
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional reporting requirements
County politics and government
Customs unions
Depressed areas
Development credit institutions
Energy
Energy consumption
Entrepreneurs
Environmental Protection
Environmental research
Finance and Financial Sector
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Free trade
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Grants-in-aid
Health
Infrastructure
International Affairs
International cooperation
Interstate compacts
Job creation
Labor and Employment
Medical research
Medical technology
Mexico
New Mexico
North America
Presidential appointments
Regional economic development
Regional planning
Research and development
Science, Technology, Communications
Small business
Technological innovations
Texas
Trade agreements
Transportation and Public Works
Transportation research
Water Resources Development
Water pollution control
Water quality
Water supply

Summary:
action_date: 2003-02-26
text: Southwest Regional Border Authority Act - Establishes the Southwest Regional Border Authority to: (1) develop plans and programs for the economic development of the Southwest border region (specified counties in California, New Mexico, and Texas); (2) conduct and sponsor investigations, research, and studies of the resources of the region; (3) sponsor up to ten authorized demonstration projects; (4) enhance the capacity of and support for local development districts or, if there is no such district for a portion of the region, foster the creation of one; (5) review, study, and recommend appropriate modifications to Federal, State, and local development programs for the region; (6) formulate and recommend interstate compacts and other forms of interstate and international cooperation; (7) encourage private investment in the region; (8) provide a forum for the consideration of problems of the region; (9) establish and use citizens, special advisory counsels, and public conferences; and (10) provide for the avoidance of duplication of efforts among the border programs of Federal agencies and the programs established under the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Authorizes the Authority to approve grants for regional infrastructure development and improvement, technology development and deployment, community development and entrepreneurship, and education and workforce development. Provides funding. Requires the Authority to allocate at least 60 percent of the amounts authorized under this Act for programs and projects to serve the needs of distressed counties and isolated areas of distress within counties along the international border between the United States and Mexico. Authorizes the Authority to increase the Federal share to up to 90 percent of a project's total cost (to aid communities that could not otherwise meet matching funds requirements). Requires the Authority to make grants to local development districts for administrative expenses.
Directs the Authority, for purposes of grant assistance, to designate within the region distressed counties, economically strong counties, attainment counties, competitive counties, and isolated areas of distress.
Requires each affected State to submit to the Authority an annual development plan for the appropriate State area within the region.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-02-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2850-2855)
action_date: 2003-02-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2849-2850)
action_date: 2003-02-26
text: Introduced in Senate