Northern Great Plains Rural Development Act
PL 103-318 (S.2099), enacted 08/26/1994

PUBLIC LAW 103-318—AUG. 26, 1994 
108 STAT. 1781 
Public Law 103-318 
103d Congress 
An Act 
To establish the Northern Great Plains Rural Development Commission, 
Aug. 26,1994 
and for other purposes. 
[S. 2099] 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of 
America in Congress assembled, 
Northern Great 
Plains Rural 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
Development 
This Act may be cited as the "Northern Great Plains Rural 
7 USC 2661 note. 
Development Act". 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
7 USC 2661 note. 
Congress finds that— 
(1) the rural economy of the Northern Great Plains is 
undergoing a substantial and potentially threatening trans-
formation; 
(2) the rural Northern Great Plains suffers from substantial 
measurable 
poverty, unemplo)ntnent, outmigration, 
under-
emplo3rment, aging of the population, and low per capita income; 
(3) the Northern Great Plains is highly rural and has 
a highly dispersed population, and contains many Native Amer-
ican reservations; 
(4) many of the basic industries of the rural Northern 
Great Plains in natural resources are imder stress; 
(5) a concerted Federal, State, and local public and private 
efiFort is needed if the rural Northern Great Plains is to share 
in the general prosperity of the United States; 
(6) the creation of 
jobs and expansion of existing businesses, 
including small businesses, offer the greatest hope for rural 
economic growth and revitaUzation in the Northern Great 
Plains; 
(7) the availability of capital, technology, market informa-
tion, infi*astructure development, educational opportunities, 
health care, housing, recreational activities, and resource devel-
opment are essential to successful business development in 
the rural Northern Great Plains; 
(8) the transportation needs of the rural Northern Great 
Plains must be addressed through highway and bridge construc-
tion, air service availability, and rail service and river transport 
development; 
(9) because of the social, geographic, weather, historical, 
and cultural ties of the rural Northern Great Plains as well 
as common economic problems, planning for this unique region 
is desirable and urgently needed; and 
108 STAT. 1782 
PUBLIC LAW 103-318—AUG. 26, 1994 
(10) in the rural Northern Great Plains, the tourism indus-
, try offers significant additional potential for supporting eco-
nomic dievelopment and job growth, fostered by the wise 
stewardship of natural resources. 
7 use 2661 note. SEC. 3. PURPOSE. 
The purpose of this Act is to establish the Northern Great 
Plains Rural Development Commission to study and make rec-
ommendations regarding the economic needs and economic develop-
ment of the rural Northern Great Plains bv seeking and encouraging 
the participation of interested citizens, public officials, groups, agen-
" 
cies, businesses, and other entities in developing a 10-year rural 
economic development plan for the Northern Great Plains. 
7 use 2661 note. 
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS. 
As used in this Act: 
(1) CHAIRPERSON.—^The term "chairperson" means the 
chairperson of the Commission. 
(2) COMMISSION.—The term "Commission" means the 
Northern Great Plains Rural Development Commission. 
(3) NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS.—^The term "Northern Great 
Plains" means the States of North Dakota, South Dakota, 
Nebraska, Iowa, and Minnesota. 
(4) STATE.—The term "State" means a State in the North-
em Great Plains. 
7 use 2661 note. 
SEC. 5. ESTABLISHMENT. 
There is established a Commission to be known as the "North-
em Great Plains Rural Development Commission". 
7 use 2661 note. 
SEC. 6. MEMBERSHIP AND ORGANIZATION. 
(a) MEMBERSHIP.—^The Commission shall be composed of 10 
members, of whom— 
(1) 1 member shall be appointed by the Grovemor of each 
State; and 
(2) 1 member shall be appointed from each of the States 
by the Secretary of Agriculture. 
(b) TERM.—Each member of the Commission shall serve for 
such term as the official who appoints the member determines 
is appropriate. 
(c) QUORUM.—^Five members of the Commission shall constitute 
a quorum, but the Commission may establish that a lesser number 
shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting hearings. 
(d) MEETINGS.— 
(1) FIRST MEETINGS.—^Five or more members appointed 
under subsection (a)(1) shall determine the date, time, and 
place of the first meeting, and shall call the first meeting. 
At the first meeting, the members of the Commission shsdl 
appoint a chairperson firom among the members appointed 
imder subsection (a)(1). The first meeting of the Commission 
shall be held not later than 45 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act. 
(2) ADDITIONAL MEETINGS.—The Commission shall conduct 
such additional meetings as the Commission determines are 
appropriate. 
(e) APPOINTMENTS.—Each appointment under this Act shall 
be made not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act. 
PUBLIC LAW 103-318—AUG. 26, 1994 
108 STAT. 1783 
(f) VACANCIES.—A vacancy on the Commission shtdl not affect 
the powers of the Commission and shall be filled in the same 
manner in which the original appointment was made. 
(g) HEADQUARTERS.—^The Commission shall establish the loca-
tion for the headquarters of the Commission. 
SEC. 7. DUTIES. 
7 USC 2661 note. 
(a) PLAN.—^The Commission shall identify and study the eco-
nomic development, infrastructure, technology, telecommunications, 
capital, employment, transportation, business respurce develop-
ment, education, health care, housing, and recreation needs of the 
Northern Great Plains and develop a 10-year plsui that makes 
recommendations and estabUshes priorities to address the needs. 
(b) PREPARATION OF PLAN.—In developing the plan, the 
Commission shall, with respect to the Northern Great Plains— 
(1) sponsor and conduct investigations, research studies, 
and field hearings; 
(2) review and evaluate available research, studies, and 
information on conditions in the areas referred to in subsection 
(a); 
(3) study the economy, identifying strengths, weaknesses, 
participation levels, opportunities, and methods of addressing 
* 
outmigration; 
(4) develop a profile of, and a description of resources 
devoted to, economic development (including tourism), human 
resources (including demographics, outmigration, 
poverty, 
Native Americans, education, and training), infrastructure 
(including air, water, highway, rail, and telecommunications), 
and natural resources; 
(5) study and evsduate the economic development resources, 
coordination, collaboration, and "best practices" of the Federal, 
State, and local governments, nonprofit organizations, univer-
sities, businesses, agricultural and natural resources groups, 
foundations, cooperatives, and other organizations; 
(6) identify methods of facilitating the emplo)anent and 
business startups of unemployed, underemployed, and low-
income individuals and households; 
(7) identify effective methods for promoting development 
on Native American reservations; 
(8) study the availability of methods of delivering public, 
private, and nonprofit capital and technical assistance for busi-
ness startups and expansions, including farming and ranching; 
(9) evaluate the availability of, need for, and strategies 
for providing and maintaining, the infrastructure, inclumng 
air, water, highway, rail, and telecommimications; 
(10) study the structure and potential development of major 
industries, including agriculture, timber, mining, tourism, and 
manufacturing (including the use of advanced technologies and 
processes and adding value to raw materials and component 
parts); 
(11) study the competence and availability of the labor 
force, including the health, educational, training, housing, and 
economic needs of the labor force; 
(12) develop an inventory of water, mineral, energy, timber, 
agricultural, fishery, wildlife, and other natural resources; 
(13) assess the comparative cost of doing business; 
108 STAT. 1784 
PUBLIC LAW 103-318—AUG. 26, 1994 
(14) assess the international trading levels, markets, and 
practices, and potential opportunities; 
(15) assess the interconnection between metropolitEin and 
rural areas and identify methods through which the areas 
can collaborate; 
(16) assess methods by which small communities and 
regions are collaborating or can collaborate in economic develop-
ment initiatives; 
(17) evaluate— 
(A) the distribution and impact of Federal spending, 
including grant-in-aid programs, research, and Federal 
procurement, and compare the level of spending in these 
categories with spending in other regions of the country; 
and 
(B) the extent to which reliance on Federal, State, 
; 
and local government outlays for poverty programs can 
be reduced by outlays targeted for economic development; 
(18) identify Federal, State, and local government pro-
grams, policies, and regulations that enhance or obstruct the 
development of businesses and well-pa3dng jobs with long-term 
potential and that effectively use the skills, education, and 
training of the labor force; 
(19) evaluate the potential for States to jointly finance 
projects and activities of regional benefit; and 
(20) analyze such other issues as the Commission deter-
mines are relevant to future economic development. 
(c) DEVELOPMENT OF PLAN.—In developing the plan, the 
Commission shall— 
(1) provide a forum for the consideration of the problems 
of the rural Northern Great Plains and proposed solutions, 
and establish and utilize citizens groups, special advisory coun-
cils, public hearings, and conferences; 
(2) seek and encourage the participation of interested citi-
zens, public officials, groups, agencies, economic development 
organizations, natured resource 
organizations, 
and 
other 
organizations; 
(3) make the Commission accessible to the individuals, 
groups, agencies, and organizations referred to in paragraph 
(2) by holding at least 1 well publicized pubHc hearing in 
each State; and 
(4) consult with— 
(A) Federal, State, and local government agencies, 
including the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Edu-
cation, Labor, Health and Human Services, Housing and 
Urban Development, and Transportation, and the Small 
Business Administration, bank regulatory agencies, and 
rural development councils; 
(B) banks, insurance companies, venture 
capital 
companies, and other for-profit financial institutions; 
(C) nonprofit 
and 
community-based 
development 
organizations, revolving loan fiinds, and other organiza-
tions; 
(D) industry and sectoral organizations; 
(E) foundations and universities; and 
(F) other organizations involved in economic develop-
ment activities. 
PUBLIC LAW 103-318—AUG. 26, 1994 
108 STAT. 1785 
SEC. 8. COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS. 
(a) MEMBERS APPOINTED BY GOVERNORS.—Each member of the 
Commission appointed by a Governor of a State may be com-
pensated by the State that the member represents. 
(b) MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE SECRETARY.—Each member 
appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture, who is not otherwise 
employed by the United States Government, shall receive compensa-
tion at a rate determined by the Secretary of not to exceed the 
daily equivalent of the lowest annual rate of basic pay payable 
for grade GS-15 of the Greneral Schedule under section 5332 of 
title 5, United States Code, including traveltime, for each day 
the member is engaged in the actual performance of the duties 
of the Commission. A member of the Commission appointed by 
the Secretary who is an officer or employee of the United States 
Grovemment shall serve without additional compensation. 
(c) 
TRAVEL AND OTHER EXPENSES.—Each member of 
the 
Commission shall be allowed 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, 
while away from the home or regular place of business of the 
member in the performance of services for the Commission. Each 
member of the Commission shall also be reimbursed by the United 
States Government for other necessary expenses incurred by the 
member in the performance of the duties of the member. 
SEC. 9. POWERS AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS. 
(a) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.—The Commission may obtain 
the services of experts and consultants in accordance with section 
3109 of title 5, United States Code. 
(b) FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES.—The Commis-
sion may enter into agreements with the Administrator of General 
Services for the procurement of necessary financial and administra-
tive services, for which pa)anent shall be made by reimbursement 
from funds of the Commission in such amounts as are agreed 
on by the chairperson and the Administrator of General Services. 
(c) CONTRACTS.—Subject to subsection (d), the Commission may 
enter into contracts with Federal and State agencies and private 
firms, institutions, and agencies for the conduct of research and 
surveys, the preparation of reports, and other activities necessary 
to carry out the duties of the Commission. 
(d) 
SUPPLIES, 
SERVICES, 
PROPERTY, AND CONTRACTS.—The 
Commission may procure supplies, services, and property, and make 
contracts in any fiscal year, only to such extent and in such amounts 
as are provided in appropriation Acts. 
(e) HEARINGS.—^The Commission or, on the authorization of 
the Commission, a member of the Commission may, for the purpose 
of canning out this Act, hold such hearings, sit and act at such 
times and places, and request the attendance and testimony of 
such witnesses and the production of such books, records, memo-
randa, papers, and documents as the Commission or the member 
considers appropriate. 
(f) INFORMATION.—The Commission may acquire directly from 
any executive department, bureau, agency, board, commission, 
office, independent establishment, or instrumentality, information, 
suggestions, estimates, and statistics for the purpose of this Act. 
Each department, bureau, agency, board, commission, 
office, 
estabUshment, or instrumentaUty shall provide, to the extent per-
7 use 2661 note. 
7 use 2661 note. 
79-194 O—95—2 : QL 3 Part 3 
108 STAT. 1786 
PUBLIC LAW 103-318—AUG. 26, 1994 
mitted by law, the information, suggestions, estimates, and statis-
tics directly to the Commission, upon request by the chairperson, 
(g) PERSONNEL.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—^Without regard to the provisions of title 
5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competi-
tive service, and without regard to chapter 51 and subchapter 
III of chapter 53 of such title relating to classification and 
General Schedule pay rates, the chairperson of the Commission 
may appoint, terminate, and fix the compensation of an Execu-
tive Director and such additional personnel as the chairperson 
determines are necessary to enable the Commission to carry 
out the duties of the Commission. 
(2) COMPENSATION.—The rate of compensation of the 
Executive Director may not exceed a rate equal to the daily 
equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay payable for level 
V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title. 
The rate of compensation of all other personnel may not exceed 
a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the lowest annual rate 
of basic pay payable for grade GS-15 of the General Schedule 
under section 5332 of such title. 
(h) ASSISTANCE FROM OTHER AGENCIES.—^Upon request of the 
Commission, the head of any Federal agency may make any of 
the facilities and services of the agency available to the Commission 
or detEiil any of the personnel of the agency to the Commission, 
on a reimbursable basis, to assist the Commission in carrying 
out the duties of the Commission under this Act. If the head 
of an agency determines that the agency cannot make the facilities, 
services, or personnel available to the Commission, the head shall 
notify the chairperson in writing. 
(i) POSTAL SERVICES.—The Commission may use the United 
States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions 
as other departments and agencies of the United States. 
7 u s e 2661 note. 
SEC. 10. REPORTS. 
(a) INTERIM REPORT.—Before the end of the 270-day period 
beginning on the date of the first meeting of the Commission 
under section 6(d)(1), the Commission shEdl submit a report to 
the Secretary of Agriculture, the President pro tempore of the 
Senate, the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of 
the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives, the 
President, and the Grovernor of each State, describing the findings 
and activities of the Commission and the further activities necessary 
to carry out the duties of the Commission. 
(b) FINAL REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Before the end of the 18-month period 
beginning on the date of the first meeting of the Commission 
under section 6(d)(1), the Commission shall submit to the Sec-
retary of Agriculture, the President pro tempore of the Senate, 
the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the 
Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives, 
the President, and the Governor of each State, a report describ-
ing the findings and activities of the Commission and rec-
ommendations in accordance with paragraph (2) regarding spe-
cific actions that are necessary to promote the economic develop-
ment of the rural Northern Great Plains while preserving. 
PUBLIC LAW 103-318—AUG. 26, 1994 
108 STAT. 1787 
to the maximum extent possible, the natural beauty and habitat 
of the Northern Great Plains. 
(2) RECOMMENDATIONS.— 
(A) REGIONAL COLLABORATION.—^The Commission shall, 
with respect to the Northern Great Plgiins— 
(i) determine the most effective and appropriate 
method for ensuring continued collaboration within the 
region on economic development matters, considering 
regional compacts, cooperatives, foundations, develop-
ment corporations, and other agreements and organiza-
tions; 
(ii) identify the organizational structure, method 
of financing, functions, and participating organizations, 
of the collaboration referred to in clause (i); 
(iii) identify methods of effective multi-community, 
substate, and small region development; and 
(iv) assess the interconnection between metropoli-
tan and rural areas and identify methods of collabora-
tion between the areas. 
(B) BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.—The Commission shall, 
with respect to the rural Northern Great Plains— 
(i) recommend methods of diversifying the rural 
economy, including the development and financing of 
value-added and new-use agricultural products; 
(ii) develop methods to promote and finance begin-
ning owner-occupied farming and ranching operations; 
(iii) recommend methods of promoting entre-
preneurial development, including business startups 
and expansions; 
(iv) recommend methods in which the pubhc, pri-
vate, and nonprofit sectors can help increase inter-
national trading levels and penetrate new markets in 
agricultural, manufactured, and service products; 
(v) evaluate the potential utility of business and 
manufacturing networks in target sectors; 
(vi) assess the competitiveness of manufacturers 
and the use of modern technology, processes, and 
information by the msuiufacturers, and methods of 
assisting manufacturers lacking the technology, proc-
esses, or information; 
(vii) recommend methods in which capital and 
technical assistance can be provided on a regional or 
sectoral basis to business startups and expansions by 
public, private, and nonprofit organizations; and 
(viii) recommend ways in which Federal and State 
resource conservation programs c£ui be used to encour-
age tourism in the region. 
(C) CAPITAL.—^The Commission shall, with respect to 
the rural Northern Great Plains— 
(i) determine if there are capital needs in the econ-
omy, and in what part of the economy the needs are 
located, and recommend how governmental, nonprofit, 
. 
cooperative, community-based, microlending, banking, 
venture, seed, and nonbanking financing sources c£ui 
assist in meeting the needs; 
(ii) identify such strategies in organization, regula-
tions, pohcy, marketing, and coordination as are 
108 STAT. 1788 
PUBLIC LAW 103-318—AUG. 26, 1994 
needed to implement a plan to meet the needs referred 
to in clause (i); and 
(iii) recommend methods of utilizing secondary 
fiuEuicial markets to increase the capital available for 
business development. 
(D) INFRASTRUCTURE.—The Commission shall, with 
respect to the rural Northern Great Plains— 
(i) prepare a plan to preserve, finance, and operate 
effective freight railroad service in coordination with 
States, the Federal Railroad Administration, the Inter-
state Commerce Commission, rail operators, shippers, 
and the financial community; 
(ii) prepare an assessment and agreement on the 
capital needs, coordination, and financing of tele-
communications infrastructure, in cooperation with the 
Department of Agriculture, the National Telecommuni-
cations and Information Administration of the Depart-
ment of Commerce, the Federal 
Communications 
Commission, the public utilities commission of each 
State, telephone companies and cooperatives, rep-
resentative users, and such other entities as the 
Commission determines are appropriate; and 
(iii) recommend strategies for addressing air, 
water, and highway needs. 
(E) HUMAN RESOURCES.—^The Commission shall, with 
respect to the rural Northern Great Plains— 
(i) identify methods of facilitating the employment 
and business startups of individuals who are not effec-
tively participating in the labor force, including 
unemployed, underemployed, and low-income individ-
uals and households; 
(ii) identify methods of coordinating on a regional 
or sectoral basis education and training programs that 
are tied to economic development initiatives, especially 
programs that address the outmigration of youth; and 
(iii) study the competence and availability of the 
labor force and the effects of the health, educational, 
training, housing, and economic needs of the labor 
force, and identify regional strategies addressing the 
needs. 
(F) GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS, POLICIES, AND REGULA-
TIONS.—^The Commission shall submit to the appropriate 
government, nonprofit, and private sector organizations rec-
ommendations for modifications or additions to the pro-
grams, policies, and regulations referred to in section 
7(b)(18) to promote the rural development of the Northern 
Great Plains. 
PUBLIC LAW 103-318—AUG. 26, 1994 
108 STAT. 1789 
SEC. 11. TERMINATION. 
7 USC 2661 note. 
The Commission shall terminate on the earlier o
f
— 
(1) 120 days after the date of submission of the final 
report under section 10; and 
(2)2 years after the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 12. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
7 USC 2661 note. 
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are 
necessary to carry out this Act. 
Approved August 26, 1994, 
LEGISLATIVE mSTORY—S. 2099: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 103-700 (Comm. on Agriculture). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 140 (1994): 
June 22, considered emd passed Senate. 
Aug. 12, considered and passed House.