[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2099 Referred in House (RFH)]

103d CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2099


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 23, 1994

                Referred to the Committee on Agriculture

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
 To establish the Northern Great Plains Rural Development 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 ``Northern Great Plains Rural 
Development Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) the rural economy of the Northern Great Plains is 
        undergoing a substantial and potentially threatening 
        transformation;
            (2) the rural Northern Great Plains suffers from 
        substantial measurable poverty, unemployment, outmigration, 
        underemployment, 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 American 
        reservations;
            (4) many of the basic industries of the rural Northern 
        Great Plains in natural resources are under stress;
            (5) a concerted Federal, State, and local public and 
        private effort 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 revitalization in the Northern 
        Great Plains;
            (7) the availability of capital, technology, market 
        information, infrastructure development, educational 
        opportunities, health care, housing, recreational activities, 
        and resource development 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 
        construction, 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
            (10) in the rural Northern Great Plains, the tourism 
        industry offers significant additional potential for supporting 
        economic development and job growth, fostered by the wise 
        stewardship of natural resources.

SEC. 3. PURPOSE.

    The purpose of this Act is to establish the Northern Great Plains 
Rural Development Commission to study and make recommendations 
regarding the economic needs and economic development of the rural 
Northern Great Plains by seeking and encouraging the participation of 
interested citizens, public officials, groups, agencies, businesses, 
and other entities in developing a 10-year rural economic development 
plan for the Northern Great Plains.

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 
        Northern Great Plains.

SEC. 5. ESTABLISHMENT.

    There is established a Commission to be known as the ``Northern 
Great Plains Rural Development Commission''.

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 Governor 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 shall appoint a 
        chairperson from among the members appointed under 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.
    (f) Vacancies.--A vacancy on the Commission shall 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 location for 
the headquarters of the Commission.

SEC. 7. DUTIES.

    (a) Plan.--The Commission shall identify and study the economic 
development, infrastructure, technology, telecommunications, capital, 
employment, transportation, business resource development, education, 
health care, housing, and recreation needs of the Northern Great Plains 
and develop a 10-year plan that makes recommendations and establishes 
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 evaluate the economic development resources, 
        coordination, collaboration, and ``best practices'' of the 
        Federal, State, and local governments, nonprofit organizations, 
        universities, businesses, agricultural and natural resources 
        groups, foundations, cooperatives, and other organizations;
            (6) identify methods of facilitating the employment 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 
        business startups and expansions, including farming and 
        ranching;
            (9) evaluate the availability of, need for, and strategies 
        for providing and maintaining, the infrastructure, including 
        air, water, highway, rail, and telecommunications;
            (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;
            (14) assess the international trading levels, markets, and 
        practices, and potential opportunities;
            (15) assess the interconnection between metropolitan 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 development 
        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 
        programs, policies, and regulations that enhance or obstruct 
        the development of businesses and well-paying 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 determines 
        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 
        councils, public hearings, and conferences;
            (2) seek and encourage the participation of interested 
        citizens, public officials, groups, agencies, economic 
        development organizations, natural 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 public hearing in 
        each State; and
            (4) consult with--
                    (A) Federal, State, and local government agencies, 
                including the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, 
                Education, 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 funds, and other 
                organizations;
                    (D) industry and sectoral organizations;
                    (E) foundations and universities; and
                    (F) other organizations involved in economic 
                development activities.

SEC. 8. COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.

    (a) Members Appointed by Governors.--Each member of the Commission 
appointed by a Governor of a State may be compensated 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 compensation 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 
General 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 Government 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 Commission may 
enter into agreements with the Administrator of General Services for 
the procurement of necessary financial and administrative services, for 
which payment 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 carrying 
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, memoranda, 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, 
establishment, or instrumentality shall provide, to the extent 
permitted by law, the information, suggestions, estimates, and 
statistics 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 
        competitive 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 Executive 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 
detail 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.

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 shall 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 Governor 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 
        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 Governor of each State, a report describing 
        the findings and activities of the Commission and 
        recommendations in accordance with paragraph (2) regarding 
        specific actions that are necessary to promote the economic 
        development of the rural Northern Great Plains while 
        preserving, 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 Plains--
                            (i) determine the most effective and 
                        appropriate method for ensuring continued 
                        collaboration within the region on economic 
                        development matters, considering regional 
                        compacts, cooperatives, foundations, 
                        development corporations, and other agreements 
                        and organizations;
                            (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 
                        metropolitan and rural areas and identify 
                        methods of collaboration 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 
                        beginning owner-occupied farming and ranching 
                        operations;
                            (iii) recommend methods of promoting 
                        entrepreneurial development, including business 
                        startups and expansions;
                            (iv) recommend methods in which the public, 
                        private, and nonprofit sectors can help 
                        increase international 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 
                        manufacturers, and methods of assisting 
                        manufacturers lacking the technology, 
                        processes, 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 can be 
                        used to encourage 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 economy, 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 
                        can assist in meeting the needs;
                            (ii) identify such strategies in 
                        organization, regulations, policy, marketing, 
                        and coordination as are needed to implement a 
                        plan to meet the needs referred to in clause 
                        (i); and
                            (iii) recommend methods of utilizing 
                        secondary financial 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 Interstate 
                        Commerce Commission, rail operators, shippers, 
                        and the financial community;
                            (ii) prepare an assessment and agreement on 
                        the capital needs, coordination, and financing 
                        of telecommunications infrastructure, in 
                        cooperation with the Department of Agriculture, 
                        the National Telecommunications and Information 
                        Administration of the Department of Commerce, 
                        the Federal Communications Commission, the 
                        public utilities commission of each State, 
                        telephone companies and cooperatives, 
                        representative 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 effectively participating in the 
                        labor force, including unemployed, 
                        underemployed, and low-income individuals 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 
                regulations.--The Commission shall submit to the 
                appropriate government, nonprofit, and private sector 
                organizations recommendations for modifications or 
                additions to the programs, policies, and regulations 
                referred to in section 7(b)(18) to promote the rural 
                development of the Northern Great Plains.

SEC. 11. TERMINATION.

    The Commission shall terminate on the earlier of--
            (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.

    There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary 
to carry out this Act.

            Passed the Senate June 22 (legislative day, June 7), 1994.

            Attest:

                                                MARTHA S. POPE,

                                                             Secretary.

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