[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2911 Introduced in House (IH)]
106th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2911
To provide economic development assistance and the planning and
coordination needed to assist in development of the lower Mississippi
Delta region.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 22, 1999
Mr. Berry (for himself, Mr. Ford, Mr. Gephardt, Mr. Tanner, Mr. Snyder,
Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Mr. John, Mr. Costello, Mr. Jefferson, Mr.
Hutchinson, and Mr. Dickey) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Banking and Financial Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide economic development assistance and the planning and
coordination needed to assist in development of the lower Mississippi
Delta region.
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 ``Delta Regional Authority Act of
1999''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
(1) the lower Mississippi River Delta region, though rich
in natural and human resources, lags behind the rest of the
country in economic growth and prosperity;
(2) this region suffers from a greater proportion of
measurable poverty and unemployment than any other region of
the country, resulting in a drain on the national economy and
diminishing the national wealth;
(3) the greatest hope for economic growth and
revitalization in the Delta region lies in the creation of
jobs, the expansion of existing businesses, and the development
of entrepreneurial local economies;
(4) the economic progress of the Delta region requires an
adequate physical infrastructure, a skilled and trained
workforce, enhanced local leadership and civic capacity; and
greater opportunities for enterprise development and
entrepreneurship;
(5) a concerted and coordinated effort among Federal,
State, and local agencies, as well as with the private sector,
nonprofit groups, and community-based organizations is needed
if the Delta region is to share in the prosperity of the
nation;
(6) economic development planning on a regional or
multicounty basis offers the best prospect for achieving the
maximum benefit from public and private investments; and
(7) improving the economy of the Delta requires a special
emphasis on those parts of the Delta region that are most
economically distressed.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are to--
(1) promote and encourage the economic development of the
Mississippi River Delta region so that the communities and
people in the Delta region have the opportunity to participate
more fully in the nation's prosperity and so that the region's
economy will no longer lag behind the rest of the nation on
leading indicators of economic performance;
(2) establish a formal framework for joint Federal-State
collaboration in meeting the region's economic development
needs and for focusing national attention on those needs;
(3) assist the region in obtaining the basic
infrastructure, skills training, local leadership capacity, and
opportunities for enterprise development that are essential for
strong local economies;
(4) foster coordination among all levels of government, the
private sector, community organizations, and nonprofit groups
in crafting common regional strategies that will lead to
broader economic growth;
(5) strengthen efforts that emphasize regional approaches
to economic development and planning;
(6) encourage the participation of interested citizens,
public officials, groups, agencies, and others in developing
and implementing local and regional plans for broad-based
economic and community development; and
(7) focus special attention on those areas of the Delta
region that suffer from the greatest economic distress.
(c) Concentration of Investments.--Public investments made in the
Mississippi River Delta region under this Act shall be concentrated in
areas where there is significant and concentrated economic distress and
where the expected impact on the region's poorest communities will be
the greatest. While economic development in the region will require a
wide range of investments, the limited Federal funds available under
this Act shall be focused on the following activities in order to best
build the foundations for long-term, self-sustaining economies and
complement other Federal and State resources in the region: basic
infrastructure in distressed counties; job related infrastructure; job
training or employment-related education; leadership and civic
development; and business development, especially entrepreneurship.
TITLE I--THE DELTA REGIONAL AUTHORITY
SEC. 101. MEMBERSHIP AND VOTING.
(a) Establishment.--There is established the Delta Regional
Authority (in this Act referred to as the ``Authority'') which shall be
composed of 1 Federal member (in this Act referred to as the ``Federal
cochairman'') appointed by the President by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate, and 1 member from each participating State in
the Delta region. The Federal cochairman shall be 1 of the 2 Cochairmen
of the Authority. Each State member shall be the Governor of the State.
The State members of the Authority shall elect a cochairman of the
Authority from among the State members for a term of not less than 1
year.
(b) Voting Rules.--Except as provided in section 103(c), decisions
by the Authority shall require the affirmative vote of the Federal
cochairman and of a majority of the State members (exclusive of members
representing States delinquent under section 103(c)). No decision
involving Authority policy, or any modification or revision thereof,
approval of State or regional development plans, or any allocation of
funds among the States may be made without a quorum of State members
present. The approval of project and grant proposals shall be a
responsibility of the Authority and exercised in accordance with
section 223 of this Act.
(c) Alternates.--Each State member may have a single alternate,
appointed by the Governor of the State from among the members of the
Governor's cabinet or the Governor's personal staff. The President, by
and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint an
alternate Federal cochairman. An alternate shall vote in the event of
the absence, death, disability, removal, or resignation of the State or
Federal representative for which he or she is an alternate. A State
alternate shall not be counted toward the establishment of a quorum of
the Authority in any instance in which a quorum of the State members is
required to be present. No Authority powers or responsibilities
specified in the last two sentences of subsection (b), nor the vote of
any Authority member, may be delegated to any person not an Authority
member or who is not entitled to vote in Authority meetings.
(d) Compensation.--The Federal cochairman shall be paid by the
Federal Government at the annual rate of basic pay payable for level
III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of title 5, United
States Code. The alternate of the Federal cochairman shall be paid by
the Federal Government at the annual rate of basic pay payable for
level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title 5,
and, when not actively serving as an alternate for the Federal
cochairman, shall perform such functions and duties as are delegated by
the Federal cochairman. Each State member and his or her alternate
shall be paid by the State which they represent at the rate established
by law of such State.
SEC. 102. FUNCTIONS OF THE AUTHORITY.
(a) In General.--In carrying out the purposes of this Act, the
Authority shall, in addition to the authorities and responsibilities
elsewhere described in this Act--
(1) develop, on a continuing basis, comprehensive and
coordinated plans and programs and establish priorities and
approve grants thereunder for the economic development of the
Delta region, giving due consideration to other Federal, State,
and local planning and development activities in the Delta
region, including establishment, not later than 9 months after
the date of enactment of this Act, of priorities and 5-year
regional outcome targets in a regional development plan;
(2) provide for an understanding of the Delta region's
needs and assets through research, demonstration,
investigation, assessment and evaluation of the Delta region,
in cooperation with Federal, State, and local agencies,
universities and other nonprofit groups where appropriate,
which will further the purposes of this Act;
(3) review and study, in cooperation with the agency
involved, Federal, State, and local public and private programs
and, where appropriate, recommend modifications or additions
which will increase their effectiveness in the Delta region;
(4) formulate and recommend, where appropriate, interstate
compacts and other forms of interstate cooperation, and work
with State and local agencies in developing appropriate model
legislation;
(5) encourage the formation of, build the capacity of, and
provide support for, local development districts;
(6) encourage private investment in industrial, commercial,
and other economic development projects;
(7) serve as a focal point and coordinating unit for Delta
programs; and
(8) provide a forum for consideration of problems of the
Delta region and proposed solutions and establish and utilize,
as appropriate, citizens and special advisory councils and
public conferences.
(b) Liaison.--The Federal cochairman shall provide effective and
continuing liaison between the Federal Government and the Authority.
SEC. 103. AUTHORITIES OF THE AUTHORITY.
(a) In General.--To carry out its duties under this Act, the
Authority is authorized to do the following:
(1) Adopt, amend, and repeal bylaws, rules, and regulations
governing the conduct of its business and the performance of
its functions.
(2) Appoint and fix the pay of an executive director and
such other personnel as may be necessary to enable the
Authority to carry out its functions, except that such pay
shall not exceed the maximum rate for the Senior Executive
Service under section 5382 of title 5, United States Code,
including any applicable locality-based comparability payment
that may be authorized under section 5304(h)(2)(C) of such
title.
(3) Request the head of any Federal department or agency
(who is so authorized) to detail to temporary duty with the
Authority such personnel within his administrative jurisdiction
as the Authority may need for carrying out its functions. Each
such detail shall be without loss of seniority, pay, or other
employee status.
(4) Arrange for the services of personnel from any State or
local government or any subdivision or agency thereof, or any
intergovernmental agency.
(5) Make arrangements, including contracts, with any
participating State government for inclusion in a suitable
retirement and employee benefit system of such of its personnel
as may not be eligible for, or continue in, another
governmental retirement or employee benefit system, or
otherwise provide for such coverage of its personnel.
(6) Accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations of
services or property, real, personal, or mixed, tangible or
intangible.
(7) Enter into and perform such contracts, leases,
cooperative agreements, or other transactions as may be
necessary in carrying out its functions with any department,
agency, or instrumentality of the United States (which is so
authorized to the extent not otherwise prohibited by law) or
with any State, or any political subdivision, agency, or
instrumentality thereof, or with any person, firm, association,
or corporation.
(8) Establish and maintain a central office at such
appropriate location as it may select and field offices at such
other places as it may deem appropriate.
(9) Take such other actions and incur such other expenses
as may be necessary or appropriate.
(b) Cooperation of Federal Agencies.--The Federal agencies shall
cooperate with the Authority and shall provide such assistance in
carrying out the purposes of this Act as the Federal cochairman may
request.
(c) Administrative Expenses.--
(1) In general.--Administrative expenses of the Authority
shall be paid by the Federal Government for the period ending
on September 30, 2000. Thereafter, such expenses shall be paid
50 percent by the Federal Government and 50 percent by the
States in the Delta region, except that the expenses of the
Federal cochairman, his or her alternate, and his or her staff
shall be paid solely by the Federal Government.
(2) State shares.--The share to be paid by each State shall
be determined by the Authority. The Federal cochairman shall
not participate or vote in such determination.
(3) Limitation on assistance to states.--No assistance
authorized by this Act shall be furnished to any State or to
any political subdivision or any resident of any State, nor
shall a State member of the Authority participate or vote in
any determination by the Authority, while such State is
delinquent in payment of its share of the administrative
expenses of the Authority.
(d) Executive Director.--The Authority shall have an executive
director who shall be responsible for carrying out the administrative
functions of the Authority, for direction of the Authority staff, and
for such other duties as the Authority may assign.
(e) Treatment of Certain Employees.--No member, alternate, officer,
or employee of the Authority, other than the Federal cochairman of the
Authority, his or her staff, and his or her alternate and Federal
employees detailed to the Authority under subsection (a)(3) shall be
treated as a Federal employee for any purpose.
SEC. 104. INFORMATION.
In order to obtain information needed to carry out its duties, the
Authority shall--
(1) hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and
places, take such testimony, receive such evidence, and print
or otherwise reproduce and distribute so much of its
proceedings and reports thereon as it may deem advisable, and a
cochairman of the Authority, or any member of the Authority
designated by the Authority for the purpose, is authorized to
administer oaths when it is determined by the Authority that
testimony shall be taken or evidence received under oath; and
(2) arrange for the head of any Federal, State, or local
department or agency (who is so authorized to the extent not
otherwise prohibited by law) to furnish to the Authority such
information as may be available to or procurable by such
department or agency.
SEC. 105. PERSONAL FINANCIAL INTERESTS.
(a) Financial Interest Rule.--
(1) In general.--Except as permitted by paragraph (2), no
State member or alternate and no officer or employee of the
Authority shall participate personally and substantially as
member, alternate, officer, or employee, through decision,
approval, disapproval, recommendation, the rendering of advice,
investigation, or otherwise, in any proceeding, application,
request for a ruling or other determination, contract, claim,
controversy, or other particular matter in which, to his or her
knowledge, he or she, his or her spouse, minor child, partner,
organization (other than a State or political subdivision
thereof) in which he or she is serving as officer, director,
trustee, partner, or employee, or any person or organization
with whom he or she is serving as officer, director, trustee,
partner, or employee, or any person or organization with whom
he is or she is negotiating or has any arrangement concerning
prospective employment, has a financial interest. Any person
who shall violate the provisions of this paragraph shall be
fined not more than $10,000, or imprisoned not more than 2
years, or both.
(2) Limitation.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply if the State
member, alternate, officer, or employee first advises the
Authority of the nature and circumstances of the proceeding,
application, request for a ruling or other determination,
contract, claim, controversy, or other particular matter and
makes full disclosure of the financial interest and receives in
advance a written determination made by the Authority that the
interest is not so substantial as to be deemed likely to affect
the integrity of the services which the Authority may expect
from such State member, alternate, officer, or employee.
(b) State Salary Rule.--No State member or alternate shall receive
any salary, or any contribution to or supplementation of salary for his
or her services on the Authority from any source other than his or her
State. No person detailed to serve the Authority under authority of
subsection 103(a)(4) shall receive any salary or any contribution to or
supplementation of salary for his or her services on the Authority from
any source other than the State, local, or intergovernmental department
or agency from which he was detailed or from the Authority. Any person
who shall violate the provisions of this subsection shall be fined not
more than $5,000, or imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.
(c) Applicability of Title 18.--Notwithstanding any other
subsection of this section, the Federal cochairman and his or her
alternate on the Authority and any Federal officers or employees
detailed to the Authority pursuant to section 103(a)(3) shall not be
subject to such subsection but shall remain subject to sections 202
through 209 of title 18, United States Code.
(d) Voiding of Contracts.--The Authority may declare void and
rescind any contract, loan, or grant of or by the Authority in relation
to which the Authority finds that there has been a violation of
subsection (a) or (b) of this section, or any of the provisions of
sections 202 through 209 of title 18, United States Code.
TITLE II--DELTA PROGRAMS
PART A--PROGRAMS
SEC. 201. ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANTS.
(a) In General.--The Authority is authorized to approve grants to
States and public and nonprofit entities for projects, approved in
accordance with section 223 of this Act, which will--
(1) assist the Delta region in obtaining the job training
or employment-related education, leadership and civic
development, and business development, especially
entrepreneurship, that are essential for building strong local
economies;
(2) provide special assistance to severely distressed and
underdeveloped counties that lack financial resources for
improving basic services;
(3) fund research, demonstrations, evaluations and
assessments of the Delta region, technical assistance, training
programs, and construction of necessary facilities incident to
such activities; or
(4) otherwise serve the purposes of this Act.
(b) Funding.--Grant funds may be provided entirely from
appropriations to carry out this section or in combination with funds
available under other Federal or Federal grant-in-aid programs or from
any other source. Notwithstanding any provision of law limiting the
Federal share in any such other program, funds appropriated to carry
out this section may be used to increase such Federal share, as the
Authority determines appropriate.
SEC. 202. SUPPLEMENTS TO FEDERAL GRANT-IN-AID PROGRAMS.
(a) In General.--In order to enable the people, States, and local
communities of the Delta region, including local development districts,
to take maximum advantage of Federal grant-in-aid programs for which
they are eligible but for which, because of their economic situation,
they cannot supply the required matching share, or for which there are
insufficient funds available under the Federal grant-in-aid law
authorizing such programs to meet pressing needs of the Delta region,
the Federal cochairman may use amounts made available to carry out this
Act for all or any portion of the basic Federal contribution to
projects or activities (in this section referred to as ``projects'')
under such Federal grant-in-aid programs authorized by Federal grant-
in-aid laws, and for the purpose of increasing the Federal contribution
to projects under such programs above the fixed maximum portion of the
cost of such projects otherwise authorized by the applicable law. Funds
provided pursuant to this Act shall be available without regard to any
limitations on areas eligible for assistance or authorizations for
appropriation in any other Act.
(b) Contribution.--In the case of any program or project for which
all or any portion of the basic Federal contribution to the project
under a Federal grant-in-aid program is proposed to be made under this
section, no such Federal contribution shall be made until the
responsible Federal official administering the Federal grant-in-aid law
authorizing such contribution certifies that such program or project
meets the applicable requirements of such Federal grant-in-aid law and
could be approved for Federal contribution under such law if funds were
available under such law for such program or project. The
certifications and determinations required to be made by the Authority
for approval of projects under this Act in accordance with section 223
shall be controlling and shall be accepted by the Federal agencies. Any
findings, report, certification, or documentation required to be
submitted to the head of the department, agency, or instrumentality of
the Federal Government responsible for the administration of any
Federal grant-in-aid program shall be accepted by the Federal
cochairman with respect to a supplemental grant for any project under
such program.
(c) Federal Share.--Except as provided in section 204(b), the
Federal share of the cost of a project for which assistance is provided
under this title shall not exceed 80 percent.
(d) Definition.--In this section, the term ``Federal grant-in-aid
programs'' means those Federal grant-in-aid programs authorized for the
acquisition or development of land, the construction or equipping of
facilities, or other community or economic development or economic
adjustment activities.
SEC. 203. LOCAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS; CERTIFICATION AND ADMINISTRATIVE
EXPENSES.
(a) Definition.--In this Act, a ``local development district''
means an entity certified to the Authority either by the Governor of
the State, or the Governors of the States, in which such entity is
located, or by the State officer designated by the appropriate State
law to make such certification, as having a charter or authority that
includes the economic development of counties or parts of counties or
other political subdivisions within the Delta region. No entity shall
be certified as a local development district for the purposes of this
Act unless it is--
(1)(A) a nonprofit incorporated body organized or chartered
under the law of the State in which it is located;
(B) a nonprofit agency or instrumentality of a State or
local government;
(C) a nonprofit agency or instrumentality created through
an interstate compact; or
(D) a nonprofit association or combination of such bodies,
agencies, and instrumentalities; and
(2) organized and operated in a manner that assures broad-
based community participation and an effective opportunity for
other nonprofit and citizen groups to contribute to the
development and implementation of programs in the Delta region.
(b) As Lead Organizations.--Local development districts shall be
the lead organizations serving multi-county regions at the local level
and shall provide the linkage between State and local governments,
nonprofit organizations, including community-based groups and
educational institutions, the business community, and citizens.
Activities of these organizations shall include but not be limited to
multijurisdictional planning, technical assistance to local
jurisdictions and potential grantees, and leadership and civic
development assistance.
(c) Grants.--The Authority is authorized to make grants for
administrative expenses of local development districts, but (1) the
amount of any such grant shall not exceed 80 percent of such expenses,
(2) no grants for administrative expenses shall be made for a State
agency certified as a local development district for a period in excess
of 3 years beginning on the date the initial grant is made for such
development district, and (3) the local development district
contributions for administrative expenses may be in cash or in-kind,
fairly evaluated, including space, equipment, and services.
SEC. 204. DISTRESSED COUNTIES AND ECONOMICALLY STRONG COUNTIES.
(a) Designations.--Not later than 90 days after the date enactment
of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Authority, in accordance with
such criteria as the Authority may establish, shall--
(1) designate as ``distressed counties'' those counties in
the Delta region that are the most severely and persistently
distressed and underdeveloped; and
(2) designate as ``economically strong counties'' those
counties in the Delta region that are approaching or have
reached economic parity with the rest of the Nation.
(b) Distressed Counties.--The Authority shall allocate at least 50
percent of the appropriations made available under section 301 of this
Act for programs and projects designed to serve the needs of distressed
counties. The funding limitations contained in section 202(c) of this
Act shall not apply to projects providing basic services to residents
in 1 or more of the Delta region's distressed counties.
(c) Economically Strong Counties: Funding Prohibitions.--Except as
provided in this subsection, no funds may be provided under this Act
for a project located in a county for which a designation as an
``economically strong county'' is in effect under this section; except
that the Authority may designate 1 or more areas in an economically
strong county with respect to which financial assistance under this Act
may be provided. This prohibition shall not apply to local development
district administrative projects authorized by section 203(c) of this
Act. The Authority may approve further exceptions to this prohibition
for multi-county projects that include an economically strong county
and for other projects upon a showing of significant potential benefits
in areas of the Delta region outside the designated economically strong
county.
PART B--GENERAL PROVISIONS
SEC. 221. DEVELOPMENT PLANNING PROCESS.
(a) State Development Plans.--
(1) Schedule.--Pursuant to policies established by the
Authority, each State member shall submit on such schedule as
the Authority shall prescribe a development plan for the area
of the State within the Delta region.
(2) General requirements.--The State development plan shall
reflect the goals, objectives, and priorities identified in the
regional development plan developed under section 102(a)(1) of
this Act. The State development plan shall--
(A) describe the State organization and continuous
process for development planning, including the
procedures established by the State for the
participation of local development districts in such
process, the means by which such process is related to
overall statewide planning and budgeting processes, and
the method of coordinating planning and projects in the
Delta region under this Act, and other Federal, State,
and local programs;
(B) set forth the goals, objectives, priorities,
and expected outcomes of the State for the Delta
region, as determined by the Governor of the State, and
identify the needs on which such goals, objectives, and
priorities are based;
(C) describe the development strategy for achieving
such goals, objectives, priorities, and expected
outcomes; and
(D) describe how its proposed strategies will
advance the Authority's goals and outcome targets.
(3) Consultation.--In carrying out the development planning
process, including the selection of programs and projects for
assistance, States shall consult with local development
districts, local units of government, and citizen groups and
take into consideration the goals, objectives, priorities, and
recommendations of such bodies.
(b) Public Participation.--The Authority shall take such action as
may be necessary to ensure public participation in the development,
revision, and implementation of all plans and programs under this Act
by the Authority, any State, or any local development district. The
Authority shall develop and publish regulations specifying minimum
guidelines for such public participation, including public hearings.
SEC. 222. PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT CRITERIA.
(a) In General.--In considering programs and projects to be given
assistance under this Act and in establishing a priority ranking of the
requests for assistance presented to the Authority, the Authority shall
follow procedures that will ensure consideration of the following
factors:
(1) The relationship of the program or project or class of
programs or projects to overall regional development.
(2) The relative per capita income, poverty, and
unemployment rates in the area to be served by the program or
project.
(3) The relative financial resources available to the
applicants for assistance seeking to undertake the program or
project.
(4) The importance of the program or project or class of
programs or projects in relation to other projects or classes
of programs or projects which may be in competition for the
same funds.
(5) The prospects that the program or project for which
assistance is sought will improve, on a continuing rather than
a temporary basis, the opportunities for employment, the
average level of income, or the economic and social development
of the area served by the program or project.
(6) The extent to which the program or project design
provides for detailed outcome measurements by which grant
expenditures may be evaluated.
(b) No Relocations.--No financial assistance shall be authorized
under this Act to be used to assist establishments relocating from 1
area to another.
(c) Limitation.--Funds may be provided for programs and projects in
a State under this Act only if the Authority determines that the level
of Federal and State financial assistance under laws other than this
Act for the same type of programs or projects in that portion of the
State within the Delta region will not be diminished in order to
substitute funds authorized by this Act.
SEC. 223. APPROVAL OF DEVELOPMENT PLANS AND PROJECTS.
(a) In General.--Subject to section 101(b) of this Act, a State or
regional development plan or any multistate subregional plan which is
developed under this title shall be reviewed by the Authority for
approval under this section. An application for a grant or any other
assistance for a project under this title shall be made through and
evaluated for approval by the State member of the Authority
representing the applicant.
(b) Certification.--An application for a grant or other assistance
for a project shall be approved only on certification by the State
member and the Federal cochairman that the application--
(1) reflects an intent that the project comply with any
applicable State development plan;
(2) meets applicable criteria under section 222;
(3) provides adequate assurance that the proposed project
will be properly administered, operated, and maintained; and
(4) otherwise meets the requirements of this title.
(c) Votes for Decisions.--The certification by a State member of an
application for a grant or other assistance for a project under this
title shall, when joined by an affirmative vote of the Federal
cochairman for the application, be considered to satisfy the
requirements for affirmative votes for decisions under section 101(b).
SEC. 224. CONSENT OF STATES.
Nothing contained in this Act shall be interpreted as requiring any
State to engage in or accept any program under this Act without its
consent.
TITLE III--AUTHORIZATIONS AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SEC. 301. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Authority to carry
out this Act and for necessary expenses for the Federal cochairman of
the Authority, his or her alternate, and his or her staff, and for
payment of the Federal share of the administrative expenses of the
Authority to be available until expended, $30,000,000 for each of
fiscal years 2001 through 2005.
SEC. 302. DEFINITION OF DELTA REGION.
In this Act, the term ``Delta region'' means those areas within the
States of Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi,
Missouri, and Tennessee as defined in section 4 of the Lower
Mississippi Delta Development Act (Public Law 100-460).
SEC. 303. RECORDS.
(a) Authority.--The Authority shall maintain accurate and complete
records of its doings and transactions and of all transactions and
activities financed with Federal funds. The records of the Authority
shall be available for audit and examinations by the Comptroller
General or the duly authorized representative of the Comptroller
General.
(b) Recipients of Federal Assistance.--Recipients of Federal
assistance under this Act shall, as required by the Authority, maintain
accurate and complete records of transactions and activities financed
with Federal funds and report thereon to the Authority. Such records
shall be available for audit by the Comptroller General and the
Authority or their duly authorized representatives.
SEC. 304. ANNUAL REPORT.
Not later than 6 months after the last day of each fiscal year, the
Authority shall prepare and submit to the President, for transmittal to
Congress, a report on the activities carried out under this Act during
such year.
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