[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2162 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2162

To implement the Inland Northwest Economic Adjustment Strategy, and for 
                            other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 3, 2004

   Mr. Crapo introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
       referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To implement the Inland Northwest Economic Adjustment Strategy, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Inland Northwest Revitalization 
Act''.
    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Inland Northwest 
Revitalization Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Purposes.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
             TITLE I--INLAND NORTHWEST REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP

Sec. 101. Establishment, membership, and employees.
Sec. 102. Decisions.
Sec. 103. Functions.
Sec. 104. Administrative powers and expenses.
Sec. 105. Meetings.
Sec. 106. Public participation.
Sec. 107. Annual report.
                     TITLE II--FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Sec. 201. Grants and other assistance.
Sec. 202. Approval of projects.
 TITLE III--INLAND NORTHWEST REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP REGIONAL INITIATIVES

Sec. 301. Inland Northwest business cluster initiative.
Sec. 302. Entrepreneurial development initiative.
Sec. 303. Technology commercialization initiative.
Sec. 304. Community readiness initiative.
Sec. 305. Regional workforce development.
                        TITLE IV--ADMINISTRATION

Sec. 401. Consent of States.
Sec. 402. Program implementation.
Sec. 403. Program development criteria.
Sec. 404. Regional development planning process.
Sec. 405. Distressed and economically strong counties.
                         TITLE V--MISCELLANEOUS

Sec. 501. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 502. Cessation of effectiveness.

SEC. 2. PURPOSES.

    The purposes of this Act are--
            (1) to assist the Inland Northwest Region in--
                    (A) making the industrial and commercial resources 
                of the Region more competitive in national and world 
                markets;
                    (B) generating a diversified regional economy;
                    (C) developing the industry of the Region;
                    (D) building entrepreneurial communities;
                    (E) providing the infrastructure necessary for 
                economic and human resource development; and
                    (F) addressing problems unique to the Region;
            (2) to provide a framework for coordinating Federal, State, 
        tribal, and local initiatives to respond to the economic 
        competitiveness challenges in the Region by--
                    (A) adapting and applying new technologies for 
                businesses in the Region;
                    (B) improving the access of those businesses to the 
                technical and financial resources necessary to 
                development of the businesses;
                    (C) improving the skills of the workforce of the 
                Region;
                    (D) using the actions of the Healthy Forests 
                Restoration Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-148) to sustain 
                rural communities and local economies of the Region in 
                addition to forest ecosystems;
                    (E) anticipating the effects of alternative energy 
                policies and practices; and
                    (F) implementing programs and projects carried out 
                in the Region by Federal, State, tribal, and local 
                governmental agencies so as to better meet the special 
                problems generated in the Region by the natural 
                resource and federal land management policies of the 
                United States;
            (3) as the Region obtains necessary physical and 
        transportation facilities and develops human resources, to 
        assist the Region in generating a diversified industry so that 
        the Region will be able to support itself through the workings 
        of a strengthened free enterprise economy; and
            (4) to address the needs of severely and persistently 
        distressed areas of the Region, and to focus special attention 
        on the areas of greatest need, so as to provide a fairer 
        opportunity for the people of the Region to share the quality 
        of life generally enjoyed by citizens across the United States.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Cooperative extension service.--The term ``Cooperative 
        Extension Service'' means the Cooperative State Research, 
        Education, and Extension Service of the Department of 
        Agriculture.
            (2) Local development district.--The term ``local 
        development district'' means an entity located in the Region 
        that is an economic development district that is--
                    (A) organized and operated in a manner that ensures 
                broad-based community participation and an effective 
                opportunity for local officials, community leaders, and 
                the public to contribute to the development and 
                implementation of programs in the Region;
                    (B) governed by a policy board with at least a 
                simple majority of members consisting of--
                            (i) elected officials; and
                            (ii) designees or employees of a general 
                        purpose unit of local government that have been 
                        appointed to represent the unit of local 
                        government; and
                    (C) certified by the Governor or appropriate State 
                officer as having a charter or authority that includes 
                the economic development of counties, portions of 
                counties, or other political subdivisions within the 
                Region.
            (3) Manufacturing extension partnership.--The term 
        ``manufacturing extension partnership'' means a partnership of 
        that name administered by the National Institute of Standards 
        and Technology of the Department of Commerce.
            (4) Partnership.--The term ``Partnership'' means the Inland 
        Northwest Regional Partnership established by section 101(a).
            (5) Region.--The term ``Region'' means the area of the 
        inland northwestern United States consisting of--
                    (A) all counties in the State of Idaho (including 
                any political subdivision and tribal nations located 
                within such a county);
                    (B) all counties in the State of Montana (including 
                any political subdivision and tribal nations located 
                within such a county);
                    (C) in the State of Washington, the counties of 
                Adams, Asotin, Benton, Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, 
                Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, 
                Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Skamania, Spokane, 
                Stevens, Walla Walla, Whitman, and Yakima; and
                    (D) in the State of Oregon, the counties of Baker, 
                Crook, Deschutes, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Hood River, 
                Jefferson, Klamath, Lake, Malheur, Morrow, Sherman, 
                Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, and Wheeler.
            (6) Resource conservation and development area.--The term 
        ``resource conservation and development area'' means a 
        designated area (as defined in section 1528(4) of the 
        Agriculture and Food Act of 1981 (16 U.S.C. 3451(4)).
            (7) Small business development center.--The term ``small 
        business development center'' means any of the approximately 
        1,000 small business development centers that is--
                    (A) established by the Small Business 
                Administration for the purpose of providing management 
                and technical assistance to small businesses; and
                    (B) administered by the Office of Small Business 
                Development Centers.
            (8) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of Idaho, 
        Montana, Oregon, or Washington.
            (9) State rural development council.--The term ``State 
        rural development council'' has the meaning given the term in 
        section 378(a)(4) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
        Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008m(a)(4)).

             TITLE I--INLAND NORTHWEST REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP

SEC. 101. ESTABLISHMENT, MEMBERSHIP, AND EMPLOYEES.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established an Inland Northwest 
Regional Partnership.
    (b) Membership.--The Partnership shall be comprised of 40 members, 
including, for each State--
            (1) 3 representatives designated by the Governor of the 
        State;
            (2) the Director for Rural Development of the Department of 
        Agriculture for the State;
            (3) the representative of the Economic Development 
        Administration of the Department of Commerce for the State;
            (4) the leader of at least 1 Indian tribe located in the 
        State, nominated by an Indian tribe in the State and appointed 
        by the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians;
            (5) the mayor of at least 1 city in each State, selected by 
        the respective State municipal associations;
            (6) a county commissioner from each State, selected by the 
        respective county associations;
            (7) an industry leader from the State, nominated by 
        industry associations and appointed by the Governor of the 
        State; and
            (8) a small business leader from the State, nominated by a 
        chamber of commerce in the State and appointed by the Governor 
        of the State.
    (c) Cochairpersons and Executive Committee.--
            (1) Cochairpersons.--The Partnership shall select from 
        among the members of the Partnership the following 5 
        Cochairpersons:
                    (A) A State Cochairperson selected from among the 
                12 members of the Partnership that represent State 
                government.
                    (B) A Federal Cochairperson selected from among the 
                members of the Partnership that are--
                            (i) State directors of rural development of 
                        the Department of Agriculture; or
                            (ii) economic development representatives 
                        for each State under the Economic Development 
                        Administration of the Department of Commerce.
                    (C) A tribal Cochairperson selected from among the 
                members of the Partnership that are leaders of Indian 
                tribes.
                    (D) A local Cochairperson selected from among the 
                members of the Partnership that are--
                            (i) the mayors of a city in a State; and
                            (ii) county commissioners from a State.
                    (E) A private Cochairperson selected from among the 
                members of the Partnership that are--
                            (i) industry leaders from a State; or
                            (ii) small business leaders from a State.
            (2) Executive committee.--
                    (A) In general.--The 5 Cochairpersons of the 
                Partnership shall form the Executive Committee of the 
                Partnership.
                    (B) Chairperson.--The Executive Committee of the 
                Partnership shall select a Chairperson from the members 
                of the Executive Committee.
                    (C) Powers and duties.--The powers and duties of 
                the Executive Committee shall be established by 
                policies developed and adopted by the Partnership.
    (d) Delegation.--A power or responsibility of the Partnership 
specified in section 102(c), and a vote of any member of the 
Partnership, may not be delegated to an individual who is--
            (1) not a member of the Partnership; or
            (2) not entitled to vote in Partnership meetings.
    (e) Status of Personnel.--
            (1) In general.--No employee of the Partnership shall be 
        considered to be a Federal employee for any purpose.
            (2) Detailed personnel.--A Federal employee detailed under 
        subsection (a)(3) or (b)(1) of section 106 shall not be 
        considered to be an employee of the Partnership.

SEC. 102. DECISIONS.

    (a) Requirements for Approval.--A decision by the Partnership shall 
require the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present.
    (b) Consultation.--The Federal Cochairperson, to the maximum extent 
practicable, shall consult with the Federal departments and agencies 
having an interest in the subject matter of matters before the 
Partnership.
    (c) Decisions Requiring Quorum of Members.--A quorum of 21 members 
is required for the Partnership to decide matters involving--
            (1) policy of the Partnership;
            (2) approval of development plans or strategy statements;
            (3) modification or revision of the Partnership Code;
            (4) allocation of amounts among the States;
            (5) designation of--
                    (A) a distressed county; or
                    (B) an economically strong county; or
            (6) approval of project and grant proposals.

SEC. 103. FUNCTIONS.

    (a) In General.--In carrying out this title, the Partnership 
shall--
            (1) coordinate, implement, and monitor--
                    (A) the strategic regional initiative described in 
                sections 301 through 305; and
                    (B) projects developed by the Partnership;
            (2) receive and disburse funds from Federal, State, tribal, 
        and private sources designated for Inland Northwest economic 
        adjustment strategy projects and programs;
            (3) conduct and sponsor investigations, research, and 
        studies (including an inventory and analysis of the resources 
        of the Region) and, in cooperation with Federal, State, tribal, 
        and local agencies, sponsor demonstration projects to foster 
        regional productivity and growth;
            (4) review and study, in cooperation with the agency 
        involved, Federal, State, tribal, and local public and private 
        programs and, as appropriate, recommend modifications which 
        will increase the effectiveness of those programs in the 
        Region;
            (5) encourage private investment in industrial, commercial, 
        and recreational projects;
            (6) serve as a focal point and coordinating unit for 
        programs in the Region;
            (7) seek to coordinate the economic development activities 
        of, and the use of economic development resources by, Federal 
        agencies in the Region; and
            (8) carry out such other projects and activities as are 
        appropriate to promote regional, interstate, and local economic 
        development.
    (b) Identification of Needs and Goals of Subregional Areas.--In 
carrying out the functions in subsection (a), the Partnership shall 
identify the characteristics of, and may distinguish between the needs 
and goals of, appropriate subregional areas.

SEC. 104. ADMINISTRATIVE POWERS AND EXPENSES.

    (a) Powers.--To carry out its duties under this title, the 
Partnership may--
            (1) establish bylaws for the Partnership;
            (2) appoint and compensate necessary personnel for the 
        Partnership;
            (3) enter into contracts to carry out the responsibilities 
        of the Partnership;
            (4) subject to section 101(e), request the head of any 
        Federal department or agency to detail to temporary duty with 
        the Partnership any personnel within the administrative 
        jurisdiction of the head of the department or agency that the 
        Partnership may need for carrying out its functions, provided 
        that each detail is without loss of seniority, pay, or other 
        employee status;
            (5) arrange for the services of personnel from any State or 
        local government, subdivision or agency of a State or local 
        government, or intergovernmental agency;
            (6) accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations of 
        services or any property; and
            (7) take such other actions and incur such other expenses 
        as may be appropriate.
    (b) Authorizations.--
            (1) Detail of employees.--Subject to section 101(e), the 
        head of a Federal department or agency may detail personnel 
        under subsection (a)(2).
            (2) Enter into and perform transactions.--A department, 
        agency, or instrumentality of the Government may enter into and 
        perform a contract, lease, cooperative agreement, or other 
        transaction under subsection (a).
    (c) Expenses.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (3), administrative 
        expenses of the Partnership shall be shared equally by the 
        Federal Government, participating Indian tribes, and the States 
        in the Region.
            (2) Amount paid by each state.--The Partnership shall 
        determine the amount to be paid by each State.
            (3) Delinquent states.--During the period that a State or 
        Indian tribe is delinquent in payment of the share of that 
        State or Indian tribe of administrative expenses--
                    (A) assistance authorized by this title shall not 
                be furnished to the delinquent State or Indian tribe, 
                including any political subdivision or any resident of 
                that State; and
                    (B) a State or tribal member of the Partnership 
                shall not participate or vote in any decision by the 
                Partnership.

SEC. 105. MEETINGS.

    The Partnership shall conduct at least 1 meeting each year with at 
least a majority of the members present.

SEC. 106. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.

    (a) In General.--The Partnership shall provide for and encourage 
public participation in the development, revision, and implementation 
of all plans and programs under this title by the Partnership, any 
State, or any local development district.
    (b) Guidelines.--The Partnership shall develop and publish minimum 
guidelines for public participation, including public hearings.

SEC. 107. ANNUAL REPORT.

    Not later than 180 days after the end of each fiscal year, the 
Partnership shall submit to the Governor of each State and to the 
President, for transmittal to Congress, a report describing the 
activities carried out under this title during the fiscal year.

                     TITLE II--FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

SEC. 201. GRANTS AND OTHER ASSISTANCE.

    (a) Authorization to Make Grants.--
            (1) In general.--The Partnership may make grants to 
        qualified organizations within the Region for the purposes of 
        implementing an Inland Northwest economic adjustment strategy.
            (2) Limitation on available amounts.--
                    (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph 
                (B), not more than 50 percent (or, in the case of a 
                project to be carried out in a county for which a 
                distressed county designation is in effect under 
                section 405, 80 percent) of the cost of any activity 
                eligible for financial assistance under this section 
                may be provided from amounts appropriated to carry out 
                this title.
                    (B) Discretionary grants.--
                            (i) In general.--Discretionary grants made 
                        by the Partnership to implement significant 
                        regional initiatives, to take advantage of 
                        special development opportunities, or to 
                        respond to emergency economic distress in the 
                        Region may be made without regard to the 
                        percentage limitations specified in 
                        subparagraph (A).
                            (ii) Limitation on aggregate amount.--For 
                        each fiscal year, the aggregate amount of 
                        discretionary grants under clause (i) shall not 
                        be more than 50 percent of the amount 
                        appropriated under section 503 for the fiscal 
                        year.
            (3) Sources of grants.--Grant amounts may be provided 
        entirely from appropriations to carry out this section, in 
        combination with amounts available under other Federal or 
        Federal grant programs, or from any other source.
            (4) Federal share.--Notwithstanding any provision of law 
        limiting the Federal share in any other Federal program, 
        amounts made available to carry out this section may be used to 
        increase that Federal share, as the Partnership determines to 
        be appropriate.
    (b) Records.--
            (1) Partnership.--
                    (A) In general.--The Partnership shall--
                            (i) maintain accurate and complete records 
                        of transactions and activities financed with 
                        Federal amounts; and
                            (ii) include a summary of those 
                        transactions and activities in the annual 
                        report under section 107.
                    (B) Audit.--The records described in subparagraph 
                (A)(i) shall be available for audit by the President 
                and the Comptroller General.
            (2) Recipients of federal assistance.--
                    (A) In general.--A recipient of Federal assistance 
                under this section, as required by the Partnership, 
                shall--
                            (i) maintain accurate and complete records 
                        of transactions and activities financed with 
                        Federal amounts; and
                            (ii) report to the Partnership on the 
                        transactions and activities.
                    (B) Audit.--The records described in subparagraph 
                (A)(i) shall be available for audit by the President, 
                the Comptroller General, and the Partnership.

SEC. 202. APPROVAL OF PROJECTS.

    (a) In General.--An application for a grant or for other assistance 
for a specific project under this title shall be made through a member 
of the Partnership representing the applicant.
    (b) Evaluation.--
            (1) In general.--The member shall evaluate the application 
        for approval in accordance with paragraph (2).
            (2) Requirements for approval.--For an application to be 
        approved, the member shall certify, and the executive committee 
        shall determine, that the application--
                    (A) implements the Partnership--approved regional 
                development strategy;
                    (B) adequately ensures that the project will be 
                properly administered, operated, and maintained and 
                that project results will be measured; and
                    (C) otherwise meets the requirements for assistance 
                under this title.

 TITLE III--INLAND NORTHWEST REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP REGIONAL INITIATIVES

SEC. 301. INLAND NORTHWEST BUSINESS CLUSTER INITIATIVE.

    The Partnership may provide technical assistance, provide grants, 
enter into contracts, or otherwise provide amounts to persons or 
entities in the Region for business cluster development efforts that--
            (1) increase the competitiveness and sustainability of 
        clusters of related businesses; and
            (2) bring together groups of related business leaders, 
        industry experts, and related stakeholders and technical 
        assistance providers to develop and implement cluster 
        developments and projects.

SEC. 302. ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE.

    The Partnership may provide technical assistance, provide grants, 
enter into contracts, or otherwise provide amounts to individuals or 
entities in the Region for entrepreneurial development efforts that--
            (1) organize, educate, and direct local communities in the 
        Region to identify obstacles to the competitiveness and growth 
        of existing businesses;
            (2) assist communities in addressing those obstacles in 
        business retention and expansion programs with specific 
        implementation actions;
            (3) promote and encourage the growth of entrepreneurial 
        activity in the Region;
            (4) bring together entrepreneurship practitioners, academic 
        experts, business leaders, and technical assistance providers 
        to identify develop and implement a prioritized action plan to 
        encourage entrepreneurship across the Region;
            (5) form a working network of business incubator managers 
        and stakeholders, academic experts, business leaders, and 
        technical assistance providers;
            (6) increase affordable access to advanced 
        telecommunications, entrepreneurship, and information 
        technologies or applications in the Region;
            (7) provide education and training in the use of 
        telecommunications and technology; or
            (8) develop programs to increase the readiness of industry 
        groups and businesses in the Region to engage in electronic 
        commerce.

SEC. 303. TECHNOLOGY COMMERCIALIZATION INITIATIVE.

    The Partnership may provide technical assistance, provide grants, 
enter into contracts, or otherwise provide amounts to individuals and 
entities in the Region for technology commercialization efforts that--
            (1) increase the transfer of technology from universities, 
        national laboratories, and other technology centers to 
        businesses, and foster technology business development, in the 
        Region;
            (2) create a network of universities, national 
        laboratories, business leaders, industry experts, and States; 
        and
            (3) implement strategies and projects that promote the 
        growth and development of technology-related business through 
        technology transfer and related activities.

SEC. 304. COMMUNITY READINESS INITIATIVE.

    The Partnership may provide technical assistance, provide grants, 
enter into contracts, or otherwise provide amounts to persons or 
entities in the Region for capacity-building efforts that--
            (1) increase the competitiveness and sustainability of 
        local communities;
            (2) bring together rural capacity-building practitioners, 
        academic experts, related stakeholders, and technical 
        assistance providers; and
            (3) implement a system of providing assistance for basic 
        community strategic planning, delivering more specialized 
        community assessments, and delivering training to communities 
        across the Region, using existing service providers to the 
        maximum extent practicable.

SEC. 305. REGIONAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

    (a) Definition of Eligible Entity.--In this section, the term 
``eligible entity'' means a consortium that--
            (1) is established to serve 1 or more industries in a 
        specified geographic area; and
            (2) consists of representatives of--
                    (A) businesses (or a nonprofit organization that 
                represents businesses);
                    (B) labor organizations;
                    (C) State and local governments; or
                    (D) educational institutions.
    (b) Projects To Be Assisted.--The Partnership may provide technical 
assistance, provide grants, enter into contracts, or otherwise provide 
amounts to eligible entities in the Region for projects to improve the 
job skills of workers for a specified industry.

                        TITLE IV--ADMINISTRATION

SEC. 401. CONSENT OF STATES.

    Nothing in this title requires a State to engage in or accept a 
program under this title without the consent of the State.

SEC. 402. PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION.

    (a) Requirements.--A program, project, or activity authorized under 
this chapter shall not be implemented until--
            (1) the responsible Federal official determines that--
                    (A) applications and plans relating to the program, 
                project, or activity are not incompatible with this 
                title; and
                    (B) objectives of Federal laws that the official 
                administers are not inconsistent with this title; and
            (2) the Partnership has approved the program, project, or 
        activity and has determined that the program, project, or 
        activity--
                    (A) meets the applicable criteria under section 403 
                and the requirements of the development planning 
                process under section 404; and
                    (B) will contribute to the development of the 
                Region.
    (b) Decision Is Controlling.--A decision under subsection (a)(2) 
shall apply to, and be accepted by, Federal agencies.

SEC. 403. PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT CRITERIA.

    (a) Factors To Be Considered.--In considering programs, projects, 
and activities to be provided assistance under this title, and in 
establishing a priority ranking of the requests for assistance 
presented to the Partnership, the Partnership shall follow procedures 
that will ensure consideration of--
            (1) the relationship of the program, project, or activity 
        or class of programs, projects, or activities to overall 
        regional development, including the location of the program, 
        project, or activity in a severely and persistently distressed 
        county or area;
            (2) the population and area to be served by the program, 
        project, or activity or class of programs, projects, or 
        activities, including the per capita market income and the 
        unemployment rates in the area;
            (3) the relative financial resources available to the State 
        or political subdivisions or instrumentalities of the State 
        that seek to undertake the program, project, or activity;
            (4) the importance of the program, project, or activity or 
        class of programs, projects, or activities in relation to other 
        programs, projects, or activities or classes of programs, 
        projects, or activities that may be in competition for the same 
        amounts;
            (5) the prospects that the program, project, or activity 
        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, project, 
        or activity; and
            (6) the extent to which the program, project, or activity 
        design provides for detailed outcome measurements by which 
        grant expenditures may be evaluated.
    (b) Limitation on Use.--Financial assistance made available under 
this title shall not be used to assist establishments relocating from 1 
area to another.
    (c) Determination Required Before Amounts May Be Provided.--Amounts 
may be provided for programs, projects, or activities in a State under 
this title only if the Partnership determines that the level of Federal 
and State financial assistance under other laws for the same type of 
programs, projects, or activities in that part of the State within the 
Region will not be diminished in order to substitute amounts authorized 
by this title.
    (d) Minimum Amount of Assistance to Distressed Counties and 
Areas.--For each fiscal year, not less than 50 percent of the amount of 
grant expenditures approved by the Partnership shall support activities 
or projects that benefit severely and persistently distressed counties 
and areas.

SEC. 404. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANNING PROCESS.

    (a) Regional Planning and Coordination.--
            (1) In general.--In accordance with such guidelines as 
        shall be established by the Partnership, each State and tribal 
        member shall be encouraged to submit to the Partnership a 
        development plan for the 1 or more areas of the State, or area 
under the jurisdiction of the tribal member, within the Region.
            (2) Requirements.--The plan shall--
                    (A) reflect the goals, objectives, and priorities 
                identified in the regional development plan and in any 
                subregional development plan that may be approved for 
                the subregion of which the State is a part;
                    (B) describe the goals, objectives, and priorities 
                of the State for the Region, as established by the 
                Governor, and identify the needs on which the goals, 
                objectives, and priorities are based; and
                    (C) describe the development strategies for 
                achieving the goals, objectives, and priorities 
                (including availability of funding sources and 
                recommendations for specific projects to receive 
                assistance under this title).
    (b) Region-Wide Action Programs.--
            (1) In general.--The Partnership shall encourage the 
        preparation and execution of area-wide action programs.
            (2) Existing plans.--The action programs shall make 
        appropriate use of existing plans affecting the area.
    (c) Federal Responsibilities.--To the maximum extent practicable, 
Federal departments, agencies, and instrumentalities undertaking or 
providing financial assistance for programs, projects, or activities in 
the Region shall--
            (1) take into account the policies, goals, and objectives 
        the Partnership and member States of the Partnership 
        established under this Act; and
            (2) recognize development strategies for the Region that 
        are approved by the Partnership as satisfying requirements for 
        overall economic development planning under the programs, 
        projects, or activities.

SEC. 405. DISTRESSED AND ECONOMICALLY STRONG COUNTIES.

    (a) Designations.--
            (1) In general.--The Partnership, in accordance with such 
        criteria as the Partnership may establish, shall annually--
                    (A) designate as ``distressed counties'' those 
                counties in the Region that are the most severely and 
                persistently distressed; and
                    (B) designate 2 categories of economically strong 
                counties, consisting of--
                            (i) ``competitive counties'', which shall 
                        be those counties in the Region that are 
                        approaching economic parity with the rest of 
                        the United States; and
                            (ii) ``attainment counties'', which shall 
                        be those counties in the Region that have 
                        attained or exceeded economic parity with the 
                        rest of the United States.
            (2) Annual review of designations.--The Partnership shall--
                    (A) conduct an annual review of each designation of 
                a county under paragraph (1) to determine if the county 
                still meets the criteria for the designation; and
                    (B) renew the designation for another 1-year period 
                only if the county still meets the criteria.
    (b) Distressed Counties.--In developing and implementing programs, 
projects, and activities under this title, and in allocating amounts 
made available to carry out this title, the Partnership shall give 
special consideration to the needs of counties for which a distressed 
county designation is in effect under this section.
    (c) Economically Strong Counties.--
            (1) Competitive counties.--Except as provided in paragraphs 
        (3) and (4), assistance under this title for a program, 
        project, or activity that is carried out in a county for which 
        a competitive county designation is in effect under this 
        section shall not be more than 30 percent of the cost of the 
        program, project, or activity.
            (2) Attainment counties.--Except as provided in paragraphs 
        (3) and (4), amounts may not be provided under this title for a 
        program, project, or activity that is carried out in a county 
        for which an attainment county designation is in effect under 
        this section.
            (3) Exceptions.--Paragraphs (1) and (2) do not apply to a 
        multicounty project that is carried out in at least 2 counties 
        designated under this section, if--
                    (A) at least 1 of the participating counties is 
                designated as a distressed county under this section; 
                and
                    (B) the project will be of substantial direct 
                benefit to at least 1 distressed county.
            (4) Waiver.--The Partnership may waive the requirements of 
        paragraphs (1) and (2) for a program, project, or activity if 
        the recipient of assistance for the program, project, or 
        activity demonstrates the existence of any of the following:
                    (A) A significant area of distress in the part of 
                the county in which the program, project, or activity 
                is carried out.
                    (B) A significant potential benefit from the 
                program, project, or activity in at least 1 area of the 
                Region outside the designated county.

                         TITLE V--MISCELLANEOUS

SEC. 501. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated such sums 
as are necessary to carry out this Act.
    (b) Availability.--Amounts made available under subsection (a) 
shall remain available until expended.

SEC. 502. CESSATION OF EFFECTIVENESS.

    This Act (except subsections (a)(1) and (b) of section 102) ceases 
to be effective October 1, 2012.
                                 <all>