[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4048 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 4048

  To establish the Gulf Coast Recovery Authority to administer a Gulf 
  Coast Civic Works Project to provide job-training opportunities and 
  increase employment to aid in the recovery of the Gulf Coast region.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            November 1, 2007

    Ms. Zoe Lofgren of California (for herself, Mr. Taylor, and Mr. 
  Melancon) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                    Committee on Education and Labor

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To establish the Gulf Coast Recovery Authority to administer a Gulf 
  Coast Civic Works Project to provide job-training opportunities and 
  increase employment to aid in the recovery of the Gulf Coast region.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Gulf Coast Civic 
Works Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Purposes.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
               TITLE I--THE GULF COAST RECOVERY AUTHORITY

Sec. 101. Establishment of corporation.
Sec. 102. Board of directors.
Sec. 103. Capitalization of the corporation.
Sec. 104. Officers, employees, and other agents of the corporation.
Sec. 105. Powers of the corporation.
              TITLE II--THE GULF COAST CIVIC WORKS PROJECT

Sec. 201. Purpose statement.
Sec. 202. Establishment.
Sec. 203. General Activities.
Sec. 204. Job training programs.
Sec. 205. Job creation.
Sec. 206. Wages.
Sec. 207. General provisions and guidelines.
Sec. 208. Gulf Coast Artists grants.
Sec. 209. Chronicle of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita grants.
Sec. 210. Funding.

SEC. 2. PURPOSES.

    It is the purpose of this Act to--
            (1) establish a Federal authority to implement the 
        necessary government response to the disaster experienced in 
        the Gulf Coast region;
            (2) provide a minimum of 100,000 jobs and financial 
        security to those whose livelihood has been affected by the 
        devastation of the Gulf Coast region;
            (3) strengthen the workforce by providing job training for 
        thousands of workers that will enable them to rebuild 
        communities and make an independent living;
            (4) rebuild homes, public infrastructure and community 
        resources, restoring lives and faith in the Federal government;
            (5) ensure quality living conditions by providing workers 
        with fair wages;
            (6) encourage individuals to move from unemployment to 
        work, and from homelessness to home-ownership;
            (7) utilize the recommendations of community organizations 
        and coalitions in order to rebuild and strengthen communities; 
        and
            (8) strengthen partnerships between the public and private 
        sector that will lead to increased economic growth in the 
        region.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    As used in this Act, the term ``Gulf Coast region'' means the areas 
of Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, and Alabama that were devastated by 
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

               TITLE I--THE GULF COAST RECOVERY AUTHORITY

SEC. 101. ESTABLISHMENT OF CORPORATION.

    (a) In General.--There is hereby established a body corporate by 
the name of the ``Gulf Coast Recovery Authority'' (in this Act referred 
to as the ``Corporation'').
    (b) Status of Corporation.--The Corporation shall be an independent 
establishment in the executive branch and shall be deemed to be an 
agency of the United States for purposes of subchapter II of chapter 5 
and chapter 7 of title 5, United States Code.
    (c) Board of Directors.--The Board of Directors first appointed 
shall be deemed the incorporators, and the incorporation shall be held 
to have been effected from the date of the first meeting of the Board.
    (d) Principle Office.--The principal office of the Corporation 
shall be located in the State of Louisiana, but there may be 
established agencies or branch offices in the District of Columbia and 
in any municipality in the Gulf Coast region to the extent provided for 
in the by-laws of the Corporation.
    (e) Property Owners' Rights and Protections.--
            (1) No authority to exercise eminent domain.--The 
        Corporation shall have no authority to acquire interests in 
        property by eminent domain.
            (2) Local invitation.--Notwithstanding any other provision 
        of this title, the Corporation may take no action in any 
        municipality unless the local government of such municipality 
        has adopted a resolution of invitation for the Corporation's 
        assistance.

SEC. 102. BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

    (a) Board of Directors.--
            (1) In general.--The management of the Gulf Coast Recovery 
        Authority shall be vested in a Board of Directors, (referred to 
        in this Act as the ``Board''), consisting of 7 individuals 
        appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent 
        of the Senate, from among individuals who are citizens of the 
        United States and residents or evacuees of the Gulf Coast 
        Region, and who, by virtue of their education, training or 
        experience in environmental land reclamation, economic 
        development, housing development, land use, or urban planning, 
        are especially qualified to serve on the Board.
            (2) Nominations by governor of louisiana.--Two members of 
        the Board shall be appointed under paragraph (1) from among 
        individuals who are nominated for appointment by the Governor 
        of Louisiana in consultation with community based Gulf Coast 
        Region coalitions, at least one of whom shall be from a non-
        profit organization and one of whom shall be a leader in the 
        private sector.
            (3) Nominations by governor of mississippi.--Two members of 
        the Board shall be appointed under paragraph (1) from among 
        individuals who are nominated for appointment by the Governor 
        of Mississippi in consultation with community based Gulf Coast 
        Region coalitions, of whom 1 shall be from a non-profit 
        community based organization and 1 shall be a leader in the 
        private sector.
            (4) Nominations by governor of alabama.--One member of the 
        Board shall be appointed under paragraph (1) from among 
        individuals who are nominated for appointment by the Governor 
        of Alabama in consultation with community based Gulf Coast 
        Region coalitions, whom shall be from a non-profit community 
        based organization.
            (5) Nominations by governor of texas.--One member of the 
        Board shall be appointed under paragraph (1) from among 
        individuals who are nominated for appointment by the Governor 
        of Texas in consultation with community based Gulf Coast Region 
        coalitions, whom shall be from a non-profit community based 
        organization.
            (6) Political party affiliation.--Not more than 4 members 
        of the Board may be affiliated with any 1 political party.
    (b) Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.--
            (1) Chairperson.--One of the 4 members of the Board who 
        were not nominated by the Governor of Louisiana and the 
        Governor of Mississippi shall be designated by the President, 
        by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to serve for 
        a term of 2 years as Chairperson of the Board and the chief 
        executive officer of the Corporation.
            (2) Vice chairperson.--One of the 4 members of the Board 
        who were not nominated by the Governor of Louisiana and the 
        Governor of Mississippi shall be designated by the President, 
        by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to serve for 
        a term of 2 years as Vice Chairperson of the Board.
            (3) Acting chairperson.--In the event of a vacancy in the 
        position of Chairperson of the Board or during the absence or 
        disability of the Chairperson, the Vice Chairperson shall act 
        as Chairperson.
    (c) Term of Office.--
            (1) In general.--Each member of the Board shall be 
        appointed to a term of 5 years.
            (2) Staggered terms.--Of the members first appointed to the 
        Board after the date of the enactment of this Act--
                    (A) 2 shall be appointed for a term of 5 years;
                    (B) the 4 members who were nominated by the 
                Governor of Louisiana and the Governor of Mississippi 
                shall be appointed for a term of 3 years; and
                    (C) 2 shall be appointed for a term of 2 years.
            (3) Interim appointments.--Any member appointed to fill a 
        vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term for which 
        such member's predecessor was appointed shall be appointed only 
        for the remainder of such term.
            (4) Continuation of service.--The Chairperson, Vice 
        Chairperson, and each appointed member may continue to serve 
        after the expiration of the term of office to which such member 
        was appointed until a successor has been appointed and 
        qualified.
            (5) Removal for cause.--The Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, 
        and any appointed member may be removed by the President for 
        cause.
            (6) Full-time service.--The members of the Board shall 
        serve on a full-time basis.
    (d) Vacancy.--Any vacancy on the Board shall be filled in the 
manner in which the original appointment was made, provided:
            (1) Any member appointed to fill a vacancy in the Board 
        occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which his 
        predecessor was appointed shall be appointed for the remainder 
        of such term.
            (2) Vacancies in the Board so long as there shall be three 
        members in office shall not impair the powers of the Board to 
        execute the functions of the Corporation, and three of the 
        members in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction 
        of the business of the Board.
    (e) Ineligibility for Other Offices.--
            (1) Other government positions.--No person may serve as a 
        member of the Board while holding any position as an officer or 
        employee of the Federal Government, any State government, or 
        any political subdivision of any State.
            (2) Restriction during service.--No member of the Board 
        may--
                    (A) be an officer or director of any insured 
                depository institution, insured credit union, 
                depository institution holding company, Federal reserve 
                bank, Federal home loan bank, investment bank, mortgage 
                bank, or any other entity which enters into any 
                contract with the Corporation; or
                    (B) hold stock in any insured depository 
                institution, depository institution holding company, 
                investment bank, mortgage bank, or any other entity 
                which enters into any contract with the Corporation.
            (3) Certification.--Upon taking office, each member of the 
        Board shall certify under oath that such member has complied 
        with this subsection and such certification shall be filed with 
        the secretary of the Board.
    (f) Clarification of Nonliability.--
            (1) In general.--A director, member, officer, or employee 
        of the Corporation has no liability under the Securities Act of 
        1933 with respect to any claim arising out of or resulting from 
        any act or omission by such person within the scope of such 
        person's employment in connection with any transaction 
        involving the disposition of assets (or any interests in any 
        assets or any obligations backed by any assets) by the 
        Corporation. This subsection shall not be construed to limit 
        personal liability for criminal acts or omissions, willful or 
        malicious misconduct, acts or omissions for private gain, or 
        any other acts or omissions outside the scope of such person's 
        employment.
            (2) Effect on other law.--This subsection shall not be 
        construed as--
                    (A) affecting--
                            (i) any other immunities and protections 
                        that may be available to person to whom 
                        paragraph (1) applies under applicable law with 
                        respect to such transactions, or
                            (ii) any other right or remedy against the 
                        Corporation, against the United States under 
                        applicable law, or against any person other 
                        than a person described in paragraph (1) 
                        participating in such transactions; or
                    (B) limiting or altering in any way the immunities 
                that are available under applicable law for Federal 
                officials and employees not described in this 
                subsection.

SEC. 103. CAPITALIZATION OF THE CORPORATION.

    (a) In General.--The Corporation shall have capital stock 
subscribed to by the United States Government in such amount as the 
President may determine to be appropriate, to the extent provided in 
advance in an appropriation Act for any fiscal year.
    (b) Certificates.--Certificates evidencing shares of nonvoting 
capital stock of the Corporation shall be issued by the Corporation to 
the President of the United States, or to such other person or persons 
as the President may designate from time to time, to the extent of 
payments made for the capital stock of the Corporation.
    (c) Public Debt Transaction.--For the purpose of purchasing shares 
of capital stock of the Corporation, the Secretary of the Treasury may 
use as a public-debt transaction the proceeds of any securities issued 
under chapter 31 of title 31, United States Code.
    (d) Reports.--
            (1) In general.--The Board shall submit to the Director of 
        the Office of Management and Budget and to the Secretary of the 
        Treasury quarterly reports and an annual report on the expenses 
        of the Corporation during the period covered by the report, the 
        financial condition of the Corporation as of the end of such 
        period, the results of the Corporation's operations during such 
        period, and the progress made during such period in fulfilling 
        the mission and purposes of the Corporation, together with a 
        copy of the Corporation's financial operating plans and 
        forecasts for the annual or quarterly period (as the case may 
        be) succeeding the period covered by the report.
            (2) Public availability.--Each report submitted to the 
        Director of the Office of Management and Budget and to the 
        Secretary of the Treasury under paragraph (1) shall be made 
        available to the public.
    (e) Termination of Authority To Issue Stock.--No shares of capital 
stock of the Corporation may be issued after the end of the 10-year 
period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (f) Revenue Used To Retire Stock.--Any net revenue of the 
Corporation in excess of amounts required to meet on-going expenses and 
investments shall be paid to the Secretary of the Treasury to redeem 
the capital stock of the Corporation and shall be deposited in the 
general fund of the Treasury.

SEC. 104. OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AND OTHER AGENTS OF THE CORPORATION.

    (a) In General.--The Board shall appoint such managers, assistant 
managers, officers, employees, attorneys, and agents, as are necessary 
for the transaction of its business, fix their compensation, provide 
benefits including pension and health care, define their duties, 
require bonds of such of them as the Board may designate, and provide a 
system of organization to fix responsibility and promote efficiency.
    (b) Removal.--Any appointee of the Board may be removed in the 
discretion of the Board.
    (c) Contracts, Salaries, and Wages.--No regular officer or employee 
of the Corporation shall receive a salary in excess of that received by 
the members of the Board, and--
            (1) all contracts to which the Corporation is a party and 
        which require the employment of laborers and mechanics in the 
        construction, alteration, maintenance, or repair of buildings, 
        levees, or other projects shall contain a provision that not 
        less than the prevailing rate of wages for work of a similar 
        nature prevailing in the vicinity shall be paid to such 
        laborers or mechanics;
            (2) in the event any dispute arises as to what are the 
        prevailing rates of wages, the question shall be referred to 
        the Secretary of Labor for determination, and his decision 
        shall be final. In the determination of such prevailing rate or 
        rates, due regard shall be given to those rates which have been 
        secured through collective agreement by representatives of 
        employers and employees;
            (3) where such work as is described in the two preceding 
        paragraphs is done directly by the Corporation the prevailing 
        rate of wages shall be paid in the same manner as though such 
        work had been let by contract; and
            (4) insofar as applicable, the workers compensation laws of 
        the United States shall extend to persons given employment 
        under the provisions of this Act.
    (d) Political Tests Prohibited in Employment.--
            (1) Appointment.--In the appointment of officials and the 
        selection of employees for the Corporation, and in the 
        promotion of any such employees or officials, no political test 
        or qualification shall be permitted or given consideration, but 
        all such appointments and promotions shall be given and made on 
        the basis of merit and efficiency. Any member of the Board who 
        is found by the President of the United States to be guilty of 
        a violation of this section shall be removed from office by the 
        President of the United States, and any appointee of the Board 
        who is found by the Board to be guilty of a violation of this 
        section shall be removed from office by the Board.
            (2) Compensation.--In the selection of employees for works 
        projects authorized by the Corporation, made by an official, 
        employee, or other authorized agent of the Corporation, and in 
        the determination of wages or salaries, no political test or 
        qualification shall be permitted or given consideration, but 
        all such selection, hiring, appointments and promotions shall 
        be given and made on the basis of merit and efficiency.
            (3) Contracts.--In the authorization of contracts or 
        agreements made or entered into by an official, employee, or 
        other authorized agent of the Corporation, and in the 
        determination or rates or terms of payment for such contracts 
        and agreements, no political test or qualification shall be 
        permitted or given consideration, but all such contracts and 
        agreements shall be given and made on the basis of merit, 
        efficiency, and fiscal responsibility.

SEC. 105. POWERS OF THE CORPORATION.

    (a) Powers.--The Corporation shall be a body corporate that shall 
have the power to--
            (1) adopt, alter, and use a corporate seal;
            (2) provide for such other officers and employees as may be 
        necessary to perform the functions of the Corporation, define 
        their duties, and require surety bonds or make other provisions 
        against losses occasioned by acts of such persons;
            (3) fix the compensation and number of, and appoint, 
        employees for any position established by the Corporation, 
        without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 or subchapter 
        III of chapter 53 of title 5;
            (4) sue and be sued, and complain and defend, by and 
        through its own attorneys, in any court of law or equity, State 
        or Federal;
            (5) with the consent of any executive agency, department, 
        or independent agency utilize the information, services, staff, 
        and facilities of such department or agency, on a reimbursable 
        (or other) basis, in carrying out this section;
            (6) prescribe, by the Board, bylaws that are consistent 
        with law to provide for--
                    (A) the management and operational structure of the 
                Corporation, subject to sections 101 (e) and 102;
                    (B) the manner in which general operations are to 
                be conducted; and
                    (C) such other matters as the Board determines to 
                be appropriate;
            (7) enter into contracts and modify or consent to the 
        modification of any contract or agreement;
            (8) purchase or lease and hold such real and personal 
        property as it deems necessary or convenient in the transaction 
        of its business, and may dispose of any such personal property 
        held by it;
            (9) contract with commercial producers for the production 
        of such materials as may be needed in the Government's program 
        of recovery and development. Such contracts may provide either 
        for outright purchase of materials by the Board or only for the 
        payment of carrying charges on special materials manufactures 
        at the Board's request for its program;
            (10) make alterations, modifications, or improvements in 
        existing structures and facilities, and to construct new 
        structures and facilities as necessary for the recovery of the 
        Gulf Coast region;
            (11) coordinate national, State, district, county or 
        municipal programs for the recovery and development of the Gulf 
        Coast region;
            (12) request the assistance and advice of any officer, 
        agent, or employee of any executive department or of any 
        independent office of the United States, to enable the 
        Corporation the better to carry out its powers successfully, 
        and as far as practicable shall utilize the services of such 
        officers agents, and employees an the President shall if in his 
        opinion, the public interest, service, or economy so require, 
        direct that such assistance, advice, and service be rendered to 
        the Corporation, and any individual that may be by the 
        President directed to render such assistance, advice, and 
        service shall be thereafter subject to the orders, rules, and 
        regulations of the Board;
            (13) establish and oversee Regional Operating Authorities 
        as are necessary to develop and coordinate the Gulf Coast Civic 
        Works Project, and to carry out other local initiatives and 
        Federal programs;
            (14) formulate and periodically require reports of progress 
        on all projects; and, where avoidable delay or malfeasance 
        appears, to recommend appropriate measures for eliminating such 
        problems, and, similarly, to recommend the termination of 
        projects where it develops that they are not affording the 
        amount of employment warranting their continuance;
            (15) prescribe rules and regulations to--
                    (A) assure that as many of the persons employed on 
                all work projects as is feasible shall be persons 
                initially affected by job loss in the region;
                    (B) utilize and support as many of those 
                individuals, communities, community organizations and 
                businesses within the region as is feasible;
                    (C) govern the selection of such persons for 
                employment;
                    (D) govern the selection of such participating 
                business and organizations on an open-bid basis;
                    (E) formulate and administer a system of uniform 
                periodic reports of the employment on such projects of 
                persons, businesses, organizations, and communities 
                from the region; and
                    (F) investigate wages and working conditions and to 
                make and submit to Congress such findings as will aid 
                Congress in prescribing working conditions, rates of 
                pay, and continuance or development of projects; and
            (16) recommend and carry out useful projects designed to 
        assure a maximum of employment and recovery in affected 
        localities.
    (b) Termination of Contract for Cause.--In the case of any service 
contract between the Corporation and any other person, the Corporation 
may terminate such contract for cause, whether by reason of breach of 
contract, violation of regulations or guidelines of the Corporation, or 
otherwise, or bar any such person from entering into any other 
contract, after notice and an opportunity for an agency hearing on the 
record.
    (c) Agency Authority.--
            (1) Status.--The Corporation, in any capacity, shall be an 
        agency of the United States for purposes of section 1345 of 
        title 28 without regard to whether the Corporation commenced 
        the action.
            (2) Federal court jurisdiction.--
                    (A) In general.--All suits of a civil nature at 
                common law or in equity to which the Corporation, in 
                any capacity, is a party shall be deemed to arise under 
                the laws of the United States.
                    (B) Removal.--The Corporation may, without bond or 
                security, remove any action, suit, or proceeding from a 
                State court to the appropriate United States district 
                court before the end of the 90-day period beginning on 
                the date the action, suit, or proceeding is filed 
                against the Corporation or the Corporation is 
                substituted as a party.
                    (C) Appeal of remand.--The Corporation may appeal 
                any order of remand entered by any United States 
                district court.
            (3) Service of process.--The Board shall designate agents 
        upon whom service of process may be made in states comprising 
        the Gulf Coast region and the District of Columbia.
            (4) Bonds or fees.--The Corporation shall not be required 
        to post any bond to pursue any appeal and shall not be subject 
        to payments of any filing fees in United States district courts 
        or courts of appeal.
    (d) Real Estate and Other Property.--In order to enable the 
Corporation to exercise the powers and duties vested in it by this Act:
            (1) The exclusive use, possession, and control of necessary 
        real estate, together with all facilities connected therewith, 
        and tools, machinery, equipment, accessories, and materials 
        belonging thereto, and all laboratories and plants used as 
        auxiliaries thereto; and all machinery, lands, and buildings in 
        connection therewith, and all appurtenances thereof, and all 
        other property to be acquired by the Corporation in its own 
        name or in the name of the United States of America, are hereby 
        entrusted to the Corporation for the purposes of the Act.
            (2) The President of the United States is authorized to 
        provide for the transfer to the Corporation of the use, 
        possession, and control of such other real or personal property 
        of the United States, as he may from time to time deem 
        necessary and proper for the purposes of the Corporation as 
        herein stated.
    (e) Financial Statements and Reports.--
            (1) The Corporation shall at all times maintain complete 
        and accurate accounting of all costs and expenses associated 
        with the holding and management of any asset or liability 
        acquired by the Corporation and in carrying out the activities 
        of the Corporation under this Act.
            (2) The Board shall file with the President and with the 
        Congress, in December of each year, a financial statement and a 
        complete report as to the business of the Corporation covering 
        the preceding governmental fiscal year. This report shall 
        include a statement of all costs associated with the 
        Corporation and its associated projects, including an itemized 
        statement of the cost of administration, the cost of employee 
        salaries and wages, the cost of materials, and the total number 
        or employees and the names, salaries, and duties of those 
        receiving compensation at the rate of more than $35/hour or 
        $45,000 a year.
            (3) The rules of the Office of the Inspector General and 
        the Comptroller General of the United States shall apply to the 
        activities and accounts of the Corporation, including the 
        regular oversight and audits of the Corporation. In such 
        connection, the Offices of the Inspector General and the 
        Comptroller General, and their authorized agents, shall have 
        free and open access to all papers, books, record, files, 
        accounts, plants, warehouses, offices, and all other things, 
        property and places belonging to or under the control of or 
        used or employed by the Corporation, and shall be afforded full 
        facilities for counting all cash and verifying transactions 
        with and balances in depositories.
    (f) Reservation of Rights and Remedies.--The government of the 
United States hereby reserved the right, in case of war or national 
emergency declared by Congress, to take possession of all or any part 
of the property described or referred to in this Act for the purpose of 
national security, defense, or for any other purposes; but, it this 
right is exercised by the Government, it shall pay the reasonable and 
fair damages that may be suffered by any party whose contract is hereby 
violated, after the amount of the damages has been fixed by the United 
States Courts of Claims in proceedings instituted and conducted for 
that purpose under rules prescribed by the court.
    (g) Recommendations and Further Legislation.--The President shall, 
from time to time, as the work provided for in the preceding section 
progresses, recommend to Congress such legislation as he deems proper 
to carry out the general purposes stated in such section, and for the 
special purpose of bring about in the Gulf Coast region in conformity 
with the general purposes:
            (1) The physical reconstruction and improvement of the 
        devastated Gulf Coast region.
            (2) The improvement of levees and other flood control 
        systems.
            (3) The economic and social well-being of the people living 
        in the Gulf Coast Region.
            (4) The creation of jobs and job training programs.
            (5) The economic development of the Gulf Coast region.
    (h) Appropriations and Authorization.--
            (1) All appropriations necessary to carry out the 
        provisions of this Act are hereby authorized.
            (2) For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this 
        Act the Gulf Coast Civic Works Project is authorized to enter 
        into such contracts or agreements with States as may be 
        necessary, including provisions for utilization of existing 
        State administrative agencies, and the Gulf Coast Civic Works 
        Project, or the head of any department of agency authorized by 
        him to construct any project or to carry on any such public 
        works, shall be authorized to acquire real property by 
        purchase, donation, condemnation, or otherwise.
    (i) Local Development Plans.--
            (1) Establishment of local advisory councils.--
                    (A) In general.--
                            (i) Designation by municipalities.--Not 
                        later than 30 days after the date of the 
                        adoption of a resolution of invitation 
                        described in section 101(e)(2), any 
                        municipality of over 25,000 people in the 
                        affected area may designate an entity to serve 
                        in an advisory capacity to the Corporation.
                            (ii) Other municipalities.--For any 
                        municipality that does not designate an 
                        advisory entity under clause (i), the 
                        Corporation shall provide for the establishment 
                        of a local advisory council in each 
                        municipality of over 25,000 people in the Gulf 
                        Coast Region in which the Corporation operates.
                    (B) Membership.--Each local advisory council shall 
                consist of such local elected officials (including 
                municipal officials), community groups (such as 
                homeowners and community associations), and other 
                interested, qualified, groups as the Corporation may 
                determine to be appropriate.
                    (C) Consultation.--Local advisory council will 
                consult with the Corporation to determine works 
                projects of the Corporation in their municipality. The 
                Corporation shall also ensure that its consultations 
                involve a broad range of local officials and community 
                groups, including those that are not part of the formal 
                advisory council. The Corporation shall hold public 
                meetings, periodically and in advance of major 
                decisions, in the affected municipality to receive 
                input from the affected communities.
            (2) Local development plans.--In executing the 
        redevelopment mandate under this title, the Corporation--
                    (A) shall take into account and comply with any 
                redevelopment plan established by State and local 
                government officials; and
                    (B) may only solicit bids for such redevelopment 
                that are based on and comply with a plan developed by 
                local governments, if such a plan exists.

              TITLE II--THE GULF COAST CIVIC WORKS PROJECT

SEC. 201. PURPOSE STATEMENT.

    The purpose of this title shall be to create a minimum of 100,000 
jobs for Gulf Coast residents and evacuees and increase employment in 
the Gulf Coast region, and to build a skilled workforce for the 
rebuilding and developing the lands, communities, and infrastructure 
impacted by hurricanes and flooding in the Gulf Coast region.

SEC. 202. ESTABLISHMENT.

    The Corporation established under title I shall establish and 
administer a Gulf Coast Civic Works Project to implement, manage, and 
coordinate numerous useful public works projects for the purpose of 
rebuilding, sustaining, and developing the Gulf Coast region.

SEC. 203. GENERAL ACTIVITIES.

    The Corporation shall conduct the following activities:
            (1) Identify areas of the Gulf Coast region that are in 
        need of recovery, rebuilding, and development projects.
            (2) Cooperate with the local Gulf Coast community once a 
        request has been received and approved by the Corporation, to 
        ensure that Gulf Coast residents and evacuees will be hired by 
        local employers or directly by the Corporation to complete the 
        work.
            (3) Work in conjunction with local employers on recovery, 
        rebuilding, and development projects to identify where a 
        shortage of workers who are Gulf Coast residents and evacuees 
        exists, and the type of workers necessary for such projects to 
        be more effective and efficient.
            (4) Work in conjunction with other Federal, State and local 
        agencies, the private sector and membership based community 
        groups to actively recruit Gulf Coast residents and evacuees to 
        rebuild the Gulf Coast region through the identified projects.
            (5) Identify projects for which there is a shortage of 
        qualified workers who are Gulf Coast residents or evacuees and 
        facilitate job training programs.
            (6) Where such a shortage exists, participate in existing 
        job training programs, and, in conjunction with State and local 
        workforce investment boards, establish additional job training 
        programs where necessary, including areas where there is a 
        concentration of Gulf Coast evacuees.
            (7) Assist Gulf Coast residents and evacuees employed or 
        trained through the Corporation to gain access and information 
        to housing programs.

SEC. 204. JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS.

    (a) Cooperation.--The Corporation shall, in conjunction with State 
and local workforce investment boards, establish job training programs 
and apprenticeships where necessary in order to recruit and train 
qualified workers for specific vacancies in recovery, rebuilding, and 
development projects. The Corporation shall have as a priority the 
recruitment of individuals who reside in the locality where the 
projects exist. The Corporation shall work with community based 
organizations to set up first source hiring halls through which Gulf 
Coast residents shall have priority in getting into job training 
programs.
    (b) Wages.--
            (1) In general.--Job training or apprenticeship programs 
        established or funded under this Act shall ensure that trainees 
        are paid in an amount of not less than $10 per hour, and that 
        apprentices are paid not less than $15.
            (2) Adjustment for inflation.--Beginning one year after the 
        date of enactment of this Act and each year thereafter, the 
        minimum wages specified in paragraph (1) shall be adjusted by 
        the percentage increase during the 12-month period ending the 
        preceding June in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban 
        Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the 
        Department of Labor.

SEC. 205. JOB CREATION.

    (a) Employment.--After identifying recovery, rebuilding, and 
development projects and employment in other areas in the Gulf Coast 
region the Corporation shall work in conjunction with local employers 
and other Federal agencies on such projects to recruit and hire 
additional workers from the Gulf Coast region. In the event that 
employers have a need for but do not have sufficient funding for 
additional workers, the Corporation shall be permitted to hire and pay 
the wages of additional workers to work on such projects.
    (b) Project Creation.--After identifying areas of the Gulf Coast 
region that are in need of recovery, rebuilding, and development 
projects where no such projects exist, the Corporation may, subject to 
available funds, establish and fund such projects. In establishing any 
project under this subsection, the Corporation shall hire all necessary 
developers, contractors, and employees to carry out such projects.
    (c) Conservation Corps.--In addition to the other activities 
described in this title, the Corporation shall establish a conservation 
corps composed of individuals between the age of 17 and 24, who have 
received a high school diploma or the equivalent, to focus on wetland 
restoration, forestation, and urban greenery.
    (d) First Source Hiring.--
            (1) Any contractor receiving Federal funds under this Act 
        shall comply with first source hiring agreements for 
        interviewing, recruitment, and hiring in order to initially 
        provide displaced residents and residents from the disaster 
        area with consideration for employment. The duration of the 
        first source interviewing requirement shall be 25 days, unless 
        business necessity requires a shorter period of time. A 
        contractor may establish its good faith efforts by filling its 
        first available positions with job applicants obtained through 
        the first source hiring procedures.
            (2) Any contractor receiving Federal funds under this Act 
        shall comply with requirements for providing timely, 
        appropriate notification of available positions to the 
        Corporation so that the Corporation may train and refer an 
        adequate pool of residents from the disaster area to 
        participating employers.
    (e) Outreach Partnerships.--The Corporation shall work with Federal 
agencies, especially the Federal Emergency Management Agency, as well 
as State and local employment offices to make available positions 
known.
    (f) Local Hiring Halls.--The Corporation shall contract with 
community groups, faith groups, and nonprofit organizations with with 
connections to local communities to recruit displaced families to 
conduct outreach to workers displaced from the Gulf Coast, and work 
with contractors to identify interested candidates outside of the 
region who wish to return to work and if necessary enter training 
programs.
    (g) Hiring Decisions.--Any contractor receiving Federal funds under 
this Act shall make the final determination of whether a resident from 
the disaster area is qualified for the position.
    (h) Exceptions.--Upon application by employer, the Corporation may 
grant an exception to any of all of the requirements in any situation 
where it concludes that compliance with this section would not be 
possible in the timeframe provided.
    (i) Subcontracts.--Any subcontract entered into by any contractor 
receiving Federal funds under this Act shall require the subcontractor 
to comply with the requirements of and shall contain contractual 
obligations substantially the same as those set forth in this section.

SEC. 206. WAGES.

    The Corporations shall ensure that all laborers and mechanics 
employed by the Corporation or by contractors or subcontractors in the 
performance of construction or recovery projects will be paid wages at 
rates not less than those prevailing on similar work in the locality as 
determined by the Secretary of Labor in accordance with subchapter IV 
of chapter 31 of part A of subtitle II of title 40, United States Code 
(commonly referred to as the Davis-Bacon Act).

SEC. 207. GENERAL PROVISIONS AND GUIDELINES.

    In conducting works projects under this title, the Corporation 
shall adhere to the following rules and guidelines:
            (1) All public works projects shall be conducted in, and be 
        for the benefit of, the lands of the Gulf Coast region, and the 
        individuals, families, communities, and businesses of the Gulf 
        Coast region.
            (2) The Gulf Coast Civic Works Project shall employ a 
        minimum of 100,000 Gulf Coast region residents and evacuees for 
        all works programs and other related job opportunities.
            (3) The Gulf Coast Civic Works Project shall make job 
        opportunities, job training programs, and other beneficial 
        projects known to the Gulf Coast communities through 
        advertising and partnerships with regional agencies and 
        employment organizations, and partnerships with community based 
        organizations.
            (4) Whenever possible, the Gulf Coast Civic Works Project 
        shall purchase materials, equipment, supplies, and services 
        from local business and producers.
            (5) The Gulf Coast Civic Works Project shall maintain non-
        discriminatory practices and shall not discriminate in hiring 
        or employment decisions on the basis of race, gender, 
        nationality, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation.
            (6) No employee or trainee of the Gulf Coast Civic Works 
        Project shall have financial interest in any public corporation 
        engaged in business with the Gulf Coast Civic Works Project, 
        nor in any corporation engaged in the manufacture, selling, or 
        distribution of goods or materials used in construction 
        projects authorized by the corporation, nor shall any employee 
        or trainee have any interest in a any business that may be 
        adversely affected by the success of the Corporation.
            (7) Employees and trainees of the Gulf Coast Civic Works 
        Project shall not be considered Federal employees for any 
        purpose under the laws of the United States.

SEC. 208. GULF COAST ARTISTS GRANTS.

    (a) Authorization.--The Corporation is authorized to provide not 
more than 15 grants per year to eligible recipients for artistic and 
cultural projects which reflect the history and culture of the Gulf 
Coast region. Grants shall be provided on the basis of the demonstrated 
merit of the applicant as determined by the Corporation.
    (b) Eligible Recipients.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
subsection (a), an individual shall--
            (1) be a resident of the Gulf Coast region; and
            (2) have demonstrated skill or talent in music, theater, 
        writing, or the visual arts.
    (c) Amount of Grant.--The amount of the grants provided under this 
section shall be determined by the Corporation.
    (d) Application.--To receive a grant under this section, an 
eligible recipient shall submit an application to the Corporation in 
such form and manner as the Corporation shall determine.
    (e) Use of Grant Funds.--A grant provided under this section shall 
be used on an artistic project that--
            (1) showcases the history or culture of the Gulf Coast 
        region; or
            (2) has as its subject the effects of Hurricanes Katrina or 
        Rita.

SEC. 209. CHRONICLE OF HURRICANES KATRINA AND RITA GRANTS.

    (a) Authorization.--The Corporation is authorized to provide not 
more than 5 grants to eligible recipients for projects that chronicle 
the story of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Grants shall be provided on 
the basis of the demonstrated merit of the applicant as determined by 
the Corporation.
    (b) Eligible Recipients.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
subsection (a), an individual shall--
            (1) be a resident of the Gulf Coast region; and
            (2) have demonstrated skill or talent as a writer or 
        filmmaker.
    (c) Amount of Grant.--The amount of the grants provided under this 
section shall be determined by the Corporation.
    (d) Application.--To receive a grant under this section, an 
eligible recipient shall submit an application to the Corporation in 
such form and manner as the Corporation shall determine.
    (e) Use of Grant Funds.--A grant provided under this section shall 
be used on a project that chronicles, through the written word or 
through film, the story of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita from the 
perspective of survivors and evacuees.

SEC. 210. FUNDING.

    (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Corporation such sums as may be necessary for 
fiscal years 2008 through 2012 to carry out this title, provided that 
\3/4\ of 1 percent of authorized funding be allocated for job training 
and workforce development.
    (b) Partnerships.--The Corporation shall make every effort to 
partner with State and local governments and private industry in the 
funding and administration of projects under this title.
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