[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 496 Reported in Senate (RS)]
Calendar No. 136
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 496
[Report No. 110-63]
To reauthorize and improve the program authorized by the Appalachian
Regional Development Act of 1965.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 6, 2007
Mr. Voinovich (for himself, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Warner, Mr. Byrd, Mr.
Lott, Mr. Brown, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Burr, Mr. Cardin, Ms.
Mikulski, Mrs. Dole, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Shelby, Mr. Graham, Mr.
Rockefeller, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Specter, and Mr. McConnell) introduced
the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee
on Environment and Public Works
May 7, 2007
Reported by Mrs. Boxer, with amendments
[Omit the part struck through and insert the part printed in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To reauthorize and improve the program authorized by the Appalachian
Regional Development Act of 1965.
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 ``Appalachian Regional Development Act
Amendments of 2007''.
SEC. 2. LIMITATION ON AVAILABLE AMOUNTS; MAXIMUM COMMISSION
CONTRIBUTION.
(a) Grants and Other Assistance.--Section 14321(a) of title 40,
United States Code, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking clause (i) and
inserting the following:
``(i) the amount of the grant shall not
exceed--
``(I) 50 percent of administrative
expenses;
``(II) at the discretion of the
Commission, if the grant is to a local
development district that has a charter
or authority that includes the economic
development of a county or a part of a
county for which a distressed county
designation is in effect under section
14526, 75 percent of administrative
expenses; or
``(III) at the discretion of the
Commission, if the grant is to a local
development district that has a charter
or authority that includes the economic
development of a county or a part of a
county for which an at-risk county
designation is in effect under section
14526, 70 percent of administrative
expenses;''; and
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking subparagraph (A) and
inserting the following:
``(A) In general.--Except as provided in
subparagraph (B), of the cost of any project eligible
for financial assistance under this section, not more
than--
``(i) 50 percent may be provided from
amounts made available to carry out this
subtitle;
``(ii) in the case of a project to be
carried out in a county for which a distressed
county designation is in effect under section
14526, 80 percent may be provided from amounts
made available to carry out this subtitle; or
``(iii) in the case of a project to be
carried out in a county for which an at-risk
county designation is in effect under section
14526, 70 percent may be provided from amounts
made available to carry out this subtitle.''.
(b) Demonstration Health Projects.--Section 14502 of title 40,
United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (d), by striking paragraph (2) and
inserting the following:
``(2) Limitation on available amounts.--Grants under this
section for the operation (including initial operating amounts
and operating deficits, which include the cost of attracting,
training, and retaining qualified personnel) of a demonstration
health project, whether or not constructed with amounts
authorized to be appropriated by this section, may be provided
for up to--
``(A) 50 percent of the cost of that operation;
``(B) in the case of a project to be carried out in
a county for which a distressed county designation is
in effect under section 14526, 80 percent of the cost
of that operation; or
``(C) in the case of a project to be carried out in
a county for which an at-risk county designation is in
effect under section 14526, 70 percent of the cost of
that operation.''; and
(2) in subsection (f), by adding at the end the following:
``(3) At-risk counties.--The maximum Commission
contribution for a project to be carried out in a county for
which an at-risk county designation is in effect under section
14526 may be increased to the lesser of--
``(A) 70 percent; or
``(B) the maximum Federal contribution percentage
authorized by this section.''.
(c) Assistance for Proposed Low- and Middle-Income Housing
Projects.--Section 14503 of title 40, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (d), by striking paragraph (1) and
inserting the following:
``(1) Limitation on available amounts.--A loan under
subsection (b) for the cost of planning and obtaining financing
(including the cost of preliminary surveys and analyses of
market needs, preliminary site engineering and architectural
fees, site options, application and mortgage commitment fees,
legal fees, and construction loan fees and discounts) of a
project described in that subsection may be made for up to--
``(A) 50 percent of that cost;
``(B) in the case of a project to be carried out in
a county for which a distressed county designation is
in effect under section 14526, 80 percent of that cost;
or
``(C) in the case of a project to be carried out in
a county for which an at-risk county designation is in
effect under section 14526, 70 percent of that cost.'';
and
(2) in subsection (e), by striking paragraph (1) and
inserting the following:
``(1) In general.--A grant under this section for expenses
incidental to planning and obtaining financing for a project
under this section that the Secretary considers to be
unrecoverable from the proceeds of a permanent loan made to
finance the project shall--
``(A) not be made to an organization established
for profit; and
``(B) except as provided in paragraph (2), not
exceed--
``(i) 50 percent of those expenses;
``(ii) in the case of a project to be
carried out in a county for which a distressed
county designation is in effect under section
14526, 80 percent of those expenses; or
``(iii) in the case of a project to be
carried out in a county for which an at-risk
county designation is in effect under section
14526, 70 percent of those expenses.''.
(d) Telecommunications and Technology Initiative.--Section 14504 of
title 40, United States Code, is amended by striking subsection (b) and
inserting the following:
``(b) Limitation on Available Amounts.--Of the cost of any project
eligible for a grant under this section, not more than--
``(1) 50 percent may be provided from amounts made
available to carry out this section;
``(2) in the case of a project to be carried out in a
county for which a distressed county designation is in effect
under section 14526, 80 percent may be provided from amounts
made available to carry out this section; or
``(3) in the case of a project to be carried out in a
county for which an at-risk county designation is in effect
under section 14526, 70 percent may be provided from amounts
made available to carry out this section.''.
(e) Entrepreneurship Initiative.--Section 14505 of title 40, United
States Code, is amended by striking subsection (c) and inserting the
following:
``(c) Limitation on Available Amounts.--Of the cost of any project
eligible for a grant under this section, not more than--
``(1) 50 percent may be provided from amounts made
available to carry out this section;
``(2) in the case of a project to be carried out in a
county for which a distressed county designation is in effect
under section 14526, 80 percent may be provided from amounts
made available to carry out this section; or
``(3) in the case of a project to be carried out in a
county for which an at-risk county designation is in effect
under section 14526, 70 percent may be provided from amounts
made available to carry out this section.''.
(f) Regional Skills Partnerships.--Section 14506 of title 40,
United States Code, is amended by striking subsection (d) and inserting
the following:
``(d) Limitation on Available Amounts.--Of the cost of any project
eligible for a grant under this section, not more than--
``(1) 50 percent may be provided from amounts made
available to carry out this section;
``(2) in the case of a project to be carried out in a
county for which a distressed county designation is in effect
under section 14526, 80 percent may be provided from amounts
made available to carry out this section; or
``(3) in the case of a project to be carried out in a
county for which an at-risk county designation is in effect
under section 14526, 70 percent may be provided from amounts
made available to carry out this section.''.
(g) Supplements to Federal Grant Programs.--Section 14507(g) of
title 40, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``paragraph (2)'' and
inserting ``paragraphs (2) and (3)''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) At-risk counties.--The maximum Commission
contribution for a project to be carried out in a county for
which an at-risk county designation is in effect under section
14526 may be increased to 70 percent.''.
SEC. 3. ECONOMIC AND ENERGY DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE.
(a) In General.--Subchapter I of chapter 145 of subtitle IV of
title 40, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``Sec. 14508. Economic and energy development initiative
``(a) Projects To Be Assisted.--The Appalachian Regional Commission
may provide technical assistance, provide grants, enter into contracts,
or otherwise provide amounts to individuals or entities in the
Appalachian region for use in carrying out projects and activities--
``(1) to promote energy efficiency in the Appalachian
region to enhance the economic competitiveness of the
Appalachian region; and
``(2) to increase the use of renewable energy resources,
particularly biomass, in the Appalachian region to produce
alternative transportation fuels, electricity, and heat.
<DELETED>; and
<DELETED> ``(3) to support the development of conventional
energy resources, particularly advanced clean coal, in the
Appalachian region to produce alternative transportation fuels,
electricity, and heat.</DELETED>
``(b) Limitation on Available Amounts.--Of the cost of any project
eligible to be funded by a grant under this section, not more than--
``(1) 50 percent may be provided from amounts made
available to carry out this section;
``(2) in the case of a project to be carried out in a
county for which a distressed county designation is in effect
under section 14526, 80 percent may be provided from amounts
made available to carry out this section; and
``(3) in the case of a project to be carried out in a
county for which an at-risk county designation is in effect
under section 14526, 70 percent may be provided from amounts
made available to carry out this section.
``(c) Sources of Assistance.--Subject to subsection (b), grants
provided under this section may be provided--
``(1) entirely from amounts made available to carry out
this section; or
``(2) from amounts made available to carry out this
section, in combination with amounts made available under other
Federal programs or from any other source.
``(d) Federal Share.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law
limiting a Federal share of the cost of a project under any other
Federal program, amounts made available to carry out this section may
be used to increase that Federal share, as the Commission determines to
be appropriate.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 145 of title
40, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating
to section 14507 the following:
``14508. Economic and energy development initiative.''.
SEC. 4. DISTRESSED, AT-RISK, AND ECONOMICALLY STRONG COUNTIES.
(a) Designation of At-Risk Counties.--Section 14526 of title 40,
United States Code, is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by inserting ``, at-risk,''
after ``Distressed''; and
(2) in subsection (a)(1)--
(A) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as
subparagraph (C);
(B) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' at the
end; and
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the
following:
``(B) designate as `at-risk counties' those
counties in the Appalachian region that are most at
risk of becoming economically distressed; and''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 145 of title
40, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to
section 14526 and inserting the following:
``14526. Distressed, at-risk, and economically strong counties.''.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) In General.--Section 14703 of title 40, United States Code, is
amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 14703. Authorization of appropriations
``(a) In General.--In addition to the amounts made available under
section 14501, there are authorized to be appropriated to the
Appalachian Regional Commission to carry out this subtitle--
``(1) $95,200,000 for fiscal year 2007;
``(2) $98,600,000 for fiscal year 2008;
``(3) $102,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
``(4) $105,700,000 for fiscal year 2010; and
``(5) $109,400,000 for fiscal year 2011.
``(b) Telecommunications and Technology Initiative.--Of the amounts
made available under subsection (a), the following amounts may be used
to carry out section 14504:
``(1) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2007.
``(2) $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.
``(3) $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through
2011.
``(c) Economic and Energy Initiative.--Of the amounts made
available under subsection (a), the following amounts may be used to
carry out section 14508:
``(1) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2007.
``(2) $12,400,000 for fiscal year 2008.
``(3) $12,900,000 for fiscal year 2009.
``(4) $13,300,000 for fiscal year 2010.
``(5) $13,800,000 for fiscal year 2011.
``(d) Availability.--Amounts made available under subsection (a)
shall remain available until expended.
``(e) Allocation of Funds.--Funds approved by the Appalachian
Regional Commission for a project in an Appalachian State pursuant to a
congressional directive shall be derived from the total amount
allocated to the State by the Appalachian Regional Commission from
amounts made available to carry out this subtitle.''.
SEC. 6. TERMINATION.
Section 14704 of title 40, United States Code, is amended by
striking ``<DELETED>2006</DELETED> 2007'' and inserting ``2011''.
SEC. 7. EFFECTIVE DATE.
The amendments made by this Act take effect on October 1, 2006.
Calendar No. 136
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 496
[Report No. 110-63]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To reauthorize and improve the program authorized by the Appalachian
Regional Development Act of 1965.
_______________________________________________________________________
May 7, 2007
Reported with amendments