I 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 737 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 28, 2009 Mr. Hoekstra (for himself, Mr. Rogers of Michigan, Mr. McCotter, Mr. Gallegly, Mr. Paul, Mr. Wilson of South Carolina, and Mr. Linder) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To authorize a State to transfer or consolidate funds made available to such State under certain transportation, education, and job training programs after the United States experiences economic growth at an annual rate of less than 1 percent for 2 calendar quarters.

1.

Short Title

This Act may be cited as the State Temporary Economic Priority (STEP) Act.

2.

Purpose

It is the purpose of this Act to authorize a State to transfer or consolidate funds made available to such State under certain transportation, education, and job training programs after the United States experiences economic growth at an annual rate of less than 1 percent for 2 calendar quarters.

3.

Authority to transfer or consolidate certain funds

(a)

Authority available

(1)

In general

A State may transfer or consolidate funds under subsections (b), (c), and (d) beginning with the calendar quarter after the United States experiences economic growth at an annual rate of less than 1 percent for 2 calendar quarters and continuing until 18 months after the United States experiences economic growth at an annual rate of 1 percent or more for 2 calendar quarters. (2)

Treatment of transferred or consolidated funds

Funds transferred or consolidated under subsections (b), (c), or (d) shall be used in accordance with the statutory and regulatory requirements applicable to the program to which the funds are transferred or consolidated. (b)

Transportation funds

(1)

In general

In applying subsection (a), a State may transfer, in such amounts as the State determines appropriate, any funds apportioned and allocated to such State from amounts made available from the Highway Trust Fund (26 U.S.C. 9503 et seq.), other than the Mass Transit Account, to any of the apportionments and allocations for the following programs authorized by title 23, United States Code: (A)The interstate maintenance program under section 119. (B)The National Highway System under section 103(b). (C)The surface transportation program under section 133. (D)The highway bridge replacement and rehabilitation program under section 144. (2)

Exempt Transportation funds

The funds made available for the highway safety improvement programs authorized by section 148 and chapter 4 of title 23, United States Code, shall not be subject to transfer or consolidation under subsection (a). (c)

Federal education funds

In applying subsection (a), a State may, in such amounts as the State determines appropriate from any funds made available to such State under any formula grant programs carried out under any of the following provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.), transfer or consolidate such funds between and among such programs: (1)Part A of title I (Improving Basic Programs Operated by Local Educational Agencies). (2)Subpart 1 of part B of title I (Reading First). (3)Subpart 3 of part B of title I (William F. Goodling Even Start Family Literacy Programs). (4)Subpart 4 of part B of title I (Improving Literacy Through School Libraries). (5)Part C of title I (Education of Migratory Children). (6)Part D of title I (Prevention and Intervention Programs for Children and Youth who are Neglected, Delinquent, or At-Risk). (7)Part F of title I (Comprehensive School Reform). (8)Part H of title I (School Dropout Prevention). (9)Subpart 1 of part A of title II (Teacher and Principal Training and Recruiting Fund (Grants to States)). (10)Part B of title II (Mathematics and Science Partnerships). (11)Part D of title II (Enhancing Education Through Technology). (12)Part A of title III (English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement). (13)Part A of title IV (Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities). (14)Part B of title IV (21st Century Community Learning Centers). (15)Subpart 2 of part A of title V (Innovative Programs (State Programs)). (16)Subpart 1 of part A of title VI (Improving Academic Achievement (Accountability)). (d)

Job Training funds

In applying subsection (a), a State may, in such amounts as the State determines appropriate from any funds made available to such State under the following job training programs, transfer or consolidate such funds between and among such programs: (1)Any formula grant program carried out under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.). (2)Any funds made available to the State under part II of subchapter B of chapter 2 of title II of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2295 et seq.). (e)

Definitions

In this Act— (1)the phrase economic growth at an annual rate of less than 1 percent for 2 calendar quarters means, that for 2 consecutive calendar quarters, real gross domestic product, as announced by Bureau of Economic Analysis of the Department of Commerce, has experienced— (A)an annual rate of decrease for such quarters; (B)no change in the annual rate for such quarters; or (C)an increase at an annual rate of less than 1 percent for such quarters; and (2)the phrase economic growth at an annual rate of 1 percent or more for 2 calendar quarters means an increase in real gross domestic product at an annual rate of 1 percent or more for 2 consecutive calendar quarters, as announced by the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the Department of Commerce for such quarters.