[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 112 (Friday, August 12, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 12, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
              NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS RURAL DEVELOPMENT ACT

  Mr. de la GARZA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Committee on Agriculture be discharged from further consideration of 
the Senate bill (S. 2099) to establish the Northern Great Plains Rural 
Development Commission, and for other purposes, and ask for its 
immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the Senate bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, I shall not 
object, but under my reservation, I yield to the distinguished chairman 
to explain the purpose of the bill.
  Mr. de la GARZA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, the Northern Great Plains Rural Development Act would 
establish a commission to study and make recommendations regarding the 
economic development needs of the rural northern Great Plains States of 
South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Iowa.
  Mr. Speaker, S. 2099, the Northern Great Plains Rural Development 
Act, would establish a commission to study and make recommendations 
regarding the economic development needs of the rural northern Great 
Plains States of South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota and 
Iowa.
  The legislation seeks to achieve this objective by seeking and 
encouraging the participation and input of a broad range of interested 
citizens in these States. The Commission proposed in the bill would be 
comprised of 10 members. Five are to be selected by the States with 
each Governor appointing one member, and five are to be selected by the 
Federal Government with the Secretary of Agriculture appointing one 
member from each of the five States.
  The legislation requires the Commission to hold hearings, conduct 
studies and determine the appropriate strategies for promoting 
development in the rural areas of the Northern Great Plains. The bill 
also states that the Commission will terminate in not less than 2 
years.
  Mr. Speaker, S. 2099 will provide a mechanism for State and local 
leaders, working with USDA, to develop a long-term, cooperative plan 
that enables the rural areas of these States to build on their shared 
and unique strengths and to overcome their common problems.
  I commend the gentleman from South Dakota [Mr. Johnson] for 
introducing in the House the companion bill to this measure. The bill 
has support from lawmakers in all of the States included in the bill.
  The Committee on Agriculture has approved this legislation by voice 
vote. And I urge my colleagues in the House to support its passage.
  Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. Speaker, further reserving the right to object, this 
legislation passed the Senate by unanimous consent on June 22 and was 
routinely reported by the Committee on Agriculture by voice vote; it is 
identical to a companion House bill, H.R. 4388. There was no dissent on 
the Republican side concerning this legislation in Committee.
  The bill sets up a rural development commission to study the economic 
problems of the northern Great Plains, specifically the States of South 
and North Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota and Iowa. It requires input from 
a wide array of interest groups, including local, regional and State 
governments, nonprofit organizations, agricultural and business groups 
in the area. They are required to come up with a strategy to address 
the economic needs of the region, which are similar to the problems of 
our agricultural economy nationally.
  This legislation is similar to the Mississippi Delta Commission that 
was authorized in 1988, but the authorization expires following the 
Commission's report or within 2 years of enactment. It is my 
understanding funds have been provided in the Senate agricultural 
appropriations bill. The bill has broad support among the Members 
representing congressional districts in the regions and unanimous 
support from those States in the other body.
  I would urge adoption of the bill.
  (Mr. ROBERTS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the Senate bill, as follows:

                                S. 2099

       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 ``Northern Great Plains Rural 
     Development Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds that--
       ( 1) the rural economy of the Northern Great Plains is 
     undergoing a substantial and potentially threatening 
     transformation;
       (2) the rural Northern Great Plains suffers from 
     substantial measurable poverty, unemployment, outmigration, 
     underemployment, aging of the population, and low per capita 
     income;
       (3) the Northern Great Plains is highly rural and has a 
     highly dispersed population, and contains many Native 
     American reservations;
       (4) many of the basic industries of the rural Northern 
     Great Plains in natural resources are under stress;
       (5) a concerted Federal, State, and local public and 
     private effort is needed if the rural Northern Great Plains 
     is to share in the general prosperity of the United States;
       (6) the creation of jobs and expansion of existing 
     businesses, including small businesses, offer the greatest 
     hope for rural economic growth and revitalization in the 
     Northern Great Plains;
       (7) the availability of capital, technology, market 
     information, infrastructure development, educational 
     opportunities, health care, housing, recreational activities, 
     and resource development are essential to successful business 
     development in the rural Northern Great Plains;
       (8) the transportation needs of the rural Northern Great 
     Plains must be addressed through highway and bridge 
     construction, air service availability, and rail service and 
     river transport development;
       (9) because of the social, geographic, weather, historical, 
     and cultural ties of the rural Northern Great Plains as well 
     as common economic problems, planning for this unique region 
     is desirable and urgently needed; and
       (10) in the rural Northern Great Plains, the tourism 
     industry offers significant additional potential for 
     supporting economic development and job growth, fostered by 
     the wise stewardship of natural resources.

     SEC. 3. PURPOSE.

       The purpose of this Act is to establish the Northern Great 
     Plains Rural Development Commission to study and make 
     recommendations regarding the economic needs and economic 
     development of the rural Northern Great Plains by seeking and 
     encouraging the participation of interested citizens, public 
     officials, groups, agencies, businesses, and other entities 
     in developing a 10-year rural economic development plan for 
     the Northern Great Plains.

     SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

       As used in this Act:
       (1) Chairperson.--The term ``chairperson'' means the 
     chairperson of the Commission.
       (2) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Northern 
     Great Plains Rural Development Commission.
       (3) Northern great plains.--The term ``Northern Great 
     Plains'' means the States of North Dakota, South Dakota, 
     Nebraska, Iowa, and Minnesota.
       (4) State.--The term ``State'' means a State in the 
     Northern Great Plains.

     SEC. 5. ESTABLISHMENT.

       There is established a Commission to be known as the 
     ``Northern Great Plains Rural Development Commission''.

     SEC. 6. MEMBERSHIP AND ORGANIZATION.

       (a) Membership.--The Commission shall be composed of 10 
     members, of whom--
       (1) 1 member shall be appointed by the Governor of each 
     State; and
       (2) 1 member shall be appointed from each of the States by 
     the Secretary of Agriculture.
       (b) Term.--Each member of the Commission shall serve for 
     such term as the official who appoints the member determines 
     is appropriate.
       (c) Quorum.--Five members of the Commission shall 
     constitute a quorum, but the Commission may establish that a 
     lesser number shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of 
     conducting hearings.
       (d) Meetings.--
       (1) First meetings.--Five or more members appointed under 
     subsection (a)(1) shall determine the date, time, and place 
     of the first meeting, and shall call the first meeting. At 
     the first meeting, the members of the Commission shall 
     appoint a chairperson from among the members appointed under 
     subsection (a)(1). The first meeting of the Commission shall 
     be held not later than 45 days after the date of enactment of 
     this Act.
       (2) Additional meetings.--The Commission shall conduct such 
     additional meetings as the Commission determines are 
     appropriate.
       (e) Appointments.--Each appointment under this Act shall be 
     made not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of 
     this Act.
       (f) Vacancies.--A vacancy on the Commission shall not 
     affect the powers of the Commission and shall be filled in 
     the same manner in which the original appointment was made.
       (g) Headquarters.--The Commission shall establish the 
     location for the headquarters of the Commission.

     SEC. 7. DUTIES.

       (a) Plan.--The Commission shall identify and study the 
     economic development, infrastructure, technology, 
     telecommunications, capital, employment, transportation, 
     business resource development, education, health care, 
     housing, and recreation needs of the Northern Great Plains 
     and develop a 10-year plan that makes recommendations and 
     establishes priorities to address the needs.
       (b) Preparation of Plan.--In developing the plan, the 
     Commission shall, with respect to the Northern Great Plains--
       (1) sponsor and conduct investigations, research studies, 
     and field hearings;
       (2) review and evaluate available research, studies, and 
     information on conditions in the areas referred to in 
     subsection (a);
       (3) study the economy, identifying strengths, weaknesses, 
     participation levels, opportunities, and methods of 
     addressing outmigration;
       (4) develop a profile of, and a description of resources 
     devoted to, economic development (including tourism), human 
     resources (including demographics, outmigration, poverty, 
     Native Americans, education, and training), infrastructure 
     (including air, water, highway, rail, and 
     telecommunications), and natural resources;
       (5) study and evaluate the economic development resources, 
     coordination, collaboration, and ``best practices'' of the 
     Federal, State, and local governments, nonprofit 
     organizations, universities, businesses, agricultural and 
     natural resources groups, foundations, cooperatives, and 
     other organizations;
       (6) identify methods of facilitating the employment and 
     business startups of unemployed, underemployed, and low-
     income individuals and households;
       (7) identify effective methods for promoting development on 
     Native American reservations;
       (8) study the availability of methods of delivering public, 
     private, and nonprofit capital and technical assistance for 
     business startups and expansions, including farming and 
     ranching;
       (9) evaluate the availability of, need for, and strategies 
     for providing and maintaining, the infrastructure, including 
     air, water, highway, rail, and telecommunications;
       (10) study the structure and potential development of major 
     industries, including agriculture, timber, mining, tourism, 
     and manufacturing (including the use of advanced technologies 
     and processes and adding value to raw materials and component 
     parts);
       (11) study the competence and availability of the labor 
     force, including the health, educational, training, housing, 
     and economic needs of the labor force;
       (12) develop an inventory of water, mineral, energy, 
     timber, agricultural, fishery, wildlife, and other natural 
     resources;
       (13) assess the comparative cost of doing business;
       (14) assess the international trading levels, markets, and 
     practices, and potential opportunities;
       (15) assess the interconnection between metropolitan and 
     rural areas and identify methods through which the areas can 
     collaborate;
       (16) assess methods by which small communities and regions 
     are collaborating or can collaborate in economic development 
     initiatives;
       (17) evaluate--
       (A) the distribution and impact of Federal spending, 
     including grant-in-aid programs, research, and Federal 
     procurement, and compare the level of spending in these 
     categories with spending in other regions of the country; and
       (B) the extent to which reliance on Federal, State, and 
     local government outlays for poverty programs can be reduced 
     by outlays targeted for economic development;
       (18) identify Federal, State, and local government 
     programs, policies, and regulations that enhance or obstruct 
     the development of businesses and well-paying jobs with long-
     term potential and that effectively use the skills, 
     education, and training of the labor force;
       (19) evaluate the potential for States to jointly finance 
     projects and activities of regional benefit; and
       (20) analyze such other issues as the Commission determines 
     are relevant to future economic development.
       (c) Development of Plan.--In developing the plan, the 
     Commission shall--
       (1) provide a forum for the consideration of the problems 
     of the rural Northern Great Plains and proposed solutions, 
     and establish and utilize citizens groups, special advisory 
     councils, public hearings, and conferences;
       (2) seek and encourage the participation of interested 
     citizens, public officials, groups, agencies, economic 
     development organizations, natural resource organizations, 
     and other organizations;
       (3) make the Commission accessible to the individuals, 
     groups, agencies, and organizations referred to in paragraph 
     (2) by holding at least 1 well publicized public hearing in 
     each State; and
       (4) consult with--
       (A) Federal, State, and local government agencies, 
     including the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, 
     Education, Labor, Health and Human Services, Housing and 
     Urban Development, and Transportation, and the Small Business 
     Administration, bank regulatory agencies, and rural 
     development councils;
       (B) banks, insurance companies, venture capital companies, 
     and other for-profit financial institutions;
       (C) nonprofit and community-based development 
     organizations, revolving loan funds, and other organizations;
       (D) industry and sectoral organizations;
       (E) foundations and universities; and
       (F) other organizations involved in economic development 
     activities.

     SEC. 8. COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.

       (a) Members Appointed by Governors.--Each member of the 
     Commission appointed by a Governor of a State may be 
     compensated by the State that the member represents.
       (b) Members Appointed by the Secretary.--Each member 
     appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture, who is not 
     otherwise employed by the United States Government, shall 
     receive compensation at a rate determined by the Secretary of 
     not to exceed the daily equivalent of the lowest annual rate 
     of basic pay payable for grade GS-15 of the General Schedule 
     under section 5332 of title 5, United States Code, including 
     traveltime, for each day the member is engaged in the actual 
     performance of the duties of the Commission. A member of the 
     Commission appointed by the Secretary who is an officer or 
     employee of the United States Government shall serve without 
     additional compensation.
       (c) Travel and Other Expenses.--Each member of the 
     Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, including per 
     diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for 
     employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of 
     title 5, United States Code, while away from the home or 
     regular place of business of the member in the performance of 
     services for the Commission. Each member of the Commission 
     shall also be reimbursed by the United States Government for 
     other necessary expenses incurred by the member in the 
     performance of the duties of the member.

     SEC. 9. POWERS AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.

       (a) Experts and Consultants.--The Commission may obtain the 
     services of experts and consultants in accordance with 
     section 3109 of title 5, United States Code.
       (b) Financial and Administrative Services.--The Commission 
     may enter into agreements with the Administrator of General 
     Services for the procurement of necessary financial and 
     administrative services, for which payment shall be made by 
     reimbursement from funds of the Commission in such amounts as 
     are agreed on by the chairperson and the Administrator of 
     General Services.
       (c) Contracts.--Subject to subsection (d), the Commission 
     may enter into contracts with Federal and State agencies and 
     private firms, institutions, and agencies for the conduct of 
     research and surveys, the preparation of reports, and other 
     activities necessary to carry out the duties of the 
     Commission.
       (d) Supplies, Services, Property, and Contracts.--The 
     Commission may procure supplies, services, and property, and 
     make contracts in any fiscal year, only to such extent and in 
     such amounts as are provided in appropriation Acts.
       (e) Hearings.--The Commission or, on the authorization of 
     the Commission, a member of the Commission may, for the 
     purpose of carrying out this Act, hold such hearings, sit and 
     act at such times and places, and request the attendance and 
     testimony of such witnesses and the production of such books, 
     records, memoranda, papers, and documents as the Commission 
     or the member considers appropriate.
       (f) Information.--The Commission may acquire directly from 
     any executive department, bureau, agency, board, commission, 
     office, independent establishment, or instrumentality, 
     information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics for the 
     purpose of this Act. Each department, bureau, agency, board, 
     commission, office, establishment, or instrumentality shall 
     provide, to the extent permitted by law, the information, 
     suggestions, estimates, and statistics directly to the 
     Commission, upon request by the chairperson.
       (g) Personnel.--
       (1) In general.--Without regard to the provisions of title 
     5, United States Code, governing appointments in the 
     competitive service, and without regard to chapter 51 and 
     subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to 
     classification and General Schedule pay rates, the 
     chairperson of the Commission may appoint, terminate, and fix 
     the compensation of an Executive Director and such additional 
     personnel as the chairperson determines are necessary to 
     enable the Commission to carry out the duties of the 
     Commission.
       (2) Compensation.--The rate of compensation of the 
     Executive Director may not exceed a rate equal to the daily 
     equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay payable for level 
     V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title. 
     The rate of compensation of all other personnel may not 
     exceed a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the lowest 
     annual rate of basic pay payable for grade GS-15 of the 
     General Schedule under section 5332 of such title.
       (h) Assistance From Other Agencies.--Upon request of the 
     Commission, the head of any Federal agency may make any of 
     the facilities and services of the agency available to the 
     Commission or detail any of the personnel of the agency to 
     the Commission, on a reimbursable basis, to assist the 
     Commission in carrying out the duties of the Commission under 
     this Act. If the head of an agency determines that the agency 
     cannot make the facilities, services, or personnel available 
     to the Commission, the head shall notify the chairperson in 
     writing.
       (i) Postal Services.--The Commission may use the United 
     States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions 
     as other departments and agencies of the United States.

     SEC. 10. REPORTS.

       (a) Interim Report.--Before the end of the 270-day period 
     beginning on the date of the first meeting of the Commission 
     under section 6(d)(1), the Commission shall submit a report 
     to the Secretary of Agriculture, the President pro tempore of 
     the Senate, the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and 
     Forestry of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives, the Committee on Agriculture of the House of 
     Representatives, the President, and the Governor of each 
     State, describing the findings and activities of the 
     Commission and the further activities necessary to carry out 
     the duties of the Commission.
       (b) Final Report.--
       (1) In general.--Before the end of the 18-month period 
     beginning on the date of the first meeting of the Commission 
     under section 6(d)(1), the Commission shall submit to the 
     Secretary of Agriculture, the President pro tempore of the 
     Senate, the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry 
     of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 
     the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives, 
     the President, and the Governor of each State, a report 
     describing the findings and activities of the Commission and 
     recommendations in accordance with paragraph (2) regarding 
     specific actions that are necessary to promote the economic 
     development of the rural Northern Great Plains while 
     preserving, to the maximum extent possible, the natural 
     beauty and habitat of the Northern Great Plains.
       (2) Recommendations.--
       (A) Regional collaboration.--The Commission shall, with 
     respect to the Northern Great Plains--
       (i) determine the most effective and appropriate method for 
     ensuring continued collaboration within the region on 
     economic development matters, considering regional compacts, 
     cooperatives, foundations, development corporations, and 
     other agreements and organizations;
       (ii) identify the organizational structure, method of 
     financing, functions, and participating organizations, of the 
     collaboration referred to in clause (i);
       (iii) identify methods of effective multi-community, 
     substate, and small region development; and
       (iv) assess the interconnection between metropolitan and 
     rural areas and identify methods of collaboration between the 
     areas.
       (B) Business development.--The Commission shall, with 
     respect to the rural Northern Great Plains--
       (i) recommend methods of diversifying the rural economy, 
     including the development and financing of value-added and 
     new-use agricultural products;
       (ii) develop methods to promote and finance beginning 
     owner-occupied farming and ranching operations;
       (iii) recommend methods of promoting entrepreneurial 
     development, including business startups and expansions;
       (iv) recommend methods in which the public, private, and 
     nonprofit sectors can help increase international trading 
     levels and penetrate new markets in agricultural, 
     manufactured, and service products;
       (v) evaluate the potential utility of business and 
     manufacturing networks in target sectors;
       (vi) assess the competitiveness of manufacturers and the 
     use of modern technology, processes, and information by the 
     manufacturers, and methods of assisting manufacturers lacking 
     the technology, processes, or information;
       (vii) recommend methods in which capital and technical 
     assistance can be provided on a regional or sectoral basis to 
     business startups and expansions by public, private, and 
     nonprofit organizations; and
       (viii) recommend ways in which Federal and State resource 
     conservation programs can be used to encourage tourism in the 
     region.
       (C) Capital.--The Commission shall, with respect to the 
     rural Northern Great Plains--
       (i) determine if there are capital needs in the economy, 
     and in what part of the economy the needs are located, and 
     recommend how governmental, nonprofit, cooperative, 
     community-based, microlending, banking, venture, seed, and 
     nonbanking financing sources can assist in meeting the needs;
       (ii) identify such strategies in organization, regulations, 
     policy, marketing, and coordination as are needed to 
     implement a plan to meet the needs referred to in clause (i); 
     and
       (iii) recommend methods of utilizing secondary financial 
     markets to increase the capital available for business 
     development.
       (D) Infrastructure.--The Commission shall, with respect to 
     the rural Northern Great Plains--
       (i) prepare a plan to preserve, finance, and operate 
     effective freight railroad service in coordination with 
     States, the Federal Railroad Administration, the Interstate 
     Commerce Commission, rail operators, shippers, and the 
     financial community;
       (ii) prepare an assessment and agreement on the capital 
     needs, coordination, and financing of telecommunications 
     infrastructure, in cooperation with the Department of 
     Agriculture, the National Telecommunications and Information 
     Administration of the Department of Commerce, the Federal 
     Communications Commission, the public utilities commission of 
     each State, telephone companies and cooperatives, 
     representative users, and such other entities as the 
     Commission determines are appropriate; and
       (iii) recommend strategies for addressing air, water, and 
     highway needs.
       (E) Human resources.--The Commission shall, with respect to 
     the rural Northern Great Plains--
       (i) identify methods of facilitating the employment and 
     business startups of individuals who are not effectively 
     participating in the labor force, including unemployed, 
     underemployed, and low-income individuals and households;
       (ii) identify methods of coordinating on a regional or 
     sectoral basis education and training programs that are tied 
     to economic development initiatives, especially programs that 
     address the outmigration of youth; and
       (iii) study the competence and availability of the labor 
     force and the effects of the health, educational, training, 
     housing, and economic needs of the labor force, and identify 
     regional strategies addressing the needs.
       (F) Government programs, policies, and regulations.--The 
     Commission shall submit to the appropriate government, 
     nonprofit, and private sector organizations recommendations 
     for modifications or additions to the programs, policies, and 
     regulations referred to in section 7(b)(18) to promote the 
     rural development of the Northern Great Plains.

     SEC. 11. TERMINATION.

       The Commission shall terminate on the earlier of--
       (1) 120 days after the date of submission of the final 
     report under section 10; and
       (2) 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 12. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are 
     necessary to carry out this Act.

  The Senate bill was ordered to be read a third time, was read the 
third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the 
table.

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