[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 127 (Thursday, July 27, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1076]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





    A BILL TO REAUTHORIZE THE SOUTHEAST CRESCENT REGIONAL COMMISSION

                                 ______
                                 

                  HON. HENRY C. ``HANK'' JOHNSON, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 27, 2017

  Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing a bill to 
reauthorize the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission.
  While this bill will reauthorize the Northern Border Regional 
Commission, the Southwest Border Regional Commission, and the Southeast 
Crescent Regional Commission, I will focus my remarks on the need for a 
commission that covers parts of my district--the Southeast Crescent 
Regional Commission.
  The Southeast Crescent Regional Commission encompasses most of the 
counties of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, 
Alabama, Florida, and parts of my district in Georgia.
  This area is home to millions of rural and impoverished Americans 
still reeling from decades of job displacement and a lack of 
investment.
  Families in Georgia and all across the South need the help of this 
Congress as well as the Trump Administration to break out of the 
unacceptable cycle of poverty and unemployment.
  Although the Commission was first authorized by Congress in 2008, a 
federal co-chair has never been appointed and thus, has not yet had a 
chance to make a difference. In addition to the introduction of this 
legislation, I will be calling on President Trump to appoint a federal 
co-chair so that the full potential of this program can be realized to 
put the Southeast Crescent region on the road to recovery.
  Working with the states and localities, the Commission can assist in 
leveraging public, private and philanthropic resources to improve the 
overall economy and infrastructure of the region to encourage private 
investment and promote growth in distressed areas. We have seen the 
success achieved through targeted investments by other regional 
economic development agencies, it is now time for the Southeast 
Crescent region have the same opportunity.
  The Commission can help develop the community's economic 
competitiveness and leverage private investment to help improve 
infrastructure and public transportation, so that workers aren't stuck 
in endless gridlock and can get to and from work seamlessly. It can 
help provide job skills training and entrepreneurial development, 
ensuring that the jobs that are available can be filled by competent 
workers.
  We have an historic opportunity to help create good jobs and develop 
an historically disadvantaged region.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure and 
finally giving a region that has suffered from historic disadvantages 
the chance to thrive and succeed.

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