Southern New England Regional Commission Act

I 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 2134 To amend title 40, United States Code, to establish a Southern New England Regional Commission, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MARCH 23, 2021 Mr. CICILLINE (for himself, Mrs. TRAHAN, Mr. LYNCH, Mr. COURTNEY, Mr. AUCHINCLOSS, and Mr. NEAL) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subse- quently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To amend title 40, United States Code, to establish a South- ern New England Regional Commission, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Southern New England 4 Regional Commission Act’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:45 May 26, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2134.IH H2134 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 2134 IH SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND RE- 1 GIONAL COMMISSION. 2 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Section 15301(a) of title 40, 3 United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 4 following: 5 ‘‘(4) The Southern New England Regional 6 Commission.’’. 7 (b) PURPOSES FOR ECONOMIC AND INFRASTRUC- 8 TURE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS.—Section 15501(a) of such 9 title is amended to read as follows: 10 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—A Commission may make grants 11 to States and local governments, Indian tribes, and public 12 and nonprofit organizations for projects, approved in ac- 13 cordance with section 15503— 14 ‘‘(1) to develop the transportation infrastruc- 15 ture of its region; 16 ‘‘(2) to develop the basic public infrastructure 17 of its region; 18 ‘‘(3) to develop the telecommunications infra- 19 structure of its region; 20 ‘‘(4) to assist its region in obtaining job skills 21 training, skills development and employment-related 22 education, career pathways, apprenticeships opportu- 23 nities, entrepreneurship, technology, job coaching to 24 address the cliff effect, work supports (including 25 child care), and business development; 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:45 May 26, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2134.IH H2134 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 2134 IH ‘‘(5) to provide assistance to severely economi- 1 cally distressed and underdeveloped areas of a region 2 that lack financial resources for improving basic 3 health care, two-generational practices that improve 4 school and workforce readiness and success, and 5 other public services, including work supports crit- 6 ical for families seeking employment which may in- 7 clude quality child care, transportation, health, and 8 housing; 9 ‘‘(6) to promote resource conservation, tourism, 10 recreation, and preservation of open space in a man- 11 ner consistent with economic development goals; 12 ‘‘(7) to promote the development of renewable 13 and alternative energy sources; 14 ‘‘(8) to support the maritime economy, includ- 15 ing boat and ship building and repair industries; 16 ‘‘(9) to assist in developing defense manufac- 17 turing industries; 18 ‘‘(10) to promote the adoption of composite and 19 other innovative materials in public transportation; 20 ‘‘(11) to grow the capacity for successful com- 21 munity economic development in its region; 22 ‘‘(12) to provide for employment training for 23 populations seeking employment, including parents 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:45 May 26, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2134.IH H2134 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 2134 IH in poverty, adults in recovery, and reentry adults, in 1 areas with worker shortages; and 2 ‘‘(13) to otherwise achieve the purposes of this 3 subtitle.’’. 4 (c) DESIGNATION OF REGION.— 5 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 6 157 of such title is amended by adding at the end 7 the following: 8 ‘‘§ 15734. Southern New England Regional Commis- 9 sion 10 ‘‘The region of the Southern New England Regional 11 Commission shall include the following counties: 12 ‘‘(1) RHODE ISLAND.—Each county in the 13 State of Rhode Island. 14 ‘‘(2) CONNECTICUT.—The counties of Hartford, 15 New Haven, Windham, Tolland, Middlesex, and New 16 London in the State of Connecticut. 17 ‘‘(3) MASSACHUSETTS.—The counties of 18 Hampden, Plymouth, Barnstable, Essex, Worcester 19 and Bristol in the State of Massachusetts.’’. 20 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 21 subchapter II of chapter 157 of such title is amend- 22 ed by adding at the end the following: 23 ‘‘15734. Southern New England Regional Commission.’’. Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:45 May 26, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H2134.IH H2134 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS