Southern New England Regional Commission Act

I 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 5124 To amend title 40, United States Code, to establish a Southern New England Regional Commission, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NOVEMBER 15, 2019 Mr. CICILLINE (for himself, Mr. KENNEDY, Ms. DELAURO, Mr. LYNCH, and Mr. COURTNEY) 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 subsequently deter- mined 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 01:55 Nov 26, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5124.IH H5124 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 5124 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, entrepreneurship, technology, and busi- 23 ness development; 24 ‘‘(5) to provide assistance to severely economi- 25 cally distressed and underdeveloped areas of its re- 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:55 Nov 26, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5124.IH H5124 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 5124 IH gion that lack financial resources for improving 1 basic health care and other public services; 2 ‘‘(6) to promote resource conservation, tourism, 3 recreation, and preservation of open space in a man- 4 ner consistent with economic development goals; 5 ‘‘(7) to promote the development of renewable 6 and alternative energy sources; 7 ‘‘(8) to support the maritime economy, includ- 8 ing boat and ship building and repair industries; 9 ‘‘(9) to assist in developing defense manufac- 10 turing industries; 11 ‘‘(10) to promote the adoption of composite and 12 other innovative materials in public transportation; 13 ‘‘(11) to grow the capacity for successful com- 14 munity economic development in its region; and 15 ‘‘(12) to otherwise achieve the purposes of this 16 subtitle.’’. 17 (c) DESIGNATION OF REGION.— 18 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 19 157 of such title is amended by adding at the end 20 the following: 21 ‘‘§ 15734. Southern New England Regional Commis- 22 sion 23 ‘‘The region of the Southern New England Regional 24 Commission shall include the following counties: 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:55 Nov 26, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5124.IH H5124 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 5124 IH ‘‘(1) RHODE ISLAND.—The counties of Provi- 1 dence, Washington, Newport, and Bristol in the 2 State of Rhode Island. 3 ‘‘(2) CONNECTICUT.—The counties of Hartford, 4 New Haven, and New London in the State of Con- 5 necticut. 6 ‘‘(3) MASSACHUSETTS.—The counties of 7 Hampden and Bristol in the State of Massachu- 8 setts.’’. 9 (2) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMEND- 10 MENT.—The analysis for Subchapter II of chapter 11 157 of such title is amended by adding at the end 12 the following: 13 ‘‘15734. Southern New England Regional Commission.’’. (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—The au- 14 thorization of appropriations in section 15751 of title 40, 15 United States Code, shall apply with respect to the South- 16 ern New England Regional Commission beginning with 17 fiscal year 2020. 18 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:55 Nov 26, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H5124.IH H5124 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS