I 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 2917 To direct the Secretary of Commerce to develop a national strategy for supporting economic opportunity in border communities, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES APRIL 26, 2023 Mr. VASQUEZ introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com- mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Com- mittee on Financial Services, 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 direct the Secretary of Commerce to develop a national strategy for supporting economic opportunity in border communities, 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 ‘‘Economic Opportunity 4 for Border Communities Act’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:22 May 05, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2917.IH H2917 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 2917 IH SEC. 2. NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR SUPPORTING ECONOMIC 1 OPPORTUNITY IN BORDER COMMUNITIES. 2 (a) DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONAL STRATEGY.—The 3 Secretary shall develop a national strategy for supporting 4 economic opportunity in border communities. 5 (b) GOALS OF NATIONAL STRATEGY.—The goals of 6 the national strategy developed under subsection (a) are 7 the following: 8 (1) Increasing the number of jobs in border 9 communities, with a focus on the following indus- 10 tries: 11 (A) Logistics. 12 (B) International trade. 13 (C) Manufacturing. 14 (D) Transportation. 15 (E) Agriculture. 16 (2) Strengthening United States competitive- 17 ness in manufacturing. 18 (3) Reducing the costs of exports and imports. 19 (4) Increasing the number of opportunities for 20 workforce development, including by providing voca- 21 tional training for the industries described in para- 22 graph (1). 23 (c) CONTENT OF NATIONAL STRATEGY.—The na- 24 tional strategy developed under subsection (a) shall in- 25 clude the following: 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:22 May 05, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2917.IH H2917 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 2917 IH (1) Assessment of incentives, including tax in- 1 centives, for economic development in border com- 2 munities. 3 (2) Recommendations for statutory or regu- 4 latory changes necessary to achieve the goals de- 5 scribed in subsection (b). 6 (3) Coordination with the Secretary of Housing 7 and Urban Development and the Secretary of Agri- 8 culture to evaluate the role of rural housing, infra- 9 structure, and economic development programs in 10 supporting economic development in border commu- 11 nities. 12 (4) Coordination with the Secretary of Trans- 13 portation to evaluate the role of highway and railway 14 infrastructure in supporting economic development 15 in border communities. 16 (d) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 17 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit 18 to Congress a report on the national strategy developed 19 under subsection (a). 20 (e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 21 (1) BORDER COMMUNITY.—The term ‘‘border 22 community’’ means a municipality not more than 15 23 miles from a land port of entry. 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:22 May 05, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2917.IH H2917 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 2917 IH (2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 1 the Secretary of Commerce. 2 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:22 May 05, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H2917.IH H2917 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS