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1 1 (January 28, 2021)

handle is hein.crs/govebme0001 and id is 1 raw text is: ~11 n Trin the leiltv Ueaesne11 0 January 28, 2021 Forming a Funded Federal Regional Commission The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (P.L. 116- 260) included $1 million in funding for the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission, an increase from $250,000 appropriated previously, and $250,000 for the Southwest Border Regional Commission. Both commissions are authorized but are not currently operational. Although appropriations are necessary for their full activation, they are also insufficient without additional steps. This In Focus describes potential additional steps that may be required for a federal regional commission to achieve full formation, and potential policy options for Congress as it continues to consider creating new federal regional commissions and authorities. Background on the Federal Regional Commissions and Authorities Seven federal regional commissions and authorities have been authorized by Congress to address instances of major economic distress in geographically defined socio- economic regions. Congress authorized the first federal regional commission, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), in 1965. Additional commissions and authorities were founded in 1998 (the Denali Commission), 2000 (the Delta Regional Authority, or DRA), and 2002 (the Northern Great Plains Regional Authority, or NGPRA). The most recent commissions-the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC), the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission (SCRC), and the Southwest Border Regional Commission (SBRC)-were authorized in 2008. Four of the seven entities-the ARC, DRA, Denali, and NBRC-are active and receive annual appropriations. The NGPRA, SBRC, and SCRC are currently inactive. The NGPRA's authorization of appropriations lapsed in FY2018; it received one appropriation for $1.5 million in FY2004. Although the SCRC and SBRC have received annual appropriations, each has yet to fully activate, as a presidentially-appointed federal co-chair has not been appointed. The six regional commissions and authorities established after the ARC are all broadly modeled after its structure, which includes a federal co-chair, appointed by the President with Senate confirmation, and the member state governors, of which one is elected by the governors as state co-chair. Commission Funding for FY202 I The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (P.L. 116- 260) included $250,000 for the SBRC-the first time it has received an appropriation since it was authorized in the 2008 farm bill (P.L. 110-234). P.L. 116-260 also appropriated $1 million to the SCRC, which is currently inactive. Since FY2010, the SCRC has received an annual appropriation of $250,000, but no federal co-chair has ever been appointed, and the funding has been returned to the Treasury. The authorizing legislation for the SCRC and SBRC in the 2008 farm bill requires a presidentially-appointed federal co-chair, which has yet to occur. Table 1 summarizes key demographic data for the six federal regional commissions that have received funding to date, along with their FY2021 appropriations. Table I. Funded Federal Regional Commissions at a Glance in reverse order of year enacted Year Number of FY2021 Enacted Counties Appropriations SBRC FY2008 93 $250,000 SCRC FY2008 384 $1 million NBRC FY2008 60 $30 million DRA FY2000 252 $30 million Denali FY 1998 Entire state of $15 million Alaska ARC FY 1965 420 $180 million Source: Appropriations figures tabulated from P.L. 116-260. Notes: The federal commissions listed in bold are considered to be currently active. The State of Alaska is organized into 20 boroughs (19 organized and one unorganized) and is, along with the State of Louisiana, one of only two U.S. states that does not refer to its primary administrative subdivisions as counties. Steps for Commission Formation The FY2021 appropriations of $250,000 and $1 million to the SBRC and SCRC, respectively, represents a first step towards their full formation and operation. However, several additional steps must be completed before the commissions can be fully convened and active in a manner comparable to the four other active federal regional commissions and authorities. These steps include, broadly: 1. The presidential appointment and Senate confirmation of a federal co-chair, and potentially an alternate federal co-chair; 2. The convening of the commission, including the federal co-chair and the member state governors; 3. Organizational development of the commission, which includes the https://crsreports.congress.gt

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