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1 1 (March 15, 2024)

handle is hein.crs/goveoqm0001 and id is 1 raw text is: CongressbonaI Research Service Informing 1h legisIlive debate since 1914 Updated March 15, 2024 Forming a Funded Federal Regional Commission During the 117th Congress, the Senate confirmed the nomi- nations of the federal co-chairs for the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission (SCRC) and the Southwest Border Regional Commission (SBRC), thereby allowing them to convene and begin other activities. Also during the 117th Congress, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (P.L. 117-328) authorized a new federal regional commission, the Great Lakes Authority (GLA). However, the GLA is not currently operational, and received its first appropriation in FY2024. 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 necessary 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 Authoritdes Eight federal regional commissions and authorities have been authorized by Congress to address instances of major economic distress in geographically defined socio-eco- nomic regions. Congress authorized the first federal re- gional 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). Three com- missions-the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC), SCRC, and the SBRC-were authorized in 2008. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (P.L. 117-328) amended 40 U.S.C. §15301(a) to establish the GLA in De- cember 2022. Six of the eight entities-the ARC, DRA, De- nali, and NBRC, SBRC, and SCRC-receive annual appro- priations and have presidentially-nominated, Senate-con- firmed federal co-chairs in place. The NGPRA and GLA are currently inactive. The NGPRA's authorization lapsed at the end of FY2018; it received one appropriation for $1.5 million in FY2004. The authorizing legislation for the ARC, DRA, GLA, NBRC, SBRC, and SCRC requires a presidentially-ap- pointed federal co-chair. The U.S. Senate confirmed the SCRC's and SBRC's first federal co-chairs in December 2021 and December 2022, respectively, allowing the com- missions to convene and begin other activities. As of March 2024, President Biden had not nominated a federal co- chairperson for the GLA. The regional commissions and authorities established after the ARC-with the exception of the Denali Commission- are all broadly modeled after the ARC's structure. The structure includes a federal co-chair, appointed by the Presi- dent with Senate confirmation, and the member state gover- nors, of which one is elected by the governors as state co- chair. Cornrission Funding, FY222FY2O24 The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (P.L. 118-42) provided annual appropriations for ARC, Denali Commis- sion, DRA, GLA, SCRC, SBRC, and NBRC. Table 1 summarizes funding amounts for the seven federal regional commissions that have received appropriations in FY2024, along with the year authorized. Table I. Funded Federal Regional Commissions at a Glance (funding in millions of dollars) FY2022 FY2023 FY2024 Year Appropria- Appropria- Appropria- Enacted tions tions tions GLA FY2023 - - $5.0 SBRC FY2008 $3.75 $5.0 $5.0 SCRC FY2008 $10.00 $20.0 $20.0 NBRC FY2008 $185.00 $40.0 $41.0 DRA FY2000 $180.10 $31.0 $31.1 Denali FY1998 $90.10 $17.0 $17.0 ARC FY1965 $395.00 $400.0 $400.0 Source: Appropriations figures tabulated from, P.L. 117-58, P.L. 117- 103, P.L. 117-328, and P.L. 118-42. Notes:- FY2022 amounts include appropriations provided in the In- frastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA, P.L. 117-58). The IIJA pro- vided $200 million in advance appropriations for the ARC in each fis- cal year from FY2022 through FY2026. Steps for Commission Formation Appropriations represent a first step towards the full for- mation and operation of regional commissions; however, several additional steps must be completed before a com- mission can be fully convened and active. These steps include, broadly 1. The presidential appointment and Senate confir- mation 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 development of bylaws, hir- ing of a professional staff, and the identification of program priorities; and

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