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1 1 (December 17, 2021)

handle is hein.crs/govegqc0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Starting a Federal Regional Commission or Authority The federalregionalcommissions and authorities are seven congressionally -chartered, federal-state partnerships that were developed to address economic distress in targeted geographic regions. With congressional authorization, new regional commis sions couldbe created in areas of the country not currently serviced. This In Focus addresses past and anticipated future congressionalinterest into the is sues and processes involved in starting a federalregional commission based on existing models. Current Corm ssions and Authorities As ofDecember 2019, seven federalregional commis sions have been authorized by Congress. (Although some are designated as authorities, this In Focus will referto all of themcollectively as commis sions.) Four are currently active: the Appalachian Regional Commis s ion (ARC); the Delta RegionalAuthority (DRA); the Denali Commis sion; and the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC). Two were authorized but are inactive: the Northern Great Plains Regional Authority (NGPRA) and the Southwest Border Regional Commission (SBRC). In December2021, the U.S. Senate confirmed the first federal co -chair for the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission (SCRC) but it has yet to convene its members or undertake core planning or investment activities. The active commis sions engage in economic development activities in their service areas with funding fromannual congressional appropriations. Structural Features Common Structures While the authorized federalregionalcommis sions have individual distinguishing features, they all include a structure broadly modeled after the Appalachian Regional Commis sion, which was establishedby Congress in 1965 (40 U.S.C. § § 14101-14704). The commission structure is comprised of a federalco-chair and the state governors of member states or their designated representative (of which one serves as state co-chair). The commission is supplemented by professionalstaff to carry out organizational activities. While largely considered independent federal agencies, most commission members and staff are not federal employees. The main exception is the federal co-chair, thatco-chair's alternate, and that co- chair's direct staff. However, a commission may adopt certain federalpers onnel practices. Forexample, the ARC pegs its salary grades to the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule, and former federal employees may remain in the federalretirement system. A new federalregional commission may use a similar structure to the oneestablishedforthe ARC, which was broadly replicated in the other commis sions. However, this basic structure has been adapted to the circumstances and needs of the region in question. Structural Exceptions While the prevailing structure is broadly apparent among the federal regional commissions, exceptions and certain novelties are also evident. For eiample, the ARC's authorizing statute requires state governors to serve as ARC members and has no allowance for governors to designate a representative (although an alternatemay be allowed in extenuating circumstances). By contrast, the other active regional commis sions allow for the member state governois to appointdesignatedrepresentatives to serve in their stead. As a single-state commission, the DenaliCommission features several structural exceptions. Alongside the federal co-chair, the commissionis comprised of the state governor (who is state co-chair) as well as five other members: the University of Alaska president; the Alaska Municipal League president; the Alaska Federationof Natives president; the Alaska State AFL-ClOpresident; and the Associated General Contractors of Alaskapresident. The Denali Commis s ion's federal co -chair is appointed by the Secretary of Commerce, while the federal co-chairs of other commissions are appointedby the President andrequire confirmation by the Senate. The Denali Commis sion's inclusion of non-gubernatorial membership is also a feature of the multi-state Northern Great Plains Regional Authoty. Though inactive, the NGPRA consisted of the federalco- chair, the state governors, as well as a Native American tribal co-chair. The NGPRA also used a 501(c)(3) organization as aresource for implementation. A new federal regional commission may share the existing commissions' basic structures while including features to represent certain regional economic, social, cultural, or historical characteristics. Suchan approachcould also be adapted to programmatic intent; for example, emphases on certain industries, types of economic development (such as infrastructureorworkforce development), orotherpolicy priorities, like energy transition or conservation. Authoriation and Establishrent Process Regional Consensus and Demand While chartered by Congress, federalregional commissions are rooted in the s tates and localities they represent. Prior to their statutory creation, all federalregionalcommissions were preceded by state, local, and/or congressional expres sions of support. The ARC, for example, was foundedin response to initiatives fromAppalachian regional governors. Those efforts led to presidential and congressional legislation, which resulted in a study Updated December 17,2021

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