Northern Border Regional Commission Reauthorization Act of 2022

Northern Border Regional Commission Reauthorization Act of 2022

This bill makes various changes to the authorities and programs of regional economic and infrastructure development commissions.

Specifically, the bill reauthorizes the Southwest Border Regional Commission, the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission, and the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) and establishes and expands NBRC grant programs. The NBRC must establish a state capacity building program to provide grants to commission states (Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont) to better support business retention and expansion in eligible counties and for other specified purposes. Each commission state shall provide to the NBRC an annual work plan that includes the proposed use of the grant.

Additionally, the NBRC may make grants for the planning, construction, equipment, and operation of demonstration health, nutrition, and child care projects. Such grants must give special emphasis to projects and activities to address substance use disorders, including opioid and methamphetamine use.

The bill authorizes these regional commissions (as part of economic and infrastructure development grants) to (1) design, build, implement, or upgrade transportation or basic public infrastructure or workforce capacity to support the adaptation to and mitigation of climate challenges; and (2) promote the production of housing to meet economic development and workforce needs.

Bill 117 HR 6986, also known as the Northern Border Regional Commission Reauthorization Act of 2022, is a piece of legislation that aims to reauthorize the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) for an additional five years. The NBRC is a federal-state partnership that provides economic development assistance to distressed counties in the northern border region of the United States.

The bill seeks to continue the work of the NBRC in promoting economic development, job creation, and infrastructure improvements in the northern border region. It also includes provisions to increase transparency and accountability in the NBRC's operations, as well as measures to streamline the application process for funding.

Additionally, the bill allocates funding for the NBRC to carry out its mission, including grants for projects that support job creation, infrastructure development, and workforce training in the region. It also includes provisions to ensure that funding is distributed equitably among the states in the northern border region. Overall, the Northern Border Regional Commission Reauthorization Act of 2022 aims to support economic development in the northern border region of the United States by reauthorizing the NBRC and providing funding for projects that will benefit the region as a whole.