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Title II — Interagency Coordination

S. 4336 · 116th Congress · Jul 28, 2020 · Lineage

II Interagency Coordination

Sec. 201 Rural Liaisons

(a)
Purpose— The purpose of this section is to establish Rural Liaisons to improve coordination and processes across Federal rural programs.
(b)
Designation—
(1)
In general— Each Federal agency described in paragraph (2) shall designate a Rural Liaison within the office of the head of the Federal agency.
(2)
Federal agencies— The Federal agencies referred to in paragraph (1) are—
(A)
the Department of Transportation;
(B)
the Department of Agriculture;
(C)
the Department of Housing and Urban Development;
(D)
the Small Business Administration;
(E)
the Department of Education;
(F)
the Department of Health and Human Services;
(G)
the Department of Commerce;
(H)
the Environmental Protection Agency;
(I)
the Corps of Engineers;
(J)
the Department of the Interior; and
(K)
any other Federal agency that provides financial assistance, including grants and credit assistance, to rural communities for activities related to rural infrastructure, as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture.
(c)
Responsibilities— A Rural Liaison designated under subsection (b)(1) shall—
(1)
(A)
review regulations, guidance, and procedures of the agency of the Rural Liaison;
(B)
identify any of those regulations, guidance, or procedures that present a hardship for rural communities; and
(C)
recommend ways to streamline those regulations, guidance, and procedures;
(2)
serve as ombudsperson for rural communities working with the agency of the Rural Liaison to help address issues and resolve problems;
(3)
meet regularly with Rural Liaisons of other Federal agencies to coordinate efforts and identify ways to coordinate to support rural infrastructure needs; and
(4)
(A)
advise the head of the agency of the Rural Liaison about rural issues; and
(B)
provide feedback to that head of the agency on the rural impacts of potential activities of the agency.

Sec. 202 Interagency rural infrastructure task force

(a)
In general— The Secretary of Commerce shall establish a task force (referred to in this section as the “task force”) to examine ways to coordinate rural infrastructure programs and requirements across the Federal Government that support rural infrastructure development in order—
(1)
to maximize efficiency;
(2)
to leverage interagency resources; and
(3)
to simplify processes for rural applicants.
(b)
Membership—
(1)
Federal members—
(A)
In general— Each individual listed in subparagraph (C) shall designate a member of the agency in which the individual serves to serve on the task force.
(B)
Qualifications— A member of the task force designated under subparagraph (A) shall hold a position in the agency of deputy secretary (or the equivalent) or higher.
(C)
Heads of agencies— The individuals that shall each designate a member of the task force under subparagraph (A) are the following:
(i)
The Secretary of Commerce.
(ii)
The Secretary of Agriculture.
(iii)
The Secretary of the Interior.
(iv)
The Secretary of Transportation.
(v)
The Secretary of Education.
(vi)
The Secretary of Energy.
(vii)
The Secretary of Health and Human Services.
(viii)
The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
(ix)
The Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission.
(x)
The Administrator of the Small Business Administration.
(2)
State members— The Secretary of Commerce shall appoint to the task force not less than 2 representatives of State rural development councils, based on—
(A)
the expertise of the representative in Federal infrastructure procedures; and
(B)
geographic diversity.
(c)
Duties—
(1)
In general— The task force shall—
(A)
examine ways to coordinate Federal programs and Federal program requirements that support rural infrastructure projects, including by developing a proposed standardized application;
(B)
develop, to the extent practicable, common guidelines that may be used for rural funding or financing programs across Federal agencies;
(C)
identify opportunities to carry out activities across Federal agencies to support rural infrastructure needs; and
(D)
provide rural communities guidance on—
(i)
projects that would be likely to receive Federal assistance; and
(ii)
the application process for those projects.
(2)
Public input— In carrying out the duties of the task force under paragraph (1)(A), the task force shall—
(A)
solicit input from employees of Federal agencies in field offices and regional offices; and
(B)
provide an opportunity for public comment.
(d)
Report— Not less frequently than annually, the task force shall submit to Congress a report on the activities of the task force, including—
(1)
specific metrics of performance developed by the task force for rural infrastructure investment and development; and
(2)
the progress of the task force toward those metrics of performance.