,i #aacth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #ecei ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,july #ca1 #bjad ,mr4 ,mc,nerney 7for himself and ,mr4 ,costa7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce ,a ,,bill ,to provide for the designation of1 and the award of grant with respect to1 air and health quality empowerment zones4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,air and ,health ,quality ,empowerment ,zone ,designation ,act of #bjac4 #b4 ,air and health quality empowerment zones 7a7 ,designation of air and health quality empowerment zones 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator may designate an area as an air and health quality empowerment zone if-- 7,a7 the air pollution control district or other local governmental entity authorized to regulate air quality for the area submits an application under paragraph 7#b7 nominating the area for such designation2 and 7,b7 the ,administrator determines that-- 7i7 the information in the application is reasonably accurate2 and 7ii7 the nominated area satisfies the eligibility criteria described in paragraph 7#c74 7#b7 ,nomination ,to nominate an area for designation under paragraph 7#a71 the air pollution control district or other local governmental entity authorized to regulate air quality for the area shall submit to the ,administrator an application that-- 7,a7 demonstrates that the nominated area satisfies the eligibility criteria described in paragraph 7#c72 and 7,b7 includes a strategic plan that-- 7i7 is designed for-- 7,i7 addressing air quality challenges and achieving attainment of air quality standards in the area2 and 7,,ii7 improving the health of the population in the area2 7ii7 describes-- 7,i7 the process by which the district or local governmental entity is a full partner in the process of developing and implementing the strategic plan2 and 7,,ii7 the extent to which local institutions and organizations have contributed to the planning process2 7iii7 identifies-- 7,i7 the amount of ,state1 local1 and private resources that will be available for carrying out the strategic plan2 and 7,,ii7 the private and public partnerships to be used 7which may include participation by1 and cooperation with1 institutions of higher education1 medical centers1 and other private and public entities7 in carrying out the strategic plan2 7iv7 identifies the funding requested under any ,federal program in support of the strategic plan2 7v7 identifies baselines1 methods1 and benchmarks for measuring the success of the strategic plan2 and 7vi7 includes such other information as may be required by the ,administrator2 and 7,c7 provides written assurances satisfactory to the ,administrator that the strategic plan will be implemented4 7#c7 ,eligibility criteria ,to be eligible for designation under paragraph 7#a71 an area must meet all of the following criteria3 7,a7 ,nonattainment ,the area has been designated as being-- 7i7 in extreme nonattainment of the national ambient air quality standard for ozone2 and 7ii7 in nonattainment of the national ambient air quality standard for ,,pm#b4e4 7,b7 ,unique sources ,the area had-- 7i7 emissions of oxides of nitrogen from farm equipment of at least #cj tons per day in calendar year #bjaa2 7ii7 emissions of volatile organic compounds from farming operations of at least #c tons per day in calendar year #bjaj2 or 7iii7 emissions of oxides of nitrogen from sources governed primarily through international law of at least #ej tons per day in calendar year #bjaj4 7,c7 ,air quality-related health effects ,as of the date of designation1 the area meets or exceeds the national average per capita incidence of asthma4 7,d7 ,economic impact ,as of the date of designation1 the area experiences unemployment rates higher than the national average4 7,e7 ,matching funds ,the air pollution control district or other local governmental entity submitting the strategic plan under paragraph 7#b7 for the area agrees that it will make available 7directly or through contributions from the ,state or other public or private entities7 non-,federal contributions toward the activities to be carried out under the strategic plan in an amount equal to #a for each #a of ,federal funds provided for such activities4 ,such non-,federal matching funds may be in cash or in-kind1 fairly evaluated1 including plant1 equipment1 or services4 7#d7 ,period of designation ,a designation under paragraph 7#a7 shall remain in effect during the period beginning on the date of the designation and ending on the earlier of-- 7,a7 the last day of the tenth calendar year ending after the date of the designation2 or 7,b7 the date on which the ,administrator revokes the designation4 7#e7 ,revocation of designation ,the ,administrator may revoke the designation under paragraph 7#a7 of an area if the ,administrator determines that-- 7,a7 the area is in attainment with the national ambient air quality standards for ,,pm#b4e and ozone2 or 7,b7 the air pollution control district or other local governmental entity submitting the strategic plan under paragraph 7#b7 for the area is not complying substantially with1 or fails to make progress in achieving the goals of1 such strategic plan4 7b7 ,grants for air and health quality empowerment zones 7#a7 ,in general ,for the purpose described in paragraph 7#b71 the ,administrator may award one or more grants to the air pollution control district or local governmental entity submitting the application under subsection 7a77#b7 on behalf of each air and health quality empowerment zone designated under subsection 7a77#a74 7#b7 ,use of grants ,a recipient of a grant under paragraph 7#a7 shall use the grant solely for the purpose of carrying out the strategic plan submitted by the recipient under subsection 7a77#b74 7#c7 ,amount of grants ,the amount awarded under this subsection with respect to a designated air and health quality empowerment zone shall be determined by the ,administrator based upon a review of-- 7,a7 the information contained in the application for the zone under subsection 7a77#b72 and 7,b7 the needs set forth in the application for those anticipated to benefit from the strategic plan submitted for the zone4 7#d7 ,timing of grants ,to the extent and in the amount of appropriations made available in advance1 the ,administrator shall-- 7,a7 award a grant under this subsection with respect to each air and health quality empowerment zone on the date of designation of the zone under subsection 7a77#a72 and 7,b7 make the grant funds available to the grantee on the first day of the first fiscal year that begins after the date of such designation4 7#e7 ,authorization of appropriations ,to carry out this subsection1 there is authorized to be appropriated #bj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjae through #bjah4 7c7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,administrator ,the term ,administrator means the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency4 7#b7 ,,pm#b4e ,the term ,,pm#b4e means particulate matter with a diameter that does not exceed #b4e micrometers4 #c4 ,report to ,congress ,not later than #e years after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency-- 7#a7 shall submit a report to the ,congress on the impact of this ,act2 and 7#b7 may include in such report a description of the impact of this ,act in regard to-- 7,a7 the reduction of particulate matter and nitrogen oxides emissions2 7,b7 the reduction of asthma rates and other health indicators2 and 7,c7 economic indicators4