S. 2572 — Introduced in Senate

II 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2572 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 27, 2023 Mr. Padilla (for himself and Mr. Cassidy) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works A BILL To amend the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 to authorize the Secretary of Commerce to make predevelopment grants, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Economic Empowerment Through Predevelopment Act of 2023. 2. Predevelopment grants (a) Predevelopment grants (1) In general Title II of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 is amended by inserting after section 207 (42 U.S.C. 3147) the following: 208. Predevelopment grants (a) Predevelopment grants On the application of an eligible recipient, the Secretary may make grants or cooperative agreements for— (1) community asset mapping; (2) training; (3) technical assistance and organizational development; (4) feasibility, environmental, and market studies; (5) demonstration projects; (6) organizational capacity building; (7) organizing and facilitating convenings; (8) permitting, including professional services; and (9) other predevelopment activities determined by the Secretary to be appropriate. (b) Application assistance In the case of a project under this section that provides assistance to 1 or more eligible recipients with low organizational capacity, as determined by the Secretary, the Secretary may waive the prohibition under section 213. . (2) Cost sharing Section 204(c)(3) of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3144(c)(3)) is amended— (A) in the paragraph heading, by inserting and predevelopment grants after and technical assistance; and (B) by striking section 207 and inserting section 207 or 208. (3) Clerical amendment The table of contents contained in section 1(b) of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (79 Stat. 552; 112 Stat. 3597; 118 Stat. 1761) is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 207 the following: Sec. 208. Predevelopment grants. . (b) Conforming amendments (1) Direct expenditure or redistribution by recipient Section 217(a) of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3154c(a)) is amended by striking or 207 and inserting 207, or 208. (2) Powers of Secretary Section 601(a)(12) of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3211(a)(12)) is amended by striking section 207 and inserting sections 207 and 208.