I'm going to try to catch up today on some votes that I've missed over the last month or so. -- Fitzy

On October 4, 2007, the House of Representatives took up HR 3246, the Regional Economic and Infrastructure Development Act of 2007. The Majority Whip's website describes the bill:

H.R. 3246 – Regional Economic and Infrastructure Development Act of 2007

Authorizes Five Regional Economic Development Commissions. H.R. 3246 provides a comprehensive regional approach to economic and infrastructure development in the most severely economically distressed regions in the nation. H.R. 3246 authorizes five regional economic development commissions under a common framework of administration and management, and provides a structure for economic development decision-making and planning. These commissions are designed to address problems of systemic poverty and underdevelopment in their respective regions. The Delta Regional Commission and the Northern Great Plains Regional Commission are existing entities that are reauthorized in this legislation, while the others have been proposed in legislation introduced in this and previous Congresses.

and

Management and Administration. This bill models the administrative and management procedures for these five commissions after the highly successful Appalachian Regional Commission. The bill establishes commission membership, voting structure, and staffing; outlines conditions for financial assistance; authorizes grants to local development districts; establishes an Inspector General for the commissions; and other provisions designed to produce a standard administrative framework. By providing a uniform set of procedures, this bill provides a consistent method for distributing economic development funds throughout the regions most in need of such assistance and ensures a comprehensive regional approach to economic and infrastructure development in the most severely distressed regions in the country.

Funding for Commissions. H.R. 3246 authorizes the appropriation of $1.25 billion over the 2008-2012 period to establish five regional economic development commissions under a common framework of administration and management, and provides a structure for economic development decision-making and planning. H.R. 3246 directs the five regional commissions to award grants to state and local governments, Indian tribes, and nonprofit organizations to promote economic and infrastructure development. At least 40 percent of the authorized funds would be used for rants to develop transportation, telecommunications, and other basic public infrastructure. Remaining funds would be used for other economic development activities, such as providing job training, improving public services, and promoting conservation, tourism, and development of renewable and alternative energy projects.

The bill passed the House with bipartisan support, on a vote of 264 to 154. Thirty-nine Republicans joined the Democrats in support of the bill.

Needless to say, Congressman Walberg apparently didn't feel it was appropriate to invest in developing the poorest parts of our country. He voted No, as did all other Republicans in the Michigan delegation.

Labels: 110th Congress, Economic Development, Infrastructure, Issues, Tim Walberg, Walberg Voting Record