State Temporary Economic Priority (STEP) Act - Authorizes states to transfer or consolidate funds made available to them under certain federal transportation, education, and job training programs: (1) beginning with the calendar quarter after the United States experiences economic growth at an annual rate of less than 1% for two consecutive calendar quarters; and (2) continuing until 18 months after it experiences economic growth at an annual rate of 1% or more for two consecutive calendar quarters.
[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
[H.R. 737 Introduced in House (IH)]
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 737
To authorize a State to transfer or consolidate funds made available to
such State under certain transportation, education, and job training
programs after the United States experiences economic growth at an
annual rate of less than 1 percent for 2 calendar quarters.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 28, 2009
Mr. Hoekstra (for himself, Mr. Rogers of Michigan, Mr. McCotter, Mr.
Gallegly, Mr. Paul, Mr. Wilson of South Carolina, and Mr. Linder)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committees on
Transportation and Infrastructure and Ways and Means, for a period to
be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize a State to transfer or consolidate funds made available to
such State under certain transportation, education, and job training
programs after the United States experiences economic growth at an
annual rate of less than 1 percent for 2 calendar quarters.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``State Temporary Economic Priority
(STEP) Act''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSE.
It is the purpose of this Act to authorize a State to transfer or
consolidate funds made available to such State under certain
transportation, education, and job training programs after the United
States experiences economic growth at an annual rate of less than 1
percent for 2 calendar quarters.
SEC. 3. AUTHORITY TO TRANSFER OR CONSOLIDATE CERTAIN FUNDS.
(a) Authority Available.--
(1) In general.--A State may transfer or consolidate funds
under subsections (b), (c), and (d) beginning with the calendar
quarter after the United States experiences economic growth at
an annual rate of less than 1 percent for 2 calendar quarters
and continuing until 18 months after the United States
experiences economic growth at an annual rate of 1 percent or
more for 2 calendar quarters.
(2) Treatment of transferred or consolidated funds.--Funds
transferred or consolidated under subsections (b), (c), or (d)
shall be used in accordance with the statutory and regulatory
requirements applicable to the program to which the funds are
transferred or consolidated.
(b) Transportation Funds.--
(1) In general.--In applying subsection (a), a State may
transfer, in such amounts as the State determines appropriate,
any funds apportioned and allocated to such State from amounts
made available from the Highway Trust Fund (26 U.S.C. 9503 et
seq.), other than the Mass Transit Account, to any of the
apportionments and allocations for the following programs
authorized by title 23, United States Code:
(A) The interstate maintenance program under
section 119.
(B) The National Highway System under section
103(b).
(C) The surface transportation program under
section 133.
(D) The highway bridge replacement and
rehabilitation program under section 144.
(2) Exempt transportation funds.--The funds made available
for the highway safety improvement programs authorized by
section 148 and chapter 4 of title 23, United States Code,
shall not be subject to transfer or consolidation under
subsection (a).
(c) Federal Education Funds.--In applying subsection (a), a State
may, in such amounts as the State determines appropriate from any funds
made available to such State under any formula grant programs carried
out under any of the following provisions of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.), transfer or
consolidate such funds between and among such programs:
(1) Part A of title I (Improving Basic Programs Operated by
Local Educational Agencies).
(2) Subpart 1 of part B of title I (Reading First).
(3) Subpart 3 of part B of title I (William F. Goodling
Even Start Family Literacy Programs).
(4) Subpart 4 of part B of title I (Improving Literacy
Through School Libraries).
(5) Part C of title I (Education of Migratory Children).
(6) Part D of title I (Prevention and Intervention Programs
for Children and Youth who are Neglected, Delinquent, or At-
Risk).
(7) Part F of title I (Comprehensive School Reform).
(8) Part H of title I (School Dropout Prevention).
(9) Subpart 1 of part A of title II (Teacher and Principal
Training and Recruiting Fund (Grants to States)).
(10) Part B of title II (Mathematics and Science
Partnerships).
(11) Part D of title II (Enhancing Education Through
Technology).
(12) Part A of title III (English Language Acquisition,
Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement).
(13) Part A of title IV (Safe and Drug-Free Schools and
Communities).
(14) Part B of title IV (21st Century Community Learning
Centers).
(15) Subpart 2 of part A of title V (Innovative Programs
(State Programs)).
(16) Subpart 1 of part A of title VI (Improving Academic
Achievement (Accountability)).
(d) Job Training Funds.--In applying subsection (a), a State may,
in such amounts as the State determines appropriate from any funds made
available to such State under the following job training programs,
transfer or consolidate such funds between and among such programs:
(1) Any formula grant program carried out under the
Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.).
(2) Any funds made available to the State under part II of
subchapter B of chapter 2 of title II of the Trade Act of 1974
(19 U.S.C. 2295 et seq.).
(e) Definitions.--In this Act--
(1) the phrase ``economic growth at an annual rate of less
than 1 percent for 2 calendar quarters'' means, that for 2
consecutive calendar quarters, real gross domestic product, as
announced by Bureau of Economic Analysis of the Department of
Commerce, has experienced--
(A) an annual rate of decrease for such quarters;
(B) no change in the annual rate for such quarters;
or
(C) an increase at an annual rate of less than 1
percent for such quarters; and
(2) the phrase ``economic growth at an annual rate of 1
percent or more for 2 calendar quarters'' means an increase in
real gross domestic product at an annual rate of 1 percent or
more for 2 consecutive calendar quarters, as announced by the
Bureau of Economic Analysis of the Department of Commerce for
such quarters.
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Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to House Education and Labor
Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to House Transportation and Infrastructure
Referred to House Ways and Means
Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
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