TRADE IMPACTED AREA COUNCILS.

SEC. 272. TRADE IMPACTED AREA COUNCILS. (a) Within 60 days after a community is certified under section 271, the Secretary shall send his representatives to the trade impacted area in which such community is located to inform officials of communities and other residents of such area about benefits available to them under this Act and to assist such officials and residents in establishing a Trade Impacted Area Council for Adjustment Assistance (hereinafter in this chapter referred to as the “Council”) for such area. (b) (1) The Secretary shall establish, subject to the last sentence of 88 Stat. 2037this paragraph, a Council for each trade impacted area in which one or more communities are certified under section 271. Such Council shall— (A) develop a proposal for an adjustment assistance plan for the economic rejuvenation of certified communities in its trade impacted area, and (B) coordinate community action under the adjustment assistance plan, as approved by the Secretary. If an appropriate entity for purposes of performing the functions specified in subparagraphs (A) and (B) already exists in such area, then the Secretary may designate such entity as the Council for such area. (2) Such Council shall include representatives of certified communities, industry, labor, and the general public located in the trade impacted area covered by the Council. (c) Upon application by a Council established under subsection (b), the Secretary is authorized to make grants to such Council for maintaining an appropriate professional and clerical staff. No grant shall be made to a Council to maintain staff after the period which ends 2 years after the date on which such Council is established or designated. (d) A Council established under this section may file an application with the Secretary for adjustment assistance under this chapter. Such application shall include the Council’s proposal for an adjustment assistance plan for the communities in its trade impacted area.