DELTA REGIONAL AUTHORITY.

SEC. 6027. DELTA REGIONAL AUTHORITY. (a) Voting.—Section 382B(c) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2009aa-1(c)) is amended by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following: “(1) In general.— “(A) Temporary method.—During the period beginning on the date of enactment of this subparagraph and ending on December 31, 2004, a decision by the Authority shall require the affirmative vote of the Federal cochairperson and a majority of the State members (not including any member representing a State that is delinquent under subsection (g)(2)(C)) to be effective. “(B) Permanent method.—Effective beginning on January 1, 2005, a decision by the Authority shall require a majority vote of the Authority (not including any member representing a State that is delinquent under subsection (g)(2)(C)) to be effective.”. (b) Authority to Issue Regulations.—Section 3828(e)(4) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2009aa-1(e)(4)) is amended by striking “and rules” and inserting rules, and regulations”. (c) Economic and Community Development Grants.—Section 382C(b) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2009aa-2(b)) is amended by striking paragraph (3). (d) Supplements to Federal Grant Programs.—Section 382D of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2009aa-3) is amended to read as follows: “SEC. 382D. SUPPLEMENTS TO FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAMS. “(a) Finding.—Congress finds that certain States and local communities of the region, including local development districts, may be unable to take maximum advantage of Federal grant programs for which the States and communities are eligible because— “(1) the States or communities lack the economic resources to provide the required matching share; or “(2) there are insufficient funds available under the applicable Federal law authorizing the Federal grant program to meet pressing needs of the region. “(b) Federal Grant Program Funding.—Notwithstanding any provision of law limiting the Federal share, the areas eligible for assistance, or the authorizations of appropriations of any Federal grant program, and in accordance with subsection (c), the Authority, with the approval of the Federal cochairperson and with respect to a project to be carried out in the region— “(1) may increase the Federal share of the costs of a project under the Federal grant program to not more than 90 percent (except as provided in section 382F(b)); and “(2) shall use amounts made available to carry out this subtitle to pay the increased Federal share. “(c) Certifications.— “(1) In general.—In the case of any project for which all or any portion of the basic Federal share of the costs of the project is proposed to be paid under this section, no Federal contribution shall be made until the Federal official administering the Federal law that authorizes the Federal grant program certifies that the project—116 STAT. 374 “(A) meets (except as provided in subsection (b)) the applicable requirements of the applicable Federal grant program; and “(B) could be approved for Federal contribution under the Federal grant program if funds were available under the law for the project. “(2) Certification by authority.— “(A) In general.—The certifications and determinations required to be made by the Authority for approval of projects under this Act in accordance with section 382I— “(i) shall be controlling; and “(ii) shall be accepted by the Federal agencies. “(B) Acceptance by federal cochairperson.—In the case of any project described in paragraph (1), any finding, report, certification, or documentation required to be submitted with respect to the project to the head of the department, agency, or instrumentality of the Federal Government responsible for the administration of the Federal grant program under which the project is carried out shall be accepted by the Federal cochairperson.”. (e) Grants to Local Development Agencies.—Section 382E(b)(1) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2009aa-4(b)(1)) is amended by striking “may” and inserting “shall”. (f) Approval of Development Plans and Projects.—Section 382I of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2009aa-8) is amended— (1) in subsection (a), by inserting “and approved” after “reviewed”; and (2) in subsection (d), by striking “Votes for Decisions.—” and inserting “Approval of Grant Applications.—”. (g) Authorization of Appropriations.—Section 382M(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2009aa-12(a)) is amended by striking “2002” and inserting “2007”. (h) Termination of Authority.—Section 382N of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2009aa-13) is amended by striking “2002” and inserting “2007”. (i)Delta Region Agricultural Economic Development.—Subtitle D of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1981 et seq.) (as amended by section 6025) is amended by adding at the end the following: “SEC. 379D. DELTA REGION AGRICULTURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. “(a) In General.—The Secretary may make grants to assist in the development of state-of-the-art technology in animal nutrition (including research and development of the technology) and value-added manufacturing to promote an economic platform for the Delta region (as defined in section 382A) to relieve severe economic conditions. “(b) Authorization of Appropriations.—There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $7,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2002 through 2007.”. (j)Definition of Lower Mississippi.—Section 4(2()(I) of the Delta Development Act (42 U.S.C. 3121 note; Public Law 100460) is amended by inserting “Butler, Conecuh, Escambia, Monroe,” after “Russell,”.116 STAT. 375