SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REPRESENTATIVES.

SEC. 605. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REPRESENTATIVES. (a) Findings.—Congress finds that—(1) planning and coordination among Federal agencies, State and local governments, Indian tribes, and economic development districts is vital to the success of an economic development program; (2) economic development representatives of the Economic Development Administration provide distressed communities with the technical assistance necessary to foster this planning and coordination; and (3) in the 5 years preceding the date of enactment of this Act, the number of economic development representatives has declined by almost 25 percent. (b) Sense of Congress.—It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary should maintain a sufficient number of economic development representatives to ensure that the Economic Development Administration is able to provide effective assistance to distressed communities and foster economic growth and development among the States.