GAO STUDY ON RURAL COMMUNITIES.

SEC. 2235. GAO STUDY ON RURAL COMMUNITIES. (a) In General.—Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States (referred to in this section as the “Comptroller General”) shall conduct a study to evaluate the impacts of funding provided by the Economic Development Administration to distressed communities (as described in section 301(a) of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3161(a))) located in rural areas. (b) Contents.—In carrying out the study under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall— (1) identify not less than 5 geographically diverse distressed communities in rural areas; and (2) for each distressed community identified under paragraph (1), examine the impacts of funding provided by the Economic Development Administration on— (A) the local jobs and unemployment of the community; and (B) the availability of affordable housing in the community. (c) Report.—On completion of the study under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report on the findings of the study and any recommendations that result from the study.