Lincoln Chafee: “Section 301(a) sets the basic eligibility requirements for economically distressed areas. These criteria are intended to…”

“Section 301(a) sets the basic eligibility requirements for economically distressed areas. These criteria are intended to ensure that EDA assistance is targeted to truly distressed communities. The third criterion, which you mention, is intended to allow the necessary flexibility to address other situations of serious distress that, for a number of reasons, may not fulfill the first two criteria but that clearly would be considered by the Secretary and Congress as deserving of assistance. Thus, the bill before us provides the Secretary with sufficient flexibility in this regard.”