text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``State and Local Government Economic 
  Empowerment Act''.
  
  SEC. 2. ELIGIBILITY OF STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FOR INTEREST-FREE 
                LOANS.
  
      (a) In General.--Subject to subsection (b), each State, county, 
  incorporated municipality, and Indian tribe shall be entitled to obtain 
  a loan under section 3, unless such unit of government is delinquent in 
  repaying a prior loan.
      (b) Maximum Amount Limitation.--The total amount of money to which 
  any entity described in subsection (a) is entitled to borrow under this 
  section shall not exceed the amount equal to the product of--
              (1) the resident population, as determined by the Secretary 
          on the basis of the 2000 census, of the geographic territory 
          over which the entity has jurisdiction; and
              (2) the amount equal to--
                      (A) in the case of a State, $200;
                      (B) in the case of a county (as defined in section 
                  2 of title 1, United States Code), $200;
                      (C) in the case of an incorporated municipality, 
                  $600; and
                      (D) in the case of an Indian tribe, $1,000.
  
  SEC. 3. INTEREST-FREE LOANS.
  
      Subject to sections 2(b) and 4, the Secretary shall issue an 
  interest-free loan to any government unit described in section 2(a) if 
  the Secretary obtains such assurances as the Secretary determines to be 
  appropriate from the unit that the proceeds of such loan will be used 
  solely for the purpose of funding capital projects of the governmental 
  unit, including the construction of or improvements to--
              (1) streets, highways, bridges, and tunnels;
              (2) waste water and sewer systems; and
              (3) infrastructure and other public facilities.
  
  SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.
  
      (a) Disbursement Requirements.--Loans made under section 3 shall be 
  disbursed by the Secretary--
              (1) in a lump sum for the full amount of the loan; or
              (2) if the Secretary determines that partial disbursements 
          are appropriate in the case of loans for construction projects 
          in order to accommodate a greater number of loan requests, over 
          the construction period of the project.
      (b) Minimum Phase-In Period.--Disbursements on all eligible loans 
  made under section 3 shall begin before the end of the 5-year period 
  beginning on the date of enactment of this Act.
      (c) Period to Maturity.--The period to maturity of any loan made 
  under section 3 shall be the estimated number of years of the useful 
  life of the infrastructure installation (if any) which is financed by 
  the loan, but, in any case, shall be a minimum of 10 years and a 
  maximum of 30 years.
      (d) Applicability of State Law.--The number or the principal 
  amounts of interest-free loans made under section 3 to any governmental 
  unit established by a State, or the period to maturity of any such 
  loan, may not exceed the maximum number, amount, or period to maturity 
  established under the law of such State, unless the State provides a 
  waiver from any such limitation with respect to any such governmental 
  unit.
      (e) Administrative Fees.--The Secretary shall impose an 
  administrative fee on each recipient of a loan under section 3 in an 
  amount not to exceed the lesser of--
              (1) 0.25 percent of the total amount of the loan; or
              (2) an amount sufficient to cover all administrative costs 
          incurred by the Secretary, including overhead, for making and 
          administering the loan.
      (f) Terms of Repayment.--The repayment terms of any loan made under 
  section 3 shall require quarterly payments by the recipient in equal 
  amounts determined by dividing--
              (1) the sum of the principal and the administrative fees 
          applicable with respect to such loan; by
              (2) the number of calendar quarters any portion of which 
          falls within the period to maturity of the loan.
      (g) Collections of Past Due Amounts and Collection Fees.--
              (1) Enforced collections.--The Secretary shall take action 
          to enforce collection of past due amounts of any loan on which 
          4 or more quarterly payments are due and payable.
              (2) Impoundment of delinquent amount.--In the case of any 
          delinquent loan described in paragraph (1), the Secretary may 
          seek an order from a district court of the United States of 
          appropriate jurisdiction directing a United States Marshall to 
          impound, under authority of this subsection, any available 
          funds of the debtor in an amount equal to the amount currently 
          due as of the date of such action to reduce or eliminate the 
          delinquency.
              (3) Waiver of debtor's right to defend against 
          collection.--As a condition for receiving any loan under 
          section 3, the recipient shall waive any right to take any 
          legal action to prevent or defend against the collection by the 
          Secretary of any amount which the parties agree is past due.
              (4) Cost of collection.--The costs incurred by the 
          Secretary in collecting any amount under this subsection with 
          respect to any loan shall be added to and treated as a part of 
          the principal amount of the loan.
              (5) Balance of loan principal and fees payable in 
          accordance with terms of loan.--A debtor who is subject to 
          collection proceedings under this subsection for any delinquent 
          portion of a loan under section 3 shall continue to meet the 
          repayment schedule applicable to such loan for the remaining 
          amount of principal and fees.
      (h) Repayment of Loans.--Loans made under section 3 shall be repaid 
  to the Secretary in accordance with the terms established under this 
  Act and shall be deposited into the Treasury of the United States.
  
  SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.
  
      For purposes of this Act, the following definitions apply:
              (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
          of Commerce.
              (2) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian tribe'' means any 
          Indian tribe, band, pueblo, nation, or other organized group or 
          community, including any Alaska Native village or regional or 
          village corporation as defined in or established pursuant to 
          the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, which is recognized as 
          eligible for the special programs and services provided by the 
          United States to Indians because of their status as Indians.
              (3) State.--The term ``State'' includes the District of 
          Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American 
          Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Northern 
          Mariana Islands.
  
  SEC. 6. PROGRAM AUTHORITY.
  
      In accordance with the provisions of this Act, there are hereby 
  made available, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise 
  appropriated, such sums as may be necessary to make loans to all 
  entities described in section 2(a).
target: State and Local Government Economic Empowerment Act - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to issue an interest-free loan to any State, county, incorporated municipality, or Indian tribe upon obtaining appropriate assurances that the proceeds of the loan will be used solely for funding capital projects, including the construction of or improvements to: (1) streets, highways, bridges, and tunnels; (2) waste water and sewer systems; and (3) infrastructure and other public facilities. Sets maximum loan limitations. Entitles each such unit of government to obtain an interest-free loan unless it is delinquent in repaying a prior loan.
feat_title: To direct the Secretary of Commerce to make noninterest bearing loans to State and local governments solely for the purpose of funding capital projects, and for other purposes.