S-3425 : Still Just a Bill

The Resilient Communities Act of 2023, or S. 3425, aims to support communities negatively impacted by international trade. The bill authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to establish the Resilient Communities Program, which will provide grants to eligible recipients representing affected communities. These grants can be used for:

• Encouraging the continued production of goods within those communities, thereby supporting local employment.
• Promoting general economic development within those communities.

The bill establishes the Resilient Communities Fund, which will be financed by duties collected from antidumping and countervailing duty orders. Funds will be allocated to the Secretary of Commerce to award grants under the Resilient Communities Program.

• Eligible recipients are political subdivisions of a State in which an affected community is located.
• The bill prioritizes awarding subsequent grants to domestic producers within affected communities that are most likely to increase production and employment.
• If there is no covered domestic producer in an affected community, an eligible recipient representing that community that is in receipt of a grant shall use the amounts awarded under that grant for economic development within that community.

"Economic development" is defined as improvements to:

• Workforce development.
• Public infrastructure.
• Access to healthcare, social services, healthy food, or education.
• Compliance with environmental standards.
• Affordable housing.
• Broadband access.

"Injury from trade" is defined as:

• An injury determined by the United States International Trade Commission.
• A determination by the Secretary of Commerce that a significant number of workers have been separated or threatened with separation, and the sales or production of a domestic producer has decreased.