Commerce Dept. issues SACI-free regs

In an interim final rule issued today, the Commerce Department revises and recodifies rules for the Economic Development Administration (EDA) to carry on its current programs -- which is, among other reasons, interesting because the White House has spent this whole past budget season trying to reshape much of what EDA does. The preamble in today's rule announcement notes that the Bush Administration has proposed replacing 18 EDA and other programs (including the Community Development Block Grants) with a single fund under EDA authority, tentatively labeled the Strengthening America's Communities Initiative (SACI). But it notes a need to update regulations for existing programs and authorizations, and for "new Investments pursuant to appropriations for Fiscal Year 2006 that Congress may enact."

Although the Commerce Department has been operating an SACI advisory committee and website for some time, Congress has not approved any such program, and there has in fact been intense bipartisan opposition to changing the shape of existing community and economic development programs.