During its 46-year history, the EDA has evolved from a cluster of programs targeted primarily to rural communities experiencing long-term economic depression to an agency that also assists urban areas and addresses issues confronting communities experience sudden economic dislocation. Contents of this report: (1) Precursors to the EDA; (2) Public Works and Econ. Develop. Act (PWEDA) of 1965: PWEDA Amend. of the 1970s; Title VII, EDA and Disaster Recovery; Title IX, Special Econ. Develop. and Adjust. Assist.; Title X and Other EDA Anti-recession Legislation; PWEDA Amend. of 1976; Redrafting EDA¿s Authority: PWEDA Amend. of 1998; Refining the 1998 Amend.; EDA Reauth. Act of 2004. This is a print on demand report.