; and (B) by striking electric transmission facilities designated by the Secretary to be necessary in the national interest under section 216(a) of the Federal Power Act ( 16 U.S.C. 824p(a) ) and inserting national interest electric transmission facilities (as defined in section 216(a) of the Federal Power Act ( 16 U.S.C. 824p(a) )) . 3. Support for regional offices of cooperating agencies There are authorized to be appropriated to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission such sums as are necessary to provide funding to cooperating agencies (as defined in section 1508.1 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation)) with respect to qualifying projects (as defined in section 216(a) of the Federal Power Act ( 16 U.S.C. 824p(a) )) to help cover the costs of the staff and resources of the cooperating agency that relate to the qualifying project in order to focus those staff and resources on an expeditious review of the qualifying project. 4. FERC hiring and compensation authority (a) Definition of Commission In this section, the term Commission means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. (b) Appointment authority Notwithstanding any provision of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments and General Schedule classification and pay rates— (1) the Chairman of the Commission may designate positions to which persons may be appointed without regard to the civil service laws; and (2) the Commission may appoint persons to those positions without regard to the civil service laws. (c) Compensation authority (1) In general Notwithstanding chapter 51, and subchapter III of chapter 53, of title 5, United States Code, the Commission may fix the rate of basic pay for the positions of individuals described in paragraph (2), subject to the limitation described in paragraph (3), without regard to the civil service laws. (2) Individuals described An individual referred to in paragraph (1) is— (A) an individual appointed under subsection (b)