### §70201. State freight advisory committees

(a) In General.—The Secretary of Transportation shall encourage each State to establish a freight advisory committee consisting of a representative cross-section of public and private sector freight stakeholders, including representatives of—

(1) ports, if applicable;

(2) freight railroads, if applicable;

(3) shippers;

(4) carriers;

(5) freight-related associations;

(6) third-party logistics providers;

(7) the freight industry workforce;

(8) the transportation department of the State;

(9) metropolitan planning organizations;

(10) local governments;

(11) the environmental protection department of the State, if applicable;

(12) the air resources board of the State, if applicable;

(13) economic development agencies of the State; and

(14) not-for-profit organizations or community organizations.

(b) Qualifications.—Each member of a freight advisory committee established under subsection (a) shall have qualifications sufficient to serve on a freight advisory committee, including, as applicable—

(1) general business and financial experience;

(2) experience or qualifications in the areas of freight transportation and logistics;

(3) experience in transportation planning;

(4) experience representing employees of the freight industry;

(5) experience representing a State, local government, or metropolitan planning organization; or

(6) experience representing the views of a community group or not-for-profit organization.

(c) Role of Committee.—A freight advisory committee of a State described in subsection (a) shall—

(1) advise the State on freight-related priorities, issues, projects, and funding needs;

(2) serve as a forum for discussion for State transportation decisions affecting freight mobility;

(3) communicate and coordinate regional priorities with other organizations;

(4) promote the sharing of information between the private and public sectors on freight issues; and

(5) participate in the development of the freight plan of the State described in section 70202, including by providing advice regarding the development of the freight investment plan.

(Added Pub. L. 114–94, div. A, title VIII, §8001(a), Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1610; amended Pub. L. 117–58, div. B, title I, §21107, Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 662.)

#### **Editorial Notes**

#### Amendments

2021—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 117–58, §21107(1), substituted "representatives of—" and pars. (1) to (14) for "representatives of ports, freight railroads, shippers, carriers, freight-related associations, third-party logistics providers, the freight industry workforce, the transportation department of the State, and local governments."

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 117–58, §21107(4), added subsec. (b). Former subsec. (b) redesignated (c).

Subsec. (b)(5). Pub. L. 117–58, §21107(2), substituted "70202, including by providing advice regarding the development of the freight investment plan." for "70202."

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 117–58, §21107(3), redesignated subsec. (b) as (c).

#### **Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries**

#### Effective Date

Section effective Oct. 1, 2015, see section 1003 of Pub. L. 114–94, set out as an Effective Date of 2015 Amendment note under section 5313 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.