I 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 3585 

To authorize surface transportation research and development programs, and 

for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 22, 2015 

Mrs. COMSTOCK (for herself, Mr. SMITH of Texas, Mr. MOOLENAAR, Mr. 

LUCAS, Mr. HULTGREN, Mr. WESTERMAN, and Mr. ABRAHAM) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, 

Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by 

the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To authorize surface transportation research and 

development programs, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Surface Transpor5 tation Research and Development Act of 2015’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress makes the followings findings: 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 3585 IH

1 (1) Federal transportation research and devel2 opment planning and coordination— 

3 (A) should occur within the Office of the 

4 Secretary of Transportation; and 

5 (B) should be, to the extent practicable, 

6 multimodal and not occur solely within the sub7 agencies of the Department of Transportation. 

8 (2) Managing a multimodal research and devel9 opment portfolio within the Office of the Secretary 

10 will— 

11 (A) help identify opportunities where re12 search could be applied across modes; and 

13 (B) prevent duplication of efforts and 

14 waste of limited Federal resources. 

15 (3) Increasing transparency of transportation 

16 research and development efforts will— 

17 (A) build stakeholder confidence in the 

18 final product; and 

19 (B) lead to the improved implementation 

20 of research and development findings. 

21 SEC. 3. TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 

22 5-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN. 

23 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation 

24 shall develop a 5-year transportation research and devel25 opment strategic plan for fiscal years 2018 through 2022 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 3585 IH

1 to guide future Federal transportation research and devel2 opment activities. 

3 (b) CONSISTENCY.—The strategic plan developed 

4 under subsection (a) shall be consistent with— 

5 (1) section 306 of title 5, United States Code; 

6 (2) sections 1115 and 1116 of title 31, United 

7 States Code; and 

8 (3) any other research and development plan 

9 within the Department of Transportation. 

10 (c) CONTENTS.—The strategic plan developed under 

11 subsection (a) shall— 

12 (1) describe the primary purposes of the trans13 portation research and development program, which 

14 shall include— 

15 (A) improving mobility of people and 

16 goods; 

17 (B) reducing congestion; 

18 (C) promoting safety; and 

19 (D) improving the durability and extending 

20 the life of transportation infrastructure; 

21 (2) for each of the purposes referred to in para22 graph (1), list the proposed research and develop23 ment activities that the Department of Transpor24 tation intends to pursue to accomplish that purpose, 

25 which may include— 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
4 

•HR 3585 IH

1 (A) fundamental research pertaining to the 

2 applied physical and natural sciences; 

3 (B) applied science and research; 

4 (C) technology development research; and 

5 (D) social science research; and 

6 (3) for each research and development activ7 ity— 

8 (A) identify the anticipated annual funding 

9 levels for the period covered by the strategic 

10 plan; and 

11 (B) describe the research findings the De12 partment of Transportation expects to discover 

13 at the end of the period covered by the strategic 

14 plan. 

15 (d) CONSIDERATIONS.—The Secretary shall ensure 

16 that the strategic plan developed under this section— 

17 (1) reflects input from external stakeholders; 

18 (2) includes and integrates the research and de19 velopment programs of all of the Department of 

20 Transportation’s modal administrations and joint 

21 programs; 

22 (3) takes into account research and develop23 ment by other Federal, State, local, private sector, 

24 and nonprofit institutions; and 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
5 

•HR 3585 IH

1 (4) is published on a public website by Decem2 ber 31, 2016. 

3 (e) REPORT.— 

4 (1) NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL REVIEW.— 

5 The Secretary shall enter into an agreement with 

6 the National Research Council for a review and 

7 analysis of the Department’s 5-year research and de8 velopment strategic plan described in this section. 

9 By March 31, 2017, the Secretary shall publish on 

10 a public website the National Research Council’s 

11 analysis of the Department’s plan. 

12 (2) INTERIM REPORT.—By June 30, 2019, the 

13 Secretary shall publish on a public website an in14 terim report that— 

15 (A) provides an assessment of the Depart16 ment’s 5-year research and development stra17 tegic plan described in this section that includes 

18 a description of the extent to which the re19 search and development is or is not successfully 

20 meeting the purposes described under sub21 section (c)(1); and 

22 (B) addresses any concerns and identifies 

23 any gaps that may have been raised by the Na24 tional Research Council analysis under para25 graph (1), including how the plan is or is not 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
6 

•HR 3585 IH

1 responsive to the National Research Council re2 view. 

3 (f) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 

4 (1) CHAPTER 5 OF TITLE 23.—Chapter 5 of 

5 title 23, United States Code, is amended— 

6 (A) by striking section 508; 

7 (B) in the table of contents, by striking the 

8 item relating to section 508; 

9 (C) in section 502— 

10 (i) in subsection (a)(9), by striking 

11 ‘‘transportation research and technology 

12 development strategic plan developed under 

13 section 508’’ and inserting ‘‘transportation 

14 research and development strategic plan 

15 under section 3 of the Surface Transpor16 tation Research and Development Act of 

17 2015’’; and 

18 (ii) in subsection (b)(4), by striking 

19 ‘‘transportation research and development 

20 strategic plan of the Secretary developed 

21 under section 508’’ and inserting ‘‘trans22 portation research and development stra23 tegic plan under section 3 of the Surface 

24 Transportation Research and Development 

25 Act of 2015’’; and 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
7 

•HR 3585 IH

1 (D) in section 512(b), by striking ‘‘as part 

2 of the transportation research and development 

3 strategic plan developed under section 508’’. 

4 (2) INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYS5 TEMS.—The Intelligent Transportation Systems Act 

6 of 1998 (23 U.S.C. 502 note) is amended— 

7 (A) in section 5205(b), by striking ‘‘as 

8 part of the Surface Transportation Research 

9 and Development Strategic Plan developed 

10 under section 508 of title 23, United States 

11 Code’’ and inserting ‘‘as part of the transpor12 tation research and development strategic plan 

13 under section 3 of the Surface Transportation 

14 Research and Development Act of 2015’’; and 

15 (B) in section 5206(e)(2)(A), by striking 

16 ‘‘or the Surface Transportation Research and 

17 Development Strategic Plan developed under 

18 section 508 of title 23, United States Code’’ 

19 and inserting ‘‘or the transportation research 

20 and development strategic plan under section 3 

21 of the Surface Transportation Research and 

22 Development Act of 2015’’. 

23 (3) INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

24 RESEARCH.—Subtitle C of title V of the Safe, Ac25 countable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
8 

•HR 3585 IH

1 Act: A Legacy for Users (23 U.S.C. 512 note) is 

2 amended— 

3 (A) in section 5305(h)(3)(A), by striking 

4 ‘‘the strategic plan under section 508 of title 

5 23, United States Code’’ and inserting ‘‘the 5- 

6 year transportation research and development 

7 strategic plan under section 3 of the Surface 

8 Transportation Research and Development Act 

9 of 2015’’; and 

10 (B) in section 5307(c)(2)(A), by striking 

11 ‘‘or the surface transportation research and de12 velopment strategic plan developed under sec13 tion 508 of title 23, United States Code’’ and 

14 inserting ‘‘or the 5-year transportation research 

15 and development strategic plan under section 3 

16 of the Surface Transportation Research and 

17 Development Act of 2015’’. 

18 SEC. 4. ANNUAL RESEARCH PLANS AND RESEARCH AB19 STRACT DATABASE. 

20 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than May 1 of each 

21 year, the head of each modal administration and joint pro22 gram office of the Department of Transportation shall 

23 submit a comprehensive annual research plan for the fiscal 

24 year following the upcoming fiscal year to the Assistant 

25 Secretary for Research and Technology of the Department 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
9 

•HR 3585 IH

1 of Transportation (referred to in this section as the ‘‘As2 sistant Secretary’’). Each plan submitted under this sub3 section, after 2016, shall be consistent with the strategic 

4 plan developed under section 3. 

5 (b) REVIEW.— 

6 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than September 1 

7 of each year, the Assistant Secretary, for each plan 

8 submitted pursuant to subsection (a), shall— 

9 (A) review the scope of the research; and 

10 (B)(i) approve the plan; or 

11 (ii) request that the plan be revised and re12 submitted for approval. 

13 (2) PUBLICATIONS.—Not later than January 

14 30 of each year, the Assistant Secretary shall pub15 lish on a public website each plan that has been ap16 proved under paragraph (1)(B)(i). 

17 (3) REJECTION OF DUPLICATIVE RESEARCH EF18 FORTS.—The Assistant Secretary may not approve 

19 any plan submitted by the head of a modal adminis20 tration or joint program office pursuant to sub21 section (a) if such plan duplicates significant aspects 

22 of research projects of any other modal administra23 tion. 

24 (c) FUNDING LIMITATIONS.—No funds may be ex25 pended by the Department of Transportation on research 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
10 

•HR 3585 IH

1 that has not previously been approved as part of a re2 search plan approved by the Assistant Secretary unless— 

3 (1) such research is required by an Act of Con4 gress; 

5 (2) such research was part of a contract that 

6 was funded before the date of enactment of this Act; 

7 or 

8 (3) the Secretary of Transportation certifies to 

9 Congress that such research is necessary and pro10 vides justification for the certification. 

11 (d) DUPLICATIVE RESEARCH.— 

12 (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para13 graph (2), no funds may be expended by the Depart14 ment of Transportation on more than one research 

15 project that the Assistant Secretary identifies as du16 plicative under subsection (b)(3). 

17 (2) EXCEPTIONS.—Paragraph (1) shall not 

18 apply to— 

19 (A) research commissioned before the date 

20 of enactment of this Act; 

21 (B) updates to previously commissioned re22 search, including replication studies; or 

23 (C) research specifically required by law. 

24 (e) RESEARCH ABSTRACT DATABASE.— 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
11 

•HR 3585 IH

1 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Assistant Secretary 

2 shall annually publish on a public website a com3 prehensive database of all research projects con4 ducted by the Department of Transportation, includ5 ing, to the extent practicable, research funded 

6 through University Transportation Centers. 

7 (2) CONTENTS.—The database published under 

8 paragraph (1) shall— 

9 (A) include the research plans approved 

10 under subsection (b)(1)(B)(i); 

11 (B) describe the research objectives, 

12 progress, findings, and allocated funds for each 

13 research project; 

14 (C) identify research projects with 

15 multimodal applications; 

16 (D) specify how relevant modal administra17 tions have assisted, will contribute to, or plan 

18 to use the findings from the research projects 

19 identified under paragraph (1); 

20 (E) identify areas in which more than 1 

21 modal administration is conducting research on 

22 a similar subject or a subject which has a bear23 ing on more than 1 mode; 

24 (F) describe the interagency and cross25 modal communication and coordination that has 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
12 

•HR 3585 IH

1 occurred to develop the research plans approved 

2 under subsection (b)(1)(B)(i), and to prevent 

3 duplication of research projects within the De4 partment of Transportation; 

5 (G) indicate how the findings of research 

6 are being disseminated to improve the effi7 ciency, effectiveness, and safety of transpor8 tation systems; and 

9 (H) describe the specific content and 

10 sources of public and stakeholder input to the 

11 research plans approved under subsection 

12 (b)(1)(B)(i). 

13 (f) FUNDING REPORT.—In conjunction with each of 

14 the President’s annual budget requests under section 1105 

15 of title 31, United States Code, the Secretary of Transpor16 tation shall submit to Congress and annually publish on 

17 a public website a report that describes— 

18 (1) the amount spent in the last completed fis19 cal year on each transportation research and devel20 opment project; and 

21 (2) the amount that the Secretary plans or esti22 mates the Department will spend during the current 

23 fiscal year on each transportation research and de24 velopment project. 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
13 

•HR 3585 IH

1 SEC. 5. TRAFFIC CONGESTION. 

2 (a) WORKING GROUP.—The Secretary of Transpor3 tation shall establish a working group consisting of appro4 priate representatives from the different modal adminis5 trations of the Department of Transportation, chaired by 

6 the Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Research 

7 and Technology, to design, develop, and propose a pro8 gram of research on the reduction of traffic congestion. 

9 (b) DUTIES.—The working group established under 

10 subsection (a), shall— 

11 (1) establish goals and objectives for the pro12 gram under this section; 

13 (2) recommend research to accelerate the adop14 tion of transportation management systems that 

15 allow traffic to flow in the safest and most efficient 

16 manner possible while alleviating current and future 

17 traffic congestion challenges; 

18 (3) assess and analyze traffic, transit, and 

19 freight data from various sources relevant to efforts 

20 to reduce traffic congestion so as to maximize mobil21 ity, efficiency, and capacity while decreasing conges22 tion and travel times; 

23 (4) examine the use and integration of multiple 

24 data types from multiple sources and technologies, 

25 including road weather data, private vehicle (includ26 ing Global Positioning System) data, arterial and 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
14 

•HR 3585 IH

1 highway traffic conditions, transit vehicle arrival and 

2 departure times, real time navigation routing, con3 struction zone information, and reports of incidents, 

4 to suggest improvements in effective communication 

5 of such data and information in real time; 

6 (5) study and propose solutions to the traffic 

7 congestion issues on high-traffic roads in the Wash8 ington, DC, area to alleviate and prevent gridlock in 

9 and around the Nation’s Capital, reflecting its sig10 nificance as the seat of the Federal Government and 

11 headquarters for several critical national security 

12 agencies; 

13 (6) develop and disseminate suggested strate14 gies and solutions to reduce congestion for high-den15 sity traffic regions nationwide; and 

16 (7) collaborate with other relevant Federal 

17 agencies, State and local agencies, industry and in18 dustry associations, and university research centers 

19 to fulfill its goals and objectives. 

20 (c) IDENTIFYING INFORMATION.—The working 

21 group shall ensure that information used pursuant to this 

22 section does not contain identifying information of any in23 dividual. 

24 (d) CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION.—The working 

25 group shall keep the Committee on Science, Space, and 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
15 

•HR 3585 IH

1 Technology and the Committee on Transportation and In2 frastructure of the House of Representatives and the Com3 mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the 

4 Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Sen5 ate apprised of the activities and progress of the working 

6 group at least once every 6 months. 

7 (e) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 

8 of enactment of this Act, the working group shall transmit 

9 to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and 

10 the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 

11 the House of Representatives and the Committee on Com12 merce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on 

13 Environment and Public Works of the Senate a report on 

14 its activities under this section, including a transportation 

15 strategy that enables our transportation system in and 

16 around Washington, DC, to provide mobility in the event 

17 of an emergency or natural disaster. 

18 SEC. 6. HIGHWAY EFFICIENCY. 

19 (a) STUDY.— 

20 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Assistant Secretary of 

21 Transportation for Research and Technology shall 

22 examine the impact of pavement durability and sus23 tainability on vehicle fuel consumption, vehicle wear 

24 and tear, road conditions, and road repairs. 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
16 

•HR 3585 IH

1 (2) METHODOLOGY.—In carrying out the study, 

2 the Assistant Secretary shall— 

3 (A) conduct a thorough review of relevant 

4 peer-reviewed research published during at least 

5 the past 5 years; 

6 (B) analyze impacts of different types of 

7 pavement on all motor vehicle types, including 

8 commercial vehicles; 

9 (C) specifically examine the impact of 

10 pavement deformation and deflection; and 

11 (D) analyze impacts of different types of 

12 pavement on road conditions and road repairs. 

13 (3) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out the study, 

14 the Assistant Secretary shall consult with— 

15 (A) experts from the different modal ad16 ministrations of the Department of Transpor17 tation and from other Federal agencies, includ18 ing the National Institute of Standards and 

19 Technology; 

20 (B) State departments of transportation; 

21 (C) local government engineers and public 

22 works professionals; 

23 (D) industry stakeholders; and 

24 (E) appropriate academic experts active in 

25 the field. 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
17 

•HR 3585 IH

1 (b) REPORT.— 

2 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 

3 the date of enactment of this Act, the Assistant Sec4 retary shall publish on a public website the results 

5 of the study. 

6 (2) CONTENTS.—The report shall include— 

7 (A) a summary of the different types of 

8 pavements analyzed in the study and the im9 pacts of pavement durability and sustainability 

10 on vehicle fuel consumption, vehicle wear and 

11 tear, road conditions, and road repairs; and 

12 (B) recommendations for State and local 

13 governments on best practice methods for im14 proving pavement durability and sustainability 

15 to maximize vehicle fuel economy, ride quality, 

16 and road conditions and to minimize the need 

17 for road and vehicle repairs. 

18 SEC. 7. INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGIES. 

19 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Assistant Secretary of Trans20 portation for Research and Technology, as part of the In21 telligent Transportation Systems research program, with 

22 the goal of reducing traffic congestion and vehicle crashes 

23 and accelerating testing and research on the introduction 

24 of safe, connected, and automated vehicle technology sys25 tems, shall— 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
18 

•HR 3585 IH

1 (1) seek to identify and understand— 

2 (A) new and innovative vehicle tech3 nologies, including active safety technologies, 

4 and their safe application in vehicles; and 

5 (B) emerging vehicle technologies and ad6 vanced communications and sensing techniques 

7 that may require additional exploration and un8 derstanding by the Department of Transpor9 tation of how such technologies work alone and 

10 in conjunction with other vehicle and relevant 

11 nonvehicle technologies; 

12 (2) assess wireless technologies’ capabilities to 

13 achieve a deployable system in which vehicles of all 

14 types (including automobiles, trucks, motor coaches, 

15 transit vehicles, and other fleets), traffic signals, 

16 other infrastructure systems, pedestrians, motorcy17 clists, bicyclists, and mobile devices can interact with 

18 and among each other through secure communica19 tions, including by conducting rigorous, real-world 

20 testing, in cooperation with representatives of the 

21 Federal Communications Commission, the National 

22 Telecommunications and Information Administra23 tion, the automotive, Wi-Fi, cellular, and Intelligent 

24 Transportation Systems communities, of viable spec25 trum sharing technologies that could enable the safe 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
19 

•HR 3585 IH

1 operation of unlicensed devices, including Wi-Fi, in 

2 the 5.9 GHz band without interfering with con3 nected and automated vehicle communications; and 

4 (3) assist in the development of cybersecurity 

5 standards in cooperation with relevant modal admin6 istrations of the Department of Transportation and 

7 other Federal agencies, including the National Insti8 tute of Standards and Technology, to help prevent 

9 hacking, spoofing, and disruption of connected and 

10 automated transportation applications among sur11 face transportation vehicles of all types. 

12 (b) REPORT.—Upon completion of the testing de13 scribed in subsection (a)(2), the Secretary of Transpor14 tation shall send to Congress and the Federal Communica15 tions Commission, and publish on a public website, a re16 port identifying any potential signal interference risks to 

17 connected and automated vehicle communications that 

18 may exist due to unlicensed devices, including Wi-Fi, oper19 ating in the 5.9 GHz band, including a determination of 

20 whether such devices can safely operate in the 5.9 GHz 

21 band without creating signal interference that could jeop22 ardize or delay the deployment of an effective connected 

23 and automated vehicle communications system. 

24 (c) ANALYSIS.—In carrying out this section, the As25 sistant Secretary of Transportation for Research and 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
20 

•HR 3585 IH

1 Technology shall document and analyze the technologies 

2 described in subsection (a), and share results of the anal3 ysis with the National Highway Traffic Safety Adminis4 tration annually. 

5 (d) PRIVACY.—In carrying out this section, the Sec6 retary and the Assistant Secretary shall ensure the privacy 

7 of individuals. 

8 (e) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘active 

9 safety technologies’’ means technologies which actively as10 sist drivers or vehicles in preventing or mitigating a crash. 

11 SEC. 8. RAIL SAFETY. 

12 Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 

13 of this Act, the Assistant Secretary of Transportation for 

14 Research and Technology shall transmit to Congress a re15 port containing— 

16 (1) the results of a study to examine the state 

17 of rail safety technologies and an analysis of whether 

18 the passenger, commuter, and transit rail transpor19 tation industries are keeping up with innovations in 

20 technologies to make rail cars safer for passengers 

21 and transport of commerce; 

22 (2) a determination of how much additional 

23 time and public and private resources will be re24 quired for railroad carriers to meet the positive train 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
21 

•HR 3585 IH

1 control system implementation requirements under 

2 section 20157 of title 49, United States Code; and 

3 (3) an identification of technologies that in 

4 whole or in part achieve the safety goals of the posi5 tive train control implementation requirements 

6 under section 20157 that could be implemented 

7 sooner than positive train control systems, along 

8 with an analysis of the advantages and disadvan9 tages, including costs, of incorporating those alter10 native technologies to supplement or substitute for 

11 positive train control systems. 

12 SEC. 9. UNIVERSITY TRANSPORTATION CENTERS PRO13 GRAM. 

14 Section 5505 of title 49, United States Code, is 

15 amended— 

16 (1) in subsection (a)(2)(B) by inserting 

17 ‘‘multimodal’’ before ‘‘transportation knowledge’’; 

18 (2) in subsection (b)— 

19 (A) by striking paragraph (2) and insert20 ing the following: 

21 ‘‘(2) RESTRICTIONS.— 

22 ‘‘(A) LIMITATION ON APPLICATIONS.— 

23 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—A nonprofit insti24 tution of higher education may only submit 

25 1 grant application described in clause (ii) 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
22 

•HR 3585 IH

1 per fiscal year for each of the transpor2 tation centers described under paragraphs 

3 (2), (3), and (4) of subsection (c). 

4 ‘‘(ii) APPLICATIONS.—Applications re5 ferred to in clause (i) are applications sub6 mitted by a nonprofit institution of higher 

7 education— 

8 ‘‘(I) in an individual capacity, 

9 not through participation in a consor10 tium of nonprofit institutions of high11 er education; or 

12 ‘‘(II) as the lead institution of a 

13 consortium of nonprofit institutions of 

14 higher education. 

15 ‘‘(B) LIMITATION ON AWARDS.—A non16 profit institution of higher education may not 

17 receive in any fiscal year more than 1 grant 

18 under paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of sub19 section (c) based on applications described in 

20 subparagraph (A)(ii) of this paragraph.’’; 

21 (B) in paragraph (4)(B)(iii) by inserting 

22 ‘‘multimodal’’ before ‘‘transportation prob23 lems’’; and 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
23 

•HR 3585 IH

1 (C) in paragraph (4)(B)(v)(II) by inserting 

2 ‘‘, including women and underrepresented popu3 lations’’ after ‘‘field’’; and 

4 (3) in subsection (c)— 

5 (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘1 year 

6 after the date of enactment of the Transpor7 tation Research and Innovative Technology Act 

8 of 2012’’ and inserting ‘‘June 1, 2017’’; 

9 (B) by amending paragraph (3)(E) to read 

10 as follows: 

11 ‘‘(E) FOCUSED RESEARCH.— 

12 ‘‘(i) COMPREHENSIVE TRANSPOR13 TATION SAFETY.—The Secretary shall 

14 make a grant to 1 of the 10 regional uni15 versity transportation centers established 

16 under this paragraph for the purpose of 

17 furthering the objectives described in sub18 section (a)(2) in the field of comprehensive 

19 transportation safety. 

20 ‘‘(ii) TRAFFIC CONGESTION.—The 

21 Secretary shall make a separate grant to 1 

22 of the 10 regional university transportation 

23 centers established under this paragraph 

24 for the purpose of furthering the objectives 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
24 

•HR 3585 IH

1 described in subsection (a)(2) in the field 

2 of traffic congestion.’’; and 

3 (C) in paragraph (4)— 

4 (i) by striking subparagraph (B); 

5 (ii) by redesignating subparagraphs 

6 (C) and (D) as subparagraphs (B) and 

7 (C), respectively; and 

8 (iii) in subparagraph (C), as so redes9 ignated by clause (ii) of this subparagraph, 

10 by striking ‘‘paragraph’’ and inserting 

11 ‘‘section’’. 

12 SEC. 10. PRIZE COMPETITIONS. 

13 Section 502(b)(7) of title 23, United States Code, is 

14 amended— 

15 (1) in subparagraph (D)— 

16 (A) by inserting ‘‘(such as 

17 www.challenge.gov)’’ after ‘‘public website’’; 

18 (B) by redesignating clauses (iii) and (iv) 

19 as clauses (iv) and (v), respectively; 

20 (C) by inserting after clause (ii) the fol21 lowing: 

22 ‘‘(iii) the process for participants to 

23 register for the competition;’’; and 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
25 

•HR 3585 IH

1 (D) in clause (iv) (as redesignated by sub2 paragraph (B) of this paragraph), by striking 

3 ‘‘prize’’ and inserting ‘‘cash prize purse’’; 

4 (2) in subparagraph (E), by striking ‘‘prize’’ 

5 both places it appears and inserting ‘‘cash prize 

6 purse’’; 

7 (3) by redesignating subparagraphs (F) 

8 through (K) as subparagraphs (G) through (L), re9 spectively; 

10 (4) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the fol11 lowing: 

12 ‘‘(F) USE OF FEDERAL FACILITIES; CON13 SULTATION WITH FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.—An 

14 individual or entity is not ineligible to receive a 

15 cash prize purse under this paragraph as a re16 sult of the individual or entity using a Federal 

17 facility or consulting with a Federal employee 

18 related to the individual or entity’s participation 

19 in a prize competition under this paragraph if 

20 the same facility or employee is made available 

21 to all individuals and entities participating in 

22 the prize competition on an equitable basis.’’; 

23 (5) in subparagraph (G) (as redesignated by 

24 paragraph (3) of this section)— 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
26 

•HR 3585 IH

1 (A) in clause (i)(I), by striking ‘‘competi2 tion’’ and inserting ‘‘prize competition under 

3 this paragraph’’; 

4 (B) in clause (ii)(I)— 

5 (i) by striking ‘‘participation in a 

6 competition’’ and inserting ‘‘participation 

7 in a prize competition under this para8 graph’’; and 

9 (ii) by striking ‘‘competition activi10 ties’’ and inserting ‘‘prize competition ac11 tivities’’; and 

12 (C) by adding at the end the following: 

13 ‘‘(iii) INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.— 

14 ‘‘(I) PROHIBITION ON REQUIRING

15 WAIVER.—The Secretary may not re16 quire a participant to waive claims 

17 against the Department arising out of 

18 the unauthorized use or disclosure by 

19 the Department of the intellectual 

20 property, trade secrets, or confidential 

21 business information of the partici22 pant. 

23 ‘‘(II) PROHIBITION ON GOVERN24 MENT ACQUISITION OF INTELLECTUAL

25 PROPERTY RIGHTS.—The Federal 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
27 

•HR 3585 IH

1 Government may not gain an interest 

2 in intellectual property developed by a 

3 participant for a prize competition 

4 under this paragraph without the 

5 written consent of the participant. 

6 ‘‘(III) LICENSES.—The Federal 

7 Government may negotiate a license 

8 for the use of intellectual property de9 veloped by a participant for a prize 

10 competition under this paragraph.’’; 

11 (6) in subparagraph (H)(i) (as redesignated by 

12 paragraph (3) of this section), by striking ‘‘subpara13 graph (H)’’ and inserting ‘‘subparagraph (I)’’; 

14 (7) in subparagraph (I) (as redesignated by 

15 paragraph (3) of this section), by striking ‘‘an agree16 ment with a private, nonprofit entity’’ and inserting 

17 ‘‘a grant, contract, cooperative agreement, or other 

18 agreement with a private sector for-profit or non19 profit entity’’; 

20 (8) in subparagraph (J) (as redesignated by 

21 paragraph (3) of this section)— 

22 (A) in clause (i)— 

23 (i) in subclause (I), by striking ‘‘the 

24 private sector’’ and inserting ‘‘private sec25 tor for-profit and nonprofit entities, to be 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
28 

•HR 3585 IH

1 available to the extent provided by appro2 priations Acts’’; 

3 (ii) in subclause (II), by striking ‘‘and 

4 metropolitan planning organizations’’ and 

5 inserting ‘‘metropolitan planning organiza6 tions, and private sector for-profit and 

7 nonprofit entities’’; and 

8 (iii) in subclause (III), by inserting 

9 ‘‘for-profit or nonprofit’’ after ‘‘private sec10 tor’’; 

11 (B) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘prize 

12 awards’’ and inserting ‘‘cash prize purses’’; 

13 (C) in clause (iv)— 

14 (i) by inserting ‘‘competition’’ after 

15 ‘‘A prize’’; and 

16 (ii) by striking ‘‘the prize’’ and insert17 ing ‘‘the cash prize purse’’; 

18 (D) in clause (v)— 

19 (i) by striking ‘‘amount of a prize’’ 

20 and inserting ‘‘amount of a cash prize 

21 purse’’; 

22 (ii) by inserting ‘‘competition’’ after 

23 ‘‘announcement of the prize’’; and 

24 (iii) in subclause (I), by inserting 

25 ‘‘competition’’ after ‘‘prize’’; 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
29 

•HR 3585 IH

1 (E) in clause (vi), by striking ‘‘offer a 

2 prize’’ and inserting ‘‘offer a cash prize purse’’; 

3 and 

4 (F) in clause (vii), by striking ‘‘cash 

5 prizes’’ and inserting ‘‘cash prize purses’’; 

6 (9) in subparagraph (K) (as redesignated by 

7 paragraph (3) of this section), by striking ‘‘or pro8 viding a prize’’ and inserting ‘‘a prize competition or 

9 providing a cash prize purse’’; and 

10 (10) in subparagraph (L)(ii) (as redesignated 

11 by paragraph (3) of this section)— 

12 (A) in subclause (I), by striking ‘‘The Sec13 retary’’ and inserting ‘‘Not later than March 1 

14 of each year, the Secretary’’; and 

15 (B) in subclause (II)— 

16 (i) in item (cc), by striking ‘‘cash 

17 prizes’’ both places it appears and insert18 ing ‘‘cash prize purses’’; and 

19 (ii) in item (ee), by striking ‘‘agency’’ 

20 and inserting ‘‘Department’’. 

21 SEC. 11. MOTORCYCLE SAFETY. 

22 (a) STUDY.—The Assistant Secretary for Research 

23 and Technology of the Department of Transportation shall 

24 enter into an agreement, within 45 days after the date 

25 of enactment of this Act, with the National Academy of 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
30 

•HR 3585 IH

1 Sciences to conduct a study on the most effective means 

2 of preventing motorcycle crashes. 

3 (b) LIMITATION.—The Department of Transpor4 tation may not provide a grant or any funds to a State, 

5 county, town, township, Indian tribe, municipal, or other 

6 local government to be used for any program to check hel7 met usage or create checkpoints for an operator of a mo8 torcycle or passenger on a motorcycle until the Assistant 

9 Secretary submits to the Committee on Science, Space, 

10 and Technology and the Committee on Transportation 

11 and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and 

12 the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 

13 of the Senate a report on the study required under sub14 section (a). 

15 (c) SUBMITTAL TO CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.— 

16 The Assistant Secretary shall submit the report to the 

17 committees as described in subsection (b) within 30 days 

18 after receiving the results of the study from the National 

19 Academy of Sciences. 

20 SEC. 12. PROHIBITION OF LOBBYING ACTIVITIES. 

21 No funds appropriated to the Secretary of Transpor22 tation shall be available for any activity whose purpose is 

23 to influence any pending Federal, State, or local legisla24 tion, except that this section shall not prevent officers or 

25 employees of the United States or of its departments or 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
31 

•HR 3585 IH

1 agencies from communicating to Members of Congress on 

2 the request of any Member or to Congress, through the 

3 proper channels, requests for legislation or appropriations 

4 which they deem necessary for the efficient conduct of the 

5 public business. Nothing in this section shall prohibit offi6 cers or employees of the United States or its departments 

7 or agencies from testifying before any Federal, State, or 

8 local legislative body upon the invitation of such legislative 

9 body. 

10 SEC. 13. BRIDGE SAFETY. 

11 (a) HIGHWAY AND BRIDGE INFRASTRUCTURE RE12 SEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.—Section 503(b)(3)(A)(i) of 

13 title 23, United States Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘, 

14 including through corrosion prevention measures for 

15 structural integrity of bridges’’ before the semicolon. 

16 (b) RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TESTING, AND

17 TRAINING FOR RAILROAD SAFETY.—Section 20108(a) of 

18 title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘, 

19 including corrosion prevention measures and structural in20 tegrity of rail bridges’’ before the period at the end. 

21 SEC. 14. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS RESEARCH AND DEVEL22 OPMENT. 

23 Section 5118 of title 49, United States Code, is 

24 amended— 

25 (1) in subsection (a)(2)— 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
32 

•HR 3585 IH

1 (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking 

2 ‘‘and’’; 

3 (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the 

4 period at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’ ; and 

5 (C) by adding at the end the following new 

6 subparagraph: 

7 ‘‘(C) coordinate, as appropriate, with other 

8 Federal agencies, including the National Insti9 tute of Standards and Technology, the Depart10 ment of Homeland Security, and the Depart11 ment of Energy.’’; and 

12 (2) by adding at the end the following new sub13 section: 

14 ‘‘(c) COOPERATIVE RESEARCH.— 

15 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—As part of the program es16 tablished in subsection (a), the Secretary may carry 

17 out cooperative research on hazardous materials 

18 transport. 

19 ‘‘(2) NATIONAL ACADEMIES.—The Secretary 

20 may enter into an agreement with the National 

21 Academies to support such research. 

22 ‘‘(3) RESEARCH.—Research conducted under 

23 this subsection may include activities related to— 

24 ‘‘(A) emergency planning and response, in25 cluding information and programs that can be 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
33 

•HR 3585 IH

1 readily assessed and implemented in local juris2 dictions; 

3 ‘‘(B) risk analysis and perception and data 

4 assessment; 

5 ‘‘(C) commodity flow data, including vol6 untary collaboration between shippers and first 

7 responders for secure data exchange of critical 

8 information; 

9 ‘‘(D) integration of safety and security; 

10 ‘‘(E) cargo packaging and handling; 

11 ‘‘(F) hazmat release consequences; and 

12 ‘‘(G) materials and equipment testing.’’. 

13 SEC. 15. WEB-BASED TRAINING FOR EMERGENCY RE14 SPONDERS. 

15 Section 5115(a) of title 49, United States Code, is 

16 amended by inserting ‘‘, including online curriculum as ap17 propriate,’’ after ‘‘a current curriculum of courses’’. 

Æ 


SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS