II 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 3649 

To establish an advisory committee to provide independent advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Transportation regarding comprehensive, interdisciplinary issues relating to transportation from a variety 

of stakeholders in transportation planning, design, research, policy, and 

advocacy, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 15, 2022 

Mr. PADILLA (for himself, Mr. WARNOCK, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. BOOKER, 

Mr. CARPER, Mr. CASEY, Ms. DUCKWORTH, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. HEINRICH, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. MERKLEY, Mr. PETERS, Mr. REED, Mr. SANDERS, Ms. SMITH, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, and Mr. WYDEN) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 

A BILL 

To establish an advisory committee to provide independent 

advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Transportation regarding comprehensive, interdisciplinary 

issues relating to transportation from a variety of stakeholders in transportation planning, design, research, policy, and advocacy, 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, 


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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Transportation Equity 

3 Act’’. 

4 SEC. 2. TRANSPORTATION EQUITY COMMITTEE. 

5 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

6 (1) COMMITTEE.—The term ‘‘Committee’’ 

7 means the Transportation Equity Committee estab8 lished under subsection (b). 

9 (2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

10 the Secretary of Transportation. 

11 (b) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 120 days after 

12 the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall es13 tablish an advisory committee, to be known as the Trans14 portation Equity Committee, to study and provide advice 

15 on comprehensive and interdisciplinary issues relating to 

16 transportation equity from a variety of stakeholders in 

17 transportation planning, design, research, policy, and ad18 vocacy. 

19 (c) PURPOSE OF COMMITTEE.—The Committee shall 

20 provide independent advice and recommendations to the 

21 Secretary on transportation equity, including by devel22 oping a strategic plan that includes recommendations to 

23 the Secretary on national transportation metrics and the 

24 effect of transportation equity on such factors as economic 

25 development, connectivity, accessibility, and public engage26 ment. 


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1 (d) DUTIES.—The Committee shall evaluate the work 

2 of the Department of Transportation in— 

3 (1) connecting people to economic and related 

4 forms of opportunity; 

5 (2) revitalizing communities in carrying out 

6 strategic, research, technological, regulatory, com7 munity engagement, and economic policy activities 

8 relating to transportation and opportunity; and 

9 (3) ensuring equal access to transportation for 

10 all residents, including those with disabilities and 

11 older adults. 

12 (e) MEMBERSHIP.— 

13 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall appoint 

14 an odd number of not less than 9 but not more than 

15 15 members to the Committee, which shall include 

16 balanced representation with varying points of view 

17 from academia, community groups, industry and 

18 business, nongovernmental organizations, State and 

19 local governments, federally recognized Indian 

20 Tribes, advocacy organizations, and indigenous 

21 groups. 

22 (2) BROAD REPRESENTATION.—To the extent 

23 practicable, members of the Committee shall re24 flect— 


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1 (A) a variety of backgrounds and experi2 ences; 

3 (B) geographic diversity, including urban, 

4 rural, Tribal, territorial, and underserved and 

5 marginalized communities throughout the 

6 United States; and 

7 (C) individuals with expertise in related 

8 areas such as housing, health care, disability 

9 access, and the environment. 

10 (3) REPLACEMENT FOR INACTIVE MEMBERS.— 

11 If a member misses 3 consecutive meetings, the Sec12 retary may— 

13 (A) remove the member; and 

14 (B) appoint a replacement to serve for the 

15 remainder of the term as provided under sub16 section (i). 

17 (f) DESIGNATED FEDERAL OFFICER.— 

18 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall appoint 

19 a full-time Federal employee as the Designated Fed20 eral Officer for the Committee, who shall— 

21 (A) serve as the coordinator of the Com22 mittee; and 

23 (B) ensure that administrative support is 

24 provided for the Committee, including by carVerDate Sep 11 2014 17:06 Feb 17, 2022 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3649.IS S3649

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1 rying out the responsibilities described in para2 graph (2). 

3 (2) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Designated Fed4 eral Officer shall— 

5 (A) call meetings of the Committee, and 

6 any subcommittees that the Committee des7 ignates, after consultation with the Chair; 

8 (B) formulate and approve an agenda, in 

9 consultation with the Chair, for each meeting; 

10 (C) notify all Committee members of the 

11 time, place, and agenda for any meeting; 

12 (D) provide administrative support for all 

13 meetings of the Committee; 

14 (E) attend each Committee and sub15 committee meeting; 

16 (F) maintain all Committee files and 

17 records, including minutes from each meeting; 

18 (G) adjourn any meeting when it is deter19 mined to be in the public interest; 

20 (H) serve as the chair at a meeting, if di21 rected to do so by the Secretary; 

22 (I) make available to the public meeting 

23 notes and information; and 


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1 (J) publish in the Federal Register notice 

2 of any meeting of the Committee not less than 

3 15 days before the meeting. 

4 (g) MEETINGS.— 

5 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Committee shall meet 

6 not less than 2 times each year, with not more than 

7 9 months between meetings. 

8 (2) TIME AND PLACE.—Meetings of the Com9 mittee shall be— 

10 (A) at a reasonable time; 

11 (B) in a place accessible to the public; 

12 (C) in a room— 

13 (i) large enough to accommodate at 

14 least 100 people, including the Committee 

15 members, staff, and a reasonable number 

16 of interested members of the public; and 

17 (ii) that is in compliance with the 

18 Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 

19 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.); and 

20 (D) in compliance with section 504 of the 

21 Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794). 

22 (h) QUORUM.—A quorum shall be a majority of the 

23 members of the Committee, rounded up to the nearest odd 

24 number. 

25 (i) TERM.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—Each member of the Com2 mittee shall serve a 2-year term with not more than 

3 2 consecutive term reappointments. 

4 (2) DELAYED REPLACEMENTS.—Notwith5 standing paragraph (1), a member may continue 

6 service until a replacement member is appointed. 

7 (j) SUPPORT.—The Office of the Under Secretary for 

8 Policy of the Department of Transportation shall provide 

9 necessary funding, logistics, and administrative support 

10 for the Committee. 

11 (k) APPLICATION OF FACA.—Section 14 of the Fed12 eral Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not 

13 apply to the Committee. 

Æ 


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