I 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 3726 

To amend title 49, United States Code, to establish a Center of Excellence 

to advance rail research and development. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 4, 2021 

Ms. NEWMAN 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 amend title 49, United States Code, to establish a Center 

of Excellence to advance rail research and development. 

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

3 SECTION 1. RAIL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER 

4 OF EXCELLENCE. 

5 Section 20108 of title 49, United States Code, is 

6 amended by adding at the end the following: 

7 ‘‘(d) RAIL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER

8 OF EXCELLENCE.— 


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1 ‘‘(1) CENTER OF EXCELLENCE.—The Secretary 

2 shall establish a center of excellence to carry out re3 search and development that improves the safety, ef4 ficiency and reliability of passenger and freight rail 

5 transportation. 

6 ‘‘(2) SELECTION OF HOST INSTITUTION.— 

7 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 

8 select an institution of higher education, or a 

9 consortium of institutions of higher education, 

10 to host and maintain the center of excellence 

11 established under paragraph (1). 

12 ‘‘(B) SELECTION CRITERIA.—In selecting a 

13 such an institution, the Secretary shall— 

14 ‘‘(i) give preference to applicants with 

15 strong past performance related to rail re16 search, education, and workforce develop17 ment activities; 

18 ‘‘(ii) consider the extent to which the 

19 applicant would involve public and private 

20 sector passenger and freight railroad oper21 ators; and 

22 ‘‘(iii) consider the regional and na23 tional impacts of the applicant’s proposed 

24 research and development activities. 


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1 ‘‘(3) USE OF FUNDS.—The institution of higher 

2 education may use funds provided under this sub3 section to carry out basic and applied research, eval4 uation, education, workforce development, and train5 ing efforts related to safety, efficiency, reliability, re6 siliency, and sustainability of commuter rail, inter7 city high-speed rail, and freight rail transportation, 

8 including advances in rolling stock, advanced posi9 tive train control, human factors, rail infrastructure, 

10 shared corridors, grade crossing safety, inspection 

11 technology, remote sensing, rail systems mainte12 nance, network resiliency, operational reliability, en13 ergy efficiency, and advanced technologies. 

14 ‘‘(4) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of a 

15 grant under this subsection shall not exceed 50 per16 cent of the costs of establishing and operating the 

17 center of excellence and related research activities 

18 carried out by the grant recipient. 

19 ‘‘(5) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 

20 ‘‘(A) FISCAL YEAR 2022.—There is author21 ized to be appropriated to the Secretary 

22 $7,500,000 for fiscal year 2022 for a grant 

23 under this subsection. 

24 ‘‘(B) FISCAL YEARS 2023 THROUGH 2026.— 

25 There are authorized to be appropriated to the 


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1 Secretary such sums as may be necessary for 

2 each of the fiscal years 2022 through 2026 for 

3 a grant under this subsection. 

4 ‘‘(C) AVAILABILITY.—Amounts appro5 priated pursuant to this paragraph shall remain 

6 available until expended. 

7 ‘‘(6) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION DE8 FINED.—In this subsection, the term ‘institution of 

9 higher education’ has the meaning given the term in 

10 section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 

11 (20 U.S.C. 1001).’’. 

Æ 


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