Federal Register and post on the Department of Trans-
portation website the substantive criteria and standards 
used by the Secretary to determine whether to approve 
or disapprove applications submitted under section 502 of 
the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 
1976 (45 U.S.C. 822). 
(i) OPERATORS DEEMED RAIL CARRIERS; LOANS 
AND LOAN GUARANTEES FOR NONRAILROAD ENTITIES.—
Section 502 of the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory 
Reform Act of 1976 (45 U.S.C. 822), as amended by sub-
section (f), is further amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(j) OPERATORS DEEMED RAIL CARRIERS.—A per-
son that conducts rail operations funded or otherwise re-
ceiving assistance under this section is deemed to be a rail 
carrier for purposes of part A of subtitle IV of title 49, 
United States Code, when so operating or performing such 
services. 
‘‘(k) LOAN AND LOAN GUARANTEES FOR NONRAIL-
ROAD ENTITIES.—Notwithstanding any other provision of 
law, entities other than rail companies shall be eligible for 
loans and loan guarantees under this section.’’.
SEC. 402. RAIL PASSENGER COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 249 is amended by add-
ing at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 24910. Passenger rail cooperative research pro-
gram 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation 
shall establish and carry out a rail passenger cooperative 
research program. The program shall—
‘‘(1) address, among other matters, intercity 
rail passenger services, including existing rail pas-
senger technologies and speeds, incrementally en-
hanced rail systems and infrastructure, and new 
high-speed wheel-on-rail systems; 
‘‘(2) give consideration to research on com-
muter rail, regional rail, freight rail, and other 
modes of rail transportation that may affect rail 
passenger transportation due to the interconnected-
ness of the rail passenger network with other rail 
transportation services; and 
‘‘(3) give consideration to regional concerns re-
garding rail passenger transportation, including 
meeting research needs common to designated high-
speed corridors, long-distance rail services, and re-
gional intercity rail corridors, projects, and entities.
‘‘(b) CONTENTS.—The program to be carried out 
under this section shall include research designed—
‘‘(1) to identify the unique aspects and at-
tributes of rail passenger service; 
‘‘(2) to develop more accurate models for evalu-
ating the indirect effects of rail passenger service, 
including the effects on highway and airport and air-
way congestion, environmental quality, and energy 
consumption; 
‘‘(3) to develop a better understanding of modal 
choice as it affects rail passenger transportation, in-
cluding development of better models to predict rid-
ership;
‘‘(4) to recommend priorities for technology 
demonstration and development; 
‘‘(5) to meet additional priorities as determined 
by the advisory board established under subsection 
(c), including any recommendations made by the Na-
tional Academy of Sciences; 
‘‘(6) to explore improvements in management, 
financing, and institutional structures; 
‘‘(7) to address rail capacity constraints that 
affect passenger rail service through a wide variety 
of options, ranging from operating improvements to 
dedicated new infrastructure, taking into account
the impact of such options on freight and commuter 
rail operations; and 
‘‘(8) to improve maintenance, operations, cus-
tomer service, or other aspects of existing intercity 
rail passenger service existing in 2003. 
‘‘(c) ADVISORY BOARD.—
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—In consultation with 
the heads of appropriate Federal departments and 
agencies, the Secretary shall establish an advisory 
board to recommend research, technology, and tech-
nology transfer activities related to rail passenger 
transportation. 
‘‘(2) MEMBERSHIP.—The advisory board shall 
include—
‘‘(A) representatives of State transpor-
tation agencies; 
‘‘(B) transportation and environmental 
economists, scientists, and engineers; and 
‘‘(C) representatives of Amtrak, the Alaska 
Railroad, transit operating agencies, intercity 
rail passenger agencies, railway labor organiza-
tions, and environmental organizations. 
‘‘(d) NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.—The Sec-
retary may make grants to, and enter into cooperative 
agreements with, the National Academy of Sciences to
carry out such activities relating to the research, tech-
nology, and technology transfer activities described in sub-
section (b) as the Secretary deems appropriate.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The chapter anal-
ysis for chapter 249 is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
‘‘24910. Passenger rail cooperative research program.’’.
(c) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of 
Transportation $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 
through 2008, to carry out section 24910 of title 49, 
United States Code.
SEC. 403. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS TO TITLE 49 RE-
FLECTING ICC TERMINATION ACT. 
(a) SECTION 333.—Section 333 is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘Interstate Commerce Commis-
sion’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘Surface 
Transportation Board’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘Commission’’ in subsection (e) 
and inserting ‘‘Board’’. 
(b) SECTION 24307.—Section 24307(b)(3) is amend-
ed by striking ‘‘Interstate Commerce Commission’’ and in-
serting ‘‘Surface Transportation Board’’. 
(c) SECTION 24308.—Section 24308 is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘Interstate Commerce Commis-
sion’’ in subsection (a)(2)(A) and inserting ‘‘Surface 
Transportation Board’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘Commission’’ each place it ap-
pears in subsections (a), (b), and (e) and inserting 
‘‘Board’’. 
(d) SECTION 24311.—Section 24311 is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘Interstate Commerce Commis-
sion’’ in subsection (c)(1) and inserting ‘‘Surface 
Transportation Board’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘Commission’’ each place it ap-
pears in subsection (c) and inserting ‘‘Board’’. 
(e) SECTION 24902.—Section 24902 is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘Interstate Commerce Commis-
sion’’ in subsections (g)(2) and (g)(3) and inserting 
‘‘Surface Transportation Board’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘Commission’’ each place it ap-
pears in subsections (g)(2) and (g)(3) and inserting 
‘‘Board’’. 
(f) SECTION 24904.—Section 24904 is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘Interstate Commerce Commis-
sion’’ in subsection (c)(2) and inserting ‘‘Surface 
Transportation Board’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘Commission’’ each place it ap-
pears in subsection (c) and inserting ‘‘Board’’.