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(b) GRANTS.—To carry out this program, the Sec-
retary may make a grant to each eligible State, but not 
more than 6 eligible States in total, that agrees to comply 
with the requirements under subsection (c). Funds made 
available to a State under this section shall be used by the 
State for the pilot program described in subsection (a). 
(c) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible for a grant, a State 
shall— 
(1) submit an application in such form and 
manner as the Secretary prescribes; 
(2) agree to notify, at the time of registration, 
each owner or lessee of a motor vehicle presented for 
registration in the State of any open recall on that 
vehicle; 
(3) provide the open motor vehicle recall infor-
mation at no cost to each owner or lessee of a motor 
vehicle presented for registration in the State; and 
(4) provide such other information as the Sec-
retary may require. 
(d) AWARDS.—In selecting an applicant for an award 
under this section, the Secretary shall consider the State’s 
methodology for determining open recalls on a motor vehi-
cle, for informing consumers of the open recalls, and for 
determining performance.
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(e) PERFORMANCE PERIOD.—Each grant awarded 
under this section shall require a 2-year performance pe-
riod. 
(f) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the comple-
tion of the performance period under subsection (e), a 
grantee shall provide to the Secretary a report of perform-
ance containing such information as the Secretary con-
siders necessary to evaluate the extent to which open recalls 
have been remedied. 
(g) EVALUATION.—Not later than 180 days after the 
completion of the pilot program, the Secretary shall evalu-
ate the extent to which open recalls identified have been 
remedied. 
(h) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) CONSUMER.—The term ‘‘consumer’’ includes 
owner and lessee. 
(2) MOTOR VEHICLE.—The term ‘‘motor vehicle’’ 
has the meaning given the term under section 
30102(a) of title 49, United States Code. 
(3) OPEN
RECALL.—The term ‘‘open recall’’ 
means a recall for which a notification by a manufac-
turer has been provided under section 30119 of title 
49, United States Code, and that has not been rem-
edied under section 30120 of that title.
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(4) REGISTRATION.—The term ‘‘registration’’ 
means the process for registering motor vehicles in the 
State. 
(5) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ has the meaning 
given the term under section 101(a) of title 23, 
United States Code. 
SEC. 34206. RECALL OBLIGATIONS UNDER BANKRUPTCY. 
Section 30120A is amended by striking ‘‘chapter 11 
of title 11,’’ and inserting ‘‘chapter 7 or chapter 11 of title 
11’’. 
SEC. 34207. DEALER REQUIREMENT TO CHECK FOR OPEN 
RECALL. 
Section 30120(f) is amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—’’ before ‘‘A 
manufacturer’’ and indenting appropriately; 
(2) in paragraph (1), as redesignated, by strik-
ing the period at the end and inserting the following: 
‘‘if— 
‘‘(A) at the time of providing service for 
each of the manufacturer’s motor vehicles it serv-
ices, the dealer notifies the owner or the indi-
vidual requesting the service of any open recall; 
and 
‘‘(B) the notification requirement under 
subparagraph (A) is specified in a franchise, op-
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† HR 22 EAS 
erating, or other agreement between the dealer 
and the manufacturer.’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) DEFINITION OF OPEN RECALL.—In this sub-
section, the term ‘open recall’ means a recall for 
which a notification by a manufacturer has been pro-
vided under section 30119 and that has not been rem-
edied under this section.’’. 
SEC. 34208. EXTENSION OF TIME PERIOD FOR REMEDY OF 
TIRE DEFECTS. 
Section 30120(b) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘60 days’’ and 
inserting ‘‘180 days’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘60-day’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘180-day’’. 
SEC. 34209. RENTAL CAR SAFETY. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the 
‘‘Raechel and Jacqueline Houck Safe Rental Car Act of 
2015’’. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—Section 30102(a) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (10) and (11) 
as paragraphs (12) and (13), respectively; 
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (9) 
as paragraphs (2) through (10), respectively;
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† HR 22 EAS 
(3) by inserting before paragraph (2), as redesig-
nated, the following: 
‘‘(1) ‘covered rental vehicle’ means a motor vehi-
cle that— 
‘‘(A) has a gross vehicle weight rating of 
10,000 pounds or less; 
‘‘(B) is rented without a driver for an ini-
tial term of less than 4 months; and 
‘‘(C) is part of a motor vehicle fleet of 5 or 
more motor vehicles that are used for rental pur-
poses by a rental company.’’; and 
(4) by inserting after paragraph (10), as redesig-
nated, the following: 
‘‘(11) ‘rental company’ means a person who— 
‘‘(A) is engaged in the business of renting 
covered rental vehicles; and 
‘‘(B) uses for rental purposes a motor vehi-
cle fleet of 5 or more covered rental vehicles.’’. 
(c) REMEDIES FOR DEFECTS AND NONCOMPLIANCE.— 
Section 30120(i) is amended— 
(1) in the subsection heading, by adding ‘‘, OR 
RENTAL’’ at the end; 
(2) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘(1) If notification’’ and in-
serting the following:
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‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—If notification’’; 
(B) by indenting subparagraphs (A) and 
(B) four ems from the left margin; 
(C) by inserting ‘‘or the manufacturer has 
provided to a rental company notification about 
a covered rental vehicle in the company’s posses-
sion at the time of notification’’ after ‘‘time of 
notification’’; 
(D) by striking ‘‘the dealer may sell or 
lease,’’ and inserting ‘‘the dealer or rental com-
pany may sell, lease, or rent’’; and 
(E) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘sale 
or lease’’ and inserting ‘‘sale, lease, or rental 
agreement’’; 
(3) by amending paragraph (2) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(2) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this 
subsection may be construed to prohibit a dealer or 
rental company from offering the vehicle or equip-
ment for sale, lease, or rent.’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) SPECIFIC
RULES
FOR
RENTAL
COMPA-
NIES.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Except as otherwise 
provided under this paragraph, a rental com-
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† HR 22 EAS 
pany shall comply with the limitations on sale, 
lease, or rental set forth in subparagraph (C) 
and paragraph (1) as soon as practicable, but 
not later than 24 hours after the earliest receipt 
of the notice to owner under subsection (b) or (c) 
of section 30118 (including the vehicle identifica-
tion number for the covered vehicle) by the rental 
company, whether by electronic means or first 
class mail. 
‘‘(B) SPECIAL RULE FOR LARGE VEHICLE 
FLEETS.—Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), if 
a rental company receives a notice to owner cov-
ering more than 5,000 motor vehicles in its fleet, 
the rental company shall comply with the limi-
tations on sale, lease, or rental set forth in sub-
paragraph (C) and paragraph (1) as soon as 
practicable, but not later than 48 hours after the 
earliest receipt of the notice to owner under sub-
section (b) or (c) of section 30118 (including the 
vehicle identification number for the covered ve-
hicle) by the rental company, whether by elec-
tronic means or first class mail. 
‘‘(C) SPECIAL RULE FOR WHEN REMEDIES 
NOT IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE.—If a notification 
required under subsection (b) or (c) of section
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30118 indicates that the remedy for the defect or 
noncompliance is not immediately available and 
specifies actions to temporarily alter the vehicle 
that eliminate the safety risk posed by the defect 
or noncompliance, the rental company, after 
causing the specified actions to be performed, 
may rent (but may not sell or lease) the motor 
vehicle. Once the remedy for the rental vehicle be-
comes available to the rental company, the rental 
company may not rent the vehicle until the vehi-
cle has been remedied, as provided in subsection 
(a). 
‘‘(D) INAPPLICABILITY
TO
JUNK
AUTO-
MOBILES.—Notwithstanding paragraph (1), this 
subsection does not prohibit a rental company 
from selling a covered rental vehicle if such vehi-
cle— 
‘‘(i) meets the definition of a junk 
automobile under section 201 of the Anti- 
Car Theft Act of 1992 (49 U.S.C. 30501); 
‘‘(ii) is retitled as a junk automobile 
pursuant to applicable State law; and 
‘‘(iii) is reported to the National Motor 
Vehicle Information System, if required
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† HR 22 EAS 
under section 204 of such Act (49 U.S.C. 
30504).’’. 
(d) MAKING SAFETY DEVICES AND ELEMENTS INOP-
ERATIVE.—Section 30122(b) is amended by inserting ‘‘rent-
al company,’’ after ‘‘dealer,’’ each place such term appears. 
(e) INSPECTIONS, INVESTIGATIONS, AND RECORDS.— 
Section 30166 is amended— 
(1) in subsection (c)(2), by striking ‘‘or dealer’’ 
each place such term appears and inserting ‘‘dealer, 
or rental company’’; 
(2) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘or dealer’’ each 
place such term appears and inserting ‘‘dealer, or 
rental company’’; and 
(3) in subsection (f), by striking ‘‘or to owners’’ 
and inserting ‘‘, rental companies, or other owners’’. 
(f) RESEARCH AUTHORITY.—The Secretary of Trans-
portation may conduct a study of— 
(1) the effectiveness of the amendments made by 
this section; and 
(2) other activities of rental companies (as de-
fined in section 30102(a)(11) of title 49, United 
States Code) related to their use and disposition of 
motor vehicles that are the subject of a notification re-
quired under section 30118 of title 49, United States 
Code.
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(g) STUDY.— 
(1) 
ADDITIONAL
REQUIREMENT.—Section 
32206(b)(2) of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 
21st Century Act (Public Law 112–141; 126 Stat. 
785) is amended— 
(A) in subparagraph (E), by striking ‘‘and’’ 
at the end; 
(B) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as 
subparagraph (G); and 
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the 
following: 
‘‘(F) evaluate the completion of safety recall 
remedies on rental trucks; and’’. 
(2) REPORT.—Section 32206(c) of such Act is 
amended— 
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and 
(2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively; 
(B) by striking ‘‘REPORT.—Not later’’ and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(c) REPORTS.— 
‘‘(1) INITIAL REPORT.—Not later’’; 
(C) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘sub-
section (b)’’ and inserting ‘‘subparagraphs (A) 
through (E) and (G) of subsection (b)(2)’’; and 
(D) by adding at the end the following:
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‘‘(2) SAFETY
RECALL
REMEDY
REPORT.—Not 
later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of 
the ‘Raechel and Jacqueline Houck Safe Rental Car 
Act of 2015’, the Secretary shall submit a report to 
the congressional committees set forth in paragraph 
(1) that contains— 
‘‘(A) the findings of the study conducted 
pursuant to subsection (b)(2)(F); and 
‘‘(B) any recommendations for legislation 
that the Secretary determines to be appro-
priate.’’. 
(h) PUBLIC COMMENTS.—The Secretary shall solicit 
comments regarding the implementation of this section from 
members of the public, including rental companies, con-
sumer organizations, automobile manufacturers, and auto-
mobile dealers. 
(i) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section 
or the amendments made by this section— 
(1) may be construed to create or increase any 
liability, including for loss of use, for a manufacturer 
as a result of having manufactured or imported a 
motor vehicle subject to a notification of defect or 
noncompliance under subsection (b) or (c) of section 
30118 of title 49, United States Code; or
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† HR 22 EAS 
(2) shall supersede or otherwise affect the con-
tractual obligations, if any, between such a manufac-
turer and a rental company (as defined in section 
30102(a) of title 49, United States Code). 
(j) RULEMAKING.—The Secretary may promulgate 
rules, as appropriate, to implement this section and the 
amendments made by this section. 
(k) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this 
section shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 34210. INCREASE IN CIVIL PENALTIES FOR VIOLA-
TIONS OF MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY. 
(a) INCREASE IN CIVIL PENALTIES.—Section 30165(a) 
is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘$5,000’’ and inserting 
‘‘$21,000’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘$35,000,000’’ and inserting 
‘‘$105,000,000’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (3)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘$5,000’’ and inserting 
‘‘$21,000’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘$35,000,000’’ and inserting 
‘‘$105,000,000’’.
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(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by sub-
section (a) of this section take effect on the date that the 
Secretary certifies to Congress that the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration has issued the final rule re-
quired by section 31203(b) of the Moving Ahead for Progress 
In the 21st Century Act (Public Law 112–141; 126 Stat. 
758; 49 U.S.C. 30165 note). 
(c) PUBLICATION
OF EFFECTIVE DATE.—The Sec-
retary shall publish notice of the effective date under sub-
section (b) of this section in the Federal Register. 
SEC. 34211. ELECTRONIC ODOMETER DISCLOSURES. 
Section 32705(g) is amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ before ‘‘Not later than’’ 
and indenting appropriately; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) and subject 
to paragraph (3), a State, without approval from the 
Secretary under subsection (d), may allow for written 
disclosures or notices and related matters to be pro-
vided electronically if— 
‘‘(A) in compliance with— 
‘‘(i) the requirements of subchapter 1 of 
chapter 96 of title 15; or 
‘‘(ii) the requirements of a State law 
under section 7002(a) of title 15; and
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† HR 22 EAS 
‘‘(B) the disclosures or notices otherwise 
meet the requirements under this section, includ-
ing appropriate authentication and security 
measures. 
‘‘(3) Paragraph (2) ceases to be effective on the 
date the regulations under paragraph (1) become ef-
fective.’’. 
SEC. 34212. CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR NHTSA RE-
PORTS. 
Section 30166(o) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘may’’ and in-
serting ‘‘shall’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) DEADLINE.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of the Comprehensive Transpor-
tation and Consumer Protection Act of 2015, the Sec-
retary shall issue a final rule under paragraph (1).’’. 
SEC. 34213. DIRECT VEHICLE NOTIFICATION OF RECALLS. 
(a) RECALL NOTIFICATION REPORT.—Not later than 
1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall issue a report on the feasibility of a technical system 
that would operate in each new motor vehicle to indicate 
when the vehicle is subject to an open recall. 
(b) DEFINITION OF OPEN RECALL.—In this section the 
term ‘‘open recall’’ means a recall for which a notification
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† HR 22 EAS 
by a manufacturer has been provided under section 30119 
of title 49, United States Code, and that has not been rem-
edied under section 30120 of that title. 
SEC. 34214. UNATTENDED CHILDREN WARNING. 
Section 31504(a) of the Moving Ahead for Progress in 
the 21st Century Act (49 U.S.C. 30111 note) is amended 
by striking ‘‘may’’ and inserting ‘‘shall’’. 
SEC. 34215. TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM. 
(a) PROPOSED RULE.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall publish 
a proposed rule that updates the standards pertaining to 
tire pressure monitoring systems to ensure that a tire pres-
sure monitoring system that is installed in a new motor 
vehicle after the effective date of the revised standards can-
not, to a level other than a safe pressure level, be— 
(1) overridden; 
(2) reset; or 
(3) recalibrated. 
(b) SAFE PRESSURE LEVEL.—For the purposes of sub-
section (a), the term ‘‘safe pressure level’’ shall mean a pres-
sure level consistent with the TPMS detection requirements 
contained in S4.2(a) of section 571.138 of title 49, Code 
of Federal Regulations, or any corresponding similar regu-
lation or ruling.
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(c) FINAL RULE.—Not later than 2 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act, after providing the public with 
sufficient opportunity for notice and comment on the pro-
posed rule published under subsection (a), the Secretary 
shall issue a final rule on the subject described in subsection 
(a). 
Subtitle C—Research and Develop-
ment and Vehicle Electronics 
SEC. 34301. REPORT ON OPERATIONS OF THE COUNCIL FOR 
VEHICLE ELECTRONICS, VEHICLE SOFTWARE, 
AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and 
the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
Representatives a report regarding the operations of the 
Council for Vehicle Electronics, Vehicle Software, and 
Emerging Technologies established under section 31401 of 
the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (49 
U.S.C. 105 note). The report shall include information 
about the accomplishments of the Council, the role of the 
Council in integrating and aggregating electronic and 
emerging technologies expertise across the National High-
way Traffic Safety Administration, the role of the Council
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† HR 22 EAS 
in coordinating with other Federal agencies, and the prior-
ities of the Council over the next 5 years. 
SEC. 34302. COOPERATION WITH FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS. 
(a) TITLE 49 AMENDMENT.—Section 30182(b) is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and 
inserting a semicolon; 
(2) in paragraph (5), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (5) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(6) in coordination with Department of State, 
enter into cooperative agreements and collaborative 
research and development agreements with foreign 
governments.’’. 
(b) TITLE 23 AMENDMENT.—Section 403 of title 23, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)(2)(C), by inserting ‘‘foreign 
government (in coordination with the Department of 
State)’’ after ‘‘institution,’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c)(1)(A), by inserting ‘‘foreign 
governments,’’ after ‘‘local governments,’’. 
(c) AUDIT.—The Department of Transportation In-
spector General shall conduct an audit of the Secretary of 
Transportation’s management and oversight of cooperative
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† HR 22 EAS 
agreements and collaborative research and development 
agreements, including any cooperative agreements between 
the Secretary of Transportation and foreign governments 
under section 30182(b)(6) of title 49, United States Code, 
and subsections (b)(2)(C) and (c)(1)(A) of title 23, United 
States Code. 
Subtitle D—Miscellaneous 
Provisions 
PART I—DRIVER PRIVACY ACT OF 2015 
SEC. 34401. SHORT TITLE. 
This part may be cited as the ‘‘Driver Privacy Act 
of 2015’’. 
SEC. 34402. LIMITATIONS ON DATA RETRIEVAL FROM VEHI-
CLE EVENT DATA RECORDERS. 
(a) OWNERSHIP OF DATA.—Any data retained by an 
event data recorder (as defined in section 563.5 of title 49, 
Code of Federal Regulations), regardless of when the motor 
vehicle in which it is installed was manufactured, is the 
property of the owner, or, in the case of a leased vehicle, 
the lessee of the motor vehicle in which the event data re-
corder is installed. 
(b) PRIVACY.—Data recorded or transmitted by an 
event data recorder described in subsection (a) may not be 
accessed by a person other than an owner or a lessee of the
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† HR 22 EAS 
motor vehicle in which the event data recorder is installed 
unless— 
(1) a court or other judicial or administrative 
authority having jurisdiction— 
(A) authorizes the retrieval of the data; and 
(B) to the extent that there is retrieved 
data, the data is subject to the standards for ad-
mission into evidence required by that court or 
other administrative authority; 
(2) an owner or a lessee of the motor vehicle pro-
vides written, electronic, or recorded audio consent to 
the retrieval of the data for any purpose, including 
the purpose of diagnosing, servicing, or repairing the 
motor vehicle, or by agreeing to a subscription that 
describes how data will be retrieved and used; 
(3) the data is retrieved pursuant to an inves-
tigation or inspection authorized under section 
1131(a) or 30166 of title 49, United States Code, and 
the personally identifiable information of an owner or 
a lessee of the vehicle and the vehicle identification 
number is not disclosed in connection with the re-
trieved data, except that the vehicle identification 
number may be disclosed to the certifying manufac-
turer;
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† HR 22 EAS 
(4) the data is retrieved for the purpose of deter-
mining the need for, or facilitating, emergency med-
ical response in response to a motor vehicle crash; or 
(5) the data is retrieved for traffic safety re-
search, and the personally identifiable information of 
an owner or a lessee of the vehicle and the vehicle 
identification number is not disclosed in connection 
with the retrieved data. 
SEC. 34403. VEHICLE EVENT DATA RECORDER STUDY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the National 
Highway Traffic Safety Administration shall submit to 
Congress a report that contains the results of a study con-
ducted by the Administrator to determine the amount of 
time event data recorders installed in passenger motor vehi-
cles should capture and record for retrieval vehicle-related 
data in conjunction with an event in order to provide suffi-
cient information to investigate the cause of motor vehicle 
crashes. 
(b) RULEMAKING.—Not later than 2 years after sub-
mitting the report required under subsection (a), the Ad-
ministrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Ad-
ministration shall promulgate regulations to establish the 
appropriate period during which event data recorders in-
stalled in passenger motor vehicles may capture and record
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for retrieval vehicle-related data to the time necessary to 
provide accident investigators with vehicle-related informa-
tion pertinent to crashes involving such motor vehicles. 
PART II—SAFETY THROUGH INFORMED 
CONSUMERS ACT OF 2015 
SEC. 34421. SHORT TITLE. 
This part may be cited as the ‘‘Safety Through In-
formed Consumers Act of 2015’’. 
SEC. 34422. PASSENGER MOTOR VEHICLE INFORMATION. 
Section 32302 is amended by inserting after subsection 
(b) the following: 
‘‘(c) CRASH AVOIDANCE.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of the Safety Through Informed Con-
sumers Act of 2015, the Secretary shall promulgate a rule 
to ensure that crash avoidance information is indicated 
next to crashworthiness information on stickers placed on 
motor vehicles by their manufacturers.’’. 
PART III—TIRE EFFICIENCY, SAFETY, AND 
REGISTRATION ACT OF 2015 
SEC. 34431. SHORT TITLE. 
This part may be cited as the ‘‘Tire Efficiency, Safety, 
and Registration Act of 2015’’ or the ‘‘TESR Act’’. 
SEC. 34432. TIRE FUEL EFFICIENCY MINIMUM PERFORM-
ANCE STANDARDS. 
Section 32304A is amended—
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† HR 22 EAS 
(1) in the section heading, by inserting ‘‘AND 
STANDARDS’’ after ‘‘CONSUMER TIRE INFORMA-
TION’’; 
(2) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in the heading, by striking ‘‘RULE-
MAKING’’ and inserting ‘‘CONSUMER TIRE IN-
FORMATION’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘(re-
ferred to in this section as the ‘Secretary’)’’ after 
‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’; 
(3) by redesignating subsections (b) through (e) 
as subsections (e) though (h), respectively; and 
(4) by inserting after subsection (a) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(b) PROMULGATION
OF REGULATIONS
FOR TIRE 
FUEL EFFICIENCY MINIMUM PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary, after con-
sultation with the Secretary of Energy and the Ad-
ministrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, 
shall promulgate regulations for tire fuel efficiency 
minimum performance standards for— 
‘‘(A) passenger car tires with a maximum 
speed capability equal to or less than 149 miles 
per hour or 240 kilometers per hour; and
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† HR 22 EAS 
‘‘(B) passenger car tires with a maximum 
speed capability greater than 149 miles per hour 
or 240 kilometers per hour. 
‘‘(2) TIRE FUEL EFFICIENCY MINIMUM PERFORM-
ANCE STANDARDS.— 
‘‘(A) STANDARD BASIS AND TEST PROCE-
DURES.—The minimum performance standards 
promulgated under paragraph (1) shall be ex-
pressed in terms of the rolling resistance coeffi-
cient measured using the test procedure specified 
in section 575.106 of title 49, Code of Federal 
Regulations (as in effect on the date of enact-
ment of this Act). 
‘‘(B) NO DISPARATE EFFECT ON HIGH PER-
FORMANCE TIRES.—The Secretary shall ensure 
that the minimum performance standards pro-
mulgated under paragraph (1) will not have a 
disproportionate effect on passenger car high 
performance tires with a maximum speed capa-
bility greater than 149 miles per hour or 240 
kilometers per hour. 
‘‘(C) APPLICABILITY.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—This subsection ap-
plies to new pneumatic tires for use on pas-
senger cars.
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‘‘(ii) EXCEPTIONS.—This subsection 
does not apply to light truck tires, deep 
tread tires, winter-type snow tires, space- 
saver or temporary use spare tires, or tires 
with nominal rim diameters of 12 inches or 
less. 
‘‘(c) PROMULGATION OF REGULATIONS FOR TIRE WET 
TRACTION MINIMUM PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall promul-
gate regulations for tire wet traction minimum per-
formance standards to ensure that passenger tire wet 
traction capability is not reduced to achieve improved 
tire fuel efficiency. 
‘‘(2) TIRE WET TRACTION MINIMUM PERFORM-
ANCE STANDARDS.— 
‘‘(A) BASIS OF STANDARD.—The minimum 
performance standards promulgated under para-
graph (1) shall be expressed in terms of peak co-
efficient of friction. 
‘‘(B) TEST PROCEDURES.—Any test proce-
dure promulgated under this subsection shall be 
consistent with any test procedure promulgated 
under subsection (a). 
‘‘(C) BENCHMARKING.—The Secretary shall 
conduct testing to benchmark the wet traction
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† HR 22 EAS 
performance of tire models available for sale in 
the United States as of the date of enactment of 
this Act to ensure that the minimum perform-
ance standards promulgated under paragraph 
(1) are tailored to— 
‘‘(i) tires sold in the United States; 
and 
‘‘(ii) the needs of consumers in the 
United States. 
‘‘(D) APPLICABILITY.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—This subsection ap-
plies to new pneumatic tires for use on pas-
senger cars. 
‘‘(ii) EXCEPTIONS.—This subsection 
does not apply to light truck tires, deep 
tread tires, winter-type snow tires, space- 
saver or temporary use spare tires, or tires 
with nominal rim diameters of 12 inches or 
less. 
‘‘(d) COORDINATION AMONG REGULATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) COMPATIBILITY.—The Secretary shall en-
sure that the test procedures and requirements pro-
mulgated under subsections (a), (b), and (c) are com-
patible and consistent.
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‘‘(2) COMBINED EFFECT OF RULES.—The Sec-
retary shall evaluate the regulations promulgated 
under subsections (b) and (c) to ensure that compli-
ance with the minimum performance standards pro-
mulgated under subsection (b) will not diminish wet 
traction performance of affected tires. 
‘‘(3) RULEMAKING
DEADLINES.—The Secretary 
shall promulgate— 
‘‘(A) the regulations under subsections (b) 
and (c) not later than 24 months after the date 
of enactment of this Act; and 
‘‘(B) the regulations under subsection (c) 
not later than the date of promulgation of the 
regulations under subsection (b).’’. 
SEC. 34433. TIRE REGISTRATION BY INDEPENDENT SELL-
ERS. 
Section 30117(b) is amended by striking paragraph 
(3) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(3) RULEMAKING.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall ini-
tiate a rulemaking to require a distributor or 
dealer of tires that is not owned or controlled by 
a manufacturer of tires to maintain records of— 
‘‘(i) the name and address of tire pur-
chasers and lessors and information identi-
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† HR 22 EAS 
fying the tire that was purchased or leased; 
and 
‘‘(ii) any additional records the Sec-
retary considers appropriate. 
‘‘(B) 
ELECTRONIC
TRANSMISSION.—The 
rulemaking carried out under subparagraph (A) 
shall require a distributor or dealer of tires that 
is not owned or controlled by a manufacturer of 
tires to electronically transmit the records de-
scribed in clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph 
(A) to the manufacturer of the tires or the des-
ignee of the manufacturer by secure means at no 
cost to tire purchasers or lessors. 
‘‘(C) SATISFACTION OF REQUIREMENTS.—A 
regulation promulgated under subparagraph (A) 
may be considered to satisfy the requirements of 
paragraph (2)(B).’’. 
SEC. 34434. TIRE RECALL DATABASE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish a pub-
licly available and searchable electronic database of tire re-
call information that is reported to the Administrator of 
the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 
(b) TIRE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.—The database es-
tablished under subsection (a) shall be searchable by Tire 
Identification Number (TIN) and any other criteria that
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assists consumers in determining whether a tire is subject 
to a recall. 
TITLE 
XXXV—RAILROAD 
RE-
FORM, ENHANCEMENT, AND 
EFFICIENCY 
SEC. 35001. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Railroad Reform, En-
hancement, and Efficiency Act’’. 
SEC. 35002. PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION; DEFINITIONS. 
Section 24102 is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (5) through (9) 
as paragraphs (6) through (10), respectively; 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (4), the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(5) ‘long-distance route’ means a route de-
scribed in paragraph (6)(C).’’; 
(3) by amending paragraph (6)(A), as redesig-
nated, to read as follows: 
‘‘(A) the Northeast Corridor main line be-
tween Boston, Massachusetts and the Virginia 
Avenue interlocking in the District of Columbia, 
and the facilities and services used to operate 
and maintain that line;’’; 
(4) in paragraph (7), as redesignated, by strik-
ing the period at the end and inserting ‘‘, except that
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† HR 22 EAS 
the term ‘Northeast Corridor’ for the purposes of 
chapter 243 means the main line between Boston, 
Massachusetts and the Virginia Avenue interlocking 
in the District of Columbia, and the facilities and 
services used to operate and maintain that line.’’; and 
(5) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(11) ‘state-of-good-repair’ means a condition in 
which physical assets, both individually and as a sys-
tem, are— 
‘‘(A) performing at a level at least equal to 
that called for in their as-built or as-modified 
design specification during any period when the 
life cycle cost of maintaining the assets is lower 
than the cost of replacing them; and 
‘‘(B) sustained through regular mainte-
nance and replacement programs. 
‘‘(12) ‘State-supported route’ means a route de-
scribed in paragraph (6)(B) or paragraph (6)(D), or 
in section 24702(a).’’. 
Subtitle A—Authorization of 
Appropriations 
SEC. 35101. AUTHORIZATION OF GRANTS TO AMTRAK. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated to the Secretary for the use of Amtrak for deposit
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† HR 22 EAS 
into the accounts established under section 24319(a) of title 
49, United States Code, the following amounts: 
(1) For fiscal year 2016, $1,450,000,000. 
(2) For fiscal year 2017, $1,550,000,000. 
(3) For fiscal year 2018, $1,700,000,000. 
(4) For fiscal year 2019, $1,900,000,000. 
(b) PROJECT MANAGEMENT OVERSIGHT.—The Sec-
retary may withhold up to one half of 1 percent of the 
amount appropriated under subsection (a) for the costs of 
management oversight of Amtrak. 
(c) COMPETITION.—In administering grants to Am-
trak under section 24318 of title 49, United States Code, 
the Secretary may withhold, from amounts that would oth-
erwise be made available to Amtrak, such sums as are nec-
essary from the amount appropriated under subsection (a) 
of this section to cover the operating subsidy described in 
section 24711(b)(1)(E)(ii) of title 49, United States Code. 
(d) STATE-SUPPORTED
ROUTE
COMMITTEE.—The 
Secretary may withhold up to $2,000,000 from the amount 
appropriated in each fiscal year under subsection (a) of this 
section for the use of the State-Supported Route Committee 
established under section 24712 of title 49, United States 
Code. 
(e) NORTHEAST CORRIDOR COMMISSION.—The Sec-
retary may withhold up to $5,000,000 from the amount ap-
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† HR 22 EAS 
propriated in each fiscal year under subsection (a) of this 
section for the use of the Northeast Corridor Commission 
established under section 24905 of title 49, United States 
Code. 
SEC. 35102. NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND SAFETY IN-
VESTMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated to the Secretary for grants under chapter 244 of 
title 49, United States Code, the following amounts: 
(1) For fiscal year 2016, $350,000,000. 
(2) For fiscal year 2017, $430,000,000. 
(3) For fiscal year 2018, $600,000,000. 
(4) For fiscal year 2019, $900,000,000. 
(b) PROJECT MANAGEMENT OVERSIGHT.—The Sec-
retary may withhold up to 1 percent from the amount ap-
propriated under subsection (a) of this section for the costs 
of project management oversight of grants carried out under 
chapter 244 of title 49, United States Code. 
SEC. 35103. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR NA-
TIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD 
RAIL INVESTIGATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, there are authorized to be appropriated to the 
National Transportation Safety Board to carry out rail-
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road accident investigations under section 1131(a)(1)(C) of 
title 49, United States Code, the following amounts: 
(1) For fiscal year 2016, $6,300,000. 
(2) For fiscal year 2017, $6,400,000. 
(3) For fiscal year 2018, $6,500,000. 
(4) For fiscal year 2019, $6,600,000. 
(b) INVESTIGATION
PERSONNEL.—Amounts appro-
priated under subsection (a) of this section shall be avail-
able to the National Transportation Safety Board for per-
sonnel, in regional offices and in Washington, DC, whose 
duties involve railroad accident investigations. 
SEC. 35104. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR AM-
TRAK OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Office 
of Inspector General of Amtrak the following amounts: 
(1) For fiscal year 2016, $20,000,000. 
(2) For fiscal year 2017, $20,500,000. 
(3) For fiscal year 2018, $21,000,000. 
(4) For fiscal year 2019, $21,500,000. 
SEC. 35105. NATIONAL COOPERATIVE RAIL RESEARCH PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 24910 is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (12), by striking ‘‘and’’;
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† HR 22 EAS 
(B) in paragraph (13), by striking the pe-
riod at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(14) to improve the overall safety of intercity 
passenger and freight rail operations.’’; and 
(2) by amending subsection (e) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(e) ALLOCATION.—At least $5,000,000 of the amounts 
appropriated to the Secretary for a fiscal year to carry out 
railroad research and development programs shall be avail-
able to carry out this section.’’. 
Subtitle B—Amtrak Reform 
SEC. 35201. AMTRAK GRANT PROCESS. 
(a) REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES.—Chapter 243 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 24317. Costs and revenues 
‘‘(a) ALLOCATION.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of the Railroad Reform, Enhancement, 
and Efficiency Act, Amtrak shall establish and maintain 
internal controls to ensure Amtrak’s costs, revenues, and 
other compensation are appropriately and proportionally 
allocated to its Northeast Corridor train services or infra-
structure, its State-supported routes, its long-distance 
routes, and its other national network activities.
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† HR 22 EAS 
‘‘(b) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion shall be construed to limit the ability of Amtrak to 
enter into an agreement with 1 or more States to allocate 
operating and capital costs under section 209 of the Pas-
senger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (49 
U.S.C. 24101 note). 
‘‘§ 24318. Grant process 
‘‘(a) PROCEDURES FOR GRANT REQUESTS.—Not later 
than 90 days after the date of enactment of the Railroad 
Reform, Enhancement, and Efficiency Act, the Secretary of 
Transportation shall establish and transmit to the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the 
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Com-
mittee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives 
substantive and procedural requirements, including sched-
ules, for grant requests under this section. 
‘‘(b) GRANT REQUESTS.—Amtrak shall transmit grant 
requests for Federal funds appropriated to the Secretary of 
Transportation for the use of Amtrak to— 
‘‘(1) the Secretary; and 
‘‘(2) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation, the Committee on Appropriations, 
and the Committee on the Budget of the Senate and 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
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the Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee 
on the Budget of the House of Representatives. 
‘‘(c) CONTENTS.—A grant request under subsection (b) 
shall— 
‘‘(1) describe projected operating and capital 
costs for the upcoming fiscal year for Northeast Cor-
ridor train services and infrastructure, Amtrak’s 
State-supported routes, and Amtrak’s long-distance 
routes, and Amtrak’s other national network activi-
ties, as applicable, in comparison to prior fiscal year 
actual financial performance; 
‘‘(2) describe the capital projects to be funded, 
with cost estimates and an estimated timetable for 
completion of the projects covered by the request; 
‘‘(3) assess Amtrak’s financial condition; 
‘‘(4) be displayed on Amtrak’s Web site within a 
reasonable timeframe following its transmission under 
subsection (b); and 
‘‘(5) describe how the funding requested in a 
grant will be allocated to the accounts established 
under section 24319(a), considering the projected op-
erating losses or capital costs for services and activi-
ties associated with such accounts over the time pe-
riod intended to be covered by the grants. 
‘‘(d) REVIEW AND APPROVAL.—
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‘‘(1) THIRTY-DAY APPROVAL PROCESS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days 
after the date that Amtrak submits a grant re-
quest under this section, the Secretary of Trans-
portation shall complete a review of the request 
and provide notice to Amtrak that— 
‘‘(i) the request is approved; or 
‘‘(ii) the request is disapproved, in-
cluding the reason for the disapproval and 
an explanation of any incomplete or defi-
cient items. 
‘‘(B) GRANT AGREEMENT.—If a grant re-
quest is approved, the Secretary shall enter into 
a grant agreement with Amtrak that allocates 
the grant funding to 1 of the 4 accounts estab-
lished under section 24319(a). 
‘‘(2) FIFTEEN-DAY MODIFICATION PERIOD.—Not 
later than 15 days after the date of the notice under 
paragraph (1)(A)(ii), Amtrak shall submit a modified 
request for the Secretary’s review. 
‘‘(3) MODIFIED REQUESTS.—Not later than 15 
days after the date that Amtrak submits a modified 
request under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall ei-
ther approve the modified request, or, if the Secretary 
finds that the request is still incomplete or deficient,
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† HR 22 EAS 
the Secretary shall identify in writing to the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, 
the Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee 
on the Budget of the Senate and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure, the Committee on 
Appropriations, and the Committee on the Budget of 
the House of Representatives the remaining defi-
ciencies and recommend a process for resolving the 
outstanding portions of the request. 
‘‘(e) PAYMENTS TO AMTRAK.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A grant agreement entered 
into under subsection (d) shall specify the operations, 
services, and other activities to be funded by the 
grant. The grant agreement shall include provisions, 
consistent with the requirements of this chapter, to 
measure Amtrak’s performance and ensure account-
ability in delivering the operations, services, or ac-
tivities to be funded by the grant. 
‘‘(2) SCHEDULE.—Except as provided in para-
graph (3), in each fiscal year for which amounts are 
appropriated to the Secretary for the use of Amtrak, 
and for which the Secretary and Amtrak have entered 
into a grant agreement under subsection (d), the Sec-
retary shall disburse grant funds to Amtrak on the 
following schedule:
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† HR 22 EAS 
‘‘(A) 50 percent on October 1. 
‘‘(B) 25 percent on January 1. 
‘‘(C) 25 percent on April 1. 
‘‘(3) EXCEPTIONS.—The Secretary may make a 
payment to Amtrak of appropriated funds— 
‘‘(A) more frequently than the schedule 
under paragraph (2) if Amtrak, for good cause, 
requests more frequent payment before the end of 
a payment period; or 
‘‘(B) with a different frequency or in dif-
ferent percentage allocations in the event of a 
continuing resolution or in the absence of an ap-
propriations Act for the duration of a fiscal 
year. 
‘‘(f) AVAILABILITY OF AMOUNTS AND EARLY APPRO-
PRIATIONS.—Amounts appropriated to the Secretary for the 
use of Amtrak shall remain available until expended. 
Amounts for capital acquisitions and improvements may 
be appropriated for a fiscal year before the fiscal year in 
which the amounts will be obligated. 
‘‘(g) LIMITATIONS ON USE.—Amounts appropriated to 
the Secretary for the use of Amtrak may not be used to 
cross-subsidize operating losses or capital costs of commuter 
rail passenger or freight rail transportation.
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‘‘§ 24319. Accounts 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF ACCOUNTS.—Beginning not 
later than October 1, 2016, Amtrak, in consultation with 
the Secretary of Transportation, shall define and estab-
lish— 
‘‘(1) a Northeast Corridor investment account, 
including subaccounts for Amtrak train services and 
infrastructure; 
‘‘(2) a State-supported account; 
‘‘(3) a long-distance account; and 
‘‘(4) an other national network activities ac-
count. 
‘‘(b) NORTHEAST CORRIDOR INVESTMENT ACCOUNT.— 
‘‘(1) DEPOSITS.—Amtrak shall deposit in the 
Northeast Corridor investment account established 
under subsection (a)(1)— 
‘‘(A) a portion of the grant funds appro-
priated under the authorization in section 
35101(a) of the Railroad Reform, Enhancement, 
and Efficiency Act, or any subsequent Act ap-
propriating funds for the use of Amtrak, as spec-
ified in a grant agreement entered into under 
section 24318; 
‘‘(B) any compensation received from com-
muter rail passenger transportation providers 
for such providers’ share of capital costs on the
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† HR 22 EAS 
Northeast Corridor provided to Amtrak under 
section 24905(c); 
‘‘(C) any operating surplus of the Northeast 
Corridor train services or infrastructure, as allo-
cated under section 24317; and 
‘‘(D) any other net revenue received in asso-
ciation with the Northeast Corridor, including 
freight access fees, electric propulsion, and com-
mercial development. 
‘‘(2) USE OF NORTHEAST CORRIDOR INVESTMENT 
ACCOUNT.—Except as provided in subsection (f), 
amounts deposited in the Northeast Corridor invest-
ment account shall be made available for the use of 
Amtrak for its share of— 
‘‘(A) capital projects described in section 
24904(a)(2)(E)(i), and developed under the plan-
ning process established under that section, to 
bring Northeast Corridor infrastructure to a 
state-of-good-repair; 
‘‘(B) capital projects described in clauses 
(ii) and (iv) of section 24904(a)(2)(E) that are 
developed under the planning process established 
under that section intended to increase corridor 
capacity, improve service reliability, and reduce 
travel time on the Northeast Corridor;
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‘‘(C) capital projects to improve safety and 
security; 
‘‘(D) capital projects to improve customer 
service and amenities; 
‘‘(E) acquiring, rehabilitating, manufac-
turing, remanufacturing, overhauling, or im-
proving equipment and associated facilities used 
for intercity rail passenger transportation by 
Northeast Corridor train services; 
‘‘(F) retirement of principal and payment 
of interest on loans for capital projects described 
in this paragraph or for capital leases for equip-
ment and related to the Northeast Corridor; 
‘‘(G) participation in public-private part-
nerships, joint ventures, and other mechanisms 
or arrangements that result in the completion of 
capital projects described in this paragraph; and 
‘‘(H) indirect, common, corporate, or other 
costs directly incurred by or allocated to the 
Northeast Corridor. 
‘‘(c) STATE-SUPPORTED ACCOUNT.— 
‘‘(1) DEPOSITS.—Amtrak shall deposit in the 
State-supported account established under subsection 
(a)(2)—
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† HR 22 EAS 
‘‘(A) a portion of the grant funds appro-
priated under the authorization in section 
35101(a) of the Railroad Reform, Enhancement, 
and Efficiency Act, or any subsequent Act ap-
propriating funds for the use of Amtrak, as spec-
ified in a grant agreement entered into under 
section 24318; 
‘‘(B) any compensation received from States 
provided to Amtrak under section 209 of the 
Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act 
of 2008 (42 U.S.C. 24101 note); and 
‘‘(C) any operating surplus from its State- 
supported routes, as allocated under section 
24317. 
‘‘(2) USE OF STATE-SUPPORTED ACCOUNT.—Ex-
cept as provided in subsection (f), amounts deposited 
in the State-supported account shall be made avail-
able for the use of Amtrak for capital expenses and 
operating costs, including indirect, common, cor-
porate, or other costs directly incurred by or allocated 
to State-supported routes, of its State-supported 
routes and retirement of principal and payment of 
interest on loans or capital leases attributable to its 
State-supported routes. 
‘‘(d) LONG-DISTANCE ACCOUNT.—
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† HR 22 EAS 
‘‘(1) DEPOSITS.—Amtrak shall deposit in the 
long-distance account established under subsection 
(a)(3)— 
‘‘(A) a portion of the grant funds appro-
priated under the authorization in section 
35101(a) of the Railroad Reform, Enhancement, 
and Efficiency Act, or any subsequent Act ap-
propriating funds for the use of Amtrak, as spec-
ified in a grant agreement entered into under 
section 24318; 
‘‘(B) any compensation received from States 
provided to Amtrak for costs associated with its 
long-distance routes; and 
‘‘(C) any operating surplus from its long- 
distance routes, as allocated under section 24317. 
‘‘(2) USE OF LONG-DISTANCE ACCOUNT.—Except 
as provided in subsection (f), amounts deposited in 
the long-distance account shall be made available for 
the use of Amtrak for capital expenses and operating 
costs, including indirect, common, corporate, or other 
costs directly incurred by or allocated to long-distance 
routes, of its long-distance routes and retirement of 
principal and payment of interest on loans or capital 
leases attributable to the long-distance routes.
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† HR 22 EAS 
‘‘(e) OTHER NATIONAL NETWORK ACTIVITIES AC-
COUNT.— 
‘‘(1) DEPOSITS.—Amtrak shall deposit in the 
other national network activities account established 
under subsection (a)(4)— 
‘‘(A) a portion of the grant funds appro-
priated under the authorization in section 
35101(a) of the Railroad Reform, Enhancement, 
and Efficiency Act, or any subsequent Act ap-
propriating funds for the use of Amtrak, as spec-
ified in a grant agreement entered into under 
section 24318; 
‘‘(B) any compensation received from States 
provided to Amtrak for costs associated with its 
other national network activities; and 
‘‘(C) any operating surplus from its other 
national network activities. 
‘‘(2) USE OF OTHER NATIONAL NETWORK ACTIVI-
TIES ACCOUNT.—Except as provided in subsection (f), 
amounts deposited into the other national network ac-
tivities account shall be made available for the use of 
Amtrak for capital and operating costs not allocated 
to the Northeast Corridor investment account, State- 
supported account, or long-distance account, and re-
tirement of principal and payment of interest on
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loans or capital leases attributable to other national 
network activities. 
‘‘(f) TRANSFER AUTHORITY.— 
‘‘(1) AUTHORITY.—Amtrak may transfer any 
funds appropriated under the authorization in section 
35101(a) of the Railroad Reform, Enhancement, and 
Efficiency Act, or any subsequent Act appropriating 
funds for the use of Amtrak for deposit into the ac-
counts described in that section, or any surplus gen-
erated by operations, between the Northeast Corridor, 
State-supported, long-distance, and other national 
network activities accounts— 
‘‘(A) upon the expiration of 10 days after 
the date that Amtrak notifies the Amtrak Board 
of Directors, including the Secretary, of the 
planned transfer; and 
‘‘(B) with the approval of the Secretary. 
‘‘(2) REPORT.—Not later than 5 days after the 
date that Amtrak notifies the Amtrak Board of Direc-
tors of a planned transfer under paragraph (1), Am-
trak shall transmit to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation and the Committee on 
Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee
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on Appropriations of the House of Representatives a 
report that includes— 
‘‘(A) the amount of the transfer; and 
‘‘(B) a detailed explanation of the reason 
for the transfer, including— 
‘‘(i) the effects on Amtrak services 
funded by the account from which the trans-
fer is drawn, in comparison to a scenario 
in which no transfer was made; and 
‘‘(ii) the effects on Amtrak services 
funded by the account receiving the transfer, 
in comparison to a scenario in which no 
transfer was made. 
‘‘(3) NOTIFICATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) 
STATE-SUPPORTED
ACCOUNT.—Not 
later than 5 days after the date that Amtrak no-
tifies the Amtrak Board of Directors of a 
planned transfer under paragraph (1) of funds 
to or from the State-supported account, Amtrak 
shall transmit to each State that sponsors a 
State-supported route a letter that includes the 
information described under subparagraphs (A) 
and (B) of paragraph (2). 
‘‘(B) NORTHEAST
CORRIDOR
ACCOUNT.— 
Not later than 5 days after the date that Amtrak
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† HR 22 EAS 
notifies the Amtrak Board of Directors of a 
planned transfer under paragraph (1) of funds 
to or from the Northeast Corridor account, Am-
trak shall transmit to the Northeast Corridor 
Commission a letter that includes the informa-
tion described under subparagraphs (A) and (B) 
of paragraph (2). 
‘‘(g) ENFORCEMENT.—The Secretary shall enforce the 
provisions of each grant agreement under section 24318(d), 
including any deposit into an account under this section. 
‘‘(h) LETTERS OF INTENT.— 
‘‘(1) REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary may issue a 
letter of intent to Amtrak announcing an intention to 
obligate, for a major capital project described in 
clauses (ii) and (iv) of section 24904(a)(2)(E), an 
amount from future available budget authority speci-
fied in law that is not more than the amount stipu-
lated as the financial participation of the Secretary 
in the project. 
‘‘(2) NOTICE TO CONGRESS.—At least 30 days 
before issuing a letter under paragraph (1), the Sec-
retary shall notify in writing the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation and the Com-
mittee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the
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† HR 22 EAS 
Committee on Appropriations of the House of Rep-
resentatives of the proposed letter. The Secretary shall 
include with the notice a copy of the proposed letter, 
the criteria used for selecting the project for a grant 
award, and a description of how the project meets the 
criteria under this section. 
‘‘(3) CONTINGENT NATURE OF OBLIGATION OR 
COMMITMENT.—An obligation or administrative com-
mitment may be made only when amounts are appro-
priated. The letter of intent shall state that the con-
tingent commitment is not an obligation of the Fed-
eral Government, and is subject to the availability of 
appropriations under Federal law and to Federal 
laws in force or enacted after the date of the contin-
gent commitment.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—The table of contents 
for chapter 243 is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘24317. Costs and revenues. 
‘‘24318. Grant process. 
‘‘24319. Accounts.’’. 
(c) REPEALS.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT OF GRANT PROCESS.—Sec-
tion 206 of the Passenger Rail Investment and Im-
provement Act of 2008 (49 U.S.C. 24101 note) and 
the item relating to that section in the table of con-
tents of that Act are repealed.
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† HR 22 EAS 
(2) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Sec-
tion 24104 and the item relating to that section in 
the table of contents of chapter 241 are repealed. 
SEC. 35202. 5-YEAR BUSINESS LINE AND ASSETS PLANS. 
(a) AMTRAK 5-YEAR BUSINESS LINE
AND ASSET 
PLANS.—Chapter 243, as amended by section 35201 of this 
Act, is further amended by inserting after section 24319 the 
following: 
‘‘§ 24320. Amtrak 5-year business line and asset plans 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.— 
‘‘(1) FINAL PLANS.—Not later than February 15 
of each year, Amtrak shall submit to Congress and the 
Secretary final 5-year business line plans and 5-year 
asset plans prepared in accordance with this section. 
These final plans shall form the basis for Amtrak’s 
general and legislative annual report to the President 
and Congress required by section 24315(b). 
‘‘(2) FISCAL CONSTRAINT.—Each plan prepared 
under this section shall be based on funding levels au-
thorized or otherwise available to Amtrak in a fiscal 
year. In the absence of an authorization or appro-
priation of funds for a fiscal year, the plans shall be 
based on the amount of funding available in the pre-
vious fiscal year, plus inflation. Amtrak may include 
an appendix to the asset plan required in subsection
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(c) that describes any capital funding requirements in 
excess of amounts authorized or otherwise available to 
Amtrak in a fiscal year for capital investment. 
‘‘(b) AMTRAK 5-YEAR BUSINESS LINE PLANS.— 
‘‘(1) AMTRAK
BUSINESS
LINES.—Amtrak shall 
prepare a 5-year business line plan for each of the fol-
lowing business lines and services: 
‘‘(A) Northeast Corridor train services. 
‘‘(B) State-supported routes operated by 
Amtrak. 
‘‘(C) Long-distance routes operated by Am-
trak. 
‘‘(D) Ancillary services operated by Amtrak, 
including commuter operations and other rev-
enue generating activities as determined by the 
Secretary in consultation with Amtrak. 
‘‘(2) CONTENTS
OF
5-YEAR
BUSINESS
LINE 
PLANS.—The 5-year business line plan for each busi-
ness line shall include, at a minimum— 
‘‘(A) a statement of Amtrak’s vision, goals, 
and service plan for the business line, coordi-
nated with any entities that are contributing 
capital or operating funding to support pas-
senger rail services within those business lines,
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‘‘(I) financial performance for each route 
within each business line, including descriptions 
of the cash operating loss or contribution and 
labor productivity for each route; 
‘‘(J) specific costs and savings estimates re-
sulting from reform initiatives; 
‘‘(K) prior fiscal year and projected equip-
ment reliability statistics; and 
‘‘(L) an identification and explanation of 
any major adjustments made from previously- 
approved plans. 
‘‘(3) 5-YEAR BUSINESS LINE PLANS PROCESS.— 
In meeting the requirements of this section, Amtrak 
shall— 
‘‘(A) coordinate the development of the busi-
ness line plans with the Secretary; 
‘‘(B) for the Northeast Corridor business 
line plan, coordinate with the Northeast Corridor 
Commission and transmit to the Commission the 
final plan under subsection (a)(1), and consult 
with other entities, as appropriate; 
‘‘(C) for the State-supported route business 
line plan, coordinate with the State-Supported 
Route Committee established under section 
24712;
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† HR 22 EAS 
‘‘(D) for the long-distance route business 
line plan, coordinate with any States or Inter-
state Compacts that provide funding for such 
routes, as appropriate; 
‘‘(E) ensure that Amtrak’s annual budget 
request to Congress is consistent with the infor-
mation in the 5-year business line plans; and 
‘‘(F) identify the appropriate Amtrak offi-
cials that are responsible for each business line. 
‘‘(4) STANDARDS TO PROMOTE FINANCIAL STA-
BILITY.—In meeting the requirements under this sub-
section, Amtrak shall use the categories specified in 
the financial accounting and reporting system devel-
oped under section 203 of the Passenger Rail Invest-
ment and Improvement Act of 2008 (49 U.S.C. 24101 
note) when preparing its 5-year business line plans. 
‘‘(c) AMTRAK 5-YEAR ASSET PLANS.— 
‘‘(1) ASSET CATEGORIES.—Amtrak shall prepare 
a 5-year asset plan for each of the following asset cat-
egories: 
‘‘(A) Infrastructure, including all Amtrak- 
controlled Northeast Corridor assets and other 
Amtrak-owned infrastructure, and the associated 
facilities that support the operation, mainte-
nance, and improvement of those assets.
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‘‘(B) Passenger rail equipment, including 
all Amtrak-controlled rolling stock, locomotives, 
and mechanical shop facilities that are used to 
overhaul equipment. 
‘‘(C) Stations, including all Amtrak-con-
trolled passenger rail stations and elements of 
other stations for which Amtrak has legal respon-
sibility or intends to make capital investments. 
‘‘(D) National assets, including national 
reservations, security, training and training cen-
ters, and other assets associated with Amtrak’s 
national passenger rail transportation system. 
‘‘(2) CONTENTS OF 5-YEAR ASSET PLANS.—Each 
asset plan shall include, at a minimum— 
‘‘(A) a summary of Amtrak’s 5-year stra-
tegic plan for each asset category, including 
goals, 
objectives, 
any 
relevant 
performance 
metrics, and statutory or regulatory actions af-
fecting the assets; 
‘‘(B) an inventory of existing Amtrak cap-
ital assets, to the extent practicable, including 
information regarding shared use or ownership, 
if applicable; 
‘‘(C) a prioritized list of proposed capital 
investments that—
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‘‘(i) categorizes each capital project as 
being primarily associated with— 
‘‘(I) normalized capital replace-
ment; 
‘‘(II) backlog capital replacement; 
‘‘(III) improvements to support 
service enhancements or growth; 
‘‘(IV) strategic initiatives that 
will improve overall operational per-
formance, lower costs, or otherwise im-
prove Amtrak’s corporate efficiency; or 
‘‘(V) 
statutory, 
regulatory, 
or 
other legal mandates; 
‘‘(ii) identifies each project or program 
that is associated with more than 1 category 
described in clause (i); and 
‘‘(iii) describes the anticipated business 
outcome of each project or program identi-
fied under this subparagraph, including an 
assessment of— 
‘‘(I) the potential effect on pas-
senger operations, safety, reliability, 
and resilience; 
‘‘(II) the potential effect on Am-
trak’s ability to meet regulatory re-
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† HR 22 EAS 
quirements if the project or program is 
not funded; and 
‘‘(III) the benefits and costs; and 
‘‘(D) annual profit and loss statements and 
forecasts and balance sheets for each asset cat-
egory. 
‘‘(3) 5-YEAR ASSET PLAN PROCESS.—In meeting 
the requirements of this subsection, Amtrak shall— 
‘‘(A) coordinate with each business line de-
scribed in subsection (b)(1) in the preparation of 
each 5-year asset plan and ensure integration of 
each 5-year asset plan with the 5-year business 
line plans; 
‘‘(B) as applicable, coordinate with the 
Northeast Corridor Commission, the State-Sup-
ported Route Committee, and owners of assets af-
fected by 5-year asset plans; and 
‘‘(C) identify the appropriate Amtrak offi-
cials that are responsible for each asset category. 
‘‘(4) 
EVALUATION
OF
NATIONAL
ASSETS 
COSTS.—The Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) evaluate the costs and scope of all na-
tional assets; and 
‘‘(B) determine the activities and costs that 
are—
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† HR 22 EAS 
‘‘(i) required in order to ensure the ef-
ficient operations of a national passenger 
rail system; 
‘‘(ii) appropriate for allocation to 1 of 
the other Amtrak business lines; and 
‘‘(iii) extraneous to providing an effi-
cient national passenger rail system or are 
too costly relative to the benefits or perform-
ance outcomes they provide. 
‘‘(5) DEFINITION OF NATIONAL ASSETS.—In this 
section, the term ‘national assets’ means the Nation’s 
core rail assets shared among Amtrak services, includ-
ing national reservations, security, training and 
training centers, and other assets associated with Am-
trak’s national passenger rail transportation system. 
‘‘(6) RESTRUCTURING OF NATIONAL ASSETS.— 
Not later than 1 year after the date of completion of 
the evaluation under paragraph (4), the Adminis-
trator of the Federal Railroad Administration, in 
consultation with the Amtrak Board of Directors, the 
governors of each relevant State, and the Mayor of the 
District of Columbia, or their designees, shall restruc-
ture or reallocate, or both, the national assets costs in 
accordance with the determination under that section,
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† HR 22 EAS 
including making appropriate updates to Amtrak’s 
cost accounting methodology and system.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The requirements for Amtrak 
to submit final 5-year business line plans and 5-year asset 
plans under section 24320 of title 49, United States Code, 
shall take effect 1 year after the date of enactment of this 
Act. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—The table of contents 
for chapter 243, as amended by section 35201 of this Act, 
is further amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘24320. Amtrak 5-year business line and asset plans.’’. 
(d) REPEAL OF 5-YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN.—Section 
204 of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act 
of 2008 (49 U.S.C. 24101 note), and the item relating to 
that section in the table of contents of that Act, are repealed. 
(e) IDENTIFICATION OF DUPLICATIVE REPORTING RE-
QUIREMENTS.—Not later than 1 year after the date of en-
actment of this Act, the Secretary shall— 
(1) review existing Amtrak reporting require-
ments and identify where the existing requirements 
are duplicative with the business line and capital 
plans required by section 24320 of title 49, United 
States Code; 
(2) if the duplicative reporting requirements are 
administrative, the Secretary shall eliminate the du-
plicative requirements; and
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† HR 22 EAS 
(3) submit to Congress a report with any rec-
ommendations for repealing any other duplicative 
Amtrak reporting requirements. 
SEC. 35203. STATE-SUPPORTED ROUTE COMMITTEE. 
(a) AMENDMENT.—Chapter 247 is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 24712. State-supported routes operated by Amtrak 
‘‘(a) STATE-SUPPORTED ROUTE COMMITTEE.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of the Railroad Reform, 
Enhancement, and Efficiency Act, the Secretary of 
Transportation shall establish the State-Supported 
Route Committee (referred to in this section as the 
‘Committee’) to promote mutual cooperation and 
planning pertaining to the rail operations of Amtrak 
and related activities of trains operated by Amtrak on 
State-supported routes and to further implement sec-
tion 209 of the Passenger Rail Investment and Im-
provement Act of 2008 (49 U.S.C. 24101 note). 
‘‘(2) MEMBERSHIP.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Committee shall 
consist of— 
‘‘(i) members representing Amtrak;
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† HR 22 EAS 
‘‘(ii) members representing the Depart-
ment of Transportation, including the Fed-
eral Railroad Administration; and 
‘‘(iii) members representing States. 
‘‘(B) NON-VOTING
MEMBERS.—The Com-
mittee may invite and accept other non-voting 
members to participate in Committee activities, 
as appropriate. 
‘‘(3) DECISIONMAKING.—The Committee shall es-
tablish a bloc voting system under which, at a min-
imum— 
‘‘(A) there are 3 separate voting blocs to 
represent the Committee’s voting members, in-
cluding— 
‘‘(i) 1 voting bloc to represent the 
members described in paragraph (2)(A)(i); 
‘‘(ii) 1 voting bloc to represent the 
members described in paragraph (2)(A)(ii); 
and 
‘‘(iii) 1 voting bloc to represent the 
members described in paragraph (2)(A)(iii); 
‘‘(B) each voting bloc has 1 vote; 
‘‘(C) the vote of the voting bloc representing 
the members described in paragraph (2)(A)(iii)
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† HR 22 EAS 
requires the support of at least two-thirds of that 
voting bloc’s members; and 
‘‘(D) the Committee makes decisions by 
unanimous consent of the 3 voting blocs. 
‘‘(4) MEETINGS; RULES AND PROCEDURES.—The 
Committee shall convene a meeting and shall define 
and implement the rules and procedures governing the 
Committee’s proceedings not later than 180 days after 
the date of establishment of the Committee by the Sec-
retary. The rules and procedures shall— 
‘‘(A) incorporate and further describe the 
decisionmaking procedures to be used in accord-
ance with paragraph (3); and 
‘‘(B) be adopted in accordance with such de-
cisionmaking procedures. 
‘‘(5) COMMITTEE
DECISIONS.—Decisions made 
by the Committee in accordance with the Committee’s 
rules and procedures, once established, are binding on 
all Committee members. 
‘‘(6) COST ALLOCATION METHODOLOGY.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subpara-
graph (B), the Committee may amend the cost 
allocation methodology required and previously 
approved under section 209 of the Passenger
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† HR 22 EAS 
Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 
(49 U.S.C. 24101 note). 
‘‘(B) PROCEDURES FOR CHANGING METH-
ODOLOGY.—The rules and procedures imple-
mented under paragraph (4) shall include proce-
dures for changing the cost allocation method-
ology. 
‘‘(C) REQUIREMENTS.—The cost allocation 
methodology shall— 
‘‘(i) ensure equal treatment in the pro-
vision of like services of all States and 
groups of States; and 
‘‘(ii) allocate to each route the costs in-
curred only for the benefit of that route and 
a proportionate share, based upon factors 
that reasonably reflect relative use, of costs 
incurred for the common benefit of more 
than 1 route. 
‘‘(b) INVOICES AND REPORTS.—Not later than Feb-
ruary 15, 2016, and monthly thereafter, Amtrak shall pro-
vide to each State that sponsors a State-supported route a 
monthly invoice of the cost of operating such route, includ-
ing fixed costs and third-party costs. The Committee shall 
determine the frequency and contents of the financial and 
performance reports that Amtrak shall provide to the
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† HR 22 EAS 
States, as well as the planning and demand reports that 
the States shall provide to Amtrak. 
‘‘(c) DISPUTE RESOLUTION.— 
‘‘(1) REQUEST FOR DISPUTE RESOLUTION.—If a 
dispute arises with respect to the rules and procedures 
implemented under subsection (a)(4), an invoice or a 
report provided under subsection (b), implementation 
or compliance with the cost allocation methodology 
developed under section 209 of the Passenger Rail In-
vestment and Improvement Act of 2008 (49 U.S.C. 
24101 note) or amended under subsection (a)(6) of 
this section, either Amtrak or the State may request 
that the Surface Transportation Board conduct dis-
pute resolution under this subsection. 
‘‘(2) PROCEDURES.—The Surface Transportation 
Board shall establish procedures for resolution of dis-
putes brought before it under this subsection, which 
may include provision of professional mediation serv-
ices. 
‘‘(3) BINDING EFFECT.—A decision of the Sur-
face Transportation Board under this subsection shall 
be binding on the parties to the dispute. 
‘‘(4) OBLIGATION.—Nothing in this subsection 
shall affect the obligation of a State to pay an 
amount not in dispute.
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† HR 22 EAS 
‘‘(d) IMPLEMENTATION.—The Under Secretary for Pol-
icy, who shall be responsible for the oversight and imple-
mentation of the national multimodal freight policy, 
shall— 
‘‘(1) assist with the coordination of modal freight 
planning; 
‘‘(2) ensure consistent, expedited review of 
multimodal freight projects; 
‘‘(3) review the project planning and approval 
processes at each modal administration to identify 
modeling and metric inconsistencies, approvals, and 
terminology differences that could hamper multimodal 
project approval; 
‘‘(4) identify interagency data sharing opportu-
nities to promote freight planning and coordination; 
‘‘(5) identify multimodal efforts and connections; 
‘‘(6) designate the lead agency for multimodal 
freight projects; 
‘‘(7) develop recommendations for State incen-
tives for multimodal planning efforts, which may in-
clude— 
‘‘(A) reducing the State cost share; or 
‘‘(B) expediting the review of agreements for 
multimodal or freight specific projects;