I 
109TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5616 
To establish a National Commission on the Infrastructure of the United 
States. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 14, 2006 
Mr. PETERSON of Minnesota introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To establish a National Commission on the Infrastructure 
of the United States. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Infrastruc-
ture Improvement Act of 2006’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) ACQUISITION.—The term ‘‘acquisition’’ in-
cludes the addition of land, sites, equipment, struc-
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tures, facilities, or rolling stock by purchase, lease- 
purchase, trade, or donation. 
(2) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 
means the National Commission on the Infrastruc-
ture of the United States established by section 3(a). 
(3) CONSTRUCTION.—The term ‘‘construction’’ 
means— 
(A) the design, planning, and erection of 
new infrastructure; 
(B) the expansion of existing infrastruc-
ture; 
(C) the reconstruction of an infrastructure 
project at an existing site; and 
(D) the installation of initial or replace-
ment infrastructure equipment. 
(4) INFRASTRUCTURE.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘infrastruc-
ture’’ means a nonmilitary structure or facility 
and equipment associated with that structure or 
facility. 
(B) INCLUSIONS.—The term ‘‘infrastruc-
ture’’ includes— 
(i) a surface transportation facility 
(such as a road, bridge, highway, public 
transportation facility, and freight and 
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passenger rail), as the Commission, in con-
sultation with the National Surface Trans-
portation Policy and Revenue Study Com-
mission established by section 1909(b)(1) 
of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Effi-
cient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy 
for Users (Public Law 109–59; 119 Stat. 
1471), determines to be appropriate; 
(ii) a mass transit facility; 
(iii) an airport or airway facility; 
(iv) a resource recovery facility; 
(v) a water supply and distribution 
system; 
(vi) a wastewater collection, treat-
ment, and related facility; 
(vii) waterways, locks, and dams; 
(viii) a levee and any related flood- 
control facility; 
(ix) a dock or port; and 
(x) a solid waste disposal facility. 
(5) MAINTENANCE.—The term ‘‘maintenance’’ 
means any regularly scheduled activity, such as a 
routine repair, intended to ensure that infrastruc-
ture continues to operate efficiently. 
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(6) REHABILITATION.—The term ‘‘rehabilita-
tion’’ means— 
(A) the correction of a deficiency in exist-
ing infrastructure so as to extend the useful life 
or improve the effectiveness of the infrastruc-
ture; 
(B) the modernization or replacement of 
equipment of existing infrastructure; and 
(C) the modernization of, or replacement 
of parts for, rolling stock relating to infrastruc-
ture. 
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a com-
mission to be known as the ‘‘National Commission on the 
Infrastructure of the United States’’ to ensure that the 
infrastructure of the United States— 
(1) meets current and future demand; and 
(2) facilitates economic growth. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) COMPOSITION.—The Commission shall be 
composed of 7 members, of whom— 
(A) 3 members shall be appointed by the 
President; 
(B) 1 member shall be appointed by the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives; 
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(C) 1 member shall be appointed by the 
minority leader of the House of Representa-
tives; 
(D) 1 member shall be appointed by the 
majority leader of the Senate; and 
(E) 1 member shall be appointed by the 
minority leader of the Senate. 
(2) QUALIFICATIONS.—Each member of the 
Commission shall have experience in 1 or more of 
the fields of economics, public administration, civil 
engineering, public works, construction, and related 
design professions, planning, or public investment fi-
nancing. 
(3) DATE OF APPOINTMENTS.—The members 
of the Commission shall be appointed under para-
graph (1) not later than 90 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act. 
(c) TERM; VACANCIES.— 
(1) TERM.—A member shall be appointed for 
the life of the Commission. 
(2) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Commis-
sion— 
(A) shall not affect the powers of the Com-
mission; and 
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(B) shall be filled, not later than 30 days 
after the date on which the vacancy occurs, in 
the same manner as the original appointment 
was made. 
(d) INITIAL MEETING.—Not later than 30 days after 
the date on which all members of the Commission have 
been appointed, the Commission shall hold the initial 
meeting of the Commission. 
(e) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at the 
call of the Chairperson or the majority of the Commission 
members. 
(f) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of the 
Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser num-
ber of members may hold hearings. 
(g) CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON.—The 
Commission shall select a Chairperson and Vice Chair-
person from among the members of the Commission. 
SEC. 4. DUTIES. 
(a) STUDY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than February 15, 
2009, the Commission, in consultation with the advi-
sory group established by paragraph (3)(A), shall 
complete a study of all matters relating to the state 
of the infrastructure of the United States. 
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(2) MATTERS TO BE STUDIED.—In carrying out 
paragraph (1), the Commission shall study such 
matters as— 
(A) the capacity of infrastructure improve-
ments to sustain current and anticipated eco-
nomic development and competitiveness, includ-
ing long-term economic growth, and to support 
a sustained and expanding economy; 
(B) the age and condition of public infra-
structure (including congestion and changes in 
the condition of that infrastructure as com-
pared with preceding years); 
(C) the methods used to finance the con-
struction, acquisition, rehabilitation, and main-
tenance of public works improvements (includ-
ing general obligation bonds, tax-credit bonds, 
revenue bonds, user fees, excise taxes, direct 
governmental assistance, and private invest-
ment); 
(D) any trends or innovations in methods 
used to finance that construction, acquisition, 
rehabilitation, and maintenance; 
(E) investment requirements, by type of 
facility, that are necessary to maintain the cur-
rent condition and performance of those facili-
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ties and the investment needed (as adjusted for 
inflation and expressed in real dollars) to im-
prove those facilities in the future; 
(F)(i) the projected share of Federal, 
State, local, and other government levels of in-
vestment requirements as identified in subpara-
graph (E); and 
(ii) the projected expenditure on infra-
structure facility improvements described in 
subparagraph (E) by each level of government; 
(G) estimates of the return to the economy 
from public works investment; 
(H) any trends or innovations in infra-
structure procurement methods; and 
(I) any trends or innovations in construc-
tion methods or materials. 
(3) CONSULTATION.— 
(A) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is estab-
lished an advisory group to provide assistance 
and advice on request of the Commission. 
(B) MEMBERSHIP.—The advisory group 
shall be composed of— 
(i) the Secretary of the Army; 
(ii) the Secretary of Agriculture; 
(iii) the Secretary of Transportation; 
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(iv) the Administrator of the Environ-
mental Protection Agency; 
(v) the Secretary of Commerce; 
(vi) the Secretary of Education; 
(vii) the Secretary of Energy; 
(viii) the Secretary of the Treasury; 
(ix) the Secretary of the Interior; 
(x) the Administrator of General Serv-
ices; 
(xi) the Director of the Office of Man-
agement and Budget; 
(xii) a representative of the National 
Governors Association; 
(xiii) a representative of the National 
Association of Counties; 
(xiv) a representative of the United 
States Conference of Mayors; and 
(xv) a representative of the National 
Conference of State Legislatures. 
(C) COMPENSATION.—The members of the 
advisory group shall serve without compensa-
tion. 
(D) TERMINATION.—The advisory group 
shall terminate on September 30, 2009. 
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(4) RESOURCES; DATA.—In carrying out para-
graph (1), to the maximum extent practicable, the 
Commission shall— 
(A) use existing studies, data, sampling 
techniques, and reports of other commissions; 
and 
(B) if collecting new data under this sec-
tion, make every effort to ensure that the data 
is collected in consultation with the States so as 
to ensure that uniform methods, categories, and 
analyses are used. 
(b) RECOMMENDATIONS.—The Commission shall de-
velop recommendations— 
(1) on a Federal infrastructure plan that will 
detail national infrastructure program priorities, in-
cluding alternative methods of meeting national in-
frastructure investment needs to effectuate balanced 
growth and economic development; 
(2) on public works improvements and methods 
of delivering and providing for public work facilities; 
(3) for analysis or criteria and procedures that 
may be used by Federal agencies and State and local 
governments in— 
(A) inventorying existing and needed pub-
lic works improvements; 
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(B) assessing the condition of public works 
improvements; and 
(C) developing uniform criteria and proce-
dures for use in conducting those inventories 
and assessments; and 
(4) for proposed guidelines for the uniform re-
porting, by Federal agencies, of construction, acqui-
sition, rehabilitation, and maintenance data with re-
spect to infrastructure improvements. 
(c) STATEMENT
AND
RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not 
later than February 15, 2009, the Commission shall sub-
mit to Congress— 
(1) a detailed statement of the findings and 
conclusions of the Commission; and 
(2) the recommendations of the Commission 
under subsection (b), including recommendations for 
such legislation and administrative actions for 5-, 
15-, 30-, and 50-year time periods as the Commis-
sion considers to be appropriate. 
SEC. 5. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) HEARINGS.—The Commission shall hold such 
hearings, meet and act at such times and places, take such 
testimony, administer such oaths, and receive such evi-
dence as the Commission considers advisable to carry out 
this Act. 
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(b) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission may secure 
directly from a Federal agency such information as 
the Commission considers necessary to carry out this 
Act. 
(2) PROVISION OF INFORMATION.—On request 
of the Chairperson of the Commission, the head of 
the Federal agency shall provide the information to 
the Commission. 
(c) GIFTS.—The Commission may accept, use, and 
dispose of gifts or donations of services or property. 
(d) CONTRACTS.—The Commission may enter into 
contracts with other entities, including contracts under 
which 1 or more entities, with the guidance of the Com-
mission, may conduct the study required under section 
4(a). 
(e) POSTAL SERVICES.—The Commission may use 
the United States mails in the same manner and under 
the same conditions as other agencies of the Federal Gov-
ernment. 
SEC. 6. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS. 
(a) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.—A member of the 
Commission shall serve without pay, but shall be allowed 
a per diem allowance for travel expenses, at rates author-
ized for an employee of an agency under subchapter I of 
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chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from 
the home or regular place of business of the member in 
the performance of the duties of the Commission. 
(b) STAFF.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Chairperson of the 
Commission may, without regard to the civil service 
laws, including regulations, appoint and terminate 
an executive director and such other additional per-
sonnel as are necessary to enable the Commission to 
perform the duties of the Commission. 
(2) CONFIRMATION
OF
EXECUTIVE
DIREC-
TOR.—The employment of an executive director shall 
be subject to confirmation by a majority of the mem-
bers of the Commission. 
(3) COMPENSATION.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), the Chairperson of the Com-
mission may fix the compensation of the execu-
tive director and other personnel without regard 
to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter 
III of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, 
relating to classification of positions and Gen-
eral Schedule pay rates. 
(B) MAXIMUM RATE OF PAY.—In no event 
shall any employee of the Commission (other 
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than the executive director) receive as com-
pensation an amount in excess of the maximum 
rate of pay for Executive Level IV under sec-
tion 5315 of title 5, United States Code. 
(c) DETAIL OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOY-
EES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—An employee of the Federal 
Government may be detailed to the Commission 
without reimbursement. 
(2) CIVIL SERVICE STATUS.—The detail of a 
Federal employee shall be without interruption or 
loss of civil service status or privilege. 
(d) PROCUREMENT OF TEMPORARY AND INTERMIT-
TENT SERVICES.—On request of the Commission, the Sec-
retary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, 
shall provide, on a reimbursable basis, such office space, 
supplies, equipment, and other support services to the 
Commission and staff of the Commission as are necessary 
for the Commission to carry out the duties of the Commis-
sion under this Act. 
SEC. 7. CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE REVIEW. 
Not later than 90 days after the date on which the 
report under section 4(c) is submitted to Congress by the 
Commission, the Congressional Budget Office shall review 
the report and submit a report on the results of the review 
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to the Committee on Environment and Public Works and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives. 
SEC. 8. FUNDING. 
(a) FISCAL YEAR 2007.—For fiscal year 2007, from 
amounts otherwise made available to the Secretary of the 
Treasury and the Secretary of Transportation for admin-
istrative and policy measures for that fiscal year, each of 
the Secretaries shall transfer to the Commission not more 
than $1,000,000, as the Commission may request to carry 
out this Act. 
(b) FUTURE FISCAL YEARS.—There is authorized to 
be appropriated to the Commission to carry out this Act 
$1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 and 2009. 
SEC. 9. TERMINATION OF COMMISSION. 
The Commission shall terminate on September 30, 
2009. 
Æ 
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