‘‘(C) The Secretary shall ensure that the 
project is maintained to the level of utility that 
is necessary to support the benefits approved 
under subparagraph (B)(iii) for a period of 20 
years from the date the useable segment, trans-
portation facility, or equipment described in 
subparagraph (B)(ii) is placed in service. If the 
project property is not maintained as required 
by this subparagraph for a period of time in ex-
cess of 12 months, then a pro-rata share of the 
Federal contribution, based upon the percent-
age remaining of the 20-year period that com-
menced when the project property was placed in 
service, shall be refunded. 
‘‘(2) EARLY WORK.—The Secretary may allow a 
grantee subject to this subsection to engage in at- 
risk work activities subsequent to the conclusion of 
final design where the Secretary determines that 
such work activities are reasonable and necessary.’’. 
SEC. 305. SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION STUDY. 
(a) STUDY.—The Secretary of Transportation shall 
conduct a nationwide disparity and availability study on 
the availability and use of small business concerns owned 
and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged 
individuals in publically funded intercity rail passenger 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:21 Dec 01, 2014
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00064
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5449.RH
H5449
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
transportation (as defined in section 24102 of title 49, 
United States Code) projects administered by the Federal 
Railroad Administration. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall transmit to 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report 
containing the results of the study conducted under sub-
section (a). 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘small busi-
ness concern’’ means a small business concern 
as the term is used in section 3 of the Small 
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632). 
(B) EXCLUSIONS.—The term ‘‘small busi-
ness concern’’ does not include any concern or 
group of concerns controlled by the same so-
cially and economically disadvantaged individual 
or individuals that have average annual gross 
receipts during the preceding 3 fiscal years in 
excess of $22,410,000, as adjusted annually by 
the Secretary for inflation. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:21 Dec 01, 2014
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00065
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5449.RH
H5449
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(2) SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVAN-
TAGED INDIVIDUAL.—The term ‘‘socially and eco-
nomically disadvantaged individual’’ has the mean-
ing given the term in section 8(d) of the Small Busi-
ness Act (15 U.S.C. 637(d)) and relevant subcon-
tracting regulations issued pursuant to that Act, ex-
cept that women shall be presumed to be socially 
and economically disadvantaged individuals for pur-
poses of this section. 
(d) FUNDING.—Of the total amount made available 
to the Office of the Secretary of the Department of Trans-
portation and the Federal Railroad Administration, for 
each of fiscal years 2015 and 2016, $3,000,000 shall be 
used to implement the requirements of this section. 
SEC. 306. GULF COAST RAIL SERVICE WORKING GROUP. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Federal Railroad Ad-
ministration shall convene a working group to evaluate the 
restoration of intercity rail passenger service in the Gulf 
Coast region between New Orleans, Louisiana, and Or-
lando, Florida. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The working group shall consist 
of representatives of— 
(1) Amtrak; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:21 Dec 01, 2014
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00066
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5449.RH
H5449
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(2) the States along the proposed route or 
routes; 
(3) regional transportation planning organiza-
tions and metropolitan planning organizations, mu-
nicipalities, and communities along the proposed 
route or routes, selected by the Administrator of the 
Federal Railroad Administration; 
(4) the Southern Rail Commission; 
(5) freight railroad carriers whose tracks may 
be used for such service; and 
(6) other entities determined appropriate by the 
Administrator. 
(c) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The working group shall— 
(1) evaluate all options for restoring intercity 
rail passenger service in the Gulf Coast region, in-
cluding options outlined in the report transmitted to 
Congress pursuant to section 226 of the Passenger 
Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 
(Public Law 110–432); 
(2) select a preferred option for restoring such 
service; 
(3) develop a prioritized inventory of capital 
projects and other actions required to restore such 
service and cost estimates for such projects or ac-
tions; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:21 Dec 01, 2014
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00067
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5449.RH
H5449
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(4) identify Federal and non-Federal funding 
sources required to restore such service, including 
options for entering into public-private partnerships 
to restore such service. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 9 months after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the working group shall transmit 
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
in the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation in the Senate a 
report that includes— 
(1) the preferred option selected under sub-
section (c)(2) and the reasons for selecting such op-
tion; 
(2) the information described in subsection 
(c)(3); 
(3) the funding sources identified under sub-
section (c)(4); 
(4) the costs and benefits of restoring intercity 
rail passenger transportation in the region; and 
(5) any other information the working group 
determines appropriate. 
SEC. 307. MISCELLANEOUS. 
(a) TITLE 49 AMENDMENTS.—Title 49, United 
States Code, is amended— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:21 Dec 01, 2014
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00068
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5449.RH
H5449
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS