(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
for subchapter A of chapter 98 of such Code is amended 
by adding at the end the following new item: 
‘‘Sec. 9512. National Freight Network Trust Fund.’’. 
SEC. 3. NATIONAL FREIGHT NETWORK GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is hereby established in 
the Department of Transportation a National Freight 
Network Grant Program (in this section referred to as the 
‘‘Program’’) to improve the performance of the national 
freight network. 
(b) GRANT AUTHORITY.—Under the Program, the 
Secretary of Transportation, in accordance with the na-
tional freight strategic plan developed under section 167 
of title 23, United States Code, may make a grant to as-
sist any project that improves the performance of a seg-
ment of the national freight network. 
(c) GRANT RECIPIENTS.—Under the Program, the 
Secretary may make a grant to the following: 
(1) A State. 
(2) A regional or local transportation organiza-
tion. 
(3) A port authority. 
(d) APPLICATIONS.—To be eligible for a grant under 
the Program, an entity specified in subsection (c) shall 
submit to the Secretary an application regarding a pro-
posed project at such time, in such form, and containing 
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such information as the Secretary determines is appro-
priate. 
(e) SELECTION CRITERIA.—In making grants under 
the Program, the Secretary shall evaluate and select 
projects on a competitive basis by considering the potential 
of the projects to— 
(1) generate national economic benefits; 
(2) improve the performance of key corridors 
and gateways; 
(3) reduce congestion; 
(4) improve transportation safety; and 
(5) enhance the national freight network. 
(f) TRANSPARENCY.—For each application submitted 
under subsection (d) that does not result in a grant, the 
Secretary shall provide to the relevant applicant a written 
explanation describing the reasons a grant was not made. 
(g) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of the cost 
of a project assisted with a grant under the Program shall 
be 90 percent, except that a grant recipient may determine 
a lower Federal share than the Federal share otherwise 
determined under this subsection. 
(h) FUNDING.—In carrying out the Program, the 
Secretary shall utilize amounts available in the National 
Freight Network Trust Fund established under section 
9512 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. 
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(i) NATIONAL FREIGHT NETWORK DEFINED.—In 
this section, the term ‘‘national freight network’’ means— 
(1) the national freight network established 
under section 167 of title 23, United States Code; 
(2) roads and rail lines that connect such net-
work to a port; 
(3) on-dock rail; 
(4) projects that appear in a State freight plan; 
(5) projects that appear in a regional transpor-
tation plan; 
(6) high freight volume roadway or rail cor-
ridors that provide connectivity for— 
(A) ports; 
(B) intermodal connectors; 
(C) multimodal freight facilities; 
(D) multistate freight corridors; 
(E) international borders; or 
(F) airports; and 
(7) railway-highway grade separations. 
SEC. 4. NATIONAL FREIGHT POLICY. 
Section 167(c)(1) of title 23, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting ‘‘, and update every 5 years there-
after,’’ after ‘‘shall establish’’. 
Æ 
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