I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2595 
To establish a Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic 
Success Initiative, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 15, 2021 
Mr. PENCE (for himself and Mr. CUELLAR) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To establish a Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation 
for Economic Success Initiative, and for other purposes. 
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 ‘‘Rural Opportunities 
to Use Transportation for Economic Success Act’’ or the 
‘‘ROUTES Act’’. 
SEC. 2. RURAL OPPORTUNITIES TO USE TRANSPORTATION 
FOR ECONOMIC SUCCESS INITIATIVE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation 
shall establish the Rural Opportunities to Use Transpor-
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tation for Economic Success Initiative (hereinafter re-
ferred to as the ‘‘ROUTES Office’’), to— 
(1) improve analysis of rural projects applying 
for Department of Transportation discretionary 
grants, including ensuring that project costs, local 
resources, and the larger benefits to the American 
people and the economy are appropriately consid-
ered; and 
(2) provide rural communities with technical as-
sistance for meeting the Nation’s transportation in-
frastructure investment need in a financially sustain-
able manner. 
(b) OBJECTIVES.—The ROUTES Office shall— 
(1) collect input from knowledgeable entities 
and the public on the benefits of rural transpor-
tation projects, the technical and financial assistance 
required for constructing and operating rural trans-
portation infrastructure and services, and barriers 
and opportunities to funding such rural transpor-
tation projects; 
(2) evaluate data on rural transportation chal-
lenges and determining methods to align the Depart-
ment of Transportation’s discretionary funding and 
financing opportunities with the needs of rural com-
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munities for meeting National transportation goals; 
and 
(3) educate rural communities about applicable 
Department of Transportation discretionary grants, 
developing effective methods to evaluate rural 
projects in discretionary grant programs, and com-
municating those methods through program guid-
ance. 
(c) ROUTES COUNCIL.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish 
the ROUTES Council (hereinafter referred to as the 
‘‘Council’’) to— 
(A) 
organize, 
guide, 
and 
lead 
the 
ROUTES Office; and 
(B) coordinate rural-related funding pro-
grams and assistance among the modal admin-
istrations. 
(2) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Council shall be 
composed of the following officers of the De-
partment of Transportation, or their designees: 
(i) The Under Secretary of Transpor-
tation for Policy. 
(ii) The General Counsel. 
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(iii) The Chief Financial Officer and 
Assistant Secretary for Budget and Pro-
grams. 
(iv) The Assistant Secretary for Re-
search and Technology. 
(v) The Administrators of the— 
(I) Federal Aviation Administra-
tion; 
(II) Federal Highway Adminis-
tration; 
(III) Federal Railroad Adminis-
tration; and 
(IV) Federal Transit Administra-
tion. 
(vi) The Chief Infrastructure Funding 
Officer. 
(vii) The Assistant Secretary of Gov-
ernment Affairs. 
(viii) The Director of the Office of 
Public Affairs. 
(B) CHAIR.—The Under Secretary of 
Transportation for Policy shall be the Chair of 
the Council. 
(C) ADDITIONAL
MEMBERS.—The Sec-
retary of Transportation or the Chair of the 
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Council may designate additional members to 
serve on the Council. 
(3) ADDITIONAL
MODAL
INPUT.—To address 
issues related to safety and transport of rural com-
modities, the Council shall consult with the Adminis-
trators (or their designees) of the— 
(A) Maritime Administration; 
(B) Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway De-
velopment Corporation; and 
(C) National Highway Traffic Safety Ad-
ministration. 
(4) DUTIES.—Members of the Council shall— 
(A) participate in all meetings and relevant 
Council activities and be prepared to share in-
formation relevant to rural transportation infra-
structure projects and issues; 
(B) provide guidance and leadership on 
rural transportation infrastructure issues and 
represent the work of the Council and Depart-
ment of Transportation on such issues to exter-
nal stakeholders; and 
(C) recommend initiatives to the Chair of 
the Council to consider, establish, and staff any 
resulting activities or working groups. 
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(5) MEETINGS.—The Council shall meet bi-
monthly. 
(6) WORK
PRODUCTS
AND
DELIVERABLES.— 
The Council may develop work products or deliver-
ables to meet its goals, including— 
(A) an annual report to Congress describ-
ing Council activities for the past year and ex-
pected activities for the coming year; 
(B) any recommendations to enhance the 
effectiveness of Department of Transportation 
discretionary grant programs regarding rural 
infrastructure issues; and 
(C) other guides and reports for relevant 
groups and the public. 
Æ 
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