524 
SEC. 6013. UNIVERSITY TRANSPORTATION CENTERS. 
Section 5505 of title 49, United States Code, is amend-
ed to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 5505. University transportation centers program 
‘‘(a) UNIVERSITY TRANSPORTATION CENTERS PRO-
GRAM.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT
AND
OPERATION.—The 
Secretary shall make grants under this section to eli-
gible nonprofit institutions of higher education to es-
tablish and operate university transportation centers. 
‘‘(2) ROLE OF CENTERS.—The role of each uni-
versity transportation center referred to in paragraph 
(1) shall be— 
‘‘(A) to advance transportation expertise 
and technology in the varied disciplines that 
comprise the field of transportation through edu-
cation, research, and technology transfer activi-
ties; 
‘‘(B) to provide for a critical transportation 
knowledge base outside of the Department of 
Transportation; and 
‘‘(C) to address critical workforce needs and 
educate the next generation of transportation 
leaders. 
‘‘(b) COMPETITIVE SELECTION PROCESS.—
525 
‘‘(1) APPLICATIONS.—To receive a grant under 
this section, a consortium of nonprofit institutions of 
higher education shall submit to the Secretary an ap-
plication that is in such form and contains such in-
formation as the Secretary may require. 
‘‘(2) RESTRICTION.— 
‘‘(A) LIMITATION.—A lead institution of a 
consortium of nonprofit institutions of higher 
education, as applicable, may only submit 1 
grant application per fiscal year for each of the 
transportation centers described under para-
graphs (2), (3), and (4) of subsection (c). 
‘‘(B) EXCEPTION
FOR
CONSORTIUM
MEM-
BERS THAT ARE NOT LEAD INSTITUTIONS.—Sub-
paragraph (A) shall not apply to a nonprofit in-
stitution of higher education that is a member of 
a consortium of nonprofit institutions of higher 
education but not the lead institution of such 
consortium. 
‘‘(3) COORDINATION.—The Secretary shall solicit 
grant applications for national transportation cen-
ters, regional transportation centers, and Tier 1 uni-
versity transportation centers with identical adver-
tisement schedules and deadlines. 
‘‘(4) GENERAL SELECTION CRITERIA.—
526 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Except as otherwise 
provided by this section, the Secretary shall 
award grants under this section in nonexclusive 
candidate topic areas established by the Sec-
retary that address the research priorities identi-
fied in section 503 of title 23. 
‘‘(B) CRITERIA.—The Secretary, in con-
sultation with the Assistant Secretary for Re-
search and Technology and the Administrator of 
the Federal Highway Administration, shall select 
each recipient of a grant under this section 
through a competitive process based on the as-
sessment of the Secretary relating to— 
‘‘(i) the demonstrated ability of the re-
cipient to address each specific topic area 
described in the research and strategic plans 
of the recipient; 
‘‘(ii) the demonstrated research, tech-
nology transfer, and education resources 
available to the recipient to carry out this 
section; 
‘‘(iii) the ability of the recipient to 
provide leadership in solving immediate 
and long-range national and regional trans-
portation problems;
527 
‘‘(iv) the ability of the recipient to 
carry out research, education, and tech-
nology 
transfer 
activities 
that 
are 
multimodal and multidisciplinary in scope; 
‘‘(v) the demonstrated commitment of 
the recipient to carry out transportation 
workforce development programs through— 
‘‘(I) degree-granting programs or 
programs that provide other industry- 
recognized credentials; and 
‘‘(II) outreach activities to attract 
new entrants into the transportation 
field, including women and underrep-
resented populations; 
‘‘(vi) the demonstrated ability of the 
recipient to disseminate results and spur 
the implementation of transportation re-
search and education programs through na-
tional or statewide continuing education 
programs; 
‘‘(vii) the demonstrated commitment of 
the recipient to the use of peer review prin-
ciples and other research best practices in 
the selection, management, and dissemina-
tion of research projects;
528 
‘‘(viii) the strategic plan submitted by 
the recipient describing the proposed re-
search to be carried out by the recipient and 
the performance metrics to be used in as-
sessing the performance of the recipient in 
meeting the stated research, technology 
transfer, education, and outreach goals; and 
‘‘(ix) the ability of the recipient to im-
plement the proposed program in a cost-effi-
cient manner, such as through cost sharing 
and overall reduced overhead, facilities, and 
administrative costs. 
‘‘(5) TRANSPARENCY.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
provide to each applicant, upon request, any 
materials, including copies of reviews (with any 
information that would identify a reviewer re-
dacted), used in the evaluation process of the 
proposal of the applicant. 
‘‘(B) REPORTS.—The Secretary shall sub-
mit to the Committees on Transportation and 
Infrastructure and Science, Space, and Tech-
nology of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Environment and Public Works of
529 
the Senate a report describing the overall review 
process under paragraph (3) that includes— 
‘‘(i) specific criteria of evaluation used 
in the review; 
‘‘(ii) descriptions of the review process; 
and 
‘‘(iii) explanations of the selected 
awards. 
‘‘(6) OUTSIDE STAKEHOLDERS.—The Secretary 
shall, to the maximum extent practicable, consult ex-
ternal stakeholders such as the Transportation Re-
search Board of the National Research Council of the 
National Academies to evaluate and competitively re-
view all proposals. 
‘‘(c) GRANTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary, 
Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology, and 
the Administrator of the Federal Highway Adminis-
tration shall select grant recipients under subsection 
(b) and make grant amounts available to the selected 
recipients. 
‘‘(2) NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION CENTERS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subpara-
graph (B), the Secretary shall provide grants to
530 
5 consortia that the Secretary determines best 
meet the criteria described in subsection (b)(4). 
‘‘(B) RESTRICTIONS.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—For each fiscal 
year, a grant made available under this 
paragraph shall be not greater than 
$4,000,000 and not less than $2,000,000 per 
recipient. 
‘‘(ii) FOCUSED RESEARCH.—A consor-
tium receiving a grant under this para-
graph shall focus research on 1 of the trans-
portation issue areas specified in section 
508(a)(2) of title 23. 
‘‘(C) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—As a condition of 
receiving a grant under this paragraph, a 
grant recipient shall match 100 percent of 
the amounts made available under the 
grant. 
‘‘(ii) 
SOURCES.—The 
matching 
amounts referred to in clause (i) may in-
clude amounts made available to the recipi-
ent under— 
‘‘(I) section 504(b) of title 23; or 
‘‘(II) section 505 of title 23.
531 
‘‘(3) REGIONAL
UNIVERSITY
TRANSPORTATION 
CENTERS.— 
‘‘(A) LOCATION OF REGIONAL CENTERS.— 
One regional university transportation center 
shall be located in each of the 10 Federal regions 
that comprise the Standard Federal Regions es-
tablished by the Office of Management and 
Budget in the document entitled ‘Standard Fed-
eral Regions’ and dated April 1974 (circular A– 
105). 
‘‘(B) SELECTION CRITERIA.—In conducting 
a competition under subsection (b), the Secretary 
shall provide grants to 10 consortia on the basis 
of— 
‘‘(i) the criteria described in subsection 
(b)(4); 
‘‘(ii) the location of the lead center 
within the Federal region to be served; and 
‘‘(iii) whether the consortium of insti-
tutions demonstrates that the consortium 
has a well-established, nationally recognized 
program in transportation research and 
education, as evidenced by—
532 
‘‘(I) recent expenditures by the in-
stitution in highway or public trans-
portation research; 
‘‘(II) a historical track record of 
awarding graduate degrees in profes-
sional fields closely related to highways 
and public transportation; and 
‘‘(III) an experienced faculty who 
specialize in professional fields closely 
related to highways and public trans-
portation. 
‘‘(C) RESTRICTIONS.—For each fiscal year, 
a grant made available under this paragraph 
shall be not greater than $3,000,000 and not less 
than $1,500,000 per recipient. 
‘‘(D) MATCHING REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—As a condition of 
receiving a grant under this paragraph, a 
grant recipient shall match 100 percent of 
the amounts made available under the 
grant. 
‘‘(ii) 
SOURCES.—The 
matching 
amounts referred to in clause (i) may in-
clude amounts made available to the recipi-
ent under—
533 
‘‘(I) section 504(b) of title 23; or 
‘‘(II) section 505 of title 23. 
‘‘(E) FOCUSED RESEARCH.—The Secretary 
shall make a grant to 1 of the 10 regional uni-
versity transportation centers established under 
this paragraph for the purpose of furthering the 
objectives described in subsection (a)(2) in the 
field of comprehensive transportation safety, con-
gestion, connected vehicles, connected infrastruc-
ture, and autonomous vehicles. 
‘‘(4) TIER 1 UNIVERSITY TRANSPORTATION CEN-
TERS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
provide grants of not greater than $2,000,000 
and not less than $1,000,000 to not more than 
20 recipients to carry out this paragraph. 
‘‘(B) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—As a condition of 
receiving a grant under this paragraph, a 
grant recipient shall match 50 percent of 
the amounts made available under the 
grant. 
‘‘(ii) 
SOURCES.—The 
matching 
amounts referred to in clause (i) may in-
534 
clude amounts made available to the recipi-
ent under— 
‘‘(I) section 504(b) of title 23; or 
‘‘(II) section 505 of title 23. 
‘‘(C) FOCUSED
RESEARCH.—In awarding 
grants under this section, consideration shall be 
given to minority institutions, as defined by sec-
tion 365 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 1067k), or consortia that include such 
institutions that have demonstrated an ability in 
transportation-related research. 
‘‘(d) PROGRAM COORDINATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) coordinate the research, education, and 
technology transfer activities carried out by 
grant recipients under this section; and 
‘‘(B) disseminate the results of that research 
through the establishment and operation of a 
publicly accessible online information clearing-
house. 
‘‘(2) ANNUAL
REVIEW
AND
EVALUATION.—Not 
less frequently than annually, and consistent with the 
plan developed under section 508 of title 23, the Sec-
retary shall—
535 
‘‘(A) review and evaluate the programs car-
ried out under this section by grant recipients; 
and 
‘‘(B) submit to the Committees on Trans-
portation and Infrastructure and Science, Space, 
and Technology of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Environment and Public 
Works of the Senate a report describing that re-
view and evaluation. 
‘‘(3) PROGRAM EVALUATION AND OVERSIGHT.— 
For each of fiscal years 2016 through 2021, the Sec-
retary shall expend not more than 1 and a half per-
cent of the amounts made available to the Secretary 
to carry out this section for any coordination, evalua-
tion, and oversight activities of the Secretary under 
this section. 
‘‘(e) LIMITATION ON AVAILABILITY OF AMOUNTS.— 
Amounts made available to the Secretary to carry out this 
section shall remain available for obligation by the Sec-
retary for a period of 3 years after the last day of the fiscal 
year for which the amounts are authorized. 
‘‘(f) INFORMATION COLLECTION.—Any survey, ques-
tionnaire, or interview that the Secretary determines to be 
necessary to carry out reporting requirements relating to 
any program assessment or evaluation activity under this
536 
section, including customer satisfaction assessments, shall 
not be subject to chapter 35 of title 44.’’. 
SEC. 6014. BUREAU OF TRANSPORTATION STATISTICS. 
(a) BUREAU OF TRANSPORTATION STATISTICS.—Sec-
tion 6302(b)(3)(B) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in clause (vi)(III) by striking ‘‘section 6310’’ 
and inserting ‘‘section 6309’’; 
(2) by redesignating clauses (vii), (viii), (ix), 
and (x) as clauses (x), (xi), (xii), and (xiii), respec-
tively; and 
(3) by inserting after clause (vi) the following: 
‘‘(vii) develop and improve transpor-
tation economic accounts to meet demand 
for methods for estimating the economic 
value of transportation infrastructure, in-
vestment, and services; 
‘‘(viii) not be required to obtain the 
approval of any other officer or employee of 
the Department in connection with the col-
lection or analysis of any information; 
‘‘(ix) not be required, prior to publica-
tion, to obtain the approval of any other of-
ficer or employee of the Federal Government 
with respect to the substance of any statis-
537 
tical technical reports or press releases that 
the Director has prepared in accordance 
with the law;’’. 
(b) TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.—Section 6311(5) of title 
49, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘section 
6310’’ and inserting ‘‘section 6309’’. 
SEC. 6015. SURFACE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM FUNDING 
ALTERNATIVES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish a pro-
gram to provide grants to States to demonstrate user-based 
alternative revenue mechanisms that utilize a user fee struc-
ture to maintain the long-term solvency of the Highway 
Trust Fund. 
(b) APPLICATION.—To be eligible for a grant under 
this section, a State or group of States shall submit to the 
Secretary an application in such form and containing such 
information as the Secretary may require. 
(c) OBJECTIVES.—The Secretary shall ensure that the 
activities carried out using funds provided under this sec-
tion meet the following objectives: 
(1) To test the design, acceptance, and imple-
mentation of 2 or more future user-based alternative 
revenue mechanisms. 
(2) To improve the functionality of such user- 
based alternative revenue mechanisms.
538 
(3) To conduct outreach to increase public 
awareness regarding the need for alternative funding 
sources for surface transportation programs and to 
provide information on possible approaches. 
(4) To provide recommendations regarding adop-
tion and implementation of user-based alternative 
revenue mechanisms. 
(5) To minimize the administrative cost of any 
potential user-based alternative revenue mechanisms. 
(d) USE OF FUNDS.—A State or group of States re-
ceiving funds under this section to test the design, accept-
ance, and implementation of a user-based alternative rev-
enue mechanism— 
(1) shall address— 
(A) the implementation, interoperability, 
public acceptance, and other potential hurdles to 
the adoption of the user-based alternative revenue 
mechanism; 
(B) the protection of personal privacy; 
(C) the use of independent and private 
third-party vendors to collect fees and operate the 
user-based alternative revenue mechanism; 
(D) market-based congestion mitigation, if 
appropriate;
539 
(E) equity concerns, including the impacts 
of the user-based alternative revenue mechanism 
on differing income groups, various geographic 
areas, and the relative burdens on rural and 
urban drivers; 
(F) ease of compliance for different users of 
the transportation system; and 
(G) the reliability and security of tech-
nology used to implement the user-based alter-
native revenue mechanism; and 
(2) may address— 
(A) the flexibility and choices of user-based 
alternative revenue mechanisms, including the 
ability of users to select from various technology 
and payment options; 
(B) the cost of administering the user-based 
alternative revenue mechanism; and 
(C) the ability of the administering entity 
to audit and enforce user compliance. 
(e) CONSIDERATION.—The Secretary shall consider ge-
ographic diversity in awarding grants under this section. 
(f) LIMITATIONS ON REVENUE COLLECTED.—Any rev-
enue collected through a user-based alternative revenue 
mechanism established using funds provided under this sec-
540 
tion shall not be considered a toll under section 301 of title 
23, United States Code. 
(g) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of the cost 
of an activity carried out under this section may not exceed 
50 percent of the total cost of the activity. 
(h) REPORT TO SECRETARY.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date on which the first eligible entity receives a 
grant under this section, and each year thereafter, each re-
cipient of a grant under this section shall submit to the 
Secretary a report that describes— 
(1) how the demonstration activities carried out 
with grant funds meet the objectives described in sub-
section (c); and 
(2) lessons learned for future deployment of al-
ternative revenue mechanisms that utilize a user fee 
structure. 
(i) BIENNIAL REPORTS.—Not later than 2 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, and every 2 years there-
after until the completion of the demonstration activities 
under this section, the Secretary shall make available to the 
public on an Internet Web site a report describing the 
progress of the demonstration activities. 
(j) FUNDING.—Of the funds authorized to carry out 
section 503(b) of title 23, United States Code—
541 
(1) $15,000,000 shall be used to carry out this 
section for fiscal year 2016; and 
(2) $20,000,000 shall be used to carry out this 
section for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2021. 
(k) GRANT FLEXIBILITY.—If, by August 1 of each fis-
cal year, the Secretary determines that there are not enough 
grant applications that meet the requirements of this section 
for a fiscal year, Secretary shall transfer to the program 
under section 503(b) of title 23, United States Code— 
(1) any of the funds reserved for the fiscal year 
under subsection (j) that the Secretary has not yet 
awarded under this section; and 
(2) an amount of obligation limitation equal to 
the amount of funds that the Secretary transfers 
under paragraph (1). 
SEC. 6016. FUTURE INTERSTATE STUDY. 
(a) FUTURE INTERSTATE SYSTEM STUDY.—Not later 
than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary shall enter into an agreement with the Transpor-
tation Research Board of the National Academies to conduct 
a study on the actions needed to upgrade and restore the 
Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and 
Defense Highways to its role as a premier system that meets 
the growing and shifting demands of the 21st century.
542 
(b) METHODOLOGIES.—In conducting the study, the 
Transportation Research Board shall build on the meth-
odologies examined and recommended in the report pre-
pared for the American Association of State Highway and 
Transportation Officials titled ‘‘National Cooperative 
Highway Research Program Project 20–24(79): Specifica-
tions for a National Study of the Future 3R, 4R, and Ca-
pacity Needs of the Interstate System’’, dated December 
2013. 
(c) CONTENTS OF STUDY.—The study— 
(1) shall include specific recommendations re-
garding the features, standards, capacity needs, ap-
plication of technologies, and intergovernmental roles 
to upgrade the Interstate System, including any revi-
sions to law (including regulations) that the Trans-
portation Research Board determines appropriate; 
and 
(2) is encouraged to build on the institutional 
knowledge in the highway industry in applying the 
techniques involved in implementing the study. 
(d) CONSIDERATIONS.—In carrying out the study, the 
Transportation Research Board shall determine the need for 
reconstruction and improvement of the Interstate System 
by considering—
543 
(1) future demands on transportation infrastruc-
ture determined for national planning purposes, in-
cluding commercial and private traffic flows to serve 
future economic activity and growth; 
(2) the expected condition of the current Inter-
state System over the period of 50 years beginning on 
the date of enactment of this Act, including long-term 
deterioration and reconstruction needs; 
(3) features that would take advantage of techno-
logical capabilities to address modern standards of 
construction, maintenance, and operations, for pur-
poses of safety, and system management, taking into 
further consideration system performance and cost; 
and 
(4) the resources necessary to maintain and im-
prove the Interstate System. 
(e) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out the study, the 
Transportation Research Board— 
(1) shall convene and consult with a panel of na-
tional experts, including operators and users of the 
Interstate System and private sector stakeholders; and 
(2) is encouraged to consult with— 
(A) the Federal Highway Administration; 
(B) States;
544 
(C) planning agencies at the metropolitan, 
State, and regional levels; 
(D) the motor carrier industry; 
(E) freight shippers; 
(F) highway safety groups; and 
(G) other appropriate entities. 
(f) REPORT.—Not later than 3 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Transportation Research Board 
shall make available to the public on an Internet Web site 
the results of the study conducted under this section. 
(g) FUNDING.—From funds made available to carry 
out section 503(b) of title 23, United States Code, the Sec-
retary may use to carry out this section up to $5,000,000 
for fiscal year 2016. 
SEC. 6017. HIGHWAY EFFICIENCY. 
(a) STUDY.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Assistant Secretary of 
Transportation for Research and Technology may ex-
amine the impact of pavement durability and sus-
tainability on vehicle fuel consumption, vehicle wear 
and tear, road conditions, and road repairs. 
(2) METHODOLOGY.—In carrying out the study, 
the Assistant Secretary shall—
545 
(A) conduct a thorough review of relevant 
peer-reviewed research published during at least 
the past 5 years; 
(B) analyze impacts of different types of 
pavement on all motor vehicle types, including 
commercial vehicles; 
(C) specifically examine the impact of pave-
ment deformation and deflection; and 
(D) analyze impacts of different types of 
pavement on road conditions and road repairs. 
(3) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out the study, 
the Assistant Secretary shall consult with— 
(A) experts from the different modal admin-
istrations of the Department and from other Fed-
eral agencies, including the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology; 
(B) State departments of transportation; 
(C) local government engineers and public 
works professionals; 
(D) industry stakeholders; and 
(E) appropriate academic experts active in 
the field. 
(b) REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Assistant Sec-
546 
retary shall publish on a public Web site the results 
of the study. 
(2) CONTENTS.—The report shall include— 
(A) a summary of the different types of 
pavements analyzed in the study and the im-
pacts of pavement durability and sustainability 
on vehicle fuel consumption, vehicle wear and 
tear, road conditions, and road repairs; and 
(B) recommendations for State and local 
governments on best practice methods for im-
proving pavement durability and sustainability 
to maximize vehicle fuel economy, ride quality, 
and road conditions and to minimize the need 
for road and vehicle repairs. 
SEC. 6018. MOTORCYCLE SAFETY. 
(a) STUDY.—The Assistant Secretary for Research and 
Technology of the Department of Transportation may enter 
into an agreement, within 45 days after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, with the National Academy of Sciences 
to conduct a study on the most effective means of preventing 
motorcycle crashes. 
(b) PUBLICATION.—The Assistant Secretary may make 
available the findings on a public Web site within 30 days 
after receiving the results of the study from the National 
Academy of Sciences.
547 
SEC. 6019. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS RESEARCH AND DEVEL-
OPMENT. 
Section 5118 of title 49, United States Code, is amend-
ed— 
(1) in subsection (a)(2)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A) by striking ‘‘and’’ 
at the end; 
(B) in subparagraph (B) by striking the pe-
riod at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(C) coordinate, as appropriate, with other 
Federal agencies.’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(c) COOPERATIVE RESEARCH.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—As part of the program es-
tablished in subsection (a), the Secretary may carry 
out cooperative research on hazardous materials 
transport. 
‘‘(2) NATIONAL ACADEMIES.—The Secretary may 
enter into an agreement with the National Academies 
to support such research. 
‘‘(3) RESEARCH.—Research conducted under this 
subsection may include activities related to— 
‘‘(A) emergency planning and response, in-
cluding information and programs that can be
548 
readily assessed and implemented in local juris-
dictions; 
‘‘(B) risk analysis and perception and data 
assessment; 
‘‘(C) commodity flow data, including vol-
untary collaboration between shippers and first 
responders for secure data exchange of critical 
information; 
‘‘(D) integration of safety and security; 
‘‘(E) cargo packaging and handling; 
‘‘(F) hazmat release consequences; and 
‘‘(G) materials and equipment testing.’’. 
SEC. 6020. WEB-BASED TRAINING FOR EMERGENCY RE-
SPONDERS. 
Section 5115(a) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting ‘‘, including online curriculum as ap-
propriate,’’ after ‘‘a current curriculum of courses’’. 
SEC. 6021. TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY POLICY WORK-
ING GROUP. 
To improve the scientific pursuit and research proce-
dures concerning transportation, the Assistant Secretary for 
Research and Technology may convene an interagency 
working group to—
549 
(1) develop within 1 year after the date of enact-
ment of this Act a national transportation research 
framework; 
(2) identify opportunities for coordination be-
tween the Department and universities and the pri-
vate sector, and prioritize these opportunities; 
(3) identify and develop a plan to implement 
best practices for moving transportation research re-
sults out of the laboratory and into application; and 
(4) identify and develop a plan to address re-
lated workforce development needs. 
SEC. 6022. COLLABORATION AND SUPPORT. 
The Secretary may solicit the support of, and identify 
opportunities to collaborate with, other Federal research 
agencies and national laboratories to assist in the effective 
and efficient pursuit and resolution of research challenges 
identified by the Secretary. 
SEC. 6023. PRIZE COMPETITIONS. 
Section 502(b)(7) of title 23, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (D)— 
(A) 
by 
inserting 
‘‘(such 
as 
www.challenge.gov)’’ after ‘‘public website’’; 
(B) by redesignating clauses (iii) and (iv) 
as clauses (iv) and (v), respectively;
550 
(C) by inserting after clause (ii) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(iii) the process for participants to 
register for the competition;’’; and 
(D) in clause (iv) (as redesignated by sub-
paragraph (B)) by striking ‘‘prize’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘cash prize purse’’; 
(2) in subparagraph (E) by striking ‘‘prize’’ both 
places it appears and inserting ‘‘cash prize purse’’; 
(3) by redesignating subparagraphs (F) through 
(K) as subparagraphs (G) through (L), respectively; 
(4) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(F) USE
OF
FEDERAL
FACILITIES; CON-
SULTATION WITH FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.—An in-
dividual or entity is not ineligible to receive a 
cash prize purse under this paragraph as a re-
sult of the individual or entity using a Federal 
facility or consulting with a Federal employee 
related to the individual or entity’s participa-
tion in a prize competition under this para-
graph unless the same facility or employee is 
made available to all individuals and entities 
participating in the prize competition on an eq-
uitable basis.’’;
551 
(5) in subparagraph (G) (as redesignated by 
paragraph (3) of this section)— 
(A) in clause (i)(I) by striking ‘‘competi-
tion’’ and inserting ‘‘prize competition under 
this paragraph’’; 
(B) in clause (ii)(I)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘participation in a 
competition’’ and inserting ‘‘participation 
in a prize competition under this para-
graph’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘competition activi-
ties’’ and inserting ‘‘prize competition ac-
tivities’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(iii) INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.— 
‘‘(I) PROHIBITION ON REQUIRING 
WAIVER.—The Secretary may not re-
quire a participant to waive claims 
against the Department arising out of 
the unauthorized use or disclosure by 
the Department of the intellectual 
property, trade secrets, or confidential 
business information of the partici-
pant.
552 
‘‘(II) PROHIBITION
ON
GOVERN-
MENT ACQUISITION OF INTELLECTUAL 
PROPERTY RIGHTS.—The Federal Gov-
ernment may not gain an interest in 
intellectual property developed by a 
participant for a prize competition 
under this paragraph without the writ-
ten consent of the participant. 
‘‘(III) LICENSES.—The Federal 
Government may negotiate a license 
for the use of intellectual property de-
veloped by a participant for a prize 
competition under this paragraph.’’; 
(6) in subparagraph (H)(i) (as redesignated by 
paragraph (3) of this section) by striking ‘‘subpara-
graph (H)’’ and inserting ‘‘subparagraph (I)’’; 
(7) in subparagraph (I) (as redesignated by 
paragraph (3) of this section) by striking ‘‘an agree-
ment with a private, nonprofit entity’’ and inserting 
‘‘a grant, contract, cooperative agreement, or other 
agreement with a private sector for-profit or non-
profit entity’’; 
(8) in subparagraph (J) (as redesignated by 
paragraph (3) of this section)— 
(A) in clause (i)—
553 
(i) in subclause (I) by striking ‘‘the 
private sector’’ and inserting ‘‘private sector 
for-profit and nonprofit entities, to be avail-
able to the extent provided by appropria-
tions Acts’’; 
(ii) in subclause (II) by striking ‘‘and 
metropolitan planning organizations’’ and 
inserting ‘‘metropolitan planning organiza-
tions, and private sector for-profit and non-
profit entities’’; and 
(iii) in subclause (III) by inserting 
‘‘for-profit or nonprofit’’ after ‘‘private sec-
tor’’; 
(B) in clause (ii) by striking ‘‘prize 
awards’’ and inserting ‘‘cash prize purses’’; 
(C) in clause (iv)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘competition’’ after ‘‘A 
prize’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘the prize’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘the cash prize purse’’; 
(D) in clause (v)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘amount of a prize’’ 
and inserting ‘‘amount of a cash prize 
purse’’;
554 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘competition’’ after 
‘‘announcement of the prize’’; and 
(iii) in subclause (I) by inserting 
‘‘competition’’ after ‘‘prize’’; 
(E) in clause (vi) by striking ‘‘offer a prize’’ 
and inserting ‘‘offer a cash prize purse’’; and 
(F) in clause (vii) by striking ‘‘cash prizes’’ 
and inserting ‘‘cash prize purses’’; 
(9) in subparagraph (K) (as redesignated by 
paragraph (3) of this section) by striking ‘‘or pro-
viding a prize’’ and inserting ‘‘a prize competition or 
providing a cash prize purse’’; and 
(10) in subparagraph (L)(ii) (as redesignated by 
paragraph (3) of this section)— 
(A) in subclause (I) by striking ‘‘The Sec-
retary’’ and inserting ‘‘Not later than March 1 
of each year, the Secretary’’; and 
(B) in subclause (II)— 
(i) in item (cc) by striking ‘‘cash 
prizes’’ both places it appears and inserting 
‘‘cash prize purses’’; and 
(ii) in item (ee) by striking ‘‘agency’’ 
and inserting ‘‘Department’’.
555 
SEC. 6024. GAO REPORT. 
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall 
make available to the public a report that— 
(1) assesses the status of autonomous transpor-
tation technology policy developed by public entities 
in the United States; 
(2) assesses the organizational readiness of the 
Department to address autonomous vehicle technology 
challenges, including consumer privacy protections; 
and 
(3) recommends implementation paths for auton-
omous transportation technology, applications, and 
policies that are based on the assessment described in 
paragraph (2). 
SEC. 6025. INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM PUR-
POSES. 
Section 514(b) of title 23, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (8) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(2) in paragraph (9) by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(10) to assist in the development of cybersecu-
rity standards in cooperation with relevant modal
556 
administrations of the Department of Transportation 
and other Federal agencies to help prevent hacking, 
spoofing, and disruption of connected and automated 
transportation vehicles.’’. 
SEC. 6026. INFRASTRUCTURE INTEGRITY. 
Section 503(b)(3)(C) of title 23, United States Code, 
is amended— 
(1) in clause (xviii) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(2) in clause (xix) by striking the period at the 
end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(xx) corrosion prevention measures 
for the structural integrity of bridges.’’. 
SEC. 6027. TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH AND DEVELOP-
MENT 5-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall develop a 5- 
year transportation research and development strategic 
plan for fiscal years 2018 through 2022 to guide future Fed-
eral transportation research and development activities. 
(b) CONSISTENCY.—The strategic plan developed under 
subsection (a) shall be consistent with— 
(1) section 306 of title 5, United States Code; 
(2) sections 1115 and 1116 of title 31, United 
States Code;
557 
(3) section 508 of title 23, United States Code; 
and 
(4) any other research and development plan 
within the Department. 
(c) CONTENTS.—The strategic plan developed under 
subsection (a) shall— 
(1) describe the primary purposes of the trans-
portation research and development program; 
(2) list the proposed research and development 
activities that the Department intends to pursue to 
accomplish under the strategic plan, which may in-
clude— 
(A) fundamental research pertaining to the 
applied physical and natural sciences; 
(B) applied science and research; 
(C) technology development research; and 
(D) social science research; and 
(3) for each research and development activity— 
(A) identify the anticipated annual funding 
levels for the period covered by the strategic plan; 
and 
(B) describe the research findings the De-
partment expects to discover at the end of the pe-
riod covered by the strategic plan.
558 
(d) CONSIDERATIONS.—The Secretary shall ensure 
that the strategic plan developed under this section— 
(1) reflects input from external stakeholders; 
(2) includes and integrates the research and de-
velopment programs of all of the Department’s modal 
administrations and joint programs; 
(3) takes into account research and development 
by other Federal, State, local, private sector, and non-
profit institutions; and 
(4) is published on a public website by December 
31, 2016. 
(e) REPORT.— 
(1) NATIONAL
RESEARCH
COUNCIL
REVIEW.— 
The Secretary shall enter into an agreement with the 
National Research Council for a review and analysis 
of the Department’s 5-year research and development 
strategic plan described in this section. By March 31, 
2017, the Secretary shall publish on a public website 
the National Research Council’s analysis of the De-
partment’s plan. 
(2) INTERIM REPORT.—By June 30, 2019, the 
Secretary shall publish on a public website an in-
terim report that— 
(A) provides an assessment of the Depart-
ment’s 5-year research and development strategic
559 
plan described in this section that includes a de-
scription of the extent to which the research and 
development is or is not successfully meeting the 
purposes described under subsection (c)(1); and 
(B) addresses any concerns and identifies 
any gaps that may have been raised by the Na-
tional Research Council analysis under para-
graph (1), including how the plan is or is not 
responsive to the National Research Council re-
view. 
SEC. 6028. TRAFFIC CONGESTION. 
(a) CONGESTION
RESEARCH.—The Assistant Sec-
retary may conduct research on the reduction of traffic con-
gestion. 
(b) CONSIDERATION.—The Assistant Secretary shall— 
(1) recommend research to accelerate the adop-
tion of transportation management systems that allow 
traffic to flow in the safest and most efficient manner 
possible while alleviating current and future traffic 
congestion challenges; 
(2) assess and analyze traffic, transit, and 
freight data from various sources relevant to efforts to 
reduce traffic congestion so as to maximize mobility, 
efficiency, and capacity while decreasing congestion 
and travel times;
560 
(3) examine the use and integration of multiple 
data types from multiple sources and technologies, in-
cluding road weather data, private vehicle (including 
Global Positioning System) data, arterial and high-
way traffic conditions, transit vehicle arrival and de-
parture times, real time navigation routing, construc-
tion zone information, and reports of incidents, to 
suggest improvements in effective communication of 
such data and information in real time; 
(4) develop and disseminate suggested strategies 
and solutions to reduce congestion for high-density 
traffic regions and to provide mobility in the event of 
an emergency or natural disaster; and 
(5) collaborate with other relevant Federal agen-
cies, State and local agencies, industry and industry 
associations, and university research centers to fulfill 
goals and objectives under this section. 
(c) IDENTIFYING INFORMATION.—The Assistant Sec-
retary shall ensure that information used pursuant to this 
section does not contain identifying information of any in-
dividual. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary shall make 
available on a public website a report on its activities under 
this section.
561 
SEC. 6029. RAIL SAFETY. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Re-
search and Technology may transmit to Congress a report 
containing— 
(1) the results of a study to examine the state of 
rail safety technologies and an analysis of whether the 
passenger, commuter, and transit rail transportation 
industries are keeping up with innovations in tech-
nologies to make rail cars safer for passengers and 
transport of commerce; and 
(2) a determination of how much additional 
time and public and private resources will be re-
quired for railroad carriers to meet the positive train 
control system implementation requirements under 
section 20157 of title 49, United States Code. 
SEC. 6030. STUDY AND REPORT ON REDUCING THE AMOUNT 
OF VEHICLES OWNED BY CERTAIN FEDERAL 
DEPARTMENTS AND INCREASING THE USE OF 
COMMERCIAL RIDE-SHARING BY THOSE DE-
PARTMENTS. 
(a) STUDY.—The Comptroller General of the United 
States shall conduct a study on the feasibility of— 
(1) reducing the amount of vehicles owned by a 
covered department; and
562 
(2) increasing the use of commercial ride-sharing 
companies by a covered department. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the 
United States shall submit to Congress a report that con-
tains the results and conclusions of the study conducted 
under subsection (a). 
(c) COVERED DEPARTMENT DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘covered department’’ means each of the fol-
lowing: 
(1) The Department of Agriculture. 
(2) The Department of the Interior. 
(3) The Department of Energy. 
TITLE VII—HAZARDOUS 
MATERIALS TRANSPORTATION 
SEC. 7001. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Hazardous Materials 
Transportation Safety Improvement Act of 2015’’. 
SEC. 7002. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
Section 5128 of title 49, United States Code, is amend-
ed to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 5128. Authorization of appropriations 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated to the Secretary to carry out this chapter (except 
sections 5107(e), 5108(g)(2), 5113, 5115, 5116, and 5119)—
563 
‘‘(1) $53,000,000 for fiscal year 2016; 
‘‘(2) $55,000,000 for fiscal year 2017; 
‘‘(3) $57,000,000 for fiscal year 2018; 
‘‘(4) $58,000,000 for fiscal year 2019; 
‘‘(5) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; and 
‘‘(6) $62,000,000 for fiscal year 2021. 
‘‘(b) HAZARDOUS
MATERIALS
EMERGENCY
PRE-
PAREDNESS FUND.—From the Hazardous Materials Emer-
gency Preparedness Fund established under section 5116(h), 
the Secretary may expend, for each of fiscal years 2016 
through 2021— 
‘‘(1) $21,988,000 to carry out section 5116(a); 
‘‘(2) $150,000 to carry out section 5116(e); 
‘‘(3) $625,000 to publish and distribute the 
Emergency 
Response 
Guidebook 
under 
section 
5116(h)(3); and 
‘‘(4) $1,000,000 to carry out section 5116(i). 
‘‘(c) HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TRAINING GRANTS.— 
From the Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness 
Fund established pursuant to section 5116(h), the Secretary 
may expend $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 
through 2021 to carry out section 5107(e). 
‘‘(d) CREDITS TO APPROPRIATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) EXPENSES.—In addition to amounts other-
wise made available to carry out this chapter, the
564 
Secretary may credit amounts received from a State, 
Indian tribe, or other public authority or private en-
tity for expenses the Secretary incurs in providing 
training to the State, Indian tribe, authority, or enti-
ty. 
‘‘(2) 
AVAILABILITY
OF
AMOUNTS.—Amounts 
made available under this section shall remain avail-
able until expended.’’. 
SEC. 7003. NATIONAL EMERGENCY AND DISASTER RE-
SPONSE. 
Section 5103 of title 49, United States Code, is amend-
ed— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as 
subsections (d) and (e), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (b) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(c) FEDERALLY DECLARED DISASTERS AND EMER-
GENCIES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may by order 
waive compliance with any part of an applicable 
standard prescribed under this chapter without prior 
notice and comment and on terms the Secretary con-
siders appropriate if the Secretary determines that— 
‘‘(A) it is in the public interest to grant the 
waiver;
565 
‘‘(B) the waiver is not inconsistent with the 
safety of transporting hazardous materials; and 
‘‘(C) the waiver is necessary to facilitate the 
safe movement of hazardous materials into, from, 
and within an area of a major disaster or emer-
gency that has been declared under the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assist-
ance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.). 
‘‘(2) PERIOD OF WAIVER.—A waiver under this 
subsection may be issued for a period of not more 
than 60 days and may be renewed upon application 
to the Secretary only after notice and an opportunity 
for a hearing on the waiver. The Secretary shall im-
mediately revoke the waiver if continuation of the 
waiver would not be consistent with the goals and ob-
jectives of this chapter. 
‘‘(3) STATEMENT OF REASONS.—The Secretary 
shall include in any order issued under this section 
the reason for granting the waiver.’’. 
SEC. 7004. ENHANCED REPORTING. 
Section 5121(h) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘transmit to the Committee on Trans-
portation and Infrastructure of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Trans-
portation of the Senate’’ and inserting ‘‘make available to
566 
the public on the Department of Transportation’s Internet 
Web site’’. 
SEC. 7005. WETLINES. 
(a) WITHDRAWAL.—Not later than 30 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall withdraw 
the proposed rule described in the notice of proposed rule-
making issued on January 27, 2011, entitled ‘‘Safety Re-
quirements for External Product Piping on Cargo Tanks 
Transporting Flammable Liquids’’ (76 Fed. Reg. 4847). 
(b) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this section shall 
prohibit the Secretary from issuing standards or regula-
tions regarding the safety of external product piping on 
cargo tanks transporting flammable liquids after the with-
drawal is carried out pursuant to subsection (a). 
SEC. 7006. IMPROVING PUBLICATION OF SPECIAL PERMITS 
AND APPROVALS. 
Section 5117 of title 49, United States Code, is amend-
ed— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘an application for a spe-
cial permit’’ and inserting ‘‘an application for a 
new special permit or a modification to an exist-
ing special permit’’; and 
(B) by inserting after the first sentence the 
following: ‘‘The Secretary shall make available to
567 
the public on the Department of Transportation’s 
Internet Web site any special permit other than 
a new special permit or a modification to an ex-
isting special permit and shall give the public an 
opportunity to inspect the safety analysis and 
comment on the application for a period of not 
more than 15 days.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘publish’’ and inserting 
‘‘make available to the public’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘in the Federal Register’’; 
(C) by striking ‘‘180’’ and inserting ‘‘120’’; 
and 
(D) by striking ‘‘the special permit’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘a special permit 
or approval’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(g) DISCLOSURE OF FINAL ACTION.—The Secretary 
shall periodically, but at least every 120 days— 
‘‘(1) publish in the Federal Register notice of the 
final disposition of each application for a new special 
permit, modification to an existing special permit, or 
approval during the preceding quarter; and 
‘‘(2) make available to the public on the Depart-
ment of Transportation’s Internet Web site notice of
568 
the final disposition of any other special permit dur-
ing the preceding quarter.’’. 
SEC. 7007. GAO STUDY ON ACCEPTANCE OF CLASSIFICA-
TION EXAMINATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of 
the United States shall evaluate and transmit to the Sec-
retary, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastruc-
ture of the House of Representatives, and the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, 
a report on the standards, metrics, and protocols that the 
Secretary uses to regulate the performance of persons ap-
proved to recommend hazard classifications pursuant to sec-
tion 173.56(b) of title, 49, Code of Federal Regulations 
(commonly referred to as ‘‘third-party labs’’). 
(b) EVALUATION.—The evaluation required under sub-
section (a) shall— 
(1) identify what standards and protocols are 
used to approve such persons, assess the adequacy of 
such standards and protocols to ensure that persons 
seeking approval are qualified and capable of per-
forming classifications, and make recommendations to 
address any deficiencies identified; 
(2) assess the adequacy of the Secretary’s over-
sight of persons approved to perform the classifica-
569 
tions, including the qualification of individuals en-
gaged in the oversight of approved persons, and make 
recommendations to enhance oversight sufficiently to 
ensure that classifications are issued as required; 
(3) identify what standards and protocols exist 
to rescind, suspend, or deny approval of persons who 
perform such classifications, assess the adequacy of 
such standards and protocols, and make recommenda-
tions to enhance such standards and protocols if nec-
essary; and 
(4) include annual data for fiscal years 2005 
through 2015 on the number of applications received 
for new classifications pursuant to section 173.56(b) 
of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, of those ap-
plications how many classifications recommended by 
persons approved by the Secretary were changed to 
another classification and the reasons for the change, 
and how many hazardous materials incidents have 
been attributed to a classification recommended by 
such approved persons in the United States. 
(c) ACTION PLAN.—Not later than 120 days after re-
ceiving the report required under subsection (a), the Sec-
retary shall make available to the public a plan describing 
any actions the Secretary will take to establish standards, 
metrics, and protocols based on the findings and rec-
570 
ommendations in the report to ensure that persons approved 
to perform classification examinations required under sec-
tion 173.56(b) of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, can 
sufficiently perform such examinations in a manner that 
meets the hazardous materials regulations. 
(d) REGULATIONS.—If the report required under sub-
section (a) recommends new regulations in order for the 
Secretary to have confidence in the accuracy of classifica-
tion recommendations rendered by persons approved to per-
form classification examinations required under section 
173.56(b) of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, the Sec-
retary shall issue such regulations not later than 24 months 
after the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 7008. IMPROVING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PLANNING 
AND TRAINING GRANTS. 
(a) PLANNING AND TRAINING GRANTS.—Section 5116 
of title 49, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (c) through (k) 
as subsections (b) through (j), respectively, 
(2) by striking subsection (b); and 
(3) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(a) PLANNING AND TRAINING GRANTS.—(1) The Sec-
retary shall make grants to States and Indian tribes—
571 
‘‘(A) to develop, improve, and carry out emer-
gency plans under the Emergency Planning and 
Community Right-To-Know Act of 1986 (42 U.S.C. 
11001 et seq.), including ascertaining flow patterns of 
hazardous material on lands under the jurisdiction of 
a State or Indian tribe, and between lands under the 
jurisdiction of a State or Indian tribe and lands of 
another State or Indian tribe; 
‘‘(B) to decide on the need for regional hazardous 
material emergency response teams; and 
‘‘(C) to train public sector employees to respond 
to accidents and incidents involving hazardous mate-
rial. 
‘‘(2) To the extent that a grant is used to train emer-
gency responders under paragraph (1)(C), the State or In-
dian tribe shall provide written certification to the Sec-
retary that the emergency responders who receive training 
under the grant will have the ability to protect nearby per-
sons, property, and the environment from the effects of acci-
dents or incidents involving the transportation of hazardous 
material in accordance with existing regulations or Na-
tional Fire Protection Association standards for competence 
of responders to accidents and incidents involving haz-
ardous materials.
572 
‘‘(3) The Secretary may make a grant to a State or 
Indian tribe under paragraph (1) of this subsection only 
if— 
‘‘(A) the State or Indian tribe certifies that the 
total amount the State or Indian tribe expends (ex-
cept amounts of the Federal Government) for the pur-
pose of the grant will at least equal the average level 
of expenditure for the last 5 years; and 
‘‘(B) any emergency response training provided 
under the grant shall consist of— 
‘‘(i) a course developed or identified under 
section 5115 of this title; or 
‘‘(ii) any other course the Secretary deter-
mines is consistent with the objectives of this sec-
tion. 
‘‘(4) A State or Indian tribe receiving a grant under 
this subsection shall ensure that planning and emergency 
response training under the grant is coordinated with adja-
cent States and Indian tribes. 
‘‘(5) A training grant under paragraph (1)(C) may 
be used— 
‘‘(A) to pay— 
‘‘(i) the tuition costs of public sector em-
ployees being trained;
573 
‘‘(ii) travel expenses of those employees to 
and from the training facility; 
‘‘(iii) room and board of those employees 
when at the training facility; and 
‘‘(iv) travel expenses of individuals pro-
viding the training; 
‘‘(B) by the State, political subdivision, or In-
dian tribe to provide the training; and 
‘‘(C) to make an agreement with a person (in-
cluding an authority of a State, a political subdivi-
sion of a State or Indian tribe, or a local jurisdic-
tion), subject to approval by the Secretary, to provide 
the training— 
‘‘(i) if the agreement allows the Secretary 
and the State or Indian tribe to conduct random 
examinations, inspections, and audits of the 
training without prior notice; 
‘‘(ii) the person agrees to have an auditable 
accounting system; and 
‘‘(iii) if the State or Indian tribe conducts 
at least one on-site observation of the training 
each year. 
‘‘(6) The Secretary shall allocate amounts made avail-
able for grants under this subsection among eligible States 
and Indian tribes based on the needs of the States and In-
574 
dian tribes for emergency response training and planning. 
In making a decision about those needs, the Secretary shall 
consider— 
‘‘(A) the number of hazardous material facilities 
in the State or on land under the jurisdiction of the 
Indian tribe; 
‘‘(B) the types and amounts of hazardous mate-
rial transported in the State or on such land; 
‘‘(C) whether the State or Indian tribe imposes 
and collects a fee on transporting hazardous material; 
‘‘(D) whether such fee is used only to carry out 
a purpose related to transporting hazardous material; 
‘‘(E) the past record of the State or Indian tribe 
in effectively managing planning and training 
grants; and 
‘‘(F) any other factors the Secretary determines 
are appropriate to carry out this subsection.’’. 
(b) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) Section 5108(g) of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘5116(i)’’ each place it 
appears and inserting ‘‘5116(h)’’. 
(2) Section 5116 of such title is amended— 
(A) in subsection (d), as redesignated by 
this section, by striking ‘‘subsections (a)(2)(A)
575 
and 
(b)(2)(A)’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘subsection 
(a)(3)(A)’’; 
(B) in subsection (h), as redesignated by 
this section— 
(i) in paragraph (1) by inserting ‘‘and 
section 5107(e)’’ after ‘‘section’’; 
(ii) in paragraph (2) by striking ‘‘(f)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘(e)’’; and 
(iii) in paragraph (4) by striking 
‘‘5108(g)(2) 
and 
5115’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘5107(e) and 5108(g)(2)’’; 
(C) in subsection (i), as redesignated by this 
section, by striking ‘‘subsection (b)’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘subsection (a)’’; and 
(D) in subsection (j), as redesignated by 
this section— 
(i) by striking ‘‘planning grants allo-
cated under subsection (a), training grants 
under subsection (b), and grants under sub-
section (j)’’ and inserting ‘‘planning and 
training grants under subsection (a) and 
grants under subsection (i)’’; and 
(ii) by redesignating subparagraphs 
(A) through (D) as paragraphs (1) through 
(4), respectively.
576 
(c) ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL.—Section 5107(e) of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘, 
State and local personnel responsible for enforcing the safe 
transportation of hazardous materials, or both’’ after 
‘‘hazmat employees’’ each place it appears. 
SEC. 7009. MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY PERMITS. 
Section 5109(h) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(h) LIMITATION ON DENIAL.—The Secretary may not 
deny a non-temporary permit held by a motor carrier pur-
suant to this section based on a comprehensive review of 
that carrier triggered by safety management system scores 
or out-of-service disqualification standards, unless— 
‘‘(1) the carrier has the opportunity, prior to the 
denial of such permit, to submit a written description 
of corrective actions taken and other documentation 
the carrier wishes the Secretary to consider, including 
a corrective action plan; and 
‘‘(2) the Secretary determines the actions or plan 
is insufficient to address the safety concerns identified 
during the course of the comprehensive review.’’. 
SEC. 7010. THERMAL BLANKETS. 
(a) REQUIREMENTS.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue 
such regulations as are necessary to require that each tank
577 
car built to meet the DOT–117 specification and each non- 
jacketed tank car modified to meet the DOT–117R specifica-
tion be equipped with an insulating blanket with at least 
1⁄2-inch-thick material that has been approved by the Sec-
retary pursuant to section 179.18(c) of title 49, Code of Fed-
eral Regulations. 
(b) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this section shall 
prohibit the Secretary from approving new or alternative 
technologies or materials as they become available that pro-
vide a level of safety at least equivalent to the level of safety 
provided for under subsection (a). 
SEC. 7011. COMPREHENSIVE OIL SPILL RESPONSE PLANS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 51 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 5110 the 
following: 
‘‘§ 5111. Comprehensive oil spill response plans 
‘‘(a) REQUIREMENTS.—Not later than 120 days after 
the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall 
issue such regulations as are necessary to require any rail-
road carrier transporting a Class 3 flammable liquid to 
maintain a comprehensive oil spill response plan. In devel-
oping such regulations, the Secretary shall consult with 
States to determine whether there are safety hazards or con-
cerns specific to a State that should be taken into account
578 
in developing the requirements for a comprehensive oil spill 
response plan. 
‘‘(b) CONTENTS.—The regulations under subsection (a) 
shall require each railroad carrier described in that sub-
section to— 
‘‘(1) include in the comprehensive oil spill re-
sponse plan procedures and resources, including 
equipment, for responding, to the maximum extent 
practicable, to a worst-case discharge; 
‘‘(2) ensure that the comprehensive oil spill re-
sponse plan is consistent with the National Contin-
gency Plan and each applicable Area Contingency 
Plan; 
‘‘(3) include in the comprehensive oil spill re-
sponse plan appropriate notification and training 
procedures and procedures for coordinating with Fed-
eral, State, and local emergency responders; 
‘‘(4) review and update its comprehensive oil 
spill response plan as appropriate; and 
‘‘(5) provide the comprehensive oil spill response 
plan for acceptance by the Secretary. 
‘‘(c) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in the section may 
be construed to prohibit the Secretary from promulgating 
differing comprehensive oil response plan standards for
579 
Class I railroads, Class II railroads, and Class III rail-
roads. 
‘‘(d) RESPONSE PLANS.—The Secretary shall— 
‘‘(1) maintain on file a copy of the most recent 
comprehensive oil spill response plans prepared by a 
railroad carrier transporting a Class 3 flammable liq-
uid; and 
‘‘(2) provide to a person, upon written request, 
a copy of the plan, which may exclude, as the Sec-
retary determines appropriate— 
‘‘(A) proprietary information; 
‘‘(B) security-sensitive information, includ-
ing information described in section 1520.5(a) of 
title 49, Code of Federal Regulations; 
‘‘(C) specific response resources and tactical 
resource deployment plans; and 
‘‘(D) the specific amount and location of 
worst-case discharges, including the process by 
which a railroad carrier determines the worst- 
case discharge. 
‘‘(e) RELATIONSHIP TO FOIA.—Nothing in this sec-
tion may be construed to require disclosure of information 
or records that are exempt from disclosure under section 
552 of title 5. 
‘‘(f) DEFINITIONS.—
580 
‘‘(1) AREA CONTINGENCY PLAN.—The term ‘Area 
Contingency Plan’ has the meaning given the term in 
section 311(a) of the Federal Water Pollution Control 
Act (33 U.S.C. 1321(a)). 
‘‘(2) CLASS
FLAMMABLE
LIQUID.—The term 
‘Class 3 flammable liquid’ has the meaning given the 
term flammable liquid in section 173.120 of title 49, 
Code of Federal Regulations. 
‘‘(3) CLASS
I
RAILROAD; CLASS
II
RAILROAD; 
AND CLASS III RAILROAD.—The terms ‘Class I rail-
road’, ‘Class II railroad’, and ‘Class III railroad’ 
have the meaning given those terms in section 20102. 
‘‘(4) NATIONAL CONTINGENCY PLAN.—The term 
‘National Contingency Plan’ has the meaning given 
the term in section 1001 of the Oil Pollution Act of 
1990 (33 U.S.C. 2701). 
‘‘(5) RAILROAD
CARRIER.—The term ‘railroad 
carrier’ has the meaning given the term in section 
20102. 
‘‘(6) 
WORST-CASE
DISCHARGE.—The 
term 
‘worst-case discharge’ means the largest foreseeable 
discharge of oil in the event of an accident or inci-
dent, as determined by each railroad carrier in ac-
cordance with regulations issued under this section.’’.
581 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 
51 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 5110 the following: 
‘‘5111. Comprehensive oil spill response plans.’’. 
SEC. 7012. INFORMATION ON HIGH-HAZARD FLAMMABLE 
TRAINS. 
(a) INFORMATION
ON
HIGH-HAZARD
FLAMMABLE 
TRAINS.—Not later than 90 days after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue regulations to 
require each applicable railroad carrier to provide informa-
tion on high-hazard flammable trains to State emergency 
response commissions consistent with Emergency Order 
Docket No. DOT–OST–2014–0067, and include appro-
priate protections from public release of proprietary infor-
mation and security-sensitive information, including infor-
mation described in section 1520.5(a) of title 49, Code of 
Federal Regulations. 
(b) HIGH-HAZARD FLAMMABLE TRAIN.—The term 
‘‘high-hazard flammable train’’ means a single train trans-
porting 20 or more tank cars loaded with a Class 3 flam-
mable liquid, as such term is defined in section 173.120 
of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, in a continuous 
block or a single train transporting 35 or more tank cars 
loaded with a Class 3 flammable liquid throughout the train 
consist.
582 
SEC. 7013. STUDY AND TESTING OF ELECTRONICALLY CON-
TROLLED PNEUMATIC BRAKES. 
(a) GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE STUDY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General of 
the United States shall conduct an independent eval-
uation of ECP brake systems, pilot program data, 
and the Department’s research and analysis on the 
costs, benefits, and effects of ECP brake systems. 
(2) STUDY ELEMENTS.—In completing the inde-
pendent evaluation under paragraph (1), the Comp-
troller General of the United States shall examine the 
following issues related to ECP brake systems: 
(A) Data and modeling results on safety 
benefits relative to conventional brakes and to 
other braking technologies or systems, such as 
distributed power and 2-way end-of-train de-
vices. 
(B) Data and modeling results on business 
benefits, including the effects of dynamic brak-
ing. 
(C) Data on costs, including up-front cap-
ital costs and on-going maintenance costs. 
(D) Analysis of potential operational bene-
fits and challenges, including the effects of poten-
tial locomotive and car segregation, technical re-
liability issues, and network disruptions.
583 
(E) Analysis of potential implementation 
challenges, including installation time, positive 
train control integration complexities, compo-
nent availability issues, and tank car shop capa-
bilities. 
(F) Analysis of international experiences 
with the use of advanced braking technologies. 
(3) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
of the United States shall transmit to the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on 
the results of the independent evaluation under para-
graph (1). 
(b) EMERGENCY BRAKING APPLICATION TESTING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall enter into 
an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences 
to— 
(A) complete testing of ECP brake systems 
during emergency braking application, including 
more than 1 scenario involving the uncoupling of 
a train with 70 or more DOT–117-specification 
or DOT–117R-specification tank cars; and
584 
(B) transmit, not later than 18 months 
after the date of enactment of this Act, to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate a report on the results of the 
testing. 
(2) INDEPENDENT EXPERTS.—In completing the 
testing under paragraph (1)(A), the National Acad-
emy of Sciences may contract with 1 or more engi-
neering or rail experts, as appropriate, that— 
(A) are not railroad carriers, entities fund-
ed by such carriers, or entities directly impacted 
by the final rule issued on May 8, 2015, entitled 
‘‘Enhanced Tank Car Standards and Oper-
ational Controls for High-Hazard Flammable 
Trains’’ (80 Fed. Reg. 26643); and 
(B) have relevant experience in conducting 
railroad safety technology tests or similar crash 
tests. 
(3) TESTING
FRAMEWORK.—In completing the 
testing under paragraph (1), the National Academy of 
Sciences and each contractor described in paragraph 
(2) shall ensure that the testing objectively, accu-
rately, and reliably measures the performance of ECP
585 
brake systems relative to other braking technologies or 
systems, such as distributed power and 2-way end-of- 
train devices, including differences in— 
(A) the number of cars derailed; 
(B) the number of cars punctured; 
(C) the measures of in-train forces; and 
(D) the stopping distance. 
(4) FUNDING.—The Secretary shall provide 
funding, as part of the agreement under paragraph 
(1), to the National Academy of Sciences for the test-
ing required under this section— 
(A) using sums made available to carry out 
sections 20108 and 5118 of title 49, United 
States Code; and 
(B) to the extent funding under subpara-
graph (A) is insufficient or unavailable to fund 
the testing required under this section, using 
such sums as are necessary from the amounts 
appropriated to the Secretary, the Federal Rail-
road Administration, or the Pipeline and Haz-
ardous Materials Safety Administration, or a 
combination thereof. 
(5) EQUIPMENT.—The National Academy of 
Sciences and each contractor described in paragraph 
(2) may receive or use rolling stock, track, and other
586 
equipment or infrastructure from a private entity for 
the purposes of conducting the testing required under 
this section. 
(c) EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH.— 
(1) ANALYSIS.—The Secretary shall— 
(A) not later than 90 days after the report 
date, fully incorporate and update the regulatory 
impact analysis of the final rule described in 
subsection (b)(2)(A) of the costs, benefits, and ef-
fects of the applicable ECP brake system require-
ments; 
(B) as soon as practicable after completion 
of the updated analysis under subparagraph (A), 
solicit public comment on the analysis for a pe-
riod of not more than 30 days; and 
(C) not later than 60 days after the end of 
the public comment period under subparagraph 
(B), post the final updated regulatory impact 
analysis on the Department of Transportation’s 
Internet Web site. 
(2) DETERMINATION.—Not later than 180 days 
after the report date, the Secretary shall— 
(A) determine, based on whether the final 
regulatory impact analysis described in para-
graph (1)(C) demonstrates that the benefits, in-
587 
cluding safety benefits, of the applicable ECP 
brake system requirements exceed the costs of 
such requirements, whether the applicable ECP 
brake system requirements are justified; 
(B) if the applicable ECP brake system re-
quirements are justified, publish in the Federal 
Register the determination and reasons for such 
determination; and 
(C) if the Secretary does not publish the de-
termination under subparagraph (B), repeal the 
applicable ECP brake system requirements. 
(3) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this section 
shall be construed to prohibit the Secretary from im-
plementing the final rule described under subsection 
(b)(2)(A) prior to the determination required under 
subsection (c)(2) of this section, or require the Sec-
retary to promulgate a new rulemaking on the provi-
sions of such final rule, other than the applicable 
ECP brake system requirements, if the Secretary de-
termines that the applicable ECP brake system re-
quirements are not justified pursuant to this sub-
section. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following defi-
nitions apply:
588 
(1) APPLICABLE ECP BRAKE SYSTEM REQUIRE-
MENTS.—The term ‘‘applicable ECP brake system re-
quirements’’ 
means 
sections 
174.310(a)(3)(ii), 
174.310(a)(3)(iii), 174.310(a)(5)(v), 179.202–12(g), 
and 179.202–13(i) of title 49, Code of Federal Regula-
tions, and any other regulation in effect on the date 
of enactment of this Act requiring the installation of 
ECP brakes or operation in ECP brake mode. 
(2) CLASS
FLAMMABLE
LIQUID.—The term 
‘‘Class 3 flammable liquid’’ has the meaning given the 
term flammable liquid in section 173.120(a) of title 
49, Code of Federal Regulations. 
(3) ECP.—The term ‘‘ECP’’ means electroni-
cally controlled pneumatic when applied to a brake or 
brakes. 
(4) ECP BRAKE MODE.—The term ‘‘ECP brake 
mode’’ includes any operation of a rail car or an en-
tire train using an ECP brake system. 
(5) ECP BRAKE SYSTEM.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘ECP brake 
system’’ means a train power braking system ac-
tuated by compressed air and controlled by elec-
tronic signals from the locomotive or an ECP– 
EOT to the cars in the consist for service and 
emergency applications in which the brake pipe
589 
is used to provide a constant supply of com-
pressed air to the reservoirs on each car but does 
not convey braking signals to the car. 
(B) INCLUSIONS.—The term ‘‘ECP brake 
system’’ includes dual mode and stand-alone 
ECP brake systems. 
(6) RAILROAD
CARRIER.—The term ‘‘railroad 
carrier’’ has the meaning given the term in section 
20102 of title 49, United States Code. 
(7) REPORT
DATE.—The term ‘‘report date’’ 
means the date that the reports under subsections 
(a)(3) and (b)(1)(B) are required to be transmitted 
pursuant to those subsections. 
SEC. 7014. STUDY ON THE EFFICACY AND IMPLEMENTATION 
OF THE EUROPEAN TRAIN CONTROL SYSTEM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General of the 
United States shall, in consultation with other heads of 
Federal agencies as appropriate, conduct a study on the 
European Train Control System. 
(b) ISSUES.—In conducting the study described in sub-
section (a), the Comptroller General shall examine, at a 
minimum, the following issues: 
(1) The process by which the European Train 
Control System came to replace the more than 20 sep-
590 
arate national train control systems throughout the 
European continent. 
(2) The costs associated with implementing the 
European Train Control System across all affected 
railroads in Europe. 
(3) The impact of the European Train Control 
System on operating capacity and rail passenger 
safety. 
(4) The efficacy of the European Train Control 
System and the feasibility of implementing such a 
system throughout the national rail network of the 
United States. 
(5) A comparison of the costs associated with 
adopting European Train Control System technology 
with the costs associated with developing and imple-
menting Positive Train Control in the United States. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this section, the Comptroller General 
shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate a report on the results of the study described in sub-
section (a).
591 
SEC. 7015. PHASE-OUT OF ALL TANK CARS USED TO TRANS-
PORT CLASS 3 FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided for in sub-
section (b), beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, 
all railroad tank cars used to transport Class 3 flammable 
liquids shall meet the DOT–117 or DOT–117R specifica-
tions in part 179 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, 
regardless of train composition. 
(b) PHASE-OUT SCHEDULE.—Certain tank cars not 
meeting DOT–117 or DOT–117R specifications on the date 
of enactment of this Act may be used, regardless of train 
composition, until the following end-dates: 
(1) For transport of unrefined petroleum prod-
ucts in Class 3 flammable service, including crude 
oil— 
(A) January 1, 2018, for non-jacketed 
DOT–111 tank cars; 
(B) March 1, 2018, for jacketed DOT–111 
tank cars; 
(C) April 1, 2020, for non-jacketed CPC– 
1232 tank cars; and 
(D) May 1, 2025, for jacketed CPC–1232 
tank cars. 
(2) For transport of ethanol— 
(A) May 1, 2023, for non-jacketed and jack-
eted DOT–111 tank cars;
592 
(B) July 1, 2023, for non-jacketed CPC– 
1232 tank cars; and 
(C) May 1, 2025, for jacketed CPC–1232 
tank cars. 
(3) For transport of Class 3 flammable liquids 
in Packing Group I, other than Class 3 flammable 
liquids specified in paragraphs (1) and (2), May 1, 
2025. 
(4) For transport of Class 3 flammable liquids 
in Packing Groups II and III, other than Class 3 
flammable liquids specified in paragraphs (1) and 
(2), May 1, 2029. 
(c) RETROFITTING SHOP CAPACITY.—The Secretary 
may extend the deadlines established under paragraphs (3) 
and (4) of subsection (b) for a period not to exceed 2 years 
if the Secretary determines that insufficient retrofitting 
shop capacity will prevent the phase-out of tank cars not 
meeting the DOT–117 or DOT–117R specifications by the 
deadlines set forth in such paragraphs. 
(d) IMPLEMENTATION.—Nothing in this section shall 
be construed to require the Secretary to issue regulations 
to implement this section. 
(e) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to prohibit the Secretary from implementing the 
final rule issued on May 08, 2015, entitled ‘‘Enhanced
593 
Tank Car Standards and Operational Controls for High- 
Hazard Flammable Trains’’ (80 Fed. Reg. 26643), other 
than the provisions of the final rule that are inconsistent 
with this section. 
(f) CLASS 3 FLAMMABLE LIQUID DEFINED.—In this 
section, the term ‘‘Class 3 flammable liquid’’ has the mean-
ing given the term flammable liquid in section 173.120(a) 
of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations. 
SEC. 7016. TRACK SAFETY: VERTICAL TRACK DEFLECTION. 
(a) REPORT.—Not later than March 31, 2016, the Sec-
retary shall transmit a report to the Committee on Trans-
portation and Infrastructure of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Trans-
portation of the Senate detailing research conducted or pro-
cured by the Federal Railroad Administration on devel-
oping a system that measures Vertical Track Deflection (in 
this section referred to as ‘‘VTD’’) from a moving railroad 
car, including the ability of such a system to identify poor 
track support from fouled ballast, deteriorated cross ties, or 
other conditions. 
(b) INCLUSIONS.—This report shall include— 
(1) the findings and results of testing of VTD in-
strumentation during field trials on revenue service 
track;
594 
(2) the findings and results of subsequent testing 
of VTD instrumentation on a Federal Railroad Ad-
ministration Automated Track Inspection Program 
geometry car; 
(3) if considered appropriate by the Secretary 
based on the report and related research, a plan for 
developing quantitative inspection criteria for poor 
track support using existing VTD instrumentation on 
Federal Railroad Administration Automated Track 
Inspection Program geometry cars; and 
(4) if considered appropriate by the Secretary 
based on the report and related research, a plan for 
installing VTD instrumentation on all remaining 
Federal Railroad Administration Automated Track 
Inspection Program geometry cars within 3 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 7017. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR TOP FITTINGS 
PROTECTION FOR CLASS DOT–117R TANK 
CARS. 
(a) PROTECTIVE HOUSING.—Except as provided in 
subsections (b) and (c), top fittings on DOT specification 
117R tank cars shall be located inside a protective housing 
not less than 1⁄2-inch in thickness and constructed of a ma-
terial having a tensile strength not less than 65 kilopound 
per square inch and conform to the following specifications:
595 
(1) The protective housing shall be as tall as the 
tallest valve or fitting involved and the height of a 
valve or fitting within the protective housing must be 
kept to the minimum compatible with their proper 
operation. 
(2) The protective housing or cover may not re-
duce the flow capacity of the pressure relief device 
below the minimum required. 
(3) The protective housing shall provide a means 
of drainage with a minimum flow area equivalent to 
six 1-inch diameter holes. 
(4) When connected to the nozzle or fittings cover 
plate and subject to a horizontal force applied perpen-
dicular to and uniformly over the projected plane of 
the protective housing, the tensile connection strength 
of the protective housing shall be designed to be— 
(A) no greater than 70 percent of the nozzle 
to tank tensile connection strength; 
(B) no greater than 70 percent of the cover 
plate to nozzle connection strength; and 
(C) no less than either 40 percent of the 
nozzle to tank tensile connection strength or the 
shear strength of twenty 1⁄2-inch bolts. 
(b) PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES.—
596 
(1) The pressure relief device shall be located in-
side the protective housing, unless space does not per-
mit. If multiple pressure relief devices are equipped, 
no more than 1 may be located outside of a protective 
housing. 
(2) The highest point on any pressure relief de-
vice located outside of a protective housing may not 
be more than 12 inches above the tank jacket. 
(3) The highest point on the closure of any un-
used pressure relief device nozzle may not be more 
than 6 inches above the tank jacket. 
(c) ALTERNATIVE PROTECTION.—As an alternative to 
the protective housing requirements in subsection (a) of this 
section, the tank car may be equipped with a system that 
prevents the release of product from any top fitting in the 
case of an incident where any top fitting would be sheared 
off. 
(d) IMPLEMENTATION.—Nothing in this section shall 
be construed to require the Secretary to issue regulations 
to implement this section. 
(e) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this section shall 
prohibit the Secretary from approving new technologies, 
methods or requirements that provide a level of safety equiv-
alent to or greater than the level of safety provided for in 
this section.
597 
SEC. 7018. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ENDORSEMENT EXEMP-
TION. 
The Secretary shall allow a State, at the discretion of 
the State, to waive the requirement for a holder of a Class 
A commercial driver’s license to obtain a hazardous mate-
rials endorsement under part 383 of title 49, Code of Fed-
eral Regulations, if the license holder— 
(1) is acting within the scope of the license hold-
er’s employment as an employee of a custom harvester 
operation, agrichemical business, farm retail outlet 
and supplier, or livestock feeder; and 
(2) is operating a service vehicle that is— 
(A) transporting diesel in a quantity of 
3,785 liters (1,000 gallons) or less; and 
(B) clearly marked with a ‘‘flammable’’ or 
‘‘combustible’’ placard, as appropriate. 
SEC. 7019. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS BY RAIL LIABILITY 
STUDY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall initiate 
a study on the levels and structure of insurance for a rail-
road carrier transporting hazardous materials. 
(b) CONTENTS.—ln conducting the study under sub-
section (a), the Secretary shall evaluate— 
(1) the level and structure of insurance, includ-
ing self-insurance, available in the private market
598 
against the full liability potential for damages arising 
from an accident or incident involving a train trans-
porting hazardous materials; and 
(2) the level and structure of insurance that 
would be necessary and appropriate— 
(A) to efficiently allocate risk and financial 
responsibility for claims; and 
(B) to ensure that a railroad carrier trans-
porting hazardous materials can continue to op-
erate despite the risk of an accident or incident. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date the 
study under subsection (a) is initiated, the Secretary shall 
submit a report containing the results of the study and rec-
ommendations for addressing liability issues with rail 
transportation of hazardous materials to— 
(1) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate; and 
(2) the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—ln this section: 
(1) HAZARDOUS
MATERIAL.—The term ‘‘haz-
ardous material’’ means a substance or material the 
Secretary designates under section 5103(a) of title 49, 
United States Code.
599 
(2) RAILROAD
CARRIER.—The term ‘‘railroad 
carrier’’ has the meaning given the term in section 
20102 of title 49, United States Code. 
TITLE VIII—MULTIMODAL 
FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION 
SEC. 8001. MULTIMODAL FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle IX of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘Subtitle IX—Multimodal Freight 
Transportation 
‘‘Chapter
Sec. 
‘‘701. Multimodal freight policy .....................................................................
70101 
‘‘702. Multimodal freight transportation planning and information .........
70201 
‘‘CHAPTER 701—MULTIMODAL FREIGHT 
POLICY 
‘‘Sec. 
‘‘70101. National multimodal freight policy. 
‘‘70102. National freight strategic plan. 
‘‘70103. National Multimodal Freight Network. 
‘‘§ 70101. National multimodal freight policy 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—It is the policy of the United 
States to maintain and improve the condition and perform-
ance of the National Multimodal Freight Network estab-
lished under section 70103 to ensure that the Network pro-
vides a foundation for the United States to compete in the 
global economy and achieve the goals described in subsection 
(b).
600 
‘‘(b) GOALS.—The goals of the national multimodal 
freight policy are— 
‘‘(1) to identify infrastructure improvements, 
policies, and operational innovations that— 
‘‘(A) strengthen the contribution of the Na-
tional Multimodal Freight Network to the eco-
nomic competitiveness of the United States; 
‘‘(B) reduce congestion and eliminate bottle-
necks on the National Multimodal Freight Net-
work; and 
‘‘(C) increase productivity, particularly for 
domestic industries and businesses that create 
high-value jobs; 
‘‘(2) to improve the safety, security, efficiency, 
and resiliency of multimodal freight transportation; 
‘‘(3) to achieve and maintain a state of good re-
pair on the National Multimodal Freight Network; 
‘‘(4) to use innovation and advanced technology 
to improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of the 
National Multimodal Freight Network; 
‘‘(5) to improve the economic efficiency of the 
National Multimodal Freight Network; 
‘‘(6) to improve the short- and long-distance 
movement of goods that—
601 
‘‘(A) travel across rural areas between pop-
ulation centers; 
‘‘(B) travel between rural areas and popu-
lation centers; and 
‘‘(C) travel from the Nation’s ports, air-
ports, and gateways to the National Multimodal 
Freight Network; 
‘‘(7) to improve the flexibility of States to sup-
port multi-State corridor planning and the creation 
of multi-State organizations to increase the ability of 
States to address multimodal freight connectivity; 
and 
‘‘(8) to reduce the adverse environmental impacts 
of freight movement on the National Multimodal 
Freight Network. 
‘‘§ 70102. National freight strategic plan 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the 
date of enactment of this section, the Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall— 
‘‘(1) develop a national freight strategic plan in 
accordance with this section; and 
‘‘(2) publish the plan on the public Internet Web 
site of the Department of Transportation. 
‘‘(b) CONTENTS.—The national freight strategic plan 
shall include—
602 
‘‘(1) an assessment of the condition and perform-
ance of the National Multimodal Freight Network; 
‘‘(2) forecasts of freight volumes for the suc-
ceeding 5-, 10-, and 20-year periods; 
‘‘(3) an identification of major trade gateways 
and national freight corridors that connect major 
population centers, trade gateways, and other major 
freight generators; 
‘‘(4) an identification of bottlenecks on the Na-
tional Multimodal Freight Network that create sig-
nificant freight congestion, based on a quantitative 
methodology developed by the Secretary, which shall, 
at a minimum, include— 
‘‘(A) information from the Freight Analysis 
Framework of the Federal Highway Administra-
tion; and 
‘‘(B) to the maximum extent practicable, an 
estimate of the cost of addressing each bottleneck 
and any operational improvements that could be 
implemented; 
‘‘(5) an assessment of statutory, regulatory, tech-
nological, institutional, financial, and other barriers 
to improved freight transportation performance, and 
a description of opportunities for overcoming the bar-
riers;
603 
‘‘(6) an identification of best practices for im-
proving the performance of the National Multimodal 
Freight Network; 
‘‘(7) a process for addressing multistate projects 
and encouraging jurisdictions to collaborate; and 
‘‘(8) strategies to improve freight intermodal 
connectivity. 
‘‘(c) UPDATES.—Not later than 5 years after the date 
of completion of the national freight strategic plan under 
subsection (a), and every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary 
shall update the plan and publish the updated plan on the 
public Internet Web site of the Department of Transpor-
tation. 
‘‘(d) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall develop and 
update the national freight strategic plan in consultation 
with State departments of transportation, metropolitan 
planning organizations, and other appropriate public and 
private transportation stakeholders. 
‘‘§ 70103. National Multimodal Freight Network 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this section, the Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall establish the National Multimodal Freight Net-
work in accordance with this section— 
‘‘(1) to focus Federal policy on the most strategic 
freight assets; and
604 
‘‘(2) to assist in strategically directing resources 
and policies toward improved performance of the Na-
tional Multimodal Freight Network. 
‘‘(b) 
NETWORK
COMPONENTS.—The 
National 
Multimodal Freight Network shall include— 
‘‘(1) the National Highway Freight Network, as 
established under section 167 of title 23; 
‘‘(2) the freight rail systems of Class I railroads, 
as designated by the Surface Transportation Board; 
‘‘(3) the public ports of the United States that 
have total annual foreign and domestic trade of at 
least 2,000,000 short tons, as identified by the Water-
borne Commerce Statistics Center of the Army Corps 
of Engineers, using the data from the latest year for 
which such data is available; 
‘‘(4) the inland and intracoastal waterways of 
the United States, as described in section 206 of the 
Inland Waterways Revenue Act of 1978 (33 U.S.C. 
1804); 
‘‘(5) the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence Seaway, 
and coastal routes along which domestic freight is 
transported; 
‘‘(6) the 50 airports located in the United States 
with the highest annual landed weight, as identified 
by the Federal Aviation Administration; and
605 
‘‘(7) other strategic freight assets, including stra-
tegic intermodal facilities and freight rail lines of 
Class II and Class III railroads, designated by the 
Secretary as critical to interstate commerce. 
‘‘(c) OTHER STRATEGIC FREIGHT ASSETS.—In deter-
mining network components in subsection (b), the Secretary 
may consider strategic freight assets identified by States, 
including public ports if such ports do not meet the annual 
tonnage threshold, for inclusion on the National Multimodal 
Freight Network. 
‘‘(d) REDESIGNATION.—Not later than 5 years after 
the date of establishment of the National Multimodal 
Freight Network under subsection (a), and every 5 years 
thereafter, the Secretary shall update the National 
Multimodal Freight Network. 
‘‘(e) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall establish 
and update the National Multimodal Freight Network in 
consultation with State departments of transportation and 
other appropriate public and private transportation stake-
holders. 
‘‘(f) LANDED WEIGHT DEFINED.—In this section, the 
term ‘landed weight’ means the weight of an aircraft trans-
porting only cargo in intrastate, interstate, or foreign air 
transportation, as such terms are defined in section 
40102(a).
606 
‘‘CHAPTER 
702—MULTIMODAL 
FREIGHT 
TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AND IN-
FORMATION 
‘‘Sec. 
‘‘70201. State freight advisory committees. 
‘‘70202. State freight plans. 
‘‘70203. Data and tools. 
‘‘§ 70201. State freight advisory committees 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation 
shall encourage each State to establish a freight advisory 
committee consisting of a representative cross-section of 
public and private sector freight stakeholders, including 
representatives of ports, freight railroads, shippers, carriers, 
freight-related associations, third-party logistics providers, 
the freight industry workforce, the transportation depart-
ment of the State, and local governments. 
‘‘(b) ROLE OF COMMITTEE.—A freight advisory com-
mittee of a State described in subsection (a) shall— 
‘‘(1) advise the State on freight-related priorities, 
issues, projects, and funding needs; 
‘‘(2) serve as a forum for discussion for State 
transportation decisions affecting freight mobility; 
‘‘(3) communicate and coordinate regional prior-
ities with other organizations; 
‘‘(4) promote the sharing of information between 
the private and public sectors on freight issues; and
607 
‘‘(5) participate in the development of the freight 
plan of the State described in section 70202. 
‘‘§ 70202. State freight plans 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Each State shall develop a freight 
plan that provides a comprehensive plan for the immediate 
and long-range planning activities and investments of the 
State with respect to freight. 
‘‘(b) PLAN CONTENTS.—A freight plan described in 
subsection (a) shall include, at a minimum— 
‘‘(1) an identification of significant freight sys-
tem trends, needs, and issues with respect to the 
State; 
‘‘(2) a description of the freight policies, strate-
gies, and performance measures that will guide the 
freight-related transportation investment decisions of 
the State; 
‘‘(3) a description of how the plan will improve 
the ability of the State to meet the national freight 
goals described in section 70101; 
‘‘(4) evidence of consideration of innovative tech-
nologies and operational strategies, including intel-
ligent transportation systems, that improve the safety 
and efficiency of freight movement; 
‘‘(5) in the case of routes on which travel by 
heavy vehicles (including mining, agricultural, energy
608 
cargo or equipment, and timber vehicles) is projected 
to substantially deteriorate the condition of roadways, 
a description of improvements that may be required 
to reduce or impede the deterioration; and 
‘‘(6) an inventory of facilities with freight mobil-
ity issues, such as truck bottlenecks, within the State, 
and a description of the strategies the State is em-
ploying to address those freight mobility issues. 
‘‘(c) RELATIONSHIP TO STATE PLANS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A freight plan described in 
subsection (a) may be developed separately from or 
incorporated into the statewide transportation plans 
required by section 135 of title 23. 
‘‘(2) UPDATES.—If the freight plan described in 
subsection (a) is developed separately from the State 
transportation improvement program, the freight 
plan shall be updated at least every 5 years. 
‘‘§ 70203. Data and tools 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(1) begin development of new tools or improve 
existing tools to support an outcome-oriented, per-
formance-based approach to evaluate proposed freight- 
related and other transportation projects, including—
609 
‘‘(A) methodologies for systematic analysis 
of benefits and costs; 
‘‘(B) tools for ensuring that the evaluation 
of 
freight-related 
and 
other 
transportation 
projects may consider safety, economic competi-
tiveness, environmental sustainability, and sys-
tem condition in the project selection process; 
and 
‘‘(C) other elements to assist in effective 
transportation planning; 
‘‘(2) identify transportation-related freight travel 
models and model data elements to support a broad 
range of evaluation methods and techniques to assist 
in making transportation investment decisions; and 
‘‘(3) at a minimum, in consultation with other 
relevant Federal agencies, consider any improvements 
to existing freight flow data collection efforts, includ-
ing improved methods to standardize and manage the 
data, that could reduce identified freight data gaps 
and deficiencies and help improve forecasts of freight 
transportation demand. 
‘‘(b) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall consult 
with Federal, State, and other stakeholders to develop, im-
prove, and implement the tools and collect the data de-
scribed in subsection (a).’’.
610 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis of subtitles 
for title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking the 
item relating to subtitle IX and inserting the following: 
‘‘IX. Multimodal Freight Transportation ...................................70101’’. 
(c) REPEALS.—Sections 1117 and 1118 of MAP–21 
(Public Law 112–141), and the items relating to such sec-
tions in the table of contents in section 1(c) of such Act, 
are repealed. 
TITLE IX—NATIONAL SURFACE 
TRANSPORTATION AND INNO-
VATIVE FINANCE BUREAU 
SEC. 9001. NATIONAL SURFACE TRANSPORTATION AND IN-
NOVATIVE FINANCE BUREAU. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 1 of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 116. National Surface Transportation and Innova-
tive Finance Bureau 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall establish a National Surface Transportation 
and Innovative Finance Bureau in the Department. 
‘‘(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the Bureau shall 
be— 
‘‘(1) to administer the application processes for 
programs within the Department in accordance with 
subsection (d);
611 
‘‘(2) to promote innovative financing best prac-
tices in accordance with subsection (e); 
‘‘(3) to reduce uncertainty and delays with re-
spect to environmental reviews and permitting in ac-
cordance with subsection (f); 
‘‘(4) to reduce costs and risks to taxpayers in 
project delivery and procurement in accordance with 
subsection (g); and 
‘‘(5) to carry out subtitle IX of this title. 
‘‘(c) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.— 
‘‘(1) APPOINTMENT.—The Bureau shall be head-
ed by an Executive Director, who shall be appointed 
in the competitive service by the Secretary, with the 
approval of the President. 
‘‘(2) DUTIES.—The Executive Director shall— 
‘‘(A) report to the Under Secretary of 
Transportation for Policy; 
‘‘(B) be responsible for the management and 
oversight of the daily activities, decisions, oper-
ations, and personnel of the Bureau; 
‘‘(C) support the Council on Credit and Fi-
nance established under section 117 in accord-
ance with this section; and 
‘‘(D) carry out such additional duties as the 
Secretary may prescribe.
612 
‘‘(d) ADMINISTRATION
OF
CERTAIN
APPLICATION 
PROCESSES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Bureau shall administer 
the application processes for the following programs: 
‘‘(A) The infrastructure finance programs 
authorized under chapter 6 of title 23. 
‘‘(B) The railroad rehabilitation and im-
provement financing program authorized under 
sections 501 through 503 of the Railroad Revital-
ization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 (45 
U.S.C. 821–823). 
‘‘(C) Amount allocations authorized under 
section 142(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986. 
‘‘(D) The nationally significant freight and 
highway projects program under section 117 of 
title 23. 
‘‘(2) CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION.—The Sec-
retary shall ensure that the congressional notification 
requirements for each program referred to in para-
graph (1) are followed in accordance with the statu-
tory provisions applicable to the program. 
‘‘(3) REPORTS.—The Secretary shall ensure that 
the reporting requirements for each program referred
613 
to in paragraph (1) are followed in accordance with 
the statutory provisions applicable to the program. 
‘‘(4) COORDINATION.—In administering the ap-
plication processes for the programs referred to in 
paragraph (1), the Executive Director of the Bureau 
shall coordinate with appropriate officials in the De-
partment and its modal administrations responsible 
for administering such programs. 
‘‘(5) STREAMLINING APPROVAL PROCESSES.—Not 
later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this 
section, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation, the Committee on Bank-
ing, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and the Committee 
on Environment and Public Works of the Senate a re-
port that— 
‘‘(A) evaluates the application processes for 
the programs referred to in paragraph (1); 
‘‘(B) identifies administrative and legisla-
tive actions that would improve the efficiency of 
the application processes without diminishing 
Federal oversight; and 
‘‘(C) describes how the Secretary will imple-
ment administrative actions identified under
614 
subparagraph (B) that do not require an Act of 
Congress. 
‘‘(6) PROCEDURES AND TRANSPARENCY.— 
‘‘(A) PROCEDURES.—The Secretary shall, 
with respect to the programs referred to in para-
graph (1)— 
‘‘(i) establish procedures for analyzing 
and evaluating applications and for uti-
lizing the recommendations of the Council 
on Credit and Finance; 
‘‘(ii) establish procedures for address-
ing late-arriving applications, as applica-
ble, and communicating the Bureau’s deci-
sions for accepting or rejecting late applica-
tions to the applicant and the public; and 
‘‘(iii) document major decisions in the 
application evaluation process through a 
decision memorandum or similar mecha-
nism that provides a clear rationale for 
such decisions. 
‘‘(B) REVIEW.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—The Comptroller 
General of the United States shall review 
the compliance of the Secretary with the re-
quirements of this paragraph.
615 
‘‘(ii) RECOMMENDATIONS.—The Comp-
troller General may make recommendations 
to the Secretary in order to improve compli-
ance with the requirements of this para-
graph. 
‘‘(iii) REPORT.—Not later than 3 
years after the date of enactment of this sec-
tion, the Comptroller General shall submit 
to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Environment 
and Public Works and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
the Senate a report on the results of the re-
view conducted under clause (i), including 
findings and recommendations for improve-
ment. 
‘‘(e) INNOVATIVE FINANCING BEST PRACTICES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Bureau shall work with 
the modal administrations within the Department, 
the States, and other public and private interests to 
develop and promote best practices for innovative fi-
nancing and public-private partnerships. 
‘‘(2) ACTIVITIES.—The Bureau shall carry out 
paragraph (1)—
616 
‘‘(A) by making Federal credit assistance 
programs more accessible to eligible recipients; 
‘‘(B) by providing advice and expertise to 
State and local governments that seek to leverage 
public and private funding; 
‘‘(C) by sharing innovative financing best 
practices and case studies from State and local 
governments with other State and local govern-
ments that are interested in utilizing innovative 
financing methods; and 
‘‘(D) by developing and monitoring— 
‘‘(i) best practices with respect to 
standardized State public-private partner-
ship authorities and practices, including 
best practices related to— 
‘‘(I) accurate and reliable as-
sumptions for analyzing public-private 
partnership procurements; 
‘‘(II) procedures for the handling 
of unsolicited bids; 
‘‘(III) policies with respect to 
noncompete clauses; and 
‘‘(IV) other significant terms of 
public-private 
partnership 
procure-
617 
ments, as determined appropriate by 
the Bureau; 
‘‘(ii) standard contracts for the most 
common types of public-private partner-
ships for transportation facilities; and 
‘‘(iii) analytical tools and other tech-
niques to aid State and local governments 
in determining the appropriate project de-
livery model, including a value for money 
analysis. 
‘‘(3) TRANSPARENCY.—The Bureau shall— 
‘‘(A) ensure transparency of a project re-
ceiving credit assistance under a program identi-
fied in subsection (d)(1) and procured as a pub-
lic-private partnership by— 
‘‘(i) requiring the project sponsor of 
such project to undergo a value for money 
analysis or a comparable analysis prior to 
deciding to advance the project as a public- 
private partnership; 
‘‘(ii) requiring the analysis required 
under subparagraph (A) and other key 
terms of the relevant public-private partner-
ship agreement, to be made publicly avail-
618 
able by the project sponsor at an appro-
priate time; 
‘‘(iii) not later than 3 years after the 
completion of the project, requiring the 
project sponsor of such project to conduct a 
review regarding whether the private part-
ner is meeting the terms of the relevant pub-
lic private partnership agreement for the 
project; and 
‘‘(iv) providing a publicly available 
summary of the total level of Federal assist-
ance in such project; and 
‘‘(B) develop guidance to implement this 
paragraph that takes into consideration vari-
ations in State and local laws and requirements 
related to public-private partnerships. 
‘‘(4) SUPPORT TO PROJECTS SPONSORS.—At the 
request of a State or local government, the Bureau 
shall provide technical assistance to the State or local 
government regarding proposed public-private part-
nership agreements for transportation facilities, in-
cluding assistance in performing a value for money 
analysis or comparable analysis. 
‘‘(5) FIXED
GUIDEWAY
TRANSIT
PROCEDURES 
REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of en-
619 
actment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate 
a report that— 
‘‘(A) evaluates the differences between tradi-
tional design-bid-build, design-build, and public- 
private partnership procurements for projects 
carried out under the fixed guideway capital in-
vestment program authorized under section 5309; 
‘‘(B) identifies, for project procured as pub-
lic-private partnerships whether the review and 
approval process under the program requires 
modification to better suit the unique nature of 
such procurements; and 
‘‘(C) describes how the Secretary will imple-
ment any administrative actions identified 
under subparagraph (B) that do not require an 
Act of Congress. 
‘‘(f) ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Bureau shall take such 
actions as are appropriate and consistent with the 
goals and policies set forth in this title and title 23, 
including with the concurrence of other Federal agen-
620 
cies as required under this title and title 23, to im-
prove delivery timelines for projects. 
‘‘(2) ACTIVITIES.—The Bureau shall carry out 
paragraph (1)— 
‘‘(A) by serving as the Department’s liaison 
to the Council on Environmental Quality; 
‘‘(B) by coordinating Department-wide ef-
forts to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of 
the environmental review and permitting proc-
ess; 
‘‘(C) by coordinating Department efforts 
under section 139 of title 23; 
‘‘(D) by supporting modernization efforts at 
Federal agencies to achieve innovative ap-
proaches to the permitting and review of 
projects; 
‘‘(E) by providing technical assistance and 
training to field and headquarters staff of Fed-
eral agencies on policy changes and innovative 
approaches to the delivery of projects; 
‘‘(F) by identifying, developing, and track-
ing metrics for permit reviews and decisions by 
Federal agencies for projects under the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969; and
621 
‘‘(G) by administering and expanding the 
use of Internet-based tools providing for— 
‘‘(i) the development and posting of 
schedules for permit reviews and permit de-
cisions for projects; and 
‘‘(ii) the sharing of best practices re-
lated to efficient permitting and reviews for 
projects. 
‘‘(3) SUPPORT TO PROJECT SPONSORS.—At the 
request of a State or local government, the Bureau, in 
coordination with the other appropriate modal agen-
cies within the Department, shall provide technical 
assistance with regard to the compliance of a project 
sponsored by the State or local government with the 
requirements of the National Environmental Policy 
Act 1969 and relevant Federal environmental per-
mits. 
‘‘(g) PROJECT PROCUREMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Bureau shall promote 
best practices in procurement for a project receiving 
assistance under a program identified in subsection 
(d)(1) by developing, in coordination with the Federal 
Highway Administration and other modal agencies as 
appropriate, procurement benchmarks in order to en-
622 
sure accountable expenditure of Federal assistance 
over the life cycle of such project. 
‘‘(2) PROCUREMENT
BENCHMARKS.—The pro-
curement benchmarks developed under paragraph (1) 
shall, to the maximum extent practicable— 
‘‘(A) establish maximum thresholds for ac-
ceptable project cost increases and delays in 
project delivery; 
‘‘(B) establish uniform methods for States to 
measure cost and delivery changes over the life 
cycle of a project; and 
‘‘(C) be tailored, as necessary, to various 
types of project procurements, including design- 
bid-build, design-build, and public private part-
nerships. 
‘‘(h) ELIMINATION AND CONSOLIDATION OF DUPLICA-
TIVE OFFICES.— 
‘‘(1) ELIMINATION OF OFFICES.—The Secretary 
may eliminate any office within the Department if 
the Secretary determines that the purposes of the of-
fice are duplicative of the purposes of the Bureau, and 
the elimination of such office shall not adversely affect 
the obligations of the Secretary under any Federal 
law.
623 
‘‘(2) CONSOLIDATION
OF
OFFICES.—The Sec-
retary may consolidate any office within the Depart-
ment into the Bureau that the Secretary determines 
has duties, responsibilities, resources, or expertise that 
support the purposes of the Bureau. 
‘‘(3) STAFFING AND BUDGETARY RESOURCES.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall en-
sure that the Bureau is adequately staffed and 
funded. 
‘‘(B) STAFFING.—The Secretary may trans-
fer to the Bureau a position within the Depart-
ment from any office that is eliminated or con-
solidated under this subsection if the Secretary 
determines that the position is necessary to carry 
out the purposes of the Bureau. 
‘‘(C) BUDGETARY RESOURCES.— 
‘‘(i) TRANSFER OF FUNDS FROM ELIMI-
NATED
OR
CONSOLIDATED
OFFICES.—The 
Secretary may transfer to the Bureau funds 
allocated to any office that is eliminated or 
consolidated under this subsection to carry 
out the purposes of the Bureau. 
‘‘(ii) TRANSFER OF FUNDS ALLOCATED 
TO ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—The Secretary 
shall transfer to the Bureau funds allocated
624 
to the administrative costs of processing ap-
plications for the programs referred to in 
subsection (d)(1). 
‘‘(4) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall 
submit to the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Environment and Public Works and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate a report that— 
‘‘(A) lists the offices eliminated under para-
graph (1) and provides the rationale for elimi-
nation of the offices; 
‘‘(B) lists the offices consolidated under 
paragraph (2) and provides the rationale for 
consolidation of the offices; and 
‘‘(C) describes the actions taken under para-
graph (3) and provides the rationale for taking 
such actions. 
‘‘(i) SAVINGS PROVISIONS.— 
‘‘(1) LAWS AND REGULATIONS.—Nothing in this 
section may be construed to change a law or regula-
tion with respect to a program referred to in sub-
section (d)(1).
625 
‘‘(2) RESPONSIBILITIES.—Nothing in this section 
may be construed to abrogate the responsibilities of 
an agency, operating administration, or office within 
the Department otherwise charged by a law or regula-
tion with other aspects of program administration, 
oversight, and project approval or implementation for 
the programs and projects subject to this section. 
‘‘(j) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following defi-
nitions apply: 
‘‘(1) BUREAU.—The term ‘Bureau’ means the 
National Surface Transportation and Innovative Fi-
nance Bureau of the Department. 
‘‘(2) DEPARTMENT.—The term ‘Department’ 
means the Department of Transportation. 
‘‘(3) 
MULTIMODAL
PROJECT.—The 
term 
‘multimodal project’ means a project involving the 
participation of more than one modal administration 
or secretarial office within the Department. 
‘‘(4) PROJECT.—The term ‘project’ means a 
highway 
project, 
public 
transportation 
capital 
project, 
freight 
or 
passenger 
rail 
project, 
or 
multimodal project.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 
chapter is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘116. National Surface Transportation and Innovative Finance Bureau.’’.
626 
SEC. 9002. COUNCIL ON CREDIT AND FINANCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 1 of title 49, United States 
Code, as amended by this Act, is further amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 117. Council on Credit and Finance 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall establish a Council on Credit and Finance in 
accordance with this section. 
‘‘(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Council shall be com-
posed of the following members: 
‘‘(A) The Under Secretary of Transpor-
tation for Policy. 
‘‘(B) The Chief Financial Officer and As-
sistant Secretary for Budget and Programs. 
‘‘(C) The General Counsel of the Depart-
ment of Transportation. 
‘‘(D) The Assistant Secretary for Transpor-
tation Policy. 
‘‘(E) The Administrator of the Federal 
Highway Administration. 
‘‘(F) The Administrator of the Federal 
Transit Administration. 
‘‘(G) The Administrator of the Federal 
Railroad Administration.
627 
‘‘(2) ADDITIONAL
MEMBERS.—The Secretary 
may designate up to 3 additional officials of the De-
partment to serve as at-large members of the Council. 
‘‘(3) CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON.— 
‘‘(A) CHAIRPERSON.—The Under Secretary 
of Transportation for Policy shall serve as the 
chairperson of the Council. 
‘‘(B) VICE
CHAIRPERSON.—The Chief Fi-
nancial Officer and Assistant Secretary for 
Budget and Programs shall serve as the vice 
chairperson of the Council. 
‘‘(4) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.—The Executive Di-
rector of the National Surface Transportation and In-
novative Finance Bureau shall serve as a nonvoting 
member of the Council. 
‘‘(c) DUTIES.—The Council shall— 
‘‘(1) review applications for assistance submitted 
under the programs referred to in section 116(d)(1); 
‘‘(2) make recommendations to the Secretary re-
garding the selection of projects to receive assistance 
under the programs referred to in section 116(d)(1); 
‘‘(3) review, on a regular basis, projects that re-
ceived assistance under the programs referred to in 
section 116(d)(1); and
628 
‘‘(4) carry out such additional duties as the Sec-
retary may prescribe.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for such 
chapter is further amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘117. Council on Credit and Finance.’’. 
TITLE X—SPORT FISH RESTORA-
TION 
AND 
RECREATIONAL 
BOATING SAFETY 
SEC. 10001. ALLOCATIONS. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION.—Section 3 of the Dingell-John-
son Sport Fish Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 777b) is amend-
ed by striking ‘‘57 percent’’ and inserting ‘‘58.012 percent’’. 
(b) IN GENERAL.—Section 4 of the Dingell-Johnson 
Sport Fish Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 777c) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph 
(1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘For each’’ and all that 
follows through ‘‘the balance’’ and inserting 
‘‘For each fiscal year through fiscal year 
2021, the balance’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘multistate conserva-
tion grants under section 14’’ and inserting 
‘‘activities under section 14(e)’’;
629 
(B) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘18.5 
percent’’ and inserting ‘‘18.673 percent’’; 
(C) in paragraph (2) by striking ‘‘18.5 per-
cent’’ and inserting ‘‘17.315 percent’’; 
(D) by striking paragraphs (3) and (4); 
(E) by redesignating paragraph (5) as 
paragraph (4); and 
(F) by inserting after paragraph (2) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(3) 
BOATING
INFRASTRUCTURE
IMPROVE-
MENT.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—An amount equal to 4 
percent to the Secretary of the Interior for quali-
fied projects under section 5604(c) of the Clean 
Vessel Act of 1992 (33 U.S.C. 1322 note) and 
section 7404(d) of the Sportfishing and Boating 
Safety Act of 1998 (16 U.S.C. 777g–1(d)). 
‘‘(B) LIMITATION.—Not more than 75 per-
cent of the amount under subparagraph (A) shall 
be available for projects under either of the sec-
tions referred to in subparagraph (A).’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)(A) by striking ‘‘for 
each’’ and all that follows through ‘‘the Sec-
630 
retary’’ and inserting ‘‘for each fiscal year 
through fiscal year 2021, the Secretary’’; 
(B) by redesignating paragraph (2) as 
paragraph (3); 
(C) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(2) SET-ASIDE FOR COAST GUARD ADMINISTRA-
TION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—From the annual ap-
propriation made in accordance with section 3, 
for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2021, the 
Secretary of the department in which the Coast 
Guard is operating may use no more than the 
amount specified in subparagraph (B) for the 
fiscal year for the purposes set forth in section 
13107(c) of title 46, United States Code. The 
amount specified in subparagraph (B) for a fis-
cal year may not be included in the amount of 
the annual appropriation distributed under sub-
section (a) for the fiscal year. 
‘‘(B) AVAILABLE AMOUNTS.—The available 
amount referred to in subparagraph (A) is— 
‘‘(i) for fiscal year 2016, $7,300,000; 
‘‘(ii) for fiscal year 2017, $7,400,000; 
‘‘(iii) for fiscal year 2018, $7,500,000;
631 
‘‘(iv) for fiscal year 2019, $7,600,000; 
‘‘(v) for fiscal year 2020, $7,700,000; 
and 
‘‘(vi) 
for 
fiscal 
year 
2021, 
$7,800,000.’’; and 
(D) in paragraph (3), as so redesignated— 
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘until the end of the fiscal year.’’ and in-
serting ‘‘until the end of the subsequent fis-
cal year.’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (B) by striking 
‘‘under subsection (e)’’ and inserting ‘‘under 
subsection (c)’’; 
(3) in subsection (c)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘(c) The Secretary’’ and in-
serting ‘‘(c)(1) The Secretary,’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘grants under section 14 of 
this title’’ and inserting ‘‘activities under section 
14(e)’’; 
(C) by striking ‘‘57 percent’’ and inserting 
‘‘58.012 percent’’; and 
(D) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall deduct from the amount to 
be apportioned under paragraph (1) the amounts used for 
grants under section 14(a).’’; and
632 
(4) in subsection (e)(1), by striking ‘‘those sub-
sections,’’ and inserting ‘‘those paragraphs,’’. 
(c) SUBMISSION
AND
APPROVAL
OF
PLANS
AND 
PROJECTS.—Section 6(d) of the Dingell-Johnson Sport 
Fish Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 777e(d)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘for appropriations’’ and inserting ‘‘from appro-
priations’’. 
(d) UNEXPENDED OR UNOBLIGATED FUNDS.—Section 
8(b)(2) of the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act 
(16 U.S.C. 777g(b)(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘57 percent’’ 
and inserting ‘‘58.012 percent’’. 
(e) COOPERATION.—Section 12 of the Dingell-Johnson 
Sport Fish Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 777k) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘57 percent’’ and inserting 
‘‘58.012 percent’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘under section 4(b)’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘under section 4(c)’’. 
(f) OTHER ACTIVITIES.—Section 14 of the Dingell- 
Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 777m) is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ‘‘of each an-
nual appropriation made in accordance with the pro-
visions of section 3’’; and 
(2) in subsection (e)—
633 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) 
by striking ‘‘Of amounts made available under 
section 4(b) for each fiscal year—’’ and inserting 
‘‘Not more than $1,200,000 of each annual ap-
propriation made in accordance with the provi-
sions of section 3 shall be distributed to the Sec-
retary of the Interior for use as follows:’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (1)(D) by striking ‘‘; 
and’’ and inserting a period. 
(g) REPEAL.—The Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Res-
toration Act (16 U.S.C. 777 et seq.) is amended— 
(1) by striking section 15; and 
(2) by redesignating section 16 as section 15. 
SEC. 10002. RECREATIONAL BOATING SAFETY. 
Section 13107 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘(1) Subject to paragraph 
(2) and subsection (c),’’ and inserting ‘‘Subject 
to subsection (c),’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘the sum of (A) the amount 
made available from the Boat Safety Account for 
that fiscal year under section 15 of the Dingell- 
Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act and (B)’’; 
and
634 
(C) by striking paragraph (2); and 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) by striking the subsection designation 
and paragraph (1) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(c)(1)(A) The Secretary may use amounts made 
available each fiscal year under section 4(b)(2) of the Din-
gell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 
777c(b)(2)) for payment of expenses of the Coast Guard for 
investigations, personnel, and activities directly related 
to— 
‘‘(i) administering State recreational boating 
safety programs under this chapter; or 
‘‘(ii) coordinating or carrying out the national 
recreational boating safety program under this title. 
‘‘(B) Of the amounts used by the Secretary each fiscal 
year under subparagraph (A)— 
‘‘(i) not less than $2,000,000 is available to en-
sure compliance with chapter 43 of this title; and 
‘‘(ii) not more than $1,500,000 is available to 
conduct a survey of levels of recreational boating par-
ticipation and related matters in the United States.’’; 
and 
(B) in paragraph (2)—
635 
(i) by striking ‘‘No funds’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘On and after October 1, 2016, no 
funds’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘traditionally’’. 
DIVISION 
B—COMPREHENSIVE 
TRANSPORTATION AND CON-
SUMER PROTECTION ACT OF 
2015 
TITLE XXIV—HIGHWAY AND 
MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY 
Subtitle A—Vehicle Safety 
SEC. 24101. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subsection (b), there is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out 
chapter 301 of title 49, and part C of subtitle VI of title 
49, United States Code, amounts as follows: 
(1) $132,730,000 for fiscal year 2016. 
(2) $135,517,330 for fiscal year 2017. 
(3) $138,363,194 for fiscal year 2018. 
(4) $141,268,821 for fiscal year 2019. 
(5) $144,235,466 for fiscal year 2020. 
(6) $147,264,411 for fiscal year 2021. 
(b) ADDITIONAL AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS 
IF A CERTIFICATION IS MADE.—
636 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In addition to the amounts 
authorized to be appropriated under subsection (a) to 
carry out chapter 301 of title 49, and part C of sub-
title VI of title 49, United States Code, if the certifi-
cation described in paragraph (2) is made during a 
fiscal year there is authorized to be appropriated to 
the Secretary for that purpose for that fiscal year and 
subsequent fiscal years an additional amount as fol-
lows: 
(A) $31,270,000 for fiscal year 2016. 
(B) $36,537,670 for fiscal year 2017. 
(C) $42,296,336 for fiscal year 2018. 
(D) $47,999,728 for fiscal year 2019. 
(E) $54,837,974 for fiscal year 2020. 
(F) $61,656,407 for fiscal year 2021. 
(2) CERTIFICATION
DESCRIBED.—The certifi-
cation described in this paragraph is a certification 
made by the Secretary and submitted to Congress that 
the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 
has implemented all of the recommendations in the 
Office of Inspector General Audit Report issued June 
18, 2015 (ST–2015–063). As part of the certification, 
the Secretary shall review the actions the National 
Highway Traffic Safety Administration has taken to 
implement the recommendations and issue a report to
637 
Congress detailing how the recommendations were im-
plemented. The Secretary shall not delegate or assign 
the responsibility under this paragraph. 
SEC. 24102. INSPECTOR GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, and periodically thereafter 
until the completion date, the Department of Transpor-
tation Inspector General shall report to the appropriate 
committees of Congress on whether and what progress has 
been made to implement the recommendations in the Office 
of Inspector General Audit Report issued June 18, 2015 
(ST–2015–063). 
(b) IMPLEMENTATION PROGRESS.—The Administrator 
of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 
shall— 
(1) not later than 90 days after the date of en-
actment of this Act, and periodically thereafter until 
the completion date, provide a briefing to the appro-
priate committees of Congress on the actions the Ad-
ministrator has taken to implement the recommenda-
tions in the audit report described in subsection (a), 
including a plan for implementing any remaining 
recommendations; and 
(2) not later than 1 year after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, issue a final report to the appro-
638 
priate committees of Congress on the implementation 
of all of the recommendations in the audit report de-
scribed in subsection (a). 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS.— 
The term ‘‘appropriate committees of Congress’’ 
means the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
Energy and Commerce of the House of Representa-
tives. 
(2) COMPLETION DATE.—The term ‘‘completion 
date’’ means the date that the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration has implemented all of 
the recommendations in the Office of Inspector Gen-
eral Audit Report issued June 18, 2015 (ST–2015– 
063). 
SEC. 24103. IMPROVEMENTS IN AVAILABILITY OF RECALL 
INFORMATION. 
(a) VEHICLE RECALL INFORMATION.—Not later than 
2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall implement current information technology, web design 
trends, and best practices that will help ensure that motor 
vehicle safety recall information available to the public on 
the Federal website is readily accessible and easy to use, 
including—
639 
(1) by improving the organization, availability, 
readability, and functionality of the website; 
(2) by accommodating high-traffic volume; and 
(3) by establishing best practices for scheduling 
routine website maintenance. 
(b) GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE PUBLIC 
AWARENESS REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General shall 
study the current use by consumers, dealers, and 
manufacturers of the safety recall information made 
available to the public, including the usability and 
content of the Federal and manufacturers’ websites 
and the National Highway Traffic Safety Adminis-
tration’s efforts to publicize and educate consumers 
about safety recall information. 
(2) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
shall issue a report with the findings of the study 
under paragraph (1), including recommending any 
actions the Secretary can take to improve public 
awareness and use of the websites for safety recall in-
formation. 
(c) PROMOTION
OF PUBLIC AWARENESS.—Section 
31301(c) of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Cen-
640 
tury Act (49 U.S.C. 30166 note) is amended to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(c) PROMOTION OF PUBLIC AWARENESS.—The Sec-
retary shall improve public awareness of safety recall infor-
mation made publicly available by periodically updating 
the method of conveying that information to consumers, 
dealers, and manufacturers, such as through public service 
announcements.’’. 
(d) CONSUMER GUIDANCE.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
make available to the public on the Internet detailed guid-
ance for consumers submitting safety complaints, includ-
ing— 
(1) a detailed explanation of what information 
a consumer should include in a complaint; and 
(2) a detailed explanation of the possible actions 
the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 
can take to address a complaint and respond to the 
consumer, including information on— 
(A) the consumer records, such as photo-
graphs and police reports, that could assist with 
an investigation; and 
(B) the length of time a consumer should re-
tain the records described in subparagraph (A). 
(e) VIN SEARCH.—
641 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in coordina-
tion with industry, including manufacturers and 
dealers, shall study— 
(A) the feasibility of searching multiple ve-
hicle identification numbers at a time to retrieve 
motor vehicle safety recall information; and 
(B) the feasibility of making the search 
mechanism described under subparagraph (A) 
publicly available. 
(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In conducting the study 
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consider the 
potential costs, and potential risks to privacy and se-
curity in implementing such a search mechanism. 
SEC. 24104. RECALL PROCESS. 
(a) NOTIFICATION IMPROVEMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 270 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
prescribe a final rule revising the regulations under 
section 577.7 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, 
to include notification by electronic means in addi-
tion to notification by first class mail. 
(2) DEFINITION OF ELECTRONIC MEANS.—In this 
subsection, the term ‘‘electronic means’’ includes elec-
tronic mail and may include such other means of 
electronic notification, such as social media or tar-
642 
geted online campaigns, as determined by the Sec-
retary. 
(b) 
NOTIFICATION
BY
MANUFACTURER.—Section 
30118(c) is amended by inserting ‘‘or electronic mail’’ after 
‘‘certified mail’’. 
(c) RECALL COMPLETION RATES REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, and biennially 
thereafter for 4 years, the Secretary shall— 
(A) conduct an analysis of vehicle safety re-
call completion rates to assess potential actions 
by the National Highway Traffic Safety Admin-
istration to improve vehicle safety recall comple-
tion rates; and 
(B) 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 on the results 
of the analysis. 
(2) CONTENTS.—Each report shall include— 
(A) the annual recall completion rate by 
manufacturer, model year, component (such as 
brakes, fuel systems, and air bags), and vehicle 
type (passenger car, sport utility vehicle, pas-
643 
senger van, and pick-up truck) for each of the 5 
years before the year the report is submitted; 
(B) the methods by which the Secretary has 
conducted analyses of these recall completion 
rates to determine trends and identify risk fac-
tors associated with lower recall rates; and 
(C) the actions the Secretary has planned to 
improve recall completion rates based on the re-
sults of this data analysis. 
(d) INSPECTOR GENERAL AUDIT OF VEHICLE RE-
CALLS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Department of Transpor-
tation Inspector General shall conduct an audit of the 
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s 
management of vehicle safety recalls. 
(2) CONTENTS.—The audit shall include a deter-
mination of whether the National Highway Traffic 
Safety Administration— 
(A) appropriately monitors recalls to ensure 
the appropriateness of scope and adequacy of re-
call completion rates and remedies; 
(B) ensures manufacturers provide safe 
remedies, at no cost to consumers; 
(C) is capable of coordinating recall rem-
edies and processes; and
644 
(D) can improve its policy on consumer no-
tice to combat effects of recall fatigue. 
SEC. 24105. PILOT GRANT PROGRAM FOR STATE NOTIFICA-
TION TO CONSUMERS OF MOTOR VEHICLE 
RECALL STATUS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than October 1, 2016, the 
Secretary shall implement a 2-year pilot program to evalu-
ate the feasibility and effectiveness of a State process for 
informing consumers of open motor vehicle recalls at the 
time of motor vehicle registration in the State. 
(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;
645 
(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. 
(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:
646 
(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. 
(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. 24106. 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. 24107. DEALER REQUIREMENT TO CHECK FOR OPEN 
RECALL. 
Section 30120(f) is amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—’’ before ‘‘A 
manufacturer’’ and indenting appropriately;
647 
(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-
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. 24108. 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
648 
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘60-day’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘180-day’’. 
SEC. 24109. 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; 
(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—
649 
‘‘(A) is primarily 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: 
‘‘(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’’;
650 
(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-
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-
651 
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 
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
652 
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 
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’’.
653 
(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. 
(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—
654 
(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: 
‘‘(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-
655 
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 
(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. 24110. 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)—
656 
(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’’. 
(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. 24111. 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:
657 
‘‘(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 
‘‘(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. 24112. 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-
658 
tation and Consumer Protection Act of 2015, the Sec-
retary shall issue a final rule under paragraph (1).’’. 
SEC. 24113. 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 
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. 24114. 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. 24115. 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—
659 
(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. 
(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). 
SEC. 24116. AVAILABILITY OF CERTAIN INFORMATION ON 
MOTOR VEHICLE EQUIPMENT. 
Section 30118 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(f) INFORMATION ON DEFECTIVE OR NONCOMPLIANT 
PARTS.— 
‘‘(1) PROVISION
OF
INFORMATION
BY
SUP-
PLIERS.—A supplier of parts that are determined to 
be defective or noncompliant by the Secretary under 
subsection (a) or (b) shall identify all parts that are
660 
subject to the recall and provide to the Secretary and 
each affected manufacturer, not later than 3 business 
days after receiving notification of the determination, 
for each affected part— 
‘‘(A) all part names; 
‘‘(B) all part numbers; and 
‘‘(C) a description of the part. 
‘‘(2) PROVISION OF INFORMATION BY MANUFAC-
TURERS.—Upon receipt of notification of a deter-
mination by the Secretary under subsection (a) or (b) 
or notification from a supplier of parts under para-
graph (1), a manufacturer of motor vehicles shall— 
‘‘(A) identify the vehicle identification num-
ber for each affected vehicle; and 
‘‘(B) not later than 5 business days after re-
ceiving such notification, provide to the Sec-
retary, in a searchable format determined by the 
Secretary— 
‘‘(i) the vehicle identification numbers 
identified under subparagraph (A); and 
‘‘(ii) the specific part names, numbers, 
and descriptions used by the manufacturer 
for all affected parts the sale or lease of 
which is prohibited by section 30120(j).
661 
‘‘(3) AVAILABILITY
OF
INFORMATION
ON
THE 
INTERNET.—In the case of information provided by a 
manufacturer under paragraph (2)(B), the Secretary 
shall make such information available, or require the 
manufacturer to make such information available, on 
an Internet website that may be accessed by any per-
son who sells or leases motor vehicle equipment for 
purposes of assisting such person in complying with 
section 30120(j). Such information shall be made 
available in real-time or near-real-time as provided 
under paragraph (2)(B) and at no cost to the person 
obtaining access. 
‘‘(g) INFORMATION ON ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT.—Not 
later than July 31, 2016, a manufacturer of motor vehicles 
shall make available on an Internet website information 
about the original equipment contained in such vehicles, 
which shall include— 
‘‘(1) all parts or component numbers for such 
equipment; and 
‘‘(2) specific part names and descriptions associ-
ated with each manufacturer vehicle identification 
number.’’.
662 
Subtitle B—Research and Develop-
ment and Vehicle Electronics 
SEC. 24201. 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 
in coordinating with other Federal agencies, and the prior-
ities of the Council over the next 5 years. 
SEC. 24202. COOPERATION WITH FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS. 
(a) TITLE 49 AMENDMENT.—Section 30182(b) is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and 
inserting a semicolon;
663 
(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 
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.
664 
Subtitle C—Miscellaneous 
Provisions 
PART I—DRIVER PRIVACY ACT OF 2015 
SEC. 24301. SHORT TITLE. 
This part may be cited as the ‘‘Driver Privacy Act 
of 2015’’. 
SEC. 24302. 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 
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-
665 
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; 
(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.
666 
SEC. 24303. 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 
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. 24321. SHORT TITLE. 
This part may be cited as the ‘‘Safety Through In-
formed Consumers Act of 2015’’.
667 
SEC. 24322. 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. 24331. SHORT TITLE. 
This part may be cited as the ‘‘Tire Efficiency, Safety, 
and Registration Act of 2015’’ or the ‘‘TESR Act’’. 
SEC. 24332. TIRE FUEL EFFICIENCY MINIMUM PERFORM-
ANCE STANDARDS. 
Section 32304A is amended— 
(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
668 
(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 
‘‘(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-
669 
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. 
‘‘(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.—
670 
‘‘(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 
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
671 
‘‘(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. 
‘‘(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—
672 
‘‘(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. 24333. 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-
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
673 
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. 24334. 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 
assists consumers in determining whether a tire is subject 
to a recall. 
PART IV—ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES 
SEC. 24341. REGULATION PARITY FOR ELECTRIC AND NAT-
URAL GAS VEHICLES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In promulgating regulations, the 
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Adminis-
tration shall ensure that any preference or incentive pro-
674 
vided to an electric vehicle is also provided to a natural 
gas vehicle. 
(b) REVISION OF EXISTING REGULATIONS.—Not later 
than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Administrator shall revise any regulations of the Adminis-
trator in existence as of that date concerning electric vehi-
cles as necessary to ensure that the regulations conform to 
subsection (a). 
Subtitle D—Additional Motor 
Vehicle Provisions 
SEC. 24401. REQUIRED REPORTING OF NHTSA AGENDA. 
Not later than December 1 of the year beginning after 
the date of enactment of this Act, and each year thereafter, 
the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration shall publish on the public website of the 
Administration, and file with the Committee on Energy 
and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
the Senate an annual plan for the following calendar year 
detailing the Administration’s projected activities, includ-
ing— 
(1) the Administrator’s policy priorities; 
(2) any rulemakings projected to be commenced; 
(3) any plans to develop guidelines;
675 
(4) any plans to restructure the Administration 
or to establish or alter working groups; 
(5) any planned projects or initiatives of the Ad-
ministration, including the working groups and advi-
sory committees of the Administration; and 
(6) any projected dates or timetables associated 
with any of the items described in paragraphs (1) 
through (5). 
SEC. 24402. APPLICATION OF REMEDIES FOR DEFECTS AND 
NONCOMPLIANCE. 
Section 30120(g)(1) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘10 calendar years’’ and inserting ‘‘15 
calendar years’’. 
SEC. 24403. RETENTION OF SAFETY RECORDS BY MANUFAC-
TURERS. 
(a) RULE.—Not later than 18 months after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation 
shall issue a final rule pursuant to section 30117 of title 
49, United States Code, requiring each manufacturer of 
motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment to retain all 
motor vehicle safety records required to be maintained by 
manufacturers under section 576.6 of title 49, Code of Fed-
eral Regulations, for a period of not less than 10 calendar 
years from the date on which they were generated or ac-
quired by the manufacturer.
676 
(b) APPLICATION.—The rule required by subsection (a) 
shall apply with respect to any record described in such 
subsection that is in the possession of a manufacturer on 
the effective date of such rule. 
SEC. 24404. NONAPPLICATION OF PROHIBITIONS RELATING 
TO NONCOMPLYING MOTOR VEHICLES TO VE-
HICLES USED FOR TESTING OR EVALUATION. 
Section 30112(b) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (8), by striking ‘‘; or’’ and in-
serting a semicolon; 
(2) in paragraph (9), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new para-
graph: 
‘‘(10) the introduction of a motor vehicle in 
interstate commerce solely for purposes of testing or 
evaluation by a manufacturer that prior to the date 
of enactment of this paragraph— 
‘‘(A) has manufactured and distributed 
motor vehicles into the United States that are 
certified to comply with all applicable Federal 
motor vehicle safety standards; 
‘‘(B) has submitted to the Secretary appro-
priate manufacturer identification information
677 
under part 566 of title 49, Code of Federal Regu-
lations; 
‘‘(C) if applicable, has identified an agent 
for service of process in accordance with part 
551 of such title; and 
‘‘(D) agrees not to sell or offer for sale the 
motor vehicle at the conclusion of the testing or 
evaluation.’’. 
SEC. 24405. TREATMENT OF LOW-VOLUME MANUFACTUR-
ERS. 
(a) EXEMPTION FROM VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS 
FOR LOW-VOLUME MANUFACTURERS.—Section 30114 of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘The’’ and inserting ‘‘(a) VEHI-
CLES USED FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES.—The’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(b) EXEMPTION
FOR LOW-VOLUME MANUFACTUR-
ERS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) exempt from section 30112(a) of this 
title not more than 500 replica motor vehicles 
per year that are manufactured or imported by 
a low-volume manufacturer; and
678 
‘‘(B) except as provided in paragraph (4) of 
this subsection, limit any such exemption to the 
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards applica-
ble to motor vehicles and not motor vehicle 
equipment. 
‘‘(2) REGISTRATION REQUIREMENT.—To qualify 
for an exemption under paragraph (1), a low-volume 
manufacturer shall register with the Secretary at such 
time, in such manner, and under such terms that the 
Secretary determines appropriate. The Secretary shall 
establish terms that ensure that no person may reg-
ister as a low-volume manufacturer if the person is 
registered as an importer under section 30141 of this 
title. 
‘‘(3) PERMANENT LABEL REQUIREMENT.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall re-
quire a low-volume manufacturer to affix a per-
manent label to a motor vehicle exempted under 
paragraph (1) that identifies the specified stand-
ards and regulations for which such vehicle is ex-
empt from section 30112(a) and designates the 
model year such vehicle replicates. 
‘‘(B) WRITTEN
NOTICE.—The Secretary 
may require a low-volume manufacturer of a
679 
motor vehicle exempted under paragraph (1) to 
deliver written notice of the exemption to— 
‘‘(i) the dealer; and 
‘‘(ii) the first purchaser of the motor 
vehicle, if the first purchaser is not an indi-
vidual that purchases the motor vehicle for 
resale. 
‘‘(C) REPORTING
REQUIREMENT.—A low- 
volume manufacturer shall annually submit a 
report to the Secretary including the number 
and description of the motor vehicles exempted 
under paragraph (1) and a list of the exemptions 
described on the label affixed under subpara-
graph (A). 
‘‘(4) EFFECT
ON
OTHER
PROVISIONS.—Any 
motor vehicle exempted under this subsection shall 
also be exempted from sections 32304, 32502, and 
32902 of this title and from section 3 of the Auto-
mobile Information Disclosure Act (15 U.S.C. 1232). 
‘‘(5) LIMITATION AND PUBLIC NOTICE.—The Sec-
retary shall have 60 days to review and approve a 
registration submitted under paragraph (2). Any reg-
istration not approved or denied within 60 days after 
submission shall be deemed approved. The Secretary 
shall have the authority to revoke an existing registra-
680 
tion based on a failure to comply with requirements 
set forth in this subsection. The registrant shall be 
provided a reasonable opportunity to correct all defi-
ciencies, if such are correctable based on the sole dis-
cretion of the Secretary. An exemption granted by the 
Secretary to a low-volume manufacturer under this 
subsection may not be transferred to any other per-
son, and shall expire at the end of the calendar year 
for which it was granted with respect to any volume 
authorized by the exemption that was not applied by 
the low-volume manufacturer to vehicles built during 
that calendar year. The Secretary shall maintain an 
up-to-date list of registrants on an annual basis and 
publish such list in the Federal Register or on a 
website operated by the Secretary. 
‘‘(6) LIMITATION
OF
LIABILITY
FOR
ORIGINAL 
MANUFACTURERS, LICENSORS OR OWNERS OF PROD-
UCT CONFIGURATION, TRADE DRESS, OR DESIGN PAT-
ENTS.—The original manufacturer, its successor or 
assignee, or current owner, who grants a license or 
otherwise transfers rights to a low-volume manufac-
turer shall incur no liability to any person or entity 
under Federal or State statute, regulation, local ordi-
nance, or under any Federal or State common law for
681 
such license or assignment to a low-volume manufac-
turer. 
‘‘(7) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
‘‘(A) LOW-VOLUME
MANUFACTURER.—The 
term ‘low-volume manufacturer’ means a motor 
vehicle manufacturer, other than a person who is 
registered as an importer under section 30141 of 
this title, whose annual worldwide production is 
not more than 5,000 motor vehicles. 
‘‘(B) REPLICA MOTOR VEHICLE.—The term 
‘replica motor vehicle’ means a motor vehicle 
produced by a low-volume manufacturer and 
that— 
‘‘(i) is intended to resemble the body of 
another motor vehicle that was manufac-
tured not less than 25 years before the man-
ufacture of the replica motor vehicle; and 
‘‘(ii) is manufactured under a license 
for the product configuration, trade dress, 
trademark, or patent, for the motor vehicle 
that is intended to be replicated from the 
original manufacturer, its successors or as-
signees, or current owner of such product 
configuration, trade dress, trademark, or 
patent rights.’’.
682 
(b) VEHICLE EMISSION COMPLIANCE STANDARDS FOR 
LOW-VOLUME MOTOR VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS.—Part A 
of title II of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7521 et seq.) 
is amended— 
(1) in section 206(a) by adding at the end the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(5)(A) A motor vehicle engine (including all engine 
emission controls) from a motor vehicle that has been grant-
ed a certificate of conformity by the Administrator for the 
model year in which the motor vehicle is assembled, or a 
motor vehicle engine that has been granted an Executive 
order subject to regulations promulgated by the California 
Air Resources Board for the model year in which the motor 
vehicle is assembled, may be installed in an exempted spe-
cially produced motor vehicle, if— 
‘‘(i) the manufacturer of the engine supplies 
written instructions explaining how to install the en-
gine and maintain functionality of the engine’s emis-
sion control system and the on-board diagnostic sys-
tem (commonly known as ‘OBD II’), except with re-
spect to evaporative emissions diagnostics; 
‘‘(ii) the manufacturer of the exempted specially 
produced motor vehicle installs the engine in accord-
ance with such instructions; and
683 
‘‘(iii) the installation instructions include emis-
sion control warranty information from the engine 
manufacturer in compliance with section 207, includ-
ing where warranty repairs can be made, emission 
control labels to be affixed to the vehicle, and the cer-
tificate of conformity number for the applicable vehi-
cle in which the engine was originally intended or the 
applicable Executive order number for the engine. 
‘‘(B) A motor vehicle containing an engine compliant 
with the requirements of subparagraph (A) shall be treated 
as meeting the requirements of section 202 applicable to 
new vehicles manufactured or imported in the model year 
in which the exempted specially produced motor vehicle is 
assembled. 
‘‘(C) Engine installations that are not performed in 
accordance with installation instructions provided by the 
manufacturer and alterations to the engine not in accord-
ance with the installation instructions shall— 
‘‘(i) be treated as prohibited acts by the installer 
under section 203; and 
‘‘(ii) subject to civil penalties under the first and 
third sentences of section 205(a), civil actions under 
section 205(b), and administrative assessment of pen-
alties under section 205(c).
684 
‘‘(D) The manufacturer of an exempted specially pro-
duced motor vehicle that has an engine compliant with the 
requirements of subparagraph (A) shall provide to the pur-
chaser of such vehicle all information received by the manu-
facturer from the engine manufacturer, including informa-
tion regarding emissions warranties from the engine manu-
facturer and all emissions-related recalls by the engine 
manufacturer. 
‘‘(E) To qualify to install an engine under this para-
graph, a manufacturer of exempted specially produced 
motor vehicles shall register with the Administrator at such 
time and in such manner as the Administrator determines 
appropriate. The manufacturer shall submit an annual re-
port to the Administrator that includes— 
‘‘(i) a description of the exempted specially pro-
duced motor vehicles and engines installed in such ve-
hicles; and 
‘‘(ii) the certificate of conformity number issued 
to the motor vehicle in which the engine was origi-
nally intended or the applicable Executive order num-
ber for the engine. 
‘‘(F) Exempted specially produced motor vehicles com-
pliant with this paragraph shall be exempted from— 
‘‘(i) motor vehicle certification testing under this 
section; and
685 
‘‘(ii) vehicle emission control inspection and 
maintenance programs required under section 110. 
‘‘(G) A person engaged in the manufacturing or assem-
bling of exempted specially produced motor vehicles shall 
not be treated as a manufacturer for purposes of this Act 
by virtue of such manufacturing or assembling, so long as 
such person complies with subparagraphs (A) through 
(E).’’; and 
(2) in section 216 by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new paragraph: 
‘‘(12) EXEMPTED SPECIALLY PRODUCED MOTOR 
VEHICLE.—The term ‘exempted specially produced 
motor vehicle’ means a replica motor vehicle that is 
exempt from specified standards pursuant to section 
30114(b) of title 49, United States Code.’’. 
(c) IMPLEMENTATION.—Not later than 12 months after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transpor-
tation and the Administrator of the Environmental Protec-
tion Agency shall issue such regulations as may be nec-
essary to implement the amendments made by subsections 
(a) and (b), respectively. 
SEC. 24406. NO LIABILITY ON THE BASIS OF NHTSA MOTOR 
VEHICLE SAFETY GUIDELINES. 
Section 30111 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
686 
‘‘(f) NO LIABILITY ON THE BASIS OF MOTOR VEHICLE 
SAFETY GUIDELINES ISSUED BY THE SECRETARY.—(1) No 
guidelines issued by the Secretary with respect to motor ve-
hicle safety shall provide a basis for or evidence of liability 
in any action against a defendant whose practices are al-
leged to be inconsistent with such guidelines. A person who 
is subject to any such guidelines may use an alternative 
approach to that set forth in such guidelines that complies 
with any requirement in a provision of this subtitle, a 
motor vehicle safety standard issued under this subtitle, or 
another relevant statute or regulation. 
‘‘(2) No such guidelines shall confer any rights on any 
person nor shall operate to bind the Secretary or any person 
who is subject to such guidelines to the approach rec-
ommended in such guidelines. In any enforcement action 
with respect to motor vehicle safety, the Secretary must 
prove a violation of a provision of this subtitle, a motor 
vehicle safety standard issued under this subtitle, or another 
relevant statute or regulation. The Secretary may not build 
a case against or negotiate a consent order with any person 
based in whole or in part on practices of the person that 
are alleged to be inconsistent with any such guidelines. 
‘‘(3) A defendant may use compliance with any such 
guidelines as evidence of compliance with the provision of 
this subtitle, motor vehicle safety standard issued under this
687 
subtitle, or other statute or regulation under which such 
guidelines were developed.’’. 
DIVISION C—FINANCE 
SEC. 30001. SHORT TITLE. 
This division may be cited as the ‘‘Transportation 
Funding Act of 2015’’. 
TITLE XXXI—HIGHWAY TRUST 
FUND AND RELATED TAXES 
Subtitle 
A—Extension 
of 
Trust 
Fund Expenditure Authority and 
Related Taxes 
SEC. 31101. EXTENSION OF TRUST FUND EXPENDITURE AU-
THORITY. 
(a) HIGHWAY TRUST FUND.—Section 9503 of the In-
ternal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘November 21, 2015’’ in sub-
sections (b)(6)(B), (c)(1), and (e)(3) and inserting 
‘‘October 1, 2021’’, and 
(2) by striking ‘‘Surface Transportation Exten-
sion Act of 2015’’ in subsections (c)(1) and (e)(3) and 
inserting ‘‘Surface Transportation Reauthorization 
and Reform Act of 2015’’. 
(b) SPORT FISH RESTORATION AND BOATING TRUST 
FUND.—Section 9504 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 
is amended—
688 
(1) by striking ‘‘Surface Transportation Exten-
sion Act of 2015’’ each place it appears in subsection 
(b)(2) and inserting ‘‘Surface Transportation Reau-
thorization and Reform Act of 2015’’, and 
(2) by striking ‘‘November 21, 2015’’ in sub-
section (d)(2) and inserting ‘‘October 1, 2021’’. 
(c) LEAKING UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANK TRUST 
FUND.—Section 9508(e)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986 is amended by striking ‘‘November 21, 2015’’ and in-
serting ‘‘October 1, 2021’’. 
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this 
section shall take effect on November 21, 2015. 
SEC. 31102. EXTENSION OF HIGHWAY-RELATED TAXES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) Each of the following provisions of the Inter-
nal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking 
‘‘September 30, 2016’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 
2023’’: 
(A) Section 4041(a)(1)(C)(iii)(I). 
(B) Section 4041(m)(1)(B). 
(C) Section 4081(d)(1). 
(2) Each of the following provisions of such Code 
is amended by striking ‘‘October 1, 2016’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘October 1, 2023’’: 
(A) Section 4041(m)(1)(A).
689 
(B) Section 4051(c). 
(C) Section 4071(d). 
(D) Section 4081(d)(3). 
(b) EXTENSION OF TAX, ETC., ON USE OF CERTAIN 
HEAVY VEHICLES.—Each of the following provisions of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking 
‘‘2017’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘2024’’: 
(1) Section 4481(f). 
(2) Subsections (c)(4) and (d) of section 4482. 
(c) FLOOR STOCKS REFUNDS.—Section 6412(a)(1) of 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘October 1, 2016’’ each place it 
appears and inserting ‘‘October 1, 2023’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘March 31, 2017’’ each place it 
appears and inserting ‘‘March 31, 2024’’; and 
(3) by striking ‘‘January 1, 2017’’ and inserting 
‘‘January 1, 2024’’. 
(d) EXTENSION OF CERTAIN EXEMPTIONS.— 
(1) Section 4221(a) of the Internal Revenue Code 
of 1986 is amended by striking ‘‘October 1, 2016’’ and 
inserting ‘‘October 1, 2023’’. 
(2) Section 4483(i) of such Code is amended by 
striking ‘‘October 1, 2017’’ and inserting ‘‘October 1, 
2024’’. 
(e) EXTENSION OF TRANSFERS OF CERTAIN TAXES.—
690 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 9503 of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 is amended— 
(A) in subsection (b)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘October 1, 2016’’ each 
place it appears in paragraphs (1) and (2) 
and inserting ‘‘October 1, 2023’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘OCTOBER 1, 2016’’ in 
the heading of paragraph (2) and inserting 
‘‘OCTOBER 1, 2023’’; 
(iii) by striking ‘‘September 30, 2016’’ 
in paragraph (2) and inserting ‘‘September 
30, 2023’’; and 
(iv) by striking ‘‘July 1, 2017’’ in 
paragraph (2) and inserting ‘‘July 1, 
2024’’; and 
(B) in subsection (c)(2), by striking ‘‘July 
1, 2017’’ and inserting ‘‘July 1, 2024’’. 
(2) MOTORBOAT AND SMALL-ENGINE FUEL TAX 
TRANSFERS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Paragraphs (3)(A)(i) 
and (4)(A) of section 9503(c) of such Code are 
each amended by striking ‘‘October 1, 2016’’ and 
inserting ‘‘October 1, 2023’’. 
(B) CONFORMING
AMENDMENTS
TO
LAND 
AND
WATER
CONSERVATION
FUND.—Section
691 
200310 of title 54, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(i) by striking ‘‘October 1, 2017’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘October 1, 
2024’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘October 1, 2016’’ and 
inserting ‘‘October 1, 2023’’. 
(f) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this 
section shall take effect on October 1, 2016. 
Subtitle B—Additional Transfers to 
Highway Trust Fund 
SEC. 31201. FURTHER ADDITIONAL TRANSFERS TO TRUST 
FUND. 
Subsection (f) of section 9503 of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986 is amended by redesignating paragraph (8) 
as paragraph (10) and inserting after paragraph (7) the 
following new paragraphs: 
‘‘(8) FURTHER TRANSFERS TO TRUST FUND.— 
Out of money in the Treasury not otherwise appro-
priated, there is hereby appropriated— 
‘‘(A) $25,976,000,000 to the Highway Ac-
count (as defined in subsection (e)(5)(B)) in the 
Highway Trust Fund; and 
‘‘(B) $9,000,000,000 to the Mass Transit 
Account in the Highway Trust Fund.
692 
‘‘(9) ADDITIONAL
INCREASE
IN
FUND
BAL-
ANCE.—There is hereby transferred to the Highway 
Account (as defined in subsection (e)(5)(B)) in the 
Highway Trust Fund amounts appropriated from the 
Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund 
under section 9508(c)(4).’’. 
SEC. 31202. TRANSFER TO HIGHWAY TRUST FUND OF CER-
TAIN MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY PENALTIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Paragraph (5) of section 9503(b) 
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘There are hereby’’ and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—There are hereby’’, and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new para-
graph: 
‘‘(B) PENALTIES RELATED TO MOTOR VEHI-
CLE SAFETY.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—There are hereby 
appropriated to the Highway Trust Fund 
amounts equivalent to covered motor vehicle 
safety penalty collections. 
‘‘(ii) COVERED MOTOR VEHICLE SAFE-
TY
PENALTY
COLLECTIONS.—For purposes 
of this subparagraph, the term ‘covered 
motor vehicle safety penalty collections’
693 
means any amount collected in connection 
with a civil penalty under section 30165 of 
title 49, United States Code, reduced by any 
award authorized by the Secretary of 
Transportation to be paid to any person in 
connection with information provided by 
such person related to a violation of chapter 
301 of such title which is a predicate to 
such civil penalty.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this 
section shall apply to amounts collected after the date of 
the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 
31203. 
APPROPRIATION 
FROM 
LEAKING 
UNDER-
GROUND STORAGE TANK TRUST FUND. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (c) of section 9508 of 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding 
at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(4) ADDITIONAL TRANSFER TO HIGHWAY TRUST 
FUND.—Out of amounts in the Leaking Underground 
Storage Tank Trust Fund there is hereby appro-
priated— 
‘‘(A) on the date of the enactment of the 
DRIVE Act, $100,000,000, 
‘‘(B) on October 1, 2016, $100,000,000, and 
‘‘(C) on October 1, 2017, $100,000,000,
694 
to be transferred under section 9503(f)(9) to the High-
way Account (as defined in section 9503(e)(5)(B)) in 
the Highway Trust Fund.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 9508(c)(1) of 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking 
‘‘paragraphs (2) and (3)’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraphs (2), 
(3), and (4)’’. 
TITLE XXXII—OFFSETS 
Subtitle A—Tax Provisions 
SEC. 32101. REVOCATION OR DENIAL OF PASSPORT IN CASE 
OF CERTAIN UNPAID TAXES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter D of chapter 75 of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at 
the end the following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 7345. REVOCATION OR DENIAL OF PASSPORT IN CASE 
OF CERTAIN TAX DELINQUENCIES. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—If the Secretary receives certifi-
cation by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue that any 
individual has a seriously delinquent tax debt in an 
amount in excess of $50,000, the Secretary shall transmit 
such certification to the Secretary of State for action with 
respect to denial, revocation, or limitation of a passport 
pursuant to section 52102(d) of the Transportation Fund-
ing Act of 2015.
695 
‘‘(b) SERIOUSLY DELINQUENT TAX DEBT.—For pur-
poses of this section, the term ‘seriously delinquent tax debt’ 
means an outstanding debt under this title for which a no-
tice of lien has been filed in public records pursuant to sec-
tion 6323 or a notice of levy has been filed pursuant to 
section 6331, except that such term does not include— 
‘‘(1) a debt that is being paid in a timely man-
ner pursuant to an agreement under section 6159 or 
7122, and 
‘‘(2) a debt with respect to which collection is 
suspended because a collection due process hearing 
under section 6330, or relief under subsection (b), (c), 
or (f) of section 6015, is requested or pending. 
‘‘(c) ADJUSTMENT FOR INFLATION.—In the case of a 
calendar year beginning after 2016, the dollar amount in 
subsection (a) shall be increased by an amount equal to— 
‘‘(1) such dollar amount, multiplied by 
‘‘(2) the cost-of-living adjustment determined 
under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year, deter-
mined by substituting ‘calendar year 2015’ for ‘cal-
endar year 1992’ in subparagraph (B) thereof. 
If any amount as adjusted under the preceding sentence is 
not a multiple of $1,000, such amount shall be rounded to 
the next highest multiple of $1,000.’’.
696 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections for 
subchapter D of chapter 75 of the Internal Revenue Code 
of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new 
item: 
‘‘Sec. 7345. Revocation or denial of passport in case of certain tax delin-
quencies.’’. 
(c) AUTHORITY FOR INFORMATION SHARING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (l) of section 6103 
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by 
adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(23) DISCLOSURE OF RETURN INFORMATION TO 
DEPARTMENT OF STATE FOR PURPOSES OF PASSPORT 
REVOCATION UNDER SECTION 7345.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall, 
upon receiving a certification described in sec-
tion 7345, disclose to the Secretary of State re-
turn information with respect to a taxpayer who 
has a seriously delinquent tax debt described in 
such section. Such return information shall be 
limited to— 
‘‘(i) the taxpayer identity information 
with respect to such taxpayer, and 
‘‘(ii) the amount of such seriously de-
linquent tax debt. 
‘‘(B) RESTRICTION
ON
DISCLOSURE.—Re-
turn information disclosed under subparagraph
697 
(A) may be used by officers and employees of the 
Department of State for the purposes of, and to 
the extent necessary in, carrying out the require-
ments of section 52102(d) of the Transportation 
Funding Act of 2015.’’. 
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Paragraph (4) 
of section 6103(p) of such Code is amended by strik-
ing ‘‘or (22)’’ each place it appears in subparagraph 
(F)(ii) and in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) 
and inserting ‘‘(22), or (23)’’. 
(d) AUTHORITY TO DENY OR REVOKE PASSPORT.— 
(1) DENIAL.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Except as provided 
under subparagraph (B), upon receiving a cer-
tification described in section 7345 of the Inter-
nal Revenue Code of 1986 from the Secretary of 
the Treasury, the Secretary of State shall not 
issue a passport to any individual who has a se-
riously delinquent tax debt described in such sec-
tion. 
(B) EMERGENCY AND HUMANITARIAN SITU-
ATIONS.—Notwithstanding 
subparagraph 
(A), 
the Secretary of State may issue a passport, in 
emergency circumstances or for humanitarian
698 
reasons, to an individual described in such sub-
paragraph. 
(2) REVOCATION.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State 
may revoke a passport previously issued to any 
individual described in paragraph (1)(A). 
(B) LIMITATION FOR RETURN TO UNITED 
STATES.—If the Secretary of State decides to re-
voke a passport under subparagraph (A), the 
Secretary of State, before revocation, may— 
(i) limit a previously issued passport 
only for return travel to the United States; 
or 
(ii) issue a limited passport that only 
permits return travel to the United States. 
(3) HOLD
HARMLESS.—The Secretary of the 
Treasury and the Secretary of State shall not be lia-
ble to an individual for any action with respect to a 
certification by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue 
under section 7345 of the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986. 
(e) REVOCATION OR DENIAL OF PASSPORT IN CASE OF 
INDIVIDUAL WITHOUT SOCIAL SECURITY ACCOUNT NUM-
BER.— 
(1) DENIAL.—
699 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Except as provided 
under subparagraph (B), upon receiving an ap-
plication for a passport from an individual that 
either— 
(i) does not include the social security 
account number issued to that individual, 
or 
(ii) includes an incorrect or invalid so-
cial 
security 
number 
willfully, 
inten-
tionally, negligently, or recklessly provided 
by such individual, 
the Secretary of State is authorized to deny such 
application and is authorized to not issue a 
passport to the individual. 
(B) EMERGENCY AND HUMANITARIAN SITU-
ATIONS.—Notwithstanding 
subparagraph 
(A), 
the Secretary of State may issue a passport, in 
emergency circumstances or for humanitarian 
reasons, to an individual described in subpara-
graph (A). 
(2) REVOCATION.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State 
may revoke a passport previously issued to any 
individual described in paragraph (1)(A).
700 
(B) LIMITATION FOR RETURN TO UNITED 
STATES.—If the Secretary of State decides to re-
voke a passport under subparagraph (A), the 
Secretary of State, before revocation, may— 
(i) limit a previously issued passport 
only for return travel to the United States; 
or 
(ii) issue a limited passport that only 
permits return travel to the United States. 
(f) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The provisions of, and amend-
ments made by, this section shall take effect on January 
1, 2016. 
SEC. 32102. REFORM OF RULES RELATING TO QUALIFIED 
TAX COLLECTION CONTRACTS. 
(a) REQUIREMENT TO COLLECT CERTAIN INACTIVE 
TAX RECEIVABLES UNDER QUALIFIED TAX COLLECTION 
CONTRACTS.—Section 6306 of the Internal Revenue Code 
of 1986 is amended by redesignating subsections (c) through 
(f) as subsections (d) through (g), respectively, and by in-
serting after subsection (b) the following new subsection: 
‘‘(c) COLLECTION OF INACTIVE TAX RECEIVABLES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, the Secretary shall enter into one or 
more qualified tax collection contracts for the collec-
tion of all outstanding inactive tax receivables.
701 
‘‘(2) INACTIVE TAX RECEIVABLES.—For purposes 
of this section— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘inactive tax 
receivable’ means any tax receivable if— 
‘‘(i) at any time after assessment, the 
Internal Revenue Service removes such re-
ceivable from the active inventory for lack of 
resources or inability to locate the taxpayer, 
‘‘(ii) more than 1⁄3 of the period of the 
applicable statute of limitation has lapsed 
and such receivable has not been assigned 
for collection to any employee of the Inter-
nal Revenue Service, or 
‘‘(iii) in the case of a receivable which 
has been assigned for collection, more than 
365 days have passed without interaction 
with the taxpayer or a third party for pur-
poses of furthering the collection of such re-
ceivable. 
‘‘(B) TAX RECEIVABLE.—The term ‘tax re-
ceivable’ means any outstanding assessment 
which the Internal Revenue Service includes in 
potentially collectible inventory.’’. 
(b) CERTAIN TAX RECEIVABLES NOT ELIGIBLE FOR 
COLLECTION UNDER QUALIFIED TAX COLLECTION CON-
702 
TRACTS.—Section 6306 of the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986, as amended by subsection (a), is amended by redesig-
nating subsections (d) through (g) as subsections (e) through 
(h), respectively, and by inserting after subsection (c) the 
following new subsection: 
‘‘(d) CERTAIN TAX RECEIVABLES NOT ELIGIBLE FOR 
COLLECTION UNDER QUALIFIED TAX COLLECTIONS CON-
TRACTS.—A tax receivable shall not be eligible for collection 
pursuant to a qualified tax collection contract if such re-
ceivable— 
‘‘(1) is subject to a pending or active offer-in- 
compromise or installment agreement, 
‘‘(2) is classified as an innocent spouse case, 
‘‘(3) involves a taxpayer identified by the Sec-
retary as being— 
‘‘(A) deceased, 
‘‘(B) under the age of 18, 
‘‘(C) in a designated combat zone, or 
‘‘(D) a victim of tax-related identity theft, 
‘‘(4) is currently under examination, litigation, 
criminal investigation, or levy, or 
‘‘(5) is currently subject to a proper exercise of 
a right of appeal under this title.’’. 
(c) CONTRACTING PRIORITY.—Section 6306 of the In-
ternal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended by the preceding
703 
provisions of this section, is amended by redesignating sub-
section (h) as subsection (i) and by inserting after sub-
section (g) the following new subsection: 
‘‘(h) CONTRACTING PRIORITY.—In contracting for the 
services of any person under this section, the Secretary shall 
utilize private collection contractors and debt collection cen-
ters on the schedule required under section 3711(g) of title 
31, United States Code, including the technology and com-
munications infrastructure established therein, to the extent 
such private collection contractors and debt collection cen-
ters are appropriate to carry out the purposes of this sec-
tion.’’. 
(d) DISCLOSURE OF RETURN INFORMATION.—Section 
6103(k) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended 
by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(11) QUALIFIED
TAX
COLLECTION
CONTRAC-
TORS.—Persons providing services pursuant to a 
qualified tax collection contract under section 6306 
may, if speaking to a person who has identified him-
self or herself as having the name of the taxpayer to 
which a tax receivable (within the meaning of such 
section) relates, identify themselves as contractors of 
the Internal Revenue Service and disclose the business 
name of the contractor, and the nature, subject, and 
reason for the contact. Disclosures under this para-
704 
graph shall be made only in such situations and 
under such conditions as have been approved by the 
Secretary.’’. 
(e) TAXPAYERS AFFECTED BY FEDERALLY DECLARED 
DISASTERS.—Section 6306 of the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986, as amended by the preceding provisions of this sec-
tion, is amended by redesignating subsection (i) as sub-
section (j) and by inserting after subsection (h) the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(i) TAXPAYERS IN PRESIDENTIALLY DECLARED DIS-
ASTER AREAS.—The Secretary may prescribe procedures 
under which a taxpayer determined to be affected by a Fed-
erally declared disaster (as defined by section 165(i)(5)) 
may request— 
‘‘(1) relief from immediate collection measures by 
contractors under this section, and 
‘‘(2) a return of the inactive tax receivable to the 
inventory of the Internal Revenue Service to be col-
lected by an employee thereof.’’. 
(f) REPORT TO CONGRESS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 6306 of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended by the preceding 
provisions of this section, is amended by redesig-
nating subsection (j) as subsection (k) and by insert-
ing after subsection (i) the following new subsection:
705 
‘‘(j) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 90 days 
after the last day of each fiscal year (beginning with the 
first such fiscal year ending after the date of the enactment 
of this subsection), the Secretary shall submit to the Com-
mittee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a report with 
respect to qualified tax collection contracts under this sec-
tion which shall include— 
‘‘(1) annually, with respect to such fiscal year— 
‘‘(A) the total number and amount of tax 
receivables provided to each contractor for collec-
tion under this section, 
‘‘(B) the total amounts collected (and 
amounts of installment agreements entered into 
under subsection (b)(1)(B)) with respect to each 
contractor and the collection costs incurred (di-
rectly and indirectly) by the Internal Revenue 
Service with respect to such amounts, 
‘‘(C) the impact of such contracts on the 
total number and amount of unpaid assessments, 
and on the number and amount of assessments 
collected by Internal Revenue Service personnel 
after initial contact by a contractor,
706 
‘‘(D) the amount of fees retained by the Sec-
retary under subsection (e) and a description of 
the use of such funds, and 
‘‘(E) a disclosure safeguard report in a 
form similar to that required under section 
6103(p)(5), and 
‘‘(2) biannually (beginning with the second re-
port submitted under this subsection)— 
‘‘(A) an independent evaluation of con-
tractor performance, and 
‘‘(B) a measurement plan that includes a 
comparison of the best practices used by the pri-
vate collectors to the collection techniques used by 
the Internal Revenue Service and mechanisms to 
identify and capture information on successful 
collection techniques used by the contractors that 
could be adopted by the Internal Revenue Serv-
ice.’’. 
(2) REPEAL OF EXISTING REPORTING REQUIRE-
MENTS WITH RESPECT TO QUALIFIED TAX COLLEC-
TION CONTRACTS.—Section 881 of the American Jobs 
Creation Act of 2004 is amended by striking sub-
section (e). 
(g) EFFECTIVE DATES.—
707 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The amendments made by 
subsections (a) and (b) shall apply to tax receivables 
identified by the Secretary after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act. 
(2) CONTRACTING
PRIORITY.—The Secretary 
shall begin entering into contracts and agreements as 
described in the amendment made by subsection (c) 
within 3 months after the date of the enactment of 
this Act. 
(3) DISCLOSURES.—The amendment made by 
subsection (d) shall apply to disclosures made after 
the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(4) PROCEDURES; REPORT TO CONGRESS.—The 
amendments made by subsections (e) and (f) shall 
take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 32103. SPECIAL COMPLIANCE PERSONNEL PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (e) of section 6306 of 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as redesignated by sec-
tion 52106, is amended by striking ‘‘for collection enforce-
ment activities of the Internal Revenue Service’’ in para-
graph (2) and inserting ‘‘to fund the special compliance 
personnel program account under section 6307’’. 
(b) SPECIAL COMPLIANCE PERSONNEL PROGRAM AC-
COUNT.—Subchapter A of chapter 64 of the Internal Rev-
708 
enue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the 
following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 6307. SPECIAL COMPLIANCE PERSONNEL PROGRAM 
ACCOUNT. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT
OF
A SPECIAL COMPLIANCE 
PERSONNEL PROGRAM ACCOUNT.—The Secretary shall es-
tablish an account within the Department for carrying out 
a program consisting of the hiring, training, and employ-
ment of special compliance personnel, and shall transfer to 
such account from time to time amounts retained by the 
Secretary under section 6306(e)(2). 
‘‘(b) RESTRICTIONS.—The program described in sub-
section (a) shall be subject to the following restrictions: 
‘‘(1) No funds shall be transferred to such ac-
count except as described in subsection (a). 
‘‘(2) No other funds from any other source shall 
be expended for special compliance personnel em-
ployed under such program, and no funds from such 
account shall be expended for the hiring of any per-
sonnel other than special compliance personnel. 
‘‘(3) Notwithstanding any other authority, the 
Secretary is prohibited from spending funds out of 
such account for any purpose other than for costs 
under such program associated with the employment 
of special compliance personnel and the retraining