Title: Rural Economic Infrastructure Equity Act of 2019
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
Rural Economic Infrastructure Equity Act of 2019
This bill revises existing rural infrastructure functions within the Department of Transportation (DOT) by creating an Assistant Secretary for Rural Economic Investment and an Office of Rural Economic Investment.
Specifically, the bill

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2518 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 2518

   To amend title 49, United States Code, to establish an Assistant 
Secretary for Rural Economic Investment and an Office of Rural Economic 
Investment, to ensure that rural communities are adequately represented 
  in Federal decisionmaking for transportation policy, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 19, 2019

 Mr. Durbin (for himself and Mr. Braun) introduced the following bill; 
    which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, 
                      Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To amend title 49, United States Code, to establish an Assistant 
Secretary for Rural Economic Investment and an Office of Rural Economic 
Investment, to ensure that rural communities are adequately represented 
  in Federal decisionmaking for transportation policy, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Rural Economic Infrastructure Equity 
Act of 2019''.

SEC. 2. RURAL ECONOMIC INVESTMENT.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the 
        Department of Transportation.
            (2) Relevant congressional committees.--The term ``relevant 
        congressional committees'' means--
                    (A) the Committee on Transportation and 
                Infrastructure of the House of Representatives;
                    (B) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 
                House of Representatives;
                    (C) the Committee on Environment and Public Works 
                of the Senate;
                    (D) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
                Transportation of the Senate;
                    (E) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
                Affairs of the Senate;
                    (F) the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and 
                Urban Development, and Related Agencies of the 
                Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
                Representatives; and
                    (G) the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and 
                Urban Development, and Related Agencies of the 
                Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Transportation.
    (b) Establishment.--
            (1) In general.--Section 102 of title 49, United States 
        Code, is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (a), by inserting ``(referred to 
                in this section as the `Department')'' after 
                ``Department of Transportation'';
                    (B) in subsection (e)(1)--
                            (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
                        (A), by striking ``6'' and inserting ``7'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
                        ``and'' at the end;
                            (iii) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as 
                        subparagraph (E); and
                            (iv) by inserting after subparagraph (C) 
                        the following:
                    ``(D) an Assistant Secretary for Rural Economic 
                Investment, who shall be appointed by the Secretary; 
                and'';
                    (C) in subsection (f)(1), by striking ``Department 
                of Transportation'' each place it appears and inserting 
                ``Department'';
                    (D) by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection 
                (i); and
                    (E) by inserting after subsection (g) the 
                following:
    ``(h) Office of Rural Economic Investment.--
            ``(1) In general.--There is established in the Department 
        an Office of Rural Economic Investment (referred to in this 
        subsection as the `Office').
            ``(2) Leadership.--The head of the Office shall be the 
        Assistant Secretary for Rural Economic Investment (referred to 
        in this subsection as the `Assistant Secretary'), who shall 
        report directly to the Secretary.
            ``(3) Mission and goals.--The mission and goals of the 
        Office shall be to coordinate with other offices and agencies 
        within the Department and with other Federal agencies--
                    ``(A) to ensure that the unique needs and 
                attributes of rural transportation, involving all 
                modes, are fully addressed and prioritized during the 
                development and implementation of transportation 
                policies, programs, and activities within the 
                Department;
                    ``(B) to improve coordination of Federal 
                transportation policies, programs, and activities 
                within the Department in a manner that expands economic 
                development in rural communities and regions, and to 
                provide recommendations for improvement, including 
                additional reorganization and realignments;
                    ``(C) to expand Federal transportation 
                infrastructure investment in rural communities, 
                including by providing recommendations for changes in 
                formula funds or other existing funding distribution 
                patterns;
                    ``(D) to use innovation to resolve local and 
                regional transportation challenges faced by rural 
                communities;
                    ``(E) to promote and improve planning and 
                coordination among rural areas to maximize the unique 
                competitive advantage in those areas while avoiding 
                duplicative Federal, State, and local investments; and
                    ``(F) to ensure that all rural communities lacking 
                resources receive proactive outreach, education, and 
                technical assistance to improve access to Federal 
                transportation programs.
            ``(4) Duties of assistant secretary.--The Assistant 
        Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) provide information and outreach to rural 
                communities concerning the availability and eligibility 
                requirements of participating in programs of the 
                Department;
                    ``(B) help rural communities identify competitive 
                economic advantages and avoid duplicative 
                transportation investments in order to ensure continued 
                economic growth;
                    ``(C) serve as a resource for assisting rural 
                communities with respect to Federal transportation 
                programs;
                    ``(D) ensure and coordinate a routine rural 
                consultation on the development of policies, programs, 
                and activities of the Department;
                    ``(E) serve as an advocate within the Department on 
                behalf of rural communities; and
                    ``(F) work in coordination with the Department of 
                Agriculture, the Department of Health and Human 
                Services, the Department of Commerce, the Federal 
                Communications Commission, and other Federal agencies, 
                as the Secretary determines to be appropriate, in 
                carrying out the responsibilities of the Assistant 
                Secretary.
            ``(5) Contracts and agreements.--For the purpose of 
        carrying out the mission and goals of the Office under 
        paragraph (3) and the duties of the Assistant Secretary under 
        paragraph (4), the Assistant Secretary may enter into 
        contracts, cooperative agreements, and other agreements as 
        necessary, including with research centers, institutions of 
        higher education, States, units of local government, nonprofit 
        organizations, or a combination of any of those entities--
                    ``(A) to conduct research on transportation 
                investments that promote rural economic development;
                    ``(B) to solicit information in the development of 
                policy, programs, and activities of the Department that 
                can improve infrastructure investment and economic 
                development in rural areas;
                    ``(C) to develop educational and outreach 
                materials, including the conduct of workshops, courses, 
                and certified training for rural communities and 
                regions that can further the mission and goals of the 
                Office and the Department; and
                    ``(D) to carry out any other activities, as 
                determined by the Secretary to be appropriate.
            ``(6) Employees.--The Secretary shall ensure that not more 
        than 4 full-time equivalent employees are assigned to the 
        Office.
            ``(7) Applicability.--In carrying out the mission and goals 
        of the Office under paragraph (3) and the duties of the 
        Assistant Secretary under paragraph (4), the Assistant 
        Secretary shall consider as rural any area considered to be a 
        rural area under a Federal transportation program of the 
        Department.''.
            (2) Council on credit and finance.--Section 117(b)(1) of 
        title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
        the following:
                    ``(I) The Assistant Secretary for Rural Economic 
                Investment.''.
    (c) Reorganization Proposal.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation with the 
        relevant congressional committees, shall develop a proposed 
        reorganization of the functions of the Department to ensure 
        improved coordination and prioritization of programs and 
        services that promote rural infrastructure investment, 
        expansion, equity, and economic development.
            (2) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the 
        relevant congressional committees a report that describes the 
        proposed reorganization plan under paragraph (1).
    (d) Rural Consultation.--
            (1) Requirement.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the 
                date of enactment of this Act, each office and agency 
                within the Department shall develop and implement a 
                process to ensure meaningful and timely input from 
                rural stakeholders during the development of any 
                regulation, guidance, or policy that would have 
                substantial direct effects on 1 or more rural areas.
                    (B) Consultation.--To the maximum extent 
                practicable and in accordance with applicable Federal 
                law, an office or agency of the Department shall not 
                promulgate a regulation, issue guidance, or implement a 
                policy described in subparagraph (A) unless the office 
                or agency--
                            (i) consults with rural stakeholders before 
                        developing the proposed regulation;
                            (ii) publishes in the Federal Register a 
                        summary rural impact statement, which shall 
                        consist of--
                                    (I) a description of the 
                                consultation with rural stakeholders on 
                                the regulation, guidance, or policy;
                                    (II) a summary of any concerns 
                                raised by the rural stakeholders;
                                    (III) a description of the extent 
                                to which concerns referred to in 
                                subclause (II) have been alleviated; 
                                and
                                    (IV) a description of why the 
                                regulation, guidance, or policy is 
                                needed; and
                            (iii) submits to the Director of the Office 
                        of Management and Budget--
                                    (I) the summary rural impact 
                                statement described in clause (ii); and
                                    (II) on request of the Director, 
                                any written communications submitted to 
                                the office or agency from rural 
                                stakeholders.
            (2) Designation.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, each office and agency within the 
        Department shall designate an official within that office or 
        agency to serve as the official with principal responsibility 
        for the implementation of this subsection.
    (e) Advisory Committee.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a rural 
        transportation advisory council (referred to in this subsection 
        as the ``advisory council'') to consult with and advise the 
        Office of Rural Economic Investment.
            (2) Membership.--The Secretary shall appoint members to the 
        advisory council in a manner that ensures that the geographic 
        and economic diversity of rural regions of the United States 
        are represented.
            (3) Meetings.--The advisory council shall meet not less 
        than twice per year, as determined by the Secretary.
            (4) Duties.--The advisory council shall--
                    (A) advise the Office of Rural Economic Investment 
                on issues related to rural needs relating to Federal 
                transportation programs;
                    (B) develop recommendations for any changes to 
                Federal law, regulations, internal Department guidance, 
                or other measures that would eliminate barriers for 
                rural access or improve rural equity in transportation 
                investments;
                    (C) examine methods of maximizing the number of 
                opportunities for assistance for rural areas under 
                Federal transportation programs, including expanded 
                outreach and technical assistance;
                    (D) examine methods of encouraging 
                intergovernmental and local resource cooperation to 
                mitigate duplicative investments in key regions and 
                improve the efficiencies in the delivery of Federal 
                transportation programs;
                    (E) evaluate other methods of creating new 
                opportunities for rural regions; and
                    (F) address any other relevant issues as the 
                Secretary determines to be appropriate.
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