Rail Infrastructure Development and Expansion Act for the 21st Century

Bill: 109-hr-1631
Sponsor: Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large]
Introduced: 2005-04-14 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Air traffic
Alaska
Authorization
Collective bargaining
Department of Transportation
Economics and Public Finance
Electronic government information
Employee rights
Employee selection
Federal aid to transportation
Federally-guaranteed loans
Fees
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Government lending
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Government trust funds
Health
Highspeed ground transportation
Highway finance
Income tax
Industrial arbitration
Industrial relations
Infrastructure
Interest
Intermodal transportation
Internet
Interstate compacts
Joint ventures
Labor and Employment
Labor contracts
Law
Magnetic levitation vehicles
Maintenance and repair
Occupational health and safety
Railroad commuting traffic
Railroad employees
Railroad engineering
Railroad equipment
Railroad finance
Railroad freight operations
Railroad passenger traffic
Railroad safety
Railroad terminals
Railroads
Right-of-way
Science, Technology, Communications
Surety and fidelity
Tax credits
Tax exclusion
Tax-exempt securities
Taxation
Traffic congestion
Traffic signs and signals
User charges
Web sites

Summary:
action_date: 2005-04-14
text: 
Rail Infrastructure Development and Expansion Act for the 21st Century - Amends Federal rail transportation law to authorize the Secretary of Transportation to designate high-speed rail infrastructure bonds if: (1) the bonds are issued by a State, or one or more of the States that have entered into an interstate compact under the Amtrak Reform and Accountability Act of 1997, or by such compact; (2) they are for financing projects that make a substantial contribution to providing the infrastructure required to complete a railroad passenger transportation corridor for high-speed intercity rail passenger service, or for projects for the Alaska Railroad; (3) for a railroad passenger transportation corridor design that includes the use of freight railroad rights-of-way, a written agreement exists between the applicant and the freight railroad regarding such use and other conditions are met; (4) the corridor design eliminates all existing railroad grade crossings that would impede high-speed rail operations; (5) the applicant agrees to comply with certain labor standards with respect to such project; and (6) the applicant agrees not to pay the principal or interest on the bonds using funds derived directly or indirectly from the Highway Trust Fund, except as permitted by existing law. Excludes the interest on such bonds from an individual's gross income.
 
Requires any entity providing high-speed intercity passenger railroad transportation to negotiate over hiring and working conditions with the collective bargaining agent or agents of the employees of any existing rail passenger service it might be replacing.
 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow certain tax credits to holders of qualified high-speed rail infrastructure bonds. 
 
Makes corridor development activities (including the acquisition of locomotives, rolling stock, track, and signal equipment) eligible for Federal assistance. 
Amends specified Federal law to change from discretionary to mandatory the Secretary's authority to provide direct loans and loan guarantees for rail rehabilitation and improvement projects to State and local governments, interstate compacts, government sponsored authorities and corporations, railroads, and joint ventures that include at least one railroad.
action_date: 2005-11-18
text: 
Rail Infrastructure Development and Expansion Act for the 21st Century - (Sec. 2) Amends federal rail transportation law to authorize the Secretary of Transportation to designate high-speed rail infrastructure bonds if: (1) the bonds are issued by a state, or one or more of the states that have entered into an interstate compact under the Amtrak Reform and Accountability Act of 1997, or by such compact; (2) they are for financing projects that make a substantial contribution to providing the infrastructure required to complete a railroad passenger transportation corridor for high-speed intercity rail passenger service, or for projects for the Alaska Railroad; (3) for a railroad passenger transportation corridor design that includes the use of freight railroad rights-of-way, a written agreement exists between the applicant and the freight railroad regarding such use, and other conditions are met; (4) the corridor design eliminates all existing railway-highway grade crossings that would impede high-speed rail operations; (5) the applicant agrees to comply with certain labor standards with respect to such project; and (6) the applicant agrees not to pay the principal or interest on the bonds using funds derived directly or indirectly from the Highway Trust Fund, except as permitted by existing law. Limits the amount of such bonds to $1.2 billion for FY2006-FY2015.
 
Requires the issuer of bonds to report annually to the Secretary regarding the terms of outstanding designated bonds and the progress made with respect to the project financed by such bonds. Requires the Secretary to report annually to Congress on such reports and on the progress made toward completion of high-speed rail transportation corridors resulting from projects financed by the bonds.
 
Excludes the interest on such bonds from an individual's gross income.
 
Requires any entity providing high-speed intercity passenger railroad transportation to negotiate over hiring and working conditions with the collective bargaining agent or agents of the employees of any existing rail passenger service it might be replacing.
 
(Sec. 3) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow certain tax credits to holders of qualified high-speed rail infrastructure bonds. Treats the amount of the credit as interest and includible as gross income to the holder.
 
(Sec. 4) Makes high-speed rail corridor development activities (including the acquisition of locomotives, rolling stock, track, and signal equipment) eligible for federal assistance. 
Authorizes appropriations for FY2006-FY2013 for high-speed rail projects. 
(Sec. 5) Amends the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 to change from discretionary to mandatory the Secretary's authority to provide direct loans and loan guarantees for rail rehabilitation and improvement projects to state and local governments, interstate compacts, government sponsored authorities and corporations, railroads, and joint ventures that include at least one railroad. 
Increases the amount to be obligated for such loans and guarantees to $35 billion at any one time, including not less than $7 billion solely for projects primarily benefiting freight railroads other than Class I carriers. Sets forth certain conditions on such assistance.
action_date: 2006-02-03
text: 
Rail Infrastructure Development and Expansion Act for the 21st Century - Makes high-speed rail corridor development activities (including the acquisition of locomotives, rolling stock, track, and signal equipment) eligible for federal assistance. 
 
Authorizes appropriations for FY2006-FY2013 for high-speed rail projects. 
 Amends the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 to change from discretionary to mandatory the Secretary's authority to provide direct loans and loan guarantees for rail rehabilitation and improvement projects to state and local governments, interstate compacts, government sponsored authorities and corporations, railroads, and joint ventures that include at least one railroad. 
Increases the amount to be obligated for such loans and guarantees to $35 billion at any one time, including not less than $7 billion solely for projects primarily benefiting freight railroads other than Class I carriers. Sets forth certain conditions on such assistance.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-02-03
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 201.
action_date: 2006-02-03
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 109-314, Part II.
action_date: 2006-02-03
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 109-314, Part II.
action_date: 2006-02-01
text: Ordered to be Reported Without Recommendation (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2005-12-31
text: House Committee on Ways and Means Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than Feb. 3, 2006.
action_date: 2005-12-17
text: House Committee on Ways and Means Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than Dec. 31, 2005.
action_date: 2005-11-18
text: House Committee on Ways and Means Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than Dec. 17, 2005.
action_date: 2005-11-18
text: Reported by the Committee on Transportation. H. Rept. 109-314, Part I.
action_date: 2005-11-18
text: Reported by the Committee on Transportation. H. Rept. 109-314, Part I.
action_date: 2005-04-27
text: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2005-04-27
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2005-04-27
text: Subcommittee on Railroads Discharged.
action_date: 2005-04-15
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads.
action_date: 2005-04-14
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2005-04-14
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2005-04-14
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2005-04-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2005-04-14
text: Introduced in House