Invest in American Jobs Act of 2011

Bill: 112-hr-3533
Sponsor: Rep. Rahall, Nick J., II [D-WV-3]
Introduced: 2011-12-01 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Aviation and airports
Buy American requirements
Coast guard
Congressional oversight
Department of Commerce
Department of Defense
Department of Homeland Security
Department of Transportation
Disaster relief and insurance
Economic development
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government corporations and government-sponsored enterprises
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Infrastructure development
Manufacturing
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine and inland water transportation
Metals
Military education and training
National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak)
Public contracts and procurement
Public transit
Railroads
Roads and highways
Sanctions
Trade agreements and negotiations
Trade restrictions
Transportation programs funding
Water quality

Summary:
action_date: 2011-12-01
text: 
Invest in American Jobs Act of 2011 - Revises Buy American requirements with respect to federal-aid highways, capital investment grants to support intercity passenger rail service (rail grants), and Amtrak, particularly the handling of waiver requests.
 
Revises similar Buy American requirements with respect to public transportation, particularly rolling stock. Requires the cost of rolling stock components and subcomponents produced in the United States to increase from 60% in FY2012 by 10% annual increments up to 100% for FY2016 and ensuing fiscal years. Revises waiver requirements as well to mirror those for federal-aid highways.
 
Applies the rail grant Buy American requirements under this Act to recipients of rail loans and loan guarantees with respect to railroad rehabilitation and improvement.
 
Prescribes Buy American requirements for procurement of a facility or equipment under federal aviation programs similar to those for rolling stock.
 
Requires the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) to report annually to Congress on: (1) each project for which a waiver of Buy American requirements was issued; and (2) the country of origin and product specifications for steel, iron, or manufactured goods acquired pursuant to each waiver.
 
Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to prescribe Buy American requirements for steel, iron, and manufactured goods used in the construction of a publicly owned wastewater treatment works.
 
Adds similar Buy American requirements to the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, with respect to economic development programs, and to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, with respect to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
 
Declares that only a vessel owned by a U.S. citizen for which a certificate of documentation with a registry endorsement is issued may engage in support of exploration, development, or production of resources in, on, above, or below the exclusive economic zone (EEZ), or any other activity in the EEZ, to the extent that the regulation of such activity is not prohibited under customary international law. Exempts from this requirement any activities requiring either a coastwise endorsement or a fishery endorsement.
 
Subjects to U.S. shipping law any vessels operating in the EEZ, to the extent that the regulation of such operation is not prohibited under customary international law. 
Directs the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to establish a program to provide Coast Guard personnel with the training necessary for implementation of U.S. shipping law in the EEZ.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-01-12
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Domestic Monetary Policy and Technology.
action_date: 2011-12-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
action_date: 2011-12-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
action_date: 2011-12-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
action_date: 2011-12-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
action_date: 2011-12-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
action_date: 2011-12-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
action_date: 2011-12-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, 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: 2011-12-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, 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: 2011-12-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-12-01
text: Introduced in House