Economy in Motion: The National Multimodal and Sustainable Freight Infrastructure Act

Bill: 113-hr-5624
Sponsor: Rep. Lowenthal, Alan S. [D-CA-47]
Introduced: 2014-09-18 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Advisory bodies
Air quality
Aviation and airports
Canada
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Dams and canals
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Government trust funds
Latin America
Marine and inland water transportation
Mexico
Motor carriers
Navigation, waterways, harbors
Performance measurement
Railroads
Regional and metropolitan planning
Roads and highways
Sales and excise taxes
State and local government operations
Transportation programs funding
Transportation safety and security
Water quality
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2014-09-18
text: 
Economy in Motion: The National Multimodal and Sustainable Freight Infrastructure Act - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to: (1) establish a Multimodal Freight Funding Formula Program to distribute funds to states, and a National Freight Infrastructure Competitive Grant Program to make grants to entities for projects, to improve the efficiency and reliability of freight movement in the United States; (2) establish a multimodal national freight network to accomplish the goals of the national freight policy, including increasing the productivity and efficiency of the national freight system and improving its safety, security, and resilience; (3) develop, maintain, and post on the public website of the Department of Transportation (DOT) a national freight strategic plan that includes an assessment of the condition and performance of the national freight system; and (4) develop and improve tools to support an outcome-oriented, performance-based approach to evaluate proposed freight-related and other transportation projects.
 
Amends the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (or MAP-21) to: (1) expand the membership and duties of state freight advisory committees; and (2) require state freight plans to include strategies and goals to decrease greenhouse gas emissions, local air pollution, water runoff, and wildlife habitat loss. 
 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) impose a 1% excise tax upon taxable ground transportation of property (i.e., transportation by freight rail or transportation by commercial motor vehicle for a distance of more than 50 miles), and (2) deposit such tax revenues into a Freight Trust Fund (established by this Act) to finance the Multimodal Freight Funding Formula Program and the National Freight Infrastructure Competitive Grant Program. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-09-19
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
action_date: 2014-09-19
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
action_date: 2014-09-19
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
action_date: 2014-09-19
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
action_date: 2014-09-19
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
action_date: 2014-09-18
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: 2014-09-18
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: 2014-09-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2014-09-18
text: Introduced in House