Rebuild America Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-268
Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
Introduced: 2015-01-27 in the Senate
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Appropriations
Aviation and airports
Buy American requirements
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Dams and canals
Department of the Interior
Economic development
Educational facilities and institutions
Electric power generation and transmission
Employment and training programs
Energy efficiency and conservation
Executive agency funding and structure
Floods and storm protection
Government corporations and government-sponsored enterprises
Government lending and loan guarantees
Government trust funds
Income tax exclusion
Infrastructure development
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Marine and inland water transportation
Metals
Minority employment
National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak)
Navigation, waterways, harbors
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Public contracts and procurement
Railroads
Roads and highways
Rural conditions and development
Securities
State and local finance
Telephone and wireless communication
Transportation programs funding
Urban and suburban affairs and development
Wages and earnings
Water quality
Water resources funding
Water use and supply
Women's employment

Summary:
action_date: 2015-01-27
text: 

Rebuild America Act of 2015

 
Reduces the non-federal share of the cost of any activity funded by this Act by 50% of what it was before enactment of this Act.
 
Appropriates funds for FY2015-FY2022 to the Highway Trust Fund to improve roads, bridges, and other U.S. transportation infrastructure.
 
Appropriates funds for FY2015-FY2019: (1) for intercity high-speed rail service, (2) to provide credit assistance for surface transportation projects of national and regional significance, (3) to implement airport improvement and noise compatibility projects at public-use airports, (4) to the Federal Aviation Administration to accelerate deployment of satellite technology to improve airport safety and capacity, and (5) for the TIGER Discretionary Grant Program.
 
Appropriates funds for FY2015-FY2019 for water infrastructure, including to: (1) the Environmental Protection Agency for capitalization grants to states to establish water pollution control revolving funds and drinking water treatment revolving loan funds and for loans for large water infrastructure projects that are ineligible for funding from a state revolving loan fund; (2) the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to carry out the predisaster hazard mitigation program for minor localized flood reduction projects and major flood risk reduction projects; and (3) the Army Corps of Engineers for inland waterways projects, coastal harbors and channels, inland harbors, and dams and levees.
 
Appropriates funds for FY2015-FY2019 for the National Park Service.
 
Appropriates funds for FY2015-FY2019 for the Broadband Initiatives Program, the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, and the Department of Energy to modernize the electric grid.
 
Establishes the National Infrastructure Development Bank as a wholly owned government corporation.
 
Makes the Bank's Board of Directors responsible for monitoring and overseeing energy, environmental, telecommunications, data, or transportation infrastructure projects. Authorizes the Board to: 
 
 
make senior and subordinated loans and purchase senior and subordinated debt securities; 
 
issue and sell debt securities of the Bank; 
 
issue public benefit bonds and provide direct subsidies to infrastructure projects from the proceeds; 
 
make loan guarantees; 
 
borrow on the global capital market and lend to regional, state, and local entities, and commercial banks, to fund infrastructure projects; and 
 
purchase, pool, and sell infrastructure-related loans and securities on the global capital market. 

 
Requires the Board to establish: (1) an Executive Committee, a Risk Management Committee, and an Audit Committee; and (2) criteria for determining eligibility for financial assistance from the Bank and disclosure and application procedures for entities to nominate projects for such assistance. Requires the Bank to conduct an analysis that considers the economic, environmental, and social benefits and costs of each project under consideration, prioritizing projects that contribute to economic growth, lead to job creation, and are of regional or national significance. Sets forth criteria to be considered by the Board in determining the eligibility of transportation, environmental, energy, and telecommunications infrastructure projects for assistance.
 
Exempts all bonds issued by the Bank from state or local government taxation. Deems all debt securities and other obligations issued by the Bank to be exempt securities within the meaning of laws administered by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
Sets forth requirements regarding compliance of financed infrastructure projects with prevailing wage rate, domestic content, and buy American statutes. Authorizes appropriations for the capitalization of the Bank.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-01-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2015-01-27
text: Introduced in Senate