Regional Infrastructure Accelerator Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-2347
Sponsor: Rep. Torres, Norma J. [D-CA-35]
Introduced: 2017-05-03 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Aviation and airports
Border security and unlawful immigration
Congressional oversight
Dams and canals
Electric power generation and transmission
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Infrastructure development
Marine and inland water transportation
Navigation, waterways, harbors
Pipelines
Public contracts and procurement
Public transit
Railroads
Regional and metropolitan planning
Roads and highways
Solid waste and recycling
State and local government operations
Transportation programs funding
Water quality
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: 

Regional Infrastructure Accelerator Act of 2017

 
This bill authorizes the Department of the Treasury to establish a regional infrastructure accelerator (RIA) program to provide initial and subsequent grants to RIAs to facilitate investment in, and long-term financing of, economically viable covered infrastructure projects.
 
An &quot;RIA&quot; is defined as a multi-jurisdictional organization dedicated to providing technical assistance, financing options, and resources for covered infrastructure projects within the represented jurisdictions. A &quot;covered infrastructure project&quot; is defined as a project sponsored by a state, local, or regional public entity that involves the construction, consolidation, alteration, or repair of rail, bus, or public transportation facilities or equipment, highway facilities (including bridges and tunnels), airports, port or marine facilities and equipment, pipelines, inland waterways, intermodal facilities and equipment, water treatment and solid waste disposal facilities, storm water management systems, dams and levees, and facilities or equipment for energy transmission, distribution, or storage. 
From applications received, Treasury shall select five RIAs from geographically diverse regions to receive initial grants. An RIA shall use such a grant to:
 
 
 assess regional approaches for advancing innovative investment in covered infrastructure projects; 
 
 develop strategies for transparency in the analysis of such projects to ensure protection of the public interest, for the bundling of smaller scale and rural projects into larger covered infrastructure projects to facilitate transactions and investments, and for reducing transaction costs associated with investments in such projects; 
 
 facilitate the creation of a catalog of covered infrastructure projects available for investment; and 
 
 analyze and apply project procurement methods for covered infrastructure projects.
 
 
Treasury shall review final reports submitted by RIAs and select four of them to receive subsequent grants. A selected RIA shall use such subsequent grant to make subgrants to public entities for costs associated with a covered infrastructure project.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
action_date: 2017-05-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
action_date: 2017-05-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
action_date: 2017-05-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
action_date: 2017-05-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
action_date: 2017-05-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-05-03
text: Introduced in House