zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
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.

Date: 2014-09-18
Topic: Transportation (General)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Amends the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century to modify the description of a high priority project funded under such Act in California by replacing "constructing Arbor Vitae street improvements, Inglewood" with "constructing Imperial Highway street improvements designated by the city of Inglewood."

Date: 2014-09-18
Topic: Transportation (General)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Rebuild America Act - Expresses the sense of the Senate that Congress should:

 create jobs and support businesses while improving the nation's global competitiveness by modernizing and strengthening our national infrastructure; invest resources in transportation corridors that promote commerce and reduce congestion; update and enhance the U.S. network of rail, dams, and ports; develop innovative financing mechanisms for infrastructure to leverage federal funds with private sector partners; invest in critical infrastructure to reduce energy waste and bolster investment in clean energy jobs and industries; invest in clean energy technologies that help free the United States from its dependence on oil; eliminate wasteful tax subsidies that promote pollution and fail to reduce our reliance on foreign oil; spur innovation by facilitating the development of new cutting-edge broadband internet technology and improving internet access for all Americans; modernize, renovate, and repair elementary and secondary school buildings in order to support improved educational outcomes; invest in the nation's crumbling water infrastructure to protect public health and reduce pollution; upgrade and repair the nation's system of flood protection infrastructure to protect public safety; and invest in U.S. infrastructure to address vulnerabilities to natural disasters and the impacts of extreme weather.

Date: 2013-01-22
Topic: Transportation (General)
Subject: Economics and public finance
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase from $15 billion to $19 billion the national limitation amount for tax-exempt highway or surface freight transfer facility bonds.

Date: 2014-02-27
Topic: Transportation (General)
Subject: Taxation
Innovation in Surface Transportation Act of 2014 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation (DOT), in coordination with state transportation departments, to establish an innovation in surface transportation program.

Requires states to make competitive grants for innovative surface transportation projects to eligible entities, including local governments, metropolitan planning organizations, regional transportation authorities, transit agencies, tribal governments, private providers of public transportation, nonprofit transportation organizations, port authorities, joint power authorities, freight rail providers, and local rail authorities.

Requires each state (including the governor and state department of transportation) to establish an innovation in surface transportation selection panel to formulate criteria for selecting projects.

Requires a state to reserve certain percentages of federal funds apportioned for the national highway performance, the highway safety improvement, the congestion mitigation and air quality improvement, surface transportation, and transportation alternatives programs in order to fund related projects under state innovative surface transportation grants.

Authorizes a state to reserve a specified percentage of apportioned funds to meet rural local government requests to support development of project applications.

Date: 2014-09-18
Topic: Transportation (General)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Office of Planning for Future Intercity Transportation Act - Directs the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) to establish within the Office of the Secretary the Office of Planning for Future Intercity Transportation (Office), headed by the Assistant Secretary for Intercity Transportation Planning.

Requires the Office to be composed of:

 the Office of High-Speed Rail Policy, the Office of High-Speed Planning, and the Office of High-Speed Rail Operations and Safety. Requires the Assistant Secretary to oversee the planning, development, construction, financing, funding, and operation of high-speed rail in selected corridors throughout the United States.

Directs the Secretary to report to Congress the results of a feasibility study that identifies and prioritizes corridors that offer the best opportunity to provide point-to-point high-speed intercity passenger rail service.

Date: 2014-11-20
Topic: Transportation (General)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Freedom of Travel Act of 2015

 This bill prohibits the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from performing any security screening operations except: (1) screening passengers and property; and (2) prescribing standards for the employment of air carrier personnel and, as appropriate, airport security personnel. It nullifies any Act authorizing the TSA to perform any other security screening operations.

The Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 is amended to repeal the authority of the DHS Secretary, acting through the TSA Administrator, to develop Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response (VIPR) teams to augment security of public transportation.

Date: 2015-01-06
Topic: Transportation (General)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Multimodal Opportunities Via Enhanced Freight Act of 2015 or MOVE Freight Act of 2015

 Defines the "national freight network" as a network composed of highways, railways, navigable waterways, seaports, airports, freight intermodal connectors, and aerotropolis transportation systems most critical to the multimodal movement of freight.

Revises requirements for establishment and designation of a national freight network.

Directs the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) to establish a national freight network for efficient movement of freight on highways (as currently), railways, and navigable waterways, as well as into and out of inland ports, seaports, and airports.

Recharacterizes the primary freight network as multimodal, including critical rail corridors, critical intermodal connections, and critical inland port, seaport, and airport infrastructure.

Directs the Secretary to require (currently, encourage) states to develop state freight plans for immediate and long-range planning activities and investments with respect to freight. Requires states to coordinate with neighboring states to ensure multistate network continuity and connectivity.

Directs the Secretary to establish a competitive grant program for capital investment projects that improve the efficiency of the national transportation system to move freight.

Limits the federal share of project net capital costs to 80%.

Requires a grant recipient to submit to the Secretary: (1) a project management plan and an annual financial plan for a project with a total cost of $500 million or more, or (2) an annual financial plan for a project with a total cost of $100 million or more.

Date: 2015-01-07
Topic: Transportation (General)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Partnership to Build America Act of 2015

 Establishes the American Infrastructure Fund (AIF) as a wholly-owned government corporation to provide bond guarantees and make loans to state and local governments, non-profit infrastructure providers, private parties, and public-private partnerships for state or local government sponsored transportation, energy, water, communications, or educational facility infrastructure projects (Qualified Infrastructure Projects [QIPs]). Authorizes AIF also to make equity investments in QIPs.

Directs the Secretary of the Treasury, acting through the AIF, to issue American Infrastructure Bonds with an aggregate face value of $50 billion. Requires proceeds from the sale of the bonds to be deposited into the AIF.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow U.S. corporations to exclude from gross income qualified cash dividend amounts received during a taxable year from a foreign-controlled corporation equal to the face value of qualified infrastructure bonds the corporation has purchased.

Prohibits allowance of a foreign tax credit to the excluded portion of any dividend received by a U.S. corporation. Prohibits also the allowance of a deduction for expenses related to that excludable portion.

Date: 2015-01-20
Topic: Transportation (General)
Subject: Transportation and public works
State Transportation and Infrastructure Financing Innovation Act (STIFIA) 

 Revises and reauthorizes the state infrastructure bank program for FY2016-FY2020.

Date: 2015-02-02
Topic: Transportation (General)
Subject: Transportation and public works
National Freight Network Trust Fund Act of 2015

 Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish the National Freight Network Trust Fund, from which expenditures shall be made to fund awards under the National Freight Network Grant Program. Appropriates to the Fund amounts equivalent to 5% of the import duties imposed under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.

Establishes such Program in the Department of Transportation, under which the Secretary of Transportation shall make grants to states, regional or local transportation organizations, or port authorities to assist projects that improve the performance of the national freight network. Directs the Secretary to evaluate and select projects on a competitive basis by considering their potential to:

 generate national economic benefits, improve the performance of key corridors and gateways, reduce congestion, improve transportation safety, and enhance the network. Requires the Secretary to update the national freight network every five years.

Date: 2015-02-12
Topic: Transportation (General)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Safe And Fair Environment on Highways Achieved through Underwriting Levels Act of 2015 or SAFE HAUL Act of 2015

 Revises certain minimum financial responsibility requirements to increase from $750,000 to $4,532,550 the minimum level of financial responsibility sufficient to satisfy established liability coverage for motor carriers or motor private carriers providing property transportation. Requires the Secretary of Transportation to adjust such amount annually for inflation relating to medical care.

Date: 2015-02-13
Topic: Transportation (General)
Subject: Transportation and public works
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 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 truck trailer and semitrailer chassis and bodies, suitable for use with a trailer or semitrailer with a gross vehicle weight of 26,000 pounds or more), 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.

Date: 2015-03-04
Topic: Transportation (General)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Developing Roadway Infrastructure for a Vibrant Economy Act of 2015 or the DRIVE Act of 2015

 Amends the Internal Revenue Code to terminate, on September 30, 2015, the authority of the Department of Transportation (DOT) to make certain transfers to the Mass Transit Account. Directs DOT to transfer, on October 1, 2015, all amounts in the Mass Transit Account to the Highway Account.

Repeals:

 the transportation alternatives program; the prohibition against approval of federal-aid highway projects or regulatory actions that will result in the severance of an existing major route or have significant adverse impact on the safety for nonmotorized transportation traffic and light motorcycles, unless the project or action provides for a reasonable alternative route or such a route exists; the authorization for states to use certain funds for construction of pedestrian walkways and bicycle transportation facilities; and the requirement that a state set-aside a specified amount of its apportionment of surface transportation program funds for off-system bridges (those not on a federal-aid highway). Defines "transportation alternatives" as any of the following activities when carried out as part of an authorized or funded federal-aid highway program or project, or as an independent program or project related to surface transportation for the construction, planning, and design of: (1) transportation projects to achieve compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; or (2) infrastructure-related projects and systems that will provide safe routes for nondrivers, including children, older adults, and individuals with disabilities to access daily needs.

Eliminates the requirement that statewide transportation plans and statewide transportation improvement programs provide for the development of accessible pedestrian walkways and bicycle transportation facilities.

Date: 2015-03-19
Topic: Transportation (General)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Infrastructure Jobs and Energy Independence Act 

 Deems the Draft Proposed Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program 2017-2022 (Program) issued by the Secretary of the Interior to be approved as a final oil and gas leasing program under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, including the modifications to the Program as prescribed by this Act.

Includes the following additional areas within the Program: (1) the Chukchi Sea; (2) the Beaufort Sea; (3) Bristol Bay; (4) previously leased areas off the coast of Virginia; and (5) all other outer Continental Shelf planning areas estimated to contain over 5 billion barrels of oil, and more than 50 billion cubic feet of gas. Prohibits the President from excluding from oil and gas leasing any area included in the final oil and gas leasing program deemed approved under this Act. Deems the Secretary to have issued a final environmental impact statement for the Program under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.

Directs the Secretary to: (1) conduct a lease sale in each outer Continental Shelf (OCS) planning area for which there is a commercial interest in purchasing federal oil and gas production leases, (2) prepare an inventory of U.S. offshore energy resources, and (3) promulgate regulations governing the production of oil or gas resources of the OCS.

Authorizes the Secretary conduct commercial lease sales of OCS resources to produce renewable energy and cultivate marine organisms in their natural habitats.

Extends from three geographical miles to nine nautical miles the allowable seaward boundary of a coastal state.

Repeals the moratorium on oil and gas leasing in: (1) any area east of the Military Mission Line in the Gulf of Mexico, (2) any area in the Eastern Planning Area that is within 125 miles of the Florida coastline, and (3) specified areas within the Central Planning Area and within 100 miles of the Florida coastline.

Requires the Secretary to issue a final leasing plan for the Eastern Gulf of Mexico for all areas where there exists commercial interest in purchasing federal oil and gas leases for production.

Requires the Secretary of Energy to: (1) publish a plan to exchange a specified amount of light grade petroleum from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve for heavy grade petroleum plus additional cash bonus bids that reflect the difference in market value between light grade and heavy grade petroleum and the timing of deliveries of heavy grade petroleum, and (2) deposit 90% of the remaining net proceeds from the exchange into the Infrastructure Renewal Reserve.

Amends the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act to repeal the prohibition against leasing or other development leading to production of oil and gas from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Date: 2015-03-26
Topic: Transportation (General)
Subject: Energy
Safety, Efficiency, and Accountability in Transportation Projects Through Public Inspection Act of 2015

 Requires public employees to perform construction inspections on all surface transportation projects receiving federal funding.

Date: 2015-03-26
Topic: Transportation (General)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Improved Security Vetting for Aviation Workers Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 todirect the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), by December 31, 2015, in coordination with the DHS Assistant Secretary for Policy, to request from the Director of National Intelligence access to additional data from the Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment data and any or other terrorism-related information to improve the effectiveness of TSA's credential vetting program for individuals with unescorted access to sensitive areas of airports.

The TSA, by the same deadline, shall:

 issue guidance for Transportation Security Inspectors to review annually airport badging office procedures for applicants seeking access to sensitive airport areas, including a comprehensive review of applicants' Criminal History Records Check and work authorization documentation during the course of an inspection; issue guidance to airports requiring that all federalized airport badging authorities place an expiration date on airport credentials commensurate with the period of time during which an individual is lawfully authorized to work in the United States; and review the denial of credentials owing to an applicants's lawful status in order to identify airports with specific weaknesses and coordinate with them to address such weaknesses. The TSA may conduct a Rap Back Service pilot program, in coordination with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), to determine the feasibility of full implementation of a service through which the TSA would be notified of a change in status of an individual holding a valid credential granting unescorted access to sensitive airport areas across eligible TSA-regulated populations. (The FBI Rap Back Service notifies authorized agencies of criminal, and, in limited cases, civil activity of individuals that occurs after the initial processing and retention of criminal or civil transactions.)

Certain pilot program procedures are prescribed regarding notification only of a change with respect to a disqualifying offense under the credential vetting program.

(Sec. 3) The TSA, within 60 days after enactment of this Act, shall report to Congress on the status of plans to conduct the Rap Back Service pilot program.

Date: 2015-06-12
Topic: Transportation (General)
Subject: Transportation and public works
National Multimodal Freight Policy and Investment Act

This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to:

 establish a national multimodal freight network, a national multimodal freight advisory committee, and a freight investment grant program; and develop a national multimodal freight strategic plan. Each state receiving a freight investment grant shall also develop a freight investment plan and establish a state freight advisory committee.

The bill establishes in DOT an Office of Freight Planning, Permitting, and Development.

DOT shall establish a competitive capital grant program to provide financial assistance to states, metropolitan planning organizations, regional or local transportation authorities, tribal governments, and other entities for:

 shortline or regional railroad infrastructure improvement projects, and highway-rail vertical grade separation projects.

Date: 2015-07-29
Topic: Transportation (General)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Connected Transportation Research and Innovation Act of 2015

This bill reauthorizes through FY2021 highway research and development, including highway safety, technology and innovation deployment, training and education, and intelligent transportation systems.

After receiving a 5.9 GHz Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure device, the Department of Transportation (DOT) shall test it to examine the possibility of interference with safety-related vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure applications.

DOT shall:

 research, develop, and test automated vehicle systems; promote the research, development, and demonstration of user-based alternative revenue mechanisms that preserve a user fee structure to maintain the long-term solvency of the Highway Trust Fund; and establish and lead a Surface Transportation Revenue Alternatives Advisory Council to inform the selection and evaluation of such mechanisms. The bill reauthorizes through FY2021 the university transportation centers program, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the National Cooperative Rail Research Program, hazardous materials research and development, the advanced transportation research and innovation program, the National Cooperative Freight Transportation Research Program, and the rail cooperative research program.

The bill also increases the amount of grants for national, regional university, and tier 1 university transportation centers.

DOT shall:

 examine opportunities for federal and state participation and investment in international transportation research collaborations, and establish the Advanced Transportation Research and Innovation Program. The bill cites eligible public transportation workforce development programs.

DOT shall establish:

 a hazardous materials transport cooperative research program, and a multimodal national cooperative freight transportation research program. The Office of the Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Research and Technology shall study digital technologies and information technologies (smart cities transportation planning), including shared mobility, data, transportation network companies, and on-demand transportation services.

Date: 2015-09-09
Topic: Transportation (General)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Public-Private Partnership Infrastructure Investment Act

This bill requires the senior procurement executive of the Department of Transportation to enhance the services of the Office of Contracts and Procurement by: (1) working with modal agencies, states, and other grant recipients on implementing design-bid-build, design-build, and public-private partnerships (P3) procurement best practices, including model contracts; and (2) developing suggested best practices to encourage standardizing state P3 authorities and practices, including fair and balanced assumptions made in the calculations, consistency on unsolicited bids, non-compete clauses, and other major elements.

Date: 2015-09-09
Topic: Transportation (General)
Subject: Transportation and public works
The Metropolitan Planning Enhancement Act

This bill requires that projects, especially the highest performing projects, included in an adopted metropolitan area transportation plan be selected through a publicly available transparent process using criteria that directly support specified factors, national transportation goals, and applicable state transportation goals.

Projects included in the priority list for a metropolitan transportation improvement program (TIP) shall come from the highest performing category of projects identified in the transportation plan; and if a lower-categorized project is prioritized before a higher-categorized project, a public description explaining why must be included in the list.

These same requirements shall apply to a long-range statewide transportation plan as well as a statewide TIP.

Date: 2015-10-21
Topic: Transportation (General)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Intelligent Technologies Initiative Act of 2015

This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish an Intelligent Technology Initiative to provide grants to up to six state and local governments to establish deployment sites for large scale installation and operation of intelligent transportation systems (ITS) to improve safety, efficiency, system performance, and return on investment.

DOT shall develop criteria for selecting grant recipients, including how the deployment of technology will enable the recipient to:

 reduce costs and improve return on investments; deliver environmental benefits and reduce energy consumption by alleviating congestion and streamlining traffic flow; measure and improve the operational performance of its transportation network; reduce the number and severity of traffic collisions and increase driver, passenger, and pedestrian safety; collect, disseminate, and utilize real-time traffic, transit, parking, and other transportation-related information to improve mobility, reduce congestion, and provide for more efficient and accessible transportation alternatives; monitor transportation assets to improve infrastructure management, reduce maintenance costs, prioritize investment decisions, and ensure a state of good repair; and deliver economic benefits by reducing delays, improving system performance, and providing for the efficient and reliable movement of goods and services. A grant application must include:

 a plan to deploy and provide for the long-term operation and maintenance of ITS to improve safety, efficiency, system performance, and return on investment; quantifiable system performance improvements; quantifiable safety, mobility, and environmental benefit projections; a plan for partnering with the private sector, public agencies, research institutions, organizations representing transportation and technology leaders, and other transportation stakeholders; a plan to leverage and optimize existing local and regional ITS investments; and a plan to ensure interoperability of deployed technologies with other tolling, traffic management, and ITS. Recipient may use grant funds to deploy, operate, and maintain specified ITS and ITS-enabled operational strategies.

The bill requires DOT to report on the effectiveness of grant recipients in meeting their projected deployment plans.

Date: 2015-10-23
Topic: Transportation (General)
Subject: Transportation and public works
TIFIA 2.0 Act 

 This bill amends the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) to revise the Department of Transportation (DOT) TIFIA program of direct loans, loan guarantees, and credit for surface transportation projects.

A TIFIA Revolving Fund is established in the Treasury.

A set-aside of up to 10% of Fund amounts is required for rural infrastructure projects (as similarly required in current funding law).

The DOT is directed to transfer from the Fund to the general fund of the Treasury amounts equal to moneys deposited in the Fund as a result of the repayment of principal and interest on direct loans for transportation infrastructure projects before enactment of this Act.

Project eligibility requirements are revised.

Date: 2015-11-19
Topic: Transportation (General)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Transportation Megaprojects Accountability and Oversight Act of 2015

This bill requires a recipient of federal financial assistance under National Highway System provisions for a megaproject (a project that has an estimated total cost of $2.5 billion or more and such other projects as may be identified by the Department of Transportation [DOT]), in order to be authorized for construction, to submit to DOT a comprehensive risk management plan that contains:

 a description of the process by which the recipient will identify, quantify, and monitor the risks that might result in cost overruns, project delays, reduced construction quality, or reductions in benefits; examples of mechanisms the recipient will use to track such risks; a plan to control such risks; and assurances that the recipient will regularly submit updated cost estimates and maintain and regularly reassess financial reserves for addressing risks. A recipient also must establish a peer review group to give expert advice on the scientific, technical, and project management aspects of the project. Each peer review group must:

 meet annually until the project is completed; review the project within 90 days after any significant change in its scope, schedule, or budget; and report on the findings of each review to DOT, Congress, and the recipient. Each recipient must publish such report on its website, along with the name, license number, and license type of each engineer supervising an aspect of the project.

Date: 2015-12-10
Topic: Transportation (General)
Subject: Transportation and public works
This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to require all railroad carriers to establish and implement a fatigue management plan that identifies and evaluates any fatigue-related railroad safety hazards on its system and determine the degree of risk associated with each hazard.

DOT shall ensure that railroad carriers provide their employees with predictable work and rest schedules that have either a defined start time or a minimum of 10 hours prior notification before being required to report to duty.

A compromise of a civil penalty for violations of railroad safety regulations or orders may not reduce the minimum federal penalties set for such violations.

DOT shall impose a penalty for a violation at least 30 days after its occurrence without regard to any correction of the violation by the liable party.

The bill revises standards for the installation of inward- and outward-facing imaging recording devices in all controlling locomotive cabs and cab car operating compartments of intercity rail passenger and commuter rail passenger trains.

An in-cab audio or image recording obtained by a railroad carrier may not be used to discipline or be used in an Federal Railroad Administration enforcement proceeding against a railroad employee.

Each freight rail service carrier may voluntarily install DOT-approved inward- or outward-facing image recording devices in their trains.

Date: 2016-07-14
Topic: Transportation (General)
Subject: Transportation and public works
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House passed version is repeated here.)

(Sec. 1) This bill declares that an airport owner or operator who renews a covered lease shall not be treated as violating that owner's or operator's written airport improvement project grant assurance requirement to maintain a schedule of airport passenger user charges that will make the airport as self-sustaining as possible under existing circumstances.

The bill defines "covered lease" to mean a lease:

 already existing before enactment of this bill, in which a nominal lease rate is provided, under which the lessee is a federal or state government entity, and that supports the operation of Air Force or Air National Guard aircraft at the airport or remotely from the airport.

Date: 2016-09-07
Topic: Transportation (General)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Freight Infrastructure Reinvestment Act of 2016

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a 1% tax on certain ground transportation of property within the United States.

In addition, the bill establishes: (1) a National Freight Mobility Infrastructure Fund, consisting of amounts equivalent to taxes received under the bill; and (2) a National Freight Mobility Infrastructure Improvement Program, through which the Department of Transportation is authorized to make competitive grants for eligible costs associated with projects to improve freight mobility.

Date: 2016-09-27
Topic: Transportation (General)
Subject: Transportation and public works
This bill revises the term "urbanized area" with respect to public transportation improvement projects to also treat areas as an urbanized area if the Department of Commerce determines that:

 the area was designated in a previous decennial census as an urbanized area, the area was not designated in the most recent decennial census as an urbanized area as the result of a natural disaster that caused the area's population to fall below 50,000 people, and the most recent annual estimate of the Bureau of the Census estimates the area's population to be restored to 50,000 or more people.

Date: 2016-11-17
Topic: Transportation (General)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Local Transportation Infrastructure Act

Revises and reauthorizes the state infrastructure bank program for FY2015 and FY2016.

Date: 2015-01-21
Topic: Transportation (General)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Pay Our Coast Guard Act 

This bill provides FY2015 appropriations to the Coast Guard for any period during which FY2015 appropriations are not in effect. The appropriations are provided to the Coast Guard for:

 pay and allowances for members of the Coast Guard, civilian employees, and contractors; and the payment of a death gratuity, funeral travel, and the temporary continuation of the basic allowance for housing for dependents of members of the Coast Guard dying on active duty. The appropriations are provided until the enactment of specified appropriations legislation or January 1, 2016.

Date: 2015-02-24
Topic: Transportation (General)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Innovation in Surface Transportation Act of 2015

 Directs the Secretary of Transportation, in coordination with state transportation departments, to establish an innovation in surface transportation program.

Requires states to make competitive grants for innovative surface transportation projects to eligible entities, including local governments, metropolitan planning organizations, regional transportation authorities, transit agencies, tribal governments, private providers of public transportation, nonprofit transportation organizations, port authorities, joint power authorities, freight rail providers, and local rail authorities.

Requires each state (including the governor and state department of transportation) to establish an innovation in surface transportation selection panel to formulate criteria for selecting projects.

Requires a state to reserve certain percentages of federal funds apportioned for the national highway performance, the highway safety improvement, the congestion mitigation and air quality improvement, surface transportation, and transportation alternatives programs in order to fund related projects under state innovative surface transportation grants.

Authorizes states to reserve a certain percentage of such funds for a fiscal year to meet specific requests for project application support from eligible rural local governments.

Date: 2015-03-17
Topic: Transportation (General)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Track, Railroad, and Infrastructure Network Act

This bill exempts improvements to, maintenance, rehabilitation, or operation of railroad or rail transit lines (but not stations) that are in use or were historically used for the transportation of goods or passengers from federal policies and requirements for the preservation of public park and recreation lands, wildlife and waterfowl refuges, and historic sites. This permits such activities without the necessity to: (1) demonstrate there is no feasible and prudent alternative to the use of such land, and (2) plan to minimize harm to a historic site.

The Secretary of Transportation (DOT) may make a finding of de minimis impact on such preservation as a result of mitigation undertaken pursuant to a review of a transportation program or project pursuant to the National Historic Preservation Act.

Any rail project that requires DOT approval shall be subject to specified environmental project development procedures.

Any environmental impact statement, categorical exclusion, or other decision relating to a transportation project that is issued by a DOT agency under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 shall be available to any rail project to which that statement, exclusion, or decision reasonably applies.

Date: 2015-03-18
Topic: Transportation (General)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Jurassic Pork Act 

This bill rescinds unused earmarks previously appropriated to the Department of Transportation (DOT) and transfers the balances to the Highway Trust Fund.

Under the House and Senate rules, an earmark is a provision or report language included primarily at the request of a Member of Congress providing, authorizing, or recommending a specific amount of discretionary budget authority, credit authority, or other spending authority for a contract, loan, loan guarantee, grant, loan authority, or other expenditure with or to an entity, or targeted to a specific state, locality or congressional district, other than through a statutory or administrative formula-driven or competitive award process.

Under this bill, earmarks provided to DOT are unused and rescinded if more than 90% of the funding remains available for obligation at the end of the 9th fiscal year following the year the earmark was made available. DOT may delay the rescission if it determines that an additional obligation is likely to occur during the 10th year after funds were made available.

The bill requires each federal agency to submit an annual report to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) identifying: (1) each earmark for a project that is ineligible for funding, (2) projects for which funding has been made available under an earmark, and (3) projects with unobligated balances.

OMB must submit to Congress and post on its website an annual report including an accounting of unobligated earmarks, rescissions resulting from this bill, and DOT earmarks scheduled to be rescinded.

Date: 2015-06-10
Topic: Transportation (General)
Subject: Economics and public finance
National Multimodal Freight Policy and Investment Act

This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to:

 establish a national multimodal freight network, a national multimodal freight advisory committee, and a freight investment grant program; and develop a national multimodal freight strategic plan. Each state receiving a freight investment grant shall also develop a freight investment plan and establish a state freight advisory committee.

The bill establishes in DOT an Office of Freight Planning, Permitting, and Development.

DOT shall establish a competitive capital grant program to provide financial assistance to states, metropolitan planning organizations, regional or local transportation authorities, tribal governments, and other entities for:

 shortline or regional railroad infrastructure improvement projects, and highway-rail vertical grade separation projects.

Date: 2015-06-25
Topic: Transportation (General)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 2015

This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to:

 promulgate regulations establishing categories of early warning motor vehicle safety information, especially about fatal incidents, that must be made available to the public; and take specified steps to improve public accessibility to information on vehicle safety databases of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The DOT Inspector General shall report biennially on the pre-investigation processes of the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation to collect and analyze vehicle safety data and determine potential safety issues.

DOT shall report on the operations of the Council for Vehicle Electronics, Vehicle Software, and Emerging Technologies.

The bill increases civil money penalties for motor vehicle safety violations, and establishes both civil and criminal penalties for knowing failure of a business entity or responsible corporate officer to inform an appropriate federal agency of a serious danger associated with covered products, services, or business practices.

In conducting motor vehicle safety research programs, DOT shall, in coordination with Department of State, enter into cooperative and collaborative research and development agreements with foreign governments.

DOT must immediately notify and order motor vehicle or replacement equipment manufacturers of defects or noncompliance presenting an imminent hazard.

No dealer may sell or lease a used passenger motor vehicle until any defect or noncompliance presenting an imminent hazard has been remedied.

DOT shall:

 complete research into development of an unattended children warning system, initiate a rulemaking to require crash avoidance and mitigation systems for certain motor vehicles, and issue a final rule establishing hood and bumper standards for certain other motor vehicles to reduce the pedestrian injuries and fatalities. The bill reauthorizes motor vehicle safety regulation through FY2021.

A manufacturer's recall obligations shall be enforceable against the manufacturer or successors-in-interest whether accomplished by merger, acquisition of the manufacturer's stock, acquisition of its assets, or confirmation of a reorganization plan under federal bankruptcy law.

Dealers must check for and remedy defective or noncomplying motor vehicles.

DOT shall initiate a rulemaking, establish grants to states, and conduct a pilot program relating to safety recalls.

Date: 2015-07-09
Topic: Transportation (General)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Transportation Infrastructure Grants and Economic Reinvestment Act

The bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish a program under which DOT shall provide competitive grants of between $10 million and $200 million to the District of Columbia, to a state, Indian tribe, U.S. territory, local government, port authority, metropolitan planning organization, transit agency, or another political subdivision of a state or local government, or to two or more of such entities working in collaboration, for eligible transportation projects (including highway or bridge, public transportation, passenger or freight rail transportation, and port infrastructure or intermodal projects) that would have a significant beneficial impact on a state, metropolitan area, or region or the United States.

DOT, in providing such grants, must: (1) ensure an equitable geographical distribution of funds, an appropriate balance in addressing the needs of urban and rural areas, and investment in a variety of transportation modes; and (2) give priority to eligible projects that require a contribution of federal funds to complete an overall financing package.

The bill sets forth primary and secondary criteria for selecting eligible projects.

The bill: (1) limits to 25% the amount of grant funds that may be provided to any state, (2) requires at least 20% of grant funds to be provided for eligible projects located in rural areas, and (3) allows up to 20% of the funds authorized to carry out this Act to be used to pay the subsidy and administrative costs of projects eligible for federal credit assistance under the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act upon determining that such use of funds would advance the purposes of this Act.

Date: 2015-07-09
Topic: Transportation (General)
Subject: Transportation and public works
(Sec.1)This bill revises the requirements of the U.S. Coast Guard's alternate safety compliance program for certain fishing vessels.

Specifically, the bill delays the date when vessels must comply with the program. Vessels must comply by the later of January 1, 2021, or the end of the three-year period after the Coast Guard issues a final rule establishing the program.The bill also requires vessels that are built before July 1, 2012, to comply with the program. Currently, vessels built before July 1, 2013, must comply.Additionally, a vessel built before July 1, 2012 that undergoes a major conversion after such date must comply with the program.

If the requirements of the program change after establishment, the Coast Guard must provide at least a three-year grace period for vessels to be in compliance with such requirements.

(Sec. 2) The Coast Guard must: (1) publish and disseminate a policy to standardize coordination, outreach, and design of the alternate safety compliance program; and (2) publish a public memorandum for the fishing, shipbuilding, and maritime industry and the public including guidance, timelines, and opportunities for public engagement.

(Sec. 4) The Coast Guard must report to Congress by June 1, 2018, on the progress of the design and implementation of the alternate safety compliance program.

Date: 2016-06-23
Topic: Transportation (General)
Subject: Transportation and public works