[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1732 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1732

  To authorize elements of the Department of Transportation, and for 
                            other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              July 9, 2015

  Mr. Thune (for himself, Mrs. Fischer, and Mr. Moran) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                 Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To authorize elements of the Department of Transportation, and for 
                            other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS; REFERENCES.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Comprehensive 
Transportation and Consumer Protection Act of 2015''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents; references.
Sec. 2. Definition of Secretary.
                    TITLE I--OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

               Subtitle A--Accelerating Project Delivery

Sec. 1101. Delegation of authority.
Sec. 1102. Infrastructure Permitting Improvement Center.
Sec. 1103. Accelerated decisionmaking in environmental reviews.
Sec. 1104. Environmental review alignment and reform.
Sec. 1105. Multimodal categorical exclusions.
Sec. 1106. Improving transparency in environmental reviews.
                          Subtitle B--Freight

Sec. 1201. Establishment of freight chapter.
Sec. 1202. National multimodal freight policy.
Sec. 1203. National multimodal freight network.
Sec. 1204. National Freight Strategic Plan.
Sec. 1205. State freight plans.
Sec. 1206. Freight investment grants.
Sec. 1207. Reports.
Sec. 1208. Repeals.
Sec. 1209. Savings provision.
                          Subtitle C--Research

Sec. 1301. Findings.
Sec. 1302. Modal research plans.
Sec. 1303. Consolidated research prospectus and strategic plan.
Sec. 1304. Research Ombudsman.
Sec. 1305. Smart cities transportation planning study.
Sec. 1306. Bureau of Transportation Statistics independence.
Sec. 1307. Conforming amendments.
Sec. 1308. Repeal of obsolete office.
                    Subtitle D--Port Performance Act

Sec. 1401. Short title.
Sec. 1402. Findings.
Sec. 1403. Port performance freight statistics program.
Sec. 1404. Monthly reports on performance at United States ports.
         TITLE II--COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE AND DRIVER PROGRAMS

       Subtitle A--Compliance, Safety, and Accountability Reform

             Part I--Compliance, Safety, and Accountability

Sec. 2001. Correlation study.
Sec. 2002. Safety improvement metrics.
Sec. 2003. Data certification.
Sec. 2004. Data improvement.
Sec. 2005. Accident report information.
Sec. 2006. Post-accident report review.
Sec. 2007. Recognizing excellence in safety.
Sec. 2008. High risk carrier reviews.
                    Part II--Interim Hiring Standard

Sec. 2101. Definitions.
Sec. 2102. National hiring standards for motor carriers.
Sec. 2103. Applicability.
          Subtitle B--Drug Free Commercial Driver Act of 2015

Sec. 2201. Short title.
Sec. 2202. Authorization of hair testing.
Sec. 2203. Exemption from mandatory urinalysis.
Sec. 2204. Guidelines for hair testing.
Sec. 2205. Annual report to Congress.
              Subtitle C--Transparency and Accountability

Sec. 2301. Rulemaking requirements.
Sec. 2302. Petitions for regulatory relief.
Sec. 2303. Inspector standards.
Sec. 2304. Technology improvements.
  Subtitle D--Trucking Rules Updated by Comprehensive and Key Safety 
                                 Reform

Sec. 2401. Update on statutory requirements.
Sec. 2402. Statutory rulemaking.
Sec. 2403. Guidance reform.
Sec. 2404. Petitions.
Sec. 2405. Regulatory reform.
                     Subtitle E--State Authorities

Sec. 2501. Emergency route working group.
Sec. 2502. Additional State authority.
Sec. 2503. Commercial driver access.
          Subtitle F--Motor Carrier Safety Grant Consolidation

Sec. 2601. Definitions.
Sec. 2602. Grants to States.
Sec. 2603. New entrant safety review program study.
Sec. 2604. Performance and registration information systems management.
Sec. 2605. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 2606. Commercial driver's license program implementation.
Sec. 2607. Extension of Federal motor carrier safety programs for 
                            fiscal year 2016.
Sec. 2608. Motor carrier safety assistance program allocation.
Sec. 2609. Maintenance of effort calculation.
                  Subtitle G--Miscellaneous Provisions

Sec. 2701. Windshield technology.
Sec. 2702. Electronic logging devices requirements.
Sec. 2703. Lapse of required financial security; suspension of 
                            registration.
Sec. 2704. Access to National Driver Register.
Sec. 2705. Study on commercial motor vehicle driver commuting.
Sec. 2706. Household goods consumer protection working group.
                     TITLE III--HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

Sec. 3101. Endorsements.
Sec. 3102. Enhanced reporting.
Sec. 3103. Hazardous material information.
Sec. 3104. Hazardous materials training requirements and grants.
Sec. 3105. National emergency and disaster response.
Sec. 3106. Authorization of appropriations.
               TITLE IV--HIGHWAY AND MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY

                   Subtitle A--Highway Traffic Safety

                         Part I--Highway Safety

Sec. 4101. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 4102. Highway safety programs.
Sec. 4103. Grants for alcohol-ignition interlock laws and 24-7 sobriety 
                            programs.
Sec. 4104. Study on the national roadside survey of alcohol and drug 
                            use by drivers.
            Part II--Stop Motorcycle Checkpoint Funding Act

Sec. 4121. Short title.
Sec. 4122. Grant restriction.
             Part III--Improving Driver Safety Act of 2015

Sec. 4131. Short title.
Sec. 4132. Distracted driving incentive grants.
Sec. 4133. Barriers to data collection report.
              Part IV--Technical and Conforming Amendments

Sec. 4141. Technical corrections to the Motor Vehicle and Highway 
                            Safety Improvement Act of 2012.
                       Subtitle B--Vehicle Safety

Sec. 4201. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 4202. Inspector General recommendations.
Sec. 4203. Improvements in availability of recall information.
Sec. 4204. Recall process.
Sec. 4205. Pilot grant program for State notification to consumers of 
                            motor vehicle recall status.
Sec. 4206. Recall obligations under bankruptcy.
Sec. 4207. Dealer requirement to check for open recall.
Sec. 4208. Extension of time period for remedy of tire defects.
Sec. 4209. Rental car safety.
Sec. 4210. Motor vehicle equipment.
Sec. 4211. Transfer to Highway Trust Fund of certain motor vehicle 
                            safety penalties.
      Subtitle C--Research and Development and Vehicle Electronics

Sec. 4301. Report on operations of the Council for Vehicle Electronics, 
                            Vehicle Software, and Emerging 
                            Technologies.
Sec. 4302. Cooperation with foreign governments.
                  Subtitle D--Miscellaneous Provisions

                   Part I--Driver Privacy Act of 2015

Sec. 4401. Short title.
Sec. 4402. Limitations on data retrieval from vehicle event data 
                            recorders.
Sec. 4403. Vehicle event data recorder study.
         Part II--Safety Through Informed Consumers Act of 2015

Sec. 4421. Short title.
Sec. 4422. Passenger motor vehicle information.
         TITLE V--RAILROAD REFORM, ENHANCEMENT, AND EFFICIENCY

Sec. 5001. Passenger transportation; definitions.
              Subtitle A--Authorization of Appropriations

Sec. 5101. Authorization of grants to Amtrak.
Sec. 5102. National infrastructure and safety investments.
Sec. 5103. Authorization of appropriations for National Transportation 
                            Safety Board rail investigations.
Sec. 5104. Authorization of appropriations for Amtrak Office of 
                            Inspector General.
Sec. 5105. National cooperative rail research program.
                       Subtitle B--Amtrak Reform

Sec. 5201. Amtrak grant process.
Sec. 5202. 5-year business line and assets plans.
Sec. 5203. State-supported route committee.
Sec. 5204. Route and service planning decisions.
Sec. 5205. Competition.
Sec. 5206. Rolling stock purchases.
Sec. 5207. Food and beverage policy.
Sec. 5208. Local products and promotional events.
Sec. 5209. Right-of-way leveraging.
Sec. 5210. Station development.
Sec. 5211. Amtrak debt.
Sec. 5212. Amtrak pilot program for passengers transporting 
                            domesticated cats and dogs.
Sec. 5213. Amtrak board of directors.
              Subtitle C--Intercity Passenger Rail Policy

Sec. 5301. Competitive operating grants.
Sec. 5302. Federal-State partnership for state-of-good-repair.
Sec. 5303. Large capital project requirements.
Sec. 5304. Small business participation study.
Sec. 5305. Gulf coast rail service working group.
Sec. 5306. Integrated passenger rail working group.
Sec. 5307. Shared-use study.
Sec. 5308. Northeast Corridor Commission.
Sec. 5309. Northeast Corridor through-ticketing and procurement 
                            efficiencies.
Sec. 5310. Data and analysis.
Sec. 5311. Disaster relief.
Sec. 5312. Performance-based proposals.
Sec. 5313. Amtrak Inspector General.
Sec. 5314. Miscellaneous provisions.
                        Subtitle D--Rail Safety

                       Part I--Safety Improvement

Sec. 5401. Highway-rail grade crossing safety.
Sec. 5402. Confidential close call reporting system.
Sec. 5403. Speed limit action plans.
Sec. 5404. Signage.
Sec. 5405. Alerters.
Sec. 5406. Signal protection.
Sec. 5407. Technology implementation plans.
Sec. 5408. Commuter rail track inspections.
Sec. 5409. Emergency response.
Sec. 5410. Private highway-rail grade crossings.
Sec. 5411. Repair and replacement of damaged track inspection 
                            equipment.
Sec. 5412. Rail police officers.
Sec. 5413. Operation deep dive; report.
Sec. 5414. Post-accident assessment.
Sec. 5415. Technical and conforming amendments.
   Part II--Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements

Sec. 5421. Consolidated rail infrastructure and safety improvements.
     Part III--Hazardous Materials by Rail Safety and Other Safety 
                              Enhancements

Sec. 5431. Real-time emergency response information.
Sec. 5432. Thermal blankets.
Sec. 5433. Comprehensive oil spill response plans.
Sec. 5434. Hazardous materials by rail liability study.
Sec. 5435. Study and testing of electronically controlled pneumatic 
                            brakes.
Sec. 5436. Recording devices.
Sec. 5437. Rail passenger transportation liability.
Sec. 5438. Modification reporting.
                    Part IV--Positive Train Control

Sec. 5441. Coordination of spectrum.
Sec. 5442. Updated plans.
Sec. 5443. Early adoption and interoperability.
Sec. 5444. Positive train control at grade crossings effectiveness 
                            study.
                      Subtitle E--Project Delivery

Sec. 5501. Short title.
Sec. 5502. Preservation of public lands.
Sec. 5503. Efficient environmental reviews.
Sec. 5504. Advance acquisition.
Sec. 5505. Railroad rights-of-way.
Sec. 5506. Improving State and Federal agency engagement in 
                            environmental reviews.
Sec. 5507. Savings clause.
Sec. 5508. Transition.
                         Subtitle F--Financing

Sec. 5601. Short title; references.
Sec. 5602. Definitions.
Sec. 5603. Eligible applicants.
Sec. 5604. Eligible purposes.
Sec. 5605. Program administration.
Sec. 5606. Loan terms and repayment.
Sec. 5607. Credit risk premiums.
Sec. 5608. Master credit agreements.
Sec. 5609. Priorities and conditions.
Sec. 5610. Savings provision.
    (c) References to Title 49, United States Code.--Except as 
otherwise expressly provided, wherever in this Act an amendment or 
repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a 
section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to be 
made to a section or other provision of title 49, United States Code.

SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF SECRETARY.

    In this Act, except as otherwise expressly provided, the term 
``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Transportation.

                    TITLE I--OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

               Subtitle A--Accelerating Project Delivery

SEC. 1101. DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 1 is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
``Sec. 116. Administrations; acting officers
    ``(a) In General.--Notwithstanding section 3346(a)(2) of title 5, a 
person may serve as an acting officer for an administration in the 
Department of Transportation under section 3345 of that title for the 
210-day period under section 3346(a)(1) of that title, which period may 
only be extended if a nomination for the office is received by the 
Senate. If the 210-day period under section 3346(a)(1) of title 5 
expires before a nomination for the office is received by the Senate, 
the Secretary of Transportation, notwithstanding section 3345 or 
subsections (b) and (c) of section 3348 of that title, shall 
successively designate, until a nomination for the office is received 
by the Senate, another officer or employee within the administration 
concerned to perform the functions and duties of the office temporarily 
in an acting capacity for no longer than 210 days. This section is a 
statutory provision to which section 3347(a)(1) of title 5 applies.
    ``(b) Termination of Authority.--Any authority delegated to a 
person while serving as an acting officer under subsection (a) shall 
terminate effective on the date that a nomination for that office is 
confirmed by the Senate or the date that another acting officer for 
that office is designated by the Secretary, as required by subsection 
(a), whichever is sooner.
    ``(c) Extra Pay Prohibited.--An officer or employee may not receive 
pay in addition to the pay for his or her regular office or employment 
for performing the functions and duties of an office temporarily under 
subsection (a).''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents for chapter 1 is 
amended by inserting after the item relating to section 115 the 
following:

``116. Administrations; acting officers.''.
    (c) Application.--The amendment under subsection (a) shall apply to 
any applicable office with a position designated for a Senate confirmed 
official.

SEC. 1102. INFRASTRUCTURE PERMITTING IMPROVEMENT CENTER.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter I of chapter 3, as amended by sections 
1104 and 1106 of this Act, is further amended by inserting after 
section 311 the following:
``Sec. 312. Interagency Infrastructure Permitting Improvement Center
    ``(a) In General.--There is established in the Office of the 
Secretary an Interagency Infrastructure Permitting Improvement Center 
(referred to in this section as the `Center').
    ``(b) Roles and Responsibilities.--
            ``(1) Governance.--The Center shall report to the chair of 
        the Steering Committee described in paragraph (2) to ensure 
        that the perspectives of all member agencies are represented.
            ``(2) Infrastructure permitting steering committee.--An 
        Infrastructure Permitting Steering Committee (referred to in 
        this section as the `Steering Committee') is established to 
        oversee the work of the Center. The Steering Committee shall be 
        chaired by the Federal Chief Performance Officer in 
        consultation with the Chair of the Council on Environmental 
        Quality and shall be comprised of Deputy-level representatives 
        from the following departments and agencies:
                    ``(A) The Department of Defense.
                    ``(B) The Department of the Interior.
                    ``(C) The Department of Agriculture.
                    ``(D) The Department of Commerce.
                    ``(E) The Department of Transportation.
                    ``(F) The Department of Energy.
                    ``(G) The Department of Homeland Security.
                    ``(H) The Environmental Protection Agency.
                    ``(I) The Advisory Council on Historic 
                Preservation.
                    ``(J) The Department of the Army.
                    ``(K) The Department of Housing and Urban 
                Development.
                    ``(L) Other agencies the Chair of the Steering 
                Committee invites to participate.
            ``(3) Activities.--The Center shall support the Chair of 
        the Steering Committee and undertake the following:
                    ``(A) Coordinate and support implementation of 
                priority reform actions for Federal agency permitting 
                and reviews for areas as defined and identified by the 
                Steering Committee.
                    ``(B) Support modernization efforts at Federal 
                agencies and interagency pilots for innovative 
                approaches to the permitting and review of 
                infrastructure projects.
                    ``(C) Provide technical assistance and training to 
                field and headquarters staff of Federal agencies on 
                policy changes, innovative approaches to project 
                delivery, and other topics as appropriate.
                    ``(D) Identify, develop, and track metrics for 
                timeliness of permit reviews, permit decisions, and 
                project outcomes.
                    ``(E) Administer and expand the use of online 
                transparency tools providing for--
                            ``(i) tracking and reporting of metrics;
                            ``(ii) development and posting of schedules 
                        for permit reviews and permit decisions; and
                            ``(iii) sharing of best practices related 
                        to efficient project permitting and reviews.
                    ``(F) Provide reporting to the President on 
                progress toward achieving greater efficiency in 
                permitting decisions and review of infrastructure 
                projects and progress toward achieving better outcomes 
                for communities and the environment.
            ``(4) Infrastructure sectors covered.--The Center shall 
        support process improvements in the permitting and review of 
        projects in the following sectors:
                    ``(A) Surface transportation.
                    ``(B) Aviation.
                    ``(C) Ports and waterways.
                    ``(D) Water resource projects.
                    ``(E) Renewable energy generation.
                    ``(F) Electricity transmission.
                    ``(G) Broadband.
                    ``(H) Pipelines.
                    ``(I) Other sectors, as determined by the Steering 
                Committee.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents of chapter 3, as 
amended by sections 1104 and 1106 of this Act, is further amended by 
inserting after the item relating to section 311 the following:

``312. Interagency Infrastructure Permitting Improvement Center.''.

SEC. 1103. ACCELERATED DECISIONMAKING IN ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter I of chapter 3 is amended by inserting 
after section 304 the following:
``Sec. 304a. Accelerated decisionmaking in environmental reviews
    ``(a) In General.--In preparing a final environmental impact 
statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), if the Department of Transportation, when acting 
as lead agency, modifies the statement in response to comments that are 
minor and are confined to factual corrections or explanations of why 
the comments do not warrant additional Departmental response, the 
Department may write on errata sheets attached to the statement instead 
of rewriting the draft statement, subject to the condition that the 
errata sheets--
            ``(1) cite the sources, authorities, or reasons that 
        support the position of the Department; and
            ``(2) if appropriate, indicate the circumstances that would 
        trigger Departmental reappraisal or further response.
    ``(b) Incorporation.--To the maximum extent practicable, the 
Department shall expeditiously develop a single document that consists 
of a final environmental impact statement and a record of decision, 
unless--
            ``(1) the final environmental impact statement makes 
        substantial changes to the proposed action that are relevant to 
        environmental or safety concerns; or
            ``(2) there are significant new circumstances or 
        information relevant to environmental concerns and that bear on 
        the proposed action or the impacts of the proposed action.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents of chapter 3 is 
amended by inserting after the item relating to section 304 the 
following:

``304a. Accelerated decisionmaking in environmental reviews.''.

SEC. 1104. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW ALIGNMENT AND REFORM.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter I of chapter 3 is amended by inserting 
after section 309 the following:
``Sec. 310. Aligning Federal environmental reviews
    ``(a) Coordinated and Concurrent Environmental Reviews.--Not later 
than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Comprehensive 
Transportation and Consumer Protection Act of 2015, the Department of 
Transportation, in coordination with the Steering Committee described 
in section 312 of this title, shall develop a coordinated and 
concurrent environmental review and permitting process for 
transportation projects when initiating an environmental impact 
statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) (referred to in this section as `NEPA'). The 
coordinated and concurrent environmental review and permitting process 
shall--
            ``(1) ensure that the Department of Transportation and 
        Federal agencies of jurisdiction possess sufficient information 
        early in the review process to determine a statement of a 
        transportation project's purpose and need and range of 
        alternatives for analysis that the lead agency and agencies of 
        jurisdiction will rely upon for concurrent environmental 
        reviews and permitting decisions required for the proposed 
        project;
            ``(2) achieve early concurrence or issue resolution during 
        the NEPA scoping process on the Department of Transportation's 
        statement of a project's purpose and need and during 
        development of the environmental impact statement on the range 
        of alternatives for analysis that the lead agency and agencies 
        of jurisdiction will rely upon for concurrent environmental 
        reviews and permitting decisions required for the proposed 
        project absent circumstances that require reconsideration in 
        order to meet an agency of jurisdiction's legal obligations; 
        and
            ``(3) achieve concurrence or issue resolution in an 
        expedited manner if circumstances arise that require a 
        reconsideration of the purpose and need or range of 
        alternatives considered during any Federal agency's 
        environmental or permitting review in order to meet an agency 
        of jurisdiction's legal obligations.
    ``(b) Environmental Checklist.--The Secretary of Transportation and 
Federal agencies of jurisdiction likely to have substantive review or 
approval responsibilities on transportation projects, not later than 90 
days after the date of enactment of the Comprehensive Transportation 
and Consumer Protection Act of 2015, shall jointly develop a checklist 
to help project sponsors identify potential natural, cultural, and 
historic resources in the area of a proposed project. The purpose of 
the checklist is--
            ``(1) to identify agencies of jurisdiction and cooperating 
        agencies;
            ``(2) to develop the information needed for the purpose and 
        need and alternatives for analysis; and
            ``(3) to improve interagency collaboration to help expedite 
        the permitting process for the lead agency and Federal agencies 
        of jurisdiction.
    ``(c) Interagency Collaboration.--Consistent with Federal 
environmental statutes and the priority reform actions for Federal 
agency permitting and reviews defined and identified by the Steering 
Committee established under section 312, the Secretary shall facilitate 
annual interagency collaboration sessions at the appropriate 
jurisdictional level to coordinate business plans and facilitate 
coordination of workload planning and workforce management. This 
engagement shall ensure agency staff is fully engaged and utilizing the 
flexibility of existing regulations, policies, and guidance and 
identifying additional actions to facilitate high quality, efficient, 
and targeted environmental reviews and permitting decisions. The 
sessions and the interagency collaborations they generate shall focus 
on how to work with State and local transportation entities to improve 
project planning, siting, and application quality and how to consult 
and coordinate with relevant stakeholders and Federal, tribal, State, 
and local representatives early in permitting processes.
    ``(d) Performance Measurement.--Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of the Comprehensive Transportation and Consumer 
Protection Act of 2015, the Secretary of Transportation, in 
coordination with the Steering Committee established under section 312, 
shall establish a program to measure and report on progress towards 
aligning Federal reviews as outlined in this section.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents of subchapter I of 
chapter 3 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
309 the following:

``310. Aligning Federal environmental reviews.''.

SEC. 1105. MULTIMODAL CATEGORICAL EXCLUSIONS.

    Section 304 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by striking ``operating authority'' and 
                        inserting ``operating administration or 
                        secretarial office'';
                            (ii) by inserting ``has expertise but'' 
                        before ``is not the lead''; and
                            (iii) by inserting ``proposed multimodal'' 
                        before ``project'';
                    (B) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
            ``(2) Lead authority.--The term `lead authority' means a 
        Department of Transportation operating administration or 
        secretarial office that has the lead responsibility for a 
        proposed multimodal project.''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (3), by striking ``has the meaning 
                given the term in section 139(a) of title 23'' and 
                inserting ``means an action by the Department of 
                Transportation that involves expertise of 1 or more 
                Department of Transportation operating administrations 
                or secretarial offices'';
            (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``under this title'' and 
        inserting ``by the Secretary of Transportation'';
            (3) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by striking ``a categorical exclusion 
                        designated under the implementing regulations 
                        or'' and inserting ``categorical exclusions 
                        designated under the National Environmental 
                        Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) 
                        implementing''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``other components of 
                        the'' and inserting ``a proposed multimodal'';
                    (B) by amending paragraphs (1) and (2) to read as 
                follows:
            ``(1) the lead authority makes a preliminary determination 
        on the applicability of a categorical exclusion to a proposed 
        multimodal project and notifies the cooperating authority of 
        its intent to apply the cooperating authority categorical 
        exclusion;
            ``(2) the cooperating authority does not object to the lead 
        authority's preliminary determination of its applicability;'';
                    (C) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) by inserting ``the lead authority 
                        determines that'' before ``the component of''; 
                        and
                            (ii) by inserting ``proposed multimodal'' 
                        before ``project to be covered''; and
                    (D) by amending paragraph (4) to read as follows:
            ``(4) the lead authority, with the concurrence of the 
        cooperating authority--
                    ``(A) follows implementing regulations or 
                procedures under the National Environmental Policy Act 
                of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.);
                    ``(B) determines that the proposed multimodal 
                project does not individually or cumulatively have a 
                significant impact on the environment; and
                    ``(C) determines that extraordinary circumstances 
                do not exist that merit additional analysis and 
                documentation in an environmental impact statement or 
                environmental assessment required under the National 
                Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et 
                seq.).''; and
            (4) by amending subsection (d) to read as follows:
    ``(d) Cooperating Authority Expertise.--A cooperating authority 
shall provide expertise to the lead authority on aspects of the 
multimodal project in which the cooperating authority has expertise.''.

SEC. 1106. IMPROVING TRANSPARENCY IN ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter I of chapter 3, as amended by section 
1104 of this Act, is further amended by inserting after section 310 the 
following:
``Sec. 311. Improving transparency in environmental reviews
    ``(a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
enactment of the Comprehensive Transportation and Consumer Protection 
Act of 2015, the Secretary of Transportation shall establish an online 
platform and, in coordination with Federal agencies described in 
subsection (b), issue reporting standards to make publicly available 
the status and progress with respect to compliance with applicable 
requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and any other Federal approval required under 
applicable laws for projects and activities requiring an environmental 
assessment or an environmental impact statement.
    ``(b) Federal Agency Participation.--A Federal agency of 
jurisdiction over an approval required for a project under applicable 
laws shall provide information regarding the status and progress of the 
approval to the online platform, consistent with the standards 
established under subsection (a).
    ``(c) Assignment of Responsibilities.--An entity with assigned 
authority for responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), under section 326 or section 327 
of title 23 shall be responsible for supplying project development and 
compliance status for all applicable projects.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents of subchapter I of 
chapter 3, as amended by section 1104 of this Act, is further amended 
by inserting after the item relating to section 310, the following:

``311. Improving transparency in environmental reviews.''.

                          Subtitle B--Freight

SEC. 1201. ESTABLISHMENT OF FREIGHT CHAPTER.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) freight policy and planning should incorporate the many 
        modes of transportation that move goods;
            (2) the Secretary of Transportation should oversee and 
        facilitate multimodal freight planning efforts;
            (3) the Under Secretary for Policy of the Department of 
        Transportation should serve as the primary coordinator of 
        multimodal planning efforts;
            (4) efficient and reliable freight infrastructure is 
        critical to our Nation's economy and international 
        competitiveness;
            (5) the Nation's limited Federal discretionary 
        infrastructure funding resources should be focused on freight 
        infrastructure; and
            (6) as such, the sole discretionary national infrastructure 
        investment grant program annually appropriated without 
        authorization, should be reformed and refocused into the 
        Freight Investment Grant program.
    (b) Freight.--Subtitle III is amended by inserting after chapter 53 
the following:

                         ``CHAPTER 54--FREIGHT

``Sec.
``5401. Definitions.
``5402. National multimodal freight policy.
``5403. National multimodal freight network.
``5404. National Freight Strategic Plan.
``5405. State freight plans.
``5406. Freight investment grants.
``5407. Reports.
``Sec. 5401. Definitions
    ``In this chapter:
            ``(1) Economic competitiveness.--The term `economic 
        competitiveness' means the ability of the economy to 
        efficiently move freight and people, produce goods, and deliver 
        services, including--
                    ``(A) reductions in the travel time of freight;
                    ``(B) reductions in the congestion caused by the 
                movement of freight;
                    ``(C) improvements to freight travel time 
                reliability; and
                    ``(D) reductions in freight transportation costs 
                due to congestion and insufficient infrastructure.
            ``(2) Freight.--The term `freight' means the commercial 
        transportation of cargo, including agricultural, manufactured, 
        retail, or other goods by vessel, vehicle, pipeline, or rail.
            ``(3) Freight transportation modes.--The term `freight 
        transportation modes' means--
                    ``(A) the infrastructure supporting any mode of 
                transportation that moves freight, including highways, 
                ports, waterways, rail facilities, and pipelines; and
                    ``(B) any vehicles or equipment transporting goods 
                on such infrastructure.
            ``(4) Intelligent freight transportation system.--The term 
        `intelligent freight transportation system' means--
                    ``(A) an innovative or intelligent technological 
                transportation system, infrastructure, or facilities, 
                including electronic roads, driverless trucks, elevated 
                freight transportation facilities, automated port 
                technologies, and other similar freight transportation 
                systems; and
                    ``(B) communications or information processing 
                systems used singly or in combination for intelligent 
                freight lanes and conveyances that improve the 
                efficiency, security, or safety of the freight system 
                or that operate to convey freight or improve existing 
                freight movements.
            ``(5) National multimodal freight network.--The term 
        `national multimodal freight network' means the network 
        established under section 5403.
            ``(6) National multimodal freight strategic plan.--The term 
        `national multimodal freight strategic plan' means the 
        strategic plan developed under section 5404.
            ``(7) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary 
        of Transportation.
            ``(8) State.--The term `State' means a State of the United 
        States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
        Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, 
        American Samoa, and the United States Virgin Islands.''.

SEC. 1202. NATIONAL MULTIMODAL FREIGHT POLICY.

    Subtitle III, as amended by section 1201 of this Act, is further 
amended by adding after section 5401 the following:
``Sec. 5402. National multimodal freight policy
    ``(a) Policy.--It is the policy of the United States--
            ``(1) to support investment to maintain and improve the 
        condition and performance of the national multimodal freight 
        network;
            ``(2) to ensure that the United States maximizes its 
        competitiveness in the global economy by increasing the overall 
        productivity and connectivity of the national freight system; 
        and
            ``(3) to pursue the goals described in subsection (b).
    ``(b) Goals.--The national multimodal freight policy has the 
following goals:
            ``(1) To enhance the economic competitiveness of the United 
        States by investing in infrastructure improvements and 
        implementing operational improvements on the freight network of 
        the United States that achieve 1 or more of the following:
                    ``(A) Strengthen the contribution of the national 
                freight network to the economic competitiveness of the 
                United States.
                    ``(B) Reduce congestion and relieve bottlenecks in 
                the freight transportation system.
                    ``(C) Reduce the cost of freight transportation.
                    ``(D) Improve the reliability of freight 
                transportation.
                    ``(E) Increase productivity, particularly for 
                domestic industries and businesses that create jobs.
            ``(2) To improve the safety, security, efficiency, and 
        resiliency of freight transportation in rural and urban areas.
            ``(3) To improve the condition of the national freight 
        network.
            ``(4) To use advanced technology to improve the safety and 
        efficiency of the national freight network.
            ``(5) To incorporate concepts of performance, innovation, 
        competition, and accountability into the operation and 
        maintenance of the national freight network.
            ``(6) To improve the efficiency and productivity of the 
        national freight network.
            ``(7) To pursue these goals in a manner that is not 
        burdensome to State and local governments.
    ``(c) Strategies.--The United States may achieve the goals set 
forth in subsection (b) by--
            ``(1) providing funding to maintain and improve freight 
        infrastructure facilities;
            ``(2) implementing appropriate safety, environmental, 
        energy and other transportation policies;
            ``(3) utilizing advanced technology and innovation;
            ``(4) promoting workforce development; and
            ``(5) using performance management activities.
    ``(d) Implementation.--The Under Secretary for Policy, who shall be 
responsible for the oversight and implementation of the national 
multimodal freight policy, shall--
            ``(1) assist with the coordination of modal freight 
        planning;
            ``(2) ensure consistent, expedited review of multimodal 
        freight projects;
            ``(3) review the project planning and approval processes at 
        each modal administration to identify modeling and metric 
        inconsistencies, approvals, and terminology differences that 
        could hamper multimodal project approval;
            ``(4) identify interagency data sharing opportunities to 
        promote freight planning and coordination;
            ``(5) identify multimodal efforts and connections;
            ``(6) designate the lead agency for multimodal freight 
        projects;
            ``(7) develop recommendations for State incentives for 
        multi-modal planning efforts, which may include--
                    ``(A) reducing the State cost share; or
                    ``(B) expediting the review of agreements for 
                multimodal or freight specific projects;
            ``(8) consider opportunities to reduce project delays by 
        issuing categorical exclusions or allowing self-certifications 
        of right-of-way acquisitions for freight projects; and
            ``(9) submit a report to the Committee on Commerce, 
        Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
        Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
        Representatives that identifies required reports, statutory 
        requirements, and other limitations on efficient freight 
        project delivery that could be streamlined or consolidated.''.

SEC. 1203. NATIONAL MULTIMODAL FREIGHT NETWORK.

    Subtitle III as amended by section 1202 of this Act, is further 
amended by adding after section 5402 the following:
``Sec. 5403. National multimodal freight network
    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish a national freight 
network, in accordance with this section--
            ``(1) to assist States in strategically directing resources 
        toward improved system performance for the efficient movement 
        of freight on transportation networks;
            ``(2) to inform freight transportation planning;
            ``(3) to assist in the prioritization of Federal 
        investment; and
            ``(4) to assess and support Federal investments to achieve 
        the national multimodal freight policy goals described in 
        section 5402(b).
    ``(b) Network Components.--The national multimodal freight network 
established under this section shall consist of all connectors, 
corridors, and facilities in all freight transportation modes that are 
the most critical to the current and future movement of freight to 
achieve the national multimodal freight policy goals described in 
section 5402(b).
    ``(c) Initial Designation of Primary Freight System.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of the Comprehensive Transportation and Consumer 
        Protection Act of 2015, the Secretary, after soliciting input 
        from stakeholders, including multimodal freight system users, 
        transport providers, metropolitan planning organizations, local 
        governments, ports, airports, railroads, and States, through a 
        public process to identify critical freight facilities and 
        corridors that are vital to achieve the national multimodal 
        freight policy goals described in section 5402(b), and after 
        providing notice and opportunity for comment on a draft system, 
        shall designate a primary freight system with the goal of--
                    ``(A) improving network and intermodal 
                connectivity; and
                    ``(B) using measurable data as part of the 
                assessment of the significance of freight movement, 
                including the consideration of points of origin, 
                destination, and linking components of domestic and 
                international supply chains.
            ``(2) Factors.--In designating or redesignating a primary 
        freight system, the Secretary shall consider--
                    ``(A) origins and destinations of freight movement 
                within, to, and from the United States;
                    ``(B) volume, value, tonnage, and the strategic 
                importance of freight;
                    ``(C) access to border crossings, airports, 
                seaports, and pipelines;
                    ``(D) economic factors, including balance of trade;
                    ``(E) access to major areas for manufacturing, 
                agriculture, or natural resources;
                    ``(F) access to energy exploration, development, 
                installation, and production areas;
                    ``(G) intermodal links and intersections that 
                promote connectivity;
                    ``(H) freight choke points and other impediments 
                contributing to significant measurable congestion, 
                delay in freight movement, or inefficient modal 
                connections;
                    ``(I) impacts on all freight transportation modes 
                and modes that share significant freight 
                infrastructure;
                    ``(J) elements and transportation corridors 
                identified by a multi-State coalition, a State, a State 
                advisory committee, or a metropolitan planning 
                organization, using national or local data, as having 
                critical freight importance to the region;
                    ``(K) intermodal connectors, major distribution 
                centers, inland intermodal facilities, and first- and 
                last-mile facilities;
                    ``(L) the annual average daily truck traffic on 
                principal arterials; and
                    ``(M) the significance of goods movement, including 
                consideration of global and domestic supply chains.
            ``(3) Requirements for designation.--A designation may be 
        made under this subsection if the freight transportation 
        facility or infrastructure being considered--
                    ``(A) is in an urbanized area, regardless of 
                population;
                    ``(B) has been designated under subsection (e) as a 
                critical rural freight corridor;
                    ``(C) connects an intermodal facility to--
                            ``(i) the primary freight network; or
                            ``(ii) an intermodal freight facility;
                    ``(D)(i) is located within a corridor of a route on 
                the primary freight network; and
                    ``(ii) provides an alternative option important to 
                goods movement;
                    ``(E) serves a major freight generator, logistic 
                center, agricultural region, or manufacturing or 
                warehouse industrial land; or
                    ``(F) is important to the movement of freight 
                within a State or metropolitan region, as determined by 
                the State or the metropolitan planning organization.
    ``(d) Redesignation of Primary Freight System.--
            ``(1) In general.--Beginning on the date that is 5 years 
        after the initial designation under subsection (c), and every 5 
        years thereafter, the Secretary, using the designation factors 
        described in subsection (c)(3), shall redesignate the primary 
        freight system.
            ``(2) Considerations.--In redesignating the primary freight 
        system under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) use, to the extent practicable, measurable 
                data to assess the significance of goods movement, 
                including the consideration of points of origin, 
                destination, and linking components of the United 
                States global and domestic supply chains;
                    ``(B) consider--
                            ``(i) the factors described in subsection 
                        (c)(2); and
                            ``(ii) any changes in the economy or 
                        freight transportation network demand; and
                    ``(C) provide the States with an opportunity to 
                submit proposed designations in accordance with 
                paragraph (3).
            ``(3) State input.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Each State that proposes 
                increased designations on the primary freight system 
                shall--
                            ``(i) consider nominations for additional 
                        designations from metropolitan planning 
                        organizations within the State;
                            ``(ii) consider nominations for the 
                        additional designations from owners and 
                        operators of port, rail, pipeline, and airport 
                        facilities; and
                            ``(iii) ensure that additional designations 
                        are consistent with the State Transportation 
                        Improvement Program or freight plan.
                    ``(B) Revisions.--States may revise routes 
                certified under section 4006 of the Intermodal Surface 
                Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (Public Law 102-
                240; 105 Stat. 2148) to conform with the designated 
                freight system under this section.
                    ``(C) Submission and certification.--Each State 
                shall submit to the Secretary--
                            ``(i) a list of the additional designations 
                        added under this subsection; and
                            ``(ii) certification that--
                                    ``(I) the State has satisfied the 
                                requirements under subparagraph (A); 
                                and
                                    ``(II) the designations referred to 
                                in clause (i) address the factors for 
                                redesignation described in subsection 
                                (c)(3).
    ``(e) Critical Rural Freight Corridors.--A State may designate 
freight transportation infrastructure or facilities within the borders 
of the State as a critical rural freight corridor if the public road or 
facility--
            ``(1) is a rural principal arterial roadway or facility;
            ``(2) provides access or service to energy exploration, 
        development, installation, or production areas;
            ``(3) provides access or service to--
                    ``(A) a grain elevator;
                    ``(B) an agricultural facility;
                    ``(C) a mining facility;
                    ``(D) a forestry facility; or
                    ``(E) an intermodal facility;
            ``(4) connects to an international port of entry;
            ``(5) provides access to significant air, rail, water, or 
        other freight facilities in the State; or
            ``(6) has been determined by the State to be vital to 
        improving the efficient movement of freight of importance to 
        the economy of the State.''.

SEC. 1204. NATIONAL FREIGHT STRATEGIC PLAN.

    Subtitle III as amended by section 1203 of this Act, is further 
amended by adding after section 5403 the following:
``Sec. 5404. National Freight Strategic Plan
    ``(a) Initial Development of National Freight Strategic Plan.--Not 
later than 3 years after the date of enactment of the Comprehensive 
Transportation and Consumer Protection Act of 2015, the Secretary, in 
consultation with State departments of transportation, metropolitan 
planning organizations, and other appropriate public and private 
transportation stakeholders, shall develop, and after providing notice 
and an opportunity for comment on a draft national freight strategic 
plan, post on the public website of the Department of Transportation, a 
national freight strategic plan that--
            ``(1) provides an assessment of the condition and 
        performance of the national freight network;
            ``(2) identifies any bottlenecks on the national freight 
        network that create significant freight congestion based on a 
        quantitative methodology developed by the Secretary, which 
        shall include--
                    ``(A) information from the Freight Analysis 
                Framework of the Federal Highway Administration; and
                    ``(B) to the maximum extent practicable--
                            ``(i) an estimate of the cost of addressing 
                        each bottleneck; and
                            ``(ii) any operational improvements that 
                        could be implemented to address each 
                        bottleneck;
            ``(3) includes forecasts of freight volumes, based on the 
        most recent data available, for the 5-year period beginning in 
        the year during which the plan is issued;
            ``(4) identifies major trade gateways and national freight 
        corridors that connect major economic corridors, population 
        centers, trade gateways, and other major freight generators for 
        current and forecasted traffic and freight volumes;
            ``(5) provides an assessment of statutory, regulatory, 
        technological, institutional, financial, and other barriers to 
        improved freight transportation performance, including 
        opportunities for overcoming such barriers;
            ``(6) identifies--
                    ``(A) routes for providing access to energy 
                exploration, development, installation, or production 
                areas; and
                    ``(B) routes for providing access to major areas 
                for manufacturing, agriculture, or natural resources;
            ``(7) includes best practices for--
                    ``(A) improving the performance of the national 
                freight network; and
                    ``(B) improving urban and rural access to critical 
                freight corridors;
            ``(8) includes a process for--
                    ``(A) addressing multistate projects; and
                    ``(B) encouraging jurisdictions to collaborate on 
                multistate projects;
            ``(9) identifies--
                    ``(A) locations or areas with high crash rates or 
                congestion involving freight traffic; and
                    ``(B) strategies to address such issues; and
            ``(10) includes strategies to improve freight intermodal 
        connectivity.
    ``(b) Updates to National Freight Strategic Plan.--Not later than 5 
years after the date of completion of the first national freight 
strategic plan under paragraph (1) and every 5 years thereafter, the 
Secretary shall update and repost on the public website of the 
Department of Transportation a revised national freight strategic plan, 
which shall include a revision of the major trade gateways and national 
freight corridors identified under subsection (a)(4).
    ``(c) Transportation Investment Data and Planning Tools.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of the Comprehensive Transportation and Consumer 
        Protection Act of 2015, the Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) begin developing new tools and improving 
                existing tools to support State-based outcome-oriented, 
                performance-based approaches to evaluate proposed 
                freight-related and other transportation projects, 
                including--
                            ``(i) methodologies for systematic analysis 
                        of benefits and costs on a national and 
                        regional basis;
                            ``(ii) tools for ensuring that the 
                        evaluation of freight-related and other 
                        transportation projects could consider safety, 
                        economic competitiveness, urban and rural 
                        access, and system condition in the project 
                        selection process;
                            ``(iii) improved methods for data 
                        collection and trend analysis;
                            ``(iv) encouragement of public-private 
                        partnerships to carry out data sharing 
                        activities and maintaining the confidentiality 
                        of all proprietary data; and
                            ``(v) other tools to assist in effective 
                        transportation planning;
                    ``(B) identify transportation-related model data 
                elements to support a broad range of evaluation methods 
                and techniques to assist in making transportation 
                investment decisions; and
                    ``(C) consider, in consultation with other relevant 
                Federal agencies, any improvements to existing freight 
                flow data collection efforts that could--
                            ``(i) reduce identified freight data gaps 
                        and deficiencies; and
                            ``(ii) help to improve forecasts of freight 
                        transportation demand.
            ``(2) Consultation.--The Secretary shall consult with other 
        Federal agencies, State governments, and other stakeholders to 
        develop, improve, and implement the tools and collect the data 
        described in paragraph (1).''.

SEC. 1205. STATE FREIGHT PLANS.

    Subtitle III as amended by section 1204 of this Act, is further 
amended by adding after section 5404 the following:
``Sec. 5405. State freight plans
    ``(a) State Freight Advisory Committees.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each State may establish a freight 
        advisory committee, which should consist of a representative 
        cross-section of public and private sector freight 
        stakeholders, including representatives of ports, shippers, 
        carriers, freight-related associations, the freight industry 
        workforce, the State transportation department, and local 
        governments.
            ``(2) Role of committee.--A freight advisory committee 
        described in paragraph (1) may--
                    ``(A) advise the State on freight-related 
                priorities, issues, projects, and funding needs;
                    ``(B) serve as a forum for discussion for State 
                transportation decisions affecting freight mobility;
                    ``(C) communicate and coordinate with other 
                organizations regarding regional priorities; and
                    ``(D) promote the sharing of information between 
                the private and public sectors on freight issues.
    ``(b) State Freight Plans.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each State may develop a freight plan, 
        or integrate such planning into other transportation planning 
        documents, that provides a comprehensive plan for the immediate 
        and long-range planning activities and investments of the State 
        with respect to freight.
            ``(2) Plan contents.--A freight plan described in paragraph 
        (1) should--
                    ``(A) identify significant freight system trends, 
                needs, and issues with respect to the State;
                    ``(B) describe the freight policies, strategies, 
                and performance measures that will guide the freight-
                related transportation investment decisions of the 
                State;
                    ``(C) include, if applicable, a listing of critical 
                rural and urban freight corridors designated within the 
                State under this chapter;
                    ``(D) describe how the plan will improve the 
                ability of the State to meet the national freight goals 
                established under section 5402(b);
                    ``(E) include evidence of consideration of 
                innovative technologies and operational strategies, 
                including intelligent transportation systems, that 
                improve the safety and efficiency of freight movement;
                    ``(F) include--
                            ``(i) an inventory of facilities within the 
                        State with freight mobility issues, such as 
                        freight bottlenecks; and
                            ``(ii) a description of the strategies the 
                        State is employing to address such freight 
                        mobility issues;
                    ``(G) consider--
                            ``(i) any significant congestion or delay 
                        caused by freight movements; and
                            ``(ii) any strategies to mitigate such 
                        congestion or delay; and
                    ``(H) include, subject to paragraph (3), a freight 
                investment plan that--
                            ``(i) includes a list of priority projects; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) describes how funds made available 
                        to carry out this chapter would be invested and 
                        matched.
            ``(3) Relationship to long-range plan.--The freight 
        investment plan component described in paragraph (2)(H) shall 
        include a project, or an identified phase of a project, only if 
        funding for completion of the project can reasonably be 
        anticipated to be available for the project within the time 
        period identified in the freight investment plan. Unfunded 
        project plans should be included in a separate section.
            ``(4) Planning period.--The freight plan shall address a 5-
        year forecast period.
            ``(5) Updates.--
                    ``(A) In general.--A State may update the freight 
                plan under this subsection not less frequently than 
                once every 5 years.
                    ``(B) Freight investment plan.--A State may update 
                the freight investment plan more frequently than is 
                required under subparagraph (A).
    ``(c) Intelligent Freight Transportation System.--
            ``(1) Location.--An intelligent freight transportation 
        system shall be located--
                    ``(A)(i) along freight corridors; or
                    ``(ii) in a manner that connects ports-of-entry to 
                the freight network; and
                    ``(B) in proximity to, or within, an existing 
                right-of-way or existing freight right-of-way.
            ``(2) Operating standards.--The Secretary shall determine 
        the need for establishing operating standards for intelligent 
        freight transportation systems.''.

SEC. 1206. FREIGHT INVESTMENT GRANTS.

    Subtitle III as amended by section 1205 of this Act, is further 
amended by adding after section 5405 the following:
``Sec. 5406. Freight investment grants
    ``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish and implement a 
freight investment grant program for capital investments in major 
freight transportation infrastructure projects to improve the movement 
of goods through the transportation network of the United States.
    ``(b) Applications.--
            ``(1) In general.--An eligible applicant seeking a grant 
        under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary 
        in such form as the Secretary prescribes and containing the 
        data described in paragraph (2) and the total amount of the 
        grant requested.
            ``(2) Contents.--Each application submitted under this 
        subsection shall include, to the extent practicable, available 
        data on the most recent system performance and estimated system 
        improvements that will result from completion of the eligible 
        project, including projections for improvements 5 and 10 years 
        after completion of the project.
            ``(3) Accountability measures.--The Secretary shall 
        establish accountability measures for the management of the 
        Freight Investment Grant Program--
                    ``(A) to establish clear procedures for addressing 
                late-arriving applications;
                    ``(B) to publicly communicate its decisions to 
                accept or reject applications described in subparagraph 
                (A); and
                    ``(C) to document and approve major decisions in 
                the application evaluation and project selection 
                process through a decision memorandum or similar 
                mechanism that provides a clear rationale for 
                decisions--
                            ``(i) to advance for senior review 
                        applications other than those rated as highly 
                        recommended;
                            ``(ii) to not advance applications rated as 
                        highly recommended; and
                            ``(iii) to change the technical evaluation 
                        rating of an application.
            ``(4) Resubmission of applications.--An eligible applicant 
        whose project is not selected under this section may resubmit 
        an application with an addendum identifying any project updates 
        in a subsequent solicitation.
    ``(c) Criteria for Project Evaluation and Selection.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Administrator may select a project 
        for funding under this section only if the Administrator 
        determines that the project--
                    ``(A) is consistent with the goals described in 
                section 5402(b);
                    ``(B) will significantly improve the national or 
                regional performance of the freight transportation 
                network;
                    ``(C) is based on the results of preliminary 
                engineering;
                    ``(D) is consistent with the long-range statewide 
                transportation plan;
                    ``(E) cannot be readily and efficiently completed 
                without Federal financial assistance;
                    ``(F) is justified based on the ability of the 
                project--
                            ``(i) to generate national economic 
                        benefits that reasonably exceed the costs of 
                        the project;
                            ``(ii) to reduce long-term congestion, 
                        including impacts on a regional and statewide 
                        basis; or
                            ``(iii) to increase the speed, reliability, 
                        and accessibility of the movement of freight; 
                        and
                    ``(G) is supported by a sufficient amount of non-
                Federal funding, including evidence of stable and 
                dependable financing to construct, maintain, and 
                operate the infrastructure facility.
            ``(2) Additional considerations.--In evaluating a project 
        under this section, in addition to the criteria described in 
        paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consider the extent to which 
        the project--
                    ``(A) leverages Federal investment by encouraging 
                non-Federal contributions to the project, including 
                contributions from public-private partnerships;
                    ``(B) is able to begin construction by the date 
                that is not later than 12 months after the date on 
                which the project is selected;
                    ``(C) incorporates innovative project delivery and 
                financing to the maximum extent practicable;
                    ``(D) improves freight facilities vital to 
                agricultural or national energy security;
                    ``(E) improves or upgrades current or designated 
                future Interstate System routes;
                    ``(F) uses innovative technologies, including 
                intelligent transportation systems, that enhance the 
                efficiency of the project;
                    ``(G) helps to improve mobility and accessibility; 
                and
                    ``(H) improves transportation safety, including 
                reducing transportation accident and serious injuries 
                and fatalities.
    ``(d) Geographic Distribution.--In awarding grants under this 
section, the Secretary shall take measures to ensure, to the maximum 
extent practicable--
            ``(1) an equitable geographic distribution of amounts; and
            ``(2) an appropriate balance in addressing the needs of 
        rural and urban communities.
    ``(e) Eligible Projects.--
            ``(1) In general.--A project is eligible for a grant under 
        this section if the project--
                    ``(A) is difficult to complete with existing 
                Federal, State, local, and private funds;
                    ``(B)(i) enhances the economic competitiveness of 
                the United States; or
                    ``(ii) improves the flow of freight or reduces 
                bottlenecks in our Nation's freight infrastructure; and
                    ``(C) will advance 1 or more of the following 
                objectives:
                            ``(i) Generate regional or national 
                        economic benefits and an increase in the global 
                        economic competitiveness of the United States.
                            ``(ii) Improve transportation resources 
                        vital to agriculture or national energy 
                        security.
                            ``(iii) Improve the efficiency, 
                        reliability, and affordability of the movement 
                        of freight.
                            ``(iv) Improve existing freight 
                        infrastructure projects.
                            ``(v) Improve the movement of people by 
                        improving rural and metropolitan freight 
                        routes.
            ``(2) Examples.--Eligible projects for grant funding under 
        this section shall include--
                    ``(A) a freight intermodal facility, including--
                            ``(i) an intermodal facility serving a 
                        seaport;
                            ``(ii) an intermodal or cargo access 
                        facility serving an airport;
                            ``(iii) an intermodal facility serving a 
                        port on the inland waterways;
                            ``(iv) a bulk intermodal/transload 
                        facility; or
                            ``(v) a highway/rail intermodal facility;
                    ``(B) highway or bridge projects eligible under 
                title 23;
                    ``(C) public transportation projects that reduce 
                congestion on freight corridors and are eligible under 
                chapter 53;
                    ``(D) freight rail transportation projects 
                (including rail-grade separations); and
                    ``(E) port infrastructure investments (including 
                inland port infrastructure).
    ``(f) Eligible Applicants.--An applicant is eligible to receive a 
grant under this section if the applicant is--
            ``(1) a State or a group of States;
            ``(2) a local government or a group of local governments;
            ``(3) a tribal government or a group of tribal governments;
            ``(4) a transit agency or a group of transit agencies;
            ``(5) a special purpose district or a public authority with 
        a transportation function;
            ``(6) a port authority;
            ``(7) a political subdivision of a State or local 
        government;
            ``(8) a Federal land management agency, which is applying 
        jointly with a State; or
            ``(9) a multistate or multijurisdictional group of entities 
        described in any of paragraphs (1) through (8).
    ``(g) Requirements.--
            ``(1) Competitive grants.--The Secretary shall distribute 
        amounts appropriated for grants under this section to States, 
        local governments, transit agencies, or a collaboration among 
        such entities on a competitive basis for projects that will 
        have a significant impact on freight movement.
            ``(2) Considerations.--In selecting projects to receive 
        grant funding under this section, the Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) consider--
                            ``(i) projected freight volumes; and
                            ``(ii) how projects will enhance economic 
                        efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness; 
                        and
                    ``(B) give priority to projects dedicated to--
                            ``(i) improving freight infrastructure 
                        facilities;
                            ``(ii) reducing travel time for freight 
                        projects; and
                            ``(iii) reducing freight transportation 
                        costs.
            ``(3) Equitable distribution of funds.--In distributing 
        funding for grants under this section, the Secretary shall take 
        such measures to ensure--
                    ``(A) an equitable geographic distribution of 
                funds;
                    ``(B) an appropriate balance in addressing the 
                needs of urban and rural areas; and
                    ``(C) the investment in a variety of transportation 
                modes.
            ``(4) Amount.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Except as provided under 
                subparagraph (B)(i), a grant under this heading shall 
                be not less than $10,000,000 and not greater than 
                $100,000,000.
                    ``(B) Projects in rural areas.--If a grant awarded 
                under this section is for a project located in a rural 
                area--
                            ``(i) the amount of the grant shall be at 
                        least $1,000,000; and
                            ``(ii) the Secretary may increase the 
                        Federal share of costs to greater than 80 
                        percent.
            ``(5) Federal share.--Except as provided under paragraph 
        (4)(B)(ii), the Federal share of the costs for a project 
        receiving a grant under this section shall be up to 80 percent.
            ``(6) Priority.--The Secretary shall give priority to 
        projects that require a contribution of Federal funds in order 
        to complete an overall financing package.
            ``(7) Rural areas.--Not less than 25 percent of the funding 
        provided under this section shall be for projects located in 
        rural areas.
            ``(8) New competition.--The Secretary shall conduct a new 
        competition to select the grants and credit assistance awarded 
        under this section.
            ``(9) Congressional notification.--Not later than 72 hours 
        before public notification of a grant awarded under this 
        section, the Secretary shall notify the Committee on Commerce, 
        Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on 
        Environment and Public Works of the Senate, the Committee on 
        Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate, the 
        Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, the Committee on 
        Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
        Representatives, and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
        House of Representatives of such award.
    ``(h) TIFIA and RRIF Programs.--On the request of an eligible 
entity under this section, the Secretary may use amounts awarded to the 
entity to pay subsidy and administrative costs necessary to provide the 
entity Federal credit assistance under section 6 of title 23 or section 
822 of title 45 with respect to the project for which the grant was 
awarded.
    ``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            ``(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated 
        from the general fund of the Treasury, $500,000,000 for each of 
        the fiscal years 2016 through 2021 to carry out this section.
            ``(2) Administrative and oversight costs.--The Secretary 
        may retain up to 0.5 percent of the amounts appropriated 
        pursuant to paragraph (1)--
                    ``(A) to administer the freight investment grant 
                program; and
                    ``(B) to oversee eligible projects funded under 
                this section.
            ``(3) Administration of funds.--Amounts appropriated 
        pursuant to this subsection shall be available for obligation 
        until expended.''.

SEC. 1207. REPORTS.

    Subtitle III, as amended by section 1206 of this Act, is further 
amended by adding after section 5406 the following:
``Sec. 5407. Reports
    ``(a) Freight Transportation Conditions and Performance Reports.--
Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of the Comprehensive 
Transportation and Consumer Protection Act of 2015, and every 5 years 
thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress that 
describes the conditions and performance of the national freight 
network in the United States.
    ``(b) Annual Report.--At the end of each fiscal year, the Secretary 
shall post, on a public website, an annual report that lists each 
project for which assistance has been provided under this chapter 
during that fiscal year.
    ``(c) GAO Assessment and Report.--
            ``(1) Assessment.--The Comptroller General of the United 
        States shall conduct an assessment of the administrative 
        establishment, solicitation, selection, and justification 
        process for funding of projects under this chapter.
            ``(2) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the first 
        funding is awarded under this chapter, and not later than 6 
        months after each funding solicitation, the Comptroller General 
        of the United States shall submit a report to the Committee on 
        Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the 
        Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate, the 
        Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs of the Senate, 
        the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, the Committee on 
        Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
        Representatives, and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
        House of Representatives that describes--
                    ``(A) the adequacy and fairness of the process by 
                which each project was selected;
                    ``(B) the justification provided by the Department 
                for the selection of each project;
                    ``(C) whether the project met the criteria 
                described in subsection (e); and
                    ``(D) whether the Secretary provided adequate 
                feedback to applicants who were not selected for an 
                award.''.

SEC. 1208. REPEALS.

    The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (Public Law 
112-141) is amended by striking sections 1117 and 1118 (23 U.S.C. 167 
note).

SEC. 1209. SAVINGS PROVISION.

    No provision in this subtitle may be construed to provide 
additional authority to regulate or direct private activity on freight 
networks designated by the amendments made under this subtitle.

                          Subtitle C--Research

SEC. 1301. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the followings findings:
            (1) Federal transportation research planning and 
        coordination--
                    (A) should occur within the Office of the 
                Secretary; and
                    (B) should be, to the extent practicable, 
                multimodal and not occur solely within the subagencies 
                of the Department of Transportation.
            (2) Managing a multi-modal research portfolio within the 
        Office of the Secretary will--
                    (A) help identify opportunities where research 
                could be applied across modes; and
                    (B) prevent duplication of efforts and waste of 
                limited Federal resources.
            (3) An ombudsman for research at the Department of 
        Transportation will--
                    (A) give stakeholders a formal opportunity to 
                address concerns;
                    (B) ensure unbiased research; and
                    (C) improve the overall research products of the 
                Department.
            (4) Increasing transparency of transportation research 
        efforts will--
                    (A) build stakeholder confidence in the final 
                product; and
                    (B) lead to the improved implementation of research 
                findings.

SEC. 1302. MODAL RESEARCH PLANS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than June 15 of the year preceding the 
research fiscal year, the head of each modal administration and joint 
program office of the Department of Transportation shall submit a 
comprehensive annual research plan to the Assistant Secretary for 
Research and Technology of the Department of Transportation (referred 
to in this subtitle as the ``Assistant Secretary'').
    (b) Review.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than October 1, the Assistant 
        Secretary, for each plan submitted pursuant to subsection (a), 
        shall--
                    (A) review the scope of the research; and
                    (B)(i) approve the plan; or
                    (ii) request that the plan be revised.
            (2) Publications.--Not later than January 30 of each year, 
        the Secretary shall publish each plan that has been approved 
        under paragraph (1)(B)(i) on a public website.
            (3) Rejection of duplicative research efforts.--The 
        Assistant Secretary may not approve any plan submitted by the 
        head of a modal administration pursuant to subsection (a) if 
        such plan duplicates the research efforts of any other modal 
        administration.
    (c) Funding Limitations.--No funds may be expended by the 
Department of Transportation on research that has not previously been 
approved as part of a modal research plan approved by the Assistant 
Secretary unless--
            (1) such research is required by an Act of Congress;
            (2) such research was part of a contract that was funded 
        before the date of enactment of this Act; or
            (3) the Secretary of Transportation certifies to Congress 
        that such research is necessary before the approval of a modal 
        research plan.
    (d) Duplicative Research.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), no 
        funds may be expended by the Department of Transportation on 
        research projects that the Secretary identifies as duplicative 
        under subsection (b)(3).
            (2) Exceptions.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to--
                    (A) updates to previously commissioned research;
                    (B) research commissioned to carry out an Act of 
                Congress; or
                    (C) research commissioned before the date of 
                enactment of this Act.
    (e) Certification.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall annually certify to 
        Congress that--
                    (A) each modal research plan has been reviewed; and
                    (B) there is no duplication of study for research 
                directed, commissioned, or conducted by the Department 
                of Transportation.
            (2) Corrective action plan.--If the Secretary, after 
        submitting a certification under paragraph (1), identifies 
        duplication of research within the Department of 
        Transportation, the Secretary shall--
                    (A) notify Congress of the duplicative research; 
                and
                    (B) submit a corrective action plan to Congress 
                that will eliminate such duplicative research.

SEC. 1303. CONSOLIDATED RESEARCH PROSPECTUS AND STRATEGIC PLAN.

    (a) Prospectus.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall annually publish, on a 
        public website, a comprehensive prospectus on all research 
        projects conducted by the Department of Transportation, 
        including, to the extent practicable, research funded through 
        University Transportation Centers.
            (2) Contents.--The prospectus published under paragraph (1) 
        shall--
                    (A) include the consolidated modal research plans 
                approved under section 1302;
                    (B) describe the research objectives, progress, and 
                allocated funds for each research project;
                    (C) identify research projects with multimodal 
                applications;
                    (D) specify how relevant modal administrations have 
                assisted, will contribute to, or plan to use the 
                findings from the research projects identified under 
                paragraph (1);
                    (E) identify areas in which multiple modal 
                administrations are conducting research projects on 
                similar subjects or subjects which have bearing on 
                multiple modes;
                    (F) describe the interagency and cross modal 
                communication and coordination that has occurred to 
                prevent duplication of research efforts within the 
                Department of Transportation;
                    (G) indicate how research is being disseminated to 
                improve the efficiency and safety of transportation 
                systems;
                    (H) describe how agencies developed their research 
                plans; and
                    (I) describe the opportunities for public and 
                stakeholder input.
    (b) Funding Report.--In conjunction with each of the President's 
annual budget requests under section 1105 of title 31, United States 
Code, the Secretary shall submit a report to appropriate committees of 
Congress that describes--
            (1) the amount spent in the last completed fiscal year on 
        transportation research and development; and
            (2) the amount proposed in the current budget for 
        transportation research and development.
    (c) Performance Plans and Reports.--In the plans and reports 
submitted under sections 1115 and 1116 of title 31, United States Code, 
the Secretary shall include--
            (1) a summary of the Federal transportation research and 
        development activities for the previous fiscal year in each 
        topic area;
            (2) the amount spent in each topic area;
            (3) a description of the extent to which the research and 
        development is meeting the expectations set forth in subsection 
        (d)(3)(A); and
            (4) any amendments to the strategic plan developed under 
        subsection (d).
    (d) Transportation Research and Development Strategic Plan.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall develop a 5-year 
        transportation research and development strategic plan to guide 
        future Federal transportation research and development 
        activities.
            (2) Consistency.--The strategic plan developed under 
        paragraph (1) shall be consistent with--
                    (A) section 306 of title 5, United States Code;
                    (B) sections 1115 and 1116 of title 31, United 
                States Code; and
                    (C) any other research and development plan within 
                the Department of Transportation.
            (3) Contents.--The strategic plan developed under paragraph 
        (1) shall--
                    (A) describe the primary purposes of the 
                transportation research and development program, which 
                shall include--
                            (i) promoting safety;
                            (ii) reducing congestion;
                            (iii) improving mobility;
                            (iv) preserving the existing transportation 
                        system;
                            (v) improving the durability and extending 
                        the life of transportation infrastructure; and
                            (vi) improving goods movement;
                    (B) for each of the purposes referred to in 
                subparagraph (A), list the primary research and 
                development topics that the Department of 
                Transportation intends to pursue to accomplish that 
                purpose, which may include--
                            (i) fundamental research in the physical 
                        and natural sciences;
                            (ii) applied research;
                            (iii) technology research; and
                            (iv) social science research intended for 
                        each topic; and
                    (C) for each research and development topic--
                            (i) identify the anticipated annual funding 
                        levels for the period covered by the strategic 
                        plan; and
                            (ii) include any additional information the 
                        Department of Transportation expects to 
                        discover at the end of the period covered by 
                        the strategic plan as a result of the research 
                        and development in that topic area.
            (4) Considerations.--The Secretary shall ensure that the 
        strategic plan developed under this section--
                    (A) reflects input from a wide range of 
                stakeholders;
                    (B) includes and integrates the research and 
                development programs of all the Department of 
                Transportation's modal administrations, including 
                aviation, transit, rail, and maritime; and
                    (C) takes into account how research and development 
                by other Federal, State, private sector, and nonprofit 
                institutions--
                            (i) contributes to the achievement of the 
                        purposes identified under paragraph (3)(A); and
                            (ii) avoids unnecessary duplication of such 
                        efforts.
    (e) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Chapter 5 of title 23.--Chapter 5 of title 23, United 
        States Code, is amended--
                    (A) by striking section 508;
                    (B) in the table of contents, by striking the item 
                relating to section 508;
                    (C) in section 502--
                            (i) in subsection (a)(9), by striking 
                        ``transportation research and technology 
                        development strategic plan developed under 
                        section 508'' and inserting ``transportation 
                        research and development strategic plan under 
                        section 1303 of the Comprehensive 
                        Transportation and Consumer Protection Act of 
                        2015''; and
                            (ii) in subsection (b)(4), by striking 
                        ``transportation research and development 
                        strategic plan of the Secretary developed under 
                        section 508'' and inserting ``transportation 
                        research and development strategic plan under 
                        section 1303 of the Comprehensive 
                        Transportation and Consumer Protection Act of 
                        2015''; and
                    (D) in section 512(b), by striking ``as part of the 
                transportation research and development strategic plan 
                developed under section 508''.
            (2) Intelligent transportation systems.--Section 5205 of 
        the Intelligent Transportation Systems Act of 1998 (23 U.S.C. 
        502 note) is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (b), by striking ``as part of the 
                Surface Transportation Research and Development 
                Strategic Plan developed under section 508 of title 23, 
                United States Code'' and inserting ``as part of the 
                transportation research and development strategic plan 
                under section 1303 of the Comprehensive Transportation 
                and Consumer Protection Act of 2015''; and
                    (B) in subsection (e)(2)(A), by striking ``or the 
                Surface Transportation Research and Development 
                Strategic Plan developed under section 508 of title 23, 
                United States Code'' and inserting ``or the 
                transportation research and development strategic plan 
                under section 1303 of the Comprehensive Transportation 
                and Consumer Protection Act of 2015''.
            (3) Intelligent transportation system research.--Subtitle C 
        of title V of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient 
        Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (23 U.S.C. 512 
        note) is amended--
                    (A) in section 5305(h)(3)(A), by striking ``the 
                strategic plan under section 508 of title 23, United 
                States Code'' and inserting ``the 5-year transportation 
                research and development strategic plan under section 
                1303 of the Comprehensive Transportation and Consumer 
                Protection Act of 2015''; and
                    (B) in section 5307(c)(2)(A), by striking ``or the 
                surface transportation research and development 
                strategic plan developed under section 508 of title 23, 
                United States Code'' and inserting ``or the 5-year 
                transportation research and development strategic plan 
                under section 1303 of the Comprehensive Transportation 
                and Consumer Protection Act of 2015''.

SEC. 1304. RESEARCH OMBUDSMAN.

    (a) In General.--Subtitle III is amended by inserting after chapter 
63 the following:

                    ``CHAPTER 65--RESEARCH OMBUDSMAN

``Sec.
``6501. Research ombudsman.
``Sec. 6501. Research ombudsman
    ``(a) Establishment.--The Assistant Secretary for Research and 
Technology shall appoint a career Federal employee to serve as Research 
Ombudsman. This appointment shall not diminish the authority of peer 
review of research.
    ``(b) Qualifications.--The Research Ombudsman appointed under 
subsection (a), to the extent practicable--
            ``(1) shall have a background in academic research and a 
        strong understanding of sound study design;
            ``(2) shall develop a working knowledge of the stakeholder 
        communities and research needs of the transportation field; and
            ``(3) shall not have served as a political appointee of the 
        Department.
    ``(c) Responsibilities.--
            ``(1) Addressing complaints and questions.--The Research 
        Ombudsman shall--
                    ``(A) receive complaints and questions about--
                            ``(i) significant alleged omissions, 
                        improprieties, and systemic problems; and
                            ``(ii) excessive delays of, or within, a 
                        specific research project; and
                    ``(B) evaluate and address the complaints and 
                questions described in subparagraph (A).
            ``(2) Petitions.--
                    ``(A) Review.--The Research Ombudsman shall review 
                petitions relating to--
                            ``(i) conflicts of interest;
                            ``(ii) the study design and methodology;
                            ``(iii) assumptions and potential bias;
                            ``(iv) the length of the study; and
                            ``(v) the composition of any data sampled.
                    ``(B) Response to petitions.--The Research 
                Ombudsman shall--
                            ``(i) respond to relevant petitions within 
                        a reasonable period;
                            ``(ii) identify deficiencies in the 
                        petition's study design; and
                            ``(iii) propose a remedy for such 
                        deficiencies to the administrator of the modal 
                        administration responsible for completing the 
                        research project.
                    ``(C) Response to proposed remedy.--The 
                administrator of the modal agency charged with 
                completing the research project shall respond to the 
                proposed research remedy.
            ``(3) Required reviews.--The Research Ombudsman shall 
        evaluate the study plan for all statutorily required studies 
        and reports before the commencement of such studies to ensure 
        that the research plan has an appropriate sample size and 
        composition to address the stated purpose of the study.
    ``(d) Reports.--
            ``(1) In general.--Upon the completion of each review under 
        subsection (c), the Research Ombudsman shall--
                    ``(A) submit a report containing the results of 
                such review to--
                            ``(i) the Secretary;
                            ``(ii) the head of the relevant modal 
                        administration; and
                            ``(iii) the study or research leader; and
                    ``(B) publish such results on a public website, 
                with the modal agency response required under 
                subsection (c)(2)(C).
            ``(2) Independence.--Each report required under this 
        section shall be provided directly to the individuals described 
        in paragraph (1) without any comment or amendment from the 
        Secretary, the Deputy Secretary of Transportation, the head of 
        any modal administration of the Department, or any other 
        officer or employee of the Department or the Office of 
        Management and Budget.
    ``(e) Report to Inspector General.--The Research Ombudsman shall 
submit any evidence of misfeasance, malfeasance, waste, fraud, or abuse 
uncovered during a review under this section to the Inspector General 
for further review.
    ``(f) Removal.--The Research Ombudsman shall be subject adverse 
employment action for misconduct or good cause in accordance with the 
procedures and grounds set forth in chapter 75 of title 5.''.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of chapters for 
subtitle III is amended by inserting after the item relating to chapter 
63 the following:

``65. Research ombudsman....................................    6501''.

SEC. 1305. SMART CITIES TRANSPORTATION PLANNING STUDY.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall conduct a study of digital 
technologies and information technologies, including shared mobility, 
data, transportation network companies, and on-demand transportation 
services--
            (1) to understand the degree to which cities are adopting 
        these technologies;
            (2) to assess future planning, infrastructure and 
        investment needs; and
            (3) to provide best practices to plan for smart cities in 
        which information and technology are used--
                    (A) to improve city operations;
                    (B) to grow the local economy;
                    (C) to improve response in times of emergencies and 
                natural disasters; and
                    (D) to improve the lives of city residents.
    (b) Components.--The study conducted under subsection (a) shall--
            (1) identify broad issues that influence the ability of the 
        United States to plan for and invest in smart cities, including 
        barriers to collaboration and access to scientific information; 
        and
            (2) review how the expanded use of digital technologies, 
        mobile devices, and information may--
                    (A) enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of 
                existing transportation networks;
                    (B) optimize demand management services;
                    (C) impact low-income and other disadvantaged 
                communities;
                    (D) assess opportunities to share, collect, and use 
                data;
                    (E) change current planning and investment 
                strategies; and
                    (F) provide opportunities for enhanced coordination 
                and planning.
    (c) Reporting.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall publish the report 
containing the results of the study required under subsection (a) to a 
public website.

SEC. 1306. BUREAU OF TRANSPORTATION STATISTICS INDEPENDENCE.

    Section 6302 is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) Independence of Bureau.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Director shall not be required--
                    ``(A) to obtain the approval of any other officer 
                or employee of the Department with respect to the 
                collection or analysis of any information; or
                    ``(B) prior to publication, to obtain the approval 
                of any other officer or employee of the United States 
                with respect to the substance of any statistical 
                technical reports or press releases lawfully prepared 
                by the Director.
            ``(2) Budget authority.--The Director shall have final 
        authority for the disposition and allocation of the Bureau's 
        authorized budget, including--
                    ``(A) all hiring, grants, cooperative agreements, 
                and contracts awarded by the Bureau to carry out this 
                section; and
                    ``(B) the disposition and allocation of amounts 
                paid to the Bureau for cost-reimbursable projects.
            ``(3) Exceptions.--The Secretary shall direct external 
        support functions, such as the coordination of activities 
        involving multiple modal administrations.
            ``(4) Information technology.--In consultation with the 
        Chief Information Officer, the Director shall have the final 
        authority in decisions regarding information technology in 
        order to protect the confidentiality of information provided 
        solely for statistical purposes, in accordance with the 
        Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency 
        Act of 2002 (44 U.S.C. 3501 note).''.

SEC. 1307. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

    (a) Title 49 Amendments.--
            (1) Assistant secretaries; general counsel.--Section 102(e) 
        is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``5'' and 
                inserting ``6''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting ``an 
                Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology,'' 
                before ``and an Assistant Secretary''.
            (2) Office of the assistant secretary for research and 
        technology of the department of transportation.--Section 112 is 
        repealed.
            (3) Table of contents.--The table of contents of chapter 1 
        is amended by striking the item relating to section 112.
            (4) Research contracts.--Section 330 is amended--
                    (A) in the section heading, by striking 
                ``contracts'' and inserting ``activities'';
                    (B) in subsection (a), by inserting ``In General.--
                '' before ``The Secretary'';
                    (C) in subsection (b), by inserting 
                ``Responsibilities.--'' before ``In carrying out'';
                    (D) in subsection (c), by inserting 
                ``Publications.--'' before ``The Secretary''; and
                    (E) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) Duties.--The Secretary shall provide for the following:
            ``(1) Coordination, facilitation, and review of the 
        Department's research and development programs and activities.
            ``(2) Advancement, and research and development, of 
        innovative technologies, including intelligent transportation 
        systems.
            ``(3) Comprehensive transportation statistics research, 
        analysis, and reporting.
            ``(4) Education and training in transportation and 
        transportation-related fields.
            ``(5) Activities of the Volpe National Transportation 
        Systems Center.
    ``(e) Additional Authorities.--The Secretary may--
            ``(1) enter into grants and cooperative agreements with 
        Federal agencies, State and local government agencies, other 
        public entities, private organizations, and other persons--
                    ``(A) to conduct research into transportation 
                service and infrastructure assurance; and
                    ``(B) to carry out other research activities of the 
                Department;
            ``(2) carry out, on a cost-shared basis, collaborative 
        research and development to encourage innovative solutions to 
        multimodal transportation problems and stimulate the deployment 
        of new technology with--
                    ``(A) non-Federal entities, including State and 
                local governments, foreign governments, institutions of 
                higher education, corporations, institutions, 
                partnerships, sole proprietorships, and trade 
                associations that are incorporated or established under 
                the laws of any State;
                    ``(B) Federal laboratories; and
                    ``(C) other Federal agencies; and
            ``(3) directly initiate contracts, grants, cooperative 
        research and development agreements (as defined in section 12 
        of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 
        U.S.C. 3710a)), and other agreements to fund, and accept funds 
        from, the Transportation Research Board of the National 
        Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences, State 
        departments of transportation, cities, counties, institutions 
        of higher education, associations, and the agents of those 
        entities to carry out joint transportation research and 
        technology efforts.
    ``(f) Federal Share.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Federal 
        share of the cost of an activity carried out under subsection 
        (e)(3) shall not exceed 50 percent.
            ``(2) Exception.--If the Secretary determines that the 
        activity is of substantial public interest or benefit, the 
        Secretary may approve a greater Federal share.
            ``(3) Non-federal share.--All costs directly incurred by 
        the non-Federal partners, including personnel, travel, 
        facility, and hardware development costs, shall be credited 
        toward the non-Federal share of the cost of an activity 
        described in paragraph (1).
    ``(g) Program Evaluation and Oversight.--For fiscal years 2016 
through 2021, the Secretary is authorized to expend not more than 1\1/
2\ percent of the amounts authorized to be appropriated for necessary 
expenses for administration and operations of the Office of the 
Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology for the coordination, 
evaluation, and oversight of the programs administered under this 
section.
    ``(h) Use of Technology.--The research, development, or use of a 
technology under a contract, grant, cooperative research and 
development agreement, or other agreement entered into under this 
section, including the terms under which the technology may be licensed 
and the resulting royalties may be distributed, shall be subject to the 
Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3701 et 
seq.).
    ``(i) Waiver of Advertising Requirements.--Section 6101 of title 41 
shall not apply to a contract, grant, or other agreement entered into 
under this section.''.
            (5) Table of contents.--The item relating to section 330 in 
        the table of contents of chapter 3 is amended by striking 
        ``Contracts'' and inserting ``Activities''.
            (6) Bureau of transportation statistics.--Section 6302(a) 
        is amended to read as follows:
    ``(a) In General.--There shall be within the Department the Bureau 
of Transportation Statistics.''.
    (b) Title 5 Amendments.--
            (1) Positions at level ii.--Section 5313 of title 5, United 
        States Code, is amended by striking ``Under Secretary of 
        Transportation for Security.''.
            (2) Positions at level iii.--Section 5314 of title 5, 
        United States Code, is amended by striking ``Administrator, 
        Research and Innovative Technology Administration.''.
            (3) Positions at level iv.--Section 5315 of title 5, United 
        States Code, is amended by striking ``(4)'' in the undesignated 
        item relating to Assistant Secretaries of Transportation and 
        inserting ``(5)''.
            (4) Positions at level v.--Section 5316 is amended by 
        striking ``Associate Deputy Secretary, Department of 
        Transportation.''.

SEC. 1308. REPEAL OF OBSOLETE OFFICE.

    (a) In General.--Section 5503 is repealed.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of chapter 55 is 
amended by striking the item relating to section 5503.

                    Subtitle D--Port Performance Act

SEC. 1401. SHORT TITLE.

    This subtitle may be cited as the ``Port Performance Act''.

SEC. 1402. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) America's ports play a critical role in the Nation's 
        transportation supply chain network.
            (2) Reliable and efficient movement of goods through the 
        Nation's ports ensures that American goods are available to 
        customers throughout the world.
            (3) Breakdowns in the transportation supply chain network, 
        particularly at the Nation's ports, can result in tremendous 
        economic losses for agriculture, businesses, and retailers that 
        rely on timely shipments.
            (4) A clear understanding of port productivity and 
        throughput would help--
                    (A) to identify freight bottlenecks;
                    (B) to indicate performance and trends over time; 
                and
                    (C) to inform investment decisions.

SEC. 1403. PORT PERFORMANCE FREIGHT STATISTICS PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 63 is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
``Sec. 6314. Port performance freight statistics program
    ``(a) In General.--The Director shall establish, on behalf of the 
Secretary, a port performance statistics program to provide nationally 
consistent measures of performance of--
            ``(1) the Nation's top 25 ports by tonnage;
            ``(2) the Nation's top 25 ports by 20-foot equivalent unit; 
        and
            ``(3) the Nation's top 25 ports by dry bulk.
    ``(b) Annual Reports.--
            ``(1) Port capacity and throughput.--Not later than January 
        15 of each year, the Director shall submit an annual report to 
        Congress that includes statistics on capacity and throughput at 
        the ports described in subsection (a).
            ``(2) Port performance measures.--The Director shall 
        collect monthly port performance measures for each of the 
        United States ports referred to in subsection (a) that receives 
        Federal assistance or is subject to Federal regulation to 
        submit an annual report to the Bureau of Transportation 
        Statistics that includes monthly statistics on capacity and 
        throughput as applicable to the specific configuration of the 
        port, including--
                    ``(A) the total capacity of inbound and outbound 
                cargo, including containers, break bulk, vehicles, and 
                dry and liquid bulk;
                    ``(B) the total volume of inbound and outbound 
                cargo, including containers, break bulk, vehicles, and 
                dry and liquid bulk;
                    ``(C) the average number of lifts per hour of 
                containers by crane;
                    ``(D) the average vessel turn time by vessel type;
                    ``(E) the average cargo or container dwell time;
                    ``(F) port storage capacity and utilization;
                    ``(G) the average truck time at ports;
                    ``(H) the average rail time at ports; and
                    ``(I) any additional metrics, as determined by the 
                Director after receiving recommendations from the 
                working group established under subsection (c).
    ``(c) Recommendations.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Director shall obtain 
        recommendations for--
                    ``(A) specifications and data measurements for the 
                port performance measures listed in subsection (b)(2);
                    ``(B) additionally needed data elements for 
                measuring port performance; and
                    ``(C) a process for the Department of 
                Transportation to collect timely and consistent data, 
                including identifying safeguards to protect proprietary 
                information described in subsection (b)(2).
            ``(2) Working group.--Not later than 60 days after the date 
        of the enactment of this Act, the Director shall commission a 
        working group composed of--
                    ``(A) operating administrations of the Department 
                of Transportation;
                    ``(B) the Coast Guard;
                    ``(C) the Federal Maritime Commission;
                    ``(D) U.S. Customs and Border Protection;
                    ``(E) the Marine Transportation System National 
                Advisory Council;
                    ``(F) the Army Corps of Engineers;
                    ``(G) the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development 
                Corporation;
                    ``(H) the Advisory Committee on Supply Chain 
                Competitiveness;
                    ``(I) 1 representative from the rail industry;
                    ``(J) 1 representative from the trucking industry;
                    ``(K) 1 representative from the port management 
                industry;
                    ``(L) 1 representative from the maritime shipping 
                industry;
                    ``(M) 1 representative from the maritime labor 
                industry;
                    ``(N) representatives of the National Freight 
                Advisory Committee of the Department; and
                    ``(O) representatives of the Transportation 
                Research Board of the National Academies.
            ``(3) Recommendations.--Not later than 1 year after the 
        date of the enactment of the Port Performance Act, the working 
        group commissioned under this subsection shall submit its 
        recommendations to the Director.
    ``(d) Access to Data.--The Director shall ensure that the 
statistics compiled under this section are readily accessible to the 
public, consistent with applicable security constraints and 
confidentiality interests.''.
    (b) Prohibition on Certain Disclosures.--Section 6307(b)(1) is 
amended by inserting ``or section 6314(b)'' after ``section 
6302(b)(3)(B)'' each place it appears.
    (c) Copies of Reports.--Section 6307(b)(2)(A) is amended by 
inserting ``or section 6314(b)'' after ``section 6302(b)(3)(B)''.
    (d) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents for 
chapter 63 is amended by adding at the end the following:

``6314. Port performance freight statistics program.''.

SEC. 1404. MONTHLY REPORTS ON PERFORMANCE AT UNITED STATES PORTS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year before the expiration date 
of a maritime labor agreement that applies to facilities of a United 
States port, 3 months before the expiration date of the maritime labor 
agreement, and monthly thereafter until a new agreement is agreed to, 
the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Secretary of 
Commerce and the Secretary of Labor, shall submit a report to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives that includes port performance indicators at the 
affected port. If multiple ports are affected by the expiration of the 
maritime labor agreement, the Secretary of Transportation shall submit 
a report for each affected port.
    (b) Contents.--Each report required under subsection (a) shall 
include, for the affected port during the previous month--
            (1) the performance indicators listed under section 
        6314(b)(2) of title 49, United States Code;
            (2) the number and type of vessels awaiting berthing, 
        including average wait time;
            (3) the number of cancelled vessel calls;
            (4) an estimate of the economic impact associated with any 
        delays both at the port and across the national economy;
            (5) an estimate of the amount of time required to clear any 
        congestion;
            (6) the average number of labor positions ordered and 
        filled; and
            (7) any other factors that might have created delays, 
        including weather, equipment maintenance or failures, or 
        infrastructure development or repair.
    (c) Effective Period.--The Secretary of Transportation, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Labor, 
shall submit a report required under subsection (a) for an affected 
port until the date on which a new maritime labor agreement that 
applies to the facilities of the port is agreed to by all of the 
parties to that maritime labor agreement.
    (d) Definition of Maritime Labor Agreement.--In this section, the 
term ``maritime labor agreement'' has the meaning given such term in 
section 40102 of title 46, United States Code.

         TITLE II--COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE AND DRIVER PROGRAMS

       Subtitle A--Compliance, Safety, and Accountability Reform

             PART I--COMPLIANCE, SAFETY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY

SEC. 2001. CORRELATION STUDY.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier 
Safety Administration (referred to in this part as the 
``Administrator'') shall commission the National Research Council of 
the National Academies to conduct a study of--
            (1) the Safety Measurement System (referred to in this part 
        as ``SMS''); and
            (2) the Compliance, Safety, Accountability program 
        (referred to in this part as the ``CSA program'').
    (b) Scope of Study.--In carrying out the study commissioned 
pursuant to subsection (a), the National Research Council--
            (1) shall analyze--
                    (A) the accuracy with which the Behavior Analysis 
                and Safety Improvement Categories (referred to in this 
                part as ``BASIC'') safety measures used by SMS--
                            (i) identify high risk drivers and 
                        carriers; and
                            (ii) predict or be correlated with future 
                        crash risk, crash severity, or other safety 
                        indicators for individual drivers, motor 
                        carriers, and the highest risk carriers;
                    (B) the methodology used to calculate BASIC 
                percentiles and identify carriers for enforcement, 
                including the weights assigned to particular 
                violations, and the tie between crash risk and specific 
                regulatory violations, in order to accurately identify 
                and predict future crash risk for motor carriers;
                    (C) the relative value of inspection information 
                and roadside enforcement data;
                    (D) any data collection gaps or data sufficiency 
                problems that may exist and the impact of those data 
                gaps and insufficiencies on the efficacy of the CSA 
                program; and
                    (E) the accuracy of data processing; and
            (2) should consider--
                    (A) whether the current SMS provides comparable 
                precision and confidence for SMS alerts and percentiles 
                for the relative crash risk of individual large and 
                small motor carriers;
                    (B) whether alternative systems would identify high 
                risk carriers or identify high risk drivers and motor 
                carriers more accurately; and
                    (C) the recommendations and findings of the 
                Comptroller General of the United States and the 
                Inspector General, and independent review team reports 
                issued before the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall submit a report containing the 
results of the completed study to--
            (1) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
        of the Senate;
            (2) the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
        the House of Representatives;
            (3) the Inspector General of the Department of 
        Transportation; and
            (4) the Comptroller General of the United States.
    (d) Corrective Action Plan.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the 
        Administrator submits a report under subsection (c) that 
        identifies a deficiency or opportunity for improvement in the 
        CSA program or in any element of SMS, the Administrator shall 
        submit a corrective action plan to the Committee on Commerce, 
        Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
        Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
        Representatives that--
                    (A) responds to the concerns highlighted by the 
                report;
                    (B) identifies how the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
                Administration will address such concerns; and
                    (C) provides an estimate of the cost, including 
                changes in staffing, enforcement, and data collection 
                necessary to implement the recommendations.
            (2) Program reforms.--The corrective action plan submitted 
        under paragraph (1) shall include an implementation plan that--
                    (A) includes benchmarks;
                    (B) includes programmatic reforms, revisions to 
                regulations, or proposals for legislation; and
                    (C) shall be considered in any rulemaking by the 
                Department of Transportation that relates to the CSA 
                program, including the SMS data sets or analysis.
    (e) Inspector General Review.--Not later than 120 days after the 
Administrator issues a corrective action plan under subsection (d), the 
Inspector General of the Department of Transportation shall--
            (1) review the extent to which such plan implements--
                    (A) recommendations contained in the report 
                submitted under subsection (c); and
                    (B) recommendations issued by the Comptroller 
                General or the Inspector General before the date of 
                enactment of this Act; and
            (2) submit a report to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
        and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
        Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
        Representatives on the responsiveness of the corrective action 
        plan to the recommendations described in paragraph (1).
    (f) Fiscal Limitation.--The Administrator shall carry out the study 
required under this section using amounts appropriated to the Federal 
Motor Carrier Safety Administration and available for obligation and 
expenditure as of the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 2002. SAFETY IMPROVEMENT METRICS.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator shall incorporate a methodology 
into the CSA program or establish a third-party process to allow 
recognition, including credit, improved score, or by establishing a 
safety BASIC in SMS for safety technology, tools, programs, and systems 
approved by the Administrator through the qualification process 
developed under subsection (b) that exceed regulatory requirements or 
are used to enhance safety performance, including--
            (1) the installation of qualifying advanced safety 
        equipment, such as--
                    (A) collision mitigation systems;
                    (B) lane departure warnings;
                    (C) speed limiters;
                    (D) electronic logging devices;
                    (E) electronic stability control;
                    (F) critical event recorders; and
                    (G) strengthening rear guards and sideguards for 
                underride protection;
            (2) the use of enhanced driver fitness measures that exceed 
        current regulatory requirements, such as--
                    (A) additional new driver training;
                    (B) enhanced and ongoing driver training; and
                    (C) remedial driver training to address specific 
                deficiencies as identified in roadside inspection or 
                enforcement reports;
            (3) the adoption of qualifying administrative fleet safety 
        management tools technologies, driver performance and behavior 
        management technologies, and programs; and
            (4) technologies and measures identified through the 
        process described in subsection (c).
    (b) Qualification.--The Administrator, through notice and comment 
rulemaking, shall develop technical or other performance standards for 
technology, advanced safety equipment, enhanced driver fitness 
measures, tools, programs, or systems used by motor carriers that will 
qualify for credit under this section.
    (c) Additional Requirements.--In modifying the CSA program under 
subsection (a), the Administrator, through notice and comment 
rulemaking, shall develop a process for identifying and reviewing other 
technology, advanced safety equipment, enhanced driver fitness 
measures, tools, programs, or systems used by motor carriers to improve 
safety performance that--
            (1) provides for a petition for reviewing technology, 
        advanced safety equipment, enhanced driver fitness measures, 
        tools, programs, or systems;
            (2) seeks input and participation from industry 
        stakeholders, including drivers, technology manufacturers, 
        vehicle manufacturers, motor carriers, enforcement communities, 
        and safety advocates, and the Motor Carrier Safety Advisory 
        Committee; and
            (3) includes technology, advanced safety equipment, 
        enhanced driver fitness measures, tools, programs, or systems 
        with a date certain for future statutory or regulatory 
        implementation.
    (d) Safety Improvement Metrics Use and Verification.--The 
Administrator, through notice and comment rulemaking, shall develop a 
process for--
            (1) providing recognition or credit within a motor 
        carrier's SMS score for the installation and use of measures in 
        paragraphs (1) through (4) of subsection (a);
            (2) ensuring that the safety improvement metrics developed 
        under this section are presented with other SMS data;
            (3) verifying the installation or use of such technology, 
        advanced safety equipment, enhanced driver fitness measures, 
        tools, programs, or systems;
            (4) modifying or removing recognition or credit upon 
        verification of noncompliance with this section;
            (5) ensuring that the credits or recognition referred to in 
        paragraph (1) reflect the safety improvement anticipated as a 
        result of the installation or use of the specific technology, 
        advanced safety equipment, enhanced driver fitness measure, 
        tool, program, or system;
            (6) verifying the deployment and use of qualifying 
        equipment or management systems by a motor carrier through a 
        certification from the vehicle manufacturer, the system or 
        service provider, the insurance carrier, or through documents 
        submitted by the motor carrier to the Department of 
        Transportation;
            (7) annually reviewing the list of qualifying safety 
        technology, advanced safety equipment, enhanced driver fitness 
        measures, tools, programs, or systems; and
            (8) removing systems mandated by law or regulation, or if 
        such systems demonstrate a lack of efficacy, from the list of 
        qualifying technologies, advanced safety equipment, enhanced 
        driver fitness measures, tools, programs, or systems eligible 
        for credit under the CSA program.
    (e) Dissemination of Information.--The Administrator shall maintain 
a public website that contains information regarding--
            (1) the technology, advanced safety equipment, enhanced 
        driver fitness measures, tools, programs, or systems eligible 
        for credit and improved scores;
            (2) any petitions for study of the technology, advanced 
        safety equipment, enhanced driver fitness measures, tools, 
        programs, or systems; and
            (3) statistics and information relating to the use of such 
        technology, advanced safety equipment, enhanced driver fitness 
        measures, tools, programs, or systems.
    (f) Public Report.--Not later than 1 year after the establishment 
of the Safety Improvement Metrics System (referred to in this section 
as ``SIMS'') under this section, and annually thereafter, the 
Administrator shall publish, on a public website, a report that 
identifies--
            (1) the types of technology, advanced safety equipment, 
        enhanced driver fitness measures, tools, programs, or systems 
        that are eligible for credit;
            (2) the number of instances in which each technology, 
        advanced safety equipment, enhanced driver fitness measure, 
        tool, program, or system is used;
            (3) the number of motor carriers, and a description of the 
        carrier's fleet size, that received recognition or credit under 
        the modified CSA program; and
            (4) the pre- and post-adoption safety performance of the 
        motor carriers described in paragraph (3).
    (g) Evaluation.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the 
        implementation of SIMS under this section, the Administrator 
        shall conduct an evaluation of the effectiveness of SIMS by 
        reviewing the impacts of SIMS on--
                    (A) law enforcement, commercial drivers and motor 
                carriers, and motor carrier safety; and
                    (B) safety and adoption of new technologies.
            (2) Report.--Not later than 30 months after the 
        implementation of the program, the Administrator shall submit a 
        report to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
        Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
        Representatives that describes--
                    (A) the results of the evaluation conducted under 
                paragraph (1); and
                    (B) the actions the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
                Administration plans to take to modify the 
                demonstration program based on such results.
    (h) Use of Estimates of Safety Effects.--In conducting regulatory 
impact analyses for rulemakings relating to the technology, advanced 
safety equipment, enhanced driver fitness measures, tools, programs, or 
systems selected for credit under the CSA program, the Administrator, 
to the extent practicable, shall use the data gathered under this 
section and appropriate statistical methodology, including sufficient 
sample sizes, composition, and appropriate comparison groups, including 
representative motor carriers of all sizes, to estimate the effects on 
safety performance and reduction in the number and severity of 
accidents with qualifying technology, advanced safety equipment, tools, 
programs, and systems.
    (i) Savings Provision.--Nothing in this section may be construed to 
provide the Administrator with additional authority to change the 
requirements for the operation of a commercial motor vehicle.

SEC. 2003. DATA CERTIFICATION.

    (a) Limitation.--Beginning not later than 1 day after the date of 
enactment of this Act, none of the analysis of violation information, 
enforcement prioritization, not-at-fault crashes, alerts, or the 
relative percentile for each Behavioral Analysis and Safety Improvement 
Category developed through the CSA program may be made available to the 
general public (including through requests under section 552 of title 
5, United States Code) until the Inspector General of the Department of 
Transportation certifies that--
            (1) any deficiencies identified in the correlation study 
        required under section 2001 have been addressed;
            (2) the corrective action plan has been implemented and the 
        concerns raised by the correlation study under section 2001 
        have been addressed;
            (3) the Administrator has fully implemented or 
        satisfactorily addressed the issues raised in the February 2014 
        GAO report entitled ``Modifying the Compliance, Safety, 
        Accountability Program Would Improve the Ability to Identify 
        High Risk Carriers'' (GAO-14-114), which called into question 
        the accuracy and completeness of safety performance 
        calculations;
            (4) the study required under section 2001 has been 
        published on a public website; and
            (5) the CSA program has been modified in accordance with 
        section 2002.
    (b) Limitation on Use of SMS Data.--The analysis of violation 
information enforcement prioritization, alerts, or the relative 
percentile for each Behavioral Analysis and Safety Improvement Category 
developed through the CSA program within the SMS system may not be used 
for safety fitness determinations until the requirements under 
subsection (a) have been satisfied.
    (c) Exceptions.--
            (1) In general.--Notwithstanding the limitations set forth 
        in subsections (a) and (b)--
                    (A) the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration 
                and State and local commercial motor vehicle 
                enforcement agencies may only use the information 
                referred to in subsection (a) for purposes of 
                investigation and enforcement prioritization; and
                    (B) motor carriers and commercial motor vehicle 
                drivers may access information referred to in 
                subsection (a) that relates directly to the motor 
                carrier or driver, respectively.
            (2) Limitation.--Nothing in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of 
        paragraph (1) may be construed to restrict the official use by 
        State enforcement agencies of the data collected by State 
        enforcement personnel.
    (d) Certification.--The certification process described in 
subsection (a) shall occur concurrently with the implementation of SIMS 
under section 2002.

SEC. 2004. DATA IMPROVEMENT.

    (a) Functional Specifications.--Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall develop 
functional specifications to ensure the consistent and accurate input 
of data into systems and databases relating to the CSA program.
    (b) Functionality.--The specifications developed pursuant to 
subsection (a)--
            (1) shall provide for the hardcoding and smart logic 
        functionality for roadside inspection data collection systems 
        and databases; and
            (2) shall be made available to public and private sector 
        developers.
    (c) Effective Data Management.--The Administrator shall ensure that 
internal systems and databases accept and effectively manage data using 
uniform standards.
    (d) Consultation With the States.--Before implementing the 
functional specifications described in subsection (a) or the standards 
described in subsection (c), the Administrator shall seek input from 
the State agencies responsible for enforcing section 31102 of title 49, 
United States Code.

SEC. 2005. ACCIDENT REPORT INFORMATION.

    (a) Review.--The Administrator shall initiate a demonstration 
program that allows motor carriers and drivers to request a review of 
crashes, and the removal of crash data by the Federal Motor Carrier 
Safety Administration of crashes, and removal from any weighting, or 
carrier safety analysis, if the commercial motor vehicle was operated 
legally and another motorist in connection with the crash is found--
            (1) to have been driving under the influence;
            (2) to have been driving the wrong direction on a roadway;
            (3) to have struck the commercial motor vehicle in the 
        rear;
            (4) to have struck the commercial motor vehicle which was 
        legally stopped;
            (5) by the investigating officer or agency to have been 
        responsible for the crash; or
            (6) to have committed other violations determined by the 
        Administrator.
    (b) Documents.--As part of a request for review under subsection 
(a), the motor carrier or driver shall submit a copy of available 
police reports, crash investigations, judicial actions, insurance claim 
information, and any related court actions submitted by each party 
involved in the accident.
    (c) Solicitation of Other Information.--Following a notice and 
comment period, the Administrator may solicit other types of 
information to be collected under subsection (b) to facilitate 
appropriate reviews under this section.
    (d) Evaluation.--The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration 
shall review the information submitted under subsections (b) and (c).
    (e) Results.--The results of the review under subsection (a)--
            (1) shall be used to recalculate the motor carrier's crash 
        BASIC percentile;
            (2) if the carrier is determined to not be responsible for 
        the crash incident, such information, shall be reflected on the 
        website of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration; and
            (3) shall not be admitted as evidence or otherwise used in 
        a civil action.
    (f) Fee System.--
            (1) Establishment.--The Administrator may establish a fee 
        system, in accordance with section 9701 of title 31, United 
        States Code, in which a motor carrier is charged a fee for each 
        review of a crash requested by such motor carrier under this 
        section.
            (2) Disposition of fees.--Fees collected under this 
        section--
                    (A) may be credited to the Department of 
                Transportation appropriations account for purpose of 
                carrying out this section; and
                    (B) shall be used to fully fund the operation of 
                the review program authorized under this section.
    (g) Review and Report.--Not earlier than 2 years after the 
establishment of the demonstration program under this section, the 
Administrator shall--
            (1) conduct a review of the internal crash review program 
        to determine if other crash types should be included; and
            (2) submit a report to Congress that describes--
                    (A) the number of crashes reviewed;
                    (B) the number of crashes for which the commercial 
                motor vehicle operator was determined not to be at 
                fault; and
                    (C) relevant information relating to the program, 
                including the cost to operate the program and the fee 
                structure established.

SEC. 2006. POST-ACCIDENT REPORT REVIEW.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall convene a working group--
            (1) to review the data elements of post-accident reports, 
        for tow-away accidents involving commercial motor vehicles, 
        that are reported to the Federal Government; and
            (2) to report to the Secretary its findings and any 
        recommendations, including best practices for State post-
        accident reports to achieve the data elements described in 
        subsection (c).
    (b) Composition.--Not less than 51 percent of the working group 
should be composed of individuals representing the States or State law 
enforcement officials. The remaining members of the working group shall 
represent industry, labor, safety advocates, and other interested 
parties.
    (c) Considerations.--The working group shall consider requiring 
additional data elements, including--
            (1) the primary cause of the accident, if the primary cause 
        can be determined;
            (2) the physical characteristics of the commercial motor 
        vehicle and any other vehicle involved in the accident, 
        including--
                    (A) the vehicle configuration;
                    (B) the gross vehicle weight if the weight can be 
                readily determined;
                    (C) the number of axles; and
                    (D) the distance between axles, if the distance can 
                be readily determined; and
            (3) any data elements that could contribute to the 
        appropriate consideration of requests under section 2005.
    (d) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary shall--
            (1) review the findings of the working group;
            (2) identify the best practices for State post-accident 
        reports that are reported to the Federal Government, including 
        identifying the data elements that should be collected 
        following a tow-away commercial motor vehicle accident; and
            (3) recommend to the States the adoption of new data 
        elements to be collected following reportable commercial motor 
        vehicle accidents.

SEC. 2007. RECOGNIZING EXCELLENCE IN SAFETY.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator shall establish a program to 
publicly recognize motor carriers and drivers whose safety records and 
programs exceed compliance with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
Administration's safety regulations and demonstrate clear and 
outstanding safety practices.
    (b) Restriction.--The program established under subsection (a) may 
not be deemed to be an endorsement of, or a preference for, motor 
carriers or drivers recognized under the program.

SEC. 2008. HIGH RISK CARRIER REVIEWS.

    (a) In General.--After the completion of the certification under 
section 2003 of this Act, and the establishment of the Safety Fitness 
Determination program, the Secretary shall ensure that a review is 
completed on each motor carrier that demonstrates through performance 
data that it poses the highest safety risk. At a minimum, a review 
shall be conducted whenever a motor carrier is among the highest risk 
carriers for 4 consecutive months.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the completion of the 
certification under section 2003 of this Act and the establishment of 
the Safety Fitness Determination program, the Secretary shall post on a 
public website a report on the actions the Secretary has taken to 
comply with this section, including the number of high risk carriers 
identified and the high risk carriers reviewed.
    (c) Conforming Amendment.--Section 4138 of the Safe, Accountable, 
Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (49 
U.S.C. 31144 note) is repealed.

                    PART II--INTERIM HIRING STANDARD

SEC. 2101. DEFINITIONS.

    In this part:
            (1) Entity.--The term ``entity'' means a person acting as--
                    (A) a shipper or a consignee;
                    (B) a broker, a freight forwarder, or a household 
                goods freight forwarder (as such terms are defined in 
                section 13102 of title 49, United States Code);
                    (C) a non-vessel-operating common carrier, an ocean 
                freight forwarder, or an ocean transportation 
                intermediary (as such terms are defined in section 
                40102 of title 46, United States Code);
                    (D) an indirect air carrier authorized to operate 
                under a Standard Security Program approved by the 
                Transportation Security Administration;
                    (E) a customs broker licensed in accordance with 
                section 111.2 of title 19, Code of Federal Regulations;
                    (F) an interchange motor carrier subject to 
                paragraphs (1)(B) and (2) of section 13902(i); or
                    (G) a warehouse (as defined in Article 7-102(13) of 
                the Uniform Commercial Code).
            (2) Motor carrier.--The term ``motor carrier'' means a 
        motor carrier or a household goods motor carrier (as such terms 
        are defined in section 13102 of title 49, United States Code) 
        that is subject to Federal motor carrier financial 
        responsibility and safety regulations.
            (3) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the 50 States, 
        a political subdivision of any such State, any intrastate 
        agency, any other political agency of 2 or more States, the 
        District of Columbia, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the 
        Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 
        Guam, and the Virgin Islands.

SEC. 2102. NATIONAL HIRING STANDARDS FOR MOTOR CARRIERS.

    (a) National Standard.--Before tendering a shipment, but not more 
than 35 days before the pickup of a shipment by the hired motor 
carrier, an entity shall verify that the motor carrier, at the time of 
such verification--
            (1) is registered with and authorized by the Federal Motor 
        Carrier Safety Administration to operate as a motor carrier or 
        household goods motor carrier, if applicable;
            (2) has the minimum insurance coverage required by Federal 
        law; and
            (3)(A) before the safety fitness determination regulations 
        are issued, does not have an unsatisfactory safety fitness 
        determination issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
        Administration in force at the time of such verification; or
            (B) beginning on the date that safety fitness determination 
        regulations are implemented, does not have a safety fitness 
        rating issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
        Administration under such regulations that is the equivalent of 
        the unsatisfactory fitness rating referred to in subparagraph 
        (A).
    (b) Interim Use of Data.--
            (1) In general.--Only evidence of an entity's compliance 
        with subsection (a), crash data, and violations may be admitted 
        as evidence or otherwise used in a civil action for damages 
        resulting from a claim of negligent selection or retention of 
        such motor carrier against the entity.
            (2) Excluded evidence.--All other motor carrier data 
        created or maintained by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
        Administration, including safety measurement system data or 
        analysis of such data, may not be admitted into evidence in a 
        case or proceeding in which it is asserted or alleged that an 
        entity's selection or retention of a motor carrier was 
        negligent.
            (3) Cessation of effectiveness.--Paragraphs (1) and (2) of 
        this subsection cease to be effective on the date of completion 
        of the certification under section 2003 of this Act.

SEC. 2103. APPLICABILITY.

    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, this part shall not 
apply to any motor carrier transportation contract entered into before 
the date of enactment of this Act.

          Subtitle B--Drug Free Commercial Driver Act of 2015

SEC. 2201. SHORT TITLE.

    This subtitle may be cited as the ``Drug Free Commercial Driver Act 
of 2015''.

SEC. 2202. AUTHORIZATION OF HAIR TESTING.

    Section 31306 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(1)--
                    (A) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as 
                subparagraph (C); and
                    (B) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``The 
                regulations shall permit such motor carriers to conduct 
                preemployment testing of such employees for the use of 
                alcohol.'' and inserting the following:
    ``(B) The regulations prescribed under subparagraph (A) shall 
permit motor carriers--
            ``(i) to conduct preemployment testing of commercial motor 
        vehicle operators for the use of alcohol; and
            ``(ii) to use hair testing as an acceptable alternative to 
        urinalysis--
                    ``(I) in conducting preemployment screening for the 
                use of a controlled substance; and
                    ``(II) in conducting random screening for the use 
                of a controlled substance by individuals who were 
                subject to preemployment screening.''; and
            (2) in subsection (c)(2)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in subparagraph (C), by inserting ``and'' after 
                the semicolon; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(D) laboratory protocols and cut-off levels for 
                hair testing to detect the use of a controlled 
                substance;''.

SEC. 2203. EXEMPTION FROM MANDATORY URINALYSIS.

    (a) In General.--Any motor carrier that demonstrates, to the 
satisfaction of the Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
Administration, that it can carry out an applicable hair testing 
program, consistent with generally accepted industry standards, to 
detect the use of a controlled substance by commercial motor vehicle 
operators, may apply to the Administrator for an exemption from the 
mandatory urinalysis testing requirements set forth in subpart C of 
part 382 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, until a final rule 
is issued implementing the amendments made by section 2202 of this Act.
    (b) Evaluation of Applications.--
            (1) In general.--In evaluating an application for an 
        exemption under subsection (a), the Administrator shall 
        determine if the applicant's testing program employs procedures 
        and protections similar to fleets that have carried out hair 
        testing programs for at least 1 year.
            (2) Requirements.--A testing program may not receive an 
        exemption under subsection (a) unless the applicable testing 
        laboratories--
                    (A) have obtained laboratory accreditation specific 
                to hair testing from an accrediting body, compliant 
                with international or other Federal standards as 
                appropriate, such as the College of American 
                Pathologists; and
                    (B) utilize hair testing assays that have been 
                cleared by the Food and Drug Administration under 
                section 510(k) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic 
                Act (21 U.S.C. 360(k)).
    (c) Reporting Requirement.--Any motor carrier that is granted an 
exemption under subsection (a) shall submit records to the national 
clearinghouse established under section 31306a of title 49, United 
States Code, relating to all positive test results and test refusals 
from the hair testing program described in that subsection.

SEC. 2204. GUIDELINES FOR HAIR TESTING.

    Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services shall issue scientific and 
technical guidelines for hair testing as a method of detecting the use 
of a controlled substance for purposes of section 31306 of title 49, 
United States Code, as amended by section 2202 of this Act. When 
issuing the scientific and technical guidelines, the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services may consider differentiating between exposure 
to and usage of various controlled substances.

SEC. 2205. ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS.

    Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and 
annually thereafter for 5 years, the Secretary of Transportation shall 
submit a report to Congress that--
            (1) summarizes the results of preemployment and random drug 
        testing using both hair testing and urinalysis;
            (2) evaluates the efficacy of each method; and
            (3) determines which method provides the most accurate 
        means of detecting the use of controlled substances over time.

              Subtitle C--Transparency and Accountability

SEC. 2301. RULEMAKING REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, if the Secretary determines that a significant number of 
crashes are not covered by the current minimum insurance requirements, 
the Secretary shall commence a rulemaking to determine whether to 
increase the minimum levels of financial responsibility required under 
section 31139 of title 49, United States Code, for a motor carrier to 
transport property.
    (b) Considerations.--In considering a notice of proposed rulemaking 
or final rule to increase the minimum levels of financial 
responsibility under subsection (a), the Secretary shall identify and 
consider--
            (1) current State insurance requirements;
            (2) the differences between the State insurance 
        requirements identified under paragraph (1) and Federal 
        requirements;
            (3) the amount of an insurance claim at the current minimum 
        levels of financial responsibility that is applied toward--
                    (A) medical care;
                    (B) compensation;
                    (C) attorney fees; or
                    (D) other identifiable costs of a claim; and
            (4) the frequency in which an insurance claim exceeds the 
        current minimum levels of financial responsibility, including, 
        to the extent practicable, unsealed verdicts and settlements.
    (c) Rulemaking.--If the Secretary commences a rulemaking under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall include in the rulemaking--
            (1) an estimate of the regulations impact on--
                    (A) the safety of motor vehicle transportation;
                    (B) the economic condition of the motor carrier 
                industry, including small and minority motor carriers 
                and independent owner-operators;
                    (C) the ability of the insurance industry to 
                provide the required amount of insurance; and
                    (D) the ability of the minimum insurance level to 
                cover the full cost of injuries, compensatory damages, 
                and fatalities; and
            (2) an estimate of the effects an increase in the minimum 
        levels of financial responsibility would have on--
                    (A) small motor carriers;
                    (B) insurance premiums for motor carriers, 
                including small and minority motor carriers and 
                independent owner-operators; and
                    (C) the availability of insurance to meet the 
                minimum levels of financial responsibility.

SEC. 2302. PETITIONS FOR REGULATORY RELIEF.

    (a) Applications for Regulatory Relief.--Notwithstanding subpart C 
of part 381 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, the Secretary 
shall allow an applicant representing a class or group of motor 
carriers to apply for a specific exemption from any provision of the 
regulations under part 395 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, 
for commercial motor vehicle drivers.
    (b) Review Process.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish the 
        procedures for the application for and the review of an 
        exemption under subsection (a).
            (2) Publication.--Not later than 30 days after the date of 
        receipt of an application for an exemption, the Secretary shall 
        publish the application in the Federal Register and provide the 
        public with an opportunity to comment.
            (3) Public comment.--
                    (A) In general.--Each application shall be 
                available for public comment for a 30-day period, but 
                the Secretary may extend the opportunity for public 
                comment to 60 days if it is a significant or complex 
                request.
                    (B) Review.--Beginning on the date that the public 
                comment period under subparagraph (A) ends, the 
                Secretary shall have 60 days to review all of the 
                comments received.
            (4) Determination.--At the end of the 60-day period under 
        paragraph (3)(B), the Secretary shall publish a determination 
        in the Federal Register, including--
                    (A) the reason for granting or denying the 
                application; and
                    (B) if the application is granted--
                            (i) the specific class of persons eligible 
                        for the exemption;
                            (ii) each provision of the regulations to 
                        which the exemption applies; and
                            (iii) any conditions or limitations applied 
                        to the exemption.
            (5) Considerations.--In making a determination whether to 
        grant or deny an application for an exemption, the Secretary 
        shall consider the safety impacts of the request and may 
        provide appropriate conditions or limitations on the use of the 
        exemption.
    (c) Opportunity for Resubmission.--If an application is denied and 
the applicant can reasonably address the reason for the denial, the 
Secretary may allow the motor carrier to resubmit the application.
    (d) Period of Applicability.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2) of 
        this subsection and subsection (f), each exemption granted 
        under this section shall be valid for a period of 5 years 
        unless the Secretary identifies a compelling reason for a 
        shorter exemption period.
            (2) Renewal.--At the end of the 5-year period under 
        paragraph (1)--
                    (A) the Secretary, at the Secretary's discretion, 
                may renew the exemption for an additional 5-year 
                period; or
                    (B) an applicant may apply under subsection (a) for 
                a permanent exemption from each applicable provision of 
                the regulations.
    (e) Limitation.--No exemption under this section may be granted to 
or used by any motor carrier that has an unsatisfactory safety fitness 
determination.
    (f) Permanent Exemptions.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall make permanent the 
        following limited exceptions:
                    (A) Department of Defense Military Surface 
                Deployment and Distribution Command transport of 
                weapons, munitions, and sensitive classified cargo as 
                published in the Federal Register Volume 80 on April 
                16, 2015 (80 Fed. Reg. 20556).
                    (B) Department of Energy transport of security-
                sensitive radioactive materials as published in the 
                Federal Register Volume 80 on June 22, 2015 (80 Fed. 
                Reg. 35703).
                    (C) All motor carriers that transport hazardous 
                materials shipments requiring security plans under 
                regulations of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 
                Safety Administration as published in the Federal 
                Register Volume 80 on May 1, 2015 (80 Fed. Reg. 25004).
                    (D) Perishable construction products as published 
                in the Federal Register, Volume 80 on April 2, 2015 (80 
                Fed. Reg. 17819).
                    (E) Passenger vehicle record of duty status change 
                as published in the Federal Register Volume 80 on June 
                4, 2015 (80 Fed. Reg. 31961).
                    (F) Transport of commercial bee hives as published 
                in the Federal Register Volume 80 on June 19, 2018 (80 
                Fed. Reg. 35425).
                    (G) All specialized carriers and drivers 
                responsible for transporting loads requiring special 
                permits as published in the Federal Register Volume 80 
                on June 18, 2015 (80 Fed. Reg. 34957).
                    (H) Safe transport of livestock as published in the 
                Federal Register Volume 80 on June 12, 2015 (80 Fed. 
                Reg. 33584).
            (2) Additional exemptions.--The Secretary may make any 
        temporary exemption from any provision of the regulations under 
        part 395 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, for 
        commercial motor vehicle drivers that is in effect on the date 
        of enactment of this Act permanent if the Secretary determines 
        that the permanent exemption will not degrade safety. The 
        Secretary shall provide public notice and comment on a list of 
        the additional provisions to be made permanent under this 
        paragraph.

SEC. 2303. INSPECTOR STANDARDS.

    Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration shall 
revise the regulations under part 385 of title 49, Code of Federal 
Regulations, as necessary, to incorporate by reference the 
certification standards for roadside inspectors issued by the 
Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance.

SEC. 2304. TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENTS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Government Accountability Office shall conduct a 
comprehensive analysis on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
Administration's information technology and data collection and 
management systems.
    (b) Requirements.--The study conducted under subsection (a) shall--
            (1) evaluate the efficacy of the existing information 
        technology, data collection, processing systems, and data 
        management systems and programs, including their interaction 
        with each other and their efficacy in meeting user needs;
            (2) identify any redundancies among the systems and 
        programs described in paragraph (1);
            (3) explore the feasibility of consolidating data 
        collection and processing systems;
            (4) evaluate the ability of the systems and programs 
        described in paragraph (1) to meet the needs of--
                    (A) the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
                Administration, at both the headquarters and State 
                level;
                    (B) the State agencies that implement the Motor 
                Carrier Safety Assistance Program under section 31102 
                of title 49, United States Code; and
                    (C) other users;
            (5) evaluate the adaptability of the systems and programs 
        described in paragraph (1), in order to make necessary future 
        changes to ensure user needs are met in an easier, timely, and 
        more cost efficient manner;
            (6) investigate and make recommendations regarding--
                    (A) deficiencies in existing data sets impacting 
                program effectiveness; and
                    (B) methods to improve any and all user interfaces; 
                and
            (7) evaluate the appropriate role the Federal Motor Carrier 
        Safety Administration should take with respect to software and 
        information systems design, development, and maintenance for 
        the purpose of improving the efficacy of the systems and 
        programs described in paragraph (1).

  Subtitle D--Trucking Rules Updated by Comprehensive and Key Safety 
                                 Reform

SEC. 2401. UPDATE ON STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, and every 90 days thereafter until a final rule has been 
issued for each of the requirements described under paragraphs (1) 
through (5), the Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
Administration shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report on the status 
of a final rule for--
            (1) the minimum entry-level training requirements for an 
        individual operating a commercial motor vehicle under section 
        31305(c) of title 49, United States Code;
            (2) motor carrier safety fitness determinations;
            (3) visibility of agricultural equipment under section 
        31601 of division C of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 
        21st Century Act (49 U.S.C. 30111 note);
            (4) regulations to require commercial motor vehicles in 
        interstate commerce and operated by a driver subject to the 
        hours of service and record of duty status requirements under 
        part 395 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, be equipped 
        with an electronic control module capable of limiting the 
        maximum speed of the vehicle; and
            (5) any outstanding commercial motor vehicle safety 
        regulation required by law and incomplete for more than 2 
        years.
    (b) Contents.--Each report under subsection (a) shall include a 
description of the work plan, an updated rulemaking timeline, current 
staff allocations, any resource constraints, and any other details 
associated with the development of the rulemaking.

SEC. 2402. STATUTORY RULEMAKING.

    The Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
Administration shall prioritize the use of Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
Administration resources for the completion of each outstanding 
statutory requirement for a rulemaking before beginning any new 
rulemaking unless the Secretary certifies to Congress that there is an 
imminent and significant safety need to move forward with a new 
rulemaking.

SEC. 2403. GUIDANCE REFORM.

    (a) Guidance.--
            (1) Point of contact.--Each guidance document, other than a 
        regulatory action, issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
        Administration shall have a date of publication or a date of 
        revision, as applicable, and the name and contact information 
        of a point of contact at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
        Administration who can respond to questions regarding the 
        general applicability of the guidance.
            (2) Public accessibility.--
                    (A) In general.--Each guidance document and 
                interpretation issued by the Federal Motor Carrier 
                Safety Administration shall be published on the 
                Department of Transportation's public website on the 
                date of issuance.
                    (B) Redaction.--The Administrator of the Federal 
                Motor Carrier Safety Administration may redact from a 
                guidance document or interpretation under subparagraph 
                (A) any information that would reveal investigative 
                techniques that would compromise Federal Motor Carrier 
                Safety Administration enforcement efforts.
            (3) Rulemaking.--Not later than 5 years after the date that 
        a guidance document is published under paragraph (2) or during 
        the comprehensive review under subsection (c), whichever is 
        earlier, the Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator, 
        shall revise the applicable regulations to incorporate the 
        guidance document to the extent practicable.
            (4) Reissuance.--If a guidance document is not incorporated 
        into the applicable regulations under paragraph (3), the 
        Secretary shall--
                    (A) reissue an updated guidance document; and
                    (B) review and reissue an updated guidance document 
                every 5 years during the comprehensive review process 
                under subsection (c) until the date that the guidance 
                document is removed or incorporated into the applicable 
                regulations under paragraph (3) of this subsection.
    (b) Update.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary shall review regulations, guidance, and 
enforcement policies published on the Department of Transportation's 
public website to ensure the regulations, guidance, and enforcement 
policies are current, readily accessible to the public, and meet the 
standards under subsection (c)(1).
    (c) Review.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), not less than 
        once every 5 years, the Administrator of the Federal Motor 
        Carrier Safety Administration shall conduct a comprehensive 
        review of its guidance and enforcement policies to determine 
        whether--
                    (A) the guidance and enforcement policies are 
                consistent and clear;
                    (B) uniformly and consistently enforceable; and
                    (C) guidance is still necessary.
            (2) Notice and comment.--Prior to beginning the review, the 
        Administrator shall publish in the Federal Register a notice 
        and request for comment soliciting input from stakeholders on 
        which regulations should be updated or eliminated.
            (3) Report.--Not later than 60 days after the date that a 
        review under paragraph (1) is complete, the Administrator shall 
        publish on the Department of Transportation's public website a 
        report detailing the review and a full inventory of guidance 
        and enforcement policies.

SEC. 2404. PETITIONS.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier 
Safety Administration shall--
            (1) publish in the Federal Register or on the Department of 
        Transportation's public website all petitions for regulatory 
        action submitted;
            (2) prioritize stakeholder petitions based on the 
        likelihood of providing safety improvements;
            (3) formally respond to each petition by indicating whether 
        the Administrator will accept, deny, or further review, the 
        petition not later than 180 days after the date the petition is 
        petition is published under paragraph (1);
            (4) prioritize resulting actions consistent with an 
        action's potential to reduce crashes, improve enforcement, and 
        reduce unnecessary burdens; and
            (5) publish, and update as necessary, on the Department of 
        Transportation's public website an inventory of each petition 
        described in paragraph (1), including any applicable 
        disposition information for that petition.
    (b) Definition of Petition.--In this section, the term ``petition'' 
means a request for new regulations, regulatory interpretations or 
clarifications, or retrospective review of regulations to eliminate or 
modify obsolete, ineffective, or overly burdensome rules.

SEC. 2405. REGULATORY REFORM.

    (a) Regulatory Impact Analysis.--
            (1) In general.--Within each regulatory impact analysis of 
        a proposed or final rule issued by the Federal Motor Carrier 
        Safety Administration, the Secretary shall--
                    (A) consider effects of the proposed or final rule 
                on a carrier with differing characteristics; and
                    (B) formulate estimates and findings on the best 
                available science.
            (2) Scope.--To the extent feasible and appropriate, and 
        consistent with law, the analysis described in paragraph (1) 
        shall--
                    (A) use data generated from a representative sample 
                of commercial vehicle operators, motor carriers, or 
                both, that will be covered under the proposed or final 
                rule; and
                    (B) consider effects on commercial truck and bus 
                carriers of various sizes and types.
    (b) Public Participation.--
            (1) In general.--Before promulgating a proposed rule under 
        subtitle VI of title 49, United States Code, if the proposed 
        rule is likely to lead to the promulgation of a major rule the 
        Secretary shall--
                    (A) issue an advance notice of proposed rulemaking; 
                or
                    (B) determine to proceed with a negotiated 
                rulemaking.
            (2) Requirements.--Each advance notice of proposed 
        rulemaking issued under paragraph (1) shall--
                    (A) identify the compelling public concern for a 
                potential regulatory action, such as failures of 
                private markets to protect or improve the safety of the 
                public, the environment, or the well-being of the 
                American people;
                    (B) identify and request public comment on the best 
                available science or technical information on the need 
                for regulatory action and on the potential regulatory 
                alternatives;
                    (C) request public comment on the benefits and 
                costs of potential regulatory alternatives reasonably 
                likely to be included or analyzed as part of the notice 
                of proposed rulemaking; and
                    (D) request public comment on the available 
                alternatives to direct regulation, including providing 
                economic incentives to encourage the desired behavior.
            (3) Waiver.--This subsection shall not apply when the 
        Secretary, for good cause, finds (and incorporates the finding 
        and a brief statement of reasons for such finding in the 
        proposed or final rule) an advance notice of proposed 
        rulemaking impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the 
        public interest.
    (c) Savings Clause.--Nothing in this section may be construed to 
limit the contents of any Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.

                     Subtitle E--State Authorities

SEC. 2501. EMERGENCY ROUTE WORKING GROUP.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Establishment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a working 
        group to determine best practices for expedient State approval 
        of special permits for vehicles involved in emergency response 
        and recovery.
            (2) Members.--The working group shall include 
        representatives from--
                    (A) State highway transportation departments or 
                agencies;
                    (B) relevant modal agencies within the Department 
                of Transportation;
                    (C) emergency response or recovery experts;
                    (D) relevant safety groups; and
                    (E) persons affected by special permit restrictions 
                during emergency response and recovery efforts.
    (b) Considerations.--In determining best practices under subsection 
(a), the working group shall consider whether--
            (1) hurdles currently exist that prevent the expedient 
        State approval for special permits for vehicles involved in 
        emergency response and recovery;
            (2) it is possible to pre-identify and establish emergency 
        routes between States through which infrastructure repair 
        materials could be delivered following a natural disaster or an 
        emergency;
            (3) a State could pre-designate an emergency route 
        identified under paragraph (1) as a certified emergency route 
        if a motor vehicle that exceeds the otherwise applicable 
        Federal and State truck length or width limits may safely 
        operate along such route during period of emergency recovery; 
        and
            (4) an online map could be created to identify each pre-
        designated emergency route under paragraph (2), including 
        information on specific limitations, obligations, and 
        notification requirements along that route.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the working group shall submit to the Secretary a report of 
its findings under this section and any recommendations for the 
implementation of the best practices for expedient State approval of 
special permits for vehicles involved in emergency recovery. Upon 
receipt, the Secretary shall publish the report on a public website.
    (d) Federal Advisory Committee Act Exemption.--The Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the working group 
established under this section.

SEC. 2502. ADDITIONAL STATE AUTHORITY.

    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, any State impacted by section 
4006 of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 
(Public Law 102-240; 105 Stat. 2148) shall be provided the option to 
update the routes listed in the final list as long as the update shifts 
routes to divided highways or does not increase centerline miles by 
more than 5 percent and the change is expected to increase safety 
performance.

SEC. 2503. COMMERCIAL DRIVER ACCESS.

    (a) Interstate Compact Pilot Program.--
            (1) In general.--The Administrator of the Federal Motor 
        Carrier Safety Administration shall establish a 6-year pilot 
        program to study the feasibility, benefits, and safety impacts 
        of allowing a licensed driver between the ages of 18 and 21 to 
        operate a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce.
            (2) Interstate compacts.--The Secretary shall allow States, 
        including the District of Columbia, to enter into an interstate 
        compact with contiguous States to allow a licensed driver 
        between the ages of 18 and 21 to operate a motor vehicle across 
        the applicable State lines. The Secretary shall approve as many 
        as 6 interstate compacts, with no limit on the number of States 
        participating in each interstate compact.
            (3) Mutual recognition of licenses.--A valid intrastate 
        commercial driver's licenses issued by a State participating in 
        an interstate compact under paragraph (2) shall be recognized 
        as valid in each State that is participating in that interstate 
        compact.
            (4) Standards.--In developing an interstate compact under 
        this subsection, participating States shall provide for minimum 
        licensure standards acceptable for interstate travel under this 
        section, which may include, for a licensed driver between the 
        ages of 18 and 21 participating in the pilot program--
                    (A) age restrictions;
                    (B) distance from origin (measured in air miles);
                    (C) reporting requirements; or
                    (D) additional hours of service restrictions.
            (5) Limitations.--An interstate compact under paragraph (2) 
        may not permit special configuration or hazardous cargo 
        operations to be transported by a licensed driver under the age 
        of 21.
            (6) Additional requirements.--The Secretary may--
                    (A) prescribe such additional requirements, 
                including training, for a licensed driver between the 
                ages of 18 and 21 participating in the pilot program as 
                the Secretary considers necessary; and
                    (B) provide risk mitigation restrictions and 
                limitations.
    (b) Approval.--An interstate compact under subsection (a)(2) may 
not go into effect until it has been approved by the governor of each 
State (or the Mayor of the District of Columbia, if applicable) that is 
a party to the interstate compact, after consultation with the 
Secretary of Transportation and the Administrator of the Federal Motor 
Carrier Safety Administration.
    (c) Report.--Not earlier than 4 years after the date the test 
program is established, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report 
containing the findings of the pilot program, a determination of 
whether a licensed driver between the ages of 18 and 21 can operate a 
commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce with an equivalent 
level of safety, and the reasons for that determination.

          Subtitle F--Motor Carrier Safety Grant Consolidation

SEC. 2601. DEFINITIONS.

    (a) In General.--Section 31101 is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
            ``(4) `Secretary' means the Secretary of Transportation.''.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--Section 31101, as amended 
by subsection (a), is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)(B), by inserting a comma after 
        ``passengers''; and
            (2) in paragraph (1)(C), by striking ``of Transportation''.

SEC. 2602. GRANTS TO STATES.

    (a) Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program.--Section 31102 is 
amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 31102. Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program
    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall administer a motor carrier 
safety assistance program funded under section 31104.
    ``(b) Goal.--The goal of the program is to ensure that the 
Secretary, States, local governments, other political jurisdictions, 
federally recognized Indian tribes, and other persons work in 
partnership to establish programs to improve motor carrier, commercial 
motor vehicle, and driver safety to support a safe and efficient 
surface transportation system--
            ``(1) by making targeted investments to promote safe 
        commercial motor vehicle transportation, including the 
        transportation of passengers and hazardous materials;
            ``(2) by investing in activities likely to generate maximum 
        reductions in the number and severity of commercial motor 
        vehicle crashes and fatalities resulting from such crashes;
            ``(3) by adopting and enforcing effective motor carrier, 
        commercial motor vehicle, and driver safety regulations and 
        practices consistent with Federal requirements; and
            ``(4) by assessing and improving statewide performance by 
        setting program goals and meeting performance standards, 
        measures, and benchmarks.
    ``(c) State Plans.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall prescribe procedures 
        for a State to submit a multiple-year plan, and annual updates 
        thereto, under which the State agrees to assume responsibility 
        for improving motor carrier safety, adopting and enforcing 
        compatible regulations, standards, and orders of the Federal 
        Government on commercial motor vehicle safety and hazardous 
        materials transportation safety.
            ``(2) Contents.--The Secretary shall approve a plan if the 
        Secretary determines that the plan is adequate to comply with 
        the requirements of this section, and the plan--
                    ``(A) implements performance-based activities, 
                including deployment and maintenance of technology to 
                enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of commercial 
                motor vehicle safety programs;
                    ``(B) designates a lead State commercial motor 
                vehicle safety agency responsible for administering the 
                plan throughout the State;
                    ``(C) contains satisfactory assurances that the 
                lead State commercial motor vehicle safety agency has 
                or will have the legal authority, resources, and 
                qualified personnel necessary to enforce the 
                regulations, standards, and orders;
                    ``(D) contains satisfactory assurances that the 
                State will devote adequate resources to the 
                administration of the plan and enforcement of the 
                regulations, standards, and orders;
                    ``(E) provides a right of entry and inspection to 
                carry out the plan;
                    ``(F) provides that all reports required under this 
                section be available to the Secretary on request;
                    ``(G) provides that the lead State commercial motor 
                vehicle safety agency will adopt the reporting 
                requirements and use the forms for recordkeeping, 
                inspections, and investigations that the Secretary 
                prescribes;
                    ``(H) requires all registrants of commercial motor 
                vehicles to demonstrate knowledge of applicable safety 
                regulations, standards, and orders of the Federal 
                Government and the State;
                    ``(I) provides that the State will grant maximum 
                reciprocity for inspections conducted under the North 
                American Inspection Standards through the use of a 
                nationally accepted system that allows ready 
                identification of previously inspected commercial motor 
                vehicles;
                    ``(J) ensures that activities described in 
                subsection (h), if financed through grants to the State 
                made under this section, will not diminish the 
                effectiveness of the development and implementation of 
                the programs to improve motor carrier, commercial motor 
                vehicle, and driver safety as described in subsection 
                (b);
                    ``(K) ensures that the lead State commercial motor 
                vehicle safety agency will coordinate the plan, data 
                collection, and information systems with the State 
                highway safety improvement program required under 
                section 148(c) of title 23;
                    ``(L) ensures participation in appropriate Federal 
                Motor Carrier Safety Administration information 
                technology and data systems and other information 
                systems by all appropriate jurisdictions receiving 
                Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program funding;
                    ``(M) ensures that information is exchanged among 
                the States in a timely manner;
                    ``(N) provides satisfactory assurances that the 
                State will undertake efforts that will emphasize and 
                improve enforcement of State and local traffic safety 
                laws and regulations related to commercial motor 
                vehicle safety;
                    ``(O) provides satisfactory assurances in the plan 
                that the State will address national priorities and 
                performance goals, including--
                            ``(i) activities aimed at removing impaired 
                        commercial motor vehicle drivers from the 
                        highways of the United States through adequate 
                        enforcement of regulations on the use of 
                        alcohol and controlled substances and by 
                        ensuring ready roadside access to alcohol 
                        detection and measuring equipment;
                            ``(ii) activities aimed at providing an 
                        appropriate level of training to State motor 
                        carrier safety assistance program officers and 
                        employees on recognizing drivers impaired by 
                        alcohol or controlled substances; and
                            ``(iii) when conducted with an appropriate 
                        commercial motor vehicle inspection, criminal 
                        interdiction activities, and appropriate 
                        strategies for carrying out those interdiction 
                        activities, including interdiction activities 
                        that affect the transportation of controlled 
                        substances (as defined under section 102 of the 
                        Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control 
                        Act of 1970 (21 U.S.C. 802) and listed in part 
                        1308 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, 
                        as updated and republished from time to time) 
                        by any occupant of a commercial motor vehicle;
                    ``(P) provides that the State has established and 
                dedicated sufficient resources to a program to ensure 
                that--
                            ``(i) the State collects and reports to the 
                        Secretary accurate, complete, and timely motor 
                        carrier safety data; and
                            ``(ii) the State participates in a national 
                        motor carrier safety data correction system 
                        prescribed by the Secretary;
                    ``(Q) ensures that the State will cooperate in the 
                enforcement of financial responsibility requirements 
                under sections 13906, 31138, and 31139 of this title, 
                and regulations issued under these sections;
                    ``(R) ensures consistent, effective, and reasonable 
                sanctions;
                    ``(S) ensures that roadside inspections will be 
                conducted at locations that are adequate to protect the 
                safety of drivers and enforcement personnel;
                    ``(T) provides that the State will include in the 
                training manuals for the licensing examination to drive 
                both noncommercial motor vehicles and commercial motor 
                vehicles information on best practices for driving 
                safely in the vicinity of noncommercial and commercial 
                motor vehicles;
                    ``(U) provides that the State will enforce the 
                registration requirements of sections 13902 and 31134 
                of this title by prohibiting the operation of any 
                vehicle discovered to be operated by a motor carrier 
                without a registration issued under those sections or 
                to be operated beyond the scope of the motor carrier's 
                registration;
                    ``(V) provides that the State will conduct 
                comprehensive and highly visible traffic enforcement 
                and commercial motor vehicle safety inspection programs 
                in high-risk locations and corridors;
                    ``(W) except in the case of an imminent hazard or 
                obvious safety hazard, ensures that an inspection of a 
                vehicle transporting passengers for a motor carrier of 
                passengers is conducted at a station, including a 
                weight station, terminal, border crossing, maintenance 
                facility, destination, or other location where adequate 
                food, shelter, and sanitation facilities are available 
                for passengers, and reasonable accommodations are 
                available for passengers with disabilities;
                    ``(X) ensures that the State will transmit to its 
                roadside inspectors the notice of each Federal 
                exemption granted under section 31315(b) of this title 
                and sections 390.23 and 390.25 of title 49 of the Code 
                of Federal Regulations and provided to the State by the 
                Secretary, including the name of the person granted the 
                exemption and any terms and conditions that apply to 
                the exemption;
                    ``(Y) except as provided in subsection (d), 
                provides that the State--
                            ``(i) will conduct safety audits of 
                        interstate and, at the State's discretion, 
                        intrastate new entrant motor carriers under 
                        section 31144(g) of this title; and
                            ``(ii) if the State authorizes a third 
                        party to conduct safety audits under section 
                        31144(g) on its behalf, the State verifies the 
                        quality of the work conducted and remains 
                        solely responsible for the management and 
                        oversight of the activities;
                    ``(Z) provides that the State agrees to fully 
                participate in the performance and registration 
                information system management under section 31106(b) 
                not later than October 1, 2020, by complying with the 
                conditions for participation under paragraph (3) of 
                that section;
                    ``(AA) provides that a State that shares a land 
                border with another country--
                            ``(i) will conduct a border commercial 
                        motor vehicle safety program focusing on 
                        international commerce that includes 
                        enforcement and related projects; or
                            ``(ii) will forfeit all funds calculated by 
                        the Secretary based on border-related 
                        activities if the State declines to conduct the 
                        program described in clause (i) in its plan; 
                        and
                    ``(BB) provides that a State that meets the other 
                requirements of this section and agrees to comply with 
                the requirements established in subsection (l)(3) may 
                fund deployment, operation, and maintenance costs 
                associated with innovative technology deployment under 
                subsection (l)(3) with Motor Carrier Safety Assistance 
                Program funds authorized under section 31104(a)(1).
            ``(3) Publication.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the 
                Secretary shall publish each approved State multiple-
                year plan, and each annual update thereto, on the 
                Department of Transportation's public website not later 
                than 30 days after the date the Secretary approves the 
                plan or update.
                    ``(B) Limitation.--Before posting an approved State 
                multiple-year plan or annual update under subparagraph 
                (A), the Secretary shall redact any information 
                identified by the State that, if disclosed--
                            ``(i) would reasonably be expected to 
                        interfere with enforcement proceedings; or
                            ``(ii) would reveal enforcement techniques 
                        or procedures that would reasonable by expected 
                        to risk circumvention of the law.
    ``(d) Exclusion of U.S. Territories.--The requirement that a State 
conduct safety audits of new entrant motor carriers under subsection 
(c)(2)(Y) does not apply to a territory of the United States unless 
required by the Secretary.
    ``(e) Intrastate Compatibility.--The Secretary shall prescribe 
regulations specifying tolerance guidelines and standards for ensuring 
compatibility of intrastate commercial motor vehicle safety laws, 
including regulations, with Federal motor carrier safety regulations to 
be enforced under subsections (b) and (c). To the extent practicable, 
the guidelines and standards shall allow for maximum flexibility while 
ensuring a degree of uniformity that will not diminish motor vehicle 
safety.
    ``(f) Maintenance of Effort.--
            ``(1) Baseline.--Except as provided under paragraphs (2) 
        and (3) and in accordance with section 2608 of the 
        Comprehensive Transportation and Consumer Protection Act of 
        2015, a State plan under subsection (c) shall provide that the 
        total expenditure of amounts of the lead State commercial motor 
        vehicle safety agency responsible for administering the plan 
        will be maintained at a level each fiscal year at least equal 
        to--
                    ``(A) the average level of that expenditure for 
                fiscal years 2004 and 2005; or
                    ``(B) the level of that expenditure for the year in 
                which the Secretary implements a new allocation formula 
                under section 2608 of the Comprehensive Transportation 
                and Consumer Protection Act of 2015.
            ``(2) Adjusted baseline after fiscal year 2017.--At the 
        request of a State, the Secretary may evaluate additional 
        documentation related to the maintenance of effort and may make 
        reasonable adjustments to the maintenance of effort baseline 
        after fiscal year 2017, and this adjusted baseline will replace 
        the maintenance of effort requirement under paragraph (1).
            ``(3) Waivers.--At the request of a State, the Secretary 
        may waive or modify the requirements of this subsection for 1 
        fiscal year if the Secretary determines that a waiver or 
        modification is reasonable, based on circumstances described by 
        the State, to ensure the continuation of commercial motor 
        vehicle enforcement activities in the State.
            ``(4) Level of state expenditures.--In estimating the 
        average level of State expenditure under paragraph (1), the 
        Secretary--
                    ``(A) may allow the State to exclude State 
                expenditures for federally sponsored demonstration and 
                pilot programs and strike forces;
                    ``(B) may allow the State to exclude expenditures 
                for activities related to border enforcement and new 
                entrant safety audits; and
                    ``(C) shall require the State to exclude State 
                matching amounts used to receive Federal financing 
                under section 31104.
    ``(g) Use of Unified Carrier Registration Fees Agreement.--Amounts 
generated under section 14504a of this title and received by a State 
and used for motor carrier safety purposes may be included as part of 
the State's match required under section 31104 of this title or 
maintenance of effort required by subsection (f).
    ``(h) Use of Grants To Enforce Other Laws.--When approved in the 
States' plan under subsection (c), a State may use Motor Carrier Safety 
Assistance Program funds received under this section--
            ``(1) if the activities are carried out in conjunction with 
        an appropriate inspection of a commercial motor vehicle to 
        enforce Federal or State commercial motor vehicle safety 
        regulations, for--
                    ``(A) enforcement of commercial motor vehicle size 
                and weight limitations at locations, excluding fixed 
                weight facilities, such as near steep grades or 
                mountainous terrains, where the weight of a commercial 
                motor vehicle can significantly affect the safe 
                operation of the vehicle, or at ports where intermodal 
                shipping containers enter and leave the United States; 
                and
                    ``(B) detection of and enforcement actions taken as 
                a result of criminal activity, including the 
                trafficking of human beings, in a commercial motor 
                vehicle or by any occupant, including the operator, of 
                the commercial motor vehicle;
            ``(2) for documented enforcement of State traffic laws and 
        regulations designed to promote the safe operation of 
        commercial motor vehicles, including documented enforcement of 
        such laws and regulations relating to noncommercial motor 
        vehicles when necessary to promote the safe operation of 
        commercial motor vehicles, if--
                    ``(A) the number of motor carrier safety 
                activities, including roadside safety inspections, 
                conducted in the State is maintained at a level at 
                least equal to the average level of such activities 
                conducted in the State in fiscal years 2004 and 2005; 
                and
                    ``(B) the State does not use more than 10 percent 
                of the basic amount the State receives under a grant 
                awarded under section 31104(a)(1) for enforcement 
                activities relating to noncommercial motor vehicles 
                necessary to promote the safe operation of commercial 
                motor vehicles unless the Secretary determines that a 
                higher percentage will result in significant increases 
                in commercial motor vehicle safety; and
            ``(3) for the enforcement of household goods regulations on 
        intrastate and interstate carriers if the State has adopted 
        laws or regulations compatible with the Federal household goods 
        regulations.
    ``(i) Evaluation of Plans and Award of Grants.--
            ``(1) Awards.--The Secretary shall establish criteria for 
        the application, evaluation, and approval of State plans under 
        this section. Subject to subsection (j), the Secretary may 
        allocate the amounts made available under section 31104(a)(1) 
        among the States.
            ``(2) Opportunity to cure.--If the Secretary disapproves a 
        plan under this section, the Secretary shall give the State a 
        written explanation of the reasons for disapproval and allow 
        the State to modify and resubmit the plan for approval.
    ``(j) Allocation of Funds.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, by regulation, shall 
        prescribe allocation criteria for funds made available under 
        section 31104(a)(1).
            ``(2) Annual allocations.--On October 1 of each fiscal 
        year, or as soon as practicable thereafter, and after making a 
        deduction under section 31104(c), the Secretary shall allocate 
        amounts made available in section 31104(a)(1) to carry out this 
        section for the fiscal year among the States with plans 
        approved under this section in accordance with the criteria 
        under paragraph (1).
            ``(3) Elective adjustments.--Subject to the availability of 
        funding and notwithstanding fluctuations in the data elements 
        used by the Secretary to calculate the annual allocation 
        amounts, after the creation of a new allocation formula under 
        section 2608 of the Comprehensive Transportation and Consumer 
        Protection Act of 2015 the Secretary may not make elective 
        adjustments to the allocation formula that decrease a State's 
        Federal funding levels by more than 3 percent in a fiscal year. 
        The 3-percent limit shall not apply to the withholding 
        provisions of subsection (k).
    ``(k) Plan Monitoring.--
            ``(1) In general.--On the basis of reports submitted by the 
        lead State agency responsible for administering an approved 
        State plan and an investigation by the Secretary, the Secretary 
        shall periodically evaluate State implementation of and 
        compliance with the State plan.
            ``(2) Withholding of funds.--
                    ``(A) Disapproval.--If, after notice and an 
                opportunity to be heard, the Secretary finds that the 
                State plan previously approved is not being followed or 
                has become inadequate to ensure enforcement of the 
                regulations, standards, or orders, or the State is 
                otherwise not in compliance with the requirements of 
                this section, the Secretary may withdraw approval of 
                the plan and notify the State. The plan is no longer in 
                effect once the State receives notice, and the 
                Secretary shall withhold all funding under this 
                section.
                    ``(B) Noncompliance withholding.--In lieu of 
                withdrawing approval of the plan, the Secretary may, 
                after providing notice and an opportunity to be heard, 
                withhold funding from the State to which the State 
                would otherwise be entitled under this section for the 
                period of the State's noncompliance. In exercising this 
                option, the Secretary may withhold--
                            ``(i) up to 5 percent of funds during the 
                        fiscal year that the Secretary notifies the 
                        State of its noncompliance;
                            ``(ii) up to 10 percent of funds for the 
                        first full fiscal year of noncompliance;
                            ``(iii) up to 25 percent of funds for the 
                        second full fiscal year of noncompliance; and
                            ``(iv) not more than 50 percent of funds 
                        for the third and any subsequent full fiscal 
                        year of noncompliance.
            ``(3) Judicial review.--A State adversely affected by a 
        determination under paragraph (2) may seek judicial review 
        under chapter 7 of title 5. Notwithstanding the disapproval of 
        a State plan under paragraph (2)(A) or the withholding under 
        paragraph (2)(B), the State may retain jurisdiction in an 
        administrative or a judicial proceeding that commenced before 
        the notice of disapproval or withholding if the issues involved 
        are not related directly to the reasons for the disapproval or 
        withholding.
    ``(l) High Priority Financial Assistance Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall administer a high 
        priority financial assistance program funded under section 
        31104 for the purposes described in paragraphs (2) and (3).
            ``(2) Activities related to motor carrier safety.--The 
        purpose of this paragraph is to make discretionary grants to 
        and cooperative agreements with States, local governments, 
        federally recognized Indian tribes, other political 
        jurisdictions as necessary, and any person to carry out high 
        priority activities and projects that augment motor carrier 
        safety activities and projects planned in accordance with 
        subsections (b) and (c), including activities and projects 
        that--
                    ``(A) increase public awareness and education on 
                commercial motor vehicle safety;
                    ``(B) target unsafe driving of commercial motor 
                vehicles and non-commercial motor vehicles in areas 
                identified as high risk crash corridors;
                    ``(C) support the enforcement of State household 
                goods regulations on intrastate and interstate carriers 
                if the State has adopted laws or regulations compatible 
                with the Federal household good laws;
                    ``(D) improve the safe and secure movement of 
                hazardous materials;
                    ``(E) improve safe transportation of goods and 
                persons in foreign commerce;
                    ``(F) demonstrate new technologies to improve 
                commercial motor vehicle safety;
                    ``(G) support participation in performance and 
                registration information systems management under 
                section 31106(b)--
                            ``(i) for entities not responsible for 
                        submitting the plan under subsection (c); or
                            ``(ii) for entities responsible for 
                        submitting the plan under subsection (c)--
                                    ``(I) before October 1, 2020, to 
                                achieve compliance with the 
                                requirements of participation; and
                                    ``(II) beginning on October 1, 
                                2020, or once compliance is achieved, 
                                whichever is sooner, for special 
                                initiatives or projects that exceed 
                                routine operations required for 
                                participation;
                    ``(H) conduct safety data improvement projects--
                            ``(i) that complete or exceed the 
                        requirements under subsection (c)(2)(P) for 
                        entities not responsible for submitting the 
                        plan under subsection (c); or
                            ``(ii) that exceed the requirements under 
                        subsection (c)(2)(P) for entities responsible 
                        for submitting the plan under subsection (c); 
                        and
                    ``(I) otherwise improve commercial motor vehicle 
                safety and compliance with commercial motor vehicle 
                safety regulations.
            ``(3) Innovative technology deployment grant program.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall establish an 
                innovative technology deployment grant program to make 
                discretionary grants funded under section 31104(a)(2) 
                to eligible States for the innovative technology 
                deployment of commercial motor vehicle information 
                systems and networks.
                    ``(B) Purposes.--The purposes of the program shall 
                be--
                            ``(i) to advance the technological 
                        capability and promote the deployment of 
                        intelligent transportation system applications 
                        for commercial motor vehicle operations, 
                        including commercial motor vehicle, commercial 
                        driver, and carrier-specific information 
                        systems and networks; and
                            ``(ii) to support and maintain commercial 
                        motor vehicle information systems and 
                        networks--
                                    ``(I) to link Federal motor carrier 
                                safety information systems with State 
                                commercial motor vehicle systems;
                                    ``(II) to improve the safety and 
                                productivity of commercial motor 
                                vehicles and drivers; and
                                    ``(III) to reduce costs associated 
                                with commercial motor vehicle 
                                operations and Federal and State 
                                commercial vehicle regulatory 
                                requirements.
                    ``(C) Eligibility.--To be eligible for a grant 
                under this paragraph, a State shall--
                            ``(i) have a commercial motor vehicle 
                        information systems and networks program plan 
                        approved by the Secretary that describes the 
                        various systems and networks at the State level 
                        that need to be refined, revised, upgraded, or 
                        built to accomplish deployment of commercial 
                        motor vehicle information systems and networks 
                        capabilities;
                            ``(ii) certify to the Secretary that its 
                        commercial motor vehicle information systems 
                        and networks deployment activities, including 
                        hardware procurement, software and system 
                        development, and infrastructure modifications--
                                    ``(I) are consistent with the 
                                national intelligent transportation 
                                systems and commercial motor vehicle 
                                information systems and networks 
                                architectures and available standards; 
                                and
                                    ``(II) promote interoperability and 
                                efficiency to the extent practicable; 
                                and
                            ``(iii) agree to execute interoperability 
                        tests developed by the Federal Motor Carrier 
                        Safety Administration to verify that its 
                        systems conform with the national intelligent 
                        transportation systems architecture, applicable 
                        standards, and protocols for commercial motor 
                        vehicle information systems and networks.
                    ``(D) Use of funds.--Grant funds may be used--
                            ``(i) for deployment activities and 
                        activities to develop new and innovative 
                        advanced technology solutions that support 
                        commercial motor vehicle information systems 
                        and networks;
                            ``(ii) for planning activities, including 
                        the development or updating of program or top 
                        level design plans in order to become eligible 
                        or maintain eligibility under subparagraph (C); 
                        and
                            ``(iii) for the deployment, operation, and 
                        maintenance costs associated with innovative 
                        technology.
                    ``(E) Secretary authorization.--The Secretary is 
                authorized to award a State funding for the deployment, 
                operation, and maintenance costs associated with 
                innovative technology deployment with funds made 
                available under both sections 31104(a)(1) and 
                31104(a)(2) of this title.''.
    (b) Commercial Motor Vehicle Operators Grant Program.--Section 
31103 is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 31103. Commercial Motor Vehicle Operators Grant Program
    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall administer a commercial 
motor vehicle operators grant program funded under section 31104.
    ``(b) Purpose.--The purpose of the grant program is to train 
individuals in the safe operation of commercial motor vehicles (as 
defined in section 31301).''.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 31104 is amended to 
read as follows:
``Sec. 31104. Authorization of appropriations
    ``(a) Financial Assistance Programs.--The following sums are 
authorized to be appropriated from the Highway Trust Fund for the 
following Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Financial 
Assistance Programs:
            ``(1) Motor carrier safety assistance program.--Subject to 
        paragraph (2) of this subsection and subsection (c) of this 
        section, to carry out section 31102--
                    ``(A) $250,389,000 for fiscal year 2017;
                    ``(B) $255,648,000 for fiscal year 2018;
                    ``(C) $261,016,000 for fiscal year 2019;
                    ``(D) $266,497,000 for fiscal year 2020; and
                    ``(E) $272,094,000 for fiscal year 2021.
            ``(2) High priority activities financial assistance 
        program.--Subject to subsection (c), to make grants and 
        cooperative agreements under section 31102(l) of this title, 
        the Secretary may set aside from amounts made available under 
        paragraph (1) of this subsection up to--
                    ``(A) $42,323,000 for fiscal year 2017;
                    ``(B) $43,212,000 for fiscal year 2018;
                    ``(C) $44,119,000 for fiscal year 2019;
                    ``(D) $45,046,000 for fiscal year 2020; and
                    ``(E) $45,992,000 for fiscal year 2021.
            ``(3) Commercial motor vehicle operators grant program.--To 
        carry out section 31103--
                    ``(A) $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2017;
                    ``(B) $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2018;
                    ``(C) $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2019;
                    ``(D) $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; and
                    ``(E) $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2021.
            ``(4) Commercial driver's license program implementation 
        financial assistance program.--Subject to subsection (c), to 
        carry out section 31313--
                    ``(A) $31,273,000 for fiscal year 2017;
                    ``(B) $31,930,000 for fiscal year 2018;
                    ``(C) $32,600,000 for fiscal year 2019;
                    ``(D) $33,285,000 for fiscal year 2020; and
                    ``(E) $33,984,000 for fiscal year 2021.
    ``(b) Reimbursement and Payment to Recipients for Government Share 
of Costs.--
            ``(1) In general.--Amounts made available under subsection 
        (a) shall be used to reimburse financial assistance recipients 
        proportionally for the Federal Government's share of the costs 
        incurred.
            ``(2) Reimbursement amounts.--The Secretary shall reimburse 
        a recipient, in accordance with a financial assistance 
        agreement made under section 31102, 31103, or 31313, an amount 
        that is at least 85 percent of the costs incurred by the 
        recipient in a fiscal year in developing and implementing 
        programs under these sections. The Secretary shall pay the 
        recipient an amount not more than the Federal Government share 
        of the total costs approved by the Federal Government in the 
        financial assistance agreement. The Secretary shall include a 
        recipient's in-kind contributions in determining the 
        reimbursement.
            ``(3) Vouchers.--Each recipient shall submit vouchers at 
        least quarterly for costs the recipient incurs in developing 
        and implementing programs under section 31102, 31103, or 31313.
    ``(c) Deductions for Partner Training and Program Support.--On 
October 1 of each fiscal year, or as soon after that date as 
practicable, the Secretary may deduct from amounts made available under 
paragraphs (1), (2), and (4) of subsection (a) for that fiscal year not 
more than 1.50 percent of those amounts for partner training and 
program support in that fiscal year. The Secretary shall use at least 
75 percent of those deducted amounts to train non-Federal Government 
employees and to develop related training materials in carrying out 
these programs.
    ``(d) Grants and Cooperative Agreements as Contractual 
Obligations.--The approval of a financial assistance agreement by the 
Secretary under section 31102, 31103, or 31313 is a contractual 
obligation of the Federal Government for payment of the Federal 
Government's share of costs in carrying out the provisions of the grant 
or cooperative agreement.
    ``(e) Eligible Activities.--The Secretary shall establish criteria 
for eligible activities to be funded with financial assistance 
agreements under this section and publish those criteria in a notice of 
funding availability before the financial assistance program 
application period.
    ``(f) Period of Availability of Financial Assistance Agreement 
Funds for Recipient Expenditures.--
            ``(1) In general.--The period of availability for a 
        recipient to expend a grant or cooperative agreement authorized 
        under subsection (a) is as follows:
                    ``(A) For grants made for carrying out section 
                31102, other than section 31102(l), for the fiscal year 
                in which it is obligated and for the next fiscal year.
                    ``(B) For grants or cooperative agreements made for 
                carrying out section 31102(l)(2), for the fiscal year 
                in which it is obligated and for the next 2 fiscal 
                years.
                    ``(C) For grants made for carrying out section 
                31102(l)(3), for the fiscal year in which it is 
                obligated and for the next 4 fiscal years.
                    ``(D) For grants made for carrying out section 
                31103, for the fiscal year in which it is obligated and 
                for the next fiscal year.
                    ``(E) For grants or cooperative agreements made for 
                carrying out 31313, for the fiscal year in which it is 
                obligated and for the next 4 fiscal years.
            ``(2) Reobligation.--Amounts not expended by a recipient 
        during the period of availability shall be released back to the 
        Secretary for reobligation for any purpose under sections 
        31102, 31103, 31104, and 31313 in accordance with subsection 
        (i) of this section.
    ``(g) Contract Authority; Initial Date of Availability.--Amounts 
authorized from the Highway Trust Fund by this section shall be 
available for obligation on the date of their apportionment or 
allocation or on October 1 of the fiscal year for which they are 
authorized, whichever occurs first.
    ``(h) Availability of Funding.--Amounts made available under this 
section shall remain available until expended.
    ``(i) Transfer of Obligation Authority.--
            ``(1) In general.--Of the contract authority authorized in 
        this section, the Secretary shall have authority to transfer 
        available unobligated contract authority and associated 
        liquidating cash within or between Federal financial assistance 
        programs authorized under this section and make new Federal 
        financial assistance awards under this section.
            ``(2) Cost estimates.--Of the funds transferred, the 
        contract authority and associated liquidating cash or 
        obligations and expenditures stemming from Federal financial 
        assistance awards made with this contract authority shall not 
        be scored as new obligations by the Congressional Budget Office 
        or by the Secretary.
            ``(3) No limitation on total of obligations.--
        Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no limitation on 
        the total of obligations for Federal financial assistance 
        programs carried out by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
        Administration under this section shall apply to unobligated 
        funds transferred under this subsection.''.
    (d) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Safety fitness of owners and operator; safety reviews 
        of new operators.--Section 31144(g) is amended by striking 
        paragraph (5).
            (2) Information systems; performance and registration 
        information program.--Section 31106(b) is amended by striking 
        paragraph (4).
            (3) Border enforcement grants.--Section 31107 is repealed.
            (4) Performance and registration information system 
        management.--Section 31109 is repealed.
            (5) Table of contents.--The table of contents of chapter 
        311 is amended--
                    (A) by striking the items relating to 31107 and 
                31109; and
                    (B) by striking the items relating to sections 
                31102, 31103, and 31104 and inserting the following:

``31102. Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program.
``31103. Commercial Motor Vehicle Operators Grant Program.
``31104. Authorization of appropriations.''.
            (6) Grants for commercial driver's license program 
        implementation.--Section 31313(a), as amended by section 2606 
        of this Act, is further amended by striking ``The Secretary of 
        Transportation shall administer a financial assistance program 
        for commercial driver's license program implementation for the 
        purposes described in paragraphs (1) and (2)'' and inserting 
        ``The Secretary of Transportation shall administer a financial 
        assistance program for commercial driver's license program 
        implementation funded under section 31104 of this title for the 
        purposes described in paragraphs (1) and (2)''.
            (7) Commercial vehicle information systems and networks 
        deployment.--Section 4126 of SAFETEA-LU (49 U.S.C. 31106 note) 
        is repealed.
            (8) Safety data improvement program.--Section 4128 of 
        SAFETEA-LU (49 U.S.C. 31100 note) is repealed.
            (9) Grant program for commercial motor vehicle operators.--
        Section 4134 of SAFETEA-LU (49 U.S.C. 31301 note) is repealed.
            (10) Winter home heating oil delivery state flexibility 
        program.--Section 346 of National Highway System Designation 
        Act of 1995 (49 U.S.C. 31166 note) is repealed.
            (11) Maintenance of effort as condition on grants to 
        states.--Section 103(c) of the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement 
        Act of 1999 (49 U.S.C. 31102 note) is repealed.
            (12) State compliance with cdl requirements.--Section 
        103(e) of the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999 (49 
        U.S.C. 31102 note) is repealed.
            (13) Border staffing standards.--Section 218(d) of the 
        Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999 (49 U.S.C. 31133 
        note) is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``under section 
                31104(f)(2)(B) of title 49, United States Code'' and 
                inserting ``section 31104(a)(1) of title 49, United 
                States Code''; and
                    (B) by striking paragraph (3).
    (e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect on October 1, 2016.
    (f) Transition.--Notwithstanding the amendments made by this 
section, the Secretary shall carry out sections 31102, 31103, 31104, 
and any sections repealed under subsection (d) of this section, as 
necessary, as those sections were in effect on the day before October 
1, 2016, with respect to applications for grants, cooperative 
agreements, or contracts under those sections submitted before October 
1, 2016.

SEC. 2603. NEW ENTRANT SAFETY REVIEW PROGRAM STUDY.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Office of Inspector General of the Department of 
Transportation shall report to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure in the House of Representatives on its assessment of the 
new operator safety review program, required under section 31144(g) of 
title 49, United States Code, including the program's effectiveness in 
reducing commercial motor vehicles involved in crashes, fatalities, and 
injuries, and in improving commercial motor vehicle safety.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 90 days after completion of the report 
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure in the House of Representatives a 
report on the actions the Secretary will take to address any 
recommendations included in the study under subsection (a).
    (c) Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; Exception.--The study and the 
Office of the Inspector General assessment shall not be subject to 
section 3506 or section 3507 of title 44, United States Code.

SEC. 2604. PERFORMANCE AND REGISTRATION INFORMATION SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT.

    Section 31106(b) is amended in the heading by striking ``Program'' 
and inserting ``Systems Management''.

SEC. 2605. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter I of chapter 311 is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
``Sec. 31110. Authorization of appropriations
    ``(a) Administrative Expenses.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated from the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit 
Account) for the Secretary of Transportation to pay administrative 
expenses of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration--
            ``(1) $264,439,000 for fiscal year 2016;
            ``(2) $269,992,000 for fiscal year 2017;
            ``(3) $275,662,000 for fiscal year 2018;
            ``(4) $281,451,000 for fiscal year 2019;
            ``(5) $287,361,000 for fiscal year 2020; and
            ``(6) $293,396,000 for fiscal year 2021.
    ``(b) Use of Funds.--The funds authorized by this section shall be 
used--
            ``(1) for personnel costs;
            ``(2) for administrative infrastructure;
            ``(3) for rent;
            ``(4) for information technology;
            ``(5) for programs for research and technology, information 
        management, regulatory development, the administration of the 
        performance and registration information systems management;
            ``(6) for programs for outreach and education under 
        subsection (d);
            ``(7) to fund the motor carrier safety facility working 
        capital fund established under subsection (c);
            ``(8) for other operating expenses;
            ``(9) to conduct safety reviews of new operators; and
            ``(10) for such other expenses as may from time to time 
        become necessary to implement statutory mandates of the Federal 
        Motor Carrier Safety Administration not funded from other 
        sources.
    ``(c) Motor Carrier Safety Facility Working Capital Fund.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may establish a motor 
        carrier safety facility working capital fund.
            ``(2) Purpose.--Amounts in the fund shall be available for 
        modernization, construction, leases, and expenses related to 
        vacating, occupying, maintaining, and expanding motor carrier 
        safety facilities, and associated activities.
            ``(3) Availability.--Amounts in the fund shall be available 
        without regard to fiscal year limitation.
            ``(4) Funding.--Amounts may be appropriated to the fund 
        from the amounts made available in subsection (a).
            ``(5) Fund transfers.--The Secretary may transfer funds to 
        the working capital fund from the amounts made available in 
        subsection (a) or from other funds as identified by the 
        Secretary.
    ``(d) Outreach and Education Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may conduct, through any 
        combination of grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, or 
        other activities, an internal and external outreach and 
        education program to be administered by the Administrator of 
        the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
            ``(2) Federal share.--The Federal share of an outreach and 
        education program for which a grant, contract, or cooperative 
        agreement is made under this subsection may be up to 100 
        percent of the cost of the grant, contract, or cooperative 
        agreement.
            ``(3) Funding.--From amounts made available in subsection 
        (a), the Secretary shall make available such sums as are 
        necessary to carry out this subsection each fiscal year.
    ``(e) Contract Authority; Initial Date of Availability.--Amounts 
authorized from the Highway Trust Fund by this section shall be 
available for obligation on the date of their apportionment or 
allocation or on October 1 of the fiscal year for which they are 
authorized, whichever occurs first.
    ``(f) Funding Availability.--Amounts made available under this 
section shall remain available until expended.
    ``(g) Contractual Obligation.--The approval of funds by the 
Secretary under this section is a contractual obligation of the Federal 
Government for payment of the Federal Government's share of costs.''.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Administrative expenses; authorization of 
        appropriations.--Section 31104 is amended--
                    (A) by striking subsection (i); and
                    (B) by redesignating subsections (j) and (k) and 
                subsections (i) and (j), respectively.
            (2) Use of amounts made available under subsection (i).--
        Section 4116(d) of SAFETEA-LU (49 U.S.C. 31104 note) is amended 
        by striking ``section 31104(i)'' and inserting ``section 
        31110''.
            (3) Internal cooperation.--Section 31161 is amended by 
        striking ``31104(i)'' and inserting ``31110''.
            (4) SAFETEA-LU; outreach and education.--Section 4127 of 
        SAFETEA-LU (119 Stat. 1741; Public Law 109-59) is repealed.
            (5) Table of contents.--The table of contents of subchapter 
        I of chapter 311 is amended by adding at the end the following:

``31110. Authorization of appropriations.''.

SEC. 2606. COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION.

    (a) In General.--Section 31313 is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 31313. Commercial driver's license program implementation 
              financial assistance program
    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary of Transportation shall administer 
a financial assistance program for commercial driver's license program 
implementation for the purposes described in paragraphs (1) and (2).
            ``(1) State commercial driver's license program improvement 
        grants.--The Secretary of Transportation may make a grant to a 
        State agency in a fiscal year--
                    ``(A) to comply with the requirements of section 
                31311; and
                    ``(B) in the case of a State that is making a good 
                faith effort toward substantial compliance with the 
                requirements of section 31311, to improve its 
                implementation of its commercial driver's license 
                program, including expenses--
                            ``(i) for computer hardware and software;
                            ``(ii) for publications, testing, 
                        personnel, training, and quality control;
                            ``(iii) for commercial driver's license 
                        program coordinators; and
                            ``(iv) to implement or maintain a system to 
                        notify an employer of an operator of a 
                        commercial motor vehicle of the suspension or 
                        revocation of the operator's commercial 
                        driver's license consistent with the standards 
                        developed under section 32303(b) of the 
                        Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Enhancement Act 
                        of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 31304 note).
            ``(2) Priority activities.--The Secretary may make a grant 
        or cooperative agreement in a fiscal year to a State agency, 
        local government, or any person for research, development or 
        testing, demonstration projects, public education, or other 
        special activities and projects relating to commercial driver's 
        licensing and motor vehicle safety that--
                    ``(A) benefit all jurisdictions of the United 
                States;
                    ``(B) address national safety concerns and 
                circumstances;
                    ``(C) address emerging issues relating to 
                commercial driver's license improvements;
                    ``(D) support innovative ideas and solutions to 
                commercial driver's license program issues; or
                    ``(E) address other commercial driver's license 
                issues, as determined by the Secretary.
    ``(b) Prohibitions.--A recipient may not use financial assistance 
funds awarded under this section to rent, lease, or buy land or 
buildings.
    ``(c) Report.--The Secretary shall issue an annual report on the 
activities carried out under this section.
    ``(d) Apportionment.--All amounts made available to carry out this 
section for a fiscal year shall be apportioned to a State or recipient 
described in subsection (a)(2) according to criteria prescribed by the 
Secretary.''.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--The table of contents of 
chapter 313 is amended by striking the item relating to section 31313 
and inserting the following:

``31313. Commercial driver's license program implementation financial 
                            assistance program.''.

SEC. 2607. EXTENSION OF FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY PROGRAMS FOR 
              FISCAL YEAR 2016.

    (a) Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program Grant Extension.--
Section 31104(a) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (9), by striking ``and'' at the end; and
            (2) by striking paragraph (10) and inserting the following:
            ``(10) $218,000,000 for fiscal year 2015; and
            ``(11) $218,000,000 for fiscal year 2016.''.
    (b) Extension of Grant Programs.--Section 4101(c) SAFETEA-LU (119 
Stat. 1715; Public Law 109-59), is amended to read as follows:
    ``(c) Grant Programs Funding.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated from the Highway Trust Fund the following sums for the 
following Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration programs:
            ``(1) Commercial driver's license program improvement 
        grants.--For carrying out the commercial driver's license 
        program improvement grants program under section 31313 of title 
        49, United States Code, $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2016.
            ``(2) Border enforcement grants.--From amounts made 
        available under section 31104(a) of title 49, United States 
        Code, for border enforcement grants under section 31107 of that 
        title, $32,000,000 for fiscal year 2016.
            ``(3) Performance and registration information systems 
        management grant programs.--From amounts made available under 
        section 31104(a) of title 49, United States Code, for the 
        performance and registration information systems management 
        grant program under section 31109 of that title, $5,000,000 for 
        fiscal year 2016.
            ``(4) Commercial vehicle information systems and networks 
        deployment.--For carrying out the commercial vehicle 
        information systems and networks deployment program under 
        section 4126 of this Act (the information technology deployment 
        program), $25,000,000, for fiscal year 2016.
            ``(5) Safety data improvement grants.--From amounts made 
        available under section 31104(a) of title 49, United States 
        Code, for safety data improvement grants under section 4128 of 
        this Act, $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2016.''.
    (c) High-Priority Activities.--Section 31104(j)(2), as redesignated 
by section 2605 of this Act is amended by striking ``2014 and up to 
$12,493,151 for the period beginning on October 1, 2014, and ending on 
July 31, 2015,,'' and inserting ``2016''.
    (d) New Entrant Audits.--Section 31144(g)(5)(B) is amended to read 
as follows:
                    ``(B) Set aside.--The Secretary shall set aside 
                from amounts made available by section 31104(a) up to 
                $32,000,000 for fiscal year 2016 for audits of new 
                entrant motor carriers conducted under this 
                paragraph.''.
    (e) Grant Program for Commercial Motor Vehicle Operators.--Section 
4134(c) of SAFETEA-LU (49 U.S.C. 31301 note) is amended to read as 
follows:
    ``(c) Funding.--From amounts made available under section 31110 of 
title 49, United States Code, the Secretary shall make available, 
$1,000,000 for fiscal year 2016 to carry out the commercial motor 
vehicle operators grant program.''.
    (f) Commercial Vehicle Information Systems and Networks 
Deployment.--
            (1) In general.--Section 4126 of SAFETEA-LU (49 U.S.C. 
        31106 note; 119 Stat. 1738; Public Law 109-59) is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (c)--
                            (i) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end 
                        the following: ``Funds deobligated by the 
                        Secretary from previous year grants shall not 
                        be counted towards the $2,500,000 maximum 
                        aggregate amount for core deployment.''; and
                            (ii) in paragraph (3), by adding at the end 
                        the following: ``Funds may also be used for 
                        planning activities, including the development 
                        or updating of program or top level design 
                        plans.''; and
                    (B) in subsection (d)(4), by adding at the end the 
                following: ``Funds may also be used for planning 
                activities, including the development or updating of 
                program or top level design plans.''.
            (2) Information technology deployment program.--For fiscal 
        year 2016, the commercial vehicle information systems and 
        networks deployment program under section 4126 of SAFETEA-LU 
        (119 Stat. 1738; Public Law 109-59) may also be referred to as 
        the information technology deployment program.

SEC. 2608. MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ALLOCATION.

    (a) Working Group.--
            (1) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
        of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a motor 
        carrier safety assistance program formula working group 
        (referred to in this section as the ``working group'').
            (2) Membership.--
                    (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the 
                working group shall consist of representatives of the 
                following:
                            (i) The Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
                        Administration.
                            (ii) The lead State commercial motor 
                        vehicle safety agencies responsible for 
                        administering the plan required by section 
                        31102 of title 49, United States Code.
                            (iii) An organization representing State 
                        agencies responsible for enforcing a program 
                        for inspection of commercial motor vehicles.
                            (iv) Such other persons as the Secretary 
                        considers necessary.
                    (B) Composition.--Representatives of State 
                commercial motor vehicle safety agencies shall comprise 
                at least 51 percent of the membership.
            (3) New allocation formula.--The working group shall 
        analyze requirements and factors for a new motor carrier safety 
        assistance program allocation formula.
            (4) Recommendation.--Not later than 1 year after the date 
        the working group is established under paragraph (1), the 
        working group shall make a recommendation to the Secretary 
        regarding a new Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program 
        allocation formula.
            (5) FACA exemption.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
        U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the working group established 
        under this subsection.
            (6) Publication.--The Administrator of the Federal Motor 
        Carrier Safety Administration shall publish on a public website 
        summaries of its meetings, and the final recommendation 
        provided to the Secretary.
    (b) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.--After receiving the 
recommendation under subsection (a)(4), the Secretary shall publish in 
the Federal Register a notice seeking public comment on a new 
allocation formula for the motor carrier safety assistance program 
under section 31102 of title 49, United States Code.
    (c) Basis for Formula.--The Secretary shall ensure that the new 
allocation formula is based on factors that reflect, at a minimum--
            (1) the relative needs of the States to comply with section 
        31102 of title 49, United States Code;
            (2) the relative administrative capacities of and 
        challenges faced by States in complying with section 31102 of 
        title 49, United States Code;
            (3) the average of each State's new entrant motor carrier 
        inventory for the 3-year period prior to the date of enactment 
        of this Act;
            (4) the number of international border inspection 
        facilities and border crossings by commercial vehicles in each 
        State; and
            (5) any other factors the Secretary considers appropriate.
    (d) Funding Amounts Prior to Development of a New Allocation 
Formula.--
            (1) Interim formula.--Prior to the development of the new 
        allocation formula, the Secretary may calculate the interim 
        funding amounts for the motor carrier safety assistance program 
        in fiscal year 2017 (and later fiscal years, as necessary) 
        under section 31104(a)(1) of title 49, United States Code, as 
        amended by section 2602 of this Act, by the following 
        methodology:
                    (A) The Secretary shall calculate the funding 
                amount using the allocation formula the Secretary used 
                to award motor carrier safety assistance program 
                funding in fiscal year 2016 under section 2607 of this 
                Act.
                    (B) The Secretary shall average the funding awarded 
                or other equitable amounts to a State in fiscal years 
                2013, 2014, and 2015 for border enforcement grants 
                awarded under section 32603(c) of MAP-21 (126 Stat. 
                807; Public Law 112-141) and new entrant audit grants 
                awarded under that section, or other equitable amounts.
                    (C) The Secretary shall add the amounts calculated 
                in subparagraphs (A) and (B).
            (2) Adjustments.--Subject to the availability of funding 
        and notwithstanding fluctuations in the data elements used by 
        the Secretary, the initial amounts resulting from the 
        calculation described in paragraph (1) shall be adjusted to 
        ensure that, for each State, the amount shall not be less than 
        97 percent of the average amount of funding received or other 
        equitable amounts in fiscal years 2013, 2014, and 2015 for--
                    (A) motor carrier safety assistance program funds 
                awarded under section 32603(a) of MAP-21 (126 Stat. 
                807; Public Law 112-141);
                    (B) border enforcement grants awarded under section 
                32603(a) of MAP-21 (126 Stat. 807; Public Law 112-141); 
                and
                    (C) new entrant audit grants awarded under section 
                32603(a) of MAP-21 (126 Stat. 807; Public Law 112-141).
            (3) Immediate relief.--In developing the new allocation 
        formula, the Secretary shall provide immediate relief for at 
        least 3 fiscal years to all States currently subject to the 
        withholding provisions of Motor Carrier Safety Assistance 
        Program funds for matters of noncompliance.
            (4) Future withholdings.--Beginning on the date that the 
        new allocation formula is implemented, the Secretary shall 
        impose all future withholdings in accordance with section 
        31102(k) of title 49, United States Code, as amended by section 
        2602 of this Act.
    (e) Termination of Effectiveness.--This section expires upon the 
implementation of a new Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program 
Allocation Formula.

SEC. 2609. MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT CALCULATION.

    (a) Before New Allocation Formula.--
            (1) Fiscal year 2017.--If a new allocation formula has not 
        been established for fiscal year 2017, then, for fiscal year 
        2017, the Secretary of Transportation shall calculate the 
        maintenance of effort required under section 31102(f) of title 
        49, United States Code, as amended by section 2602 of this Act, 
        by averaging the expenditures for fiscal years 2004 and 2005 
        required by section 32601(a)(5) of MAP-21 (Public Law 112-141), 
        as that section was in effect on the day before the date of 
        enactment of this Act.
            (2) Subsequent fiscal years.--The Secretary may use the 
        methodology for calculating the maintenance of effort for 
        fiscal year 2017 and each fiscal year thereafter if a new 
        allocation formula has not been established.
    (b) Beginning With New Allocation Formation.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3)(B), 
        beginning on the date that a new allocation formula is 
        established under section 2608, upon the request of a State, 
        the Secretary may modify the baseline maintenance of effort 
        required by section 31102(e) of title 49, United States Code, 
        as amended by section 2602 of this Act, for the purpose of 
        establishing a new baseline maintenance of effort if the 
        Secretary determines that a waiver or modification--
                    (A) is equitable due to reasonable circumstances;
                    (B) will ensure the continuation of commercial 
                motor vehicle enforcement activities in the State; and
                    (C) is necessary to ensure that the total amount of 
                State maintenance of effort and matching expenditures 
                required under sections 31102 and 31104 of title 49, 
                United States Code, as amended by section 2602 of this 
                Act, does not exceed a sum greater than the total 
                amount of State maintenance of effort and matching 
                expenditures for the 3 fiscal years prior to the date 
                of enactment of this Act.
            (2) Adjustment methodology.--If requested by a State, the 
        Secretary may modify the maintenance of effort baseline 
        according to the following methodology:
                    (A) The Secretary shall establish the maintenance 
                of effort using the average of fiscal years 2004 and 
                2005, as required by section 32601(a)(5) of MAP-21 
                (Public Law 112-141).
                    (B) The Secretary shall calculate the average 
                required match by a lead State commercial motor vehicle 
                safety agency for fiscal years 2013, 2014, and 2015 for 
                motor carrier safety assistance grants established at 
                20 percent by section 31103 of title 49, United States 
                Code, as that section was in effect on the day before 
                the date of enactment of this Act.
                    (C) The Secretary shall calculate the estimated 
                match required under section 31104(b) of title 49, 
                United States Code, as amended by section 2602 of this 
                Act.
                    (D) The Secretary will subtract the amount in 
                subparagraph (B) from the amount in subparagraph (C) 
                and--
                            (i) if the number is greater than 0, then 
                        the Secretary shall subtract the number from 
                        the amount in subparagraph (A); or
                            (ii) if the number is not greater than 0, 
                        then the Secretary shall calculate the 
                        maintenance of effort using the methodology in 
                        subparagraph (A).
            (3) Maintenance of effort amount.--
                    (A) In general.--The Secretary shall use the amount 
                calculated in paragraph (2) as the baseline maintenance 
                of effort required in section 31102(f) of title 49, 
                United States Code, as amended by section 2602 of this 
                Act.
                    (B) Deadline.--If a State does not request a waiver 
                or modification under this subsection before September 
                30 during the first fiscal year that the Secretary 
                implements the new allocation formula under section 
                2608, the Secretary shall calculate the maintenance of 
                effort using the methodology in paragraph (2)(A) of 
                this subsection.
            (4) Maintenance of effort described.--The maintenance of 
        effort calculated under this section is the amount required 
        under section 31102(f) of title 49, United States Code, as 
        amended by section 2602 of this Act.
    (c) Termination of Effectiveness.--The authority under this section 
terminates effective on the date that the new maintenance of effort is 
calculated based on the new allocation formula implemented under 
section 2608.

                  Subtitle G--Miscellaneous Provisions

SEC. 2701. WINDSHIELD TECHNOLOGY.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall revise the regulations in 
section 393.60(e) of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (relating to 
the prohibition on obstructions to the driver's field of view), to 
exempt from that section the voluntary mounting on a windshield of 
vehicle safety technology likely to achieve a level of safety that is 
equivalent to or greater than the level of safety that would be 
achieved absent the exemption.
    (b) Definition of Vehicle Safety Technology.--In this section, 
``vehicle safety technology'' includes fleet-related incident 
management system, performance or behavior management system, speed 
management system, lane departure warning system, forward collision 
warning or mitigation system, active cruise control system, and any 
other technology that the Secretary considers applicable.
    (c) Rule of Construction.--For purposes of this section, any 
windshield mounted technology with a short term exemption under part 
381 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, on the day before the 
date of enactment of this Act, shall be considered likely to achieve a 
level of safety that is equivalent to or greater than the level of 
safety that would be achieved absent an exemption under subsection (a).

SEC. 2702. ELECTRONIC LOGGING DEVICES REQUIREMENTS.

    Section 31137(b) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)(C), by striking ``apply to'' and 
        inserting ``except as provided in paragraph (3), apply to''; 
        and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) Exception.--A motor carrier, when transporting a 
        motor home or recreation vehicle trailer within the definition 
        of `driveaway-towaway operation' (as defined in section 390.5 
        of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations) may comply with the 
        hours of service requirements by requiring each driver to use--
                    ``(A) a paper record of duty status form; or
                    ``(B) an electronic logging device.''.

SEC. 2703. LAPSE OF REQUIRED FINANCIAL SECURITY; SUSPENSION OF 
              REGISTRATION.

    Section 13906(e) is amended by inserting ``or suspend'' after 
``revoke''.

SEC. 2704. ACCESS TO NATIONAL DRIVER REGISTER.

    Section 30305(b) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(13) The Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier 
        Safety Administration may request the chief driver licensing 
        official of a State to provide information under subsection (a) 
        of this section about an individual in connection with a safety 
        investigation under the Administrator's jurisdiction.''.

SEC. 2705. STUDY ON COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE DRIVER COMMUTING.

    (a) Effects of Commuting.--The Administrator of the Federal Motor 
Carrier Safety Administration shall conduct a study of the effects of 
motor carrier operator commutes exceeding 150 minutes commuting time on 
safety and commercial motor vehicle driver fatigue.
    (b) Study.--In conducting the study, the Administrator shall 
consider--
            (1) the prevalence of driver commuting in the commercial 
        motor vehicle industry, including the number and percentage of 
        drivers who commute;
            (2) the distances traveled, time zones crossed, time spent 
        commuting, and methods of transportation used;
            (3) research on the impact of excessive commuting on safety 
        and commercial motor vehicle driver fatigue;
            (4) the commuting practices of commercial motor vehicle 
        drivers and policies of motor carriers;
            (5) the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration 
        regulations, policies, and guidance regarding driver commuting; 
        and
            (6) any other matters the Administrator considers 
        appropriate.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report 
containing the findings under the study and any recommendations for 
legislative action concerning driver commuting.

SEC. 2706. HOUSEHOLD GOODS CONSUMER PROTECTION WORKING GROUP.

    (a) Working Group.--The Secretary shall establish a working group 
for the purpose of developing recommendations on how to best convey to 
inexperienced consumers the information such consumers need to know 
with respect to the Federal laws concerning the interstate 
transportation of household goods by motor carrier.
    (b) Membership.--The Secretary shall ensure that the working group 
is comprised of individuals with expertise in consumer affairs, 
educators with expertise in how people learn most effectively, and 
representatives of the household goods moving industry.
    (c) Recommendations.--
            (1) Contents.--The recommendations developed by the working 
        group shall include, at a minimum, recommendations on--
                    (A) condensing publication ESA 03005 of the Federal 
                Motor Carrier Safety Administration into a format that 
                is more easily used by consumers;
                    (B) using state-of-the-art education techniques and 
                technologies, including optimizing the use of the 
                Internet as an educational tool; and
                    (C) reducing and simplifying the paperwork required 
                of motor carriers and shippers in interstate 
                transportation.
            (2) Deadline.--Not later than one year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the working group shall make the 
        recommendations described in paragraph (1) which the Secretary 
        shall publish on a public website.
    (d) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date on which the 
working group makes its recommendations, the Secretary shall issue a 
report to Congress on the implementation of such recommendations.
    (e) Federal Advisory Committee Act Exemption.--The Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the working group 
established under this section.
    (f) Termination.--The working group shall terminate 2 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act.

                     TITLE III--HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

SEC. 3101. ENDORSEMENTS.

    (a) Exclusions.--Section 5117(d)(1) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(D) a service vehicle carrying diesel fuel in 
                quantities of 3,785 liters (1,000 gallons) or less that 
                is--
                            ``(i) driven by a class A commercial 
                        driver's license holder who is a custom 
                        harvester, an agricultural retailer, an 
                        agricultural business employee, an agricultural 
                        cooperative employee, or an agricultural 
                        producer; and
                            ``(ii) clearly marked with a placard 
                        reading `Diesel Fuel'.''.
    (b) Hazardous Materials Endorsement Exemption.--The Secretary shall 
exempt all class A commercial driver's license holders who are custom 
harvesters, agricultural retailers, agricultural business employees, 
agricultural cooperative employees, or agricultural producers from the 
requirement to obtain a hazardous materials endorsement under part 383 
of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, while operating a service 
vehicle carrying diesel fuel in quantities of 3,785 liters (1,000 
gallons) or less if the tank containing such fuel is clearly marked 
with a placard reading ``Diesel Fuel''.

SEC. 3102. ENHANCED REPORTING.

    Section 5121(h) is amended by striking ``transmit to the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate'' and inserting ``post on the Department of Transportation 
public website''.

SEC. 3103. HAZARDOUS MATERIAL INFORMATION.

    (a) Derailment Data.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall revise the form for 
        reporting a rail equipment accident or incident under section 
        225.21 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (Form FRA F 
        6180.54, Rail Equipment Accident/Incident Report), including to 
        its instructions, to require additional data concerning rail 
        cars carrying crude oil or ethanol that are involved in a 
        reportable rail equipment accident or incident under part 225 
        of that title.
            (2) Contents.--The data under subsection (a) shall 
        include--
                    (A) the number of rail cars carrying crude oil or 
                ethanol;
                    (B) the number of rail cars carrying crude oil or 
                ethanol damaged or derailed; and
                    (C) the number of rail cars releasing crude oil or 
                ethanol.
            (3) Differentiation.--The data described in paragraph (2) 
        shall be reported separately for crude oil and for ethanol.
    (b) Database Connectivity.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall implement 
        information management practices to ensure that the Pipeline 
        and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Hazardous 
        Materials Incident Reports Database (referred to in this 
        section as ``Incident Reports Database'') and the Federal 
        Railroad Administration Railroad Safety Information System 
        contain accurate and consistent data on a reportable rail 
        equipment accident or incident under part 225 of title 49, Code 
        of Federal Regulations, involving the release of hazardous 
        materials.
            (2) Identifiers.--The Secretary shall ensure that the 
        Incident Reports Database uses a searchable Federal Railroad 
        Administration report number, or other applicable unique 
        identifier that is linked to the Federal Railroad Safety 
        Information System, for each reportable rail equipment accident 
        or incident under part 225 of title 49, Code of Federal 
        Regulations, involving the release of hazardous materials.
    (c) Evaluation.--
            (1) In general.--The Department of Transportation Inspector 
        General shall--
                    (A) evaluate the accuracy of information in the 
                Incident Reports Database, including determining 
                whether any inaccuracies exist in--
                            (i) the type of hazardous materials 
                        released;
                            (ii) the quantity of hazardous materials 
                        released;
                            (iii) the location of hazardous materials 
                        released;
                            (iv) the damages or effects of hazardous 
                        materials released; and
                            (v) any other data contained in the 
                        database; and
                    (B) considering the requirements in subsection (b), 
                evaluate the consistency and accuracy of data involving 
                accidents or incidents reportable to both the Pipeline 
                and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and the 
                Federal Railroad Administration, including whether the 
                Incident Reports Database uses a searchable identifier 
                described in subsection (b)(2).
            (2) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Inspector General of the Department 
        of Transportation shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, 
        Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
        Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
        Representatives a report of the findings under subparagraphs 
        (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) and recommendations for resolving 
        any inconsistencies or inaccuracies.
    (d) Savings Clause.--Nothing in this section may be construed to 
prohibit the Secretary from requiring other commodity-specific 
information for any reportable rail equipment accident or incident 
under part 225 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations.

SEC. 3104. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TRAINING REQUIREMENTS AND GRANTS.

    Section 5107(e) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(e) Training Grants.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to the availability of funds 
        under section 5128(c), the Secretary shall make grants under 
        this subsection--
                    ``(A) for training instructors to train--
                            ``(i) hazmat employees;
                            ``(ii) employees who enforce the hazardous 
                        materials regulations;
                            ``(iii) employees who respond to hazardous 
                        materials incidents; or
                            ``(iv) a combination of the employees 
                        described in clauses (i) through (iii); and
                    ``(B) to the extent the Secretary considers 
                appropriate, for such instructors to train--
                            ``(i) hazmat employees;
                            ``(ii) employees who enforce the hazardous 
                        materials regulations;
                            ``(iii) employees who respond to hazardous 
                        materials incidents; or
                            ``(iv) a combination of the employees 
                        described in clauses (i) through (iii).
            ``(2) Eligibility.--Grants under this subsection shall be 
        made on a competitive basis to organizations that--
                    ``(A) train on a not-for-profit basis--
                            ``(i) hazmat employees;
                            ``(ii) employees who enforce the hazardous 
                        materials regulations;
                            ``(iii) employees who respond to hazardous 
                        materials incidents; or
                            ``(iv) a combination of the employees 
                        described in clauses (i) through (iii); and
                    ``(B) demonstrate--
                            ``(i) expertise in conducting a training 
                        program for 1 or more of the groups of 
                        employees described in clauses (i) through 
                        (iii) of subparagraph (A); and
                            ``(ii) the ability to reach and involve in 
                        a training program a target population of 1 or 
                        more of the groups of employees described in 
                        clauses (i) through (iii) of subparagraph 
                        (A).''.

SEC. 3105. NATIONAL EMERGENCY AND DISASTER RESPONSE.

    (a) Purpose.--Section 5101 is amended by inserting and ``and to 
facilitate the safe movement of hazardous materials during national 
emergencies'' after ``commerce''.
    (b) General Regulatory Authority.--Section 5103 is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections 
        (d) and (e), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
    ``(c) Federally Declared Disaster and Emergency Areas.--The 
Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, may 
prescribe standards to facilitate the safe movement of hazardous 
materials into, from, and within a federally declared disaster area or 
a national emergency area.''.

SEC. 3106. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    Section 5128 is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 5128. Authorization of appropriations
    ``(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the 
Secretary to carry out this chapter (except sections 5107(e), 
5108(g)(2), 5113, 5115, 5116, and 5119)--
            ``(1) $42,762,000 for fiscal year 2016;
            ``(2) $43,660,000 for fiscal year 2017;
            ``(3) $44,577,000 for fiscal year 2018;
            ``(4) $46,469,000 for fiscal year 2019;
            ``(5) $47,445,000 for fiscal year 2020; and
            ``(6) $48,441,000 for fiscal year 2021.
    ``(b) Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Fund.--From the 
Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Fund established under 
section 5116(i), the Secretary may expend, during each of fiscal years 
2016 through 2021--
            ``(1) $188,000 to carry out section 5115;
            ``(2) $21,800,000 to carry out subsections (a) and (b) of 
        section 5116, of which not less than $13,650,000 shall be 
        available to carry out section 5116(b);
            ``(3) $150,000 to carry out section 5116(f);
            ``(4) $625,000 to publish and distribute the Emergency 
        Response Guidebook under section 5116(i)(3); and
            ``(5) $1,000,000 to carry out section 5116(j).
    ``(c) Hazardous Materials Training Grants.--From the Hazardous 
Materials Emergency Preparedness Fund established pursuant to section 
5116(i), the Secretary may expend $4,000,000 for each of the fiscal 
years 2016 through 2021 to carry out section 5107(e).
    ``(d) Credits to Appropriations.--
            ``(1) Expenses.--In addition to amounts otherwise made 
        available to carry out this chapter, the Secretary may credit 
        amounts received from a State, Indian tribe, or other public 
        authority or private entity for expenses the Secretary incurs 
        in providing training to the State, authority, or entity.
            ``(2) Availability of amounts.--Amounts made available 
        under this section shall remain available until expended.''.

               TITLE IV--HIGHWAY AND MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY

                   Subtitle A--Highway Traffic Safety

                         PART I--HIGHWAY SAFETY

SEC. 4101. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--The following sums are authorized to be 
appropriated out of the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit 
Account):
            (1) Highway safety programs.--For carrying out section 402 
        of title 23, United States Code--
                    (A) $243,526,500 for fiscal year 2016;
                    (B) $252,267,972 for fiscal year 2017;
                    (C) $261,229,288 for fiscal year 2018;
                    (D) $270,415,429 for fiscal year 2019;
                    (E) $279,831,482 for fiscal year 2020; and
                    (F) $289,482,646 for fiscal year 2021.
            (2) Highway safety research and development.--For carrying 
        out section 403 of title 23, United States Code--
                    (A) $137,835,000 for fiscal year 2016;
                    (B) $140,729,535 for fiscal year 2017;
                    (C) $143,684,855 for fiscal year 2018;
                    (D) $146,702,237 for fiscal year 2019;
                    (E) $149,782,984 for fiscal year 2020; and
                    (F) $152,928,427 for fiscal year 2021.
            (3) National priority safety programs.--For carrying out 
        section 405 of title 23, United States Code--
                    (A) $274,720,000 for fiscal year 2016;
                    (B) $277,467,200 for fiscal year 2017;
                    (C) $280,241,872 for fiscal year 2018;
                    (D) $283,044,291 for fiscal year 2019;
                    (E) $285,874,734 for fiscal year 2020; and
                    (F) $288,733,481 for fiscal year 2021.
            (4) National driver register.--For the National Highway 
        Traffic Safety Administration to carry out chapter 303 of title 
        49, United States Code--
                    (A) $3,573,500 for fiscal year 2016;
                    (B) $3,648,544 for fiscal year 2017;
                    (C) $3,725,163 for fiscal year 2018;
                    (D) $3,803,391 for fiscal year 2019;
                    (E) $3,883,263 for fiscal year 2020; and
                    (F) $3,964,811 for fiscal year 2021.
            (5) High visibility enforcement program.--For carrying out 
        section 2009 of SAFETEA-LU (23 U.S.C. 402 note)--
                    (A) $29,290,000 for fiscal year 2016;
                    (B) $29,582,900 for fiscal year 2017;
                    (C) $29,878,729 for fiscal year 2018;
                    (D) $30,177,516 for fiscal year 2019;
                    (E) $30,479,291 for fiscal year 2020; and
                    (F) $30,784,084 for fiscal year 2021.
            (6) Administrative expenses.--For administrative and 
        related operating expenses of the National Highway Traffic 
        Safety Administration in carrying out chapter 4 of title 23, 
        United States Code, and this subtitle--
                    (A) $25,755,000 for fiscal year 2016;
                    (B) $26,012,550 for fiscal year 2017;
                    (C) $26,272,676 for fiscal year 2018;
                    (D) $26,535,402 for fiscal year 2019;
                    (E) $26,800,756 for fiscal year 2020; and
                    (F) $27,068,764 for fiscal year 2021.
    (b) Prohibition on Other Uses.--Except as otherwise provided in 
chapter 4 of title 23, United States Code, in this subtitle, and in the 
amendments made by this subtitle, the amounts made available from the 
Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account) for a program 
under such chapter--
            (1) shall only be used to carry out such program; and
            (2) may not be used by States or local governments for 
        construction purposes.
    (c) Applicability of Title 23.--Except as otherwise provided in 
chapter 4 of title 23, United States Code, and in this subtitle, 
amounts made available under subsection (a) for fiscal years 2016 
through 2021 shall be available for obligation in the same manner as if 
such funds were apportioned under chapter 1 of title 23, United States 
Code.
    (d) Regulatory Authority.--Grants awarded under this subtitle shall 
be in accordance with regulations issued by the Secretary.
    (e) State Matching Requirements.--If a grant awarded under this 
subtitle requires a State to share in the cost, the aggregate of all 
expenditures for highway safety activities made during any fiscal year 
by the State and its political subdivisions (exclusive of Federal 
funds) for carrying out the grant (other than planning and 
administration) shall be available for the purpose of crediting the 
State during such fiscal year for the non-Federal share of the cost of 
any project under this subtitle (other than planning or administration) 
without regard to whether such expenditures were actually made in 
connection with such project.
    (f) Grant Application and Deadline.--To receive a grant under this 
subtitle, a State shall submit an application, and the Secretary shall 
establish a single deadline for such applications to enable the award 
of grants early in the next fiscal year.
    (g) Transfers.--Section 405(a)(1)(G) of title 23, United States 
Code, is amended to read as follows:
                    ``(G) Transfers.--Notwithstanding subparagraphs (A) 
                through (F), the Secretary shall reallocate, before the 
                last day of any fiscal year, any amounts remaining 
                available of the amounts allocated to carry out any of 
                the activities described in subsections (b) through (g) 
                to increase the amount made available to carry out 
                section 402, in order to ensure, to the maximum extent 
                possible, that all such amounts are obligated during 
                such fiscal year.''.

SEC. 4102. HIGHWAY SAFETY PROGRAMS.

    (a) Restriction.--Section 402(g) of title 23, United States Code, 
is amended to read as follows:
    ``(g) Restriction.--Nothing in this section may be construed to 
authorize the appropriation or expenditure of funds for highway 
construction, maintenance, or design (other than design of safety 
features of highways to be incorporated into guidelines).''.
    (b) Use of Funds.--
            (1) Highway safety programs.--Section 402(c) of title 23, 
        United States Code, is amended by inserting ``A State may 
        transfer the funds apportioned under this section to a 
        political subdivision of a State, including Indian tribal 
        governments.'' after ``neighboring States.''.
            (2) National priority safety programs.--Section 405(a)(1) 
        is amended by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(I) Political subdivisions.--A State may transfer 
                the funds apportioned under this section to a political 
                subdivision of a State, including Indian tribal 
                governments.''.
    (c) Tracking Process.--Section 412 of title 23, United States Code, 
is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(f) Tracking Process.--The Secretary shall develop a process to 
identify and mitigate possible systemic issues across States and 
regional offices by reviewing oversight findings and recommended 
actions identified in triennial State management reviews.''.
    (d) Highway Safety Plans.--Section 402(k)(5)(A) of title 23, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ``60'' and inserting ``30''.
    (e) Maintenance of Effort.--Section 405(a)(1)(H) of title 23, 
United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
                    ``(H) Maintenance of effort certification.--As part 
                of the grant application required in section 
                402(k)(3)(F), a State receiving a grant in any fiscal 
                year under subsection (b), subsection (c), or 
                subsection (d) of this section shall provide 
                certification that the lead State agency responsible 
                for programs described in any of those sections is 
                maintaining expenditures at or above the average level 
                of such expenditures in the 2 fiscal years prior to the 
                date of enactment of the Comprehensive Transportation 
                and Consumer Protection Act of 2015.''.

SEC. 4103. GRANTS FOR ALCOHOL-IGNITION INTERLOCK LAWS AND 24-7 SOBRIETY 
              PROGRAMS.

    Section 405(d) of title 23, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (6)--
                    (A) by amending the heading to read as follows: 
                ``Grants to states for alcohol-ignition interlock laws 
                and 24-7 sobriety programs.--''; and
                    (B) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as 
                follows:
                    ``(A) Alcohol-ignition interlock laws and 24-7 
                sobriety programs.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The Secretary shall make 
                        a separate grant under this subsection to each 
                        State that--
                                    ``(I) adopts and is enforcing a law 
                                that requires all individuals convicted 
                                of driving under the influence of 
                                alcohol or of driving while intoxicated 
                                to receive a restriction on driving 
                                privileges; and
                                    ``(II) either--
                                            ``(aa) except as provided 
                                        under clause (ii), adopts and 
                                        is enforcing a mandatory 
                                        alcohol-ignition interlock law 
                                        for all individuals convicted 
                                        of driving under the influence 
                                        of alcohol or of driving while 
                                        intoxicated; or
                                            ``(bb) provides a 24-7 
                                        sobriety program.
                            ``(ii) Exceptions.--A State alcohol-
                        ignition interlock law under clause (i)(II)(aa) 
                        may include exceptions for the following 
                        circumstances:
                                    ``(I) The individual is required to 
                                operate an employer's motor vehicle in 
                                the course and scope of employment and 
                                the business entity that owns the 
                                vehicle is not owned or controlled by 
                                the individual.
                                    ``(II) The individual is certified 
                                by a medical doctor as being unable to 
                                provide a deep lung breath sample for 
                                analysis by an ignition interlock 
                                device.'';
            (2) in paragraph (7)(A)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding clause (i)--
                            (i) by striking ``or a State agency'' and 
                        inserting ``or an agency with jurisdiction''; 
                        and
                            (ii) by inserting ``bond,'' before 
                        ``sentence'';
                    (B) in clause (i), by striking ``who plead guilty 
                or'' and inserting ``who was arrested, plead guilty, 
                or''; and
                    (C) in clause (ii), by inserting ``at an in-person 
                testing location'' after ``per day''; and
            (3) in paragraph (1)(A), by adding ``, including 24-7 
        sobriety programs'' after ``and drugs''.

SEC. 4104. STUDY ON THE NATIONAL ROADSIDE SURVEY OF ALCOHOL AND DRUG 
              USE BY DRIVERS.

    Not later than 180 days after the date that the Comptroller General 
reviews and reports on the overall value of the National Roadside 
Survey to researchers and other public safety stakeholders, the 
differences between a National Roadside Survey site and typical law 
enforcement checkpoints, and the effectiveness of the National Roadside 
Survey methodology at protecting the privacy of the driving public, as 
requested by the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate on June 5, 
2014 (Senate Report 113-182), the Secretary shall report to Congress on 
the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's progress toward 
reviewing that report and implementing any recommendations made in that 
report.

            PART II--STOP MOTORCYCLE CHECKPOINT FUNDING ACT

SEC. 4121. SHORT TITLE.

    This part may be cited as the ``Stop Motorcycle Checkpoint Funding 
Act''.

SEC. 4122. GRANT RESTRICTION.

    Notwithstanding section 153 of title 23, United States Code, the 
Secretary may not provide a grant or any funds to a State, county, 
town, township, Indian tribe, municipality, or other local government 
that may be used for any program--
            (1) to check helmet usage; or
            (2) to create checkpoints that specifically target 
        motorcycle operators or motorcycle passengers.

             PART III--IMPROVING DRIVER SAFETY ACT OF 2015

SEC. 4131. SHORT TITLE.

    This part may be cited as the ``Improving Driver Safety Act of 
2015''.

SEC. 4132. DISTRACTED DRIVING INCENTIVE GRANTS.

    Section 405(e) of title 23, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``includes distracted 
        driving issues as part of the State's driver's license 
        examination and'' after ``any State that'';
            (2) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in subparagraph (C)(ii), by striking the period 
                at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(D) does not provide for an exception that 
                specifically allows a driver to text through a personal 
                wireless communication device while stopped in 
                traffic.'';
            (3) in paragraph (3)--
                    (A) by striking subparagraph (C);
                    (B) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as 
                subparagraph (C);
                    (C) in subparagraph (C)(ii), as redesignated, by 
                striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and''; 
                and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(D) does not provide for an exception that 
                specifically allows a driver younger than 18 years of 
                age to use a personal wireless communication device 
                while stopped in traffic.'';
            (4) in paragraph (4)(C), by striking ``section 31152'' and 
        inserting ``section 31136'';
            (5) by amending paragraph (6) to read as follows:
            ``(6) Additional distracted driving grants.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), 
                the Secretary shall use up to 50 percent of the amounts 
                available for grants under this subsection to award 
                grants to any State that--
                            ``(i) in fiscal years 2017 and 2018--
                                    ``(I) certifies that it has enacted 
                                a basic text messaging statute that--
                                            ``(aa) is applicable to 
                                        drivers of all ages; and
                                            ``(bb) makes violation of 
                                        the basic text messaging 
                                        statute a primary offense or 
                                        secondary enforcement action as 
                                        allowed by State statute; and
                                    ``(II) is otherwise ineligible for 
                                a grant under this subsection; and
                            ``(ii) in fiscal years 2019 through 2021--
                                    ``(I) meets the requirements under 
                                clause (i);
                                    ``(II) imposes increased fines for 
                                repeat violations; and
                                    ``(III) has a statute that 
                                prohibits drivers who are younger than 
                                18 years of age from using a personal 
                                wireless communications device while 
                                driving.
                    ``(B) Use of grant funds.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Notwithstanding 
                        paragraph (5) and subject to clauses (ii) and 
                        (iii) of this subparagraph, amounts received by 
                        a State under subparagraph (A) may be used for 
                        activities related to the enforcement of 
                        distracted driving laws, including for public 
                        information and awareness purposes.
                            ``(ii) Fiscal years 2017 and 2018.--In 
                        fiscal years 2017 and 2018, up to 15 percent of 
                        the amounts received by a State under 
                        subparagraph (A) may be used for any eligible 
                        project or activity under section 402.
                            ``(iii) Fiscal year 2019 through 2021.--In 
                        fiscal year 2019 through 2021, up to 25 percent 
                        of the amounts received by a State under 
                        subparagraph (A) may be used for any eligible 
                        project or activity under section 402.''; and
            (6) in paragraph (9)(A)(i), by striking ``, including 
        operation while temporarily stationary because of traffic, a 
        traffic light or stop sign, or otherwise''.

SEC. 4133. BARRIERS TO DATA COLLECTION REPORT.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shall submit a 
report to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate, the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
Representatives, and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the House of Representatives that--
            (1) identifies any legal and technical barriers to 
        capturing adequate data on the prevalence of the use of 
        wireless communications devices while driving; and
            (2) provides recommendations on how to address such 
        barriers.

              PART IV--TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS

SEC. 4141. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS TO THE MOTOR VEHICLE AND HIGHWAY 
              SAFETY IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2012.

    (a) Highway Safety Programs.--Section 402 of title 23, United 
States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(1)(C), by striking ``except as 
        provided in paragraph (3),'';
            (2) in subsection (b)(1)(E)--
                    (A) by striking ``in which a State'' and inserting 
                ``for which a State''; and
                    (B) by striking ``subsection (f)'' and inserting 
                ``subsection (k)''; and
            (3) in subsection (k)(4), by striking ``paragraph (2)(A)'' 
        and inserting ``paragraph (3)(A)''.
    (b) Highway Safety Research and Development.--Section 403(e) of 
title 23, United States Code, is amended by inserting ``of title 49'' 
after ``chapter 301''.
    (c) National Priority Safety Programs.--Section 405 of title 23, 
United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (d)(5), by striking ``section 402(c)'' 
        and inserting ``section 402''; and
            (2) in subsection (f)(4)(A)(iv), by striking ``developed 
        under subsection (g)''.

                       Subtitle B--Vehicle Safety

SEC. 4201. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry 
out chapter 301 of title 49, and part C of subtitle VI of title 49, 
United States Code--
            (1) $132,730,000 for fiscal year 2016;
            (2) $135,517,330 for fiscal year 2017;
            (3) $138,363,194 for fiscal year 2018;
            (4) $141,268,821 for fiscal year 2019;
            (5) $144,235,466 for fiscal year 2020; and
            (6) $147,264,411 for fiscal year 2021.

SEC. 4202. INSPECTOR GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, and periodically thereafter until the completion date, the 
Department of Transportation Inspector General shall report to the 
appropriate committees of Congress on whether and what progress has 
been made to implement the recommendations in the Office of Inspector 
General Audit Report issued June 18, 2015 (ST-2015-063).
    (b) Implementation Progress.--The Administrator of the National 
Highway Traffic Safety Administration shall--
            (1) not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of 
        this Act, and periodically thereafter until the completion 
        date, provide a briefing to the appropriate committees of 
        Congress on the actions the Administrator has taken to 
        implement the recommendations in the audit report described in 
        subsection (a), including a plan for implementing any remaining 
        recommendations; and
            (2) not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
        this Act, issue a final report to the appropriate committees of 
        Congress on the implementation of all of the recommendations in 
        the audit report described in subsection (a).
    (c) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
        ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means the Committee on 
        Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the 
        Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
        Representatives.
            (2) Completion date.--The term ``completion date'' means 
        the date that the National Highway Traffic Safety 
        Administration has implemented all of the recommendations in 
        the Office of Inspector General Audit Report issued June 18, 
        2015 (ST-2015-063).

SEC. 4203. IMPROVEMENTS IN AVAILABILITY OF RECALL INFORMATION.

    (a) Vehicle Recall Information.--Not later than 2 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall implement current 
information technology, web design trends, and best practices that will 
help ensure that motor vehicle safety recall information available to 
the public on the Federal website is readily accessible and easy to 
use, including--
            (1) by improving the organization, availability, 
        readability, and functionality of the website;
            (2) by accommodating high-traffic volume; and
            (3) by establishing best practices for scheduling routine 
        website maintenance.
    (b) Government Accountability Office Public Awareness Report.--
            (1) In general.--The Comptroller General shall study the 
        current use by consumers, dealers, and manufacturers of the 
        safety recall information made available to the public, 
        including the usability and content of the Federal and 
        manufacturers' websites and the National Highway Traffic Safety 
        Administration's efforts to publicize and educate consumers 
        about safety recall information.
            (2) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall issue a 
        report with the findings of the study under paragraph (1), 
        including recommending any actions the Secretary can take to 
        improve public awareness and use of the websites for safety 
        recall information.
    (c) Promotion of Public Awareness.--Section 31301(c) of the Moving 
Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (49 U.S.C. 30166 note) is 
amended to read as follows:
    ``(c) Promotion of Public Awareness.--The Secretary shall improve 
public awareness of safety recall information made publicly available 
by periodically updating the method of conveying that information to 
consumers, dealers, and manufacturers, such as through public service 
announcements.''.
    (d) Consumer Guidance.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall make available to the public 
on the Internet detailed guidance for consumers submitting safety 
complaints, including--
            (1) a detailed explanation of what information a consumer 
        should include in a complaint; and
            (2) a detailed explanation of the possible actions the 
        National Highway Traffic Safety Administration can take to 
        address a complaint and respond to the consumer, including 
        information on--
                    (A) the consumer records, such as photographs and 
                police reports, that could assist with an 
                investigation; and
                    (B) the length of time a consumer should retain the 
                records described in subparagraph (A).
    (e) VIN Search.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary, in coordination with 
        industry, including manufacturers and dealers, shall study--
                    (A) the feasibility of searching multiple vehicle 
                identification numbers at a time to retrieve motor 
                vehicle safety recall information; and
                    (B) the feasibility of making the search mechanism 
                described under subparagraph (A) publicly available.
            (2) Considerations.--In conducting the study under 
        paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consider the potential 
        costs, and potential risks to privacy and security in 
        implementing such a search mechanism.

SEC. 4204. RECALL PROCESS.

    (a) Notification by Manufacturer.--Section 30118(c) is amended by 
inserting ``or electronic mail'' after ``certified mail''.
    (b) Recall Completion Rates Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, and biennially thereafter for 4 years, 
        the Secretary shall--
                    (A) conduct an analysis of vehicle safety recall 
                completion rates to assess potential actions by the 
                National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to 
                improve vehicle safety recall completion rates; and
                    (B) submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
                and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
                Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a 
                report on the results of the analysis.
            (2) Contents.--Each report shall include--
                    (A) the annual recall completion rate by 
                manufacturer, component (such as brakes, fuel systems, 
                and air bags), and vehicle type (passenger car, sport 
                utility vehicle, passenger van, and pick-up truck) for 
                each of the 5 years before the year the report is 
                submitted;
                    (B) the methods by which the Secretary has 
                conducted analyses of these recall completion rates to 
                determine trends and identify risk factors associated 
                with lower recall rates; and
                    (C) the actions the Secretary has planned to 
                improve recall completion rates based on the results of 
                this data analysis.
            (3) Inspector general audit of vehicle recalls.--
                    (A) In general.--The Department of Transportation 
                Inspector General shall conduct an audit of the 
                National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's 
                management of vehicle safety recalls.
                    (B) Contents.--The audit shall include a 
                determination of whether the National Highway Traffic 
                Safety Administration--
                            (i) appropriately monitors recalls to 
                        ensure the appropriateness of scope and 
                        adequacy of recall completion rates and 
                        remedies;
                            (ii) ensures manufacturers provide safe 
                        remedies, at no cost to consumers;
                            (iii) is capable of coordinating recall 
                        remedies and processes; and
                            (iv) can improve its policy on consumer 
                        notice to combat effects of recall fatigue.

SEC. 4205. PILOT GRANT PROGRAM FOR STATE NOTIFICATION TO CONSUMERS OF 
              MOTOR VEHICLE RECALL STATUS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than October 1, 2016, the Secretary 
shall implement a 2-year pilot program to evaluate the feasibility and 
effectiveness of a State process for informing consumers of open motor 
vehicle recalls at the time of motor vehicle registration in the State.
    (b) Grants.--To carry out this program, the Secretary may make a 
grant to each eligible State, but not more than 6 eligible States in 
total, that agrees to comply with the requirements under subsection 
(c). Funds made available to a State under this section shall be used 
by the State for the pilot program described in subsection (a).
    (c) Eligibility.--To be eligible for a grant, a State shall--
            (1) submit an application in such form and manner as the 
        Secretary prescribes;
            (2) agree to notify, at the time of registration, each 
        owner or lessee of a motor vehicle presented for registration 
        in the State of any open recall on that vehicle;
            (3) provide the open motor vehicle recall information at no 
        cost to each owner or lessee of a motor vehicle presented for 
        registration in the State; and
            (4) provide such other information as the Secretary may 
        require.
    (d) Awards.--In selecting an applicant for an award under this 
section, the Secretary shall consider the State's methodology for 
determining open recalls on a motor vehicle, for informing consumers of 
the open recalls, and for determining performance.
    (e) Performance Period.--Each grant awarded under this section 
shall require a 2-year performance period.
    (f) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the completion of the 
performance period under subsection (e), a grantee shall provide to the 
Secretary a report of performance containing such information as the 
Secretary considers necessary to evaluate the extent to which open 
recalls have been remedied.
    (g) Evaluation.--Not later than 180 days after the completion of 
the pilot program, the Secretary shall evaluate the extent to which 
open recalls identified have been remedied.
    (h) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Consumer.--The term ``consumer'' includes owner and 
        lessee.
            (2) Motor vehicle.--The term ``motor vehicle'' has the 
        meaning given the term under section 30102(a) of title 49, 
        United States Code.
            (3) Open recall.--The term ``open recall'' means a recall 
        for which a notification by a manufacturer has been provided 
        under section 30119 of title 49, United States Code, and that 
        has not been remedied under section 30120 of that title.
            (4) Registration.--The term ``registration'' means the 
        process for registering motor vehicles in the State.
            (5) State.--The term ``State'' has the meaning given the 
        term under section 101(a) of title 23, United States Code.

SEC. 4206. RECALL OBLIGATIONS UNDER BANKRUPTCY.

    Section 30120A is amended by striking ``chapter 11 of title 11,'' 
and inserting ``chapter 7 or chapter 11 of title 11''.

SEC. 4207. DEALER REQUIREMENT TO CHECK FOR OPEN RECALL.

    Section 30120(f) is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(1) In general.--'' before ``A 
        manufacturer'' and indenting appropriately;
            (2) in paragraph (1), as redesignated, by striking the 
        period at the end and inserting the following: ``if--
                    ``(A) the dealer notifies the owner of each of the 
                manufacturer's motor vehicles it services at the time 
                of the service of any open recall; and
                    ``(B) the notification requirement under 
                subparagraph (A) is specified in a franchise, 
                operating, or other agreement between the dealer and 
                the manufacturer.''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) Definition of open recall.--In this subsection, the 
        term `open recall' means a recall for which a notification by a 
        manufacturer has been provided under section 30119 and that has 
        not been remedied under this section.''.

SEC. 4208. EXTENSION OF TIME PERIOD FOR REMEDY OF TIRE DEFECTS.

    Section 30120(b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``60 days'' and inserting 
        ``180 days''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``60-day'' each place it 
        appears and inserting ``180-day''.

SEC. 4209. RENTAL CAR SAFETY.

    (a) In General.--Section 30120 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(k) Limitation on Rental of Defective or Noncomplying Motor 
Vehicles.--
            ``(1) In general.--After receiving notification under 
        section 30119 of a defective or noncomplying motor vehicle or 
        replacement equipment in the rental company's possession at the 
        time of notification, a rental company may rent that motor 
        vehicle only if--
                    ``(A) the defect or noncompliance is remedied, as 
                required by this section, before delivery under the 
                rental agreement;
                    ``(B) except as provided in paragraph (2), the 
                rental company notifies each renter in writing prior to 
                acceptance of the rental agreement--
                            ``(i) of the defect or noncompliance; and
                            ``(ii) if the notification provided under 
                        section 30119 indicates that the remedy for the 
                        defect or noncompliance is not immediately 
                        available and specifies an action to 
                        temporarily alter the vehicle that would 
                        eliminate the safety risk posed by the defect 
                        or noncompliance, whether that action was 
                        performed; or
                    ``(C) if the notification is required by an order 
                under section 30118(b), enforcement of the order is 
                restrained or the order is set aside in a civil action 
                to which section 30121(d) of this title applies.
            ``(2) Procedures for notification during duration of rental 
        agreements.--If a rental company receives notification of a 
        defective or noncomplying motor vehicle or replacement 
        equipment under section 30119 during the duration of a rental 
        agreement, the rental company shall notify each renter, as soon 
        as practicable, but not later than 24 hours after the date the 
        rental company received the notification under section 30119.
            ``(3) Construction.--Nothing in this subsection may be 
        construed to prohibit a rental company from offering a motor 
        vehicle for rent.
            ``(4) Definition of rental company.--In this subsection, 
        the term `rental company' means a person who is engaged in the 
        business of renting a motor vehicle that--
                    ``(A) has a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 
                pounds or less;
                    ``(B) is rented without a driver for an initial 
                term of less than 4 months; and
                    ``(C) is part of a motor vehicle fleet of 5 or more 
                motor vehicles that are used for rental purposes.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 4210. MOTOR VEHICLE EQUIPMENT.

    Section 30102(7)(C) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
inserting ``, excluding portable wireless communications devices and 
associated applications and software used with such devices, which do 
not operate or control a critical or primary system, part, or component 
of a motor vehicle,'' after ``device''.

SEC. 4211. TRANSFER TO HIGHWAY TRUST FUND OF CERTAIN MOTOR VEHICLE 
              SAFETY PENALTIES.

    (a) In General.--Paragraph (5) of section 9503(b) of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 is amended--
            (1) by striking ``There are hereby'' and inserting the 
        following:
                    ``(A) In general.--There are hereby'', and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(B) Penalties related to motor vehicle safety.--
                            ``(i) In general.--There are hereby 
                        appropriated to the Highway Trust Fund amounts 
                        equivalent to covered motor vehicle safety 
                        penalty collections.
                            ``(ii) Covered motor vehicle safety penalty 
                        collections.--For purposes of this 
                        subparagraph, the term `covered motor vehicle 
                        safety penalty collections' means any amount 
                        collected in connection with a civil penalty 
                        under section 30165 of title 49, United States 
                        Code, reduced by any award authorized by the 
                        Secretary of Transportation to be paid to any 
                        person in connection with information provided 
                        by such person related to a violation of 
                        chapter 301 of such title which is a predicate 
                        to such civil penalty.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to amounts collected after the date of enactment of this Act.

      Subtitle C--Research and Development and Vehicle Electronics

SEC. 4301. REPORT ON OPERATIONS OF THE COUNCIL FOR VEHICLE ELECTRONICS, 
              VEHICLE SOFTWARE, AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES.

    Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
of the House of Representatives a report regarding the operations of 
the Council for Vehicle Electronics, Vehicle Software, and Emerging 
Technologies established under section 31401 of the Moving Ahead for 
Progress in the 21st Century Act (49 U.S.C. 105 note). The report shall 
include information about the accomplishments of the Council, the role 
of the Council in integrating and aggregating electronic and emerging 
technologies expertise across the National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration, the role of the Council in coordinating with other 
Federal agencies, and the priorities of the Council over the next 5 
years.

SEC. 4302. COOPERATION WITH FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS.

    (a) Title 49 Amendment.--Section 30182(b) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (4), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a 
        semicolon;
            (2) in paragraph (5), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following:
            ``(6) in coordination with Department of State, enter into 
        cooperative agreements and collaborative research and 
        development agreements with foreign governments.''.
    (b) Title 23 Amendment.--Section 403 of title 23, United States 
Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(2)(C), by inserting ``foreign 
        government, in coordination with the Department of State,'' 
        after ``institution,''; and
            (2) in subsection (c)(1)(A), by inserting ``foreign 
        governments,'' after ``local governments,''.
    (c) Audit.--The Department of Transportation Inspector General 
shall conduct an audit of the Secretary of Transportation's management 
and oversight of cooperative agreements and collaborative research and 
development agreements, including any cooperative agreements between 
the Secretary of Transportation and foreign governments under section 
30182(b)(6) of title 49, United States Code, and subsections (b)(2)(C) 
and (c)(1)(A) of title 23, United States Code.

                  Subtitle D--Miscellaneous Provisions

                   PART I--DRIVER PRIVACY ACT OF 2015

SEC. 4401. SHORT TITLE.

    This part may be cited as the ``Driver Privacy Act of 2015''.

SEC. 4402. LIMITATIONS ON DATA RETRIEVAL FROM VEHICLE EVENT DATA 
              RECORDERS.

    (a) Ownership of Data.--Any data retained by an event data recorder 
(as defined in section 563.5 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations), 
regardless of when the motor vehicle in which it is installed was 
manufactured, is the property of the owner, or, in the case of a leased 
vehicle, the lessee of the motor vehicle in which the event data 
recorder is installed.
    (b) Privacy.--Data recorded or transmitted by an event data 
recorder described in subsection (a) may not be accessed by a person 
other than an owner or a lessee of the motor vehicle in which the event 
data recorder is installed unless--
            (1) a court or other judicial or administrative authority 
        having jurisdiction--
                    (A) authorizes the retrieval of the data; and
                    (B) to the extent that there is retrieved data, the 
                data is subject to the standards for admission into 
                evidence required by that court or other administrative 
                authority;
            (2) an owner or a lessee of the motor vehicle provides 
        written, electronic, or recorded audio consent to the retrieval 
        of the data for any purpose, including the purpose of 
        diagnosing, servicing, or repairing the motor vehicle, or by 
        agreeing to a subscription that describes how data will be 
        retrieved and used;
            (3) the data is retrieved pursuant to an investigation or 
        inspection authorized under section 1131(a) or 30166 of title 
        49, United States Code, and the personally identifiable 
        information of an owner or a lessee of the vehicle and the 
        vehicle identification number is not disclosed in connection 
        with the retrieved data, except that the vehicle identification 
        number may be disclosed to the certifying manufacturer;
            (4) the data is retrieved for the purpose of determining 
        the need for, or facilitating, emergency medical response in 
        response to a motor vehicle crash; or
            (5) the data is retrieved for traffic safety research, and 
        the personally identifiable information of an owner or a lessee 
        of the vehicle and the vehicle identification number is not 
        disclosed in connection with the retrieved data.

SEC. 4403. VEHICLE EVENT DATA RECORDER STUDY.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration shall submit to Congress a report that contains the 
results of a study conducted by the Administrator to determine the 
amount of time event data recorders installed in passenger motor 
vehicles should capture and record for retrieval vehicle-related data 
in conjunction with an event in order to provide sufficient information 
to investigate the cause of motor vehicle crashes.
    (b) Rulemaking.--Not later than 2 years after submitting the report 
required under subsection (a), the Administrator of the National 
Highway Traffic Safety Administration shall promulgate regulations to 
establish the appropriate period during which event data recorders 
installed in passenger motor vehicles may capture and record for 
retrieval vehicle-related data to the time necessary to provide 
accident investigators with vehicle-related information pertinent to 
crashes involving such motor vehicles.

         PART II--SAFETY THROUGH INFORMED CONSUMERS ACT OF 2015

SEC. 4421. SHORT TITLE.

    This part may be cited as the ``Safety Through Informed Consumers 
Act of 2015''.

SEC. 4422. PASSENGER MOTOR VEHICLE INFORMATION.

    Section 32302 is amended by inserting after subsection (b) the 
following:
    ``(c) Crash Avoidance.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of the Safety Through Informed Consumers Act of 2015, the 
Secretary shall promulgate a rule to ensure that crash avoidance 
information is indicated next to crashworthiness information on 
stickers placed on motor vehicles by their manufacturers.''.

         TITLE V--RAILROAD REFORM, ENHANCEMENT, AND EFFICIENCY

SEC. 5001. PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION; DEFINITIONS.

    Section 24102 is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (5) through (9) as 
        paragraphs (6) through (10), respectively;
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (4), the following:
            ``(5) `long-distance route' means a route described in 
        paragraph (6)(C).'';
            (3) by amending paragraph (6)(A), as redesignated, to read 
        as follows:
                    ``(A) the Northeast Corridor main line between 
                Boston, Massachusetts and the Virginia Avenue 
                interlocking in the District of Columbia, and the 
                facilities and services used to operate and maintain 
                that line;'';
            (4) in paragraph (7), as redesignated, by striking the 
        period at the end and inserting ``, except that the term 
        `Northeast Corridor' for the purposes of chapter 243 means the 
        main line between Boston, Massachusetts and the Virginia Avenue 
        interlocking in the District of Columbia, and the facilities 
        and services used to operate and maintain that line.''; and
            (5) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(11) `state-of-good-repair' means a condition in which 
        physical assets, both individually and as a system, are--
                    ``(A) performing at a level at least equal to that 
                called for in their as-built or as-modified design 
                specification during any period when the life cycle 
                cost of maintaining the assets is lower than the cost 
                of replacing them; and
                    ``(B) sustained through regular maintenance and 
                replacement programs.
            ``(12) `State-supported route' means a route described in 
        paragraph (6)(B) or paragraph (6)(D), or in section 
        24702(a).''.

              Subtitle A--Authorization of Appropriations

SEC. 5101. AUTHORIZATION OF GRANTS TO AMTRAK.

    (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the 
Secretary for the use of Amtrak for deposit into the accounts 
established under section 24319(a) of title 49, United States Code, the 
following amounts:
            (1) For fiscal year 2016, $1,450,000,000.
            (2) For fiscal year 2017, $1,550,000,000.
            (3) For fiscal year 2018, $1,700,000,000.
            (4) For fiscal year 2019, $1,900,000,000.
    (b) Project Management Oversight.--The Secretary may withhold up to 
one half of 1 percent of the amount appropriated under subsection (a) 
for the costs of management oversight of Amtrak.
    (c) Competition.--In administering grants to Amtrak under section 
24318 of title 49, United States Code, the Secretary may withhold, from 
amounts that would otherwise be made available to Amtrak, such sums as 
are necessary from the amount appropriated under subsection (a) of this 
section to cover the operating subsidy described in section 
24711(b)(1)(E)(ii) of title 49, United States Code.
    (d) State-Supported Route Committee.--The Secretary may withhold up 
to $2,000,000 from the amount appropriated in each fiscal year under 
subsection (a) of this section for the use of the State-Supported Route 
Committee established under section 24712 of title 49, United States 
Code.
    (e) Northeast Corridor Commission.--The Secretary may withhold up 
to $5,000,000 from the amount appropriated in each fiscal year under 
subsection (a) of this section for the use of the Northeast Corridor 
Commission established under section 24905 of title 49, United States 
Code.

SEC. 5102. NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND SAFETY INVESTMENTS.

    (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the 
Secretary for grants under chapter 244 of title 49, United States Code, 
the following amounts:
            (1) For fiscal year 2016, $350,000,000.
            (2) For fiscal year 2017, $430,000,000.
            (3) For fiscal year 2018, $600,000,000.
            (4) For fiscal year 2019, $900,000,000.
    (b) Project Management Oversight.--The Secretary may withhold up to 
1 percent from the amount appropriated under subsection (a) of this 
section for the costs of project management oversight of grants carried 
out under chapter 244 of title 49, United States Code.

SEC. 5103. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION 
              SAFETY BOARD RAIL INVESTIGATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, there 
are authorized to be appropriated to the National Transportation Safety 
Board to carry out railroad accident investigations under section 
1131(a)(1)(C) of title 49, United States Code, the following amounts:
            (1) For fiscal year 2016, $6,300,000.
            (2) For fiscal year 2017, $6,400,000.
            (3) For fiscal year 2018, $6,500,000.
            (4) For fiscal year 2019, $6,600,000.
    (b) Investigation Personnel.--Amounts appropriated under subsection 
(a) of this section shall be available to the National Transportation 
Safety Board for personnel, in regional offices and in Washington, DC, 
whose duties involve railroad accident investigations.

SEC. 5104. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR AMTRAK OFFICE OF 
              INSPECTOR GENERAL.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to the Office of Inspector 
General of Amtrak the following amounts:
            (1) For fiscal year 2016, $20,000,000.
            (2) For fiscal year 2017, $20,500,000.
            (3) For fiscal year 2018, $21,000,000.
            (4) For fiscal year 2019, $21,500,000.

SEC. 5105. NATIONAL COOPERATIVE RAIL RESEARCH PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Section 24910 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (12), by striking ``and'';
                    (B) in paragraph (13), by striking the period at 
                the end and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(14) to improve the overall safety of intercity passenger 
        and freight rail operations.''; and
            (2) by amending subsection (e) to read as follows:
    ``(e) Allocation.--At least $5,000,000 of the amounts appropriated 
to the Secretary for a fiscal year to carry out railroad research and 
development programs shall be available to carry out this section.''.

                       Subtitle B--Amtrak Reform

SEC. 5201. AMTRAK GRANT PROCESS.

    (a) Requirements and Procedures.--Chapter 243 is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
``Sec. 24317. Costs and revenues
    ``(a) Allocation.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of the Comprehensive Transportation and Consumer Protection 
Act of 2015, Amtrak shall establish and maintain internal controls to 
ensure Amtrak's costs, revenues, and other compensation are 
appropriately and proportionally allocated to its Northeast Corridor 
train services or infrastructure, its State-supported routes, its long-
distance routes, and its other national network activities.
    ``(b) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to limit the ability of Amtrak to enter into an agreement 
with 1 or more States to allocate operating and capital costs under 
section 209 of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 
2008 (49 U.S.C. 24101 note).
``Sec. 24318. Grant process
    ``(a) Procedures for Grant Requests.--Not later than 90 days after 
the date of enactment of the Comprehensive Transportation and Consumer 
Protection Act of 2015, the Secretary of Transportation shall establish 
and transmit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Appropriations 
of the House of Representatives substantive and procedural 
requirements, including schedules, for grant requests under this 
section.
    ``(b) Grant Requests.--Amtrak shall transmit grant requests for 
Federal funds appropriated to the Secretary of Transportation for the 
use of Amtrak to--
            ``(1) the Secretary; and
            ``(2) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation, the Committee on Appropriations, and the 
        Committee on the Budget of the Senate and the Committee on 
        Transportation and Infrastructure, the Committee on 
        Appropriations, and the Committee on the Budget of the House of 
        Representatives.
    ``(c) Contents.--A grant request under subsection (b) shall--
            ``(1) describe projected operating and capital costs for 
        the upcoming fiscal year for Northeast Corridor train services 
        and infrastructure, Amtrak's State-supported routes, and 
        Amtrak's long-distance routes, and Amtrak's other national 
        network activities, as applicable, in comparison to prior 
        fiscal year actual financial performance;
            ``(2) describe the capital projects to be funded, with cost 
        estimates and an estimated timetable for completion of the 
        projects covered by the request;
            ``(3) assess Amtrak's financial condition;
            ``(4) be displayed on Amtrak's Web site within a reasonable 
        timeframe following its transmission under subsection (b); and
            ``(5) describe how the funding requested in a grant will be 
        allocated to the accounts established under section 24319(a), 
        considering the projected operating losses or capital costs for 
        services and activities associated with such accounts over the 
        time period intended to be covered by the grants.
    ``(d) Review and Approval.--
            ``(1) Thirty-day approval process.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the 
                date that Amtrak submits a grant request under this 
                section, the Secretary of Transportation shall complete 
                a review of the request and provide notice to Amtrak 
                that--
                            ``(i) the request is approved; or
                            ``(ii) the request is disapproved, 
                        including the reason for the disapproval and an 
                        explanation of any incomplete or deficient 
                        items.
                    ``(B) Grant agreement.--If a grant request is 
                approved, the Secretary shall enter into a grant 
                agreement with Amtrak that allocates the grant funding 
                to 1 of the 4 accounts established under section 
                24319(a).
            ``(2) Fifteen-day modification period.--Not later than 15 
        days after the date of the notice under paragraph (1)(A)(ii), 
        Amtrak shall submit a modified request for the Secretary's 
        review.
            ``(3) Modified requests.--Not later than 15 days after the 
        date that Amtrak submits a modified request under paragraph 
        (2), the Secretary shall either approve the modified request, 
        or, if the Secretary finds that the request is still incomplete 
        or deficient, the Secretary shall identify in writing to the 
        Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the 
        Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee on the Budget of 
        the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and 
        Infrastructure, the Committee on Appropriations, and the 
        Committee on the Budget of the House of Representatives the 
        remaining deficiencies and recommend a process for resolving 
        the outstanding portions of the request.
    ``(e) Payments to Amtrak.--
            ``(1) In general.--A grant agreement entered into under 
        subsection (d) shall specify the operations, services, and 
        other activities to be funded by the grant. The grant agreement 
        shall include provisions, consistent with the requirements of 
        this chapter, to measure Amtrak's performance and ensure 
        accountability in delivering the operations, services, or 
        activities to be funded by the grant.
            ``(2) Schedule.--Except as provided in paragraph (3), in 
        each fiscal year for which amounts are appropriated to the 
        Secretary for the use of Amtrak, and for which the Secretary 
        and Amtrak have entered into a grant agreement under subsection 
        (d), the Secretary shall disburse grant funds to Amtrak on the 
        following schedule:
                    ``(A) 50 percent on October 1.
                    ``(B) 25 percent on January 1.
                    ``(C) 25 percent on April 1.
            ``(3) Exceptions.--The Secretary may make a payment to 
        Amtrak of appropriated funds--
                    ``(A) more frequently than the schedule under 
                paragraph (2) if Amtrak, for good cause, requests more 
                frequent payment before the end of a payment period; or
                    ``(B) with a different frequency or in different 
                percentage allocations in the event of a continuing 
                resolution or in the absence of an appropriations Act 
                for the duration of a fiscal year.
    ``(f) Availability of Amounts and Early Appropriations.--Amounts 
appropriated to the Secretary for the use of Amtrak shall remain 
available until expended. Amounts for capital acquisitions and 
improvements may be appropriated for a fiscal year before the fiscal 
year in which the amounts will be obligated.
    ``(g) Limitations on Use.--Amounts appropriated to the Secretary 
for the use of Amtrak may not be used to cross-subsidize operating 
losses or capital costs of commuter rail passenger or freight rail 
transportation.
``Sec. 24319. Accounts
    ``(a) Establishment of Accounts.--Beginning not later than October 
1, 2016, Amtrak, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, 
shall define and establish--
            ``(1) a Northeast Corridor investment account, including 
        subaccounts for Amtrak train services and infrastructure;
            ``(2) a State-supported account;
            ``(3) a long-distance account; and
            ``(4) an other national network activities account.
    ``(b) Northeast Corridor Investment Account.--
            ``(1) Deposits.--Amtrak shall deposit in the Northeast 
        Corridor investment account established under subsection 
        (a)(1)--
                    ``(A) a portion of the grant funds appropriated 
                under the authorization in section 5101(a) of the 
                Comprehensive Transportation and Consumer Protection 
                Act of 2015, or any subsequent Act appropriating funds 
                for the use of Amtrak, as specified in a grant 
                agreement entered into under section 24318;
                    ``(B) any compensation received from commuter rail 
                passenger transportation providers for such providers' 
                share of capital costs on the Northeast Corridor 
                provided to Amtrak under section 24905(c);
                    ``(C) any operating surplus of the Northeast 
                Corridor train services or infrastructure, as allocated 
                under section 24317; and
                    ``(D) any other net revenue received in association 
                with the Northeast Corridor, including freight access 
                fees, electric propulsion, and commercial development.
            ``(2) Use of northeast corridor investment account.--Except 
        as provided in subsection (f), amounts deposited in the 
        Northeast Corridor investment account shall be made available 
        for the use of Amtrak for its share of--
                    ``(A) capital projects described in section 
                24904(a)(2)(E)(i), and developed under the planning 
                process established under that section, to bring 
                Northeast Corridor infrastructure to a state-of-good-
                repair;
                    ``(B) capital projects described in clauses (ii) 
                and (iv) of section 24904(a)(2)(E) that are developed 
                under the planning process established under that 
                section intended to increase corridor capacity, improve 
                service reliability, and reduce travel time on the 
                Northeast Corridor;
                    ``(C) capital projects to improve safety and 
                security;
                    ``(D) capital projects to improve customer service 
                and amenities;
                    ``(E) acquiring, rehabilitating, manufacturing, 
                remanufacturing, overhauling, or improving equipment 
                and associated facilities used for intercity rail 
                passenger transportation by Northeast Corridor train 
                services;
                    ``(F) retirement of principal and payment of 
                interest on loans for capital projects described in 
                this paragraph or for capital leases for equipment and 
                related to the Northeast Corridor;
                    ``(G) participation in public-private partnerships, 
                joint ventures, and other mechanisms or arrangements 
                that result in the completion of capital projects 
                described in this paragraph; and
                    ``(H) indirect, common, corporate, or other costs 
                directly incurred by or allocated to the Northeast 
                Corridor.
    ``(c) State-Supported Account.--
            ``(1) Deposits.--Amtrak shall deposit in the State-
        supported account established under subsection (a)(2)--
                    ``(A) a portion of the grant funds appropriated 
                under the authorization in section 5101(a) of the 
                Comprehensive Transportation and Consumer Protection 
                Act of 2015, or any subsequent Act appropriating funds 
                for the use of Amtrak, as specified in a grant 
                agreement entered into under section 24318;
                    ``(B) any compensation received from States 
                provided to Amtrak under section 209 of the Passenger 
                Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (42 U.S.C. 
                24101 note); and
                    ``(C) any operating surplus from its State-
                supported routes, as allocated under section 24317.
            ``(2) Use of state-supported account.--Except as provided 
        in subsection (f), amounts deposited in the State-supported 
        account shall be made available for the use of Amtrak for 
        capital expenses and operating costs, including indirect, 
        common, corporate, or other costs directly incurred by or 
        allocated to State-supported routes, of its State-supported 
        routes and retirement of principal and payment of interest on 
        loans or capital leases attributable to its State-supported 
        routes.
    ``(d) Long-Distance Account.--
            ``(1) Deposits.--Amtrak shall deposit in the long-distance 
        account established under subsection (a)(3)--
                    ``(A) a portion of the grant funds appropriated 
                under the authorization in section 5101(a) of the 
                Comprehensive Transportation and Consumer Protection 
                Act of 2015, or any subsequent Act appropriating funds 
                for the use of Amtrak, as specified in a grant 
                agreement entered into under section 24318;
                    ``(B) any compensation received from States 
                provided to Amtrak for costs associated with its long-
                distance routes; and
                    ``(C) any operating surplus from its long-distance 
                routes, as allocated under section 24317.
            ``(2) Use of long-distance account.--Except as provided in 
        subsection (f), amounts deposited in the long-distance account 
        shall be made available for the use of Amtrak for capital 
        expenses and operating costs, including indirect, common, 
        corporate, or other costs directly incurred by or allocated to 
        long-distance routes, of its long-distance routes and 
        retirement of principal and payment of interest on loans or 
        capital leases attributable to the long-distance routes.
    ``(e) Other National Network Activities Account.--
            ``(1) Deposits.--Amtrak shall deposit in the other national 
        network activities account established under subsection 
        (a)(4)--
                    ``(A) a portion of the grant funds appropriated 
                under the authorization in section 101(a) of the 
                Railroad Reform, Enhancement, and Efficiency Act, or 
                any subsequent Act appropriating funds for the use of 
                Amtrak, as specified in a grant agreement entered into 
                under section 24318;
                    ``(B) any compensation received from States 
                provided to Amtrak for costs associated with its other 
                national network activities; and
                    ``(C) any operating surplus from its other national 
                network activities.
            ``(2) Use of other national network activities account.--
        Except as provided in subsection (f), amounts deposited into 
        the other national network activities account shall be made 
        available for the use of Amtrak for capital and operating costs 
        not allocated to the Northeast Corridor investment account, 
        State-supported account, or long-distance account, and 
        retirement of principal and payment of interest on loans or 
        capital leases attributable to other national network 
        activities.
    ``(f) Transfer Authority.--
            ``(1) Authority.--Amtrak may transfer any funds 
        appropriated under the authorization in section 5101(a) of the 
        Comprehensive Transportation and Consumer Protection Act of 
        2015, or any subsequent Act appropriating funds for the use of 
        Amtrak for deposit into the accounts described in that section, 
        or any surplus generated by operations, between the Northeast 
        Corridor, State-supported, long-distance, and other national 
        network activities accounts--
                    ``(A) upon the expiration of 10 days after the date 
                that Amtrak notifies the Amtrak Board of Directors, 
                including the Secretary, of the planned transfer; and
                    ``(B) with the approval of the Secretary.
            ``(2) Report.--Not later than 5 days after the date that 
        Amtrak notifies the Amtrak Board of Directors of a planned 
        transfer under paragraph (1), Amtrak shall transmit to the 
        Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the 
        Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on 
        Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on 
        Appropriations of the House of Representatives a report that 
        includes--
                    ``(A) the amount of the transfer; and
                    ``(B) a detailed explanation of the reason for the 
                transfer, including--
                            ``(i) the effects on Amtrak services funded 
                        by the account from which the transfer is 
                        drawn, in comparison to a scenario in which no 
                        transfer was made; and
                            ``(ii) the effects on Amtrak services 
                        funded by the account receiving the transfer, 
                        in comparison to a scenario in which no 
                        transfer was made.
            ``(3) Notifications.--
                    ``(A) State-supported account.--Not later than 5 
                days after the date that Amtrak notifies the Amtrak 
                Board of Directors of a planned transfer under 
                paragraph (1) of funds to or from the State-supported 
                account, Amtrak shall transmit to each State that 
                sponsors a State-supported route a letter that includes 
                the information described under subparagraphs (A) and 
                (B) of paragraph (2).
                    ``(B) Northeast corridor account.--Not later than 5 
                days after the date that Amtrak notifies the Amtrak 
                Board of Directors of a planned transfer under 
                paragraph (1) of funds to or from the Northeast 
                Corridor account, Amtrak shall transmit to the 
                Northeast Corridor Commission a letter that includes 
                the information described under subparagraphs (A) and 
                (B) of paragraph (2).
    ``(g) Enforcement.--The Secretary shall enforce the provisions of 
each grant agreement under section 24318(d), including any deposit into 
an account under this section.
    ``(h) Letters of Intent.--
            ``(1) Requirement.--The Secretary may issue a letter of 
        intent to Amtrak announcing an intention to obligate, for a 
        major capital project described in clauses (ii) and (iv) of 
        section 24904(a)(2)(E), an amount from future available budget 
        authority specified in law that is not more than the amount 
        stipulated as the financial participation of the Secretary in 
        the project.
            ``(2) Notice to congress.--At least 30 days before issuing 
        a letter under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall notify in 
        writing the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
        and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the 
        Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the 
        Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives of 
        the proposed letter. The Secretary shall include with the 
        notice a copy of the proposed letter, the criteria used for 
        selecting the project for a grant award, and a description of 
        how the project meets the criteria under this section.
            ``(3) Contingent nature of obligation or commitment.--An 
        obligation or administrative commitment may be made only when 
        amounts are appropriated. The letter of intent shall state that 
        the contingent commitment is not an obligation of the Federal 
        Government, and is subject to the availability of 
        appropriations under Federal law and to Federal laws in force 
        or enacted after the date of the contingent commitment.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--The table of contents for chapter 243 
is amended by adding at the end the following:

        ``24317. Costs and revenues.
        ``24318. Grant process.
        ``24319. Accounts.''.
    (c) Repeals.--
            (1) Establishment of grant process.--Section 206 of the 
        Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (49 
        U.S.C. 24101 note) and the item relating to that section in the 
        table of contents of that Act are repealed.
            (2) Authorization of appropriations.--Section 24104 and the 
        item relating to that section in the table of contents of 
        chapter 241 are repealed.

SEC. 5202. 5-YEAR BUSINESS LINE AND ASSETS PLANS.

    (a) Amtrak 5-Year Business Line and Asset Plans.--Chapter 243, as 
amended by section 5201 of this Act, is further amended by inserting 
after section 24319 the following:
``Sec. 24320. Amtrak 5-year business line and asset plans
    ``(a) In General.--
            ``(1) Final plans.--Not later than February 15 of each 
        year, Amtrak shall submit to Congress and the Secretary final 
        5-year business line plans and 5-year asset plans prepared in 
        accordance with this section. These final plans shall form the 
        basis for Amtrak's general and legislative annual report to the 
        President and Congress required by section 24315(b).
            ``(2) Fiscal constraint.--Each plan prepared under this 
        section shall be based on funding levels authorized or 
        otherwise available to Amtrak in a fiscal year. In the absence 
        of an authorization or appropriation of funds for a fiscal 
        year, the plans shall be based on the amount of funding 
        available in the previous fiscal year, plus inflation. Amtrak 
        may include an appendix to the asset plan required in 
        subsection (c) that describes any capital funding requirements 
        in excess of amounts authorized or otherwise available to 
        Amtrak in a fiscal year for capital investment.
    ``(b) Amtrak 5-Year Business Line Plans.--
            ``(1) Amtrak business lines.--Amtrak shall prepare a 5-year 
        business line plan for each of the following business lines and 
        services:
                    ``(A) Northeast Corridor train services.
                    ``(B) State-supported routes operated by Amtrak.
                    ``(C) Long-distance routes operated by Amtrak.
                    ``(D) Ancillary services operated by Amtrak, 
                including commuter operations and other revenue 
                generating activities as determined by the Secretary in 
                consultation with Amtrak.
            ``(2) Contents of 5-year business line plans.--The 5-year 
        business line plan for each business line shall include, at a 
        minimum--
                    ``(A) a statement of Amtrak's vision, goals, and 
                service plan for the business line, coordinated with 
                any entities that are contributing capital or operating 
                funding to support passenger rail services within those 
                business lines, and aligned with Amtrak's Strategic 
                Plan and 5-year asset plans under subsection (c);
                    ``(B) all projected revenues and expenditures for 
                the business line, including identification of revenues 
                and expenditures incurred by--
                            ``(i) passenger operations;
                            ``(ii) non-passenger operations that are 
                        directly related to the business line; and
                            ``(iii) governmental funding sources, 
                        including revenues and other funding received 
                        from States;
                    ``(C) projected ridership levels for all passenger 
                operations;
                    ``(D) estimates of long-term and short-term debt 
                and associated principal and interest payments (both 
                current and forecasts);
                    ``(E) annual profit and loss statements and 
                forecasts and balance sheets;
                    ``(F) annual cash flow forecasts;
                    ``(G) a statement describing the methodologies and 
                significant assumptions underlying estimates and 
                forecasts;
                    ``(H) specific performance measures that 
                demonstrate year over year changes in the results of 
                Amtrak's operations;
                    ``(I) financial performance for each route within 
                each business line, including descriptions of the cash 
                operating loss or contribution and labor productivity 
                for each route;
                    ``(J) specific costs and savings estimates 
                resulting from reform initiatives;
                    ``(K) prior fiscal year and projected equipment 
                reliability statistics; and
                    ``(L) an identification and explanation of any 
                major adjustments made from previously approved plans.
            ``(3) 5-year business line plans process.--In meeting the 
        requirements of this section, Amtrak shall--
                    ``(A) coordinate the development of the business 
                line plans with the Secretary;
                    ``(B) for the Northeast Corridor business line 
                plan, coordinate with the Northeast Corridor Commission 
                and transmit to the Commission the final plan under 
                subsection (a)(1), and consult with other entities, as 
                appropriate;
                    ``(C) for the State-supported route business line 
                plan, coordinate with the State-Supported Route 
                Committee established under section 24712;
                    ``(D) for the long-distance route business line 
                plan, coordinate with any States or Interstate Compacts 
                that provide funding for such routes, as appropriate;
                    ``(E) ensure that Amtrak's annual budget request to 
                Congress is consistent with the information in the 5-
                year business line plans; and
                    ``(F) identify the appropriate Amtrak officials 
                that are responsible for each business line.
            ``(4) Standards to promote financial stability.--In meeting 
        the requirements under this subsection, Amtrak shall use the 
        categories specified in the financial accounting and reporting 
        system developed under section 203 of the Passenger Rail 
        Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (49 U.S.C. 24101 note) 
        when preparing its 5-year business line plans.
    ``(c) Amtrak 5-Year Asset Plans.--
            ``(1) Asset categories.--Amtrak shall prepare a 5-year 
        asset plan for each of the following asset categories:
                    ``(A) Infrastructure, including all Amtrak-
                controlled Northeast Corridor assets and other Amtrak-
                owned infrastructure, and the associated facilities 
                that support the operation, maintenance, and 
                improvement of those assets.
                    ``(B) Passenger rail equipment, including all 
                Amtrak-controlled rolling stock, locomotives, and 
                mechanical shop facilities that are used to overhaul 
                equipment.
                    ``(C) Stations, including all Amtrak-controlled 
                passenger rail stations and elements of other stations 
                for which Amtrak has legal responsibility or intends to 
                make capital investments.
                    ``(D) National assets, including national 
                reservations, security, training and training centers, 
                and other assets associated with Amtrak's national 
                passenger rail transportation system.
            ``(2) Contents of 5-year asset plans.--Each asset plan 
        shall include, at a minimum--
                    ``(A) a summary of Amtrak's 5-year strategic plan 
                for each asset category, including goals, objectives, 
                any relevant performance metrics, and statutory or 
                regulatory actions affecting the assets;
                    ``(B) an inventory of existing Amtrak capital 
                assets, to the extent practicable, including 
                information regarding shared use or ownership, if 
                applicable;
                    ``(C) a prioritized list of proposed capital 
                investments that--
                            ``(i) categorizes each capital project as 
                        being primarily associated with--
                                    ``(I) normalized capital 
                                replacement;
                                    ``(II) backlog capital replacement;
                                    ``(III) improvements to support 
                                service enhancements or growth;
                                    ``(IV) strategic initiatives that 
                                will improve overall operational 
                                performance, lower costs, or otherwise 
                                improve Amtrak's corporate efficiency; 
                                or
                                    ``(V) statutory, regulatory, or 
                                other legal mandates;
                            ``(ii) identifies each project or program 
                        that is associated with more than 1 category 
                        described in clause (i); and
                            ``(iii) describes the anticipated business 
                        outcome of each project or program identified 
                        under this subparagraph, including an 
                        assessment of--
                                    ``(I) the potential effect on 
                                passenger operations, safety, 
                                reliability, and resilience;
                                    ``(II) the potential effect on 
                                Amtrak's ability to meet regulatory 
                                requirements if the project or program 
                                is not funded; and
                                    ``(III) the benefits and costs; and
                    ``(D) annual profit and loss statements and 
                forecasts and balance sheets for each asset category.
            ``(3) 5-year asset plan process.--In meeting the 
        requirements of this subsection, Amtrak shall--
                    ``(A) coordinate with each business line described 
                in subsection (b)(1) in the preparation of each 5-year 
                asset plan and ensure integration of each 5-year asset 
                plan with the 5-year business line plans;
                    ``(B) as applicable, coordinate with the Northeast 
                Corridor Commission, the State-Supported Route 
                Committee, and owners of assets affected by 5-year 
                asset plans; and
                    ``(C) identify the appropriate Amtrak officials 
                that are responsible for each asset category.
            ``(4) Evaluation of national assets costs.--The Secretary 
        shall--
                    ``(A) evaluate the costs and scope of all national 
                assets; and
                    ``(B) determine the activities and costs that are--
                            ``(i) required in order to ensure the 
                        efficient operations of a national passenger 
                        rail system;
                            ``(ii) appropriate for allocation to 1 of 
                        the other Amtrak business lines; and
                            ``(iii) extraneous to providing an 
                        efficient national passenger rail system or are 
                        too costly relative to the benefits or 
                        performance outcomes they provide.
            ``(5) Definition of national assets.--In this section, the 
        term `national assets' means the Nation's core rail assets 
        shared among Amtrak services, including national reservations, 
        security, training and training centers, and other assets 
        associated with Amtrak's national passenger rail transportation 
        system.
            ``(6) Restructuring of national assets.--Not later than 1 
        year after the date of completion of the evaluation under 
        section 24320(c)(4), the Administrator of the Federal Railroad 
        Administration, in consultation with the Amtrak Board of 
        Directors, the governors of each relevant State, and the Mayor 
        of the District of Columbia, or their designees, shall 
        restructure or reallocate, or both, the national assets costs 
        in accordance with the determination under that section, 
        including making appropriate updates to Amtrak's cost 
        accounting methodology and system.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The requirements for Amtrak to submit final 5-
year business line plans and 5-year asset plans under section 24320 of 
title 49, United States Code, shall take effect 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act.
    (c) Conforming Amendments.--The table of contents for chapter 243, 
as amended by section 5201 of this Act, is further amended by adding at 
the end the following:

``24320. Amtrak 5-year business line and asset plans.''.
    (d) Repeal of 5-Year Financial Plan.--Section 204 of the Passenger 
Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (49 U.S.C. 24101 note), and 
the item relating to that section in the table of contents of that Act, 
are repealed.
    (e) Identification of Duplicative Reporting Requirements.--Not 
later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary shall--
            (1) review existing Amtrak reporting requirements and 
        identify where the existing requirements are duplicative with 
        the business line and capital plans required by section 24320 
        of title 49, United States Code;
            (2) if the duplicative reporting requirements are 
        administrative, the Secretary shall eliminate the duplicative 
        requirements; and
            (3) submit to Congress a report with any recommendations 
        for repealing any other duplicative Amtrak reporting 
        requirements.

SEC. 5203. STATE-SUPPORTED ROUTE COMMITTEE.

    (a) Amendment.--Chapter 247 is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
``Sec. 24712. State-supported routes operated by Amtrak
    ``(a) State-Supported Route Committee.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the 
        date of enactment of the Comprehensive Transportation and 
        Consumer Protection Act of 2015, the Secretary of 
        Transportation shall establish the State-Supported Route 
        Committee (referred to in this section as the `Committee') to 
        promote mutual cooperation and planning pertaining to the rail 
        operations of Amtrak and related activities of trains operated 
        by Amtrak on State-supported routes and to further implement 
        section 209 of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement 
        Act of 2008 (49 U.S.C. 24101 note).
            ``(2) Membership.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Committee shall consist of--
                            ``(i) members representing Amtrak;
                            ``(ii) members representing the Department 
                        of Transportation, including the Federal 
                        Railroad Administration; and
                            ``(iii) members representing States, 
                        including other public entities that sponsor 
                        the operation of trains by Amtrak on a State-
                        supported route, designated by, and serving at 
                        the pleasure of, the chief executive officer 
                        thereof.
                    ``(B) Non-voting members.--The Committee may invite 
                and accept other non-voting members to participate in 
                Committee activities, as appropriate.
            ``(3) Decisionmaking.--The Committee shall establish a bloc 
        voting system under which, at a minimum--
                    ``(A) there are 3 separate voting blocs to 
                represent the Committee's voting members, including--
                            ``(i) 1 voting bloc to represent the 
                        members described in paragraph (2)(A)(i);
                            ``(ii) 1 voting bloc to represent the 
                        members described in paragraph (2)(A)(ii); and
                            ``(iii) 1 voting bloc to represent the 
                        members described in paragraph (2)(A)(iii);
                    ``(B) each voting bloc has 1 vote;
                    ``(C) the vote of the voting bloc representing the 
                members described in paragraph (2)(A)(iii) requires the 
                support of at least two-thirds of that voting bloc's 
                members; and
                    ``(D) the Committee makes decisions by unanimous 
                consent of the 3 voting blocs.
            ``(4) Meetings; rules and procedures.--The Committee shall 
        convene a meeting and shall define and implement the rules and 
        procedures governing the Committee's proceedings not later than 
        180 days after the date of establishment of the Committee by 
        the Secretary. The rules and procedures shall--
                    ``(A) incorporate and further describe the 
                decisionmaking procedures to be used in accordance with 
                paragraph (3); and
                    ``(B) be adopted in accordance with such 
                decisionmaking procedures.
            ``(5) Committee decisions.--Decisions made by the Committee 
        in accordance with the Committee's rules and procedures, once 
        established, are binding on all Committee members.
            ``(6) Cost allocation methodology.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the 
                Committee may amend the cost allocation methodology 
                required and previously approved under section 209 of 
                the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 
                2008 (49 U.S.C. 24101 note).
                    ``(B) Procedures for changing methodology.--The 
                rules and procedures implemented under paragraph (4) 
                shall include procedures for changing the cost 
                allocation methodology.
                    ``(C) Requirements.--The cost allocation 
                methodology shall--
                            ``(i) ensure equal treatment in the 
                        provision of like services of all States and 
                        groups of States; and
                            ``(ii) allocate to each route the costs 
                        incurred only for the benefit of that route and 
                        a proportionate share, based upon factors that 
                        reasonably reflect relative use, of costs 
                        incurred for the common benefit of more than 1 
                        route.
    ``(b) Invoices and Reports.--Not later than February 15, 2016, and 
monthly thereafter, Amtrak shall provide to each State that sponsors a 
State-supported route a monthly invoice of the cost of operating such 
route, including fixed costs and third-party costs. The Committee shall 
determine the frequency and contents of the financial and performance 
reports that Amtrak shall provide to the States, as well as the 
planning and demand reports that the States shall provide to Amtrak.
    ``(c) Dispute Resolution.--
            ``(1) Request for dispute resolution.--If a dispute arises 
        with respect to the rules and procedures implemented under 
        subsection (a)(4), an invoice or a report provided under 
        subsection (b), implementation or compliance with the cost 
        allocation methodology developed under section 209 of the 
        Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (49 
        U.S.C. 24101 note) or amended under subsection (a)(6) of this 
        section, either Amtrak or the State may request that the 
        Surface Transportation Board conduct dispute resolution under 
        this subsection.
            ``(2) Procedures.--The Surface Transportation Board shall 
        establish procedures for resolution of disputes brought before 
        it under this subsection, which may include provision of 
        professional mediation services.
            ``(3) Binding effect.--A decision of the Surface 
        Transportation Board under this subsection shall be binding on 
        the parties to the dispute.
            ``(4) Obligation.--Nothing in this subsection shall affect 
        the obligation of a State to pay an amount not in dispute.
    ``(d) Assistance.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may provide assistance to 
        the parties in the course of negotiations for a contract for 
        operation of a State-supported route.
            ``(2) Financial assistance.--From among available funds, 
        the Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) provide financial assistance to Amtrak or 1 
                or more States to perform requested independent 
                technical analysis of issues before the Committee; and
                    ``(B) reimburse Members for travel expenses, 
                including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in 
                accordance with section 5703 of title 5.
    ``(e) Performance Metrics.--In negotiating a contract for operation 
of a State-supported route, Amtrak and the State or States that sponsor 
the route shall consider including provisions that provide penalties 
and incentives for performance.
    ``(f) Statement of Goals and Objectives.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Committee shall develop a statement 
        of goals, objectives, and associated recommendations concerning 
        the future of State-supported routes operated by Amtrak. The 
        statement shall identify the roles and responsibilities of 
        Committee members and any other relevant entities, such as host 
        railroads, in meeting the identified goals and objectives, or 
        carrying out the recommendations. The Committee may consult 
        with such relevant entities, as the Committee considers 
        appropriate, when developing the statement.
            ``(2) Transmission of statement of goals and objectives.--
        Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the 
        Comprehensive Transportation and Consumer Protection Act of 
        2015 the Committee shall transmit the statement developed under 
        paragraph (1) to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
        Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
        Representatives.
    ``(g) Rule of Construction.--The decisions of the Committee--
            ``(1) shall pertain to the rail operations of Amtrak and 
        related activities of trains operated by Amtrak on State-
        sponsored routes; and
            ``(2) shall not pertain to the rail operations or related 
        activities of services operated by other rail passenger 
        carriers on State-supported routes.
    ``(h) Federal Advisory Committee Act.--The Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Committee.
    ``(i) Definition of State.--In this section, the term `State' means 
each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and a public entity 
that sponsors the operation of trains by Amtrak on a State-supported 
route.''.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--The table of contents for 
chapter 247 is amended by adding at the end the following:

``24712. State-supported routes operated by Amtrak.''.

SEC. 5204. ROUTE AND SERVICE PLANNING DECISIONS.

    Section 208 of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 
2008 (49 U.S.C. 24101 note) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 208. METHODOLOGIES FOR AMTRAK ROUTE AND SERVICE PLANNING 
              DECISIONS.

    ``(a) Methodology Development.--Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of the Comprehensive Transportation and Consumer 
Protection Act of 2015, as a condition of receiving a grant under 
section 101 of that Act, Amtrak shall obtain the services of an 
independent entity to develop and recommend objective methodologies for 
Amtrak to use in determining what intercity rail passenger 
transportation routes and services it should provide, including the 
establishment of new routes, the elimination of existing routes, and 
the contraction or expansion of services or frequencies over such 
routes.
    ``(b) Considerations.--Amtrak shall require the independent entity, 
in developing the methodologies described in subsection (a), to 
consider--
            ``(1) the current and expected performance and service 
        quality of intercity rail passenger transportation operations, 
        including cost recovery, on-time performance, ridership, on-
        board services, stations, facilities, equipment, and other 
        services;
            ``(2) the connectivity of a route with other routes;
            ``(3) the transportation needs of communities and 
        populations that are not well served by intercity rail 
        passenger transportation service or by other forms of intercity 
        transportation;
            ``(4) the methodologies of Amtrak and major intercity rail 
        passenger transportation service providers in other countries 
        for determining intercity passenger rail routes and services;
            ``(5) the financial and operational effects on the overall 
        network, including the effects on indirect costs;
            ``(6) the views of States and the recommendations described 
        in State rail plans, rail carriers that own infrastructure over 
        which Amtrak operates, Interstate Compacts established by 
        Congress and States, Amtrak employee representatives, 
        stakeholder organizations, and other interested parties; and
            ``(7) the funding levels that will be available under 
        authorization levels that have been enacted into law.
    ``(c) Recommendations.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of the Comprehensive Transportation and Consumer Protection 
Act of 2015, Amtrak shall transmit to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 
recommendations developed by the independent entity under subsection 
(a).
    ``(d) Consideration of Recommendations.--Not later than 90 days 
after the date the recommendations are transmitted under subsection 
(c), Amtrak shall consider the adoption of each recommendation and 
transmit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives a report explaining the reasons for 
adopting or not adopting each recommendation.''.

SEC. 5205. COMPETITION.

    (a) Alternate Passenger Rail Service Pilot Program.--Section 24711 
is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 24711. Alternate passenger rail service pilot program
    ``(a) In General.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
enactment of the Comprehensive Transportation and Consumer Protection 
Act of 2015, the Secretary of Transportation shall promulgate a rule to 
implement a pilot program for competitive selection of rail carriers 
for long-distance routes (as defined in section 24102).
    ``(b) Pilot Program Requirements.--
            ``(1) In general.--The pilot program shall--
                    ``(A) allow a party described in paragraph (2) to 
                petition the Secretary to provide intercity rail 
                passenger transportation over a long-distance route in 
                lieu of Amtrak for an operations period of 4 years from 
                the date of commencement of service by the winning 
                bidder and, at the option of the Secretary, consistent 
                with the rule promulgated under subsection (a), allow 
                the contract to be renewed for an additional operations 
                period of 4 years, but not to exceed a total of 3 
                operations periods;
                    ``(B) require the Secretary to--
                            ``(i) notify the petitioner and Amtrak of 
                        receipt of the petition under subparagraph (A) 
                        and to publish in the Federal Register a notice 
                        of receipt not later than 30 days after the 
                        date of receipt; and
                            ``(ii) establish a deadline, of not more 
                        than 120 days after the notice of receipt is 
                        published in the Federal Register under clause 
                        (i), by which both the petitioner and Amtrak, 
                        if Amtrak chooses to do so, would be required 
                        to submit a complete bid to provide intercity 
                        rail passenger transportation over the 
                        applicable route;
                    ``(C) require that each bid--
                            ``(i) describe the capital needs, financial 
                        projections, and operational plans, including 
                        staffing plans, for the service, and such other 
                        factors as the Secretary considers appropriate; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) be made available by the winning 
                        bidder to the public after the bid award;
                    ``(D) for a route that receives funding from a 
                State or States, require that for each bid received 
                from a party described in paragraph (2), other than a 
                State, the Secretary have the concurrence of the State 
                or States that provide funding for that route;
                    ``(E) for a winning bidder that is not or does not 
                include Amtrak, require the Secretary to execute a 
                contract not later than 270 days after the deadline 
                established under subparagraph (B)(ii) and award to the 
                winning bidder--
                            ``(i) subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), 
                        the right and obligation to provide intercity 
                        rail passenger transportation over that route 
                        subject to such performance standards as the 
                        Secretary may require; and
                            ``(ii) an operating subsidy, as determined 
                        by the Secretary, for--
                                    ``(I) the first year at a level 
                                that does not exceed 90 percent of the 
                                level in effect for that specific route 
                                during the fiscal year preceding the 
                                fiscal year in which the petition was 
                                received, adjusted for inflation; and
                                    ``(II) any subsequent years at the 
                                level calculated under subclause (I), 
                                adjusted for inflation; and
                    ``(F) for a winning bidder that is or includes 
                Amtrak, award to that bidder an operating subsidy, as 
                determined by the Secretary, over the applicable route 
                that will not change during the fiscal year in which 
                the bid was submitted solely as a result of the winning 
                bid.
            ``(2) Eligible petitioners.--The following parties are 
        eligible to submit petitions under paragraph (1):
                    ``(A) A rail carrier or rail carriers that own the 
                infrastructure over which Amtrak operates a long-
                distance route.
                    ``(B) A rail passenger carrier with a written 
                agreement with the rail carrier or rail carriers that 
                own the infrastructure over which Amtrak operates a 
                long-distance route and that host or would host the 
                intercity rail passenger transportation.
                    ``(C) A State, group of States, or State-supported 
                joint powers authority or other sub-State governance 
                entity responsible for provision of intercity rail 
                passenger transportation with a written agreement with 
                the rail carrier or rail carriers that own the 
                infrastructure over which Amtrak operates a long-
                distance route and that host or would host the 
                intercity rail passenger transportation.
                    ``(D) A State, group of States, or State-supported 
                joint powers authority or other sub-State governance 
                entity responsible for provision of intercity rail 
                passenger transportation and a rail passenger carrier 
                with a written agreement with the rail carrier or rail 
                carriers that own the infrastructure over which Amtrak 
                operates a long-distance route and that host or would 
                host the intercity rail passenger transportation.
            ``(3) Performance standards.--If the winning bidder under 
        paragraph (1)(E)(i) is not or does not include Amtrak, the 
        performance standards shall be consistent with the performance 
        required of or achieved by Amtrak on the applicable route 
        during the last fiscal year.
            ``(4) Agreement governing access issues.--Unless the 
        winning bidder already has applicable access agreements in 
        place or includes a rail carrier that owns the infrastructure 
        used in the operation of the route, the winning bidder under 
        paragraph (1)(E)(i) shall enter into a written agreement 
        governing access issues between the winning bidder and the rail 
        carrier or rail carriers that own the infrastructure over which 
        the winning bidder would operate and that host or would host 
        the intercity rail passenger transportation.
    ``(c) Access to Facilities; Employees.--If the Secretary awards the 
right and obligation to provide rail passenger transportation over a 
route under this section to an entity in lieu of Amtrak--
            ``(1) the Secretary shall require Amtrak to provide access 
        to the Amtrak-owned reservation system, stations, and 
        facilities directly related to operations of the awarded routes 
        to the rail passenger carrier awarded a contract under this 
        section, in accordance with subsection (g), as necessary to 
        carry out the purposes of this section;
            ``(2) an employee of any person, except for a freight 
        railroad or a person employed or contracted by a freight 
        railroad, used by such rail passenger carrier in the operation 
        of a route under this section shall be considered an employee 
        of that rail passenger carrier and subject to the applicable 
        Federal laws and regulations governing similar crafts or 
        classes of employees of Amtrak; and
            ``(3) the winning bidder shall provide hiring preference to 
        qualified Amtrak employees displaced by the award of the bid, 
        consistent with the staffing plan submitted by the bidder, and 
        shall be subject to the grant conditions under section 24405.
    ``(d) Cessation of Service.--If a rail passenger carrier awarded a 
route under this section ceases to operate the service or fails to 
fulfill an obligation under the contract required under subsection 
(b)(1)(E), the Secretary shall take any necessary action consistent 
with this title to enforce the contract and ensure the continued 
provision of service, including--
            ``(1) the installment of an interim rail passenger carrier;
            ``(2) providing to the interim rail passenger carrier under 
        paragraph (1) an operating subsidy necessary to provide 
        service; and
            ``(3) rebidding the contract to operate the rail passenger 
        transportation.
    ``(e) Budget Authority.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall provide to a winning 
        bidder that is not or does not include Amtrak and that is 
        selected under this section any appropriations withheld under 
        section 5101(c) of the Comprehensive Transportation and 
        Consumer Protection Act of 2015, or any subsequent 
        appropriation for the same purpose, necessary to cover the 
        operating subsidy described in subsection (b)(1)(E)(ii).
            ``(2) Amtrak.--If the Secretary selects a winning bidder 
        that is not or does not include Amtrak, the Secretary may 
        provide to Amtrak an appropriate portion of the appropriations 
        under section 5101(a) of the Comprehensive Transportation and 
        Consumer Protection Act of 2015, or any subsequent 
        appropriation for the same purpose, to cover any cost directly 
        attributable to the termination of Amtrak service on the route 
        and any indirect costs to Amtrak imposed on other Amtrak routes 
        as a result of losing service on the route operated by the 
        winning bidder. Any amount provided by the Secretary to Amtrak 
        under this paragraph shall not be deducted from or have any 
        effect on the operating subsidy described in subsection 
        (b)(1)(E)(ii).
    ``(f) Deadline.--If the Secretary does not promulgate the final 
rule and implement the program before the deadline under subsection 
(a), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a letter, signed by 
the Secretary and Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, 
each month until the rule is complete, including--
            ``(1) the reasons why the rule has not been issued;
            ``(2) an updated staffing plan for completing the rule as 
        soon as feasible;
            ``(3) the contact information of the official that will be 
        overseeing the execution of the staffing plan; and
            ``(4) the estimated date of completion of the rule.
    ``(g) Disputes.--If Amtrak and the rail passenger carrier awarded a 
route under this section cannot agree upon terms to carry out 
subsection (c)(1), and the Surface Transportation Board finds that 
access to Amtrak's facilities or equipment, or the provision of 
services by Amtrak, is necessary under subsection (c)(1) and that the 
operation of Amtrak's other services will not be impaired thereby, the 
Surface Transportation Board shall issue an order that the facilities 
and equipment be made available, and that services be provided, by 
Amtrak, and shall determine reasonable compensation, liability, and 
other terms for use of the facilities and equipment and provision of 
the services.
    ``(h) Limitation.--Not more than 3 long-distance routes may be 
selected under this section for operation by a winning bidder that is 
not or does not include Amtrak.
    ``(i) Preservation of Right to Competition on State-Supported 
Routes.--Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting a 
State from introducing competition for intercity rail passenger 
transportation or services on its State-supported route or routes.''.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 4 years after the date of 
implementation of the pilot program under section 24711 of title 49, 
United States Code, and quadrennially thereafter until the pilot 
program is discontinued, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a 
report on the results on the pilot program to date and any 
recommendations for further action.

SEC. 5206. ROLLING STOCK PURCHASES.

    (a) In General.--Prior to entering into any contract in excess of 
$100,000,000 for rolling stock and locomotive procurements Amtrak shall 
submit a business case analysis to the Secretary, the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on 
Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
Representatives, on the utility of such procurements.
    (b) Contents.--The business case analysis shall--
            (1) include a cost and benefit comparison that describes 
        the total lifecycle costs and the anticipated benefits related 
        to revenue, operational efficiency, reliability, and other 
        factors;
            (2) set forth the total payments by fiscal year;
            (3) identify the specific source and amounts of funding for 
        each payment, including Federal funds, State funds, Amtrak 
        profits, Federal, State, or private loans or loan guarantees, 
        and other funding;
            (4) include an explanation of whether any payment under the 
        contract will increase Amtrak's grant request, as required 
        under section 24318 of title 49, United States Code, in that 
        particular fiscal year; and
            (5) describe how Amtrak will adjust the procurement if 
        future funding is not available.
    (c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
construed as requiring Amtrak to disclose confidential information 
regarding a potential vendor's proposed pricing or other sensitive 
business information prior to contract execution.

SEC. 5207. FOOD AND BEVERAGE POLICY.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 243, as amended in section 5202 of this 
Act, is further amended by adding after section 24320 the following:
``Sec. 24321. Food and beverage reform
    ``(a) Plan.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of 
the Comprehensive Transportation and Consumer Protection Act of 2015, 
Amtrak shall develop and begin implementing a plan to eliminate, not 
later than 4 years after the date of enactment of that Act, the 
operating loss associated with providing food and beverage service on 
board Amtrak trains.
    ``(b) Considerations.--In developing and implementing the plan 
under subsection (a), Amtrak shall consider a combination of cost 
management and revenue generation initiatives, including--
            ``(1) scheduling optimization;
            ``(2) onboard logistics;
            ``(3) product development and supply chain efficiency;
            ``(4) training, awards, and accountability;
            ``(5) technology enhancements and process improvements; and
            ``(6) ticket revenue allocation.
    ``(c) Savings Clause.--Amtrak shall ensure that no Amtrak employee 
holding a position as of the date of enactment of the Comprehensive 
Transportation and Consumer Protection Act of 2015 is involuntarily 
separated because of--
            ``(1) the development and implementation of the plan 
        required under subsection (a); or
            ``(2) any other action taken by Amtrak to implement this 
        section.
    ``(d) No Federal Funding for Operating Losses.--Beginning on the 
date that is 4 years after the date of enactment of the Comprehensive 
Transportation and Consumer Protection Act of 2015, no Federal funds 
may be used to cover any operating loss associated with providing food 
and beverage service on a route operated by Amtrak or an alternative 
passenger rail service provider that operates a route in lieu of Amtrak 
under section 24711.
    ``(e) Report.--Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment 
of the Comprehensive Transportation and Consumer Protection Act of 
2015, and annually thereafter for a period of 4 years, Amtrak shall 
transmit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives a report on the plan developed under 
subsection (a) and a description of progress in the implementation of 
the plan.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents for chapter 243, 
as amended in section 5202 of this Act, is amended by adding at the end 
the following:

``24321. Food and beverage reform.''.

SEC. 5208. LOCAL PRODUCTS AND PROMOTIONAL EVENTS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, Amtrak shall establish a pilot program for a 
State or States that sponsor a State-supported route operated by Amtrak 
to facilitate--
            (1) onboard purchase and sale of local food and beverage 
        products; and
            (2) partnerships with local entities to hold promotional 
        events on trains or in stations.
    (b) Program Design.--The pilot program under paragraph (1) shall 
allow a State or States--
            (1) to nominate and select a local food and beverage 
        products supplier or suppliers or local promotional event 
        partner;
            (2) to charge a reasonable price or fee for local food and 
        beverage products or promotional events and related activities 
        to help defray the costs of program administration and State-
        supported routes; and
            (3) a mechanism to ensure that State products can 
        effectively be handled and integrated into existing food and 
        beverage services, including compliance with all applicable 
        regulations and standards governing such services.
    (c) Program Administration.--The pilot program shall--
            (1) for local food and beverage products, ensure the 
        products are integrated into existing food and beverage 
        services, including compliance with all applicable regulations 
        and standards;
            (2) for promotional events, ensure the events are held in 
        compliance with all applicable regulations and standards, 
        including terms to address insurance requirements; and
            (3) require an annual report that documents revenues and 
        costs and indicates whether the products or events resulted in 
        a reduction in the financial contribution of a State or States 
        to the applicable State-supported route.
    (d) Report.--Not later than 4 years after the date of establishment 
of the pilot programs under this section, Amtrak shall report to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives on which States have participated in the pilot programs 
under this section. The report shall summarize the financial and 
operational outcomes of the pilot programs.
    (e) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this subsection shall be 
construed as limiting Amtrak's ability to operate special trains in 
accordance with section 216 of the Passenger Rail Investment and 
Improvement Act of 2008 (49 U.S.C. 24308 note).

SEC. 5209. RIGHT-OF-WAY LEVERAGING.

    (a) Request for Proposals.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, Amtrak shall issue a Request for 
        Proposals seeking qualified persons or entities to utilize 
        right-of-way and real estate owned, controlled, or managed by 
        Amtrak for telecommunications systems, energy distribution 
        systems, and other activities considered appropriate by Amtrak.
            (2) Contents.--The Request for Proposals shall provide 
        sufficient information on the right-of-way and real estate 
        assets to enable respondents to propose an arrangement that 
        will monetize or generate additional revenue from such assets 
        through revenue sharing or leasing agreements with Amtrak, to 
        the extent possible.
    (b) Consideration of Proposals.--Not later than 180 days following 
the deadline for the receipt of proposals under subsection (a), Amtrak 
shall review and consider each qualified proposal. Amtrak may enter 
into such agreements as are necessary to implement any qualified 
proposal.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 270 days following the deadline for the 
receipt of proposals under subsection (a), Amtrak shall transmit to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives a report on the Request for Proposals required by this 
section, including summary information of any proposals submitted to 
Amtrak and any proposals accepted by Amtrak.
    (d) Savings Clause.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to 
limit Amtrak's ability to utilize right-of-way or real estate assets 
that it currently owns, controls, or manages or constrain Amtrak's 
ability to enter into agreements with other parties to utilize such 
assets.

SEC. 5210. STATION DEVELOPMENT.

    (a) Report on Development Options.--Not later than 1 year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, Amtrak shall submit a report to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives that describes--
            (1) options to enhance economic development and 
        accessibility of and around Amtrak stations and terminals, for 
        the purposes of--
                    (A) improving station condition, functionality, 
                capacity, and customer amenities;
                    (B) generating additional investment capital and 
                development-related revenue streams;
                    (C) increasing ridership and revenue;
                    (D) complying with the applicable sections of the 
                Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
                12101 et seq.) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 
                U.S.C. 701 et seq.); and
                    (E) strengthening multimodal connections, including 
                transit, intercity buses, roll-on and roll-off 
                bicycles, and airports, as appropriate; and
            (2) options for additional Amtrak stops that would have a 
        positive incremental financial impact to Amtrak, based on 
        Amtrak feasibility studies that demonstrate a financial benefit 
        to Amtrak by generating additional revenue that exceeds any 
        incremental costs.
    (b) Request for Information.--Not later than 90 days after the date 
the report is transmitted under subsection (a), Amtrak shall issue a 
Request of Information for 1 or more owners of stations served by 
Amtrak to formally express an interest in completing the requirements 
of this section.
    (c) Proposals.--
            (1) Request for proposals.--Not later than 180 days after 
        the date the Request for Information is issued under subsection 
        (a), Amtrak shall issue a Request for Proposals from qualified 
        persons, including small business concerns owned and controlled 
        by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals and 
        veteran-owned small businesses, to lead, participate, or 
        partner with Amtrak, a station owner that responded under 
        subsection (b), and other entities in enhancing development in 
        and around such stations and terminals using applicable options 
        identified under subsection (a) at facilities selected by 
        Amtrak.
            (2) Consideration of proposals.--Not later than 1 year 
        after the date the Request for Proposals are issued under 
        paragraph (1), Amtrak shall review and consider qualified 
        proposals submitted under paragraph (1). Amtrak or a station 
        owner that responded under subsection (b) may enter into such 
        agreements as are necessary to implement any qualified 
        proposal.
    (d) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of 
this Act, Amtrak shall transmit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report on the 
Request for Proposals process required under this section, including 
summary information of any qualified proposals submitted to Amtrak and 
any proposals acted upon by Amtrak or a station owner that responded 
under subsection (b).
    (e) Definitions.--In this section, the terms ``small business 
concern'', ``socially and economically disadvantaged individual'', and 
``veteran-owned small business'' have the meanings given the terms in 
section 304(c) of this Act.
    (f) Savings Clause.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to 
limit Amtrak's ability to develop its stations, terminals, or other 
assets, to constrain Amtrak's ability to enter into and carry out 
agreements with other parties to enhance development at or around 
Amtrak stations or terminals, or to affect any station development 
initiatives ongoing as of the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 5211. AMTRAK DEBT.

    Section 205 of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 
2008 (49 U.S.C. 24101 note) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``as of the date of enactment of this Act'' 
        each place it appears;
            (2) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by inserting ``, to the extent provided in 
                advance in appropriations Acts'' after ``Amtrak's 
                indebtedness''; and
                    (B) by striking the second sentence;
            (3) in subsection (b), by striking ``The Secretary of the 
        Treasury, in consultation'' and inserting ``To the extent 
        amounts are provided in advance in appropriations Acts, the 
        Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation'';
            (4) in subsection (d), by inserting ``, to the extent 
        provided in advance in appropriations Acts'' after ``as 
        appropriate'';
            (5) in subsection (e)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``by section 102 
                of this division''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``by section 
                102'' and inserting ``for Amtrak'';
            (6) in subsection (g), by inserting ``, unless that debt 
        receives credit assistance, including direct loans and loan 
        guarantees, under chapter 6 of title 23, United States Code, or 
        title V of the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Act of 
        1976 (45 U.S.C. 821 et seq.)'' after ``Secretary''; and
            (7) by striking subsection (h).

SEC. 5212. AMTRAK PILOT PROGRAM FOR PASSENGERS TRANSPORTING 
              DOMESTICATED CATS AND DOGS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, Amtrak shall develop a pilot program that allows 
passengers to transport domesticated cats or dogs on certain trains 
operated by Amtrak.
    (b) Pet Policy.--In developing the pilot program required under 
subsection (a), Amtrak shall--
            (1) in the case of a passenger train that is comprised of 
        more than 1 car, designate, where feasible, at least 1 car in 
        which a ticketed passenger may transport a domesticated cat or 
        dog in the same manner as carry-on baggage if--
                    (A) the cat or dog is contained in a pet kennel;
                    (B) the pet kennel complies with Amtrak size 
                requirements for carriage of carry-on baggage;
                    (C) the passenger is traveling on a train operating 
                on a route described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (D) 
                of section 24102(6) of title 49, United States Code; 
                and
                    (D) the passenger pays a fee described in paragraph 
                (3);
            (2) allow a ticketed passenger to transport a domesticated 
        cat or dog on a train in the same manner as cargo if--
                    (A) the cat or dog is contained in a pet kennel;
                    (B) the pet kennel is stowed in accordance with 
                Amtrak requirements for cargo stowage;
                    (C) the passenger is traveling on a train operating 
                on a route described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (D) 
                of section 24102(6) of title 49, United States Code;
                    (D) the cargo area is temperature controlled in a 
                manner protective of cat and dog safety and health; and
                    (E) the passenger pays a fee described in paragraph 
                (3); and
            (3) collect fees for each cat or dog transported by a 
        ticketed passenger in an amount that, in the aggregate and at a 
        minimum, covers the full costs of the pilot program.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the pilot program required 
under subsection (a) is first implemented, Amtrak shall transmit to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives a report containing an evaluation of the pilot program.
    (d) Limitation on Statutory Construction.--
            (1) Service animals.--The pilot program under subsection 
        (a) shall be separate from and in addition to the policy 
        governing Amtrak passengers traveling with service animals. 
        Nothing in this section may be interpreted to limit or waive 
        the rights of passengers to transport service animals.
            (2) Additional train cars.--Nothing in this section may be 
        interpreted to require Amtrak to add additional train cars or 
        modify existing train cars.
            (3) Federal funds.--No Federal funds may be used to 
        implement the pilot program required under this section.

SEC. 5213. AMTRAK BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

    (a) In General.--Section 24302(a) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(a) Composition and Terms.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Amtrak Board of Directors (referred 
        to in this section as the `Board') is composed of the following 
        9 directors, each of whom must be a citizen of the United 
        States:
                    ``(A) The Secretary of Transportation.
                    ``(B) The President of Amtrak.
                    ``(C) 7 individuals appointed by the President of 
                the United States, by and with the advice and consent 
                of the Senate, with general business and financial 
                experience, experience or qualifications in 
                transportation, freight and passenger rail 
                transportation, travel, hospitality, or passenger air 
                transportation businesses, or representatives of 
                employees or users of passenger rail transportation or 
                a State government.
            ``(2) Selection.--In selecting individuals described in 
        paragraph (1)(C) for nominations for appointments to the Board, 
        the President shall consult with the Speaker of the House of 
        Representatives, the minority leader of the House of 
        Representatives, the majority leader of the Senate, and the 
        minority leader of the Senate. The individuals appointed to the 
        Board under paragraph (1)(C) shall be composed of the 
        following:
                    ``(A) 2 individuals from the Northeast Corridor.
                    ``(B) 4 individuals from regions of the country 
                outside of the Northeast Corridor and geographically 
                distributed with--
                            ``(i) 2 individuals from States with long-
                        distance routes operated by Amtrak; and
                            ``(ii) 2 individuals from States with 
                        State-supported routes operated by Amtrak.
                    ``(C) 1 individual from the Northeast Corridor or a 
                State with long-distance or State-supported routes.
            ``(3) Term.--An individual appointed under paragraph (1)(C) 
        shall be appointed for a term of 5 years. The term may be 
        extended until the individual's successor is appointed and 
        qualified. Not more than 4 individuals appointed under 
        paragraph (1)(C) may be members of the same political party.
            ``(4) Chairperson and vice chairperson.--The Board shall 
        elect a chairperson and vice chairperson, other than the 
        President of Amtrak, from among its membership. The vice 
        chairperson shall serve as chairperson in the absence of the 
        chairperson.
            ``(5) Secretary's designee.--The Secretary may be 
        represented at Board meetings by the Secretary's designee.''.
    (b) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
construed as affecting the term of any director serving on the Amtrak 
Board of Directors under section 24302(a)(1)(C) of title 49, United 
States Code, on the day preceding the date of enactment of this Act.

              Subtitle C--Intercity Passenger Rail Policy

SEC. 5301. COMPETITIVE OPERATING GRANTS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 244 is amended--
            (1) by striking section 24406; and
            (2) by inserting after section 24405 the following:
``Sec. 24406. Competitive operating grants
    ``(a) Applicant Defined.--In this section, the term `applicant' 
means--
            ``(1) a State;
            ``(2) a group of States;
            ``(3) an Interstate Compact;
            ``(4) a public agency or publicly chartered authority 
        established by 1 or more States and having responsibility for 
        providing intercity rail passenger transportation or commuter 
        rail passenger transportation;
            ``(5) a political subdivision of a State;
            ``(6) Amtrak or another rail passenger carrier that 
        provides intercity rail passenger transportation;
            ``(7) any rail carrier in partnership with at least 1 of 
        the entities described in paragraphs (1) through (5); and
            ``(8) any combination of the entities described in 
        paragraphs (1) through (7).
    ``(b) Grants Authorized.--The Secretary of Transportation shall 
develop and implement a program for issuing 3-year operating assistance 
grants to applicants, on a competitive basis, for the purpose of 
initiating, restoring, or enhancing intercity rail passenger service.
    ``(c) Application.--An applicant for a grant under this section 
shall submit to the Secretary--
            ``(1) a capital and mobilization plan that--
                    ``(A) describes any capital investments, service 
                planning actions (such as environmental reviews), and 
                mobilization actions (such as qualification of train 
                crews) required for initiation of service; and
                    ``(B) includes the timeline for undertaking and 
                completing each of the investments and actions referred 
                to in subparagraph (A);
            ``(2) an operating plan that describes the planned 
        operation of the service, including--
                    ``(A) the identity and qualifications of the train 
                operator;
                    ``(B) the identity and qualifications of any other 
                service providers;
                    ``(C) service frequency;
                    ``(D) the planned routes and schedules;
                    ``(E) the station facilities that will be utilized;
                    ``(F) projected ridership, revenues, and costs;
                    ``(G) descriptions of how the projections under 
                subparagraph (F) were developed;
                    ``(H) the equipment that will be utilized, how such 
                equipment will be acquired or refurbished, and where 
                such equipment will be maintained; and
                    ``(I) a plan for ensuring safe operations and 
                compliance with applicable safety regulations;
            ``(3) a funding plan that--
                    ``(A) describes the funding of initial capital 
                costs and operating costs for the first 3 years of 
                operation;
                    ``(B) includes a commitment by the applicant to 
                provide the funds described in subparagraph (A) to the 
                extent not covered by Federal grants and revenues; and
                    ``(C) describes the funding of operating costs and 
                capital costs, to the extent necessary, after the first 
                3 years of operation; and
            ``(4) a description of the status of negotiations and 
        agreements with--
                    ``(A) each of the railroads or regional 
                transportation authorities whose tracks or facilities 
                would be utilized by the service;
                    ``(B) the anticipated rail passenger carrier, if 
                such entity is not part of the applicant group; and
                    ``(C) any other service providers or entities 
                expected to provide services or facilities that will be 
                used by the service, including any required access to 
                Amtrak systems, stations, and facilities if Amtrak is 
                not part of the applicant group.
    ``(d) Priorities.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
Secretary shall give priority to applications--
            ``(1) for which planning, design, any environmental 
        reviews, negotiation of agreements, acquisition of equipment, 
        construction, and other actions necessary for initiation of 
        service have been completed or nearly completed;
            ``(2) that would restore service over routes formerly 
        operated by Amtrak, including routes with international 
        connections;
            ``(3) that would provide daily or daytime service over 
        routes where such service did not previously exist;
            ``(4) that include private funding (including funding from 
        railroads), and funding or other significant participation by 
        State, local, and regional governmental and private entities;
            ``(5) that include a funding plan that demonstrates the 
        intercity rail passenger service will be financially 
        sustainable beyond the 3-year grant period;
            ``(6) that would provide service to regions and communities 
        that are underserved or not served by other intercity public 
        transportation;
            ``(7) that would foster economic development, particularly 
        in rural communities and for disadvantaged populations;
            ``(8) that would provide other non-transportation benefits; 
        and
            ``(9) that would enhance connectivity and geographic 
        coverage of the existing national network of intercity 
        passenger rail service.
    ``(e) Limitations.--
            ``(1) Duration.--Federal operating assistance grants 
        authorized under this section for any individual intercity rail 
        passenger transportation route may not provide funding for more 
        than 3 years and may not be renewed.
            ``(2) Limitation.--Not more than 6 of the operating 
        assistance grants awarded pursuant to subsection (b) may be 
        simultaneously active.
            ``(3) Maximum funding.--Grants described in paragraph (1) 
        may not exceed--
                    ``(A) 80 percent of the projected net operating 
                costs for the first year of service;
                    ``(B) 60 percent of the projected net operating 
                costs for the second year of service; and
                    ``(C) 40 percent of the projected net operating 
                costs for the third year of service.
    ``(f) Use With Capital Grants and Other Federal Funding.--A 
recipient of an operating assistance grant under subsection (b) may use 
that grant in combination with other grants awarded under this chapter 
or any other Federal funding that would benefit the applicable service.
    ``(g) Availability.--Amounts appropriated for carrying out this 
section shall remain available until expended.
    ``(h) Coordination With Amtrak.--If the Secretary awards a grant 
under this section to a rail passenger carrier other than Amtrak, 
Amtrak may be required under section 24711(c)(1) of this title to 
provide access to its reservation system, stations, and facilities that 
are directly related to operations to such carrier, to the extent 
necessary to carry out the purposes of this section. The Secretary may 
award an appropriate portion of the grant to Amtrak as compensation for 
this access.
    ``(i) Conditions.--
            ``(1) Grant agreement.--The Secretary shall require grant 
        recipients under this section to enter into a grant agreement 
        that requires them to provide similar information regarding the 
        route performance, financial, and ridership projections, and 
        capital and business plans that Amtrak is required to provide, 
        and such other data and information as the Secretary deems 
        necessary.
            ``(2) Installments; termination.--The Secretary may--
                    ``(A) award grants under this section in 
                installments, as the Secretary considers appropriate; 
                and
                    ``(B) terminate any grant agreement upon--
                            ``(i) the cessation of service; or
                            ``(ii) the violation of any other term of 
                        the grant agreement.
            ``(3) Grant conditions.--Except as specifically provided in 
        this section, the use of any amounts appropriated for grants 
        under this section shall be subject to the requirements under 
        this chapter.
    ``(j) Report.--Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment 
of the Comprehensive Transportation and Consumer Protection Act of 
2015, the Secretary, after consultation with grant recipients under 
this section, shall submit a report to Congress that describes--
            ``(1) the implementation of this section;
            ``(2) the status of the investments and operations funded 
        by such grants;
            ``(3) the performance of the routes funded by such grants;
            ``(4) the plans of grant recipients for continued operation 
        and funding of such routes; and
            ``(5) any legislative recommendations.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--Chapter 244 is amended--
            (1) in the table of contents, by inserting after the item 
        relating to section 24405 the following:

``24406. Competitive operating grants.'';
            (2) in the chapter title, by striking ``INTERCITY PASSENGER 
        RAIL SERVICE CORRIDOR CAPITAL'' and inserting ``RAIL CAPITAL 
        AND OPERATING'';
            (3) in section 24401, by striking paragraph (1);
            (4) in section 24402, by striking subsection (j) and 
        inserting the following:
    ``(j) Applicant Defined.--In this section, the term `applicant' 
means a State (including the District of Columbia), a group of States, 
an Interstate Compact, a public agency or publicly chartered authority 
established by 1 or more States and having responsibility for providing 
intercity rail passenger transportation, or a political subdivision of 
a State.''; and
            (5) in section 24405--
                    (A) in subsection (b)--
                            (i) by inserting ``, or for which an 
                        operating grant is issued under section 
                        24406,'' after ``chapter''; and
                            (ii) in paragraph (2), by striking ``(43'' 
                        and inserting ``(45'';
                    (B) in subsection (d)(1), in the matter preceding 
                subparagraph (A), by inserting ``or unless Amtrak 
                ceased providing intercity passenger railroad 
                transportation over the affected route more than 3 
                years before the commencement of new service'' after 
                ``unless such service was provided solely by Amtrak to 
                another entity'';
                    (C) in subsection (f), by striking ``under this 
                chapter for commuter rail passenger transportation, as 
                defined in section 24012(4) of this title.'' and 
                inserting ``under this chapter for commuter rail 
                passenger transportation (as defined in section 
                24102(3)).''; and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(g) Special Transportation Circumstances.--In carrying out this 
chapter, the Secretary shall allocate an appropriate portion of the 
amounts available under this chapter to provide grants to States--
            ``(1) in which there is no intercity passenger rail 
        service, for the purpose of funding freight rail capital 
        projects that are on a State rail plan developed under chapter 
        227 that provide public benefits (as defined in chapter 227), 
        as determined by the Secretary; or
            ``(2) in which the rail transportation system is not 
        physically connected to rail systems in the continental United 
        States or may not otherwise qualify for a grant under this 
        section due to the unique characteristics of the geography of 
        that State or other relevant considerations, for the purpose of 
        funding transportation-related capital projects.''.

SEC. 5302. FEDERAL-STATE PARTNERSHIP FOR STATE-OF-GOOD-REPAIR.

    (a) Amendment.--Chapter 244 is amended by inserting after section 
24406, as added by section 5301 of this Act, the following:
``Sec. 24407. Federal-State partnership for state-of-good-repair
    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Applicant.--The term `applicant' means--
                    ``(A) a State (including the District of Columbia);
                    ``(B) a group of States;
                    ``(C) an Interstate Compact;
                    ``(D) a public agency or publicly chartered 
                authority established by 1 or more States that has 
                responsibility for providing intercity rail passenger 
                transportation or commuter rail passenger 
                transportation;
                    ``(E) a political subdivision of a State;
                    ``(F) Amtrak, acting on its own behalf or under a 
                cooperative agreement with 1 or more States; or
                    ``(G) any combination of the entities described in 
                subparagraphs (A) through (F).
            ``(2) Capital project.--The term `capital project' means--
                    ``(A) a project primarily intended to replace, 
                rehabilitate, or repair major infrastructure assets 
                utilized for providing intercity passenger rail 
                service, including tunnels, bridges, stations, and 
                other assets, as determined by the Secretary; or
                    ``(B) a project primarily intended to improve 
                intercity passenger rail performance, including reduced 
                trip times, increased train frequencies, higher 
                operating speeds, and other improvements, as determined 
                by the Secretary.
            ``(3) Northeast corridor.--The term `Northeast Corridor' 
        means--
                    ``(A) the main rail line between Boston, 
                Massachusetts and the Virginia Avenue interlocking in 
                the District of Columbia; and
                    ``(B) the branch rail lines connecting to 
                Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Springfield, Massachusetts, 
                and Spuyten Duyvil, New York.
            ``(4) Qualified railroad asset.--The term `qualified 
        railroad asset' means infrastructure, equipment, or a facility 
        that--
                    ``(A) is owned or controlled by an eligible 
                applicant; and
                    ``(B) was not in a state-of-good-repair on the date 
                of enactment of the Comprehensive Transportation and 
                Consumer Protection Act of 2015.
    ``(b) Grant Program Authorized.--The Secretary of Transportation 
shall develop and implement a program for issuing grants to applicants, 
on a competitive basis, to fund capital projects that reduce the state-
of-good-repair backlog on qualified railroad assets.
    ``(c) Eligible Projects.--Projects eligible for grants under this 
section include capital projects to replace or rehabilitate qualified 
railroad assets, including--
            ``(1) capital projects to replace existing assets in-kind;
            ``(2) capital projects to replace existing assets with 
        assets that increase capacity or provide a higher level of 
        service; and
            ``(3) capital projects to ensure that service can be 
        maintained while existing assets are brought to a state-of-
        good-repair.
    ``(d) Project Selection Criteria.--In selecting an applicant for a 
grant under this section, the Secretary shall--
            ``(1) give preference to eligible projects--
                    ``(A) that are consistent with the goals, 
                objectives, and policies defined in any regional rail 
                planning document that is applicable to a project 
                proposal; and
                    ``(B) for which the proposed Federal share of total 
                project costs does not exceed 50 percent; and
            ``(2) take into account--
                    ``(A) the cost-benefit analysis of the proposed 
                project, including anticipated private and public 
                benefits relative to the costs of the proposed project, 
                including--
                            ``(i) effects on system and service 
                        performance;
                            ``(ii) effects on safety, competitiveness, 
                        reliability, trip or transit time, and 
                        resilience;
                            ``(iii) efficiencies from improved 
                        integration with other modes; and
                            ``(iv) ability to meet existing or 
                        anticipated demand;
                    ``(B) the degree to which the proposed project's 
                business plan considers potential private sector 
                participation in the financing, construction, or 
                operation of the proposed project;
                    ``(C) the applicant's past performance in 
                developing and delivering similar projects, and 
                previous financial contributions;
                    ``(D) whether the applicant has, or will have--
                            ``(i) the legal, financial, and technical 
                        capacity to carry out the project;
                            ``(ii) satisfactory continuing control over 
                        the use of the equipment or facilities; and
                            ``(iii) the capability and willingness to 
                        maintain the equipment or facilities;
                    ``(E) if applicable, the consistency of the project 
                with planning guidance and documents set forth by the 
                Secretary or required by law; and
                    ``(F) any other relevant factors, as determined by 
                the Secretary.
    ``(e) Planning Requirements.--A project is not eligible for a grant 
under this section unless the project is specifically identified--
            ``(1) on a State rail plan prepared in accordance with 
        chapter 227; or
            ``(2) if the project is located on the Northeast Corridor, 
        on the Northeast Corridor Capital Investment Plan developed 
        pursuant to section 24904(a).
    ``(f) Northeast Corridor Projects.--
            ``(1) Compliance with usage agreements.--Grant funds may 
        not be provided under this section to an eligible recipient for 
        an eligible project located on the Northeast Corridor unless 
        Amtrak and the public authorities providing commuter rail 
        passenger transportation on the Northeast Corridor are in 
        compliance with section 24905(c)(2).
            ``(2) Capital investment plan.--When selecting projects 
        located on the Northeast Corridor, the Secretary shall consider 
        the appropriate sequence and phasing of projects as contained 
        in the Northeast Corridor Capital Investment Plan developed 
        pursuant to section 24904(a).
    ``(g) Federal Share of Total Project Costs.--
            ``(1) Total project cost.--The Secretary shall estimate the 
        total cost of a project under this section based on the best 
        available information, including engineering studies, studies 
        of economic feasibility, environmental analyses, and 
        information on the expected use of equipment or facilities.
            ``(2) Federal share.--The Federal share of total costs for 
        a project under this subsection shall not exceed 80 percent.
            ``(3) Treatment of amtrak revenue.--If Amtrak or another 
        rail passenger carrier is an applicant under this section, 
        Amtrak or the other rail passenger carrier, as applicable, may 
        use ticket and other revenues generated from its operations and 
        other sources to satisfy the non-Federal share requirements.
    ``(h) Letters of Intent.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may issue a letter of 
        intent to a grantee under this section that--
                    ``(A) announces an intention to obligate, for a 
                major capital project under this section, an amount 
                from future available budget authority specified in law 
                that is not more than the amount stipulated as the 
                financial participation of the Secretary in the 
                project; and
                    ``(B) states that the contingent commitment--
                            ``(i) is not an obligation of the Federal 
                        Government; and
                            ``(ii) is subject to the availability of 
                        appropriations under Federal law and to Federal 
                        laws in force or enacted after the date of the 
                        contingent commitment.
            ``(2) Congressional notification.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not later than 30 days before 
                issuing a letter under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
                shall submit written notification to--
                            ``(i) the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
                        and Transportation of the Senate;
                            ``(ii) the Committee on Appropriations of 
                        the Senate;
                            ``(iii) the Committee on Transportation and 
                        Infrastructure of the House of Representatives; 
                        and
                            ``(iv) the Committee on Appropriations of 
                        the House of Representatives.
                    ``(B) Contents.--The notification submitted 
                pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall include--
                            ``(i) a copy of the proposed letter or 
                        agreement;
                            ``(ii) the criteria used under subsection 
                        (d) for selecting the project for a grant 
                        award; and
                            ``(iii) a description of how the project 
                        meets such criteria.
            ``(3) Appropriations required.--An obligation or 
        administrative commitment may be made under this section only 
        when amounts are appropriated for such purpose.
    ``(i) Availability.--Amounts appropriated for carrying out this 
section shall remain available until expended.
    ``(j) Grant Conditions.--Except as specifically provided in this 
section, the use of any amounts appropriated for grants under this 
section shall be subject to the requirements under this chapter.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents for chapter 244 is 
amended by inserting after the item relating to section 24406 the 
following:

``24407. Federal-State partnership for state-of-good-repair.''.

SEC. 5303. LARGE CAPITAL PROJECT REQUIREMENTS.

    Section 24402 is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(m) Large Capital Project Requirements.--
            ``(1) In general.--For a grant awarded under this chapter 
        for an amount in excess of $1,000,000,000, the following 
        conditions shall apply:
                    ``(A) The Secretary of Transportation may not 
                obligate any funding unless the applicant demonstrates, 
                to the satisfaction of the Secretary, that the 
                applicant has committed, and will be able to fulfill, 
                the non-Federal share required for the grant within the 
                applicant's proposed project completion timetable.
                    ``(B) The Secretary may not obligate any funding 
                for work activities that occur after the completion of 
                final design unless--
                            ``(i) the applicant submits a financial 
                        plan to the Secretary that generally identifies 
                        the sources of the non-Federal funding required 
                        for any subsequent segments or phases of the 
                        corridor service development program covering 
                        the project for which the grant is awarded;
                            ``(ii) the grant will result in a useable 
                        segment, a transportation facility, or 
                        equipment, that has operational independence or 
                        is financially sustainable; and
                            ``(iii) the intercity passenger rail 
                        benefits anticipated to result from the grant, 
                        such as increased speed, improved on-time 
                        performance, reduced trip time, increased 
                        frequencies, new service, safety improvements, 
                        improved accessibility, or other significant 
                        enhancements, are detailed by the grantee and 
                        approved by the Secretary.
                    ``(C)(i) The Secretary shall ensure that the 
                project is maintained to the level of utility that is 
                necessary to support the benefits approved under 
                subparagraph (B)(iii) for a period of 20 years from the 
                date on which the useable segment, transportation 
                facility, or equipment described in subparagraph 
                (B)(ii) is placed in service.
                    ``(ii) If the project property is not maintained as 
                required under clause (i) for a 12-month period, the 
                grant recipient shall refund a pro-rata share of the 
                Federal contribution, based upon the percentage 
                remaining of the 20-year period that commenced when the 
                project property was placed in service.
            ``(2) Early work.--The Secretary may allow a grantee 
        subject to this subsection to engage in at-risk work activities 
        subsequent to the conclusion of final design if the Secretary 
        determines that such work activities are reasonable and 
        necessary.''.

SEC. 5304. SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION STUDY.

    (a) Study.--The Secretary shall conduct a nationwide disparity and 
availability study on the availability and use of small business 
concerns owned and controlled by socially and economically 
disadvantaged individuals and veteran-owned small businesses in 
publicly funded intercity passenger rail service projects.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report containing the results of 
the study conducted under subsection (a) to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives.
    (c) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Small business concern.--The term ``small business 
        concern'' has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the 
        Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632), except that the term does 
        not include any concern or group of concerns controlled by the 
        same socially and economically disadvantaged individual or 
        individuals that have average annual gross receipts during the 
        preceding 3 fiscal years in excess of $22,410,000, as adjusted 
        annually by the Secretary for inflation.
            (2) Socially and economically disadvantaged individual.--
        The term ``socially and economically disadvantaged individual'' 
        has the meaning given such term in section 8(d) of the Small 
        Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(d)) and relevant subcontracting 
        regulations issued pursuant to such Act, except that women 
        shall be presumed to be socially and economically disadvantaged 
        individuals for purposes of this section.
            (3) Veteran-owned small business.--The term ``veteran-owned 
        small business'' has the meaning given the term ``small 
        business concern owned and controlled by veterans'' in section 
        3(q)(3) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632(q)(3)), except 
        that the term does not include any concern or group of concerns 
        controlled by the same veterans that have average annual gross 
        receipts during the preceding 3 fiscal years in excess of 
        $22,410,000, as adjusted annually by the Secretary for 
        inflation.

SEC. 5305. GULF COAST RAIL SERVICE WORKING GROUP.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall convene a working group to evaluate 
the restoration of intercity rail passenger service in the Gulf Coast 
region between New Orleans, Louisiana, and Orlando, Florida.
    (b) Membership.--The working group convened pursuant to subsection 
(a) shall consist of representatives of--
            (1) the Federal Railroad Administration, which shall serve 
        as chair of the working group;
            (2) Amtrak;
            (3) the States along the proposed route or routes;
            (4) regional transportation planning organizations and 
        metropolitan planning organizations, municipalities, and 
        communities along the proposed route or routes, which shall be 
        selected by the Administrator;
            (5) the Southern Rail Commission;
            (6) freight railroad carriers whose tracks may be used for 
        such service; and
            (7) other entities determined appropriate by the Secretary, 
        which may include independent passenger rail operators that 
        express an interest in Gulf Coast service.
    (c) Responsibilities.--The working group shall--
            (1) evaluate all options for restoring intercity rail 
        passenger service in the Gulf Coast region, including options 
        outlined in the report transmitted to Congress pursuant to 
        section 226 of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement 
        Act of 2008 (division B of Public Law 110-432);
            (2) select a preferred option for restoring such service;
            (3) develop a prioritized inventory of capital projects and 
        other actions required to restore such service and cost 
        estimates for such projects or actions; and
            (4) identify Federal and non-Federal funding sources 
        required to restore such service, including options for 
        entering into public-private partnerships to restore such 
        service.
    (d) Report.--Not later than 9 months after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the working group shall submit a report to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 
that includes--
            (1) the preferred option selected under subsection (c)(2) 
        and the reasons for selecting such option;
            (2) the information described in subsection (c)(3);
            (3) the funding sources identified under subsection (c)(4);
            (4) the costs and benefits of restoring intercity rail 
        passenger transportation in the region; and
            (5) any other information the working group determines 
        appropriate.

SEC. 5306. INTEGRATED PASSENGER RAIL WORKING GROUP.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall convene a working group to 
review issues relating to--
            (1) the potential operation of State-supported routes by 
        rail passenger carriers other than Amtrak; and
            (2) their role in establishing an integrated intercity 
        passenger rail network in the United States.
    (b) Membership.--The working group shall consist of a balanced 
representation of--
            (1) the Federal Railroad Administration, who shall chair 
        the Working Group;
            (2) States that fund State-sponsored routes;
            (3) independent passenger rail operators, including those 
        that carry at least 5,000,000 passengers annually in United 
        States or international rail service;
            (4) Amtrak;
            (5) railroads that host intercity State-supported routes;
            (6) employee representatives from railroad unions and 
        building trade unions with substantial engagement in railroad 
        rights of way construction and maintenance; and
            (7) other entities determined appropriate by the Secretary.
    (c) Responsibilities.--The working group shall evaluate options for 
improving State-supported routes and may make recommendations, as 
appropriate, regarding--
            (1) best practices for State or State authority governance 
        of State-supported routes;
            (2) future sources of Federal and non-Federal funding 
        sources for State-supported routes;
            (3) best practices in obtaining passenger rail operations 
        and services on a competitive basis with the objective of 
        creating the highest quality service at the lowest cost to the 
        taxpayer;
            (4) ensuring potential interoperability of State-supported 
        routes as a part of a national network with multiple providers 
        providing integrated services including ticketing, scheduling, 
        and route planning; and
            (5) the interface between State-supported routes and 
        connecting commuter rail operations, including maximized intra-
        modal and intermodal connections and common sources of funding 
        for capital projects.
    (d) Meetings.--Not later than 60 days after the establishment of 
the working group by the Secretary under subsection (a), the working 
group shall convene an organizational meeting outside of the District 
of Columbia and shall define the rules and procedures governing the 
proceedings of the working group. The working group shall hold at least 
3 meetings per year in States that fund State-supported routes.
    (e) Reports.--
            (1) Preliminary report.--Not later than 1 year after the 
        date the working group is established, the working group shall 
        submit a preliminary report to the Secretary, the governors of 
        States funding State-supported routes, the Committee on 
        Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the 
        Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
        Representatives that includes--
                    (A) administrative recommendations that can be 
                implemented by a State and State authority or by the 
                Secretary; and
                    (B) preliminary legislative recommendations.
            (2) Final legislative recommendations.--Not later than 2 
        years after the date the working group is established, the 
        working group shall submit a report to the Committee on 
        Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the 
        Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
        Representatives that includes final legislative 
        recommendations.

SEC. 5307. SHARED-USE STUDY.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with Amtrak, commuter rail 
authorities, and other passenger rail operators, railroad carriers that 
own rail infrastructure over which both passenger and freight trains 
operate, States, the Surface Transportation Board, the Northeast 
Corridor Commission established under section 24905, the State-
Supported Route Committee established under section 24712, and groups 
representing rail passengers and customers, as appropriate, shall 
complete a study that evaluates--
            (1) the shared use of right-of-way by passenger and freight 
        rail systems; and
            (2) the operational, institutional, and legal structures 
        that would best support improvements to the systems referred to 
        in paragraph (1).
    (b) Areas of Study.--In conducting the study under subsection (a), 
the Secretary shall evaluate--
            (1) the access and use of railroad right-of-way by a rail 
        carrier that does not own the right-of-way, such as passenger 
        rail services that operate over privately owned right-of-way, 
        including an analysis of--
                    (A) access agreements;
                    (B) costs of access; and
                    (C) the resolution of disputes relating to such 
                access or costs;
            (2) the effectiveness of existing contractual, statutory, 
        and regulatory mechanisms for establishing, measuring, and 
        enforcing train performance standards, including--
                    (A) the manner in which passenger train delays are 
                recorded;
                    (B) the assignment of responsibility for such 
                delays; and
                    (C) the use of incentives and penalties for 
                performance;
            (3) strengths and weaknesses in the existing mechanisms 
        described in paragraph (2) and possible approaches to address 
        the weaknesses;
            (4) mechanisms for measuring and maintaining public 
        benefits resulting from publicly funded freight or passenger 
        rail improvements, including improvements directed towards 
        shared-use right-of-way by passenger and freight rail;
            (5) approaches to operations, capacity, and cost estimation 
        modeling that--
                    (A) allows for transparent decisionmaking; and
                    (B) protects the proprietary interests of all 
                parties;
            (6) liability requirements and arrangements, including--
                    (A) whether to expand statutory liability limits to 
                additional parties;
                    (B) whether to revise the current statutory 
                liability limits;
                    (C) whether current insurance levels of passenger 
                rail operators are adequate and whether to establish 
                minimum insurance requirements for such passenger rail 
                operators; and
                    (D) whether to establish a liability regime modeled 
                after section 170 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 
                U.S.C. 2210);
            (7) the effect on rail passenger services, operations, 
        liability limits and insurance levels of the assertion of 
        sovereign immunity by a State; and
            (8) other issues identified by the Secretary.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 60 days after the study under 
subsection (a) is complete, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives a report that includes--
            (1) the results of the study; and
            (2) any recommendations for further action, including any 
        legislative proposals consistent with such recommendations.
    (d) Implementation.--The Secretary shall integrate the 
recommendations submitted under subsection (c) into its financial 
assistance programs under subtitle V of title 49, United States Code, 
and section 502 of the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform 
Act of 1976 (45 U.S.C. 822), as appropriate.

SEC. 5308. NORTHEAST CORRIDOR COMMISSION.

    (a) Composition.--Section 24905(a) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by 
                inserting ``, infrastructure investments,'' after 
                ``rail operations'';
                    (B) by amending subparagraph (B) to read as 
                follows:
            ``(B) members representing the Department of 
        Transportation, including the Office of the Secretary, the 
        Federal Railroad Administration, and the Federal Transit 
        Administration;''; and
                    (C) in subparagraph (D) by inserting ``and 
                commuter'' after ``freight''; and
            (2) by amending paragraph (6) to read as follows:
            ``(6) The members of the Commission shall elect co-chairs 
        consisting of 1 member described in paragraph (1)(B) and 1 
        member described in paragraph (1)(C).''.
    (b) Statement of Goals and Recommendations.--Section 24905(b) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``and periodically 
        update'' after ``develop'';
            (2) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``beyond those 
        specified in the state-of-good-repair plan under section 211 of 
        the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008''; 
        and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) Submission of statement of goals, recommendations, 
        and performance reports.--The Commission shall submit to the 
        Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
        Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
        of the House of Representatives--
                    ``(A) any updates made to the statement of goals 
                developed under paragraph (1) not later than 60 days 
                after such updates are made; and
                    ``(B) annual performance reports and 
                recommendations for improvements, as appropriate, 
                issued not later than March 31 of each year, for the 
                prior fiscal year, which summarize--
                            ``(i) the operations and performance of 
                        commuter, intercity, and freight rail 
                        transportation along the Northeast Corridor; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) the delivery of the capital plan 
                        described in section 24904.''.
    (c) Cost Allocation Policy.--Section 24905(c) is amended--
            (1) in the subsection heading, by striking ``Access Costs'' 
        and inserting ``Allocation of Costs'';
            (2) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) in the paragraph heading, by striking 
                ``formula'' and inserting ``policy'';
                    (B) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by 
                striking ``Within 2 years after the date of enactment 
                of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 
                2008, the Commission'' and inserting ``The 
                Commission'';
                    (C) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``formula'' 
                and inserting ``policy''; and
                    (D) by striking subparagraphs (B) through (D) and 
                inserting the following:
                    ``(B) develop a proposed timetable for implementing 
                the policy;
                    ``(C) submit the policy and timetable developed 
                under subparagraph (B) to the Surface Transportation 
                Board, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
                Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on 
                Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
                Representatives;
                    ``(D) not later than October 1, 2015, adopt and 
                implement the policy in accordance with the timetable; 
                and
                    ``(E) with the consent of a majority of its 
                members, the Commission may petition the Surface 
                Transportation Board to appoint a mediator to assist 
                the Commission members through nonbinding mediation to 
                reach an agreement under this section.'';
            (3) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) by striking ``formula proposed in'' and 
                inserting ``policy developed under''; and
                    (B) in the second sentence--
                            (i) by striking ``the timetable, the 
                        Commission shall petition the Surface 
                        Transportation Board to'' and inserting 
                        ``paragraph (1)(D) or fail to comply with the 
                        policy thereafter, the Surface Transportation 
                        Board shall''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``amounts for such 
                        services in accordance with section 24904(c) of 
                        this title'' and inserting ``for such usage in 
                        accordance with the procedures and procedural 
                        schedule applicable to a proceeding under 
                        section 24903(c), after taking into 
                        consideration the policy developed under 
                        paragraph (1)(A), as applicable'';
            (4) in paragraph (3), by striking ``formula'' and inserting 
        ``policy''; and
            (5) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) Request for dispute resolution.--If a dispute arises 
        with the implementation of, or compliance with, the policy 
        developed under paragraph (1), the Commission, Amtrak, or 
        public authorities providing commuter rail passenger 
        transportation on the Northeast Corridor may request that the 
        Surface Transportation Board conduct dispute resolution. The 
        Surface Transportation Board shall establish procedures for 
        resolution of disputes brought before it under this paragraph, 
        which may include the provision of professional mediation 
        services.''.
    (d) Conforming Amendments.--Section 24905 is amended--
            (1) by striking subsection (d);
            (2) by redesignating subsections (e) and (f) as subsections 
        (d) and (e), respectively;
            (3) in subsection (d), as redesignated, by striking ``to 
        the Commission such sums as may be necessary for the period 
        encompassing fiscal years 2009 through 2013 to carry out this 
        section'' and inserting ``to the Secretary for the use of the 
        Commission and the Northeast Corridor Safety Committee such 
        sums as may be necessary to carry out this section during 
        fiscal years 2016 through 2019, in addition to amounts withheld 
        under section 5101(e) of the Comprehensive Transportation and 
        Consumer Protection Act of 2015''; and
            (4) in subsection (e)(2), as redesignated, by striking ``on 
        the main line.'' and inserting ``on the main line and meet 
        annually with the Commission on the topic of Northeast Corridor 
        safety and security.''.
    (e) Northeast Corridor Planning.--
            (1) Amendment.--Chapter 249 is amended--
                    (A) by redesignating section 24904 as section 
                24903; and
                    (B) by inserting after section 24903, as 
                redesignated, the following:
``Sec. 24904. Northeast Corridor planning
    ``(a) Northeast Corridor Capital Investment Plan.--
            ``(1) Requirement.--Not later than May 1 of each year, the 
        Northeast Corridor Commission established under section 24905 
        (referred to in this section as the `Commission') shall--
                    ``(A) develop a capital investment plan for the 
                Northeast Corridor main line between Boston, 
                Massachusetts, and the Virginia Avenue interlocking in 
                the District of Columbia, and the Northeast Corridor 
                branch lines connecting to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 
                Springfield, Massachusetts, and Spuyten Duyvil, New 
                York, including the facilities and services used to 
                operate and maintain those lines; and
                    ``(B) submit the capital investment plan to the 
                Secretary of Transportation and the Committee on 
                Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and 
                the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
                the House of Representatives.
            ``(2) Contents.--The capital investment plan shall--
                    ``(A) reflect coordination and network optimization 
                across the entire Northeast Corridor;
                    ``(B) integrate the individual capital and service 
                plans developed by each operator using the methods 
                described in the cost allocation policy developed under 
                section 24905(c);
                    ``(C) cover a period of 5 fiscal years, beginning 
                with the first fiscal year after the date on which the 
                plan is completed;
                    ``(D) notwithstanding section 24902(b), identify, 
                prioritize, and phase the implementation of projects 
                and programs to achieve the service outcomes identified 
                in the Northeast Corridor service development plan and 
                the asset condition needs identified in the Northeast 
                Corridor asset management plans, once available, and 
                consider--
                            ``(i) the benefits and costs of capital 
                        investments in the plan;
                            ``(ii) project and program readiness;
                            ``(iii) the operational impacts; and
                            ``(iv) funding availability;
                    ``(E) categorize capital projects and programs as 
                primarily associated with;
                            ``(i) normalized capital replacement and 
                        basic infrastructure renewals;
                            ``(ii) replacement or rehabilitation of 
                        major Northeast Corridor infrastructure assets, 
                        including tunnels, bridges, stations, and other 
                        assets;
                            ``(iii) statutory, regulatory, or other 
                        legal mandates;
                            ``(iv) improvements to support service 
                        enhancements or growth; or
                            ``(v) strategic initiatives that will 
                        improve overall operational performance or 
                        lower costs;
                    ``(F) identify capital projects and programs that 
                are associated with more than 1 category described in 
                subparagraph (E);
                    ``(G) describe the anticipated outcomes of each 
                project or program, including an assessment of--
                            ``(i) the potential effect on passenger 
                        accessibility, operations, safety, reliability, 
                        and resiliency;
                            ``(ii) the ability of infrastructure owners 
                        and operators to meet regulatory requirements 
                        if the project or program is not funded; and
                            ``(iii) the benefits and costs; and
                    ``(H) include a financial plan.
            ``(3) Financial plan.--The financial plan under paragraph 
        (2)(H) shall--
                    ``(A) identify funding sources and financing 
                methods;
                    ``(B) identify the expected allocated shares of 
                costs pursuant to the cost allocation policy developed 
                under section 24905(c);
                    ``(C) identify the projects and programs that the 
                Commission expects will receive Federal financial 
                assistance; and
                    ``(D) identify the eligible entity or entities that 
                the Commission expects will receive the Federal 
                financial assistance described under subparagraph (C).
    ``(b) Failure To Develop a Capital Investment Plan.--If a capital 
investment plan has not been developed by the Commission for a given 
fiscal year, then the funds assigned to the account established under 
section 24319(b) for that fiscal year may be spent only on--
            ``(1) capital projects described in clause (i) or (iii) of 
        subsection (a)(2)(E) of this section; or
            ``(2) capital projects described in subsection 
        (a)(2)(E)(iv) of this section that are for the sole benefit of 
        Amtrak.
    ``(c) Northeast Corridor Asset Management.--
            ``(1) Contents.--With regard to its infrastructure, Amtrak 
        and each State and public transportation entity that owns 
        infrastructure that supports or provides for intercity rail 
        passenger transportation on the Northeast Corridor shall 
        develop an asset management system and develop and update, as 
        necessary, a Northeast Corridor asset management plan for each 
        service territory described in subsection (a) that--
                    ``(A) are consistent with the Federal Transit 
                Administration process, as authorized under section 
                5326, when implemented; and
                    ``(B) include, at a minimum--
                            ``(i) an inventory of all capital assets 
                        owned by the developer of the asset management 
                        plan;
                            ``(ii) an assessment of asset condition;
                            ``(iii) a description of the resources and 
                        processes necessary to bring or maintain those 
                        assets in a state-of-good-repair, including 
                        decision-support tools and investment 
                        prioritization methods; and
                            ``(iv) a description of changes in asset 
                        condition since the previous version of the 
                        plan.
            ``(2) Transmittal.--Each entity described in paragraph (1) 
        shall transmit to the Commission--
                    ``(A) not later than 2 years after the date of 
                enactment of the Comprehensive Transportation and 
                Consumer Protection Act of 2015, its Northeast Corridor 
                asset management plan developed under paragraph (1); 
                and
                    ``(B) at least biennial thereafter, an update to 
                its Northeast Corridor asset management plan.
    ``(d) Northeast Corridor Service Development Plan Updates.--Not 
less frequently than once every 10 years, the Commission shall update 
the Northeast Corridor service development plan.''.
            (2) Conforming amendments.--
                    (A) Note and mortgage.--Section 24907(a) is amended 
                by striking ``section 24904 of this title'' and 
                inserting ``section 24903''.
                    (B) Table of contents amendment.--The table of 
                contents for chapter 249 is amended--
                            (i) by redesignating the item relating to 
                        section 24904 as relating to section 24903; and
                            (ii) by inserting after the item relating 
                        to section 24903, as redesignated, the 
                        following:

``24904. Northeast Corridor planning.''.
            (3) Repeal.--Section 211 of the Passenger Rail Investment 
        and Improvement Act of 2008 (division B of Public Law 110-432; 
        49 U.S.C. 24902 note) is repealed.

SEC. 5309. NORTHEAST CORRIDOR THROUGH-TICKETING AND PROCUREMENT 
              EFFICIENCIES.

    (a) Through-Ticketing Study.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Northeast Corridor Commission 
        established under section 24905(a) of title 49, United States 
        Code (referred to in this section as the ``Commission''), in 
        consultation with Amtrak and the commuter rail passenger 
        transportation providers along the Northeast Corridor shall 
        complete a study on the feasibility of and options for 
        permitting through-ticketing between Amtrak service and 
        commuter rail services on the Northeast Corridor.
            (2) Contents.--In completing the study under paragraph (1), 
        the Northeast Corridor Commission shall--
                    (A) examine the current state of intercity and 
                commuter rail ticketing technologies, policies, and 
                other relevant aspects on the Northeast Corridor;
                    (B) consider and recommend technology, process, 
                policy, or other options that would permit through-
                ticketing to allow intercity and commuter rail 
                passengers to purchase, in a single transaction, travel 
                that utilizes Amtrak and connecting commuter rail 
                services;
                    (C) consider options to expand through-ticketing to 
                include local transit services;
                    (D) summarize costs, benefits, opportunities, and 
                impediments to developing such through-ticketing 
                options; and
                    (E) develop a proposed methodology, including cost 
                and schedule estimates, for carrying out a pilot 
                program on through-ticketing on the Northeast Corridor.
            (3) Report.--Not later than 60 days after the date the 
        study under paragraph (1) is complete, the Commission shall 
        submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
        Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
        Representatives a report that includes--
                    (A) the results of the study; and
                    (B) any recommendations for further action.
    (b) Joint Procurement Study.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in cooperation with the 
        Commission, Amtrak, and commuter rail transportation 
        authorities on the Northeast Corridor shall complete a study of 
        the potential benefits resulting from Amtrak and such 
        authorities undertaking select joint procurements for common 
        materials, assets, and equipment when expending Federal funds 
        for such purchases.
            (2) Contents.--In completing the study under paragraph (1), 
        the Secretary shall consider--
                    (A) the types of materials, assets, and equipment 
                that are regularly purchased by Amtrak and such 
                authorities that are similar and could be jointly 
                procured;
                    (B) the potential benefits of such joint 
                procurements, including lower procurement costs, better 
                pricing, greater market relevancy, and other 
                efficiencies;
                    (C) the potential costs of such joint procurements;
                    (D) any significant impediments to undertaking 
                joint procurements, including any necessary 
                harmonization and reconciliation of Federal and State 
                procurement or safety regulations or standards and 
                other requirements; and
                    (E) whether to create Federal incentives or 
                requirements relating to considering or carrying out 
                joint procurements when expending Federal funds.
            (3) Transmission.--Not later than 60 days after completing 
        the study required under this subsection, the Secretary shall 
        submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
        Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
        Representatives a report that includes--
                    (A) the results of the study; and
                    (B) any recommendations for further action.
    (c) Northeast Corridor.--In this section, the term ``Northeast 
Corridor'' means the Northeast Corridor main line between Boston, 
Massachusetts, and the Virginia Avenue interlocking in the District of 
Columbia, and the Northeast Corridor branch lines connecting to 
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Springfield, Massachusetts, and Spuyten 
Duyvil, New York, including the facilities and services used to operate 
and maintain those lines.

SEC. 5310. DATA AND ANALYSIS.

    (a) Data.--Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Surface 
Transportation Board, Amtrak, freight railroads, State and local 
governments, and regional business, tourism and economic development 
agencies shall conduct a data needs assessment--
            (1) to support the development of an efficient and 
        effective intercity passenger rail network;
            (2) to identify the data needed to conduct cost-effective 
        modeling and analysis for intercity passenger rail development 
        programs;
            (3) to determine limitations to the data used for inputs;
            (4) to develop a strategy to address such limitations;
            (5) to identify barriers to accessing existing data;
            (6) to develop recommendations regarding whether the 
        authorization of additional data collection for intercity 
        passenger rail travel is warranted; and
            (7) to determine which entities will be responsible for 
        generating or collecting needed data.
    (b) Benefit-Cost Analysis.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall enhance the usefulness of 
assessments of benefits and costs, for intercity passenger rail and 
freight rail projects--
            (1) by providing ongoing guidance and training on 
        developing benefit and cost information for rail projects;
            (2) by providing more direct and consistent requirements 
        for assessing benefits and costs across transportation funding 
        programs, including the appropriate use of discount rates;
            (3) by requiring applicants to clearly communicate the 
        methodology used to calculate the project benefits and costs, 
        including non-proprietary information on--
                    (A) assumptions underlying calculations;
                    (B) strengths and limitations of data used; and
                    (C) the level of uncertainty in estimates of 
                project benefits and costs; and
            (4) by ensuring that applicants receive clear and 
        consistent guidance on values to apply for key assumptions used 
        to estimate potential project benefits and costs.
    (c) Confidential Data.--The Secretary shall protect sensitive or 
confidential to the greatest extent permitted by law. Nothing in this 
section shall require any entity to provide information to the 
Secretary in the absence of a voluntary agreement.

SEC. 5311. DISASTER RELIEF.

    (a) Major Disaster Assistance Programs.--Section 406(a) of the 
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
U.S.C. 5172(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at 
                the end and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) to entities that receive Federal Government 
                grants to provide critical services for the repair, 
                restoration, reconstruction, or replacement of 
                infrastructure, facilities, and equipment that--
                            ``(i) are owned or operated for the 
                        purposes of providing critical services; and
                            ``(ii) are damaged or destroyed by a major 
                        disaster.''; and
            (2) in paragraph (3)(B)--
                    (A) by striking ``this paragraph'' and inserting 
                ``this subsection''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``transportation,'' after 
                ``education,''.
    (b) Debris Removal.--Section 407(a)(2) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
5173(a)(2)) is amended by inserting ``entity that receives Federal 
Government grants to provide critical services (as defined in section 
5172(a)(3)(B))'' after ``government''.

SEC. 5312. PERFORMANCE-BASED PROPOSALS.

    (a) Solicitation of Proposals.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue a request for 
        proposals for projects for the financing, design, construction, 
        operation, and maintenance of an intercity passenger rail 
        system, including--
                    (A) the Northeast Corridor;
                    (B) the California Corridor;
                    (C) the Empire Corridor;
                    (D) the Pacific Northwest Corridor;
                    (E) the South Central Corridor;
                    (F) the Gulf Coast Corridor;
                    (G) the Chicago Hub Network;
                    (H) the Florida Corridor;
                    (I) the Keystone Corridor;
                    (J) the Northern New England Corridor; and
                    (K) the Southeast Corridor.
            (2) Submission.--Proposals shall be submitted to the 
        Secretary not later than 180 days after the publication of such 
        request for proposals under paragraph (1).
            (3) Performance standard.--Proposals submitted under 
        paragraph (2) shall meet any standards established by the 
        Secretary. For corridors with existing intercity passenger rail 
        service, proposals shall also be designed to achieve a 
        reduction of existing minimum intercity rail service trip times 
        between the main corridor city pairs by a minimum of 25 
        percent. In the case of a proposal submitted with respect to 
        paragraph (1)(A), the proposal shall be designed to achieve a 
        2-hour or less express service between Washington, District of 
        Columbia, and New York City, New York.
            (4) Contents.--A proposal submitted under this subsection 
        shall include--
                    (A) the names and qualifications of the persons 
                submitting the proposal and the entities proposed to 
                finance, design, construct, operate, and maintain the 
                railroad, railroad equipment, and related facilities, 
                stations, and infrastructure;
                    (B) a detailed description of the proposed rail 
                service, including possible routes, required 
                infrastructure investments and improvements, equipment 
                needs and type, train frequencies, peak and average 
                operating speeds, and trip times;
                    (C) a description of how the project would comply 
                with all applicable Federal rail safety and security 
                laws, orders, and regulations;
                    (D) the locations of proposed stations, which 
                maximize the usage of existing infrastructure to the 
                extent possible, and the populations such stations are 
                intended to serve;
                    (E) the type of equipment to be used, including any 
                technologies, to achieve trip time goals;
                    (F) a description of any proposed legislation 
                needed to facilitate all aspects of the project;
                    (G) a financing plan identifying--
                            (i) projected revenue, and sources thereof;
                            (ii) the amount of any requested public 
                        contribution toward the project, and proposed 
                        sources;
                            (iii) projected annual ridership 
                        projections for the first 10 years of 
                        operations;
                            (iv) annual operations and capital costs;
                            (v) the projected levels of capital 
                        investments required both initially and in 
                        subsequent years to maintain a state-of-good-
                        repair necessary to provide the initially 
                        proposed level of service or higher levels of 
                        service;
                            (vi) projected levels of private investment 
                        and sources thereof, including the identity of 
                        any person or entity that has made or is 
                        expected to make a commitment to provide or 
                        secure funding and the amount of such 
                        commitment; and
                            (vii) projected funding for the full fair 
                        market compensation for any asset, property 
                        right or interest, or service acquired from, 
                        owned, or held by a private person or Federal 
                        entity that would be acquired, impaired, or 
                        diminished in value as a result of a project, 
                        except as otherwise agreed to by the private 
                        person or entity;
                    (H) a description of how the project would 
                contribute to the development of the intercity 
                passenger rail system and an intermodal plan describing 
                how the system will facilitate convenient travel 
                connections with other transportation services;
                    (I) a description of how the project will ensure 
                compliance with Federal laws governing the rights and 
                status of employees associated with the route and 
                service, including those specified in section 24405 of 
                title 49, United States Code;
                    (J) a description of how the design, construction, 
                implementation, and operation of the project will 
                accommodate and allow for future growth of existing and 
                projected intercity, commuter, and freight rail 
                service;
                    (K) a description of how the project would comply 
                with Federal and State environmental laws and 
                regulations, of what environmental impacts would result 
                from the project, and of how any adverse impacts would 
                be mitigated; and
                    (L) a description of the project's impacts on 
                highway and aviation congestion, energy consumption, 
                land use, and economic development in the service area.
    (b) Determination and Establishment of Commissions.--Not later than 
90 days after receipt of the proposals under subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall--
            (1) make a determination as to whether any such proposals--
                    (A) contain the information required under 
                paragraphs (3) and (4) of subsection (a);
                    (B) are sufficiently credible to warrant further 
                consideration;
                    (C) are likely to result in a positive impact on 
                the Nation's transportation system; and
                    (D) are cost-effective and in the public interest;
            (2) establish a commission under subsection (c) for each 
        corridor with 1 or more proposals that the Secretary determines 
        satisfy the requirements of paragraph (1); and
            (3) forward to each commission established under paragraph 
        (2) the applicable proposals for review and consideration.
    (c) Commissions.--
            (1) Members.--Each commission established under subsection 
        (b)(2) shall include--
                    (A) the governors of the affected States, or their 
                respective designees;
                    (B) mayors of appropriate municipalities with stops 
                along the proposed corridor, or their respective 
                designees;
                    (C) a representative from each freight railroad 
                carrier using the relevant corridor, if applicable;
                    (D) a representative from each transit authority 
                using the relevant corridor, if applicable;
                    (E) representatives of nonprofit employee labor 
                organizations representing affected railroad employees; 
                and
                    (F) the President of Amtrak or his or her designee.
            (2) Appointment and selection.--The Secretary shall appoint 
        the members under paragraph (1). In selecting each commission's 
        members to fulfill the requirements under subparagraphs (B) and 
        (E) of paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consult with the 
        Chairperson and Ranking Member of the Committee on Commerce, 
        Science, and Transportation of the Senate and of the Committee 
        on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
        Representatives.
            (3) Chairperson and vice-chairperson selection.--The 
        Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson shall be elected from among 
        members of each commission.
            (4) Quorum and vacancy.--
                    (A) Quorum.--A majority of the members of each 
                commission shall constitute a quorum.
                    (B) Vacancy.--Any vacancy in each commission shall 
                not affect its powers and shall be filled in the same 
                manner in which the original appointment was made.
            (5) Application of law.--Except where otherwise provided by 
        this section, the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 
        App.) shall apply to each commission created under this 
        section.
    (d) Commission Consideration.--
            (1) In general.--Each commission established under 
        subsection (b)(2) shall be responsible for reviewing the 
        proposal or proposals forwarded to it under that subsection and 
        not later than 90 days after the establishment of the 
        commission, shall transmit to the Secretary a report, 
        including--
                    (A) a summary of each proposal received;
                    (B) services to be provided under each proposal, 
                including projected ridership, revenues, and costs;
                    (C) proposed public and private contributions for 
                each proposal;
                    (D) the advantages offered by the proposal over 
                existing intercity passenger rail services;
                    (E) public operating subsidies or assets needed for 
                the proposed project;
                    (F) possible risks to the public associated with 
                the proposal, including risks associated with project 
                financing, implementation, completion, safety, and 
                security;
                    (G) a ranked list of the proposals recommended for 
                further consideration under subsection (e) in 
                accordance with each proposal's projected positive 
                impact on the Nation's transportation system;
                    (H) an identification of any proposed Federal 
                legislation that would facilitate implementation of the 
                projects and Federal legislation that would be required 
                to implement the projects; and
                    (I) any other recommendations by the commission 
                concerning the proposed projects.
            (2) Verbal presentation.--Proposers shall be given an 
        opportunity to make a verbal presentation to the commission to 
        explain their proposals.
            (3) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated to the Secretary for the use of each 
        commission established under subsection (b)(2) such sums as are 
        necessary to carry out this section.
    (e) Selection by Secretary.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after receiving the 
        recommended proposals of the commissions established under 
        subsection (b)(2), the Secretary shall--
                    (A) review such proposals and select any proposal 
                that provides substantial benefits to the public and 
                the national transportation system, is cost-effective, 
                offers significant advantages over existing services, 
                and meets other relevant factors determined appropriate 
                by the Secretary; and
                    (B) submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
                and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
                Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
                Representatives a report containing any proposal with 
                respect to subsection (a)(1)(A) that is selected by the 
                Secretary under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, all 
                the information regarding the proposal provided to the 
                Secretary under subsection (d), and any other 
                information the Secretary considers relevant.
            (2) Subsequent report.--Following the submission of the 
        report under paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary shall submit to 
        the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
        Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
        of the House of Representatives a report containing any 
        proposal with respect to subparagraphs (B) through (K) of 
        subsection (a)(1) that are selected by the Secretary under 
        paragraph (1) of this subsection, all the information regarding 
        the proposal provided to the Secretary under subsection (d), 
        and any other information the Secretary considers relevant.
            (3) Limitation on report submission.--The report required 
        under paragraph (2) shall not be submitted by the Secretary 
        until the report submitted under paragraph (1)(B) has been 
        considered through a hearing by the Committee on Commerce, 
        Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
        Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
        Representatives on the report submitted under paragraph (1)(B).
    (f) No Actions Without Additional Authority.--No Federal agency may 
take any action to implement, establish, facilitate, or otherwise act 
upon any proposal submitted under this section, other than those 
actions specifically authorized by this section, without explicit 
statutory authority enacted after the date of enactment of this Act.
    (g) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Intercity passenger rail.--The term ``intercity 
        passenger rail'' means intercity rail passenger transportation 
        as defined in section 24102 of title 49, United States Code.
            (2) State.--The term ``State'' means any of the 50 States 
        or the District of Columbia.

SEC. 5313. AMTRAK INSPECTOR GENERAL.

    (a) Authority.--
            (1) In general.--The Inspector General of Amtrak shall have 
        the authority available to other Inspectors General, as 
        necessary in carrying out the duties specified in the Inspector 
        General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.), to investigate any alleged 
        violation of sections 286, 287, 371, 641, 1001, 1002, and 1516 
        of title 18, United States Code.
            (2) Agency.--For purposes of sections 286, 287, 371, 641, 
        1001, 1002, and 1516 of title 18, United States Code, Amtrak 
        and the Amtrak Office of Inspector General, shall be considered 
        a corporation in which the United States has a proprietary 
        interest as set forth in section 6 of that title.
    (b) Assessment.--The Inspector General of Amtrak shall--
            (1) not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of 
        this Act, initiate an assessment to determine whether current 
        expenditures or procurements involving Amtrak's fulfillment of 
        the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et 
        seq.) utilize competitive, market-driven provisions that are 
        applicable throughout the entire term of such related 
        expenditures or procurements; and
            (2) not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of 
        this Act, transmit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
        Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
        Representatives the assessment under paragraph (1).
    (c) Limitation.--The authority provided by subsections (a) and (b) 
shall be effective only with respect to a fiscal year for which Amtrak 
receives a Federal subsidy.

SEC. 5314. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

    (a) Title 49 Amendments.--
            (1) Contingent interest recoveries.--Section 22106(b) is 
        amended by striking ``interest thereof'' and inserting 
        ``interest thereon''.
            (2) Authority.--Section 22702(b)(4) is amended by striking 
        ``5 years for reapproval by the Secretary'' and inserting ``4 
        years for acceptance by the Secretary''.
            (3) Contents of state rail plans.--Section 22705(a) is 
        amended by striking paragraph (12).
            (4) Mission.--Section 24101(b) is amended by striking ``of 
        subsection (d)'' and inserting ``set forth in subsection (c)''.
            (5) Table of contents amendment.--The table of contents for 
        chapter 243 is amended by striking the item relating to section 
        24316 and inserting the following:

``24316. Plans to address the needs of families of passengers involved 
                            in rail passenger accidents.''.
            (6) Update.--Section 24305(f)(3) is amended by striking 
        ``$1,000,000'' and inserting ``$5,000,000''.
            (7) Amtrak.--Chapter 247 is amended--
                    (A) in section 24702(a), by striking ``not included 
                in the national rail passenger transportation system'';
                    (B) in section 24706--
                            (i) in subsection (a)--
                                    (I) in paragraph (1), by striking 
                                ``a discontinuance under section 24704 
                                or or''; and
                                    (II) in paragraph (2), by striking 
                                ``section 24704 or''; and
                            (ii) in subsection (b), by striking 
                        ``section 24704 or''; and
                    (C) in section 24709, by striking ``The Secretary 
                of the Treasury and the Attorney General,'' and 
                inserting ``The Secretary of Homeland Security,''.
    (b) Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act Amendments.--
Section 305(a) of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 
2008 (49 U.S.C. 24101 note) is amended by inserting ``nonprofit 
organizations representing employees who perform overhaul and 
maintenance of passenger railroad equipment,'' after ``equipment 
manufacturers,''.

                        Subtitle D--Rail Safety

                       PART I--SAFETY IMPROVEMENT

SEC. 5401. HIGHWAY-RAIL GRADE CROSSING SAFETY.

    (a) Model State Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Action Plan.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop a model of a 
        State-specific highway-rail grade crossing action plan and 
        distribute the model plan to each State.
            (2) Contents.--The plan developed under paragraph (1) shall 
        include--
                    (A) methodologies, tools, and data sources for 
                identifying and evaluating highway-rail grade crossing 
                safety risks, including the public safety risks posed 
                by blocked highway-rail grade crossings due to idling 
                trains;
                    (B) best practices to reduce the risk of highway-
                rail grade crossing accidents or incidents and to 
                alleviate the blockage of highway-rail grade crossings 
                due to idling trains, including strategies for--
                            (i) education, including model stakeholder 
                        engagement plans or tools;
                            (ii) engineering, including the benefits 
                        and costs of different designs and technologies 
                        used to mitigate highway-rail grade crossing 
                        safety risks; and
                            (iii) enforcement, including the strengths 
                        and weaknesses associated with different 
                        enforcement methods;
                    (C) for each State, a customized list and data set 
                of the highway-rail grade crossing accidents or 
                incidents in that State over the past 3 years, 
                including the location, number of deaths, and number of 
                injuries for each accident or incident; and
                    (D) contact information of a Department of 
                Transportation safety official available to assist the 
                State in adapting the model plan to satisfy the 
                requirements under subsection (b).
    (b) State Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Action Plans.--
            (1) Requirements.--Not later than 18 months after the 
        Secretary develops and distributes the model plan under 
        subsection (a), the Secretary shall promulgate a rule that 
        requires--
                    (A) each State, except the 10 States identified 
                under section 202 of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 
                2008 (49 U.S.C. 22501 note), to develop and implement a 
                State highway-rail grade crossing action plan; and
                    (B) each State that was identified under section 
                202 of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (49 
                U.S.C. 22501 note), to update its State action plan 
                under that section and submit to the Secretary the 
                updated State action plan and a report describing what 
                the State did to implement its previous State action 
                plan under that section and how it will continue to 
                reduce highway-rail grade crossing safety risks.
            (2) Contents.--Each State plan required under this 
        subsection shall--
                    (A) identify highway-rail grade crossings that have 
                experienced recent highway-rail grade crossing 
                accidents or incidents, or are at high risk for 
                accidents or incidents;
                    (B) identify specific strategies for improving 
                safety at highway-rail grade crossings, including 
                highway-rail grade crossing closures or grade 
                separations; and
                    (C) designate a State official responsible for 
                managing implementation of the State plan under 
                subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1), as 
                applicable.
            (3) Assistance.--The Secretary shall provide assistance to 
        each State in developing and carrying out, as appropriate, the 
        State plan under this subsection.
            (4) Public availability.--Each State shall submit its final 
        State plan under this subsection to the Secretary for 
        publication. The Secretary shall make each approved State plan 
        publicly available on an official Internet Web site.
            (5) Conditions.--The Secretary may condition the awarding 
        of a grant to a State under chapter 244 of title 49, United 
        States Code, on that State submitting an acceptable State plan 
        under this subsection.
            (6) Review of action plans.--Not later than 60 days after 
        the date of receipt of a State plan under this subsection, the 
        Secretary shall--
                    (A) if the State plan is approved, notify the State 
                and publish the State plan under paragraph (4); and
                    (B) if the State plan is incomplete or deficient, 
                notify the State of the specific areas in which the 
                plan is deficient and allow the State to complete the 
                plan or correct the deficiencies and resubmit the plan 
                under paragraph (1).
            (7) Deadline.--Not later than 60 days after the date of a 
        notice under paragraph (6)(B), a State shall complete the plan 
        or correct the deficiencies and resubmit the plan.
            (8) Failure to complete or correct plan.--If a State fails 
        to meet the deadline under paragraph (7), the Secretary shall 
        post on the Web site under paragraph (4) a notice that the 
        State has an incomplete or deficient highway-rail grade 
        crossing action plan.
    (c) Railway-Highway Crossings Funds.--The Secretary may use funds 
made available to carry out section 130 of title 23, United States 
Code, to provide States with funds to develop a State highway-rail 
grade crossing action plan under subsection (b)(1)(A) of this section 
or to update a State action plan under subsection (b)(1)(B) of this 
section.
    (d) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Highway-rail grade crossing.--The term ``highway-rail 
        grade crossing'' means a location within a State, other than a 
        location where 1 or more railroad tracks cross 1 or more 
        railroad tracks at grade where--
                    (A) a public highway, road, or street, or a private 
                roadway, including associated sidewalks and pathways, 
                crosses 1 or more railroad tracks either at grade or 
                grade-separated; or
                    (B) a pathway explicitly authorized by a public 
                authority or a railroad carrier that is dedicated for 
                the use of non-vehicular traffic, including 
                pedestrians, bicyclists, and others, that is not 
                associated with a public highway, road, or street, or a 
                private roadway, crosses 1 or more railroad tracks 
                either at grade or grade-separated.
            (2) State.--The term ``State'' means a State of the United 
        States or the District of Columbia.

SEC. 5402. CONFIDENTIAL CLOSE CALL REPORTING SYSTEM.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall promulgate a rule to encourage and 
facilitate the voluntary participation of railroad carriers, railroad 
carrier contractors, and employees of railroad carriers or railroad 
carrier contractors (including any non-profit labor organizations 
representing a class or craft of directly affected employees of 
railroads carriers or railroad carrier contractors) in a confidential 
close call reporting system.
    (b) Program Elements.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall use any information 
        and experience gathered through research and pilot programs on 
        confidential close call reporting systems in developing a rule 
        for the voluntary adoption of confidential close call reporting 
        system programs under this section.
            (2) Rulemaking.--
                    (A) In general.--Each confidential close call 
                reporting system program shall be designed to improve 
                railroad safety by facilitating greater collection and 
                analysis of reports that describe unsafe conditions and 
                events in the railroad industry, as reported 
                voluntarily and confidentially by employees.
                    (B) Requirements.--The rule shall specify--
                            (i) the use of independent third parties 
                        for the collection of close call reports, de-
                        identification of data, and distribution of 
                        close call data;
                            (ii) the criteria for participating 
                        voluntarily in the confidential close call 
                        reporting system;
                            (iii) the criteria for accepting 
                        confidential close call reports;
                            (iv) the appropriate use and protection, 
                        including the information protections described 
                        in subsection (d), of peer review teams and 
                        participation of the Secretary's 
                        representatives;
                            (v) the relief from specific railroad 
                        safety regulatory provisions and the conditions 
                        under which the relief will and will not be 
                        granted; and
                            (vi) the appropriate use and protection, 
                        including the information protections described 
                        in subsection (d), of confidential data 
                        generated under voluntary participation in the 
                        confidential close call reporting system.
    (c) Program Development.--
            (1) In general.--A railroad carrier voluntarily 
        participating in a confidential close call reporting system 
        program, pursuant to program elements contained in the final 
        rule promulgated under subsection (b) and in collaboration with 
        the Secretary, railroad carrier contractors (as appropriate), 
        and employees of railroad carriers or railroad carrier 
        contractors (including any non-profit labor organization 
        representing a class or craft of directly affected employees of 
        railroad carriers or railroad carrier contractors), shall 
        develop an implementing memorandum of understanding that 
        establishes agreed-upon terms for participation in the 
        confidential close call reporting system.
            (2) Signatures required.--An implementing memorandum of 
        understanding under paragraph (1) shall be signed by--
                    (A) the Secretary or the Secretary's designee;
                    (B) the participating railroad carrier or the 
                representative thereof;
                    (C) if appropriate, each participating railroad 
                carrier contractor or the representative thereof; and
                    (D) the participating employees and contractors or 
                the representative thereof (such as 1 or more non-
                profit labor organizations representing a class or 
                craft of directly affected employees of the railroad 
                carrier or railroad carrier contractor).
    (d) Information Protection.--
            (1) In general.--For a confidential close call reporting 
        system program established through an implementing memorandum 
        of understanding described in subsection (c), the rule shall 
        include provisions that withhold from discovery or admission 
        into evidence (in a Federal or State court proceeding for 
        damages involving personal injury, wrongful death, or property 
        damage against a railroad carrier or railroad carrier 
        contractor) any plan, document, report, survey, schedule, list, 
        or data compiled or collected for the sole purpose of 
        developing, evaluating, planning, or implementing a 
        confidential close call reporting system program, including a 
        railroad carrier's analysis of its close calls or near misses.
            (2) Retroactive applications.--With regard to a voluntary 
        confidential close call reporting system that was in effect 
        prior to the date of final rule under subsection (a), the 
        Secretary--
                    (A) shall allow the parties participating in that 
                system to sign a new or revised implementing memorandum 
                of understanding that prospectively entitles the 
                parties to the information protections under paragraph 
                (1); and
                    (B) may retroactively apply the information 
                protections under paragraph (1) to any information and 
                analyses that was generated under that system prior to 
                the date of the final rule.
            (3) Confidentiality.--For a confidential close call 
        reporting system program established through an implementing 
        memorandum of understanding described in subsection (c), the 
        Secretary shall ensure that the Department of Transportation 
        and any entity collecting close call reports, de-identifying 
        data, or distributing close call data provide the same level of 
        confidentiality as contained in the Confidential Information 
        Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002 (44 U.S.C. 
        3501 note), as administered by the Bureau of Transportation 
        Statistics.
    (e) Savings Clause.--Nothing in this section shall--
            (1) require a railroad carrier to adopt a confidential 
        close call reporting system program;
            (2) prohibit a railroad carrier from voluntarily adopting a 
        confidential close call reporting system program outside of the 
        rulemaking framework; and
            (3) require the Secretary to develop a confidential close 
        call reporting system program with a railroad carrier, a 
        railroad carrier contractor, employees of the railroad carrier 
        or railroad carrier contractor, or any non-profit labor 
        organizations representing a class or craft of employees of a 
        railroad carrier or a railroad carrier contractor.
    (f) Definition of Railroad Carrier.--In this section, the term 
``railroad carrier'' has the meaning given the term in section 20102 of 
title 49, United States Code.
    (g) Additional Information Protections.--Section 20118 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by inserting ``, confidential close 
                        call reporting system program,'' after ``safety 
                        risk reduction program''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``pursuant to section 
                        552(b)(3) of that title,'' after ``section 552 
                        of title 5'';
                    (B) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``, confidential 
                close call reporting system program,'' after ``safety 
                risk reduction program''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``, confidential 
                close call reporting system program,'' after ``safety 
                risk reduction program'';
            (2) in subsection (b), by inserting ``, confidential close 
        call reporting system program,'' after ``safety risk reduction 
        program''; and
            (3) in subsection (c), by inserting ``, of any information 
        or analyses generated as part of a confidential close call 
        reporting system program,'' after ``risk mitigation analyses''.

SEC. 5403. SPEED LIMIT ACTION PLANS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, each railroad carrier providing intercity rail passenger 
transportation or commuter rail passenger transportation, in 
consultation with any applicable host railroad carrier, shall survey 
its entire system and identify each main track location where there is 
a reduction of more than 20 miles per hour from the approach speed to a 
curve or bridge and the maximum authorized operating speed for 
passenger trains at that curve or bridge.
    (b) Action Plans.--Not later than 120 days after the date that the 
survey under subsection (a) is complete, a rail passenger carrier shall 
submit to the Secretary an action plan that--
            (1) identifies each main track location where there is a 
        reduction of more than 20 miles per hour from the approach 
        speed to a curve or bridge and the maximum authorized operating 
        speed for passenger trains at that curve or bridge;
            (2) describes appropriate actions, including modification 
        to automatic train control systems, if applicable, other signal 
        systems, increased crew size, improved signage, or other 
        practices, including increased crew communication, to enable 
        warning and enforcement of the maximum authorized speed for 
        passenger trains at each location identified under paragraph 
        (1);
            (3) contains milestones and target dates for implementing 
        each appropriate action described under paragraph (2); and
            (4) ensures compliance with the maximum authorized speed at 
        each location identified under paragraph (1).
    (c) Approval.--Not later than 90 days after the date an action plan 
is submitted under subsection (a), the Secretary shall approve, approve 
with conditions, or disapprove the action plan.
    (d) Alternative Safety Measures.--The Secretary may exempt from the 
requirements of this section each segment of track for which operations 
are governed by a positive train control system certified under section 
20157 of title 49, United States Code, or any other safety technology 
or practice that would achieve an equivalent or greater level of safety 
in reducing derailment risk.
    (e) Report.--Not later than 6 months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives that describes--
            (1) the actions the railroad carriers have taken in 
        response to Safety Advisory 2013-08, entitled ``Operational 
        Tests and Inspections for Compliance With Maximum Authorized 
        Train Speeds and Other Speed Restrictions'';
            (2) the actions the railroad carriers have taken in 
        response to Safety Advisory 2015-03, entitled ``Operational and 
        Signal Modifications for Compliance with Maximum Authorized 
        Passenger Train Speeds and Other Speed Restrictions''; and
            (3) the actions the Federal Railroad Administration has 
        taken to evaluate or incorporate the information and findings 
        arising from the safety advisories referred to in paragraphs 
        (1) and (2) into the development of regulatory action and 
        oversight activities.
    (f) Savings Clause.--Nothing in this section shall prohibit the 
Secretary from applying the requirements of this section to other 
segments of track at high risk of overspeed derailment.

SEC. 5404. SIGNAGE.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall promulgate such regulations as 
the Secretary considers necessary to require each railroad carrier 
providing intercity rail passenger transportation or commuter rail 
passenger transportation, in consultation with any applicable host 
railroad carrier, to install signs to warn train crews before the train 
approaches a location that the Secretary identifies as having high risk 
of overspeed derailment.
    (b) Alternative Safety Measures.--The Secretary may exempt from the 
requirements of this section each segment of track for which operations 
are governed by a positive train control system certified under section 
20157 of title 49, United States Code, or any other safety technology 
or practice that would achieve an equivalent or greater level of safety 
in reducing derailment risk.

SEC. 5405. ALERTERS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall promulgate a rule to require a 
working alerter in the controlling locomotive of each passenger train 
in intercity rail passenger transportation (as defined in section 24102 
of title 49, United States Code) or commuter rail passenger 
transportation (as defined in section 24102 of title 49, United States 
Code).
    (b) Rulemaking.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary may promulgate a rule to 
        specify the essential functionalities of a working alerter, 
        including the manner in which the alerter can be reset.
            (2) Alternate practice or technology.--The Secretary may 
        require or allow a technology or practice in lieu of a working 
        alerter if the Secretary determines that the technology or 
        practice would achieve an equivalent or greater level of safety 
        in enhancing or ensuring appropriate locomotive control.

SEC. 5406. SIGNAL PROTECTION.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall promulgate regulations to 
require, not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, that on-track safety regulations, whenever practicable and 
consistent with other safety requirements and operational 
considerations, include requiring implementation of redundant signal 
protection, such as shunting or other practices and technologies that 
achieve an equivalent or greater level of safety, for maintenance-of-
way work crews who depend on a train dispatcher to provide signal 
protection.
    (b) Alternative Safety Measures.--The Secretary may exempt from the 
requirements of this section each segment of track for which operations 
are governed by a positive train control system certified under section 
20157 of title 49, United States Code, or any other safety technology 
or practice that would achieve an equivalent or greater level of safety 
in providing additional signal protection.

SEC. 5407. TECHNOLOGY IMPLEMENTATION PLANS.

    Section 20156(e) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (4)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at 
                the end and inserting ``; and''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) each railroad carrier required to submit such 
                a plan, until the implementation of a positive train 
                control system by the railroad carrier, shall analyze 
                and, as appropriate, prioritize technologies and 
                practices to mitigate the risk of overspeed 
                derailments.''.

SEC. 5408. COMMUTER RAIL TRACK INSPECTIONS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall evaluate track inspection 
regulations to determine if a railroad carrier providing commuter rail 
passenger transportation on high density commuter railroad lines should 
be required to inspect the lines in the same manner as currently 
required for other commuter railroad lines.
    (b) Rulemaking.--Considering safety, including railroad carrier 
employee and contractor safety, and system capacity, the Secretary may 
promulgate a rule for high density commuter railroad lines. If, after 
the evaluation under subsection (a), the Secretary determines that it 
is necessary to promulgate a rule, the Secretary shall specifically 
consider the following regulatory requirements for high density 
commuter railroad lines:
            (1) At least once every 2 weeks--
                    (A) traverse each main line by vehicle; or
                    (B) inspect each main line on foot.
            (2) At least once each month, traverse and inspect each 
        siding by vehicle or by foot.
    (c) Report.--If, after the evaluation under subsection (a), the 
Secretary determines it is not necessary to revise the regulations 
under this section, the Secretary, not later than 18 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, shall transmit a report to the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives explaining the reasons for not revising the 
regulations.
    (d) Construction.--Nothing in this section may be construed to 
limit the authority of the Secretary to promulgate regulations or issue 
orders under any other law.

SEC. 5409. EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with railroad 
carriers, shall conduct a study to determine whether limitations or 
weaknesses exist in the emergency response information carried by train 
crews transporting hazardous materials.
    (b) Contents.--In conducting the study under subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall evaluate the differences between the emergency response 
information carried by train crews transporting hazardous materials and 
the emergency response guidance provided in the Emergency Response 
Guidebook issued by the Department of Transportation.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary shall transmit to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a 
report of the findings of the study under subsection (a) and any 
recommendations for legislative action.

SEC. 5410. PRIVATE HIGHWAY-RAIL GRADE CROSSINGS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with railroad 
carriers, shall conduct a study--
            (1) to determine whether limitations or weaknesses exist 
        regarding the availability and usefulness for safety purposes 
        of data on private highway-rail grade crossings; and
            (2) to evaluate existing engineering practices on private 
        highway-rail grade crossings.
    (b) Contents.--In conducting the study under subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall make recommendations as necessary to improve--
            (1) the utility of the data on private highway-rail grade 
        crossings; and
            (2) the implementation of private highway-rail crossing 
        safety measures, including signage and warning systems.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary shall transmit to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a 
report of the findings of the study and any recommendations for further 
action.

SEC. 5411. REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT OF DAMAGED TRACK INSPECTION 
              EQUIPMENT.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter I of chapter 201 is amended by 
inserting after section 20120 the following:
``Sec. 20121. Repair and replacement of damaged track inspection 
              equipment
    ``The Secretary of Transportation may receive and expend cash, or 
receive and utilize spare parts and similar items, from non-United 
States Government sources to repair damages to or replace United States 
Government owned automated track inspection cars and equipment as a 
result of third-party liability for such damages, and any amounts 
collected under this section shall be credited directly to the Railroad 
Safety and Operations account of the Federal Railroad Administration, 
and shall remain available until expended for the repair, operation, 
and maintenance of automated track inspection cars and equipment in 
connection with the automated track inspection program.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents for subchapter I 
of chapter 201 is amended by adding after section 21020 the following:

``20121. Repair and replacement of damaged track inspection 
                            equipment.''.

SEC. 5412. RAIL POLICE OFFICERS.

    (a) In General.--Section 28101 is amended--
            (1) by striking ``employed by'' each place it appears and 
        inserting ``directly employed by or contracted by'';
            (2) in subsection (b), by inserting ``or agent, as 
        applicable,'' after ``an employee''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(c) Transfers.--
            ``(1) In general.--If a railroad police officer directly 
        employed by or contracted by a rail carrier and certified or 
        commissioned as a police officer under the laws of a State 
        transfers primary employment or residence from the certifying 
        or commissioning State to another State or jurisdiction, the 
        railroad police officer, not later than 1 year after the date 
        of transfer, shall apply to be certified or commissioned as a 
        police office under the laws of the State of new primary 
        employment or residence.
            ``(2) Interim period.--During the period beginning on the 
        date of transfer and ending 1 year after the date of transfer, 
        a railroad police officer directly employed by or contracted by 
        a rail carrier and certified or commissioned as a police 
        officer under the laws of a State may enforce the laws of the 
        new jurisdiction in which the railroad police officer resides, 
        to the same extent as provided in subsection (a).
    ``(d) Training.--
            ``(1) In general.--A State shall recognize as meeting that 
        State's basic police officer certification or commissioning 
        requirements for qualification as a rail police officer under 
        this section any individual who successfully completes a 
        program at a State-recognized police training academy in 
        another State or at a Federal law enforcement training center 
        and who is certified or commissioned as a police officer by 
        that other State.
            ``(2) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection 
        shall be construed as superseding or affecting any unique State 
        training requirements related to criminal law, criminal 
        procedure, motor vehicle code, or State-mandated comparative or 
        annual in-service training academy or Federal law enforcement 
        training center.''.
    (b) Regulations.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall revise the regulations in part 207 of 
title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (relating to railroad police 
officers), to permit a railroad to designate an individual, who is 
commissioned in the individual's State of legal residence or State of 
primary employment and directly employed by or contracted by a railroad 
to enforce State laws for the protection of railroad property, 
personnel, passengers, and cargo, to serve in the States in which the 
railroad owns property.
    (c) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Amtrak rail police.--Section 24305(e) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``may employ'' and inserting ``may 
                directly employ or contract with'';
                    (B) by striking ``employed by'' and inserting 
                ``directly employed by or contracted by''; and
                    (C) by striking ``employed without'' and inserting 
                ``directly employed or contracted without''.
            (2) Secure gun storage or safety device; exceptions.--
        Section 922(z)(2)(B) of title 18 is amended by striking 
        ``employed by'' and inserting ``directly employed by or 
        contracted by''.

SEC. 5413. OPERATION DEEP DIVE; REPORT.

    (a) Progress Reports.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and quarterly thereafter until the completion 
date, the Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration shall 
submit a report to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives that describes the 
progress of Metro-North Commuter Railroad in implementing the 
directives and recommendations issued by the Federal Railroad 
Administration in its March 2014 report to Congress titled ``Operation 
Deep Dive Metro-North Commuter Railroad Safety Assessment''.
    (b) Final Report.--Not later than 30 days after the completion 
date, the Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration shall 
submit a final report on the directives and recommendations to 
Congress.
    (c) Defined Term.--In this section, the term ``completion date'' 
means the date on which Metro-North Commuter Railroad has completed all 
of the directives and recommendations referred to in subsection (a).

SEC. 5414. POST-ACCIDENT ASSESSMENT.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Transportation, in cooperation 
with the National Transportation Safety Board and the National Railroad 
Passenger Corporation (referred to in this section as ``Amtrak''), 
shall conduct a post-accident assessment of the Amtrak Northeast 
Regional Train #188 crash on May 12, 2015.
    (b) Elements.--The assessment conducted pursuant to subsection (a) 
shall include--
            (1) a review of Amtrak's compliance with the plan for 
        addressing the needs of the families of passengers involved in 
        any rail passenger accident, which was submitted pursuant to 
        section 24316 of title 49, United States Code;
            (2) a review of Amtrak's compliance with the emergency 
        preparedness plan required under section 239.101(a) of title 
        49, Code of Federal Regulations;
            (3) a determination of any additional action items that 
        should be included in the plans referred to in paragraphs (1) 
        and (2) to meet the needs of the passengers involved in the 
        crash and their families, including--
                    (A) notification of emergency contacts;
                    (B) dedicated and trained staff to manage family 
                assistance;
                    (C) the establishment of a family assistance center 
                at the accident locale or other appropriate location;
                    (D) a system for identifying and recovering items 
                belonging to passengers that were lost in the crash; 
                and
                    (E) the establishment of a single customer service 
                entity within Amtrak to coordinate the response to the 
                needs of the passengers involved in the crash and their 
                families; and
            (4) recommendations for any additional training needed by 
        Amtrak staff to better implement the plans referred to in 
        paragraphs (1) and (2), including the establishment of a 
        regular schedule for training drills and exercises.
    (c) Report to Congress.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, Amtrak shall submit a report to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives that describes--
            (1) its plan to achieve the recommendations referred to in 
        subsection (b)(4); and
            (2) steps that have been taken to address any deficiencies 
        identified through the assessment.

SEC. 5415. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

    (a) Assistance to Families of Passengers Involved in Rail Passenger 
Accidents.--Section 1139 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``phone number'' and 
        inserting ``telephone number'';
            (2) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ``post trauma 
        communication with families'' and inserting ``post-trauma 
        communication with families''; and
            (3) in subsection (j), by striking ``railroad passenger 
        accident'' each place it appears and inserting ``rail passenger 
        accident''.
    (b) Solid Waste Rail Transfer Facility Land-Use Exemption.--Section 
10909 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b), in the matter preceding paragraph 
        (1), by striking ``Clean Railroad Act of 2008'' and inserting 
        ``Clean Railroads Act of 2008''; and
            (2) in subsection (e), by striking ``Upon the granting of 
        petition from the State'' and inserting ``Upon the granting of 
        a petition from the State''.
    (c) Rulemaking Process.--Section 20116 is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(2)'' before ``the code, rule, standard, 
        requirement, or practice has been subject to notice and comment 
        under a rule or order issued under this part.'' and indenting 
        accordingly;
            (2) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``unless'' and indenting 
        accordingly;
            (3) in paragraph (1), as redesignated, by striking ``order, 
        or'' and inserting ``order; or''; and
            (4) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), as redesignated, 
        by striking ``unless'' and inserting ``unless--''.
    (d) Enforcement Report.--Section 20120(a) is amended--
            (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 
        ``website'' and inserting ``Web site'';
            (2) in paragraph (1), by striking ``accident and incidence 
        reporting'' and inserting ``accident and incident reporting'';
            (3) in paragraph (2)(G), by inserting ``and'' at the end; 
        and
            (4) in paragraph (5)(B), by striking ``Administrative 
        Hearing Officer or Administrative Law Judge'' and inserting 
        ``administrative hearing officer or administrative law judge''.
    (e) Railroad Safety Risk Reduction Program.--Section 20156 is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (c), by inserting a comma after ``In 
        developing its railroad safety risk reduction program''; and
            (2) in subsection (g)(1)--
                    (A) by inserting a comma after ``good faith''; and
                    (B) by striking ``non-profit'' and inserting 
                ``nonprofit''.
    (f) Roadway User Sight Distance at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings.--
Section 20159 is amended by striking ``the Secretary'' and inserting 
``the Secretary of Transportation''.
    (g) National Crossing Inventory.--Section 20160 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``concerning each 
        previously unreported crossing through which it operates or 
        with respect to the trackage over which it operates'' and 
        inserting ``concerning each previously unreported crossing 
        through which it operates with respect to the trackage over 
        which it operates''; and
            (2) in subsection (b)(1)(A), by striking ``concerning each 
        crossing through which it operates or with respect to the 
        trackage over which it operates'' and inserting ``concerning 
        each crossing through which it operates with respect to the 
        trackage over which it operates''.
    (h) Minimum Training Standards and Plans.--Section 20162(a)(3) is 
amended by striking ``railroad compliance with Federal standards'' and 
inserting ``railroad carrier compliance with Federal standards''.
    (i) Development and Use of Rail Safety Technology.--Section 
20164(a) is amended by striking ``after enactment of the Railroad 
Safety Enhancement Act of 2008'' and inserting ``after the date of 
enactment of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008''.
    (j) Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008.--
            (1) Table of contents.--Section 1(b) of division A of the 
        Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-432; 122 
        Stat. 4848) is amended--
                    (A) in the item relating to section 307, by 
                striking ``website'' and inserting ``Web site'';
                    (B) in the item relating to title VI, by striking 
                ``solid waste facilities'' and inserting ``solid waste 
                rail transfer facilities''; and
                    (C) in the item relating to section 602, by 
                striking ``solid waste transfer facilities'' and 
                inserting ``solid waste rail transfer facilities''.
            (2) Definitions.--Section 2(a)(1) of division A of the Rail 
        Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-432; 122 Stat. 
        4849) is amended in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by 
        inserting a comma after ``at grade''.
            (3) Railroad safety strategy.--Section 102(a)(6) of title I 
        of division A of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (49 
        U.S.C. 20101 note) is amended by striking ``Improving the 
        safety of railroad bridges, tunnels, and related infrastructure 
        to prevent accidents, incidents, injuries, and fatalities 
        caused by catastrophic failures and other bridge and tunnel 
        failures.'' and inserting ``Improving the safety of railroad 
        bridges, tunnels, and related infrastructure to prevent 
        accidents, incidents, injuries, and fatalities caused by 
        catastrophic and other failures of such infrastructure.''.
            (4) Operation lifesaver.--Section 206(a) of title II of 
        division A of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (49 
        U.S.C. 22501 note) is amended by striking ``Public Service 
        Announcements'' and inserting ``public service announcements''.
            (5) Update of federal railroad administration's web site.--
        Section 307 of title III of division A of the Rail Safety 
        Improvement Act of 2008 (49 U.S.C. 103 note) is amended--
                    (A) in the heading by striking ``federal railroad 
                administration's website'' and inserting ``federal 
                railroad administration web site'';
                    (B) by striking ``website'' each place it appears 
                and inserting ``Web site''; and
                    (C) by striking ``website's'' and inserting ``Web 
                site's''.
            (6) Alcohol and controlled substance testing for 
        maintenance-of-way employees.--Section 412 of title IV of 
        division A of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (49 
        U.S.C. 20140 note) is amended by striking ``Secretary of 
        Transportation'' and inserting ``Secretary''.
            (7) Tunnel information.--Section 414 of title IV of 
        division A of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (49 
        U.S.C. 20103 note) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``parts 171.8, 173.115'' and 
                inserting ``sections 171.8, 173.115''; and
                    (B) by striking ``part 1520.5'' and inserting 
                ``section 1520.5''.
            (8) Safety inspections in mexico.--Section 416 of title IV 
        of division A of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (49 
        U.S.C. 20107 note) is amended--
                    (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
                striking ``Secretary of Transportation'' and inserting 
                ``Secretary''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (4), by striking ``subsection'' 
                and inserting ``section''.
            (9) Heading of title vi.--The heading of title VI of 
        division A of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (122 
        Stat. 4900) is amended by striking ``SOLID WASTE FACILITIES'' 
        and inserting ``SOLID WASTE RAIL TRANSFER FACILITIES''.
            (10) Heading of section 602.--Section 602 of title VI of 
        division A of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (122 
        Stat. 4900) is amended by striking ``solid waste transfer 
        facilities'' and inserting ``solid waste rail transfer 
        facilities''.

   PART II--CONSOLIDATED RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE AND SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS

SEC. 5421. CONSOLIDATED RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE AND SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 244, as amended by section 5302 of this 
Act, is further amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 24408. Consolidated rail infrastructure and safety improvements
    ``(a) General Authority.--The Secretary may make grants under this 
section to an eligible recipient to assist in financing the cost of 
improving passenger and freight rail transportation systems in terms of 
safety, efficiency, or reliability.
    ``(b) Eligible Recipients.--The following entities are eligible to 
receive a grant under this section:
            ``(1) A State.
            ``(2) A group of States.
            ``(3) An Interstate Compact.
            ``(4) A public agency or publicly chartered authority 
        established by 1 or more States and having responsibility for 
        providing intercity rail passenger, commuter rail passenger, or 
        freight rail transportation service.
            ``(5) A political subdivision of a State.
            ``(6) Amtrak or another rail passenger carrier that 
        provides intercity rail passenger transportation (as defined in 
        section 24102) or commuter rail passenger transportation (as 
        defined in section 24102).
            ``(7) A Class II railroad or Class III railroad (as those 
        terms are defined in section 20102).
            ``(8) Any rail carrier or rail equipment manufacturer in 
        partnership with at least 1 of the entities described in 
        paragraphs (1) through (5).
            ``(9) Any entity established to procure, manage, or 
        maintain passenger rail equipment under section 305 of the 
        Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (49 
        U.S.C. 24101 note).
            ``(10) An organization that is actively involved in the 
        development of operational and safety-related standards for 
        rail equipment and operations or the implementation of safety-
        related programs.
            ``(11) The Transportation Research Board and any entity 
        with which it contracts in the development of rail-related 
        research, including cooperative research programs.
            ``(12) A University transportation center actively engaged 
        in rail-related research.
            ``(13) A non-profit labor organization representing a class 
        or craft of employees of railroad carriers or railroad carrier 
        contractors.
    ``(c) Eligible Projects.--The following projects are eligible to 
receive grants under this section:
            ``(1) Deployment of railroad safety technology, including 
        positive train control and rail integrity inspection systems.
            ``(2) A capital project as defined in section 24401, except 
        that a project shall not be required to be in a State rail plan 
        developed under chapter 227.
            ``(3) A capital project identified by the Secretary as 
        being necessary to address congestion challenges affecting rail 
        service.
            ``(4) A highway-rail grade crossing improvement, including 
        grade separations, private highway-rail grade crossing 
        improvements, and safety engineering improvements to reduce 
        risk in quiet zones or potential quiet zones.
            ``(5) A rail line relocation project.
            ``(6) A capital project to improve short-line or regional 
        railroad infrastructure.
            ``(7) Paying all or a portion of the credit risk premium, 
        as determined under section 502(f) of the Railroad 
        Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 (45 U.S.C. 
        822(f)), and loan charges described in section 503(l) of that 
        Act (45 U.S.C. 823(l)) for a project eligible for Federal 
        credit assistance under that Act (45 U.S.C. 801 et seq.).
            ``(8) Development of public education, awareness, and 
        targeted law enforcement activities to reduce violations of 
        traffic laws at highway-rail grade crossings and to help 
        prevent and reduce injuries and fatalities along railroad 
        rights-of-way.
            ``(9) The preparation of regional rail and corridor service 
        development plans and corresponding environmental analyses.
            ``(10) Any project that the Secretary considers necessary 
        to enhance multimodal connections or facilitate service 
        integration between rail service and other modes, including 
        between intercity rail passenger transportation and intercity 
        bus service.
            ``(11) The development of rail-related capital, operations, 
        and safety standards.
            ``(12) The implementation and operation of a safety program 
        or institute designed to improve rail safety culture and rail 
        safety performance.
            ``(13) Any research that the Secretary considers necessary 
        to advance any particular aspect of rail-related capital, 
        operations, or safety improvements.
            ``(14) Workforce development activities, coordinated to the 
        extent practicable with the existing local training programs 
        supported by the Department of Transportation, Department of 
        Labor, and Department of Education.
    ``(d) Application Process.--The Secretary shall prescribe the form 
and manner of filing an application under this section.
    ``(e) Project Selection Criteria.--
            ``(1) In general.--In selecting a recipient of a grant for 
        an eligible project, the Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) give preference to a proposed project for 
                which the proposed Federal share of total project costs 
                does not exceed 50 percent; and
                    ``(B) after factoring in preference to projects 
                under subparagraph (A), select projects that will 
                maximize the net benefits of the funds appropriated for 
                use under this section, considering the cost-benefit 
                analysis of the proposed project, including anticipated 
                private and public benefits relative to the costs of 
                the proposed project and factoring in the other 
                considerations described in paragraph (2).
            ``(2) Other considerations.--The Secretary shall also 
        consider the following:
                    ``(A) The degree to which the proposed project's 
                business plan considers potential private sector 
                participation in the financing, construction, or 
                operation of the project.
                    ``(B) The recipient's past performance in 
                developing and delivering similar projects, and 
                previous financial contributions.
                    ``(C) Whether the recipient has or will have the 
                legal, financial, and technical capacity to carry out 
                the proposed project, satisfactory continuing control 
                over the use of the equipment or facilities, and the 
                capability and willingness to maintain the equipment or 
                facilities.
                    ``(D) If applicable, the consistency of the 
                proposed project with planning guidance and documents 
                set forth by the Secretary or required by law or State 
                rail plans developed under chapter 227.
                    ``(E) If applicable, any technical evaluation 
                ratings that proposed project received under previous 
                competitive grant programs administered by the 
                Secretary.
                    ``(F) Such other factors as the Secretary considers 
                relevant to the successful delivery of the project.
            ``(3) Benefits.--The benefits described in paragraph (1)(B) 
        may include the effects on system and service performance, 
        including measures such as improved safety, competitiveness, 
        reliability, trip or transit time, resilience, efficiencies 
        from improved integration with other modes, and ability to meet 
        existing or anticipated demand.
    ``(f) Performance Measures.--The Secretary shall establish 
performance measures for each grant recipient to assess progress in 
achieving strategic goals and objectives. The Secretary may require a 
grant recipient to periodically report information related to such 
performance measures.
    ``(g) Rural Areas.--
            ``(1) In general.--Of the amounts appropriated under this 
        section, at least 25 percent shall be available for projects in 
        rural areas. The Secretary shall consider a project to be in a 
        rural area if all or the majority of the project (determined by 
        the geographic location or locations where the majority of the 
        project funds will be spent) is located in a rural area.
            ``(2) Definition of rural area.--In this subsection, the 
        term `rural area' means any area not in an urbanized area, as 
        defined by the Census Bureau.
    ``(h) Federal Share of Total Project Costs.--
            ``(1) Total project costs.--The Secretary shall estimate 
        the total costs of a project under this subsection based on the 
        best available information, including engineering studies, 
        studies of economic feasibility, environmental analyses, and 
        information on the expected use of equipment or facilities.
            ``(2) Federal share.--The Federal share of total project 
        costs under this subsection shall not exceed 80 percent.
            ``(3) Treatment of passenger rail revenue.--If Amtrak or 
        another rail passenger carrier is an applicant under this 
        section, Amtrak or the other rail passenger carrier, as 
        applicable, may use ticket and other revenues generated from 
        its operations and other sources to satisfy the non-Federal 
        share requirements.
    ``(i) Applicability.--Except as specifically provided in this 
section, the use of any amounts appropriated for grants under this 
section shall be subject to the requirements of this chapter.
    ``(j) Availability.--Amounts appropriated for carrying out this 
section shall remain available until expended.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents of chapter 244, as 
amended by section 5302 of this Act, is amended by adding after the 
item relating to section 24407 the following:

``24408. Consolidated rail infrastructure and safety improvements.''.

     PART III--HAZARDOUS MATERIALS BY RAIL SAFETY AND OTHER SAFETY 
                              ENHANCEMENTS

SEC. 5431. REAL-TIME EMERGENCY RESPONSE INFORMATION.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of 
Homeland Security, shall promulgate regulations--
            (1) to require a Class I railroad transporting hazardous 
        materials--
                    (A) to generate accurate, real-time, and electronic 
                train consist information, including--
                            (i) the identity, quantity, and location of 
                        hazardous materials on a train;
                            (ii) the point of origin and destination of 
                        the train;
                            (iii) any emergency response information or 
                        resources required by the Secretary; and
                            (iv) an emergency response point of contact 
                        designated by the Class I railroad; and
                    (B) to enter into a memorandum of understanding 
                with each applicable fusion center to provide that 
                fusion center with secure and confidential access to 
                the electronic train consist information described in 
                subparagraph (A) for each train transporting hazardous 
                materials in that fusion center's jurisdiction;
            (2) to require each applicable fusion center to provide the 
        electronic train consist information described in paragraph 
        (1)(A) to first responders, emergency response officials, and 
        law enforcement personnel that are involved in the response to 
        or investigation of an incident, accident, or public health or 
        safety emergency involving the rail transportation of hazardous 
        materials and that request such electronic train consist 
        information;
            (3) to prohibit any Class I railroad, employee, or agent 
        from withholding, or causing to be withheld the electronic 
        train consist information described in paragraph (1)(A) from 
        first responders, emergency response officials, and law 
        enforcement personnel described in paragraph (2) in the event 
        of an incident, accident, or public health or safety emergency 
        involving the rail transportation of hazardous materials; and
            (4) to establish security and confidentiality protections 
        to prevent the release of the electronic train consist 
        information to unauthorized persons.
    (b) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Applicable fusion center.--The term ``applicable fusion 
        center'' means a fusion center with responsibility for a 
        geographic area in which a Class I railroad operates.
            (2) Class i railroad.--The term ``Class I railroad'' has 
        the meaning given the term in section 20102 of title 49, United 
        States Code.
            (3) Fusion center.--The term ``fusion center'' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 124h(j) of title 6, United 
        States Code.
            (4) Hazardous materials.--The term ``hazardous materials'' 
        means material designated as hazardous by the Secretary of 
        Transportation under chapter 51 of the United States Code.
            (5) Train consist.--The term ``train consist'' includes, 
        with regard to a specific train, the number of rail cars and 
        the commodity transported by each rail car.
    (c) Savings Clause.--
            (1) Nothing in this section may be construed to prohibit a 
        Class I railroad from voluntarily entering into a memorandum of 
        understanding, as described in subsection (a)(1)(B), with a 
        State emergency response commission or an entity representing 
        or including first responders, emergency response officials, 
        and law enforcement personnel.
            (2) Nothing in this section may be construed to amend any 
        requirement for a railroad to provide a State Emergency 
        Response Commission, for each State in which it operates trains 
        transporting 1,000,000 gallons or more of Bakken crude oil, 
        notification regarding the expected movement of such trains 
        through the counties in the State.

SEC. 5432. THERMAL BLANKETS.

    (a) Requirements.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall promulgate such regulations 
as are necessary to require each tank car built to meet the DOT-117 
specification and each non-jacketed tank car modified to meet the DOT-
117R specification to be equipped with a thermal blanket.
    (b) Definition of Thermal Blanket.--In this section, the term 
``thermal blanket'' means an insulating blanket that is applied between 
the outer surface of a tank car tank and the inner surface of a tank 
car jacket and that has thermal conductivity no greater than 2.65 Btu 
per inch, per hour, per square foot, and per degree Fahrenheit at a 
temperature of 2000 degrees Fahrenheit, plus or minus 100 degrees 
Fahrenheit.
    (c) Savings Clause.--
            (1) Pressure relief devices.--Nothing in this section may 
        be construed to affect or prohibit any requirement to equip 
        with appropriately sized pressure relief devices a tank car 
        built to meet the DOT-117 specification or a non-jacketed tank 
        car modified to meet the DOT-117R specification.
            (2) Harmonization.--Nothing in this section may be 
        construed to require or allow the Secretary to prescribe an 
        implementation deadline or authorization end date for the 
        requirement under subsection (a) that is earlier than the 
        applicable implementation deadline or authorization end date 
        for other tank car modifications necessary to meet the DOT-117R 
        specification.

SEC. 5433. COMPREHENSIVE OIL SPILL RESPONSE PLANS.

    (a) Requirements.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue a notice of proposed 
rulemaking to require each railroad carrier transporting a Class 3 
flammable liquid to maintain a comprehensive oil spill response plan.
    (b) Contents.--The regulations under subsection (a) shall require 
each rail carrier described in that subsection--
            (1) to include in the comprehensive oil spill response plan 
        procedures and resources for responding, to the maximum extent 
        practicable, to a worst-case discharge;
            (2) to ensure the comprehensive oil spill response plan is 
        consistent with the National Contingency Plan and each 
        applicable Area Contingency Plan;
            (3) to include in the comprehensive oil spill response plan 
        appropriate notification and training procedures;
            (4) to review and update its comprehensive oil spill 
        response plan as appropriate; and
            (5) to provide the comprehensive oil spill response plan 
        for acceptance by the Secretary.
    (c) Savings Clause.--Nothing in the section may be construed as 
prohibiting the Secretary from promulgating different comprehensive oil 
response plan standards for Class I, Class II, and Class III railroads.
    (d) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Area contingency plan.--The term ``Area Contingency 
        Plan'' has the meaning given the term in section 311(a) of the 
        Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1321(a)).
            (2) Class 3 flammable liquid.--The term ``Class 3 flammable 
        liquid'' has the meaning given the term in section 173.120(a) 
        of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations.
            (3) Class i railroad, class ii railroad, and class iii 
        railroad.--The terms ``Class I railroad'', ``Class II 
        railroad'' and ``Class III railroad'' have the meanings given 
        the terms in section 20102 of title 49, United States Code.
            (4) National contingency plan.--The term ``National 
        Contingency Plan'' has the meaning given the term in section 
        1001 of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2701).
            (5) Railroad carrier.--The term ``railroad carrier'' has 
        the meaning given the term in section 20102 of title 49, United 
        States Code.
            (6) Worst-case discharge.--The term ``worst-case 
        discharge'' means a railroad carrier's calculation of its 
        largest foreseeable discharge in the event of an accident or 
        incident.

SEC. 5434. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS BY RAIL LIABILITY STUDY.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall initiate a study on the levels and 
structure of insurance for a railroad carrier transporting hazardous 
materials.
    (b) Contents.--In conducting the study under subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall evaluate--
            (1) the level and structure of insurance, including self-
        insurance, available in the private market against the full 
        liability potential for damages arising from an accident or 
        incident involving a train transporting hazardous materials;
            (2) the level and structure of insurance that would be 
        necessary and appropriate--
                    (A) to efficiently allocate risk and financial 
                responsibility for claims; and
                    (B) to ensure that a railroad carrier transporting 
                hazardous materials can continue to operate despite the 
                risk of an accident or incident;
            (3) the potential applicability to trains transporting 
        hazardous materials of--
                    (A) a liability regime modeled after section 170 of 
                the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (42 U.S.C. 
                2210); and
                    (B) a liability regime modeled after subtitle 2 of 
                title XXI of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
                300aa-10 et seq.).
    (c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date the study under 
subsection (a) is initiated, the Secretary shall submit a report 
containing the results of the study and recommendations for addressing 
liability issues with rail transportation of hazardous materials to--
            (1) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
        of the Senate; and
            (2) the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
        the House of Representatives.
    (d) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Hazardous material.--The term ``hazardous material'' 
        means a substance or material the Secretary designates under 
        section 5103(a) of title 49, United States Code.
            (2) Railroad carrier.--The term ``railroad carrier'' has 
        the meaning given the term in section 20102 of title 49, United 
        States Code.

SEC. 5435. STUDY AND TESTING OF ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED PNEUMATIC 
              BRAKES.

    (a) Government Accountability Office Study.--
            (1) In general.--The Government Accountability Office shall 
        complete an independent evaluation of ECP brake systems pilot 
        program data and the Department of Transportation's research 
        and analysis on the effects of ECP brake systems.
            (2) Study elements.--In completing the independent 
        evaluation under paragraph (1), the Government Accountability 
        Office shall examine the following issues related to ECP brake 
        systems:
                    (A) Data and modeling results on safety benefits 
                relative to conventional brakes and to other braking 
                technologies or systems, such as distributed power and 
                2-way end-of-train devices.
                    (B) Data and modeling results on business benefits, 
                including the effects of dynamic braking.
                    (C) Data on costs, including up-front capital costs 
                and on-going maintenance costs.
                    (D) Analysis of potential operational challenges, 
                including the effects of potential locomotive and car 
                segregation, technical reliability issues, and network 
                disruptions.
                    (E) Analysis of potential implementation 
                challenges, including installation time, positive train 
                control integration complexities, component 
                availability issues, and tank car shop capabilities.
                    (F) Analysis of international experiences with the 
                use of advanced braking technologies.
            (3) Deadline.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Government Accountability Office 
        shall transmit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
        Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
        Representatives a report on the results of the independent 
        evaluation under paragraph (1).
    (b) Emergency Braking Application Testing.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Transportation shall 
        enter into an agreement with the NCRRP Board--
                    (A) to complete testing of ECP brake systems during 
                emergency braking application, including more than 1 
                scenario involving the uncoupling of a train with 70 or 
                more DOT-117 specification or DOT-117R specification 
                tank cars; and
                    (B) to transmit, not later than 2 years after the 
                date of enactment of this Act, to the Committee on 
                Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and 
                the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
                the House of Representatives a report on the results of 
                the testing.
            (2) Independent experts.--In completing the testing under 
        paragraph (1), the NCRRP Board may contract with 1 or more 
        engineering or rail experts, as appropriate, with relevant 
        experience in conducting railroad safety technology tests or 
        similar crash tests.
            (3) Testing framework.--In completing the testing under 
        paragraph (1), the NCRRP Board and each contractor described in 
        paragraph (2) shall ensure that the testing objectively, 
        accurately, and reliably measures the performance of ECP brake 
        systems relative to other braking technologies or systems, such 
        as distributed power and 2-way end-of-train devices, including 
        differences in--
                    (A) the number of cars derailed;
                    (B) the number of cars punctured;
                    (C) the measures of in-train forces; and
                    (D) the stopping distance.
            (4) Funding.--The Secretary shall require, as part of the 
        agreement under paragraph (1), that the NCRRP Board fund the 
        testing required under this section--
                    (A) using such sums made available under section 
                24910 of title 49, United States Code; and
                    (B) to the extent funding under subparagraph (A) is 
                insufficient or unavailable to fund the testing 
                required under this section, using such sums as are 
                necessary from the amounts appropriated to the Office 
                of the Secretary.
            (5) Equipment.--The NCRRP Board and each contractor 
        described in paragraph (2) may receive or use rolling stock, 
        track, and other equipment or infrastructure from a private 
        entity for the purposes of conducting the testing required 
        under this section.
    (c) Phased Approach.--
            (1) Phase 1.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall require each new 
        tank car built to meet the DOT-117 specification and each tank 
        car modified to meet the DOT-117R specification to have an ECP-
        ready configuration if the DOT-117 or DOT-117R specification 
        tank car will be used in high-hazard flammable unit train 
        service.
            (2) Phase 2.--After the reports are transmitted under 
        subsections (a)(3) and (b)(1)(B), the Secretary may initiate a 
        rulemaking, if the Secretary considers it necessary, to require 
        each railroad carrier operating a high-hazard flammable unit 
        train to operate that train in ECP brake mode by 2021 or 2023, 
        unless the train does not exceed a certain maximum authorized 
        speed as determined by the Secretary in the rulemaking.
    (d) Conforming Amendment.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue regulations to repeal 
the ECP brakes and ECP brake mode requirements in sections 
174.310(a)(3)(ii), 174.310(a)(3)(iii), 174.310(a)(5)(v), 179.102-10, 
179.202-12(g), and 179.202-13(i) of title 49, Code of Federal 
Regulations, and, except as provided in subsection (c), any other 
regulation in effect on the date of enactment of this Act requiring the 
installation of ECP brakes or operation in ECP brake mode.
    (e) Savings Clause.--
            (1) ECP brake mode.--Nothing in this section may be 
        construed as prohibiting or requiring a railroad carrier from 
        operating its trains in ECP brake mode.
            (2) Harmonization.--Nothing in this section may be 
        construed to require or allow the Secretary to prescribe an 
        implementation deadline for the requirement under subsection 
        (c)(1) that is earlier than the applicable implementation 
        deadline for other tank car modifications necessary to meet the 
        DOT-117R specification for tank cars that will be used in high-
        hazard flammable unit train service.
    (f) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Class 3 flammable liquid.--The term ``Class 3 flammable 
        liquid'' has the meaning given the term in section 173.120(a) 
        of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations.
            (2) ECP.--The term ``ECP'' means electronically controlled 
        pneumatic when applied to a brake or brakes.
            (3) ECP brake mode.--The term ``ECP brake mode'' includes 
        any operation of a rail car or an entire train using an ECP 
        brake system.
            (4) ECP brake system.--
                    (A) In general.--The term ``ECP brake system'' 
                means a train power braking system actuated by 
                compressed air and controlled by electronic signals 
                from the locomotive or an ECP-EOT to the cars in the 
                consist for service and emergency applications in which 
                the brake pipe is used to provide a constant supply of 
                compressed air to the reservoirs on each car but does 
                not convey braking signals to the car.
                    (B) Inclusions.--The term ``ECP brake system'' 
                includes dual mode and stand-alone ECP brake systems.
            (5) ECP-ready configuration.--The term ``ECP-ready 
        configuration'' means mounting brackets and fixed conduit on 
        the tank car to facilitate the future application of additional 
        ECP componentry and required cables.
            (6) High-hazard flammable unit train.--The term ``high-
        hazard flammable unit train'' means a single train transporting 
        70 or more loaded tank cars containing Class 3 flammable 
        liquid.
            (7) NCRRP board.--The term ``NCRRP Board'' means the 
        independent governing board of the National Cooperative Rail 
        Research Program.
            (8) Railroad carrier.--The term ``railroad carrier'' has 
        the meaning given the term in section 20102 of title 49, United 
        States Code.

SEC. 5436. RECORDING DEVICES.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 201 is amended by adding 
after section 20167 the following:
``Sec. 20168. Installation of audio and image recording devices
    ``(a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
enactment of the Comprehensive Transportation and Consumer Protection 
Act of 2015, the Secretary of Transportation shall promulgate 
regulations to require each rail carrier that provides regularly 
scheduled intercity rail passenger or commuter rail passenger 
transportation to the public to install inward- and outward-facing 
image recording devices in all controlling locomotive cabs and cab car 
operating compartments in such passenger trains.
    ``(b) Device Standards.--Each inward- and outward-facing image 
recording device shall--
            ``(1) have a minimum 12-hour continuous recording 
        capability;
            ``(2) have crash and fire protections for any in-cab image 
        recordings that are stored only within a controlling locomotive 
        cab or cab car operating compartment; and
            ``(3) have recordings accessible for review during an 
        accident investigation.
    ``(c) Review.--The Secretary shall establish a process to review 
and approve or disapprove an inward- or outward-facing recording device 
for compliance with the standards described in subsection (b).
    ``(d) Uses.--A rail carrier that has installed an inward- or 
outward-facing image recording device approved under subsection (c) may 
use recordings from that inward- or outward-facing image recording 
device for the following purposes:
            ``(1) Verifying that train crew actions are in accordance 
        with applicable safety laws and the rail carrier's operating 
        rules and procedures.
            ``(2) Assisting in an investigation into the causation of a 
        reportable accident or incident.
            ``(3) Carrying out efficiency testing and system-wide 
        performance monitoring programs.
            ``(4) Documenting a criminal act or monitoring unauthorized 
        occupancy of the controlling locomotive cab or car operating 
        compartment.
            ``(5) Other purposes that the Secretary considers 
        appropriate.
    ``(e) Voluntary Implementation.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each rail carrier operating freight rail 
        service may implement any inward- or outward-facing image 
        recording devices approved under subsection (c).
            ``(2) Authorized uses.--Notwithstanding any other provision 
        of law, each rail carrier may use recordings from an inward- or 
        outward-facing image recording device approved under subsection 
        (c) for any of the purposes described in subsection (d).
    ``(f) Discretion.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may--
                    ``(A) require in-cab audio recording devices for 
                the purposes described in subsection (d); and
                    ``(B) define in appropriate technical detail the 
                essential features of the devices required under 
                subparagraph (A).
            ``(2) Exemptions.--The Secretary may exempt any rail 
        passenger carrier or any part of a rail passenger carrier's 
        operations from the requirements under subsection (a) if the 
        Secretary determines that the rail passenger carrier has 
        implemented an alternative technology or practice that provides 
        an equivalent or greater safety benefit or is better suited to 
        the risks of the operation.
    ``(g) Tampering.--A rail carrier may take appropriate enforcement 
or administrative action against any employee that tampers with or 
disables an audio or inward- or outward-facing image recording device 
installed by the rail carrier.
    ``(h) Preservation of Data.--Each rail passenger carrier subject to 
the requirements of subsection (a) shall preserve recording device data 
for 1 year after the date of a reportable accident or incident.
    ``(i) Information Protections.--
            ``(1) Section 552(b)(3) of title 5 exemption.--An in-cab 
        audio or image recording, and any part thereof, that the 
        Secretary obtains as part of an accident or incident 
        investigated by the Department of Transportation shall be 
        exempt from disclosure under section 552(b)(3) of title 5.
            ``(2) Restrictions on disclosure.--The Secretary may allow 
        an audio or image recordings derived from an audio or inward- 
        or outward-facing image recording device to receive any of the 
        information and legal protections available to any report, 
        survey, schedule, list, or data compiled or collected as part 
        of the Department of Transportation railroad safety risk 
        reduction program if--
                    ``(A) the recording is derived from--
                            ``(i) an audio or inward- or outward-facing 
                        image recording device that was implemented 
                        pursuant to its railroad safety risk reduction 
                        program under section 20156; and
                            ``(ii) an inward- or outward-facing image 
                        recording device that was approved under 
                        subsection (c); or
                    ``(B) an audio recording device that is compliant 
                with the requirements under subsection (f)(1).
    ``(j) Prohibited Use.--An in-cab audio or image recording obtained 
by a rail carrier under this section may not be used to retaliate 
against an employee.
    ``(k) Savings Clause.--Nothing in this section may be construed as 
requiring a rail carrier to cease or restrict operations upon a 
technical failure of an inward- or outward-facing image recording 
device. Such rail carrier shall repair or replace the failed inward- or 
outward-facing image recording device as soon as practicable.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents for subchapter II 
of chapter 201 is amended by adding at the end the following:

``20168. Installation of audio and image recording devices.''.

SEC. 5437. RAIL PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION LIABILITY.

    (a) Limitations.--Section 28103(a) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``$200,000,000'' and 
        inserting ``$295,000,000, except as provided in paragraph 
        (3).''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) The liability cap under paragraph (2) shall be 
        adjusted every 10 years by the Secretary of Transportation to 
        reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index--All Urban 
        Consumers.
            ``(4) The Federal Government shall have no financial 
        responsibility for any claims described in paragraph (2).''.
    (b) Definition of Rail Passenger Transportation.--Section 28103(e) 
is amended--
            (1) in the heading, by striking ``Definition.--'' and 
        inserting ``Definitions.--'';
            (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a 
        semicolon;
            (3) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) the term `rail passenger transportation' includes 
        commuter rail passenger transportation (as defined in section 
        24102).''.
    (c) Prohibition.--No Federal funds may be appropriated for the 
purpose of paying for the portion of an insurance premium attributable 
to the increase in allowable awards under the amendments made by 
subsection (a).
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall be 
effective for any passenger rail accident or incident occurring on or 
after May 12, 2015.

SEC. 5438. MODIFICATION REPORTING.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall implement a reporting requirement to 
monitor industry-wide progress toward modifying tank cars used in high-
hazard flammable train service by the applicable deadlines or 
authorization end dates set in regulation.
    (b) Tank Car Data.--The Secretary shall collect data from shippers 
and tank car owners on--
            (1) the total number of tank cars modified to meet the DOT-
        117R specification, or equivalent, specifying--
                    (A) the type or specification of each tank car 
                before it was modified, including non-jacketed DOT-111, 
                jacketed DOT-111, non-jacketed DOT-111 meeting the CPC-
                1232 standard, or jacketed DOT-111 meeting the CPC-1232 
                standard; and
                    (B) the identification number of each Class 3 
                flammable liquid carried by each tank car in the past 
                year;
            (2) the total number of tank cars built to meet the DOT-117 
        specification, or equivalent; and
            (3) the total number of tank cars used or likely to be used 
        in high-hazard flammable train service that have not been 
        modified, specifying--
                    (A) the type or specification of each tank car not 
                modified, including the non-jacketed DOT-111, jacketed 
                DOT-111, non-jacketed DOT-111 meeting the CPC-1232 
                standard, or jacketed DOT-111 meeting the CPC-1232 
                standard; and
                    (B) the identification number of each Class 3 
                flammable liquid carried by each tank car in the past 
                year.
    (c) Tank Car Shop Data.--The Secretary shall conduct a survey of 
tank car facilities modifying tank cars to the DOT-117R specification, 
or equivalent, or building new tank cars to the DOT-117 specification, 
or equivalent, to generate statistically valid estimates of the 
expected number of tank cars those facilities expect to modify to DOT-
117R specification, or equivalent, or build to the DOT-117 
specification, or equivalent.
    (d) Frequency.--The Secretary shall collect the data under 
subsection (b) and conduct the survey under subsection (c) annually 
until May 1, 2025.
    (e) Information Protections.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall only report data in 
        industry-wide totals and shall treat company-specific 
        information as confidential business information.
            (2) Level of confidentiality.--The Secretary shall ensure 
        the data collected under subsection (b) and the survey data 
        under subsection (c) have the same level of confidentiality as 
        contained in the Confidential Information Protection and 
        Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002 (44 U.S.C. 3501 note), as 
        administered by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
            (3) Section 552(b)(3) of title 5.--Any information that the 
        Secretary obtains under subsection (b) or subsection (c) by the 
        Department of Transportation shall be exempt from disclosure 
        under section 552(b)(3) of title 5.
            (4) Designee.--The Secretary may designate the Director of 
        the Bureau of Transportation Statistics to collect data under 
        subsection (b) and the survey data under subsection (c) and 
        direct the Director to ensure the confidentially of company-
        specific information to the maximum extent permitted by law.
    (f) Report.--Each year, not later than 60 days after the date that 
both the collection of the data under subsection (b) and the survey 
under subsection (c) are complete, the Secretary shall report on the 
aggregate results, without company-specific information, to--
            (1) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
        of the Senate; and
            (2) the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
        the House of Representatives.
    (g) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Class 3 flammable liquid.--The term ``Class 3 flammable 
        liquid'' has the meaning given the term in section 173.120(a) 
        of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations.
            (2) High-hazard flammable train.--The term ``high-hazard 
        flammable train'' means a single train transporting 20 or more 
        tank cars loaded with a Class 3 flammable liquid in a 
        continuous block or a single train transporting 35 or more tank 
        cars loaded with a Class 3 flammable liquid throughout the 
        train consist.

                    PART IV--POSITIVE TRAIN CONTROL

SEC. 5441. COORDINATION OF SPECTRUM.

    (a) Assessment.--The Secretary, in coordination with the Chairman 
of the Federal Communications Commission, shall assess spectrum needs 
and availability for implementing positive train control systems (as 
defined in section 20157(i)(3) of title 49, United States Code). The 
Secretary and the Chairman may consult with external stakeholders in 
carrying out this section.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 
that contains the results of the assessment conducted under subsection 
(a).

SEC. 5442. UPDATED PLANS.

    (a) Implementation.--Section 20157(a) is amended to read as 
follows:
    ``(a) Implementation.--
            ``(1) Plan required.--Each Class I railroad carrier and 
        each entity providing regularly scheduled intercity or commuter 
        rail passenger transportation shall develop and submit, to the 
        Secretary of Transportation, a plan for implementing a positive 
        train control system by December 31, 2015, governing operations 
        on--
                    ``(A) its main line over which intercity rail 
                passenger transportation or commuter rail passenger 
                transportation (as defined in section 24102) is 
                regularly provided;
                    ``(B) its main line over which poison- or toxic-by-
                inhalation hazardous materials (as defined in sections 
                171.8, 173.115, and 173.132 of title 49, Code of 
                Federal Regulations) are transported; and
                    ``(C) such other tracks as the Secretary may 
                prescribe by regulation or order.
            ``(2) Interoperability and prioritization.--The plan shall 
        describe how the railroad carrier or other entity subject to 
        paragraph (1) will provide for interoperability of the positive 
        train control systems with movements of trains of other 
        railroad carriers over its lines and shall, to the extent 
        practical, implement the positive train control systems in a 
        manner that addresses areas of greater risk before areas of 
        lesser risk.
            ``(3) Secretarial review of updated plans.--
                    ``(A) Submission of updated plans.--Notwithstanding 
                the deadline set forth in paragraph (1), not later than 
                90 days after the date of enactment of the 
                Comprehensive Transportation and Consumer Protection 
                Act of 2015, each Class I railroad carrier or other 
                entity subject to paragraph (1) may submit to the 
                Secretary an updated plan that amends the plan 
                submitted under paragraph (1) with an updated 
                implementation schedule (as described in paragraph 
                (4)(B)) and milestones or metrics (as described in 
                paragraph (4)(A)) that demonstrate that the railroad 
                carrier or other entity intends make sustained and 
                substantial progress toward positive train control 
                system implementation.
                    ``(B) Review of updated plans.--Not later than 120 
                days after receiving an updated plan under subparagraph 
                (A), the Secretary shall approve the updated plan if 
                the railroad carrier or other entity submitting the 
                plan--
                            ``(i)(I) has encountered technical or 
                        programmatic challenges identified by the 
                        Secretary in the 2012 report transmitted to 
                        Congress pursuant to subsection (d); and
                            ``(II) the challenges referred to in 
                        subclause (I) have negatively affected the 
                        successful implementation of positive train 
                        control systems;
                            ``(ii) is demonstrating due diligence in 
                        its effort to implement a positive train 
                        control system;
                            ``(iii) has included in its plan milestones 
                        or metrics that demonstrate the railroad 
                        carrier or other entity intends to make 
                        sustained and substantial progress toward 
                        positive train control system implementation; 
                        and
                            ``(iv) has set an implementation schedule 
                        in its plan that complies with paragraph (7).
                    ``(C) Modification of updated plans.--(i) If the 
                Secretary has not approved an updated plan under 
                subparagraph (B) within 60 days of receiving the 
                updated plan under subparagraph (A), the Secretary 
                shall immediately--
                            ``(I) provide a written response to the 
                        railroad carrier or other entity that 
                        identifies the reason for not approving the 
                        updated plan and explains any incomplete or 
                        deficient items;
                            ``(II) allow the railroad carrier or other 
                        entity to submit, within 30 days of receiving 
                        the written response under subclause (I), a 
                        modified updated plan for the Secretary's 
                        review; and
                            ``(III) approve or disapprove a modified 
                        updated plan submitted under subclause (II) not 
                        later than 30 days after receipt.
                    ``(ii) If the Secretary does not approve an updated 
                plan not later than 60 days after receiving the updated 
                plan under subparagraph (A) and does not provide a 
                written response to the railroad carrier or other 
                entity at the end of the 60-day period described in 
                clause (i), the updated plan is deemed to have been 
                approved by the Secretary.
                    ``(D) Public availability.--Not later than 30 days 
                after approving an updated plan under this paragraph, 
                the Secretary shall make the updated plan available on 
                the website of the Federal Railroad Administration.
                    ``(E) Pending reviews.--For an applicant that 
                submits an updated plan under subparagraph (A), the 
                Secretary shall extend the deadline for implementing a 
                positive train control system at least until the date 
                the Secretary approves or issues final disapproval for 
                the updated plan with an updated implementation 
                schedule (as described in paragraph (4)(B)).
            ``(4) Contents of updated plan.--
                    ``(A) Milestones or metrics.--Each updated plan 
                submitted under paragraph (3) shall show that the Class 
                I railroad carrier or other entity subject to paragraph 
                (1) is making sustained and substantial progress toward 
                positive train control system implementation by 
                describing the following milestones or metrics:
                            ``(i) The total number of components that 
                        will be installed, equipped, or deployed with 
                        positive train control by the end of each 
                        calendar year until positive train control is 
                        fully implemented, with totals separated by 
                        each component category.
                            ``(ii) The number of employees that will 
                        receive the training, as required under the 
                        applicable positive train control system 
                        regulations, by the end of each calendar year 
                        until positive train control is fully 
                        implemented.
                            ``(iii) The calendar year or years in which 
                        spectrum will be acquired and will be available 
                        for use in all areas that it is needed for 
                        positive train control implementation, if such 
                        spectrum is not already acquired and ready for 
                        use.
                    ``(B) Implementation schedule.--Each updated plan 
                submitted under paragraph (3) shall include an 
                implementation schedule that identifies the dates by 
                which the railroad carrier or other entity will--
                            ``(i) fully implement a positive train 
                        control system;
                            ``(ii) complete all component installation, 
                        consistent with the milestones or metrics 
                        described in subparagraph (A)(i);
                            ``(iii) complete all employee training 
                        required under the applicable positive train 
                        control system regulations, consistent with the 
                        milestones or metrics described in subparagraph 
                        (A)(ii);
                            ``(iv) acquire all necessary spectrum, 
                        consistent with the milestones or metrics in 
                        subparagraph (A)(iii); and
                            ``(v) complete system testing.
                    ``(C) Additional information.--Each updated plan 
                submitted under paragraph (3) shall include--
                            ``(i) the total number of positive train 
                        control components required for implementation, 
                        with totals separated by each major component 
                        category;
                            ``(ii) the total number of employees 
                        requiring training under the applicable 
                        positive train control system regulations; and
                            ``(iii) a summary of the remaining 
                        challenges to positive train control system 
                        implementation, including--
                                    ``(I) testing issues;
                                    ``(II) interoperability challenges;
                                    ``(III) permitting issues; and
                                    ``(IV) certification challenges.
                    ``(D) Defined term.--In this paragraph, the term 
                `component' means a locomotive apparatus, a wayside 
                interface unit (including any associated legacy signal 
                system replacements), switches in non-signaled positive 
                train control territory, a base station radio, a 
                wayside radio, or a locomotive radio.
            ``(5) Plan implementation.--The Class I railroad carrier or 
        other entity subject to paragraph (1) shall implement a 
        positive train control system in accordance with its plan, 
        including any amendments made to the plan by its updated plan 
        approved by the Secretary under paragraph (3).
            ``(6) Progress report.--Each Class I railroad carrier or 
        other entity with an approved updated plan shall submit an 
        annual report to the Secretary that describes the progress made 
        on positive train control implementation, including--
                    ``(A) the extent to which the railroad carrier or 
                other entity met or exceeded the metrics or milestones 
                described in paragraph (4)(A);
                    ``(B) the extent to which the railroad carrier or 
                other entity complied with its implementation schedule 
                under paragraph (4)(B); and
                    ``(C) any update to the information provided under 
                paragraph (4)(C).
            ``(7) Constraint.--The Secretary may not approve an updated 
        plan that includes a date for the completion of component 
        installation or a date for the completion of spectrum 
        acquisition that is later than December 31, 2018.''.
    (b) Enforcement.--Section 20157(e) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(e) Enforcement.--The Secretary is authorized to assess civil 
penalties pursuant to chapter 213 for the failure to submit or comply 
with a plan for implementing positive train control under subsection 
(a), including any amendments to the plan made by an updated plan 
(including milestones or metrics and an updated implementation 
schedule) approved by the Secretary under paragraph (3) of such 
subsection.''.
    (c) Conforming Amendment.--Section 20157(g) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``The Secretary'' and inserting the 
        following:
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) Conforming regulatory amendments.--Immediately after 
        the date of the enactment of the Comprehensive Transportation 
        and Consumer Protection Act of 2015, the Secretary--
                    ``(A) shall remove or revise any references to 
                specified dates in the regulations or orders 
                implementing this section to the extent necessary to 
                conform with the amendments made by such Act; and
                    ``(B) may not enforce any such date-specific 
                deadlines or requirements that are inconsistent with 
                the amendments made by such Act.''.
    (d) Savings Provisions.--
            (1) Resubmission of information.--Nothing in the amendments 
        made by this section may be construed to require a Class I 
        railroad carrier or other entity subject to paragraph (1) of 
        section 20157(a) of title 49, United States Code, to resubmit 
        in its updated plan information from its initial implementation 
        plan that is not changed or affected by the updated plan. The 
        Secretary shall consider an updated plan submitted pursuant to 
        paragraph (3) of such section to be an addendum to the initial 
        implementation plan.
            (2) Submission of new plan.--Nothing in the amendments made 
        by this section may be construed to require a Class I railroad 
        carrier or other entity subject to section 20157(a)(1) of title 
        49, United States Code, to submit a new implementation plan 
        pursuant to the deadline set forth in such section.

SEC. 5443. EARLY ADOPTION AND INTEROPERABILITY.

    (a) Early Adoption.--During the 1-year period beginning on the date 
on which the last railroad carrier's or other entity's positive train 
control system, subject to section 20157(a) of title 49, United States 
Code, is certified by the Secretary under subsection (h) of such 
section and implemented on all of that railroad carrier's or other 
entity's lines required to have operations governed by a positive train 
control system, any railroad carrier or other entity that has been 
certified by the Secretary under such subsection shall not be subject 
to the operational restrictions set forth in subpart I of part 236 of 
title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, that would otherwise apply in 
the event of a positive train control system component failure.
    (b) Interoperability Procedure.--If multiple railroad carriers 
operate on a single railroad line through a trackage or haulage 
agreement, each railroad carrier operating on the railroad line shall 
not be subject to the operating restrictions set forth in subpart I of 
part 236 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, with respect to the 
railroad line, until the Secretary certifies that--
            (1) each Class I railroad carrier and each entity providing 
        regularly scheduled intercity or commuter rail passenger 
        transportation that operates on the railroad line is in 
        compliance with its positive train control requirements under 
        section 20157(a) of title 49, United States Code;
            (2) each Class II or Class III railroad that operates on 
        the railroad line is in compliance with the applicable 
        regulatory requirements to equip locomotives operating in 
        positive train control territory; and
            (3) the implementation of any and all positive train 
        control systems are interoperable and operational on the 
        railroad line in conformance with each approved implementation 
        plan so that each freight and passenger railroad can operate on 
        the line with that freight or passenger railroad's positive 
        train control equipment.
    (c) Small Railroads.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall amend section 
236.1006(b)(4)(iii)(B) of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations 
(relating to equipping locomotives for applicable Class II and Class 
III railroads operating in positive train control territory), to extend 
each deadline by 3 years.

SEC. 5444. POSITIVE TRAIN CONTROL AT GRADE CROSSINGS EFFECTIVENESS 
              STUDY.

    (a) Study.--After the Secretary certifies that each Class I 
railroad carrier and each entity providing regularly scheduled 
intercity or commuter rail passenger transportation is in compliance 
with the positive train control requirements under section 20157(a) of 
title 49, United States Code, the Secretary shall enter into an 
agreement with the National Cooperative Rail Research Program Board--
            (1) to conduct a study of the possible effectiveness of 
        positive train control and related technologies on reducing 
        collisions at highway-rail grade crossings; and
            (2) to submit a report containing the results of the study 
        conducted under paragraph (1) to the Committee on Commerce, 
        Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
        Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
        Representatives.
    (b) Funding.--The Secretary may require, as part of the agreement 
under subsection (a), that the National Cooperative Rail Research 
Program Board fund the study required under this section using such 
sums as may be necessary out of the amounts made available under 
section 24910 of title 49, United States Code.

                      Subtitle E--Project Delivery

SEC. 5501. SHORT TITLE.

    This subtitle may be cited as the ``Track, Railroad, and 
Infrastructure Network Act''.

SEC. 5502. PRESERVATION OF PUBLIC LANDS.

    (a) Highways.--Section 138 of title 23, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(2)(A)(i), by inserting ``, taking 
        into consideration any avoidance, minimization, and mitigation 
        or enhancement measures incorporated into the program or 
        project'' after ``historic site''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(c) Rail and Transit.--Improvements to, or the maintenance, 
rehabilitation, or operation of, railroad or rail transit lines or 
elements of such lines, with the exception of stations, that are in use 
or were historically used for the transportation of goods or 
passengers, shall not be considered a use of a historic site under 
subsection (a), regardless of whether the railroad or rail transit line 
or element of such line is listed on, or eligible for listing on, the 
National Register of Historic Places.''.
    (b) Transportation Projects.--Section 303 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (c), by striking ``subsection (d)'' and 
        inserting ``subsections (d) and (e)'';
            (2) in subsection (d)(2)(A)(i), by inserting ``, taking 
        into consideration any avoidance, minimization, and mitigation 
        or enhancement measures incorporated into the program or 
        project'' after ``historic site''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(e) Rail and Transit.--Improvements to, or the maintenance, 
rehabilitation, or operation of, railroad or rail transit lines or 
elements of such lines, with the exception of stations, that are in use 
or were historically used for the transportation of goods or 
passengers, shall not be considered a use of a historic site under 
subsection (c), regardless of whether the railroad or rail transit line 
or element of such line is listed on, or eligible for listing on, the 
National Register of Historic Places.''.

SEC. 5503. EFFICIENT ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS.

    (a) In General.--Section 304 is amended--
            (1) in the heading, by striking ``for multimodal projects'' 
        and inserting ``and increasing the efficiency of environmental 
        reviews''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(e) Efficient Environmental Reviews.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary of Transportation shall 
        apply the project development procedures, to the greatest 
        extent feasible, described in section 139 of title 23, United 
        States Code, to any rail project that requires the approval of 
        the Secretary of Transportation under the National 
        Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
            ``(2) Regulations and procedures.--The Secretary of 
        Transportation shall incorporate such project development 
        procedures into the agency regulations and procedures 
        pertaining to rail projects.
    ``(f) Applicability of NEPA Decisions.--
            ``(1) In general.--A Department of Transportation operating 
        administration may apply a categorical exclusion designated by 
        another Department of Transportation operating administration 
        under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 
        4321 et seq.).
            ``(2) Findings.--A Department of Transportation operating 
        administration may adopt, in whole or in part, another 
        Department of Transportation operating administration's Record 
        of Decision, Finding of No Significant Impact, and any 
        associated evaluations, determinations, or findings 
        demonstrating compliance with any law related to environmental 
        review or historic preservation.''.

SEC. 5504. ADVANCE ACQUISITION.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 241 is amended by inserting after section 
24105 the following:
``Sec. 24106. Advance acquisition
    ``(a) Rail Corridor Preservation.--The Secretary may assist a 
recipient of funding in acquiring right-of-way and adjacent real 
property interests before or during the completion of the environmental 
reviews for any project receiving funding under subtitle V of title 49, 
United States Code, that may use such property interests if the 
acquisition is otherwise permitted under Federal law, and the recipient 
requesting Federal funding for the acquisition certifies, with the 
concurrence of the Secretary, that--
            ``(1) the recipient has authority to acquire the right-of-
        way or adjacent real property interest; and
            ``(2) the acquisition of the right-of-way or adjacent real 
        property interest--
                    ``(A) is for a transportation or transportation-
                related purpose;
                    ``(B) will not cause significant adverse 
                environmental impact;
                    ``(C) will not limit the choice of reasonable 
                alternatives for the proposed project or otherwise 
                influence the decision of the Secretary on any approval 
                required for the proposed project;
                    ``(D) does not prevent the lead agency for the 
                review process from making an impartial decision as to 
                whether to accept an alternative that is being 
                considered;
                    ``(E) complies with other applicable Federal law, 
                including regulations;
                    ``(F) will be acquired through negotiation and 
                without the threat of condemnation; and
                    ``(G) will not result in the elimination or 
                reduction of benefits or assistance to a displaced 
                person under the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real 
                Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 (42 U.S.C. 
                4601 et seq.) and title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 
                1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.).
    ``(b) Environmental Reviews.--
            ``(1) Completion of nepa review.--Before authorizing any 
        Federal funding for the acquisition of a real property interest 
        that is the subject of a grant or other funding under this 
        subtitle, the Secretary shall complete, if required, the review 
        process under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 
        U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) with respect to the acquisition.
            ``(2) Completion of section 106.--An acquisition of a real 
        property interest involving a historic site shall not occur 
        unless the section 106 process, if required, under the National 
        Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 306108) is complete.
            ``(3) Timing of acquisitions.--A real property interest 
        acquired under subsection (a) may not be developed in 
        anticipation of the proposed project until all required 
        environmental reviews for the project have been completed.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents of chapter 241 is 
amended by inserting after the item relating to section 24105 the 
following:

``24106. Advance acquisition.''.

SEC. 5505. RAILROAD RIGHTS-OF-WAY.

    Section 306108 of title 54, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(b) Opportunity To Comment.--'' before 
        ``The head of the Federal agency shall afford'' and indenting 
        accordingly;
            (2) in the matter before subsection (b), by inserting ``(a) 
        In General.--'' before ``The head of any Federal agency having 
        direct'' and indenting accordingly; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(c) Exemption for Railroad Rights-of-Way.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of the Track, Railroad, and Infrastructure Network 
        Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall submit a proposed 
        exemption of railroad rights-of-way from the review under this 
        chapter to the Council for its consideration, consistent with 
        the exemption for interstate highways approved on March 10, 
        2005 (70 Fed. Reg. 11,928).
            ``(2) Final exemption.--Not later than 180 days after the 
        date that the Secretary submits the proposed exemption under 
        paragraph (1) to the Council, the Council shall issue a final 
        exemption of railroad rights-of-way from review under this 
        chapter, consistent with the exemption for interstate highways 
        approved on March 10, 2005 (70 Fed. Reg. 11,928).''.

SEC. 5506. IMPROVING STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCY ENGAGEMENT IN 
              ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 3 is amended by inserting after section 
306 the following:
``Sec. 307. Improving State and Federal agency engagement in 
              environmental reviews
    ``(a) In General.--An entity receiving financial assistance from 
the Secretary of Transportation for 1 or more projects or for a program 
of projects, may request that the Secretary allow the entity to provide 
funds to any Federal agency, including the Department of 
Transportation, State agency, or Indian tribe (as defined in section 
102 of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 
U.S.C. 479a)) participating in the environmental planning and review 
process for the project, projects, or program. The funds may be 
provided only to support activities that directly and meaningfully 
contribute to expediting and improving permitting and review processes, 
including planning, approval, and consultation processes for the 
project, projects, or program.
    ``(b) Activities Eligible for Funding.--Activities for which funds 
may be provided under subsection (a) include transportation planning 
activities that precede the initiation of the environmental review 
process, activities directly related to the environmental review 
process, dedicated staffing, training of agency personnel, information 
gathering and mapping, and development of programmatic agreements.
    ``(c) Amounts.--Requests under subsection (a) may be approved only 
for the additional amounts that the Secretary determines are necessary 
for the Federal agencies, State agencies, or Indian tribes 
participating in the environmental planning and review process to 
timely conduct the reviews in an expedited manner.
    ``(d) Agreements.--Prior to providing funds approved by the 
Secretary for dedicated staffing at an affected Federal agency under 
subsections (a) and (b), the affected Federal agency, State agency or 
Indian tribe, as appropriate, and the requesting entity shall enter 
into an agreement that establishes a process to identify the projects 
or priorities to be addressed by the use of the funds.
    ``(e) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to be inconsistent with or to interfere with section 139(j) 
of title 23.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents of chapter 3 is 
amended by inserting after the item relating to section 306 the 
following:

``307. Improving State and Federal agency engagement in environmental 
                            reviews.''.

SEC. 5507. SAVINGS CLAUSE.

    Nothing in this title, or any amendment made by this title, shall 
be construed as superceding, amending, or modifying the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) or affect the 
responsibility of any Federal officer to comply with or enforce any 
such statute.

SEC. 5508. TRANSITION.

    Nothing in this title, or any amendment made by this title, shall 
affect any existing environmental review process, program, agreement, 
or funding arrangement approved by the Secretary under title 49, United 
States Code, as that title was in effect on the day preceding the date 
of enactment of this subtitle.

                         Subtitle F--Financing

SEC. 5601. SHORT TITLE; REFERENCES.

    (a) Short Title.--This subtitle may be cited as the ``Railroad 
Infrastructure Financing Improvement Act''.
    (b) References to the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform 
Act of 1976.--Except as otherwise expressly provided, wherever in this 
subtitle an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment 
to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be 
considered to be made to a section or other provision of the Railroad 
Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976, as amended (45 U.S.C. 
801 et seq.).

SEC. 5602. DEFINITIONS.

    Section 501 (45 U.S.C. 821) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraph (8) as paragraph (10);
            (2) by redesignating paragraphs (6) and (7) as paragraphs 
        (7) and (8), respectively;
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following:
            ``(6) The term `investment-grade rating' means a rating of 
        BBB minus, Baa 3, bbb minus, BBB(low), or higher assigned by a 
        rating agency.'';
            (4) by inserting after paragraph (8), as redesignated, the 
        following:
            ``(9) The term `master credit agreement' means an agreement 
        to make 1 or more direct loans or loan guarantees at future 
        dates for a program of related projects on terms acceptable to 
        the Secretary.''; and
            (5) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(11) The term `obligor' means a party that--
                    ``(A) is primarily liable for payment of the 
                principal of or interest on a direct loan or loan 
                guarantee under this section; and
                    ``(B) may be a corporation, limited liability 
                company, partnership, joint venture, trust, or 
                governmental entity, agency, or instrumentality.
            ``(12) The term `project obligation' means a note, bond, 
        debenture, or other debt obligation issued by a borrower in 
        connection with the financing of a project, other than a direct 
        loan or loan guarantee under this title.
            ``(13) The term `railroad' has the meaning given the term 
        `railroad carrier' in section 20102 of title 49, United States 
        Code.
            ``(14) The term `rating agency' means a credit rating 
        agency registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
        as a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (as 
        defined in section 3(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
        (15 U.S.C. 78c(a))).
            ``(15) The term `substantial completion' means--
                    ``(A) the opening of a project to passenger or 
                freight traffic; or
                    ``(B) a comparable event, as determined by the 
                Secretary and specified in the direct loan.''.

SEC. 5603. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS.

    Section 502(a) (45 U.S.C. 822(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (5), by striking ``one railroad; and'' and 
        inserting ``1 of the entities described in paragraph (1), (2), 
        (3), (4), or (6);'';
            (2) by amending paragraph (6) to read as follows:
            ``(6) solely for the purpose of constructing a rail 
        connection between a plant or facility and a rail carrier, 
        limited option freight shippers that own or operate a plant or 
        other facility; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(7) any obligor, as designated by an entity otherwise 
        eligible to receive a direct loan or loan guarantee under this 
        section, including a special purpose entity receiving user fees 
        or other payments or revenues from dedicated sources for debt 
        service and maintenance of the equipment or facilities to be 
        acquired or improved; and
            ``(8) a public-private or private partnership between at 
        least 1 other entity listed in any of paragraphs (1) through 
        (7) and a consortium that specializes in real estate 
        development.''.

SEC. 5604. ELIGIBLE PURPOSES.

    Section 502(b)(1) (45 U.S.C. 822(b)(1)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``, and costs related 
        to these activities, including pre-construction costs'' after 
        ``shops'';
            (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``subparagraph (A); 
        or'' and inserting ``subparagraph (A) or (C);'';
            (3) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting a semicolon; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(D) reimburse planning and design expenses 
                relating to projects described in subparagraph (A) or 
                (C); or
                    ``(E) finance economic development, including 
                commercial and residential development, and related 
                infrastructure and activities, that--
                            ``(i) incorporates private investment;
                            ``(ii) is physically or functionally 
                        related to a passenger rail station or 
                        multimodal station that includes rail service;
                            ``(iii) has a high probability of the 
                        applicant commencing the contracting process 
                        for construction not later than 90 days after 
                        the date on which the direct loan or loan 
                        guarantee is obligated for the project under 
                        this title; and
                            ``(iv) has a high probability of reducing 
                        the need for financial assistance under any 
                        other Federal program for the relevant 
                        passenger rail station or service by increasing 
                        ridership, tenant lease payments, or other 
                        activities that generate revenue exceeding 
                        costs.''.

SEC. 5605. PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION.

    (a) Application Processing Procedures.--Section 502(i) (45 U.S.C. 
822(i)) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(i) Application Processing Procedures.--
            ``(1) Application status notices.--Not later than 30 days 
        after the date that the Secretary receives an application under 
        this section, the Secretary shall provide the applicant written 
        notice as to whether the application is complete or incomplete.
            ``(2) Incomplete applications.--If the Secretary determines 
        that an application is incomplete, the Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) provide the applicant with a description of 
                all of the specific information or material that is 
                needed to complete the application; and
                    ``(B) allow the applicant to resubmit the 
                information and material described under subparagraph 
                (A) to complete the application.
            ``(3) Application approvals and disapprovals.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the 
                date the Secretary notifies an applicant that an 
                application is complete under paragraph (1), the 
                Secretary shall provide the applicant written notice as 
                to whether the Secretary has approved or disapproved 
                the application.
                    ``(B) Actions by the office of management and 
                budget.--In order to enable compliance with the time 
                limit under subparagraph (A), the Office of Management 
                and Budget shall take any action required with respect 
                to the application within that 60-day period.
            ``(4) Expedited processing.--The Secretary shall implement 
        procedures and measures to economize the time and cost involved 
        in obtaining an approval or a disapproval of credit assistance 
        under this title.
            ``(5) Dashboard.--The Secretary shall post on the 
        Department of Transportation's public Web site a monthly report 
        that includes for each application--
                    ``(A) the name of the applicant or applicants;
                    ``(B) the location of the project;
                    ``(C) a brief description of the project, including 
                its purpose;
                    ``(D) the requested direct loan or loan guarantee 
                amount;
                    ``(E) the date on which the Secretary provided 
                application status notice under paragraph (1); and
                    ``(F) the date that the Secretary provided notice 
                of approval or disapproval under paragraph (3).''.
    (b) Administration of Direct Loans and Loan Guarantees.--Section 
503 (45 U.S.C. 823) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting ``, including a program guide and standard term 
        sheet and specific timetables.'';
            (2) by redesignating subsections (c) through (l) as 
        subsections (d) through (m), respectively;
            (3) by striking ``(b) Assignment of Loan Guarantees.--'' 
        and inserting ``(c) Assignment of Loan Guarantees.--'';
            (4) in subsection (d), as redesignated--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``; and'' and 
                inserting a semicolon;
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the 
                end and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) the modification cost has been covered under section 
        502(f).''; and
            (5) by amending subsection (l), as redesignated, to read as 
        follows:
    ``(l) Charges and Loan Servicing.--
            ``(1) Purposes.--The Secretary may collect and spend from 
        each applicant, obligor, or loan party a reasonable charge 
        for--
                    ``(A) the cost of evaluating the application, 
                amendments, modifications, and waivers, including for 
                evaluating project viability, applicant 
                creditworthiness, and the appraisal of the value of the 
                equipment or facilities for which the direct loan or 
                loan guarantee is sought, and for making necessary 
                determinations and findings;
                    ``(B) the cost of award management and project 
                management oversight;
                    ``(C) the cost of services from expert firms, 
                including counsel, and independent financial advisors 
                to assist in the underwriting, auditing, servicing, and 
                exercise of rights with respect to direct loans and 
                loan guarantees; and
                    ``(D) the cost of all other expenses incurred as a 
                result of a breach of any term or condition or any 
                event of default on a direct loan or loan guarantee.
            ``(2) Standards.--The Secretary may charge different 
        amounts under this subsection based on the different costs 
        incurred under paragraph (1).
            ``(3) Servicer.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary may appoint a 
                financial entity to assist the Secretary in servicing a 
                direct loan or loan guarantee under this section.
                    ``(B) Duties.--A servicer appointed under 
                subparagraph (A) shall act as the agent of the 
                Secretary in serving a direct loan or loan guarantee 
                under this section.
                    ``(C) Fees.--A servicer appointed under 
                subparagraph (A) shall receive a servicing fee from the 
                obligor or other loan party, subject to approval by the 
                Secretary.
            ``(4) Use of other federal funds.--Notwithstanding any 
        other provision of law, an applicant may use grants under 
        chapter 244 of title 49, United States Code, to pay any charge 
        under this subsection.
            ``(5) Safety and operations account.--Amounts collected 
        under this subsection shall--
                    ``(A) be credited directly to the Safety and 
                Operations account of the Federal Railroad 
                Administration; and
                    ``(B) remain available until expended to pay for 
                the costs described in this subsection.''.

SEC. 5606. LOAN TERMS AND REPAYMENT.

    (a) Prerequisites for Assistance.--Section 502(g)(1) (45 U.S.C. 
822(g)(1)) is amended by striking ``35 years from the date of its 
execution'' and inserting ``the lesser of 35 years after the date of 
substantial completion of the project or the estimated useful life of 
the rail equipment or facilities to be acquired, rehabilitated, 
improved, developed, or established''.
    (b) Repayment Schedules.--Section 502(j) (45 U.S.C. 822(j)) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``the sixth anniversary 
        date of the original loan disbursement'' and inserting ``5 
        years after the date of substantial completion''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) Deferred payments.--
                    ``(A) In general.--If at any time after the date of 
                substantial completion the project is unable to 
                generate sufficient revenues to pay the scheduled loan 
                repayments of principal and interest on the direct 
                loan, the Secretary, subject to subparagraph (B), may 
                allow, for a maximum aggregate time of 1 year over the 
                duration of the direct loan, the obligor to add unpaid 
                principal and interest to the outstanding balance of 
                the direct loan.
                    ``(B) Interest.--A payment deferred under 
                subparagraph (A) shall--
                            ``(i) continue to accrue interest under 
                        paragraph (2) until the loan is fully repaid; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) be scheduled to be amortized over 
                        the remaining term of the loan.
            ``(4) Prepayments.--
                    ``(A) Use of excess revenues.--Any excess revenues 
                that remain after satisfying scheduled debt service 
                requirements on the project obligations and direct loan 
                and all deposit requirements under the terms of any 
                trust agreement, bond resolution, or similar agreement 
                securing project obligations may be applied annually to 
                prepay the direct loan without penalty.
                    ``(B) Use of proceeds of refinancing.--The direct 
                loan may be prepaid at any time without penalty from 
                the proceeds of refinancing from non-Federal funding 
                sources.''.
    (c) Sale of Direct Loans.--Section 502 (45 U.S.C. 822) is amended 
by adding at the end the following:
    ``(k) Sale of Direct Loans.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2) and as soon as 
        practicable after substantial completion of a project, the 
        Secretary, after notifying the obligor, may sell to another 
        entity or reoffer into the capital markets a direct loan for 
        the project if the Secretary determines that the sale or 
        reoffering has a high probability of being made on favorable 
        terms.
            ``(2) Consent of obligor.--In making a sale or reoffering 
        under paragraph (1), the Secretary may not change the original 
        terms and conditions of the secured loan without the prior 
        written consent of the obligor.''.
    (d) Nonsubordination.--Section 502 (45 U.S.C. 822), as amended in 
subsection (c), is further amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(l) Nonsubordination.--
            ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2)(B), 
        a direct loan shall not be subordinated to the claims of any 
        holder of project obligations in the event of bankruptcy, 
        insolvency, or liquidation of the obligor.
            ``(2) Preexisting indentures.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary may waive the 
                requirement under paragraph (1) for a public agency 
                borrower that is financing ongoing capital programs and 
                has outstanding senior bonds under a preexisting 
                indenture if--
                            ``(i) the direct loan is rated in the A 
                        category or higher;
                            ``(ii) the direct loan is secured and 
                        payable from pledged revenues not affected by 
                        project performance, such as a tax-based 
                        revenue pledge or a system-backed pledge of 
                        project revenues; and
                            ``(iii) the program share, under this 
                        title, of eligible project costs is 50 percent 
                        or less.
                    ``(B) Limitation.--The Secretary may impose 
                limitations for the waiver of the nonsubordination 
                requirement under this paragraph if the Secretary 
                determines that such limitations would be in the 
                financial interest of the Federal Government.''.

SEC. 5607. CREDIT RISK PREMIUMS.

    Section 502(f) (45 U.S.C. 822(f)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by amending the first sentence to 
        read as follows: ``In lieu of or in combination with 
        appropriations of budget authority to cover the costs of direct 
        loans and loan guarantees as required under section 504(b)(1) 
        of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C. 661c(b)(1)), 
        including the cost of a modification thereof, the Secretary may 
        accept on behalf of an applicant for assistance under this 
        section a commitment from a non-Federal source, including a 
        State or local government or agency or public benefit 
        corporation or public authority thereof, to fund in whole or in 
        part credit risk premiums and modification costs with respect 
        to the loan that is the subject of the application or 
        modification.'';
            (2) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (D), by adding ``and'' after 
                the semicolon;
                    (B) by striking subparagraph (E); and
                    (C) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as 
                subparagraph (E);
            (3) by striking paragraph (4);
            (4) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4);
            (5) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
            ``(3) Creditworthiness.--An applicant may propose and the 
        Secretary may accept as a basis for determining the amount of 
        the credit risk premium under paragraph (2) any of the 
        following in addition to the value of any tangible asset:
                    ``(A) The net present value of a future stream of 
                State or local subsidy income or other dedicated 
                revenues to secure the direct loan or loan guarantee.
                    ``(B) Adequate coverage requirements to ensure 
                repayment, on a non-recourse basis, from cash flows 
                generated by the project or any other dedicated revenue 
                source, including--
                            ``(i) tolls;
                            ``(ii) user fees; or
                            ``(iii) payments owing to the obligor under 
                        a public-private partnership.
                    ``(C) An investment-grade rating on the direct loan 
                or loan guarantee, as applicable, except that if the 
                total amount of the direct loan or loan guarantee is 
                greater than $75,000,000, the applicant shall have an 
                investment-grade rating from at least 2 rating agencies 
                on the direct loan or loan guarantee.'';
            (6) in paragraph (4), as redesignated, by striking 
        ``amounts'' and inserting ``amounts (and in the case of a 
        modification, before the modification is executed), to the 
        extent appropriations are not available to the Secretary to 
        meet the costs of direct loans and loan guarantees, including 
        costs of modifications thereof''; and
            (7) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) Use of other federal funds.--Notwithstanding any 
        other provision of law, an applicant may use grants under 
        chapter 244 of title 49, United States Code, to pay part or all 
        of a credit risk premium or modification cost under this 
        subsection.''.

SEC. 5608. MASTER CREDIT AGREEMENTS.

    Section 502 (45 U.S.C. 822), as amended by subsections (c) and (d) 
of section 5606 of this Act, is further amended by adding at the end 
the following:
    ``(m) Master Credit Agreements.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to section 502(d) and paragraph 
        (2) of this subsection, the Secretary may enter into a master 
        credit agreement that provides for all of the conditions for 
        the provision of a direct loan or loan guarantee, as 
        applicable, under this title and other applicable requirements 
        to be satisfied prior to the issuance of the direct loan or 
        loan guarantee.
            ``(2) Conditions.--Each master credit agreement shall--
                    ``(A) establish the maximum amount and general 
                terms and conditions of each applicable direct loan or 
                loan guarantee;
                    ``(B) identify 1 or more dedicated non-Federal 
                revenue sources that will secure the repayment of each 
                applicable direct loan or loan guarantee;
                    ``(C) provide for the obligation of funds for the 
                direct loans or loan guarantees after all requirements 
                have been met for the projects subject to the master 
                credit agreement; and
                    ``(D) provide 1 or more dates, as determined by the 
                Secretary, before which the master credit agreement 
                results in each of the direct loans or loan guarantees 
                or in the release of the master credit agreement.''.

SEC. 5609. PRIORITIES AND CONDITIONS.

    (a) Priority Projects.--Section 502(c) (45 U.S.C. 822(c)) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``, including projects 
        for the installation of a positive train control system (as 
        defined in section 20157(i) of title 49, United States Code)'' 
        after ``public safety'';
            (2) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs 
        (3) and (2), respectively;
            (3) in paragraph (5), by inserting ``or chapter 227 of 
        title 49'' after ``section 135 of title 23'';
            (4) by redesignating paragraphs (6) through (8) as 
        paragraphs (7) through (9), respectively; and
            (5) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following:
            ``(6) improve railroad stations and passenger facilities 
        and increase transit-oriented development;''.
    (b) Conditions of Assistance.--Section 502(h) (45 U.S.C. 822(h)) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``, if applicable'' 
        after ``project''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) For a project described in subsection (b)(1)(E), the 
        Secretary shall require the applicant, obligor, or other loan 
        party, in addition to the interest required under subsection 
        (e), to provide the sponsor of the intercity passenger rail 
        service or its designee, a fee or payment in an amount 
        determined appropriate by the Secretary to provide an equitable 
        share of project revenue to support the capital or operating 
        costs of the routes serving the passenger rail station or 
        multimodal station where the development is located.''.

SEC. 5610. SAVINGS PROVISION.

    (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), this 
subtitle, and the amendments made by this subtitle, shall not affect 
any direct loan (or direct loan obligation) or an outstanding loan 
guarantee (or loan guarantee commitment) that was in effect prior to 
the date of enactment of this Act. Any such transaction entered into 
before the date of enactment of this Act shall be administered until 
completion under its terms as if this Act were not enacted.
    (b) Modification Costs.--At the discretion of the Secretary, the 
authority to accept modification costs on behalf of an applicant under 
section 502(f) of the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act 
of 1976 (45 U.S.C. 822(f)), as amended by section 5607 of this Act, may 
apply with respect to any direct loan (or direct loan obligation) or an 
outstanding loan guarantee (or loan guarantee commitment) that was in 
effect prior to the date of enactment of this Act.
                                 <all>