[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 151 (Thursday, September 19, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5606-S5607]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DURBIN (for himself and Mr. Braun):
  S. 2518. A bill to amend title 49, United States Code, to establish 
an Assistant Secretary for Rural Economic Investment and an Office of 
Rural Economic Investment, to ensure that rural communities are 
adequately represented in Federal decisionmaking for transportation 
policy, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 2518

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Rural Economic 
     Infrastructure Equity Act of 2019''.

     SEC. 2. RURAL ECONOMIC INVESTMENT.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the 
     Department of Transportation.
       (2) Relevant congressional committees.--The term ``relevant 
     congressional committees'' means--
       (A) the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
     the House of Representatives;
       (B) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
     Representatives;
       (C) the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the 
     Senate;
       (D) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
     of the Senate;
       (E) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of 
     the Senate;
       (F) the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban 
     Development, and Related Agencies of the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and
       (G) the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban 
     Development, and Related Agencies of the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the Senate.
       (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Transportation.
       (b) Establishment.--
       (1) In general.--Section 102 of title 49, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (A) in subsection (a), by inserting ``(referred to in this 
     section as the `Department')'' after ``Department of 
     Transportation'';
       (B) in subsection (e)(1)--
       (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
     ``6'' and inserting ``7'';
       (ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (iii) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph 
     (E); and
       (iv) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following:
       ``(D) an Assistant Secretary for Rural Economic Investment, 
     who shall be appointed by the Secretary; and'';
       (C) in subsection (f)(1), by striking ``Department of 
     Transportation'' each place it appears and inserting 
     ``Department'';
       (D) by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (i); and
       (E) by inserting after subsection (g) the following:
       ``(h) Office of Rural Economic Investment.--
       ``(1) In general.--There is established in the Department 
     an Office of Rural Economic Investment (referred to in this 
     subsection as the `Office').
       ``(2) Leadership.--The head of the Office shall be the 
     Assistant Secretary for Rural Economic Investment (referred 
     to in this subsection as the `Assistant Secretary'), who 
     shall report directly to the Secretary.
       ``(3) Mission and goals.--The mission and goals of the 
     Office shall be to coordinate with other offices and agencies 
     within the Department and with other Federal agencies--
       ``(A) to ensure that the unique needs and attributes of 
     rural transportation, involving all modes, are fully 
     addressed and prioritized during the development and 
     implementation of transportation policies, programs, and 
     activities within the Department;
       ``(B) to improve coordination of Federal transportation 
     policies, programs, and activities within the Department in a 
     manner that expands economic development in rural communities 
     and regions, and to provide recommendations for improvement, 
     including additional reorganization and realignments;
       ``(C) to expand Federal transportation infrastructure 
     investment in rural communities, including by providing 
     recommendations for changes in formula funds or other 
     existing funding distribution patterns;
       ``(D) to use innovation to resolve local and regional 
     transportation challenges faced by rural communities;
       ``(E) to promote and improve planning and coordination 
     among rural areas to maximize the unique competitive 
     advantage in those areas while avoiding duplicative Federal, 
     State and local investments; and
       ``(F) to ensure that all rural communities lacking 
     resources receive proactive outreach, education, and 
     technical assistance to improve access to Federal 
     transportation programs.
       ``(4) Duties of assistant secretary.--The Assistant 
     Secretary shall--
       ``(A) provide information and outreach to rural communities 
     concerning the availability and eligibility requirements of 
     participating in programs of the Department;
       ``(B) help rural communities identify competitive economic 
     advantages and avoid duplicative transportation investments 
     in order to ensure continued economic growth;
       ``(C) serve as a resource for assisting rural communities 
     with respect to Federal transportation programs;
       ``(D) ensure and coordinate a routine rural consultation on 
     the development of policies, programs, and activities of the 
     Department;
       ``(E) serve as an advocate within the Department on behalf 
     of rural communities; and
       ``(F) work in coordination with the Department of 
     Agriculture, the Department of Health and Human Services, the 
     Department of Commerce, the Federal Communications 
     Commission, and other Federal agencies, as the Secretary 
     determines to be appropriate, in carrying out the 
     responsibilities of the Assistant Secretary.
       ``(5) Contracts and agreements.--For the purpose of 
     carrying out the mission and goals of the Office under 
     paragraph (3) and the duties of the Assistant Secretary under 
     paragraph (4), the Assistant Secretary may enter into 
     contracts, cooperative agreements, and other agreements as 
     necessary, including with research centers, institutions of 
     higher education, States, units of local government, 
     nonprofit organizations, or a combination of any of those 
     entities--
       ``(A) to conduct research on transportation investments 
     that promote rural economic development;
       ``(B) to solicit information in the development of policy, 
     programs, and activities of the Department that can improve 
     infrastructure investment and economic development in rural 
     areas;
       ``(C) to develop educational and outreach materials, 
     including the conduct of workshops, courses, and certified 
     training for rural communities and regions that can further 
     the mission and goals of the Office and the Department; and
       ``(D) to carry out any other activities, as determined by 
     the Secretary to be appropriate.
       ``(6) Employees.--The Secretary shall ensure that not more 
     than 4 full-time equivalent employees are assigned to the 
     Office.
       ``(7) Applicability.--In carrying out the mission and goals 
     of the Office under paragraph (3) and the duties of the 
     Assistant Secretary under paragraph (4), the Assistant 
     Secretary shall consider as rural any area considered to be a 
     rural area under a Federal transportation program of the 
     Department.''.
       (2) Council on credit and finance.--Section 117(b)(1) of 
     title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
     the following:
       ``(I) The Assistant Secretary for Rural Economic 
     Investment.''.
       (c) Reorganization Proposal.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation with the 
     relevant congressional committees, shall develop a proposed 
     reorganization of the functions of the Department to ensure 
     improved coordination and prioritization of programs and 
     services that promote rural infrastructure investment, 
     expansion, equity, and economic development.
       (2) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the 
     relevant congressional committees a report that describes the 
     proposed reorganization plan under paragraph (1).
       (d) Rural Consultation.--
       (1) Requirement.--
       (A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, each office and agency within the 
     Department shall develop and implement a process to ensure 
     meaningful and timely input from rural stakeholders during 
     the development of any regulation, guidance, or policy that 
     would have substantial direct effects on 1 or more rural 
     areas.
       (B) Consultation.--To the maximum extent practicable and in 
     accordance with applicable Federal law, an office or agency 
     of the Department shall not promulgate a regulation, issue 
     guidance, or implement a policy

[[Page S5607]]

     described in subparagraph (A) unless the office or agency--
       (i) consults with rural stakeholders before developing the 
     proposed regulation;
       (ii) publishes in the Federal Register a summary rural 
     impact statement, which shall consist of--

       (I) a description of the consultation with rural 
     stakeholders on the regulation, guidance, or policy;
       (II) a summary of any concerns raised by the rural 
     stakeholders;
       (III) a description of the extent to which concerns 
     referred to in subclause (II) have been alleviated; and
       (IV) a description of why the regulation, guidance, or 
     policy is needed; and

       (iii) submits to the Director of the Office of Management 
     and Budget--

       (I) the summary rural impact statement described in clause 
     (ii); and
       (II) on request of the Director, any written communications 
     submitted to the office or agency from rural stakeholders.

       (2) Designation.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, each office and agency within the 
     Department shall designate an official within that office or 
     agency to serve as the official with principal responsibility 
     for the implementation of this subsection.
       (e) Advisory Committee.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a rural 
     transportation advisory council (referred to in this 
     subsection as the ``advisory council'') to consult with and 
     advise the Office of Rural Economic Investment.
       (2) Membership.--The Secretary shall appoint members to the 
     advisory council in a manner that ensures that the geographic 
     and economic diversity of rural regions of the United States 
     are represented.
       (3) Meetings.--The advisory council shall meet not less 
     than twice per year, as determined by the Secretary.
       (4) Duties.--The advisory council shall--
       (A) advise the Office of Rural Economic Investment on 
     issues related to rural needs relating to Federal 
     transportation programs;
       (B) develop recommendations for any changes to Federal law, 
     regulations, internal Department guidance, or other measures 
     that would eliminate barriers for rural access or improve 
     rural equity in transportation investments;
       (C) examine methods of maximizing the number of 
     opportunities for assistance for rural areas under Federal 
     transportation programs, including expanded outreach and 
     technical assistance;
       (D) examine methods of encouraging intergovernmental and 
     local resource cooperation to mitigate duplicative 
     investments in key regions and improve the efficiencies in 
     the delivery of Federal transportation programs;
       (E) evaluate other methods of creating new opportunities 
     for rural regions; and
       (F) address any other relevant issues as the Secretary 
     determines to be appropriate.
                                 ______