[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 137 (Monday, August 2, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5573-S5574]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 2142. Mr. MARKEY (for himself and Ms. Warren) submitted an
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 3684, to
authorize funds for Federal-aid highways, highway safety programs, and
transit programs, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on
the table; as follows:
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
SEC. __. NORTH ATLANTIC RAIL INTERSTATE COMPACT.
(a) In General.--Chapter 249 of title 49, United States
Code, is amended by inserting after section 24905 the
following:
``Sec. 24905A. North Atlantic Rail Interstate Compact; North
Atlantic Rail Network
``(a) North Atlantic Rail Interstate Compact.--
``(1) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary of
Transportation shall appoint a director for the North
Atlantic Rail Interstate Compact (referred to in this section
as the `Compact') in collaboration with states identified in
paragraph (2)(A).
``(2) Board of directors.--
``(A) Composition.--The Compact shall be governed by a
board of directors, which shall be composed of directors, of
whom--
``(i) 2 directors shall be appointed by the Secretary of
Transportation;
``(ii) 1 director shall be appointed by the Chief Executive
Officer of Amtrak;
``(iii) 2 directors shall be appointed by the Governor of
Connecticut;
``(iv) 2 directors shall be appointed by the Governor of
Maine;
``(v) 2 directors shall be appointed by the Governor of
Massachusetts;
``(vi) 2 directors shall be appointed by the Governor of
New Hampshire;
``(vii) 2 directors shall be appointed by the Governor of
New York;
``(viii) 2 directors shall be appointed by the Governor of
Rhode Island; and
``(ix) 2 directors shall be appointed by the Governor of
Vermont.
``(B) Term; qualifications.--Of the individuals appointed
pursuant to each of the clauses (iii) through (ix) of
paragraph (1)--
``(i) 1 shall be the head of the respective State
department of transportation; and
``(ii) the other director appointed by the respective
governor--
``(I) shall serve for a 5-year term;
``(II) shall be a resident of the appointing governor's
State;
[[Page S5574]]
``(III) may not be an employee of the government of such
State; and
``(IV) shall be an expert in transportation policy,
finance, public policy, planning or a related discipline
associated with the purpose and mission of the Compact.
``(C) No compensation.--Directors shall serve without pay,
but shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu
of subsistence, in accordance with applicable provisions of
subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code.
``(3) Purpose.--The purpose of the Compact shall be to
construct, on an accelerated basis, a North Atlantic Rail
Network in order--
``(A) to provide clean, safe, coordinated and efficient
high-speed and high-performance passenger rail transportation
in the 7-State North Atlantic Rail Network region; including
the improvement of existing intercity passenger rail
services;
``(B) to reduce carbon emissions from auto and air
transportation in such region in order to meet the greenhouse
gas performance targets established under section 150(d) of
title 23; and
``(C) to provide employment opportunities and economic
development in the cities and regions served by a North
Atlantic Rail Network.
``(4) Staffing.--The directors and officers of the Compact
may appoint and fix the pay of such personnel, as they
consider necessary and appropriate, to advance the design and
construction of a North Atlantic Rail Network.
``(5) Coordination.--The Compact, in designing and
constructing a North Atlantic Rail Network, shall coordinate
and cooperate with--
``(A) the Secretary of Transportation;
``(B) the Northeast Corridor Commission;
``(C) Amtrak;
``(D) State departments of transportation, regional
transportation authorities, and other State-established
entities, responsible for the provision of passenger rail in
the North Atlantic Rail Network region; and
``(E) freight railroads that host passenger trains or
operate freight trains over passenger rail lines within the
territory.
``(b) North Atlantic Rail Network.--
``(1) Creation.--Notwithstanding the existing service along
the Northeast Corridor, the Compact shall construct a North
Atlantic Rail Network, which may include--
``(A) additional high-speed rail service between Boston and
New York;
``(B) a high-performance network of intercity passenger
rail transportation throughout the 7-State region; and
``(C) an integrated network of metropolitan passenger rail
transportation coordinated with the high-speed rail service
referred to in subparagraph (A).
``(2) Authorizations.--The Compact shall have the same
authorities provided to interstate compacts in section 410 of
the Amtrak Reform and Accountability Act of 1997 (49 U.S.C.
24101 note), including--
``(A) receiving appropriations--
``(i) to plan, design, engineer, and acquire property
(including railroad rights-of-way);
``(ii) to conduct competitive procurements;
``(iii) to enter into construction contracts;
``(iv) to form project labor agreements; and
``(v) to construct a North Atlantic Rail Network;
``(B) utilizing all design-build and other alternative
procurement policies and practices approved by the Department
of Transportation;
``(C) utilizing existing authorities to expedite reviews
for infrastructure investment within existing rights of way
under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); and
``(D) contracting with Amtrak, State departments of
transportation, or related operating entities within the 7-
State North Atlantic Rail Network region to design or
construct elements of a North Atlantic Rail Network.
``(3) Commencement of operations.--The Compact shall
commence operations and be eligible for appropriated funding
in any State that has ratified the Compact, upon the
ratification of a minimum of 2 states of the Compact.
``(4) Responsibilities.--If a State department of
transportation or its related operating entity owns the
right-of-way for a rail line segment within a North Atlantic
Rail Network, such department or entity shall be responsible
for the design and construction of improvements on such
segment of a North Atlantic Rail Network.
``(5) Work performed on right-of-way.--Notwithstanding
paragraph (2)(D), all work done in existing rail right-of-way
shall be performed only in accordance with the rail
collective bargaining agreements applicable to work performed
on such right-of-way.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 249 of
title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after
the item relating to section 24905 the following:
``24905A. North Atlantic Rail Interstate Compact; North Atlantic Rail
Network.''.
(c) Sunset.--Upon the earlier of the completion of the
construction of all of the elements of a North Atlantic Rail
Network created pursuant to subsection (b)(1) of section
24905A of title 49, United States Code, as added by this Act,
or the date that is 20 years after the date of the enactment
of this Act--
(1) the North Atlantic Rail Interstate Compact established
pursuant to subsection (a)(1) of such section shall be
dissolved; and
(2) the assets of the North Atlantic Rail Interstate
Compact shall be transferred to Amtrak.
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