[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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