[House Report 116-106]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


116th Congress    }                                    {        Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session      }                                    {       116-106

======================================================================



 
 DEPARTMENTS OF TRANSPORTATION, AND HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND 
               RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2020

                                _______
                                

  June 6, 2019.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

  Mr. Price of North Carolina, from the Committee on Appropriations, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                             together with

                             MINORITY VIEWS

                        [To accompany H.R. 3163]

    The Committee on Appropriations submits the following 
report in explanation of the accompanying bill making 
appropriations for the Departments of Transportation, Housing 
and Urban Development, and related agencies for the fiscal year 
ending September 30, 2020.

                        INDEX TO BILL AND REPORT

_______________________________________________________________________


                                                            Page number

                                                            Bill Report
Title I--Department of Transportation......................     2
                                                                      6
Title II--Department of Housing and Urban Development......   104
                                                                     80
Title III--Related Agencies................................   200
                                                                    118
Title IV--General Provisions...............................   204
                                                                    122
Minority Views.............................................
                                                                    193

                     PROGRAM, PROJECT, AND ACTIVITY

    During fiscal year 2020, for the purposes of the Balanced 
Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Public Law 
99-177), as amended, with respect to appropriations contained 
in the accompanying bill, the terms ``program, project, and 
activity'' (PPA) shall mean any item for which a dollar amount 
is contained in appropriations acts (including joint 
resolutions providing continuing appropriations) and 
accompanying reports of the House and Senate Committees on 
Appropriations, or accompanying conference reports and joint 
explanatory statements of the committee of conference. This 
definition shall apply to all programs for which new budget 
(obligational) authority is provided, as well as to 
discretionary grants and discretionary grant allocations made 
through either bill or report language.
    The Committee directs the Departments and agencies funded 
by this bill to address each number listed in the reports in 
their respective operating plans and warns that efforts to 
operate programs at levels contrary to the levels recommended 
and directed in these reports would not be advised.

              OPERATING PLANS AND REPROGRAMMING GUIDELINES

    The Committee includes a provision (Sec. 405) establishing 
the authority by which funding available to the agencies funded 
by this Act may be reprogrammed for other purposes. The 
provision specifically requires the advance approval of the 
House and Senate Committees on Appropriations of any proposal 
to reprogram funds that:
           creates a new program;
           eliminates a program, project, or activity 
        (PPA);
           increases funds or personnel for any PPA for 
        which funds have been denied or restricted by the 
        Congress;
           redirects funds that were directed in such 
        reports for a specific activity to a different purpose;
           augments an existing PPA in excess of 
        $5,000,000 or 10 percent, whichever is less;
           reduces an existing PPA by $5,000,000 or 10 
        percent, whichever is less; or
           creates, reorganizes, or restructures 
        offices different from the congressional budget 
        justifications or the table at the end of the Committee 
        report, whichever is more detailed.
    The Committee retains the requirement that each agency 
submit an operating plan to the House and Senate Committees on 
Appropriations not later than 60 days after enactment of this 
Act to establish the baseline for application of reprogramming 
and transfer authorities provided in this Act. Specifically, 
each agency must provide a table for each appropriation with 
columns displaying the budget request; adjustments made by 
Congress; adjustments for rescissions, if appropriate; and the 
fiscal year enacted level. The table shall delineate the 
appropriation both by object class and by PPA. The report also 
must identify items of special Congressional interest. In 
certain instances, the Committee may direct the agency to 
submit a revised operating plan for approval or may direct 
changes to the operating plan if the plan is not consistent 
with the directives of the conference report and statement of 
the managers.
    The Committee expects the agencies and bureaus to submit 
reprogramming requests in a timely manner and to provide a 
thorough explanation of the proposed reallocations, including a 
detailed justification of increases and reductions and the 
specific impact of proposed changes on the budget request for 
the following fiscal year. Any reprogramming request shall 
include any out-year budgetary impacts and a separate 
accounting of program or mission impacts on estimated carryover 
funds. Reprogramming procedures shall apply to funds provided 
in this Act, unobligated balances from previous appropriations 
Acts that are available for obligation or expenditure in fiscal 
year 2020, and non-appropriated resources such as fee 
collections that are used to meet program requirements in 
fiscal year 2020.
    The Committee expects each agency to manage its programs 
and activities within the amounts appropriated by Congress. The 
Committee reminds agencies that reprogramming requests should 
be submitted only in the case of an unforeseeable emergency or 
a situation that could not have been anticipated when 
formulating the budget request for the current fiscal year. 
Except in emergency situations, reprogramming requests should 
be submitted no later than June 30, 2020. Further, the 
Committee notes that when a Department or agency submits a 
reprogramming or transfer request to the Committees on 
Appropriations and does not receive identical responses from 
the House and Senate, it is the responsibility of the 
Department to reconcile the House and Senate differences before 
proceeding and, if reconciliation is not possible, to consider 
the request to reprogram funds unapproved.
    The Committee would also like to clarify that this section 
applies to working capital funds of both the Department of 
Transportation (DOT) and Department of Housing and Urban 
Development (HUD) and that no funds may be obligated from 
working capital fund accounts to augment programs, projects, or 
activities for which appropriations have been specifically 
rejected by the Congress, or to increase funds or personnel for 
any PPA above the amounts appropriated by this Act.

                  CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET JUSTIFICATIONS

    Budget justifications are the primary tool used by the 
House and Senate Committees on Appropriations to evaluate the 
resource requirements and fiscal needs of agencies. The 
Committee is aware that the format and presentation of budget 
materials is largely left to the agency within presentation 
objectives set forth by the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB). In fact, OMB Circular A-11, part 1 specifically 
instructs agencies to consult with congressional committees 
beforehand. The Committee expects that all agencies funded 
under this Act will heed this directive.
    The Committee expects all of the budget justifications to 
provide the data needed to make appropriate and meaningful 
funding decisions. The Committee continues the direction that 
justifications submitted with the fiscal year 2021 budget 
request by agencies funded under this Act contain the customary 
level of detailed data and explanatory statements to support 
the appropriations requests at the level of detail contained in 
the funding table included at the end of this report. Among 
other items, agencies shall provide a detailed discussion of 
proposed new initiatives, proposed changes in the agency's 
financial plan from prior year enactment, detailed data on all 
programs, and comprehensive information on any office or agency 
restructurings. At a minimum, each agency must also provide 
adequate justification for funding and staffing changes for 
each individual office and materials that compare programs, 
projects, and activities that are proposed for fiscal year 2021 
to the fiscal year 2020 enacted levels.
    The Committee is aware that the analytical materials 
required for review by the Committee are unique to each agency 
in this Act. Therefore, the Committee expects that each agency 
will coordinate with the House and Senate Committees on 
Appropriations in advance on its planned presentation for its 
budget justification materials in support of the fiscal year 
2021 budget request.

                             OTHER MATTERS

    The Committee directs each of the Departments and agencies 
funded by this Act to identify opportunities to prioritize 
resilience, equity, regional efforts, and robust stakeholder 
engagement.
    Resiliency.--The Committee believes that every new 
construction or major rehabilitation project funded by this Act 
should be constructed to the most current relevant standards 
and that these projects should address the risk of structure 
failure or loss of use from natural hazards throughout the 
lifetime of the project. As a measure of responsible fiscal 
prudence, resilient construction and land management practices 
should be integrated into every program funded by this Act.
    Performance measures.--The Committee directs each of the 
Departments and agencies funded by this Act to comply with 
title 31 of the United States Code including the development of 
their organizational priority goals and outcomes such as 
performance outcome measures, output measures, efficiency 
measures, and customer service measures.
    Customer service.--The Committee continues to support 
efforts to improve customer service in accordance with 
Executive Order 13571. The Committee directs all Departments 
and agencies funded by this Act to develop standards to improve 
customer service and incorporate the standards into the 
performance plans required under title 31 of the United States 
Code. Further, the Committee recognizes not all Departments and 
agencies are subject to Executive Order 13571. For such 
Departments and agencies funded by this Act, the Committee 
directs the Departments and agencies to make continuous 
improvements and adopt best practices for improving customer 
service.
    Regional councils of government.--The Committee recommends 
that all Departments and agencies funded by this Act list 
regional councils and councils of governments as eligible 
entities in competitions for Federal funding whenever local 
governments or non-profit agencies are eligible entities. 
Furthermore, it is the desire of the Committee that all 
Departments and agencies actively seek opportunities for 
regional councils and councils of governments to serve as lead 
applicants and grantees in order to encourage and expand 
greater regional collaboration. In the competitive grants 
process, all Departments and agencies should work with entities 
having previous experience with administering Federal funding 
that resulted in successful, comprehensive, well-coordinated 
outcomes. Further, all Departments and agencies should 
encourage regional systems planning and coordination to ensure 
more efficient and expeditious development of systems needed to 
sustain regional growth, economic prosperity, and global 
competitiveness.
    Native plant preference.--In undertaking a land management 
activity on lands under the jurisdiction of any of the 
Departments or agencies funded by this Act, including 
maintenance and restoration in response to degradation caused 
by human activity or natural events (such as fire, flood, or 
infestation), the Committee directs that it be the policy of 
the aforementioned agencies that preference shall be made, to 
the extent practicable, for the use of locally adapted native 
plant materials.
    Contracting.--As the largest advertiser in the United 
States, the Federal government should work to ensure fair 
access to its advertising contracts for small, disadvantaged 
businesses and businesses owned by minorities and women. The 
Committee directs each Department and agency funded by this Act 
to include the following information in its fiscal year 2021 
budget justification: expenditures for fiscal year 2019 and 
expected expenditures for fiscal year 2021, respectively, for 
(1) all contracts for advertising services; and (2) contracts 
for the advertising services of all Small Business 
Administration-recognized socioeconomic subcategory-certified 
small businesses, as defined in the Small Business Act, and 
minority-owned businesses.
    First aid kit enhancements.--The Committee is aware that 
first aid products endorsed by the Department of Defense's 
Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care (CoTCCC) help reduce 
death or trauma as a result of bleeding. To improve outcomes in 
crisis situations, the Committee encourages the Departments and 
agencies funded by this Act to incorporate CoTCCC supported 
dressings in first aid kits.
    Targeted investments in impoverished areas.--The Committee 
supports targeted investments in impoverished areas, 
particularly in persistent poverty counties and in other high-
poverty census tracts. To understand how programs funded 
through the Departments and agencies funded by this Act are 
serving these particular areas, the Committee directs the 
Departments and agencies to submit a report to the House and 
Senate Committees on Appropriations on the percentage of funds 
allocated by each program in fiscal years 2017, 2018, and 2019 
and estimates for fiscal year 2020 to serve populations living 
in persistent poverty counties, as defined as a county that has 
had 20 percent or more of its population living in poverty over 
the past 30 years, as measured by the 1990 and 2000 decennial 
censuses and the most recent Small Area Income and Poverty 
estimates, and high-poverty areas, as defined as any census 
tract with a poverty rate of at least 20 percent as measured by 
the 2013-2017 five-year data series available from the American 
Community Survey of the Census Bureau. The Departments and 
agencies shall report this information to the Committees within 
90 days of such data being available and provide a briefing to 
the Committees no later than 180 days of enactment of this Act 
on how the Departments and agencies are carrying out this 
directive.
    Fair access to science and technology research.--The 
Committee applauds the progress made by the White House Office 
of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) on the Department and 
agency public access plans required by the February 22, 2013 
Memorandum on Increasing Access to the Results of Federally 
Funded Scientific Research. The Committee understands that 22 
Departments and agencies with annual expenditures on research 
and development of $100,000,000 or more have completed their 
public access plans for increasing access to peer reviewed 
scholarly publications and digital data resulting from 
Federally funded research. The Committee encourages OSTP to 
continue its efforts to coordinate the implementation of public 
access policies across all Departments and agencies funded by 
this Act and to identify additional opportunities to enhance 
access to the results of Federally funded research. The 
Committee urges OSTP to report on an annual basis on the 
progress of all Departments and agencies funded by this Act in 
implementing their public access plans, including relevant 
measures of progress, and on additional steps being taken to 
improve access to the results of Federally funded research.
    MEGABYTE Act.--The Government Accountability Office (GAO) 
has repeatedly identified software acquisition and licensing as 
high-risk due to significant vulnerabilities to fraud, waste, 
abuse, and mismanagement. The Committee notes that HUD received 
a failing grade on the most recent Oversight and Government 
Reform Committee's Biannual FITARA Scorecard for software 
licensing, while DOT has made significant improvements. The 
Committee directs the Departments and agencies funded by this 
Act to prioritize the management of software licenses, 
including inventory and analysis of usage, as required by the 
MEGABYTE Act (P.L. 114-210).
    Tribal consultation.--The GAO recently completed a review 
of Federal agencies' processes for consulting with Indian 
tribes and Alaska Native corporations on infrastructure 
projects and related activities, such as permitting, which may 
impact tribal natural and cultural resources. The Committee 
supports strong tribal consultation, and directs the 
Departments funded by this Act to prioritize implementing the 
GAO recommendations.

                 TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION


                        Office of the Secretary


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................      $113,910,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................       117,993,000
Recommended in the bill...............................       113,910,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................             - - -
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................        -4,083,000
 

    Immediate Office of the Secretary.--The immediate Office of 
the Secretary has primary responsibility to provide overall 
planning, direction, and control of departmental affairs.
    Immediate Office of the Deputy Secretary.--The Office of 
the Deputy Secretary has primary responsibility to assist the 
Secretary in the overall planning, direction, and control of 
departmental affairs. The Deputy Secretary serves as the chief 
operating officer of the Department of Transportation.
    Office of the General Counsel.--The Office of the General 
Counsel provides legal services to the Office of the Secretary 
and coordinates and reviews the legal work of the chief 
counsels' offices of the operating administrations.
    Office of the Under Secretary of Transportation for 
Policy.--The Office of the Under Secretary of Transportation 
for Policy serves as the Department's chief policy officer, and 
is responsible for the coordination and development of 
departmental policy and legislative initiatives; international 
standards development and harmonization; aviation and other 
transportation-related trade negotiations; the performance of 
policy and economic analysis; and the execution of the 
Essential Air Service program.
    Office of the Assistant Secretary for Budget and 
Programs.--The Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs is 
responsible for developing, reviewing, and presenting budget 
resource requirements for the Department to the Secretary, 
Congress, and Office of Management and Budget.
    Office of the Assistant Secretary for Governmental 
Affairs.--The Office of the Assistant Secretary for 
Governmental Affairs is responsible for coordinating all 
Congressional, intergovernmental, and consumer activities of 
the Department.
    Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration.--The 
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration serves as 
the principal advisor to the Secretary on department-wide 
administrative matters and the responsibilities include 
leadership in acquisition reform and human capital.
    Office of Public Affairs.--The Office of Public Affairs is 
responsible for the Department's press releases, articles, 
briefing materials, publications, and audio-visual materials.
    Executive Secretariat.--The Executive Secretariat assists 
the Secretary and Deputy Secretary in carrying out their 
responsibilities by controlling and coordinating internal and 
external documents.
    Office of Intelligence, Security, and Emergency Response.--
The Office of Intelligence, Security, and Emergency Response is 
responsible for intelligence, security policy, preparedness, 
training and exercises, national security, and operations.
    Office of the Chief Information Officer.--The Office of the 
Chief Information Officer serves as the principal advisor to 
the Secretary on information resources and information systems 
management.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommendation provides $113,910,000 for the 
salaries and expenses of the offices comprising the Office of 
the Secretary of Transportation. The Committee's recommendation 
includes individual funding for each office as has been done in 
prior years.
    Operating plan.--The Committee directs the Department to 
submit an operating plan for fiscal year 2020 signed by the 
Secretary for review by the House and Senate Committees on 
Appropriations within 60 days of the enactment of this Act. The 
operating plan should include funding levels for the various 
offices, programs, and initiatives detailed down to the object 
class or program element covered in the budget justification 
and supporting documents, documents referenced in the House and 
Senate reports, and the statement of the managers (i.e. not 
simply the activities called out in bill language). Should the 
Department create, alter, discontinue, or otherwise change any 
program as described in the Department's budget justification, 
those changes must be a part of the Department's operating 
plan. Finally, the Department shall submit with the operating 
plan a summary of the DOT reporting requirements contained in 
this Act, the House and Senate reports, and the statement of 
the managers. The summary should include Inspector General and 
Government Accountability Office reports as well.
    Green infrastructure for rail transportation hubs.--The 
Committee encourages the Secretary to allow slow green 
infrastructure on or near rail transportation hubs to be 
eligible for Federal funding administered by the Department. 
This includes, but is not limited to, activities that would 
increase green space surrounding the structure such as urban 
trees, vegetation, and enhanced streetscapes. These elements 
not only provide opportunities to mitigate transportation 
pollution, improve air quality, and control storm water runoff 
but in some cases could also provide or enhance the structure's 
security elements and help conserve and reduce the structure's 
energy use.
    Open skies.--The Committee continues to urge the Department 
to take steps to ensure that U.S. airline carriers and their 
workers have a fair and equal opportunity to compete in 
accordance with open skies agreements with foreign governments. 
The Committee notes that DOT worked with the State Department 
to reach recent memorandums of agreement with foreign 
governments to ensure transparency, accountability, and 
enforcement remain important tenets of open skies agreements. 
The Committee directs the Department to continue to proactively 
work with the State Department to take appropriate action with 
any foreign governments where government subsidies have 
resulted in market distortion. The Committee directs the 
Department to provide regular updates to the Committee on their 
activities related to the fair enforcement of open skies 
agreements.
    3D Elevation Program (3DEP).--3DEP is a national program 
managed by the U.S. Geological Survey to acquire high-
resolution elevation data. The Committee understands the use of 
3DEP data in infrastructure projects and construction 
management could increase safety and reduce costs, with 
applications such as spanning route, grade, line-of-sight, and 
utility surveys and corridor mapping; terrain and obstruction 
identification for aviation; evaluation of geologic, coastal, 
and other natural hazards; dam, levee, and coastal-structure 
failure modeling and mitigation; hydraulic and hydrologic 
modeling; drainage and cut-and-fill issues; and analysis of 
vegetation and topographic features. While the Committee 
recognizes the Department is an active participant in the 3DEP 
Executive Forum, the Committee encourages the Department to 
develop an efficient, systematic approach to acquiring 
foundational 3DEP data to support the work of all modal 
administrations.
    Transportation accessibility.--The Committee understands 
the Department and some States and metropolitan planning 
organizations have undertaken efforts to measure accessibility 
or multimodal connectivity, and that more work is needed in 
this area. Therefore, the Committee encourages the Secretary, 
in coordination with the Federal Highway Administration and 
Federal Transit Administration, to review and analyze policies 
which could be used by States, metropolitan planning 
organizations, transit agencies, and others to improve 
accessibility. This review should include the degree to which 
transportation systems provide multimodal connections to 
economic opportunities, healthcare services, child care 
services, education and workforce training services, 
particularly for disadvantaged populations, and other services. 
The Committee directs the Department to brief the House and 
Senate Committees on Appropriations within 120 days of 
enactment of this Act on the review and potential 
recommendations to achieve accessibility.
    Advanced technologies.--The Committee believes the 
Department should work with stakeholders to analyze the best 
methods to improve infrastructure while implementing next 
generation, technologically advanced updates to modernize the 
nation's infrastructure. The Committee encourages the 
Department to prioritize advanced technology while addressing 
infrastructure needs.
    Dig once.--The Committee recognizes that the Federal 
Highway Administration encourages States to work with service 
providers on joint highway and utility planning to help 
minimize the excavation of roadways. However, the Committee 
believes more work is needed to better coordinate 
transportation projects with the installation, upgrade, or 
repair of water, broadband, and other utility transmission 
lines. The Committee encourages the Department to provide 
additional support to recipients of Federal funding to 
facilitate communication with public and private utility 
providers when planning transportation projects. This should 
include providing lessons learned from projects which have 
implemented ``dig once'' measures.
    Smart cities.--The Committee recognizes the leadership and 
support the Department has provided through the Smart City 
Challenge Program, which has resulted in community-driven 
advanced technology transportation projects. The Committee 
encourages the Department to ensure the program reaches a 
successful conclusion, and to identify program elements and 
characteristics which could be applied to large urban areas and 
small or rural communities.
    Further, the Committee urges the Department to create 
incentives for urban and rural communities to use advanced data 
and intelligent transportation systems technologies to improve 
their transportation network through existing competitive grant 
programs. The Department should engage with local communities, 
metropolitan planning organizations, and regional 
transportation commissions on these innovative technological 
solutions and other ``smart cities'' concepts.
    Infrastructure coordinator.--Mexico is the United States' 
third largest trading partner. The Committee supports 
strengthening coordination between the Department and other 
relevant Federal agencies to improve freight infrastructure 
development at the southwest border, which is critical to 
maintaining this bilateral trade relationship. Therefore, the 
Committee directs the Department to work with the General 
Services Administration, the Department of Homeland Security, 
and other relevant agencies to designate a lead infrastructure 
coordinator to facilitate more efficient development of 
infrastructure projects and to coordinate with his or her 
counterpart in the Mexican government. The Committee directs 
the Department to submit a report to the House and Senate 
Committees on Appropriations within 60 days of the enactment of 
this Act on its efforts in this regard.
    National Special Security Events (NSSE).--The President or 
Secretary of Homeland Security may designate major Federal 
government or public events that are considered to be 
nationally significant as National Special Security Events. The 
Committee recognizes such events can pose transportation 
challenges for the regions that are hosting NSSEs and impact 
surrounding areas. While some NSSEs are designated with very 
little notice others are designated months or years in advance. 
The Committee believes NSSEs represent unique opportunities to 
transform and revitalize local and regional transportation 
systems, such as public transit, highway, multimodal, and 
aviation infrastructure. Therefore, the Committee encourages 
the Department to work with local and State governments 
preparing to host an NSSE to assess the transportation 
improvements and needs associated with the event, and to 
provide technical assistance as appropriate.
    Value capture.--The Committee recognizes the use of value 
capture as a tool for economic development and as a non-Federal 
source of funding for transportation infrastructure, such as 
transit and passenger rail projects. The Committee encourages 
the Department to improve the dissemination of information and 
education of guidance on the use of value capture, and to 
provide technical assistance as appropriate.

                        RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................        $8,471,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................        22,000,000
Recommended in the bill...............................        42,948,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................       +34,477,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................       +20,948,000
 

    The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and 
Technology coordinates, facilitates, and reviews the 
Department's research and development programs and activities; 
coordinates and develops positioning, navigation, and timing 
(PNT) technology; maintains PNT policy, coordination, and 
spectrum management; manages the Nationwide Differential Global 
Positioning System; and oversees and provides direction to the 
Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the Intelligent 
Transportation Systems Joint Program Office, the University 
Transportation Centers program, the Volpe National 
Transportation Systems Center, and the Transportation Safety 
Institute.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommendation provides $42,948,000 for 
research and technology activities. The following table 
provides funding levels for activities within this account.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Request       Recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Transportation Resilience Metrics                - - -        $1,000,000
 Study..............................
Highly Automated Systems Safety                  - - -        10,000,000
 Center of Excellence...............
University Transportation Centers...             - - -        15,000,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Transportation resilience metrics study.--The Committee 
believes that new construction or major rehabilitation projects 
funded by the Department through formula and competitive grant 
programs should be constructed to the most current relevant 
standards and address the risk of structural failure or loss of 
use from natural hazards throughout the lifetime of the 
project. To achieve this, additional research is needed to 
establish approaches to measuring the resilience of 
transportation systems. Therefore, the Committee directs the 
Secretary to enter into an agreement with the National 
Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a 
study through the Transportation Research Board on effective 
ways to measure the resilience of transportation systems and 
services to natural disasters and hazards. For the purposes of 
this study, the Committee urges the Department to take an all-
encompassing view of natural disasters and hazards, including 
but not limited to, extreme weather events, hurricanes, floods, 
wildfires, heat waves, high winds, and changes in the freeze-
thaw patterns.
    Highly Automated Systems Safety Center of Excellence 
(COE).--Advanced technologies are rapidly transforming the 
national transportation system, and are already critical 
components in airplanes, trains, and motor vehicles. In recent 
years, multiple fatal accidents have underscored the importance 
of validating the safety of new technologies. As automated 
technologies become increasingly widespread, the Committee 
believes the safety of the traveling public jointly depends on 
technology developers, owners and operators, and appropriate 
Federal regulations and effective oversight. To ensure 
automated technologies are safe and work as intended, the 
Department must have a workforce that can review and analyze 
complex transportation-based systems. The Committee directs the 
Secretary to stand up the Highly Automated Systems Safety COE. 
The Highly Automated Systems Safety COE would serve as a 
dedicated workforce at the Department with the necessary skills 
and expertise in automation and human behavior, including but 
not limited to, computer science, machine learning, sensors, 
and other technologies to audit, inspect, and certify the 
safety of highly automated systems across all modes of 
transportation.
    University Transportation Centers (UTCs).--The Committee 
continues to support UTCs, which are authorized under section 
5505 of title 49, United States Code, and funded through the 
Federal Highway Administration. The Committee recommendation 
provides $15,000,000 to support competitive grants to fund new 
Tier I University Transportation Centers. This increase is in 
addition to amounts provided for fiscal year 2020 by the Fixing 
America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act (P.L. 114-94).
    Natural gas vehicle data.--The Committee encourages the 
Department to gather data from States relating to the use of 
natural gas in transportation. This should include data on the 
number of natural gas vehicles deployed on roads and the amount 
of compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, and renewable 
natural gas sold or distributed for use in transportation.

                  NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................      $900,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................     1,000,000,000
Recommended in the bill...............................     1,000,000,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................      +100,000,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................             - - -
 

    The National Infrastructure Investments program (also known 
as BUILD and formerly known as TIGER) was created in the 
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (P.L. 111-5) to provide 
grants and credit assistance to State and local governments, 
tribal governments, transit agencies, port authorities, 
metropolitan planning organizations, or a combination of such 
entities to improve the Nation's transportation infrastructure. 
Eligible projects include highways and bridges, public 
transportation, freight and passenger rail, port 
infrastructure, and bicycle and pedestrian improvements. The 
National Infrastructure Investments program awards funds on a 
competitive basis to projects that will have a significant 
local or regional impact.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommendation provides $1,000,000,000 for 
National Infrastructure Investments grants to support 
multimodal, multijurisdictional transportation projects that 
are more difficult to accomplish through traditional 
transportation programs. Key tenets of this program include its 
flexibility and the ability for any public entity to apply 
directly and not through a State department of transportation 
as is the case with many Federal transportation programs. BUILD 
also fosters collaboration and leverages non-Federal 
investments from private, State, and local sources. The 
Committee has consistently heard from communities large and 
small on the difference BUILD grants have made in improving 
safety, state of good repair, economic competitiveness, 
environmental sustainability, and quality of life.
    The Committee is concerned that the Department has moved 
away from the original intent of the program. In fiscal year 
2017, 78 percent of the awards were for road projects while the 
remaining 22 percent of awards were spread among transit, rail, 
and maritime projects. This preference continued in fiscal year 
2018, with 66 percent of awards for road projects. The 
Department's prioritization of road projects came at the 
expense of transit-related projects, which on average received 
about 32 percent of awards between fiscal year 2009 and fiscal 
year 2016. This also contradicts the Committee's direction to 
invest in a variety of transportation modes. The Committee 
strongly reminds the Department that highway and bridge 
projects have dedicated funding sources through Highway Trust 
Fund formula programs, and directs the Department to refocus 
fiscal year 2020 grants on multimodal projects which include 
transit, passenger rail, and pedestrian improvements. The 
Committee also notes that investments in projects can have 
benefits far beyond the project location. For example, projects 
in urban areas can provide benefits to rural areas. Therefore, 
the Committee directs the Secretary to consider the benefits of 
a project to the fullest extent possible and to include all 
relevant geographic areas.
    The Committee reiterates to the Department and potential 
applicants that BUILD grants support a broad variety of 
transportation projects including, but also not limited to, 
highway, bridge, or road projects; public transportation 
projects; passenger and freight rail projects; port 
infrastructure improvements; intermodal projects, including 
commercial, transit, and intermodal parking garages; bicycle 
and pedestrian projects; and multimodal infrastructure. The 
Committee also reiterates that applicants from all 50 States, 
the District of Columbia, and all U.S. territories are eligible 
to apply for BUILD grants, including communities whose 
transportation infrastructure supports the readiness of 
Department of Defense installations.
    Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).--The Committee is 
disappointed that the Department's fiscal year 2019 NOFO 
incorporates new criteria which the Department will use to 
evaluate and award grants. This contradicts the Committee's 
direction to consider and award projects based solely on the 
selection criteria from the fiscal year 2017 NOFO. The 
Committee again directs the Department to use the selection 
criteria from the fiscal year 2017 NOFO for fiscal year 2020.
    Planning grants.--The Committee also notes with 
disappointment that the Department did not award a single 
planning grant in fiscal year 2018. The Committee recognizes 
that planning support can be critical for communities seeking 
to invest in transit, transit-oriented development, and 
multimodal projects but often lack the resources or expertise 
to adequately plan for such investments. The Committee provided 
planning grant funding in fiscal years 2010, 2014, 2018, and 
2019. Planning grants awarded in fiscal years 2010 and 2014 
have spurred project development and, in turn, construction. 
The Committee recommendation requires the Department to award 
$35,000,000 in grants for planning, preparation, or design of 
projects. Of this amount, $15,000,000 is provided for any 
eligible project and applicant with an emphasis on transit, 
transit-oriented development, and multimodal projects, and 
$20,000,000 is provided for any eligible project for applicants 
located in counties and census tracts experiencing persistent 
poverty.

     NATIONAL SURFACE TRANSPORTATION AND INNOVATIVE FINANCE BUREAU

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................        $5,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................         4,000,000
Recommended in the bill...............................         5,000,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................             - - -
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................        +1,000,000
 

    Authorized under section 9001 of the FAST Act, the National 
Surface Transportation and Innovative Finance Bureau 
administers and coordinates the Department of Transportation's 
existing transportation finance programs.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommendation provides $5,000,000 for the 
National Surface Transportation and Innovative Finance Bureau 
(Bureau). The Committee rejects the proposal in the budget 
request to transfer the Maritime Guaranteed Loan (Title XI) 
program from the Maritime Administration to the Bureau. The 
Committee recommendation requires the Department to consider 
Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Investment Act 
(TIFIA) loans to be part of the non-Federal share of the 
project costs if the loans are repaid by non-Federal funds.
    Transit-oriented development (TOD).--In the FAST Act, 
Congress authorized TOD projects as an eligible use for credit 
assistance under TIFIA and the Railroad Rehabilitation and 
Improvement Financing (RRIF) programs. The Committee is 
concerned that despite interest from project sponsors to use 
TIFIA or RRIF to support TOD projects, to date the Bureau has 
not received a formal application under either program. The 
Committee directs the Department to submit a report to the 
House and Senate Committees on Appropriations within 90 days of 
enactment of this Act summarizing the inquiries DOT has 
received on potential TOD projects, including the type of 
applicant, potential project, whether the potential project was 
seeking assistance through TIFIA or RRIF, if the potential 
project was deemed eligible, and the rationale for determining 
that the potential project was ineligible. Further, the report 
should identify current statutory, regulatory, or 
administrative requirements that may be hindering the financing 
of TOD projects under TIFIA and RRIF, and any actions the 
Department has taken to modify requirements or guidelines to 
facilitate financing TOD projects.

                      FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT CAPITAL

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................        $2,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................         2,000,000
Recommended in the bill...............................         2,000,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................             - - -
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................             - - -
 

    The Financial Management Capital program supports a 
multiyear project to upgrade DOT financial systems, processes, 
and reporting capabilities.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommendation provides $2,000,000 for the 
Financial Management Capital program.
    Digital Accountability and Transparency (DATA) Act.--Within 
the amounts provided for this account, funding is included for 
necessary expenses to support the Department's activities 
related to the implementation of the DATA Act (P.L. 113-101), 
which includes changes in business processes, workforce, or 
information technology to support high quality, transparent 
Federal spending information. Amounts provided should 
supplement and not supplant existing DATA Act activities.

                       CYBER SECURITY INITIATIVES

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................       $15,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................        15,000,000
Recommended in the bill...............................        15,000,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................             - - -
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................             - - -
 

    The Cyber Security Initiatives account is an effort to 
close performance gaps in the Department's cyber security. The 
account includes support for essential program enhancements, 
infrastructure improvements, and contractual resources to 
enhance the security of the Department's computer network and 
reduce the risk of security breaches.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommendation provides $15,000,000 to 
support the Secretary's Cyber Security Initiatives.

                         OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................        $9,470,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................         9,000,000
Recommended in the bill...............................         9,470,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................             - - -
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................          +470,000
 

    The Office of Civil Rights is responsible for advising the 
Secretary on civil rights and equal opportunity issues, and 
ensuring the full implementation of the civil rights laws and 
departmental civil rights policies in all official actions and 
programs. This office is responsible for enforcing laws and 
regulations that prohibit discrimination in Federally operated 
and Federally assisted transportation programs and enabling 
access to transportation providers. The Office of Civil Rights 
also handles all civil rights cases affecting Department of 
Transportation employees.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommendation provides $9,470,000 for the 
Office of Civil Rights.

           TRANSPORTATION PLANNING, RESEARCH, AND DEVELOPMENT

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................        $7,879,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................         8,000,000
Recommended in the bill...............................        15,879,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................        +8,000,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................        +7,879,000
 

    This appropriation finances research activities and studies 
related to the planning, analysis, and information development 
used in the formulation of national transportation policies and 
plans. It also finances the staff necessary to conduct these 
efforts. The overall program is carried out primarily through 
contracts with other Federal agencies, educational 
institutions, non-profit research organizations, and private 
firms.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommendation provides $15,879,000 for 
transportation planning, research, and development activities, 
of which $1,000,000 is for the Interagency Infrastructure 
Permitting Improvement Center.
    Non-traditional and emerging transportation technologies.--
The Committee recognizes the growth and innovation in new 
transportation technologies that seek to improve safety, 
alleviate congestion and shorten commute times, expand access 
and mobility for rural and urban communities, and enable a more 
efficient flow of commercial goods. The Committee understands 
hyperloop technology is an emerging transportation concept that 
has the potential to fulfill some of these objectives. In 
December 2018, the Secretary established the Non-Traditional 
and Emerging Transportation Technology (NETT) Council to 
identify and resolve, where possible, the jurisdictional and 
regulatory gaps associated with cross-modal transportation 
technologies, such as hyperloop technology, and leverage 
expertise from across the Department on safety approaches. The 
Committee supports the NETT's focus on safety oversight and 
environmental review and directs the NETT to review hyperloop 
technology as part of this effort.
    The Committee provides $5,000,000 to assist the NETT in 
developing and establishing Department-wide processes, 
solutions, and best practices for identifying and managing non-
traditional and emerging transportation technologies and 
projects, to provide assistance to local and State governments 
for non-traditional and emerging technologies, and to conduct 
research to better understand the safety and regulatory needs 
of these technologies. The funding provided may be used for 
dedicated staff for the NETT. Further, the Committee directs 
the NETT to conduct a study of the Department's existing 
authorities and policies that may apply to hyperloop projects, 
and identify any statutory, regulatory, and policy issues that 
would preclude the Department from exercising operational 
safety oversight over some or all of the features of a 
hyperloop transportation system. The NETT shall submit this 
report to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations 
within 180 days of enactment of this Act.
    Data sharing.--The Department possesses and collects much 
information from airports, roads, bridges, and transit 
infrastructure networks. However, the systems used to collect 
and process this data for insight are not integrated across 
asset types. As the Department continues to grow its data, the 
Committee believes it needs to organize, share, and analyze 
data through enterprise data management, reporting, 
visualization, and advanced analytics software to discover 
patterns and other information. This will require the 
Department to continue to prioritize its management of 
information technology (IT) investments, lifecycle data 
management capabilities, and software licenses as it 
transitions to shared services as part of the 
DestinationsDigital program. Therefore, within the amounts 
provided for this account, the Committee recommendation 
includes funding to support an enterprise IT environment that 
will allow the Department to properly analyze the condition of 
assets, choose investments that would be most impactful, 
accurately report where investments were implemented, measure 
the results of the investments, provide data for public 
oversight in a modern, completely transparent environment, and 
support data driven public policy. The Committee urges the 
Department to include the management and modernization of 
existing advanced analytics licenses in this work.
    Bridges.--The Committee supports the Department's work 
through the Long-Term Bridge Performance Research program to 
develop models to predict bridge performance, and support 
decisions concerning bridge preservation and rehabilitation 
investments. Within the amounts provided for this account, 
funding is included to develop advanced numerical analysis 
methods and artificial-intelligence based prediction tools to 
accurately assess the safety and remaining service life of the 
Nation's bridges.
    Street space utilization.--In anticipation of increased 
utilization of transportation network companies and fully 
autonomous vehicles, as part of the Department's ongoing 
program of research, the Committee encourages the Department to 
conduct a study in partnership with States, local governments, 
transit agencies, or metropolitan planning organizations, in 
consultation with affected businesses and system users, to 
identify the most efficient uses of curb space, including pick-
up and drop-off zones for passengers and freight.

                          WORKING CAPITAL FUND

 
 
 
Limitation, fiscal year 2019..........................      $319,793,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................               n/a
Recommended in the bill...............................       424,901,000
Bill compared with:
  Limitation, fiscal year 2019........................      +105,108,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................               n/a
 

    The Working Capital Fund (WCF) was created to provide 
common administrative services to the operating administrations 
and outside entities that contract for the fund's services. The 
WCF operates on a fee-for-service basis and receives no direct 
appropriations. It is fully self-sustaining and must achieve 
full cost recovery.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommends a limitation of $424,901,000 on 
the Working Capital Fund. The Committee continues to stipulate 
that the limitation is only for services provided to the 
Department of Transportation, not other entities. Further, the 
Committee directs that, as much as possible, services shall be 
provided on a competitive basis.

       SMALL AND DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS UTILIZATION AND OUTREACH

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................        $3,488,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................         3,000,000
Recommended in the bill...............................         4,646,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................        +1,158,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................        +1,646,000
 

    The Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization 
and Outreach assists small, disadvantaged businesses and 
businesses owned by minorities and women in competing for 
contracting opportunities with DOT and DOT-funded contracts or 
grants for transportation-related projects. The office also 
provides technical and financial assistance, bonding education, 
training, counseling, and procurement assistance, and 
administers DOT's Small Business Transportation Resource Center 
program.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommendation provides $4,646,000 for the 
Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization and Outreach 
account. The Committee recognizes that the Department has 
merged the Minority Business Resource Center Program with the 
Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization and 
Outreach. Therefore, the Committee provides the Office of Small 
and Disadvantaged Business Utilization and Outreach the 
authority to support loans and other activities that were 
previously conducted by the Minority Business Resource Center 
Program.

                        PAYMENTS TO AIR CARRIERS

                    (AIRPORT AND AIRWAY TRUST FUND)

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................      $175,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................       125,000,000
Recommended in the bill...............................       175,000,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................             - - -
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................       +50,000,000
 

    The Essential Air Service (EAS) program provides subsidies 
to air carriers to maintain a minimal level of scheduled air 
service to small communities that had received air service 
prior to Airline Deregulation Act of 1978. Since 1998, the 
source of funding for the EAS program has been ``overflight 
fees,'' which are charged to carriers for Federal Aviation 
Administration navigational and surveillance services for 
flights that traverse, but neither take off from nor land in, 
the United States.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The following table shows the appropriation, overflight 
fees, and total program levels for the EAS program.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Overflight
                                                                  Appropriations       fees            Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FY 2019 Enacted.................................................    $175,000,000    $145,400,000    $320,400,000
Request.........................................................     125,000,000     150,500,000     275,500,000
Recommendation..................................................     175,000,000     150,500,000     325,500,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Committee directs the Department to utilize all 
collected overflight fees and provides an additional 
$175,000,000 for this vital link between small communities and 
the nation.

  ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS--OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION

    Section 101 prohibits the Office of the Secretary of 
Transportation from approving assessments or reimbursable 
agreements pertaining to funds appropriated to the operating 
administrations in this Act, unless such assessments or 
agreements have completed the normal reprogramming process for 
Congressional notification.
    Section 102 requires the Secretary to post on the internet 
a schedule of all Council on Credit and Finance meetings, 
agendas, and meeting minutes.
    Section 103 allows the Department of Transportation Working 
Capital Fund to provide payments in advance to vendors for the 
Federal transit pass fringe benefit program and to provide full 
or partial payments to, and to accept reimbursements from, 
Federal agencies for transit benefit distribution services.
    Section 104 provides an additional $2,052,000 to the 
Salaries and Expenses account on the date on which the 
Secretary announces the selection of projects to receive awards 
for certain competitive grant programs funded in fiscal years 
2017 and 2018.
    Section 105 provides $1,000,000 from the Research and 
Technology account for the Secretary to enter into an 
arrangement with the National Academies of Sciences, 
Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a study through the 
Transportation Research Board on effective ways to measure the 
resilience of transportation systems and services to natural 
disasters and hazards.
    Section 106 provides $10,000,000 from the Research and 
Technology account to establish the Highly Automated Systems 
Safety Center of Excellence.

                    Federal Aviation Administration

    The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is responsible 
for the safety of civil aviation, navigation and surveillance, 
and airports. The Federal government's regulatory role in civil 
aviation dates back 1926. When the Department of Transportation 
began its operations in 1967, the FAA became one of several 
modal administrations within the department. FAA's mission 
expanded in 1995 with the transfer of the Office of Commercial 
Space Transportation from the Office of the Secretary and 
contracted in December 2001 with the transfer of civil aviation 
security activities to the new Transportation Security 
Administration.
    NextGen.--The Committee places a high priority on Next 
Generation of Air Traffic Control (NextGen) programs and 
provides resources in the operations, facilities and equipment, 
and research evaluation and demonstration accounts to modernize 
air traffic control along with private sector stakeholders.
    NextGen Advisory Committee.--The NextGen Advisory Committee 
(NAC) includes an appropriate mix of the aviation community, 
including representatives from general aviation, commercial 
aviation, labor organizations, airports, local community 
representatives, and the Federal government. The Committee 
supports the current diverse NAC membership and believes that 
the NAC performs an important role in setting priorities for 
the FAA's air traffic control modernization efforts. The 
Committee encourages the FAA to implement NAC recommendations 
and directs the FAA to provide an annual update on the status 
of NAC recommendations to the House and Senate Committees on 
Appropriations.

                               OPERATIONS

                    (AIRPORT AND AIRWAYS TRUST FUND)

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................   $10,410,758,000
Budget request, fiscal year...........................    10,340,000,000
Recommended in the bill...............................    10,677,758,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................      +267,000,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................      +337,758,000
 

    This appropriation provides funds for the operation, 
maintenance, communications, and logistical support of the air 
traffic control and air navigation systems. It also covers 
administrative and managerial costs for the FAA's regulatory, 
international, medical, engineering and development programs as 
well as policy oversight and overall management functions.
    The operations appropriation includes the following major 
activities: (1) operation on a 24-hour daily basis of a 
national air traffic system; (2) establishment and maintenance 
of a national system of aids to navigation; (3) establishment 
and surveillance of civil air regulations to ensure safety in 
aviation; (4) development of standards, rules and regulations 
governing the physical fitness of airmen, as well as the 
administration of an aviation medical research program; (5) 
administration of the acquisition, and research and development 
programs; (6) headquarters, administration, and other staff 
offices; and (7) development, printing, and distribution of 
aeronautical charts used by the flying public.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The following table shows a comparison of the budget 
request and the Committee recommendation by budget activity:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
       FAA Operations Activities            Request       Recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air Traffic Organization..............   $7,777,357,000   $7,841,720,000
Aviation Safety.......................    1,327,779,000    1,603,969,000
Commercial Space Transportation.......       25,598,000       24,949,000
Finance and Management................      784,832,000      816,398,000
NextGen and Operations Planning.......       60,145,000       61,258,000
Security and Hazardous Materials            117,694,000      114,165,000
 Safety...............................
Staff offices.........................      246,595,000      215,299,000
                                       ---------------------------------
    Total.............................   10,340,000,000   10,677,758,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                     TRUST FUND SHARE OF FAA BUDGET

    The bill derives $9,833,400,000 of the total operations 
appropriation from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund. The 
balance of the appropriation will be drawn from the general 
fund of the Treasury.
    Aviation safety.--The Committee provides $1,603,969,000 for 
the core mission of the FAA--safety. Establishing and enforcing 
the safety standards for every product, person, and process in 
the national airspace system is the exclusive jurisdiction of 
the FAA. The Committee supports the FAA's role as both a 
national regulator and international leader in safety 
oversight.
    The Committee expects the multiple, on-going reviews of the 
certification process to result in the need for greater 
technical competency at the FAA and deep, substantive responses 
to the recommendations from these reviews; the Committee 
provides resources accordingly. The Committee also supports the 
augmentation of aviation safety inspectors, aviation safety 
technicians, aerospace engineers, operations research analysts, 
and medical officers to conduct investigations and audits of 
airlines, manufacturers, and pilots as a form of accident 
prevention.
    Incorporating a ``safety first'' approach into the FAA and 
its operations is essential and takes precedence over the 
commercial success of any technology, manufacturer, carrier, or 
airport.
    Additive manufactured continued airworthiness.--The 
Committee is encouraged by the potential impact that stitched 
resin composites and large volume additive manufactured 
discontinuous fiber reinforced composites can have on the 
aviation industry. The Committee urges FAA to evaluate the 
material for airworthiness certification and inspection, using 
destructive and non-destructive testing approaches, while 
ensuring the safety of using these materials in the aviation 
industry.
    Aircraft accessibility.--The Committee notes the air 
travel-related challenges for disabled and paralyzed Americans, 
including damaged assistive devices, delayed assistance, and 
lack of seating accommodations. Therefore, the Committee 
encourages the Secretary of Transportation and Administrator of 
the FAA to work diligently on requirements in the FAA 
Reauthorization Act (P.L. 115-254) to address the concerns of 
aviation consumers with disabilities.
    Aircraft certification service.--The Committee 
recommendation includes no less than $240,720,000 for the 
Aircraft Certification Service.
    Allergic reactions aboard aircraft.--The fiscal years 2017, 
2018, and 2019 reports directed the FAA to review its policies 
concerning severe allergic reactions aboard aircraft and submit 
a report within 90 days of enactment of these Acts, detailing 
the documentation requirements for airlines when an incident of 
allergic reaction occurs, the data definition and standards for 
such a document, and the number of documented incidents that 
occurred in the past year. The Committee has yet to receive 
this report. The FAA is directed to submit this report to the 
House and Senate Committees on Appropriations within 30 days of 
enactment of this Act, updated with the most recent data 
including fiscal years 2017, 2018, and 2019.
    Aviation professionals.--The Committee supports increasing 
the strength and number of aviation professionals who are well-
trained and can be relied upon to make air travel safe and 
efficient. To that end, the Committee provides $5,000,000 for 
the aviation maintenance technician development program and 
$5,000,000 for aviation workforce development program.
    In order to improve safety oversight, the Committee further 
supports efforts by the FAA to review and revise its safety 
workforce training strategy and by the Government 
Accountability Office to assess the FAA Office of Aviation 
Safety in accordance with sections 231 and 232 of the FAA 
Reauthorization Act (P.L. 115-254), respectively.
    Commercial space licensing.--The Committee supports the 
Department of Transportation and the FAA in their efforts to 
move forward in reforming, streamlining, and reducing reporting 
requirements and timelines for the licensing of U.S. commercial 
launch services providers as they seek to leverage their 
innovative and rapid-response launch solutions to support U.S. 
launch needs and priorities.
    Contract tower program.--The Committee recommendation 
includes $169,000,000 for the contract tower program, including 
the contract tower cost share program. The Committee continues 
to strongly support the FAA contract tower program as a cost-
effective and efficient way to provide air traffic control 
services to smaller airports across the country. The Committee 
expects FAA to continue to operate the 256 contract towers 
currently in the program, annualize funding for towers that 
will be added in 2019, and provide full-year funding for new 
airports expected to be added to the program in fiscal year 
2020.
    Emergency preparedness.--The Committee directs the FAA to 
work with airport sponsors and other Federal, State and local 
agencies to help plan for emergency preparedness and response, 
including planning for what spaces on the airport might be 
available for staging and storing equipment. Additionally, the 
Committee directs the FAA to provide a briefing on feasibility, 
benefits, and risk associated with developing consolidated 
emergency command centers.
    Emergency service heliports.--Accurate heliport data is 
needed for accurate navigation charting for ingress and egress 
to medical centers and other landing locations. The Committee 
directs the FAA to develop a national data standard to design 
and chart airspace in order to identify potential hazards and 
develop flight procedures for helicopter pilots, especially for 
helicopter air ambulance procedures.
    Field and regional offices.--The Committee strongly 
supports FAA field and regional offices. These offices are the 
workhorses of FAA, providing leadership and expertise to solve 
a wide range of local safety, planning, operational, research, 
permit, infrastructure, and engineering problems with State and 
local stakeholders. The Committee encourages the FAA to operate 
efficiently and effectively, but requires the FAA to follow 
reprogramming procedures and seek approval from the Committee 
before closing, opening, redesignating, or reorganizing field 
or regional offices.
    Human Intervention Motivation Study and the Flight 
Attendant Drug and Alcohol Program.--The Committee recognizes 
the effectiveness of the Human Intervention Motivation Study 
(HIMS) and the Flight Attendant Drug and Alcohol Program 
(FADAP) in mitigating drug and alcohol misuse through a peer 
identification and intervention program. The Committee 
recommends that the FAA continue to prioritize this program and 
urges the FAA to continue this program from within available 
resources.
    Las Vegas Metroplex.--The Committee commends the FAA for 
its efforts to redesign the Las Vegas Metroplex through new 
performance based navigation procedures and the better 
utilization of time based flow management. The Committee 
encourages the FAA to dedicate all appropriate resources to 
this project to ensure its timely completion.
    Lunar exploration.--The Committee notes the possible value 
of using the payload and lifting capabilities of the Space 
Launch System and encourages the FAA to continue to facilitate 
lunar exploration and development.
    Noise.--The Committee shares the concerns of communities 
affected by aircraft noise and urges the FAA to respond fully 
and completely to the requirements in the FAA Reauthorization 
Act (P.L. 115-254) pertaining to noise reduction. Among these 
requirements are a study on jet aircraft approach and takeoff 
speeds, a review of how and when to engage airports and 
communities in performance-based navigation proposals, updating 
airport noise exposure maps, and a study on the potential 
health and economic impact of overflight noise. Without 
deferring any safety-related projects, the FAA should evaluate 
alternative metrics to the current Day Night Level (DNL) 65 
standard, enter into an agreement with an institution of higher 
education to conduct a study on the health impacts of aircraft 
noise exposure, deploy recently hired regional ombudsmen into 
communities, and make noise data as widely and publicly 
available as practical.
    Pets.--The Committee directs the Administrator to encourage 
airports to provide a designated area for animals traveling 
with their owners to relieve themselves and to remind carriers 
that it is unlawful to place a live animal in an overhead 
storage compartment of an aircraft.
    Special issuance for pilot medical certification.--
Consistent with a 2018 opinion from the U.S. Court of Appeals 
for the District of Columbia Circuit, the FAA should develop an 
evidence-based framework to allow for the special issuance of 
first- or second-class medical certification for pilots with 
insulin-treated diabetes. The Committee directs the FAA to 
report to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations not 
later than 90 days after enactment of this Act on actions, 
taken or planned, for completing such a framework.
    Unfinished rulemakings.--The Committee notes that the FAA 
has not met the statutory deadlines to comply with either 
section 308 of P.L. 112-95, which requires the FAA to develop a 
safety assessment system for part 145 air repair stations, or 
section 335(a) of P.L. 115-254, which requires the FAA to 
update a rule related to flight attendant duty period 
limitations and rest requirements. The Committee directs the 
FAA to report every 30 days after enactment of this Act to the 
House and Senate Committees on Appropriations; the Senate 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation; and House 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on actions taken 
and planned to promulgate final rules.
    Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) integration and advanced 
operations.--The Committee is pleased with the recent progress 
that FAA has made to safely and efficiently integrate UAS in 
the national airspace system and enable advanced operations, 
such as the publication of long-awaited rulemakings. The 
Committee encourages the FAA to reduce the time to process Part 
107 operational waivers, use the data from the UAS Integration 
Pilot Program to develop more complex UAS operations, and 
continue development of the unmanned traffic management 
network.
    Workforce diversity.--The Committee supports the efforts of 
the FAA to increase diversity in hiring, retention, and 
promotion within its workforce, including the allocation of 
funds to continue and expand its recruitment programs, 
professional development activities, and outreach efforts. To 
further those goals, the Committee provides $5,000,000 for the 
Minority Serving Institutions internship program, which 
provides students from Historically Black Colleges and 
Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, students attending 
a college or university with a high percentage of Asian 
American and Pacific Islanders, Tribal Colleges and 
Universities, and Students with Disabilities the opportunity to 
participate in internship opportunities. The Committee also 
supports the Women in Aviation Advisory Board required by the 
FAA Reauthorization Act (P.L. 115-254) and looks forward to its 
recommendations.

                        FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT

                    (AIRPORT AND AIRWAYS TRUST FUND)

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................    $3,000,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................     3,295,000,000
Recommended in the bill...............................     3,000,000,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................             - - -
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................      -295,000,000
 

    The Facilities and Equipment (F&E) account is the principal 
means for modernizing and improving air traffic control and 
airway facilities. The appropriation also finances major 
capital investments required by other agency programs, 
experimental research and development facilities, and other 
improvements to enhance the safety and capacity of the airspace 
system.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The following table provides funding levels for specific 
facilities and equipment activities and budget line items. The 
Committee provides the FAA with additional flexibility to fund 
the programs and activities that improve the safety of the 
National Airspace System, but directs the FAA to submit to the 
House and Senate Committees on Appropriations a detailed spend 
plan for the funds made available by this account not later 
than 60 days after enactment of this Act. The spend plan shall 
include, as applicable, a comparison between the congressional 
budget justification funding levels, the most recent 
congressional directives or approved funding levels, and the 
funding levels proposed by the FAA. If the proposed level is 
less than or greater than the funding levels in the 
congressional budget justification, then the FAA shall provide 
a clear and concise justification, subject to the reprogramming 
requirements of section 405 of this Act.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Request       Recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Activity 1--Engineering, Development,
 Test and Evaluation:
    William J. Hughes Technical Center      $20,000,000      $25,000,000
     Laboratory Sustainment...........
    William J. Hughes Technical Center       15,000,000       30,000,000
     Infrastructure Sustainment.......
    NextGen Support Portfolio.........       13,000,000       13,000,000
    Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)...       68,400,000       68,400,000
    Enterprise, Concept Development,         32,000,000       32,000,000
     Human Factors, & Demonstrations
     Portfolio........................
    Other Activity 1..................      129,400,000      125,450,000
                                       =================================
        TOTAL ACTIVITY 1..............      277,800,000      293,850,000
Activity 2--Air Traffic Control
 Facilities and Equipment:
a. En Route Programs:
    En Route Automation Modernization       105,950,000      105,950,000
     (ERAM)--System Enhancements and
     Tech Refresh.....................
    Air Route Traffic Control Center         96,900,000       96,900,000
     (ARTCC) & Combined Control
     Facility (CCF) Building
     Improvements.....................
    Air Traffic Control En Route Radar        5,300,000        5,300,000
     Facilities Improvements..........
    Next Generation Very High                50,000,000       70,000,000
     Frequency Air/Ground
     Communications (NEXCOM)..........
    System-Wide Information Management      100,950,000       78,125,000
    ADS-B NAS Wide Implementation.....      174,400,000      174,400,000
    Time Based Flow Management               30,700,000       30,700,000
     Portfolio........................
    Data Communications in Support of       136,248,013      136,250,000
     NG Air Transportation System.....
    Reduced Oceanic Separation........       32,300,000       35,000,000
    Commercial Space Integration......       33,000,000       33,000,000
    Other En Route programs...........      148,700,000      118,000,000
                                       ---------------------------------
        Subtotal En Route Programs....      914,448,013      883,625,000
b. Terminal Programs:
    Standard Terminal Automation             41,300,000       41,300,000
     Replacement System (STARS) (TAMR
     Phase 1).........................
    Terminal Automation Program.......        6,500,000        6,500,000
    Terminal Air Traffic Control             24,325,987       24,400,000
     Facilities--Replace..............
    ATCT/Terminal Radar Approach             96,200,000       96,200,000
     Control (TRACON) Facilities--
     Improve..........................
    NAS Facilities OSHA and                  40,400,000       41,900,000
     Environmental Standards
     Compliance.......................
    Terminal Flight Data Manager            135,450,000      135,450,000
     (TFDM)...........................
    Performance Based Navigation &            5,000,000        5,000,000
     Metroplex Portfolio..............
    Other Terminal programs...........      271,250,000       37,600,000
                                       ---------------------------------
        Subtotal Terminal Programs....      620,425,987      388,350,000
c. Flight Service Programs:
    Aviation Surface Observation              4,000,000        4,000,000
     System (ASOS)....................
    Weather Camera Program............  ...............        1,100,000
    Other Flight Service programs.....       22,850,000       18,300,000
                                       ---------------------------------
        Subtotal Flight Service              26,850,000       23,400,000
         Programs.....................
d. Landing and Navigational Aids
 Program:
    VHF Omnidirectional Radio Range          18,000,000       18,000,000
     (VOR) Minimum Operating Network
     (MON)............................
    Wide Area Augmentation System            90,000,000       90,000,000
     (WAAS) for GPS...................
    Runway Safety Areas--Navigational         1,400,000        1,400,000
     Mitigation.......................
    Other Landing and Navigational           49,345,000       40,722,500
     Aids programs....................
                                       ---------------------------------
    Subtotal Landing and Navigational       158,745,000      150,122,500
     Aids Programs....................
e. Other ATC Facilities Programs:
    Fuel Storage Tank Replacement and        26,400,000       26,400,000
     Management.......................
    Electrical Power Systems--Sustain/      150,000,000      140,700,000
     Support..........................
    Child Care Center Sustainment.....        1,500,000        1,500,000
    Other ATC Facilities programs.....      153,000,000      145,450,000
                                       ---------------------------------
        Subtotal Other ATC Facilities       330,900,000      314,050,000
         Programs.....................
                                       =================================
            TOTAL ACTIVITY 2..........    2,051,369,000    1,759,547,500
Activity 3--Non-Air Traffic Control
 Facilities and Equipment:
a. Support Equipment:
    Hazardous Materials Management....       20,000,000       20,000,000
    Aviation Safety Analysis System          19,700,000       19,700,000
     (ASAS)...........................
    Facility Security Risk Management.       15,100,000       15,100,000
    Information Security..............       33,300,000       33,300,000
    System Approach for Safety               23,100,000       23,100,000
     Oversight (SASO).................
    Aviation Safety Knowledge                 5,300,000        5,300,000
     Management Environment (ASKME)...
    Other Support Equipment...........       67,900,000       62,600,000
                                       ---------------------------------
        Subtotal Support Equipment....      184,400,000      179,100,000
b. Training, Equipment and Facilities.       19,000,000       15,000,000
                                       =================================
            TOTAL ACTIVITY 3..........      203,400,000      194,100,000
            TOTAL ACTIVITY 4--              237,700,000      235,300,000
             Facilities and Equipment
             Mission Support..........
            TOTAL ACTIVITY 5--              524,730,000      517,202,500
             Personnel and Related
             Expenses.................
                                       =================================
            TOTAL, ALL ACTIVITIES.....    3,295,000,000    3,000,000,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Air traffic control towers.--The Committee is concerned by 
outdated technology being used in air traffic control towers 
and believes the FAA should deploy the most up-to-date 
technology as rapidly as operational safety allows. Replacing 
outdated technology should increase the safety and efficiency 
of all travelers, airports, and carriers.
    Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing.--The 
Committee commends the FAA for the collaborative, government-
industry Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing 
(ASIAS) whose mission is to proactively discover and mitigate 
emerging safety issues, before they result in an incident or 
accident. The Committee appreciates this collaborative 
initiative that has resulted in the implementation of safety 
enhancements that have improved our nation's aviation safety. 
The Committee directs the FAA to keep the House and Senate 
Committees on Appropriations apprised on the status of ASIAS 
capability acceleration.
    Procurement.--Consistent with the Acquisition Management 
System (AMS), the Committee directs the FAA to promote a 
competitive contracting environment to achieve the best value 
for taxpayers. When competition is restricted, the FAA loses 
opportunities not only to obtain lower prices but also to 
acquire technologies or business solutions that could increase 
safety, productivity, and effectiveness. Preference should be 
given to using commercial and previously developed items 
whenever possible. Development of a product, and its associated 
costs and risks, should be avoided unless necessary to meet FAA 
needs. If developmental items are required, the need should be 
documented in the procurement plan.
    Reduced oceanic separation.--The recommendation includes 
$35,000,000 for reduced oceanic separation to enable reduced 
separation in oceanic traffic, enable new air routes which will 
increase airspace capacity, and reduce time for search and 
rescue missions.
    Remote towers.--Consistent with section 161 of the FAA 
Reauthorization Act of 2018, the Committee encourages the FAA 
to use remote tower technology as a means to enhance safety, 
reduce costs, and expand air traffic control services at rural 
and small community airports.
    Technology refresh.--The Committee supports FAA efforts to 
modernize and enhance information technology and systems. Once 
deployed, these systems, including the existing integrated 
control and monitoring system, need to be continuously 
monitored for performance and periodically refreshed to 
preserve their capabilities. The Committee encourages the FAA 
to incorporate and budget for regular refresh cycles into their 
information technology practices, which will ready the FAA to 
leverage new architecture models and technology, such as cloud 
computing and artificial intelligence.
    The VHF Omnidirectional Radio Range (VOR) Minimum 
Operational Network (MON) system is designed to support 
conventional navigation procedures, providing redundancy which 
is the centerpiece of safety. The Committee assumes it would be 
cost-effective to maintain it by using experienced technicians, 
including current FAA employees, familiar with this legacy 
technology.
    Workplace safety.--The Committee is concerned that there 
are some contract towers that are more than 40 years of age, 
are non-compliant with Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration standards, and have line of sight issues that 
threaten air traffic control and passenger safety. The 
Committee looks forward to the assessments of these towers 
required last year.

                 RESEARCH, ENGINEERING AND DEVELOPMENT

                    (AIRPORT AND AIRWAY TRUST FUND)

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.........................    $191,100,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020........................     120,000,000
Recommended in the bill.................................     191,100,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................           - - -
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................     +71,100,000
 

    This appropriation provides funding for long-term research, 
engineering, and development programs to improve the air 
traffic control system and to raise the level of aviation 
safety, as authorized by the Airport and Airway Improvement Act 
and the Federal Aviation Act. The appropriation also finances 
the research, engineering, and development needed to establish 
or modify Federal air regulations.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The following table provides funding levels for specific 
research, engineering, and development programs. The Committee 
provides the FAA with additional flexibility to fund the 
programs that improve the safety of the National Airspace 
System, but directs the FAA to submit to the House and Senate 
Committees on Appropriations a detailed spend plan for the 
funds made available by this account not later than 60 days 
after enactment of this Act. The spend plan shall include, as 
applicable, a comparison between the congressional budget 
justification funding levels, the most recent congressional 
directives or approved funding levels, and the funding levels 
proposed by the FAA. If the proposed level is less than or 
greater than the funding levels in the congressional budget 
justification, then the FAA shall provide a clear and concise 
justification, subject to the reprogramming requirements of 
section 405 of this Act.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Request       Recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Safety:
    Fire Research and Safety..........       $7,562,000       $7,562,000
    Advanced Materials/Structural             1,799,000       15,000,000
     Safety...........................
    Aircraft Icing /Digital System            7,450,000        9,300,000
     Safety...........................
    Continued Airworthiness...........       10,006,000       11,300,000
    Aircraft Catastrophic Failure       ...............        1,565,000
     Prevention Research..............
    Flightdeck/Maintenance/System             5,973,000        7,300,000
     Integration Human Factors........
    System Safety Management..........        4,309,000        5,500,000
    Air Traffic Control/Technical             5,474,000        5,474,000
     Operations Human Factors.........
    Unmanned Aircraft Systems Research        7,546,000       25,000,000
    Alternative Fuels for General       ...............        1,900,000
     Aviation.........................
    Commercial Space..................        5,971,000        5,971,000
    NextGen--Air Ground Integration           1,717,000        5,800,000
     Human Factors....................
    NextGen--Information Security.....        2,675,000        2,675,000
    Other Safety......................       26,339,000       31,227,000
                                       ---------------------------------
        Total Safety..................       86,821,000      135,574,000
Reduce Environmental Impacts:
    Environment and Energy............       15,103,000       18,500,000
    NextGen--Environmental Research--        12,500,000       29,600,000
     Aircraft Technologies, Fuels, and
     Metrics..........................
                                       ---------------------------------
        Total Reduce Environmental           27,603,000       48,100,000
         Impacts......................
Mission Support:
    System Planning and Resource              2,717,000        2,426,000
     Management.......................
    William J. Hughes Technical Center        2,859,000        5,000,000
     Laboratory Facility..............
                                       ---------------------------------
        Total Mission Support.........        5,576,000        7,426,000
                                       =================================
            TOTAL.....................      120,000,000      191,100,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Counter-unmanned aircraft systems.--In accordance with 
section 383 of the FAA Reauthorization Act (P.L. 115-254), the 
Committee supports the coordination among the FAA, Departments 
of Defense and Homeland Security, and other relevant Federal 
agencies to ensure that the detection and mitigation of 
potential risks posed by errant or hostile unmanned aircraft 
does not adversely impact or interfere with safe airport 
operations, navigation, air traffic services, or the safe and 
efficient operation of the national airspace system. The 
Committee directs the FAA to provide regular updates to the 
House and Senate Committees on Appropriations on their 
activities related to counter unmanned aircraft research, 
capabilities, and coordination.
    Crew complements.--The presence of two well-trained, 
qualified pilots in commercial aircraft is another example of 
safety through redundancy. Funds made available in this Act to 
study alternative crew complements for flight decks in 
commercial operations should prioritize the safety effects 
relative to two-person flights. This direction is not intended 
to limit FAA's research and development activities related to 
unmanned aerial vehicles.
    Wind Turbine-Radar Interference Mitigation Working Group.--
The FAA is a member of the Wind Turbine-Radar Interference 
Mitigation Working Group, which also includes the Departments 
of Defense and Energy and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration. This collaborative work is expected to be 
completed in 2025. The Committee encourages the working group, 
including the FAA, to complete the work as expeditiously as 
possible and provide periodic updates to the Committee.
    Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability.--
The Committee is pleased that cooperation between the FAA and 
industry partners towards the Low Altitude Authorization and 
Notification Capability (LAANC) program has safely and 
efficiently opened more airspace to UAS innovation. The LAANC 
program is making progress towards an unmanned traffic 
management system. The Committee supports the continuation and 
extension of the LAANC program.
    NextGen, Environmental Research-Aircraft Technologies, 
Fuels, and Metrics.--The recommendation includes $29,600,000 
for NextGen, Environmental Research-Aircraft Technologies, 
Fuels, and Metrics to reduce aviation noise and exhaust 
emissions and to increase energy efficiency. This program 
utilizes the Center of Excellence to discover, analyze, and 
develop science-based solutions to the energy and environmental 
challenges facing the aviation industry.

                       GRANTS-IN-AID FOR AIRPORTS

                (LIQUIDATION OF CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION)

                      (LIMITATION ON OBLIGATIONS)

                    (AIRPORT AND AIRWAY TRUST FUND)

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019...................        $3,350,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020..................         3,350,000,000
Recommended in the bill...........................         3,350,000,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.................                 - - -
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020................                 - - -
 

    This funding provides grants for airport planning and 
development, noise compatibility and planning, the military 
airport program, reliever airports, airport program 
administration, and other authorized activities.

                         REPORT RECOMMENDATION

    Airport technology research.--The Committee recommendation 
includes a minimum of $33,210,000 for the FAA's airport 
technology research program to conduct research on topics such 
as concrete and asphalt airport pavement in accordance with 
section 744 of the FAA Reauthorization Act (P.L. 115-254); 
airport marking and lighting; airport rescue and firefighting; 
airport planning and design; wildlife hazard mitigation; and 
visual guidance.
    Noise and environment.--The Committee directs the 
Administrator to ensure the availability of funds to implement 
the Environmental Mitigation Pilot Program and the series of 
studies and reports on aircraft noise in accordance with the 
Airport Noise and Environmental Streamlining subtitle of the 
FAA Reauthorization Act (P.L. 115-254).

                       GRANTS-IN-AID FOR AIRPORTS

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................      $500,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................             - - -
Recommended in the bill...............................       500,000,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................             - - -
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................      +500,000,000
 

    The Committee recommendation includes $500,000,000 in 
discretionary funding for additional grants for airport 
infrastructure. These grants are to be awarded on a competitive 
basis for all airport sizes.

       ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS--FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION

    Section 110 limits the number of technical work years at 
the Center for Advanced Aviation Systems Development to 600.
    Section 111 prohibits FAA from requiring airport sponsors 
to provide the agency `without cost' building construction, 
maintenance, utilities and expenses, or space in sponsor-owned 
buildings, except in the case of certain specified exceptions.
    Section 112 allows reimbursement for fees collected and 
credited under 49 U.S.C. 45303.
    Section 113 allows reimbursement of funds for providing 
technical assistance to foreign aviation authorities to be 
credited to the operations account.
    Section 114 prohibits FAA from paying Sunday premium pay, 
except in those cases where the individual actually worked on a 
Sunday.
    Section 115 prohibits FAA from using funds to purchase 
store gift cards or gift certificates through a government-
issued credit card.
    Section 116 requires approval from the Deputy Assistant 
Secretary for Administration of the Department of 
Transportation for retention bonuses for any FAA employee.
    Section 117 requires the Secretary to block the display of 
an owner or operator's aircraft registration number in the 
Aircraft Situational Display to Industry program, upon the 
request of an owner or operator.
    Section 118 limits the number of FAA political appointees 
to eight.
    Section 119 prohibits funds for any increase in fees for 
navigational products until FAA has reported a justification 
for such fees to the House and Senate Committees on 
Appropriations.
    Section 119A requires FAA to notify the House and Senate 
Committees on Appropriations at least 90 days before closing a 
regional operations center or reducing the services it 
provides.
    Section 119B prohibits funds to change weight restrictions 
or prior permission rules at Teterboro Airport in Teterboro, 
New Jersey.
    Section 119C sets requirements for the Contract Tower 
program.
    Section 119D allows for reimbursements to airports affected 
by Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs).

                     Federal Highway Administration

    The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provides 
financial assistance to the States to construct and improve 
roads and highways. It also provides technical assistance to 
other agencies and organizations involved in road building 
activities. Title 23 of the United States Code and other 
supporting statutes provide authority for the activities of the 
FHWA. The most recent authorization for the programs 
administered by the FHWA is contained in the Fixing America's 
Surface Transportation (FAST) Act (P.L. 114-94). Funding is 
provided by contract authority, while program levels are 
established by annual limitations on obligations, as set forth 
in appropriations Acts.

                 LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

                          (HIGHWAY TRUST FUND)

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................      $449,692,304
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................       453,549,689
Recommended in the bill...............................       453,549,689
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................        +3,858,385
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................             - - -
 

    The limitation on administrative expenses caps the amount, 
from within the limitation on obligations, that FHWA may spend 
on salaries and expenses necessary to conduct and administer 
the Federal-aid highway program, highway-related research, and 
most other Federal highway programs.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommends a limitation on FHWA 
administrative expenses of $453,549,689. In addition, 
$3,248,000 is transferred to the Appalachian Regional 
Commission.

                          FEDERAL-AID HIGHWAYS

                      (LIMITATION ON OBLIGATIONS)

                          (HIGHWAY TRUST FUND)

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Limitation on
                                                          obligations**
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................   $45,268,596,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................    46,365,092,000
Recommended in the bill...............................    46,365,092,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................    +1,096,496,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................             - - -
------------------------------------------------------------------------
**These amounts do not include $739,000,000 of contract authority exempt
  from the limitation on obligations. As a result, total program level
  for 2019 was $46,007,596,000. The total recommended program level for
  2020 is $47,104,092,000.

    The Federal-aid highway program is funded by contract 
authority, and liquidating cash appropriations are subsequently 
provided to fund resulting outlays. The Committee sets, through 
the annual appropriations process, an overall limitation on the 
total contract authority that can be obligated under the 
program in a given year. Programs included within the Federal-
aid highway program are financed from the Highway Trust Fund.
    Federal-aid highways and bridges are managed through a 
Federal-State partnership. States and localities maintain 
ownership of and responsibility for the maintenance, repair, 
and new construction of roads. State highway departments have 
the authority to initiate Federal-aid projects, subject to FHWA 
approval of the plans, specifications, and cost estimates. The 
Federal government provides financial support, on a 
reimbursable basis, for construction and repair through 
matching grants.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommends a total program level of 
$47,104,092,000 for the regular Federal-aid highway program in 
fiscal year 2020. Included within the recommended amount is an 
obligation limitation of $46,365,092,000 and $739,000,000 in 
contract authority that is exempt from the obligation 
limitation.
    Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ).--The 
Committee provides $2,500,000,000 for CMAQ programs. These 
programs are essential to reducing congestion and improving air 
quality nationwide. The Committee urges FHWA to consider the 
feasibility of utilizing or deploying innovative technologies, 
including moveable barriers, that provide congestion relief, 
improve air quality, and decrease fuel consumption. Innovative 
technologies can offer quick alternatives to costly road 
construction, result in safer roadways, help eliminate 
crossover fatalities, improve air quality, and decrease fuel 
consumption. The Committee encourages FHWA to consider such 
technologies as part of any project for which the Federal 
government provides grants.
    Highway research.--The Committee provides $420,000,000 for 
the Highway Research, Technology and Education program, 
consistent with the levels contained in the FAST Act. As part 
of FHWA's Research, Technology and Education program, the 
Committee encourages the Secretary, in conjunction with the 
National Weather Service, to establish a pilot project that 
would develop a model to collect and integrate real-time, geo-
located weather and roadway data in order to improve emergency 
planning, response, and public safety.
    Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act 
(TIFIA).--TIFIA credit assistance allows State and local 
governments to leverage limited Federal resources and stimulate 
capital market investment in transportation infrastructure. The 
program provides Federal credit assistance in the form of 
direct loans, loan guarantees, and standby lines of credit to 
projects of national or regional significance. Consistent with 
the FAST Act, the Committee provides $300,000,000 in budget 
authority for TIFIA which it expects will leverage more than 
$3,000,000,000 in loans for important transportation projects 
nationwide.
    Freight.--Our nation's major freight corridors improve our 
economic efficiency, promote economic growth, and increase 
employment. The Committee provides $1,500,000,000 for the 
National Highway Freight program, consistent with the amounts 
authorized in the FAST Act.
    Interstate 10 in Alabama and the proposed Interstate 69 
extension over the Ohio River are crucial corridors for the 
movement of freight. On Interstate 10, the Mobile River Bridge 
between Mobile and Daphne, Alabama is a key choke point and 
creates safety hazards for motorists. The Interstate 69 
extension between Indiana and Kentucky will address capacity 
constraints and create a continuous transportation network from 
Canada to Mexico that will facilitate international trade and 
spur economic development. The Committee encourages FHWA to 
work with the relevant State departments of transportation to 
address capacity constraints at these chokepoints and to 
develop robust funding plans to complete these critical 
projects.
    In addition, the Committee believes critical commerce 
corridors (CCC), an authorized use of funds in the nationally 
significant freight and highway projects program, can improve 
economic efficiency, reduce travel times, and promote safe 
travel on our nation's roads and highways. CCCs create a 
barrier on existing highways, physically separating lanes 
dedicated for heavy commercial trucks from lanes dedicated for 
passenger vehicles. The Committee encourages the Secretary to 
consider applications for the creation of CCCs when awarding 
competitive grants.
    Permeable pavements.--The Committee encourages the 
Secretary to accelerate research, demonstration, and deployment 
of permeable pavements to achieve flood mitigation, pollutant 
reduction, stormwater runoff reduction, environmental 
conservation, and resilience for both new road construction and 
the retrofit of existing roads. The Committee encourages the 
Secretary to conduct structural evaluations of flood-damaged 
pavements, with emphasis on local roads and highways subject to 
flooding and extended periods of inundation, to understand the 
mechanisms of flood damage and how permeable pavements might be 
used to prevent or reduce damage from future flooding.
    Guardrails.--The Committee supports continued efforts by 
the Secretary to help State and local departments of 
transportation capitalize on Federal investment in Geosynthetic 
Reinforced Soil Integrated Bridge Systems. The Committee 
encourages the Secretary to consider testing of geo-
synthetically reinforced soil guardrails for performance under 
vehicle impact and use this data to develop specifications for 
use in future roadway construction.
    Bridge corrosion.--The Committee reiterates its concern 
with the large number of structurally deficient bridges in the 
United States and recognizes that corrosion is a leading cause 
of bridge failure. The Committee is concerned that the 
Secretary has not complied with the directive in House Report 
115-237 to produce a report on best practices to combat bridge 
corrosion. Therefore, the Committee again directs the Secretary 
to conduct a report on the status of corrosion control planning 
by State departments of transportation and the status of 
corrosion control best practice requirements in State 
regulations and in bid specifications for bridge projects using 
Federal taxpayer money. The Committee again directs the 
Secretary to consult with State departments of transportation 
to ensure that contractors and subcontractors hired for bridge 
construction, alterations or maintenance projects using Federal 
taxpayer money, other than those involving minor repair work, 
are utilizing industry best practices to prevent, mitigate and 
control corrosion. The Committee directs the GAO to produce a 
report to Congress, due no later than one year after enactment 
of this Act, on the status of corrosion control planning by 
State departments of transportation.
    Truck size and weight.--The Committee is concerned about 
the demands placed on our nation's highways, especially 
bridges, by large trucks. The June 2015 Comprehensive Truck 
Size and Weight Technical Reports Summary found that 4,845 
bridges would need to be strengthened or replaced to handle the 
additional stress if Federal truck weights were increased to 
91,000 pounds. In addition, a 2018 Consensus Study Report 
requested by the U.S. Department of Transportation and 
conducted by the Transportation Research Board identified 27 
research projects that are needed to better project the 
consequences of proposed changes to truck length and weight 
limits. A significant increase in Federal truck length and 
weight, before the impacts of these changes have been studied, 
would stress an already failing Highway Trust Fund and further 
compromise the condition of our roads and bridges. The results 
of the proposed research should be considered by the Department 
and Congress before any changes in national policy are made.
    Highway-rail grade crossing safety handbook.--The Committee 
is concerned that an updated handbook on safety at highway-rail 
grade crossings is over a year late. Updated safety protocols 
at highway-grade crossings will save lives. The Committee 
directs FHWA, in coordination with the Federal Railroad 
Administration, to complete the handbook within 180 days of 
enactment of this Act.
    Verrazzano-Narrows bridge.--The Committee anticipates that 
when two-way tolling is established by the Metropolitan Transit 
Authority (MTA), each one-way toll will be equal to one-half of 
the current one-way toll. The Committee recognizes that, over 
time, the MTA will need to adjust the toll rate.
    Ferry programs.--The Committee recognizes the important 
role that ferries play in connecting communities and reducing 
congestion. Under this heading, the Committee provides 
$80,000,000 for the Ferry Boat Program, consistent with the 
amounts authorized by the FAST Act. The bill also provides 
$30,000,000 for ferry programs administered by the Federal 
Transit Administration (FTA).
    Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS).--The 
Committee recognizes the important role that the ADHS plays in 
providing economic opportunities for persistently poor 
residents of Appalachia. As a result, the Committee rejects the 
President's proposal to rescind $40,222,760 from ADHS projects 
in Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Tennessee, and West 
Virginia.
    FHWA competitive programs.--For applicable competitive 
programs administered by FHWA, including the Infrastructure for 
Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant program, the Committee is 
concerned about the lack of transparency in grant award 
decisions by the Department of Transportation (DOT). For 
competitive programs funded under this heading, program teams 
should document their decision-making rationale throughout 
review in the application selection process. In addition, the 
Committee directs the Secretary to give priority to applicants 
with a demonstrated success record of managing and implementing 
complex projects on-time and on-budget.
    Pavement conditions and competition.--Good pavement 
conditions on the National Highway System and roads eligible 
for Federal-aid funding are a key goal of the funds provided in 
this Act. The Committee is concerned about the variability in 
pavement conditions across States and jurisdictions including 
in home rule states and in colder climates. As a result of 
these concerns, the Committee directs the GAO to evaluate the 
ability of urban areas in home rule states to meet Federal road 
maintenance standards. Furthermore, as part of FHWA's continued 
research on pavement performance, the Committee encourages the 
agency to include special considerations of pavement 
performance in colder climates and directs the agency to 
continue to evaluate the impact of autonomous vehicles, 
particularly commercial vehicles, on pavement performance. The 
Committee looks forward to receiving the report on Automated 
Vehicle Impacts to Highway Infrastructure during 2020.
    In addition, the Committee notes that competition in the 
selection of pavement materials can facilitate the efficient 
use of Federal funds. The Committee directs FHWA to report to 
Congress within 120 days on all measures taken to ensure State 
departments of transportation and other contracting agencies 
are in full compliance with the competitive bidding principles 
in 23 U.S.C. 112.
    Safe routes to schools.--The Committee recognizes the 
important role infrastructure investments, education, and 
enforcement efforts can have in ensuring safe access to 
schools. Investments in sidewalks, bike paths, and alternative 
transportation have proven to increase safety and decrease the 
number of deaths and injuries associated with commutes to 
school. The Committee encourages the Secretary and States to 
prioritize infrastructure investments that will facilitate 
changes to pedestrian and driver behavior and that will have 
immediate improvements in student safety.
    Highway 69 safety report.--The Committee recognizes that 
congestion and accidents are increasing on Highway 69 in 
Kansas, especially where interstates intersect with the two-
lane State highway. This route receives heavy traffic due to 
its close-proximity to a State border, and the route provides 
direct access to high-employment areas. As a result, the 
Committee encourages the Secretary to work with the Kansas 
department of transportation to complete a report on options 
that could improve safety along this critical route.
    Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division (EFLHD) disaster 
recovery.--The Committee urges the Secretary to ensure the full 
allocation of authorized funds for the EFLHD so that it can act 
as a single entity to complete the rebuilding process from 
damages caused by hurricanes in the noncontiguous States and 
territories. The EFHLD's role includes procuring the 
construction, construction management, and inspection for the 
complete rebuilding process.
    Tribal Transportation Program.--The Tribal Transportation 
Program provides key access to basic community services to 
enhance the quality of life in Indian country. Consistent with 
the FAST Act, the Committee provides $505,000,000 for the 
program.
    Cap park development.--The Committee notes the growing 
interest in communities across the country in developing cap 
parks--capping a highway and placing a park there. Cap parks 
connect neighborhoods that have long been divided by highways, 
reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality, and bring green 
space to our highways and roads. The Committee encourages State 
departments of transportation to work with metropolitan 
planning organizations to further the development of cap parks 
across the country.
    Cost of contracting.--The Committee is concerned about how 
State departments of transportation are allocating staffing 
resources. The Committee directs the GAO to report on how State 
departments of transportation complete engineering and design 
work for projects using Federal funds. The report should 
address how State departments of transportation complete such 
work, the percentage of the work that is completed by private 
contractors and the percentage that is completed by State 
employees. The report should include: the estimated cost of 
procuring the services under a contract, the estimated costs to 
the State of negotiating and awarding the contract, and the 
estimated cost to the State of supervising, monitoring, and 
overseeing the contract. In addition, the report should include 
an estimate of the cost of having the services performed by 
State staff (or a government agency assisting the State, 
including salaries and benefits), and other costs that can be 
attributed solely to the performance of the services by staff 
and that would not otherwise be incurred by the State.
    Border State infrastructure.--The Department shall 
encourage States using Federal funds designated for border-
State infrastructure to ensure participation of city and county 
governments along the U.S.-Mexico border in project selection 
processes. The Committee directs the Department to report to 
the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations within 60 
days of enactment of this Act on its progress.
    Transportation infrastructure and military installations.--
States and local communities have historically been responsible 
for costs associated with construction and maintenance of off-
base surface transportation and other transportation 
infrastructure surrounding Department of Defense installations. 
This infrastructure serves two purposes: to support civilian 
life and the neighboring military installation's operations. 
The Committee directs the Department of Transportation, in 
conjunction with the Department of Defense, to compose a report 
on the state of transportation safety, economic 
competitiveness, quality of life, environmental protection, and 
state of good repair of off-base surface transportation 
surrounding Department of Defense installations with 
recommendations for improvements.

                (LIQUIDATION OF CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION)

                          (HIGHWAY TRUST FUND)

 
                                                         Liquidation of
                                                            contract
                                                            authority
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................   $46,007,596,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................    47,104,092,000
Recommended in the bill...............................    47,104,092,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................    +1,096,496,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................             - - -
 

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommends a liquidating cash appropriation 
of $47,104,092,000. This is the amount required to pay the 
outstanding obligations of the highway program at levels 
provided in this Act and prior appropriations Acts.

                    HIGHWAY INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMS

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................    $3,250,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................       300,000,000
Recommended in the bill...............................     1,750,000,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................    -1,500,000,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................    +1,450,000,000
 

    The FAST Act provides contract authority for programs 
administered by FHWA and funded from the Highway Trust Fund. 
This account provides additional funds from the general fund of 
the Treasury for certain programs funded by formula under the 
FAST Act and other important safety and management priorities 
administered by the FHWA.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommends $1,750,000,000 for Highway 
Infrastructure Programs. The following table provides funding 
levels for activities within this account:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Request       Recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Competitive Bridge Program..........      $300,000,000             - - -
Surface Transportation Block Grant..             - - -     1,493,100,000
Puerto-Rico--Surface Transportation              - - -         5,451,000
 Block Grant........................
Territories--Surface Transportation              - - -         1,449,000
 Block Grant........................
Nationally Significant Federal Lands             - - -       166,000,000
 and Tribal Projects................
Competitive Grants for Highway Grade-            - - -        50,000,000
 Crossings..........................
Advanced Digital Construction                    - - -        15,000,000
 Management System..................
Regional Infrastructure Accelerator.             - - -        12,000,000
National Road Network Pilot Program.             - - -         5,000,000
Study on Tribal Transportation......             - - -         2,000,000
                                     -----------------------------------
    Total...........................       300,000,000     1,750,000,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects.--
Notwithstanding section 1123 of the FAST Act, funds 
appropriated by this Act for the Nationally Significant Federal 
Lands and Tribal Projects under section 1123 of the FAST Act 
shall be prioritized to maintain and repair roadways that have 
a higher than average daily use by commuters and non-recreation 
visitation. Grants shall also prioritize roadways that in the 
prior fiscal year have been closed or had speed reductions due 
to unsafe travel conditions as a result of the roadway's 
infrastructure condition and maintenance.
    Study on Tribal transportation.--The Committee provides 
$2,000,000 for research that leads to decreases in highway and 
pedestrian fatalities among tribal populations. This research 
should build on reports mandated in the FAST Act and should be 
competitively awarded to State governments, academic 
institutions, or non-profits with both existing partnerships 
among tribal governments and which have traffic safety and 
transportation research expertise. Research should focus on 
priority areas identified in FHWA's 2018 report ``Options for 
Improving Transportation Safety in Tribal Areas''.
    National Road Network Pilot Program.--The Committee 
provides $5,000,000 for a National Road Network Pilot Program. 
Under the pilot program, the Committee directs FHWA to create a 
dataset which should support interagency use. As part of that 
dataset, FHWA should complete outreach to States to assist with 
improved and standardized reporting of data that are attached 
to their linear road networks. FHWA may connect to databases 
produced by States or other Federal agencies to provide real-
time information. The Committee intends for purchases of 
software and hardware to be eligible expenses under this 
heading.
    Advanced Digital Construction Management Systems.--Advanced 
Digital Construction Management Systems are defined as 
commercially-proven digital technologies and processes for 
management of construction and engineering activities, 
including systems for infrastructure planning and coordination, 
construction, maintenance, modernization and management, asset 
management systems for machines, site equipment, and personnel. 
Project delivery systems for project management are also 
included. The Committee intends for software, hardware, 
services, and employee training on the use and management of 
Advanced Digital Construction Management Systems to be eligible 
expenses under this heading.

       ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS--FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION

    Section 120 distributes obligation authority among Federal-
aid highway programs.
    Section 121 credits funds received by the Bureau of 
Transportation Statistics to the Federal-aid highways account.
    Section 122 provides requirements for any waiver of the Buy 
America Act.
    Section 123 requires congressional notification before the 
Department provides credit assistance under the TIFIA program.
    Section 124 requires 60-day notification to the Committees 
on Appropriations of any grants as authorized under 23 U.S.C. 
117.
    Section 125 allows State DOTs to repurpose certain highway 
project funding to be used within 5 miles of its original 
designation.
    Section 126 removes a prohibition on two-way tolling on the 
Verrazzano-Narrows bridge between Brooklyn and Staten Island, 
New York.
    Section 127 removes the annual cap from Emergency Relief 
for Puerto Rico and the United States Territories.
    Section 128 directs FHWA to make determinations on Buy 
America Waivers that were submitted before April 17, 2018.
    Section 129 repeals a prohibition on removing a bridge in 
Boston, Massachusetts.
    Section 129A clarifies that FHWA should apply penalties for 
States without a State Asset Management Plan only to funds 
provided in 2019 and after.

              Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

    The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) was 
established within the Department of Transportation (DOT) by 
Congress through the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 
1999. FMCSA's mission is to promote safe commercial motor 
vehicle operations and to reduce truck and bus crashes. FMCSA 
works with Federal, State, and local entities, the motor 
carrier industry, highway safety organizations, and the public 
to further its mission.
    FMCSA resources are used to prevent and mitigate commercial 
vehicle accidents through regulation, enforcement, stakeholder 
training, technological innovation, and improved information 
systems. FMCSA also is responsible for enforcing Federal motor 
carrier safety and hazardous materials regulations for all 
commercial vehicles entering the United States along its 
southern and northern borders.

              MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY OPERATIONS AND PROGRAMS

                (LIQUIDATION OF CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION)

                      (LIMITATION ON OBLIGATIONS)

                          (HIGHWAY TRUST FUND)

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................      $284,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................       288,000,000
Recommended in the bill...............................       288,000,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................        +4,000,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................             - - -
 

    This account controls FMCSA's spending on salaries, 
operating expenses, and research. It provides resources to 
support motor carrier safety program activities and to maintain 
the agency's administrative infrastructure. This funding 
supports nationwide motor carrier safety and consumer 
enforcement efforts, including the Compliance, Safety, 
Accountability Program, regulation and enforcement of freight 
transport, and safety enforcement at the United States' 
borders. These resources also fund regulatory development and 
implementation, information management, research and 
technology, safety education and outreach, and the safety and 
consumer telephone hotline.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommends $288,000,000 for the Operations 
and Programs account, consistent with the amounts authorized in 
the FAST Act. Obligation limitation is available for one year, 
except for $9,073,000 for research and technology which is 
available for two years, until September 30, 2022.
    30-minute rest breaks.--When considering exemptions to the 
30 minute rest break regulation, the Committee encourages FMCSA 
to consider the safety implications of making routine stops 
during the day, of drivers remaining physically active during 
non-driving periods, and of adding additional vehicle miles 
operated to the roads.
    Transponder-based weigh station technology report.--The 
Committee looks forward to receiving FMCSA's study requested in 
House Report 115-750 on transponder-based electronic screening 
and the effects of replacing that technology with license plate 
readers.
    Overdue statutorily required rulemaking.--Within three 
months of enactment of this Act, the Committee requests a full 
report and timeline for completion of the outstanding, mandated 
rules included in the FAST Act and the Moving Ahead for 
Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) Act (P.L. 112-141).

                      MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY GRANTS

                (LIQUIDATION OF CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION)

                      (LIMITATION ON OBLIGATIONS)

                          (HIGHWAY TRUST FUND)

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................      $382,800,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................       387,800,000
Recommended in the bill...............................       388,800,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................        +6,000,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................        +1,000,000
 

    This account controls FMCSA's spending on motor carrier 
safety grants. Those grants are used to support compliance 
reviews in the States, identify and apprehend traffic 
violators, conduct roadside inspections, and conduct safety 
audits of new entrant carriers. Additionally, grants are 
provided to States for improvement of State commercial driver's 
license oversight activities.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommends $388,800,000, for the Federal 
Motor Carrier Safety Grant program, consistent with the amounts 
authorized in the FAST Act. Obligation limitation is available 
for one year. The following table provides funding levels for 
activities within this account:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Request         Recommended
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Motor Carrier Safety Assistance           $308,700,000      $308,700,000
 program............................
Commercial Driver's License Program.        33,200,000         33,200,00
High Priority Activities Program....        44,900,000        44,900,000
Commercial Motor Vehicle Operators           1,000,000         2,000,000
 Grants.............................
    Total...........................       387,800,000       388,800,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Commercial motor vehicle operators grants.--Local centers 
of education invest these grants in supporting scholarships for 
veterans and their family members to complete Commercial 
Driver's License-A programs. As a result, the Committee doubles 
the funding for such grants.

 ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS--FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION

    Section 130 requires FMCSA to send notice of 49 CFR section 
385.308 violations by certified mail, registered mail, or some 
other manner of delivery that records receipt of the notice by 
the persons responsible for the violations.
    Section 131 prohibits funds from being used to enforce the 
requirements of section 31137 of title 49, or any regulation 
pursuant to such section, with respect to carriers transporting 
livestock or insects.
    Section 132 requires FMCSA to update annual inspection 
regulations to require that rear underride guards be inspected 
annually.
    Section 133 prohibits funds from being used to review and 
issue a decision on petitions to preempt certain State meal and 
rest break laws.
    Section 134 requires FMCSA to make data on the Compliance, 
Safety, Accountability program publicly available.
    Section 135 prohibits FMCSA from promulgating or enforcing 
a rule that eliminates the 30-minute rest break specified in 
part 395 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations.

             National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

    The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 
was established in March of 1970 to administer motor vehicle 
and highway safety programs. It was the successor agency to the 
National Highway Safety Bureau, which was housed in the Federal 
Highway Administration.
    NHTSA's mission is to save lives, prevent injuries, and 
reduce economic costs due to road traffic crashes through 
education, research, safety standards, and enforcement 
activity. To accomplish these goals, NHTSA establishes and 
enforces safety performance standards for motor vehicles and 
motor vehicle equipment, investigates safety defects in motor 
vehicles, and conducts research on driver behavior and traffic 
safety.
    NHTSA provides grants and technical assistance to State and 
local governments to enable them to conduct effective local 
highway safety programs. Together with State and local 
partners, NHTSA works to reduce the threat of drunk, impaired, 
and distracted drivers, and to promote policies and devices 
with demonstrated safety benefits including helmets, child 
safety seats, airbags, and graduated driver's licenses.
    NHTSA establishes and ensures compliance with fuel economy 
standards, investigates odometer fraud, establishes and 
enforces vehicle anti-theft regulations, and provides consumer 
information on a variety of motor vehicle safety topics.

             NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION

                        OPERATIONS AND RESEARCH

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................      $190,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................       151,000,000
Recommended in the bill...............................       214,073,440
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................       +24,073,440
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................       +63,073,440
 

    The operations and research appropriation supports vehicle 
safety programs and NHTSA's administrative expenses. These 
programs include research and analysis to establish best 
practices, guidance for vehicle safety, and rulemakings on 
safety and fuel economy standards. The account also includes 
enforcement of safety regulations including, ensuring industry 
compliance with motor vehicle safety standards, investigations 
of safety related defects and oversight of manufacturer 
recalls. Many of these programs are conducted in partnership 
with State and local governments, the private sector, 
universities, research units, and various safety associations 
and organizations.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    For vehicle safety programs, funded by the general fund, 
under the operations and research account, the Committee 
recommends $214,073,440, consistent with the amount authorized 
in the FAST Act. Those amounts are available for two years, 
except for $40,000,000 which is available until September 30, 
2022. The following table provides funding levels for 
activities within this account:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Request           Recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rulemaking....................      $22,586,000              $43,000,000
Enforcement...................       19,542,000               43,000,000
Research and Analysis.........       32,805,000               48,000,000
(Research on Automated Driving     (15,000,000)             (18,500,000)
 Systems (non-add))...........
Administrative Expenses.......       76,067,000               80,073,440
                               -----------------------------------------
    Total.....................      151,000,000              214,073,440
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Office of Defects Investigation (ODI).--Of the amounts 
provided for enforcement, $32,548,000 shall be for ODI. The 
Committee is deeply concerned that the Department of 
Transportation Inspector General identified that ODI lacks 
adequate process and oversight for passenger vehicle recalls. 
The Committee directs ODI to strengthen its collection and 
analysis of early warning data and vehicle defects, enhance 
defect investigations using risk-based process, and increase 
enforcement to mitigate the impact of serious safety defects on 
drivers. Within 180 days of enactment of this Act, the 
Committee directs NHTSA to report to the Committee as to how it 
will implement these provisions. The Committee provides 
$43,000,000 for enforcement, a $10,000,000 increase over fiscal 
year 2019 and $23,500,000 over the President's request.
    Autonomous vehicles.--Autonomous vehicles (AVs) have the 
potential to fundamentally transform transportation networks by 
reducing the number of lives lost on our roads and by improving 
mobility options. Research into the safety and operations of 
these new technologies is a key part of NHTSA's mission. To 
that end, the Committee provides not less than $18,500,000 for 
NHTSA to continue research on AVs, automated driving systems 
(ADS), advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and vehicle 
electronics and cybersecurity. The Committee anticipates that 
NHTSA will include analysis of both vehicles without drivers 
and without passengers in its analysis. The Committee expects 
that when making decisions about how to utilize funds provided 
in this Act and by prior appropriation Acts, the Secretary will 
prioritize the ten AV proving grounds that were identified by 
the Department in January 2017.
    The Committee is concerned that the development of AVs is 
not receiving sufficient oversight from NHTSA. The Committee 
supports performance based minimum standards for AVs and 
directs NHTSA to collaborate with the Office of the Secretary 
to ensure that AVs are safe for occupants, other drivers, 
pedestrians and cyclists. The Committee directs NHTSA to report 
to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations on their 
plans to collaborate within 180 days of enactment of this Act. 
In addition, the Committee directs NHTSA to develop regulations 
providing common terminology for the identification of vehicles 
equipped with advanced driver assistance systems and ``highly 
automated'' vehicle systems.
    The Committee finds that the Department of Transportation 
could more efficiently utilize machine learning and other 
advanced computing methods to support the advanced performance 
of AVs. The Committee encourages NHTSA to pursue a program of 
research that integrates machine learning and other advanced 
computing methods that would support State government 
assessment of AV readiness, infrastructure monitoring, and 
assessments of improved situational awareness and response 
latency.
    While the Committee recognizes the vast potential of 
automated vehicles, the Committee is concerned that this 
technological transformation may displace workers who currently 
earn their living driving a vehicle. The Committee encourages 
DOT to consider the potential for job displacement and urges 
DOT to convene relevant public and private stakeholders to 
develop a national strategy to address this issue.
    Truck underride safety research.--The Committee notes that 
NHTSA's proposed rulemaking in December 2015 to update truck 
rear impact guard requirements cited 362 annual fatalities 
associated with light vehicle crashes into the rear of trucks. 
The Committee supports the March 2019 GAO (GAO-19-264) 
recommendations that NHTSA develop a standardized definition of 
underride crashes and data, share information with police 
departments on identifying underride crashes, establish annual 
inspection requirements for rear guards, and conduct additional 
research on side underride guards. The Committee directs NHTSA 
to implement the GAO recommendations and to complete a 
rulemaking to improve rear guards to meet the Insurance 
Institute for Highway Safety standards for Toughguard awards. 
The Committee directs NHTSA to continue working with relevant 
experts and stakeholders, including researchers, engineers, 
safety advocates, and the trucking industry, to facilitate the 
deployment and adoption of rear and side underride protection 
devices.
    Crashworthiness research.--The Committee recognizes the 
importance that lightweight plastics and polymer composites 
play to improve automotive safety, meet consumer demand for 
innovative vehicles, increase fuel efficiency, and support new 
U.S. highly skilled manufacturing jobs. NHTSA is encouraged to 
focus on updating the countermeasures in its frontal, side, 
rollover, front seatbacks and lower interior impacts for 
children and small adults as well as pedestrian crashworthiness 
projects, with an emphasis on vehicle lightweighting in both 
traditional and autonomous vehicle structural designs. NHTSA 
should leverage lessons learned from lightweight materials 
research at the Department of Transportation, the Department of 
Energy, and by industry stakeholders in its development of 
safety-centered approaches for future lightweight automotive 
design.
    Automatic emergency brakes.--The Committee finds that 
including automatic emergency brakes on vehicles can reduce 
front-to-rear traffic incidents by more than 50 percent. On 
October 16, 2015, NHTSA accepted a petition to complete a 
rulemaking on automatic emergency brakes. In order to 
facilitate the rulemaking, the Committee directs NHTSA to 
initiate and complete field operational testing of automatic 
emergency braking technology on commercial motor vehicles by 
December 31, 2021, and to update the House and Senate 
Committtees on Appropriations regarding the findings of the 
testing.
    Overdue rulemaking.--The Committee is extremely concerned 
by NHTSA's lack of progress on critical rulemakings that the 
agency has been directed to complete in both the FAST Act and 
MAP-21. To address these overdue rulemakings, the Committee has 
provided $43,000,000 for rulemakings, and directs NHTSA to 
complete rulemakings that are overdue based on the April 2019 
Significant Rulemaking Report or the Fall 2018 Semi-Annual 
Regulatory Agenda. In addition, within six months of enactment 
of this Act, the Committee directs the Administrator to submit 
a full report and timeline for completion of the overdue, 
mandated rules included in the FAST Act and MAP-21.
    Motorcoach safety.--Section 32703 of MAP-21 required DOT to 
issue rules requiring seatbelts on motorcoaches, regulations 
for roof strength, anti-ejection safety countermeasures, and 
rollover crash avoidance. The Committee requests an immediate 
update on the Department's progress in implementing the 
motorcoach safety standards outlined in MAP-21.
    New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).--Section 24321 of the 
FAST Act directed NHTSA to complete a rulemaking to integrate 
crash avoidance technology information into the safety rating 
information provided to buyers. The Committee recognizes NCAP 
has encouraged vehicle manufacturers to design higher levels of 
safety into their vehicles and improved consumer awareness of 
vehicle safety. However, the Committee is concerned that 
crashworthiness standards have not kept pace with technological 
advances that have occurred since the last update to NCAP. The 
Committee encourages NHTSA to update the standards applicable 
to crash tests and the resulting labels that are required on 
new vehicles. The Committee directs NHTSA to report to the 
House and Senate Committees on Appropriations within 180 days 
of enactment of this Act on plans to update the NCAP standard, 
and include, but not be limited to, a timeline and comparison 
to Euro NCAP. The Committee also encourages NHTSA to include 
ratings on pedestrian and bicyclist safety, advanced driver 
assistance systems, and injury criteria specific to older 
occupants when updating NCAP.
    Rear-end collision avoidance systems.--The Committee 
directs NHTSA to study the safety effectiveness of rear-end 
collision avoidance systems that mitigate and prevent rear-end 
collisions. Among a variety of technologies, the study should 
include the effectiveness of pulsating light systems in motor 
vehicles. The Committee encourages NHTSA to begin this review 
within 90 days of enactment of this Act. Upon completion of the 
necessary research, NHTSA should initiate a rulemaking to 
revise Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) 108, 
establish the parameters for the types of systems that should 
be permitted, and issue a minimum performance standard for 
those systems.
    Digitized odometer disclosure systems.--The Department of 
Transportation estimates that more than 450,000 vehicles are 
sold each year with false odometer readings, costing American 
car buyers more than $1,000,000,000 annually. MAP-21 required 
NHTSA to adopt schemes for electronic odometer disclosure 
statements but NHTSA has not promulgated the rule. 
Technologies, including blockchain, will permit the odometer 
validation process to be digitized. In order to remove 
impediments for States that may be interested in evaluating the 
feasibility of odometer disclosures based on emerging 
technologies, including but not limited to blockchain, the 
Committee encourages NHTSA to complete the rulemaking by 
December 31, 2021.

                        OPERATIONS AND RESEARCH

                (LIQUIDATION OF CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION)

                      (LIMITATION ON OBLIGATIONS)

                          (HIGHWAY TRUST FUND)

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................      $152,100,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................       155,300,000
Recommended in the bill...............................       155,300,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................        +3,200,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................             - - -
 

    This account controls NHTSA's spending from the Highway 
Trust Fund for Highway Safety Research and Development 
programs. Many of these programs are conducted in partnership 
with State and local governments, the private sector, 
universities, research units, and various safety associations 
and organizations. Programs funded by this account include 
research, demonstrations, and technical assistance to State and 
local governments around behavioral aspects of driver, 
occupant, and pedestrian behavior. This account also funds 
NHTSA's National Center for Statistics and Analysis which 
collects and analyzes crash data and provides technical 
assistance to support State highway safety activities.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    For behavioral safety research funded by the operations and 
research account, the Committee recommends $155,300,000 in 
liquidating cash and obligation limitation, consistent with the 
FAST Act. Obligation limitation is available for one year, 
except for $20,000,000 which is available until September 30, 
2021.
    Highway fatalities.--Highway fatalities totaled more than 
37,100 in 2017, with alcohol impaired deaths totaling nearly 
11,000 and speeding related fatalities totaling nearly 10,000. 
Conquering persistent problems with speed, seat belt use, 
distraction, and alcohol and drug impaired driving requires a 
joint effort among government, industry stakeholders and law 
enforcement. Funding and programs in this title are intended to 
address the public health need of reducing highway fatalities 
and injuries. The Committee directs NHTSA to implement a 
national campaign to reduce highway fatalities, working with 
other Federal agencies, the States, law enforcement, the public 
health community, industry, and others who can contribute to 
the goal of saving lives in an expedited manner. An initial 
report on the agency's plans and progress on this campaign 
should be provided to the House and Senate Appropriations 
Committees no later than 90 days after enactment of this Act. 
The report should include specific goals and any impediments to 
achieving those goals.
    Road to Zero coalition.--The Committee believes that 
substantial gains in reducing roadway fatalities can be 
recognized in the coming years through a combination of 
technology and prioritizing safety programs. The Road to Zero 
coalition, which is supported by FHWA, FMCSA, and NHTSA, is 
committed to a goal of zero fatalities by 2050. This coalition 
is a broad-based, diverse group comprised of individuals, 
academia, associations, safety groups, businesses and others. 
The Committee urges the Department to continue its involvement 
with and support of the Road to Zero coalition.
    Advanced drunk driving technology.--The Driver Alcohol 
Detection System for Safety (DADSS) program is vitally 
important, as drunk driving continues to claim more than nearly 
11,000 lives annually. An effective technology like DADSS has 
the potential to save 70 percent of those lives. As funding for 
the research program comes to an end this fiscal year, the next 
step must be to transfer the results to auto manufacturers and 
suppliers who have the real-world expertise to integrate 
technologies into vehicles as part of the ongoing product 
development process. NHTSA is directed to focus future work 
under the DADSS program on technology transfer so the DADSS 
technology can be made available to the driving public as soon 
as possible. The agency is further directed to provide a plan 
on accomplishing this transfer to the Committee within 180 days 
of enactment of this Act.
    Drug-impaired driving.--As drugged driving remains a 
growing concern due to the increase in States legalizing 
marijuana use and the persistence of the opioid crisis, the 
Committee supports the recommendations of the National 
Transportation Safety Board that DOT work with the Department 
of Health and Human Services to develop an impairment standard 
for drugs. The Committee urges NHTSA to coordinate research 
efforts with the States and other partners aimed at developing 
a reliable standard for all types of impaired driving, 
including marijuana impairment. The Committee directs NHTSA to 
continue its research efforts aimed at identifying and 
documenting drug-impaired drivers.
    The Committee recognizes that developing a standard 
measurement of marijuana impairment, similar to blood alcohol 
concentration, remains unlikely in the near term and that 
resources are well spent on increasing law enforcement 
officers' ability to detect driver impairment for multiple 
substances. The Committee directs NHTSA to continue to robustly 
support police training programs, particularly Drug Recognition 
Expert (DRE) and Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement 
(ARIDE) training, and to prioritize the study and development 
of a standardized field sobriety test (SFST) to detect 
marijuana impairment. These programs support law enforcement 
identification of people who may be impaired due to marijuana 
or other drugs. Of the amounts provided under the description 
Impaired and Drug Impaired Driving as part of NHTSA's Highway 
Safety Programs, the Committee provides an additional $250,000 
under this heading to support DRE and ARIDE.
    Child hyperthermia.--The Committee is deeply concerned 
about the ongoing crisis involving children dying of 
hyperthermia after being left alone in motor vehicles. NHTSA 
must pursue a two-pronged strategy of public education and 
technology solutions. Continued public education activities 
should include aggressive media and community outreach and 
dynamic highway message signs during the hot weather season. 
NHTSA should encourage States with high numbers of fatalities 
to implement state-wide task forces to address the problem. 
Because any technology solutions will take years to phase into 
the vehicle fleet, the Committee directs NHTSA to encourage the 
automotive industry to voluntarily offer warning and alert 
systems which can help prevent these deaths.
    The Committee directs NHTSA to continue to conduct a high-
visibility media campaign on child hyperthermia with a special 
emphasis on the 15 States with the highest number of child 
heatstroke fatalities in 2017 and 2018. The Committee further 
directs NHTSA to immediately provide a status update to the 
House and Senate Committees on Appropriations regarding NHTSA's 
activities and plans for combating child hyperthermia. Of the 
amounts made available under this heading, no less than 
$1,500,000 shall be available for such a media campaign.
    High-risk vehicle events.--For two decades automobile 
incidents have been a leading cause of death and injuries for 
members of law enforcement. Pursuit fatalities on our nation's 
roads and highways have increased for the last four years with 
a 22 percent spike over 2013. While NHTSA currently collects 
data on first responder vehicles that are involved in 
fatalities during police-pursuits, that data is subject to 
significant underreporting. The Committee directs NHTSA, in 
partnership with police jurisdictions, to conduct a study that 
would lead to the development of accurate reporting and 
analyses of crashes that involve police pursuits.
    Drinking age in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.--
The Committee directs DOT to update the Committee not later 
than 120 days after enactment of this Act regarding policy 
proposals or initiatives that the Department believes would 
lead the territories to implement a drinking age of 21 years of 
age. The Committee directs NHTSA to coordinate with the FHWA in 
order to include information about the amount of funds that 
Puerto Rico has not received over the last ten years due to the 
penalties imposed as a result of having a drinking age of 18. 
The Committee further encourages NHTSA to work with the 
governments of Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands to determine 
existing impediments and possible solutions to implementing a 
21-year-old drinking age.

                     HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY GRANTS

                (LIQUIDATION OF CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION)

                      (LIMITATION ON OBLIGATIONS)

                          (HIGHWAY TRUST FUND)

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................      $610,208,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................       623,017,000
Recommended in the bill...............................       623,017,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................       +12,809,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................             - - -
 

    This account controls NHTSA's spending on grants to States 
that were authorized in the FAST Act. The grant programs 
include: Highway Safety Programs, the National Priority Safety 
Program, and the High Visibility Enforcement Program. These 
grants provide flexible funding to States that develop a 
Highway Safety plan to address State highway safety issues. 
This account also includes incentive grants to States that meet 
specific statutory criteria in areas such as impaired and 
distracted driving, occupant protection, motorcyclist safety, 
and nonmotorized safety.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommends $623,017,000 in liquidating cash 
from the Highway Trust Fund to pay outstanding obligations of 
the Highway Traffic Safety Grant programs at the levels 
provided in this Act and prior appropriations Acts. The 
Committee also recommends limiting the obligations from the 
Highway Trust Fund in fiscal year 2020 for the Highway Traffic 
Safety Grants to $623,017,000. These levels are consistent with 
the amounts in the FAST Act and the budget request. The 
following table provides funding levels for activities within 
this account:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                          Request             Recommendation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State and Community Highway Safety Grants........................       $279,800,000           $279,800,000
National Priority Safety Programs................................        285,900,000            285,900,000
High Visibility Enforcement Program..............................         30,500,000             30,500,000
Administrative Expenses..........................................         26,817,000             26,817,000
                                                                  ----------------------------------------------
    Total........................................................        623,017,000            623,017,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Safety promotional materials.--For the purpose of Federal 
grants administered by NHTSA, safety equipment purchased for 
traffic safety educational trainings, such as child car seats, 
bicycle helmets and lights, and reflective vests, shall not be 
considered promotional materials or memorabilia.
    Distracted driving.--Distracted driving continues to be a 
significant safety problem on our roadways. The Committee finds 
that distraction plays a role in almost ten percent of fatal 
traffic crashes that occur in the United States. In order to 
educate people about the dangers of distracted driving, NHTSA 
provides vital grants to States and conducts media campaigns to 
educate the public about the dangers of distracted driving. The 
Committee continues to fund NHTSA programs that support State 
efforts to educate the public and to enforce laws promoting 
safe driving habits and prevent unnecessary deaths. Further, 
the Committee urges the Secretary, in conjunction with other 
agencies, to complete guidelines promulgated in 2016 to address 
driver distraction caused by mobile devices in vehicles, 
especially through the use of driver-modes. The Act provides 
$24,000,000 for distracted driving grants under 23 U.S.C. 405.
    High visibility enforcement campaigns.--High visibility 
enforcement campaigns are an effective, evidence-based, traffic 
safety countermeasure. The Committee continues to support these 
campaigns and provides substantial resources to conduct them 
throughout the year. The Click It or Ticket high visibility 
enforcement campaign has played a significant role in achieving 
the current national seat belt use rate of approximately 90 
percent and also aims to increase the use of child safety 
seats. The Committee encourages NHTSA to expand messaging about 
the use of child safety seats in national and State Click It or 
Ticket activities, as part of Child Passenger Safety week, or 
through other appropriate venues.

      ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS--NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY 
                             ADMINISTRATION

    Section 140 provides limited funding for travel and related 
expenses associated with State management reviews and highway 
safety core competency development training.
    Section 141 exempts from the current fiscal year's 
obligation limitation any obligation authority that was made 
available in previous public laws.
    Section 142 prohibits funds from being used to mandate 
global positioning system tracking without providing full and 
appropriate consideration of privacy concerns under 5 U.S.C. 
Chapter 5, subchapter II.
    Section 143 provides additional funding for highway safety 
programs.
    Section 144 provides additional funding for a study on 
children in vehicles equipped with automated driving systems.
    Section 145 prohibits funds from being used to finalize or 
enforce ``The Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient Vehicles Rule.''
    Section 146 prohibits funds from being used to enforce 
certain State maintenance of effort requirements under 23 
U.S.C. 405.

                    Federal Railroad Administration

    The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) was established 
by the Department of Transportation Act, on October 15, 1966. 
FRA plans, develops, and administers programs and regulations 
to promote the safe operation of freight and passenger rail 
transportation in the United States. The U.S. freight railroad 
system consists of over 600 railroads with 167,000 employees, 
and 140,000 miles of track, which deliver approximately 
5,000,000 tons of goods each day. In addition, FRA oversees 
grants to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) 
with the goal of assisting Amtrak with improving its passenger 
rail service and physical infrastructure.

                         SAFETY AND OPERATIONS

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................      $221,698,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................       213,134,000
Recommended in the bill...............................       226,698,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................        +5,000,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................       +13,564,000
 

    The Safety and Operations account provides funding for 
FRA's safety program activities related to passenger and 
freight railroads. Funding also supports salaries and expenses 
and other operating activities related to FRA staff and 
programs.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommendation provides $226,698,000 for the 
Safety and Operations account. Of the amount provided under 
this heading, $20,000,000 is available until expended. The 
following table provides funding levels for activities within 
this account.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Request       Recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Safe Transportation of Energy                    - - -        $2,000,000
 Products...........................
Automated Track Inspection Program          $9,500,000        16,500,000
 and Data Analysis..................
Railroad Safety Information System           3,700,000         4,800,000
 and Front End Interface............
Positive Train Control Support              13,000,000        13,000,000
 Program............................
Confidential Close Call Reporting            2,600,000         3,000,000
 System.............................
Trespasser Prevention Strategy and             650,000           650,000
 Risk Model.........................
Highway-rail Grade Crossing Safety..         1,000,000         1,000,000
National Bridge System Inventory               600,000           600,000
 Update and Model Modification......
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Competitive grants and staffing.--The Committee remains 
concerned with the Department's slow pace in executing FRA's 
competitive grant programs. The Committee notes with 
disappointment that FRA has failed to select projects for three 
competitive grant programs with more than $640,000,000 in 
fiscal year 2017 and fiscal year 2018 appropriated funding 
available. To date, FRA has also failed to issue a single 
Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for four competitive grant 
programs with $670,000,000 in fiscal year 2019 appropriated 
funding available. The Committee recognizes that competitive 
grant programs require dedicated staff to issue NOFOs, review 
applications, and select projects for awards. Therefore, the 
Committee recommendation provides $1,500,000 for the Office of 
Railroad Policy and Development to hire additional staff to 
support the review, selection, and project management oversight 
of competitive grants. FRA shall deliver a report to the House 
and Senate Committees on Appropriations within 120 days of 
enactment of this Act detailing staffing and hiring plans for 
fiscal year 2020 to support this work.
    Safe transportation of energy products.--The Committee 
recommendation supports FRA's safe transportation of energy 
products programs, which include safety inspectors, safety 
route managers and tank car quality assurance specialists, tank 
car research, and increased mileage of the Automated Track 
Inspection Program on routes that carry energy products.
    Automated Track Inspection Program (ATIP).--ATIP uses track 
geometry measurement vehicles to automatically measure track 
conditions which supplement the work of FRA inspectors to 
ensure railroads are compliant with FRA Track Safety Standards. 
The Committee recommendation supports the inspection of 
passenger rail routes, commuter rail routes, and routes that 
carry energy products and other hazardous materials, and 
further enhancements to ATIP's inspection capabilities. The 
Committee notes that funds provided for the ATIP program in 
fiscal year 2020 are available to inspect tracks and analyze 
data from ATIP operations and inspections.
    Positive Train Control (PTC).--The Committee notes that 
significant progress has been made by railroads, passenger 
railroads, and commuter railroads to implement PTC, with PTC 
systems in operation on almost 46,000 of the nearly 58,000 
route miles required under the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 
2008 (P.L. 110-432) as of December 31, 2018. The Committee 
commends the four railroads that fully implemented an FRA-
certified and interoperable PTC system on all of their required 
route miles by December 31, 2018, and notes that 37 railroads 
requested and received approval from FRA for an Alternative 
Schedule. FRA and railroads must now focus on addressing 
software issues and achieving PTC interoperability. As of 
December 31, 2018, only 16 percent of approximately 233 host-
tenant railroad relationships had achieved PTC 
interoperability. The Committee directs FRA to continue to work 
with railroads on PTC testing and interoperability, provide 
technical assistance, actively monitor industry-wide progress, 
and take enforcement actions, including civil penalties, as 
necessary. In addition, the Committee directs FRA to continue 
to brief the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations on 
progress by railroads to implement PTC. Such briefings should 
occur at least every 90 days until December 31, 2020.
    Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS).--The 
Committee commends FRA for its efforts to increase 
participation in C3RS, a voluntary program that enables 
participating railroads and their employees to identify, 
analyze, and mitigate safety risks and improve safety culture. 
C3RS also provides a confidential mechanism for industry-wide 
information sharing and best practices. The Committee continues 
to direct FRA to work with railroads and their employees to 
explore ways to increase participation in C3RS.
    Trespasser prevention.--Pedestrian trespassing on railroad 
property is the leading cause of all rail-related fatalities, 
and there has been no progress in reducing the number of deaths 
from pedestrian trespassing. In February 2019, FRA submitted a 
report to Congress on the National Strategy to Prevent 
Trespassing on Railroad Property as required in House Report 
115-237. The report found that annual trespass-related 
pedestrian fatalities, excluding suicides, have increased 18 
percent from 2012 to 2017; 74 percent occurred within 1,000 
feet of a grade crossing; and 14 percent occurred in 10 
counties in four States. The Committee remains concerned with 
these trends, and directs FRA to work with communities, State 
and local agencies, law enforcement, railroads, advocacy 
organizations, and others to complete the milestones outlined 
in the National Strategy. Further, the Committee directs FRA to 
update the report to Congress with the most current data 
available, FRA's progress on the milestones, and any potential 
new initiatives to reduce trespasser fatalities. The updated 
report shall be submitted no later than June 30, 2020.
    The Committee understands information from railroads, like 
confidential close call reporting, could improve FRA's ability 
to identify areas that are at high risk of trespasser 
accidents. The Committee recognizes that there are valid 
concerns by railroads and their employees with sharing such 
data with FRA. Therefore, the Committee encourages FRA to 
develop a rail information sharing mechanism which would enable 
data collection, deidentification, and analysis by a third-
party in a confidential manner.
    Highway-rail grade crossing safety.--Highway-rail grade 
crossing collisions are the second leading cause of all rail-
related fatalities in the United States. There are over 252,000 
highway-rail grade crossings in the U.S., of which about 
129,800 are located on publicly owned or maintained roads. More 
than half of all public crossings are equipped with active 
warning devices, however, 68 percent of collisions occur at 
crossings with active, functional warning devices. The 
Committee understands FRA is working with railroads, technology 
developers and manufacturers, State and local agencies, law 
enforcement, and others to identify technology solutions and 
barriers to implementing technologies to improve the safety of 
highway-rail grade crossings. The Committee looks forward to 
the results of FRA's stakeholder engagement, and directs FRA to 
brief the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations within 
120 days of enactment of this Act on potential technology 
solutions and recommendations relating to the implementation of 
such technologies. Further, the Committee encourages FRA to 
continue public outreach and education programs, and to 
increase law enforcement partnerships to help reduce the number 
of highway-rail grade crossing collisions.
    Blocked railroad crossings.--The number of complaints the 
Surface Transportation Board's Rail Customer and Public 
Assistance Program fielded relating to railroad blocked 
crossings jumped from eight in 2016 to 85 in 2018. Further, the 
Committee understands FRA has received nearly 1,000 formal 
complaints over the past three fiscal years on blocked railroad 
crossings. The Committee is concerned with the increase in the 
prevalence of railroad crossings blocked by trains, and the 
potential impacts to communities and safety. The Committee 
directs FRA to work with State and local agencies, law 
enforcement, railroads, and others to examine this problem, 
collect data, identify trends, and develop recommendations to 
reduce the number and frequency of blocked railroad crossing 
occurrences. FRA is directed to brief the House and Senate 
Committees on Appropriations within 180 days of enactment of 
this Act on its progress on these actions.
    On-time performance.--A significant obstacle to 
establishing new passenger rail service or adding frequencies 
is the ability to obtain reliable access to host railroad 
tracks. The Committee recognizes the challenges host railroads 
face in balancing the demands of passenger and freight trains, 
which can impact on-time performance. These challenges are 
regularly seen in Amtrak's existing service. In fiscal year 
2018, Amtrak's long-distance trains were on time at stations 
only 44 percent of the time, while Amtrak's state-supported 
trains were on time about 80 percent of the time. Congress 
sought to address on-time performance in the Passenger Rail 
Investment and Improvement (PRIIA) Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-432), 
and closely followed FRA's and Amtrak's efforts to develop new 
or improve existing metrics and minimum standards for measuring 
the performance and service quality of intercity passenger 
train operations as required under section 207 of PRIIA. This 
culminated in FRA publishing Metrics and Standards for 
Intercity Passenger Rail Service in May 2010. Following several 
years in Federal court, the Committee understands that a 2018 
ruling would allow FRA and Amtrak to carry out the directives 
in section 207 of PRIIA. Therefore, the Committee directs FRA 
to work with Amtrak, the Surface Transportation Board, and 
others to develop such metrics and standards and encourages FRA 
to conduct a process similar to the development and adoption of 
the 2010 metrics and standards, including working jointly with 
Amtrak, soliciting the views of railroads, seeking public 
comment, and publishing final metrics and standards.
    Chicago-area on-time performance.--The Chicago-area rail 
system is unique in its complexity, with about 500 freight 
trains and 760 passenger trains passing through the region each 
day. Freight trains from six Class I railroads, passenger 
trains from Amtrak, and commuter trains frequently interact and 
use the same tracks, which can result in on-time performance 
challenges. The Committee directs FRA to work with railroads, 
Amtrak, and commuter railroads to review on-time performance, 
identify potential issues contributing to the frequency and 
length of delays, and develop recommendations on addressing 
these challenges. FRA is directed to brief the House and Senate 
Committees on Appropriations within 180 days of enactment of 
this Act on its progress on these actions.
    Amtrak grant agreements.--The Committee acknowledges that 
FRA has a responsibility to conduct oversight of grants to 
Amtrak. However, it appears FRA began including new language in 
Amtrak's grant agreement documentation in fiscal year 2018 
which requires FRA approval of financial plans through grant 
amendments before Amtrak may begin using appropriated funding 
for major construction on certain capital projects. While 
previous grant agreements have included procedures for 
approving capital projects and project reprogramming above 
certain monetary thresholds to ensure Amtrak's use of Federal 
funding were consistent with Federal law and regulations, this 
new and additional layer of approval required by FRA in fiscal 
year 2018 and again in fiscal year 2019 appears to be 
unnecessary. The Committee is concerned this change inserts FRA 
into Amtrak's selection and prioritization process for capital 
spending, which has been the role of Amtrak management and the 
Amtrak Board of Directors (Board), of which the Secretary is a 
member. The Committee is concerned that this new grant 
agreement requirement sets a precedent that reaches beyond the 
intended statutory framework for grants to Amtrak, and could 
give greater weight to FRA's decisions on financial plans than 
the Board. The Committee directs FRA to respect the existing 
statutory structure which vests the Board with decision-making 
powers relating to capital project selection and 
prioritization, including financial plans, and reminds the 
Department that its seat on the Board is the appropriate place 
to express FRA's support or concern with specific capital 
projects.
    Quad Cities to Chicago passenger rail service.--The 
Committee is encouraged by recent progress in negotiations 
between the State of Illinois and the Iowa Interstate Railroad 
relating to planning for new Chicago to Quad Cities state-
supported intercity passenger rail service. Therefore, the 
Committee rejects the rescissions to the Capital Assistance for 
High Speed Rail Corridors and Intercity Passenger Rail Service 
program proposed in the budget request, and strongly reminds 
the Department that this fiscal year 2010 appropriated funding 
is available until expended. Further, the Committee directs FRA 
to work with grantees to reach agreement on a multi-year 
extension of existing grant agreements in order to ensure funds 
appropriated by Congress are utilized.
    New transportation projects utilizing existing corridors.--
The Committee is aware that metropolitan planners may seek to 
utilize existing transportation corridors in proposing new 
transportation projects, including high speed rail. The 
Committee notes that documentation of historic disruption of 
affected communities and potential negative impacts to 
communities are to be considered in the documentation required 
under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The 
Committee directs the Department to ensure NEPA documentation 
for projects which propose to utilize existing transportation 
corridors includes documentation of the effects of the historic 
disruption of affected communities. Further, the Committee 
encourages the Department to evaluate the impact of new 
transportation projects and their utilization of existing 
corridors and to provide recommendations on ways to mitigate 
community disruption from construction and operation of new 
transportation projects in existing transportation corridors, 
including high speed rail projects.
    Safe transportation of waste and debris.--The Committee 
recognizes the potential health and environmental impacts of 
railroads transporting waste and debris. Therefore, the 
Committee encourages FRA to work with railroads, the Pipeline 
Safety and Hazardous Materials Administration, and other 
Federal agencies, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, to ensure the safe transportation of waste and debris 
by rail.
    Train horn noise.--In March 2016, FRA initiated a 
retrospective review of its locomotive train horn regulations 
through a Notice of Safety Inquiry. The Committee directs FRA 
to finalize this retrospective review, and if warranted by the 
review, move forward with a notice of proposed rulemaking.

                   RAILROAD RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................       $40,600,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................        19,000,000
Recommended in the bill...............................        41,600,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................        +1,000,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................       +22,600,000
 

    The Railroad Research and Development program provides 
science and technology support for FRA's policy and regulatory 
efforts. The program's objectives are to reduce the frequency 
and severity of railroad accidents through scientific 
advancement, and to support technological innovations in 
conventional and high speed railroads.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommendation provides $41,600,000 for the 
Railroad Research and Development program. The Committee 
directs FRA to conduct research and development activities in 
all disciplines, including track, rolling stock, train control 
and communications, human factors, and railroad systems issues, 
in order to maximize gains in rail safety and encourages FRA to 
prioritize technologies that improve safety in all areas of 
railroad operations.
    Safe transportation of energy products.--The Committee 
provides $2,500,000 for FRA to research and mitigate risks 
associated with the transportation of crude oil, ethanol, 
liquefied natural gas (LNG), and other hazardous materials, 
including tank car research in partnership with other Federal 
agencies.
    The Committee is aware of efforts to develop methods to 
safely use LNG as a fuel for locomotives and to transport LNG 
in bulk in tank cars. Therefore, the Committee directs FRA, in 
collaboration with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety 
Administration, to continue to support cooperative research on 
the safe use of LNG in these applications which could inform 
the development of new regulations.
    Positive Train Control (PTC) and cyber security.--FRA's 
research and development activities continue to advance PTC 
technologies, including interoperability and cyber security 
protection. The Committee urges FRA to establish enhanced cyber 
security methods, standards, and best practices for PTC systems 
and future versions of this technology. This could include 
identifying vulnerabilities and preparing for threats that 
could arise from updates and the migration to future designs of 
this technology.
    Trespasser prevention and highway-rail grade crossing 
safety.--As previously noted, the Committee is concerned that 
the two leading causes of all rail-related fatalities continues 
to be pedestrian trespassing and collisions at highway-rail 
grade crossing intersections. The Committee urges FRA to 
continue research and development activities which could 
improve trespass detection and prevention, including at or near 
highway-rail grade crossings, and assist with FRA's National 
Strategy to Prevent Trespassing on Railroad Property. In 
addition, the Committee urges FRA to continue research and 
development activities on grade crossing technology and 
engineering solutions, including human interactions with such 
technology.
    Short-line safety.--The Committee provides $3,000,000 to 
improve safety practices and training and develop safety 
management systems for Class II and Class III freight 
railroads. This funding supports FRA's initiative to partner 
with short-line and regional railroads to build a stronger, 
more sustainable safety culture through safety culture 
assessments; training and education, including on the safe 
transportation of energy products and other hazardous 
materials; outreach activities; and research. Recognizing the 
success of this initiative, the Committee directs FRA to 
provide a report to the House and Senate Committees on 
Appropriations within 120 days of enactment of this Act on the 
feasibility of expanding safety culture assessments and 
training to tourist railroads, passenger railroads, and 
commuter railroads, including the need for such support, 
resources required to carry out such work, and other potential 
safety challenges the initiative could address.
    Research partnerships with universities.--The Committee 
provides up to $5,000,000 for partnerships with qualified 
universities for research related to improving the safety, 
capability, and efficiency of rail infrastructure, of which 
$1,000,000 is to facilitate research with universities on 
intelligent railroad systems. This includes basic and applied 
research on rolling stock, operational reliability, 
infrastructure, inspection technology, maintenance, energy 
efficiency, the development of rail safety technologies such as 
PTC, grade crossing safety improvements, and derailment 
prevention, particularly for trains carrying passengers and 
hazardous materials. Research conducted in conjunction with FRA 
at universities should also facilitate the education and 
training of the next generation of professionals in rail 
engineering and transportation.
    System safety and risk reduction programs.--The Committee 
recognizes that continued investments in critical rail 
infrastructure programs will make rail infrastructure, 
equipment, and the operating environment safer. Therefore, the 
Committee urges FRA to continue prioritizing investments in the 
development of technologies designed to verify the functional 
performance of complex electronic systems such as: PTC, 
automated train control, passenger door control, railroad 
crossing equipment, communication systems, train and locomotive 
systems, train environmental control, railcar signs, 
infrastructure maintenance, and monitoring systems. The 
Committee recognizes the importance of deploying these 
technologies in new and existing systems and acknowledges 
investments made in such technologies by cities, transportation 
agencies, and railroads across the country. The Committee urges 
FRA to continue working with industry to develop standardized 
performance specifications, test and verification processes, 
and maintenance and diagnostics tools for such systems.

       RAILROAD REHABILITATION AND IMPROVEMENT FINANCING PROGRAM

    The Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing 
(RRIF) program was established in the Transportation Equity Act 
for the 21st Century (P.L. 105-178) to provide direct loans and 
loan guarantees to State and local governments, government-
sponsored entities, and railroads. Credit assistance under the 
program may be used for rehabilitating or developing rail 
equipment and facilities, developing or establishing intermodal 
facilities, and transit-oriented development.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommendation extends the deadline by which 
the Secretary may provide direct loans and loan guarantees for 
transit-oriented development projects until September 30, 2020. 
Further, the Committee recommendation allows the credit risk 
premium for RRIF loans to be eligible for grants under the 
National Infrastructure Investments account.

           FEDERAL-STATE PARTNERSHIP FOR STATE OF GOOD REPAIR

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................      $400,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................             - - -
Recommended in the bill...............................       350,000,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................       -50,000,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................      +350,000,000
 

    The Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act 
(P.L. 114-94) authorized the Federal-State Partnership for 
State of Good Repair grant program under section 11302. The 
purpose of these grants is to reduce the state of good repair 
backlog on publicly- or Amtrak-owned infrastructure, equipment, 
and facilities. Eligible activities include capital projects 
to: (1) replace existing assets in-kind or with assets that 
increase capacity or service levels; (2) ensure that service 
can be maintained while existing assets are brought into a 
state of good repair; and (3) bring existing assets into a 
state of good repair.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommendation provides $350,000,000 for the 
Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair grant 
program.
    The Committee remains concerned with the Department's slow 
pace in selecting projects to receive funding appropriated in 
fiscal years 2017 and 2018, and in issuing the Notice of 
Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for funding appropriated in fiscal 
year 2019. The Committee directs the Secretary to publish a 
NOFO consistent with the eligibility requirements in the FAST 
Act for fiscal year 2020 no later than 30 days after enactment 
of this Act, to review all applications received in response to 
the NOFO, and to make awards to eligible grantees no later than 
180 days after enactment of this Act.

        CONSOLIDATED RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE AND SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................      $255,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................       330,000,000
Recommended in the bill...............................       350,000,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................       +95,000,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................       +20,000,000
 

    Authorized under section 11301 of the FAST Act, the purpose 
of the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements 
(CRISI) grant program is to improve the safety, efficiency, and 
reliability of passenger and freight rail transportation 
systems. Eligible activities include a wide range of capital, 
regional and corridor planning, environmental analyses, 
research, workforce development, and training projects.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommendation provides $350,000,000 for the 
CRISI grant program. Of the total funds provided, $40,000,000 
is for eligible projects under section 22907(c)(5) for commuter 
railroads that experienced at least one accident investigated 
by the National Transportation Safety Board between January 1, 
2008 and December 31, 2018 and $55,000,000 is for eligible 
projects under section 22907(c)(2) that require the acquisition 
of rights-of-way, track, or track structure to support the 
development of new intercity passenger rail service routes.
    The Committee remains concerned with the Department's slow 
pace in selecting projects to receive funding appropriated in 
fiscal year 2018, and in issuing the Notice of Funding 
Opportunity (NOFO) for funding appropriated in fiscal year 
2019. The Committee directs the Secretary to publish a NOFO for 
fiscal year 2020 no later than 30 days after enactment of this 
Act, to provide applicants 60 days to respond to the NOFO, and 
to make awards to eligible grantees no later than 180 days 
after enactment of this Act.
    Positive Train Control (PTC).--As previously noted, 
significant progress has been made by railroads, passenger 
railroads, and commuter railroads to implement PTC, however, 
challenges relating to software issues and PTC interoperability 
continue to exist. The Committee is particularly encouraged by 
the efforts of commuter railroads to implement PTC, and directs 
FRA to continue to provide technical assistance to commuter 
railroads as they move toward full implementation. The 
Committee reminds FRA that the deployment of PTC is an eligible 
project under section 22907(c)(1), and PTC eligibility is 
expanded to include commuter railroads.
    Inland ports of entry.--The Committee recognizes that 
communities with high volume international inland ports on the 
U.S.-Mexico border face unique transportation challenges caused 
by international trade and international crossings. The 
Committee encourages FRA to consider the impacts of these 
freight movements, including traffic, highway-rail grade 
crossings, congestion, and safety. Further, the Committee 
directs FRA to report to the House and Senate Committees on 
Appropriations within 60 days of enactment of this Act on the 
impacts of freight movements at high volume international 
inland ports of entry on traffic, highway-rail grade crossings, 
congestion, and safety.

                   RESTORATION AND ENHANCEMENT GRANTS

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................        $5,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................       550,000,000
Recommended in the bill--.............................             - - -
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................        -5,000,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................      -550,000,000
 

    The FAST Act authorized the Restoration and Enhancement 
Grants program under section 11303. These grants provide 
support for operating assistance and capital investments to 
initiate, restore, or enhance intercity passenger rail service.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee strongly opposes the proposal in the budget 
request to use the Restoration and Enhancement Grants program 
to restructure Amtrak's long-distance service and require 
States to take over the costs and responsibilities of this 
service. Despite the proposal's phased approach, in the long-
term, the budget request would amount to shifting shared and 
system-related costs onto state-supported routes which would 
require States to contribute significantly more funding for 
service on Amtrak's National Network. The Committee rejects 
this proposal and provides strong funding for Amtrak to 
continue to provide service through long-distance and state-
supported routes.

           MAGNETIC LEVITATION TECHNOLOGY DEPLOYMENT PROGRAM

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................       $10,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................             - - -
Recommended in the bill...............................        10,000,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................             - - -
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................       +10,000,000
 

    The Magnetic Levitation Technology Deployment (MAGLEV) 
program is authorized under section 322 of title 23, United 
States Code. The MAGLEV program funds transportation systems 
that employ magnetic levitation and are capable of safe use by 
the public at speeds in excess of 240 miles per hour.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommendation provides $10,000,000 for the 
MAGLEV program. These funds are available for preconstruction 
planning activities and capital costs, and are available until 
expended.

         GRANTS TO THE NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER CORPORATION

                                (AMTRAK)

    Amtrak was created by Congress in the Rail Passenger 
Service Act of 1970 (P.L. 91-518) to operate intercity 
passenger rail service, which was previously operated by 
private railroads. Amtrak assumed the common carrier 
obligations of the private railroads in exchange for the right 
to priority access to their railroad tracks for an incremental 
cost.
    Today, Amtrak operates more than 300 trains each day to 
more than 500 destinations in 46 States, the District of 
Columbia, and Canada. About 72 percent of the miles traveled by 
Amtrak trains are on tracks owned by other railroads, and 
Amtrak owns 624 route-miles of its own track, most of which is 
on the Northeast Corridor (NEC) from Washington, D.C. to 
Boston, Massachusetts. In fiscal year 2018, Amtrak carried 31.7 
million people on the NEC, state-supported routes, and long-
distance routes.
    The FAST Act authorizes funding for Amtrak through fiscal 
year 2020 for the Northeast Corridor and the National Network, 
which encompasses Amtrak's state-supported and long-distance 
routes, as well as other non-NEC activities.
    The Committee recommendation provides $1,991,600,000 for 
Amtrak. The Committee provides funding through the Northeast 
Corridor Grants and National Network Grants accounts, which is 
consistent with the FAST Act authorized structure.
    Congressional budget justification.--The Committee 
appreciates the level of detail in the fiscal year 2020 budget 
justification and directs Amtrak to submit a justification with 
a similar level of detail for fiscal year 2021.
    Charter trains and private cars.--During fiscal year 2018, 
Amtrak issued new guidelines for charter trains operated by 
Amtrak and private cars on Amtrak trains. While the Committee 
understands that these policy changes reflect Amtrak's mandate 
to provide efficient, effective, and safe regularly scheduled 
passenger rail service, the Committee remains concerned with 
Amtrak's implementation and communication of these guidelines.
    The Committee notes that Amtrak added a small number of 
locations and trains to the list of eligible locations and 
trains for private car moves in its January 1, 2019 update to 
the Guidelines for Private Cars on Amtrak. Amtrak is directed 
to continually review and evaluate the locations and trains 
that may be eligible for private car moves. If additional 
locations or trains meet Amtrak's criteria for private car 
moves, then the Committee directs Amtrak to update the list of 
eligible locations and trains and notify private car owners 
accordingly. Further, the Committee is concerned that Amtrak 
does not typically inform private car owners when a private car 
caused a delay to an Amtrak train. The Committee encourages 
Amtrak to establish a mechanism by which private car owners are 
notified of such delays. This information could provide private 
car owners opportunities to improve their operations and 
processes.
    In February 2019, the Amtrak Office of Inspector General 
issued a report which found that Amtrak has failed to account 
for the costs of operating the private car program. The 
Committee agrees with the Inspector General's conclusions that 
Amtrak cannot accurately assess and make informed decisions 
about the private car program until Amtrak properly identifies 
the costs of the program. These conclusions are particularly 
concerning considering that Amtrak implemented two price 
increases for the private car program prior to the report's 
release. The Inspector General's recommendations include 
identifying the cost of private car moves and long-term 
parking, factoring this cost data into future decisions on 
setting or adjusting prices, and establishing a financial and 
performance reporting system. As Amtrak works to comply with 
these recommendations, the Committee directs Amtrak to engage 
with private car owners and associations on the identified 
costs, the analysis of recent price increases, the reductions 
in locations and trains eligible for private car moves, and any 
new potential revised pricing. The Committee directs Amtrak to 
submit a report to the House and Senate Committees on 
Appropriations within 90 days of enactment of this Act 
detailing its plan to standardize the cost and revenue analysis 
for the private car program. Further, Amtrak is directed to 
include an updated report on charter train and private car 
policies in Amtrak's fiscal year 2021 budget justification. The 
Committee acknowledges that certain information may be 
commercially sensitive and cannot be made public. Therefore, 
the Committee directs Amtrak to provide such information 
through briefings to the Committees.
    Station agents.--The Committee directs Amtrak to provide a 
station agent in each Amtrak station that had a ticket agent 
position eliminated in fiscal year 2018. Station agents assist 
passengers with their intercity passenger rail travel, conduct 
the sale of tickets, provide customer service during all hours 
that a station is open, and perform building maintenance 
duties. Amtrak is directed to improve communication and 
collaboration with local partners and take into consideration 
the unique needs of each community, including impacts to local 
jobs, when making decisions related to the staffing of Amtrak 
stations.
    Amtrak Police Department.--The Amtrak Police Department has 
the responsibility of protecting Amtrak's passengers, 
employees, property, and infrastructure. The Committee 
understands Amtrak intends to initiate changes to the Amtrak 
Police Department beginning June 1, 2019, which could include 
reducing staffing at Amtrak stations and redeploying police 
officers to patrol areas with increasing rates of criminal 
activity, including on trains and rights-of-way owned by 
Amtrak. While the Committee appreciates Amtrak's efforts to 
increase safety by deploying resources to where incidents are 
occurring, the Committee is concerned that these changes could 
result in a reduction in the overall police force in the long-
term. Maintaining a high level of safety at Amtrak stations and 
on trains is critical to the traveling public and to local, 
regional, and national security. Therefore, the Committee 
recommendation prevents Amtrak from reducing the size of the 
Amtrak Police Department below the staffing level on May 1, 
2019.
    Communication with stakeholders.--The Committee recognizes 
Amtrak's efforts to increase its revenues, reduce its operating 
losses, and provide a more modern customer experience for its 
ridership. However, the Committee is concerned that Amtrak 
continues to make and implement changes to operations and 
services without providing the public or its employees adequate 
time to understand proposed changes and provide feedback. 
Amtrak has made changes to policies and procedures relating to 
charter trains, private cars, station agents, call centers, 
food and beverage service, and law enforcement, all of which 
have impacts on its ridership, employees, and communities. 
Therefore, the Committee directs Amtrak to increase engagement 
with customers, employees, stakeholders, and the public on 
proposals to change operations and services, including 
providing an opportunity to comment on policies prior to 
finalizing decisions.

     NORTHEAST CORRIDOR GRANTS TO THE NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER 
                              CORPORATION

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................      $650,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................       325,466,000
Recommended in the bill...............................       700,000,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................       +50,000,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................      +374,534,000
 

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommendation provides $700,000,000 for 
Northeast Corridor Grants to Amtrak for operating and capital 
purposes. In addition to this funding, the Northeast Corridor 
retains its operating profits for use on the corridor. This 
funding level provides $5,000,000 to the Northeast Corridor 
Commission established under section 24905 of title 49, United 
States Code.

 NATIONAL NETWORK GRANTS TO THE NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER CORPORATION

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................    $1,291,600,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................       611,000,000
Recommended in the bill...............................     1,291,600,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................             - - -
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................      +680,600,000
 

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommendation provides $1,291,600,000 for 
National Network Grants to Amtrak. This funding supports 
operating and capital activities for Amtrak's long-distance and 
state-supported routes, and other non-Northeast Corridor 
activities. This funding level provides $2,000,000 to the 
State-Supported Route Committee established under section 24712 
of title 49, United States Code.
    National Network changes.--The Committee understands Amtrak 
is conducting a review of its existing service on long-distance 
and state-supported routes. This analysis could result in 
changes to the National Network which places greater emphasis 
on short corridor service of 400 miles or less, increases 
frequencies on existing routes, and establishes new routes 
through city pairings that are currently underserved or not 
served by Amtrak. While the Committee understands Amtrak's 
efforts are intended to address changing demographics and 
travel trends, such proposals could have unintended 
consequences for long-distance customers, especially in rural 
and small communities where passenger rail serves as an 
important mobility option and economic driver. The Committee 
directs Amtrak to conduct comprehensive outreach and 
consultation with State and local governments, the State-
Supported Route Committee, its employees, communities, 
passenger rail organizations, railroads, and the public on any 
potential changes to the National Network. Amtrak must engage 
in an open and transparent process which encompasses anyone who 
could be impacted, positively or negatively, by such proposals. 
The Committee strongly reminds Amtrak that section 24701 of 
title 49, United States Code, requires Amtrak to operate a 
national passenger rail system. Further, the Committee directs 
Amtrak to seek any potential changes to the National Network 
through the reauthorization of the FAST Act, and urges Amtrak 
to ensure any such proposals also increase ridership in rural 
areas and improve service for long-distance customers.
    On-time performance.--As previously stated, the Committee 
is concerned with Amtrak's on-time performance for long-
distance and state-supported routes. The Committee notes that 
under Federal law, host railroads are required to grant Amtrak 
trains priority over freight trains and Amtrak in turn is 
required to pay fees for its use. In fiscal year 2018, Amtrak 
paid host railroads approximately $150,000,000 for use of their 
tracks, performance, and other resources needed to operate 
Amtrak trains. According to Amtrak's Host Railroad Report Card, 
the grades host railroads received based on delays caused to 
Amtrak trains in 2018 ranged from an ``A'' to an ``F,'' with 
the average grade for all host railroads being a ``C.'' The 
Committee urges Amtrak to continue engaging with railroads to 
improve on-time performance for long-distance and state-
supported routes. Further, the Committee looks forward to 
receiving the Amtrak Inspector General's update of the 2008 DOT 
Inspector General report titled ``Effects of Amtrak's Poor on-
time Performance.''

       ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS--FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION

    Section 150 limits overtime to $35,000 per employee, and 
allows Amtrak's president to waive this restriction for 
specific employees for safety or operational efficiency 
reasons. It also requires Amtrak to submit a report to the 
House and Senate Committees on Appropriations within 60 days of 
enactment of this Act summarizing overtime payments incurred by 
Amtrak for calendar year 2019 and the three prior years. The 
summary shall include the total number of employees that 
received waivers, and total overtime payments paid to employees 
receiving waivers for each month for 2019 and the prior three 
calendar years.
    Section 151 includes a prohibition relating to reducing the 
size of the Amtrak Police Department below the staffing levels 
on May 1, 2019.

                     Federal Transit Administration

    The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) was established as 
a component of the Department of Transportation on July 1, 
1968, when most of the functions and programs under the Federal 
Transit Act (78 Stat. 302; 49 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) were 
transferred from the Department of Housing and Urban 
Development. Known as the Urban Mass Transportation 
Administration until enactment of the Intermodal Surface 
Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991, the FTA administers 
Federal financial assistance programs for planning, developing, 
and improving comprehensive mass transportation systems in both 
urban and non-urban areas.
    The most recent authorization for the programs under FTA is 
contained in the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) 
Act (P.L. 114-94). Annual appropriations Acts include annual 
limitations on obligations for the transit formula grants 
programs, and direct appropriations of budget authority from 
the general fund of the Treasury for FTA's administrative 
expenses, some research programs, and capital investment 
grants.

                        ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................      $113,165,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................       110,552,000
Recommended in the bill...............................       117,000,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................        +3,835,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................        +6,448,000
 

    The FTA administers Federal financial assistance programs 
for planning, developing, and improving comprehensive mass 
transportation systems in both urban and non-urban areas. This 
appropriation provides, from the general fund of the Treasury, 
amounts for the administrative expenses of the agency.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommends a total of $117,000,000 for FTA's 
administrative expenses. The Committee's recommendation 
provides these funds from the general fund, as usual.
    Operating plans.--The Committee reiterates its direction 
from previous years, which requires the FTA's operating plan to 
include a specific allocation of resources for administrative 
expenses. The operating plan should include a delineation of 
full-time equivalent employees for the following offices: 
Office of the Administrator; Office of Administration; Office 
of Chief Counsel; Office of Communications and Congressional 
Affairs; Office of Program Management; Office of Budget and 
Policy; Office of Research, Demonstration and Innovation; 
Office of Civil Rights; Office of Planning and Environment; 
Office of Safety and Oversight; and Regional Offices. Further, 
the operating plan must include any new programs or changes to 
the budget request, including new grant programs. In addition, 
except in the case of reallocating resources subsequent to a 
Presidentially declared disaster under the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, (P.L. 100-707) 
(1988), the Committee directs FTA to notify the House and 
Senate Committees on Appropriations at least thirty days in 
advance of any change that results in an increase or decrease 
of more than ten percent from the initial operating plan 
submitted to the Committees for fiscal year 2020.
    Budget justifications.--The Committee strongly encourages 
FTA to maintain the format and content in the fiscal year 2021 
documents.
    Annual new starts report.--The Committee has again included 
bill language requiring FTA to submit the annual new starts 
report with the initial submission of the budget request due in 
February 2020.
    Full funding grant agreements (FFGAs).--Title 49 requires 
that FTA notify the House and Senate Committees on 
Appropriations as well as the House Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure and the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing 
and Urban Affairs sixty days before executing a FFGA. In its 
notification to the House and Senate Committees on 
Appropriations, the Committee directs FTA to include the 
following: (1) a copy of the proposed FFGA; (2) the total and 
annual Federal appropriations required for that project; (3) 
yearly and total Federal appropriations that can be reasonably 
planned or anticipated for future FFGAs for each fiscal year 
through 2023; (4) a detailed analysis of annual commitments for 
current and anticipated FFGAs against the program 
authorization, by individual project; (5) a financial analysis 
of the project's cost and the sponsor's ability to finance the 
project, which shall be conducted by an independent examiner, 
and which shall include an assessment of the capital cost 
estimate and the finance plan; (6) the source and security of 
all public- and private-sector financial instruments; (7) the 
project's operating plan, which enumerates the project's future 
revenue and ridership forecasts; and (8) a listing of all 
planned contingencies and possible risks associated with the 
project.
    The Committee continues to direct FTA to inform the House 
and Senate Committees on Appropriations in writing thirty days 
before approving schedule, scope, or budget changes to any 
FFGA. Correspondence relating to changes shall include any 
budget revisions or program changes that materially alter the 
project as originally stipulated in the FFGA, including any 
proposed change in rail car procurements.
    In addition, the Committee directs FTA to continue 
reporting monthly to the House and Senate Committees on 
Appropriations on the status of each project with a FFGA or 
that is within two years of a FFGA, and to include a list of 
all letters of no prejudice and early systems work agreements 
under review by the FTA in each monthly update.
    Staffing allocations.--The Committee provides $117,000,000 
for FTA's administrative resources. The Committee directs FTA 
to use the additional administrative resources above the budget 
request for staffing needs in areas that represent 
Congressional priorities including Capital Investment Grants, 
safety oversight, and grants allocation and distribution.

                         TRANSIT FORMULA GRANTS

                (LIQUIDATION OF CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION)

                      (LIMITATION ON OBLIGATIONS)

                          (HIGHWAY TRUST FUND)

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   Liquidation of        Limitation on
                                 contract authority       obligations
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appropriation, fiscal year             $9,900,000,000     $9,939,380,000
 2019.......................
Budget request, fiscal year            10,800,000,000     10,150,348,462
 2020.......................
Recommended in the bill.....           10,800,000,000     10,150,348,462
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year             +900,000,000       +210,968,462
 2019.......................
  Budget request, fiscal                        - - -              - - -
 year 2020..................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FAST Act provides contract authority for the transit 
formula grant programs funded from the mass transit account of 
the Highway Trust Fund. These programs include: urbanized area 
formula grants, state of good repair grants, formula grants for 
rural areas, growing states and high-density states, mobility 
for seniors and persons with disabilities, buses and bus 
facilities grants, bus testing facilities, planning programs, 
transit-oriented development, a pilot program for enhanced 
mobility, public transportation innovation, technical 
assistance and workforce development, and the National Transit 
Database. This Act sets an annual obligation limitation for 
such authority and provides liquidating cash. This account is 
the only FTA account funded from the Highway Trust Fund.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommends an obligation limitation of 
$10,150,348,462 for formula program and activities. The 
Committee's recommendation also includes $10,800,000,000 in 
liquidating cash.
    Buses and bus facilities.--The Committee supports the FAST 
Act's inclusion of competitive grants in the buses and bus 
facilities grant program and encourages FTA to follow the 
guidance set forth in the FAST Act when developing selection 
criteria for the program. Consistent with section 3017 of the 
FAST Act, the age and condition of buses, bus fleets, related 
equipment, and bus-related facilities should be the primary 
consideration for selection criteria. The amounts provided 
under this heading are in addition to the $389,000,000 provided 
under the heading ``Transit Infrastructure Grants.''
    Low or No Emission buses.--The Committee is pleased by the 
interest in low and no emission buses nationwide and provides 
funds both under this heading and the heading ``Transit 
Infrastructure Grants'' for FTA to continue the competitive 
grant program authorized in the FAST Act. As part of the 
criteria for the next Notice of Funding Opportunity, the 
Committee encourages the FTA to include evaluation criteria 
that considers the number of electric buses the applicant 
currently has in revenue service. The Committee provides a 
total of $149,000,000 in this Act for the Low or No Emission 
bus program.
    Transit-oriented development.--The Committee is concerned 
with urban sprawl and overwhelming traffic in areas with high 
population density. The Committee encourages the Secretary to 
carry out the pilot programs authorized under section 20005(b) 
of MAP-21 which encourage transit planning that connects 
housing, jobs, and mixed-use development with transportation 
options. Of the amounts provided under this heading, the 
Committee recommends FTA use no less than $10,000,000 to carry-
out a competitive pilot program as directed in Section 3016 of 
the FAST Act.
    Altoona bus testing facility.--The Committee supports the 
ongoing work of FTA's bus testing facility in Altoona, PA and 
the Committee provides a total of $4,000,000 for the facility 
under this heading and the heading ``Transit Infrastructure 
Grants.'' The facility ensures the safety and reliability of 
new transit buses and ensures that buses purchased by local 
transit agencies meet minimum performance standards, increasing 
the safety of the transit-riding public.
    Enhanced mobility of seniors and individuals with 
disabilities.--The Committee believes that removing barriers to 
transportation service and expanding transportation mobility 
options for seniors and individuals with disabilities is 
important. The Committee provides $285,000,000 for 
transportation services for seniors and individuals with 
disabilities as authorized under section 49 U.S.C. 5310.
    Tribal transit program.--The primary purpose of these 
grants is to support planning, capital, and, in limited 
circumstances, operating assistance for tribal public transit 
services. Consistent with the FAST Act, the Committee provides 
$30,000,000 in formula funds and $5,000,000 in competitive 
grants.
    Homeless families.--The Committee recognizes that the lack 
of affordable housing is resulting in increasing numbers of 
homeless individuals and families using public transit systems 
for shelter. The Committee encourages HUD's Office of Community 
Planning and Development, together with the FTA, to collaborate 
with local transit agencies and homelessness stakeholders to 
develop collaborative, multi-sectoral strategies and models to 
address the needs of transit systems and homeless populations 
using transit for shelter.

                     TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................      $700,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................       500,000,000
Recommended in the bill...............................       750,000,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................       +50,000,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................      +250,000,000
 

    The FAST Act provides contract authority for the transit 
formula grants program from the mass transit account of the 
Highway Trust Fund. This account provides additional funds from 
the general fund of the Treasury for important transit 
priorities authorized under chapter 53 of title 49, United 
States Code and for grants to areas which have endured 
persistent poverty.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommends an additional $750,000,000 in 
transit infrastructure grants to remain available until 
expended. The following table provides funding levels for 
activities within this account:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Request            Recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Buses and Bus Facilities....             $500,000,000       $389,000,000
Low or No Emission Bus                          - - -         94,000,000
 Program....................
State of Good Repair Formula                    - - -        250,000,000
 Funds......................
Altoona Bus Testing.........                    - - -          1,000,000
Low or No Bus Testing.......                    - - -          6,000,000
Persistent Poverty areas....                    - - -         10,000,000
                             -------------------------------------------
    Total...................              500,000,000        750,000,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                   TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................        $5,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................             - - -
Recommended in the bill...............................         5,000,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................             - - -
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................        +5,000,000
 

    The FAST Act authorizes FTA to provide technical assistance 
under section 5314 of title 49 United States Code for human 
resource and training activities as well as workforce 
development programs.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommends $5,000,000 for Technical 
Assistance and Training authorized under section 5314(a)(2) 
Title 49. In addition to the directly appropriated funds under 
this heading, another $9,000,000 is provided through the 
obligation limitation under the header ``Transit Formula 
Grants''.

                       CAPITAL INVESTMENT GRANTS

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................    $2,552,687,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................     1,505,190,000
Recommended in the bill...............................     2,301,785,760
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................      -250,901,240
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................      +796,596,760
 

    Grants for capital investment to rail or other fixed 
guideway transit systems are awarded to public bodies and 
agencies including States, municipalities, other political 
subdivisions of States; public agencies and instrumentalities 
of one or more States; and certain public corporations, boards 
and commissions under State law.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommends $2,301,785,760 for Capital 
Investment Grants, consistent with the levels authorized in the 
FAST Act. The following table provides funding levels for 
activities within this account:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Request         Recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
New Starts Projects with a              $795,290,221        $795,290,221
 current FFGA...................
New Starts Projects without a                  - - -         702,709,779
 current FFGA...................
Core Capacity...................         200,000,000         300,000,000
Small Starts....................               - - -         430,768,910
Expedited Project Delivery......               - - -          50,000,000
Oversight (1%)..................          15,051,900          23,016,850
Other...........................         494,847,879               - - -
                                 ---------------------------------------
    Total.......................       1,505,190,000       2,301,785,760
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Committee is gravely concerned about the execution of 
the Capital Investment Grant program and directs the Secretary 
to carry out the program in accordance with the will of 
Congress. The Committee notes with dismay that FTA signed only 
one New Starts Full-Funding grant agreement (FFGA) in 2018, no 
Core Capacity project FFGAs and that the vast majority of FFGAs 
have been Small Starts projects. The recommendation provides 
parameters to guide FTA in operating the program in order to 
advance projects that would enhance American competitiveness 
and commerce but which have been unable to progress through the 
FFGA process despite Congressional intent.
    The Committee directs FTA to continue to update the 
Committee on the status of projects that are in the current 
funding pipeline. The Committee directs FTA to proactively work 
with applicants and grantees to facilitate projects moving 
through the Capital Investment Grant pipeline and towards a 
FFGA. FTA is directed to evaluate, rate, and recommend projects 
for funding, and subsequently award grants to projects that 
meet the statutory requirements of 49 U.S.C. 5309. The 
Committee encourages FTA to fully consider Small Starts 
projects that would include stations that serve one or more 
Opportunity Zones, as defined in Public-Law 115-97. The 
Committee further directs that FTA may provide funding for 
projects without a FFGA. Funding is provided for projects that 
currently have executed grant agreements, and for projects that 
have met the statutory requirements of 49 U.S.C. 5309 and that 
are anticipating grant agreements in 2020.
    The Committee directs FTA to enter into FFGAs in which the 
maximum Capital Investment Grant share is between 50 percent 
and 80 percent of the net project cost, except at the direct 
request of the project sponsor. The Committee also directs the 
Secretary to provide notice to the House and Senate Committees 
on Appropriations not less than 90 days prior to altering or 
rescinding any rule, circular, or guidance relating to the 
evaluation, rating, and approval process pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 
5309.
    The Committee directs the Secretary to submit the fiscal 
year 2021 annual report on funding recommendations as required 
by 49 U.S.C. 5309, and directs the Secretary to maintain the 
Federal funding commitments for all existing grant agreements 
and to identify all projects with a medium or higher rating 
that anticipate requesting a grant agreement in fiscal year 
2021.
    Expedited Project Delivery Pilot Program.--The Expedited 
Project Delivery Pilot Program was authorized by the FAST Act. 
The program is aimed at expediting delivery of new fixed 
guideway capital projects, small starts projects, or core 
capacity improvement projects that utilize public-private 
partnerships, are planned to be operated and maintained by 
employees of an existing public transportation provider, and 
have a Federal share not exceeding 25 percent of the project 
cost. It is also aimed at increasing innovation, improving 
efficiency and timeliness of project implementation, and 
encouraging new revenue streams. The Committee provides an 
additional $50,000,000 for the pilot program.

      GRANTS TO THE WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSIT AUTHORITY

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................      $150,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................       150,000,000
Recommended in the bill...............................       150,000,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................             - - -
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................             - - -
 

    This program provides grants to the Washington Metropolitan 
Area Transit Authority (WMATA) for capital investment and asset 
rehabilitation activities as authorized by the Federal Rail 
Safety Improvements Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-432, Title VI, 
Section 601). These funds, along with funds provided under 
FTA's core formula programs, will help return the system to a 
state of good repair and improve the safety and reliability of 
service. Federal funds provided under this account are matched 
dollar-for-dollar by Virginia, Maryland, and the District of 
Columbia in equal proportions.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommends $150,000,000 for grants to WMATA, 
equal to last year's enacted level.
    The Committee believes that the safe and reliable operation 
of WMATA is important to the operation of the Federal 
government and supports continued funding. Federal employees 
represent approximately 40 percent of Metrorail's peak period 
ridership, and more than one-third of all Metrorail stations 
are located on Federal property. Recognizing the essential role 
that WMATA plays in transporting Federal employees daily and 
millions of visitors to the Nation's capital annually, the 
Committee provides ongoing support for projects that support 
safe operation of the transit system. The Committee directs 
WMATA to continue addressing the safety issues within the 
system and to use Federal, State and local funds to improve and 
maintain the state of good repair of the Metrorail system.
    The Committee applauds WMATA for including cybersecurity 
requirements in the request for proposals that they have issued 
for the 8000 series rail cars. As systems for controlling 
various modes of transportation become more complex, the 
Committee is concerned about the security of transportation and 
the safety of the traveling public. Security vulnerabilities 
can be inadvertently introduced when customers do not specify 
appropriate security attributes in the procurement process. As 
a result, the Committee directs WMATA to comply with practices 
for control system procurement recommended by the Department of 
Homeland Security's National Cybersecurity and Communications 
Integration Center.

       ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS--FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION

    Section 160 continues the provision that exempts previously 
made transit obligations from limitations on obligations.
    Section 161 allows funds appropriated for Capital 
Investment Grants and buses and bus facilities not obligated by 
September 30, 2024, plus other recoveries, to be available for 
other projects under 49 U.S.C. 5309.
    Section 162 continues the provision that allows for the 
transfer of prior year appropriations from older accounts to be 
merged into new accounts with similar, current activities.
    Section 163 changes the date, to September 30, 2020, by 
which funds provided for Capital Investment Grants provided in 
fiscal year 2018 must be obligated.
    Section 164 prohibits FTA from using any funds to finalize 
the Capital Investment Grant share of a project before the 
project has been in Engineering. FTA is also prohibited, for 
projects in the program on the date of enactment of this Act, 
from requiring a reasonable cost estimate, by an applicant, to 
exceed a 50 percent probability of on-budget completion. In 
addition, FTA is prohibited from applying the provision in 26 
U.S.C. 9503(e)(4) for fiscal year 2020.
    Section 165 allows certain recipients of Low or No Emission 
Bus Grants to continue to partner with non-profits and 
companies as part of their grant applications.

             Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation


                       OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE

                    (HARBOR MAINTENANCE TRUST FUND)

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................       $36,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................        28,000,000
Recommended in the bill...............................        40,000,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................        +4,000,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................       +12,000,000
 

    The Great Lakes Saint Lawrence Seaway System, located 
between Montreal and Lake Erie, is a binational, 15-lock system 
jointly operated by the U.S. Saint Lawrence Seaway Development 
Corporation (SLSDC) and its Canadian counterpart, the Canadian 
St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation. The SLSDC was 
established by the St. Lawrence Seaway Act of 1954 and is a 
wholly owned government corporation and an operating 
administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The 
SLSDC is charged with operating and maintaining the U.S. 
portion of the St. Lawrence Seaway. This responsibility 
includes the two U.S. locks in Massena, New York, vessel 
traffic control in portions of the St. Lawrence River and Lake 
Ontario, and trade development functions to enhance the 
utilization of the St. Lawrence Seaway.
    The Water Resources Development Act of 1986 authorized the 
Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund as a source of appropriations for 
SLSDC operations and maintenance. Additionally, the SLSDC 
generates non-Federal revenues which can then be used for 
operations and maintenance.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommends $40,000,000 to fund the 
operations, maintenance, and capital asset renewal needs of the 
SLSDC. Not less than $16,000,000 shall be used for capital 
asset renewal activities.
    The recommendation includes $4,000,000 in additional 
resources for market development and promotion of the Great 
Lakes navigation system, to be carried out in cooperation with 
system stakeholders. These resources may be used to enhance and 
expand existing marketing efforts, conduct market research, to 
support marketing initiatives and trade promotion with the goal 
of growing the volume of waterborne commerce and passenger 
cruise activity on the system, or to update signage for the 
Seaway.

                        Maritime Administration

    The Maritime Administration (MARAD) is responsible for 
strengthening the U.S. maritime industry in support of the 
Nation's security and economic needs, as authorized by the 
Merchant Marine Act of 1936. MARAD's mission is to promote the 
development and maintenance of a U.S. merchant marine 
sufficient to carry the Nation's waterborne domestic commerce 
and a substantial portion of its waterborne foreign commerce, 
and to serve as a naval and military auxiliary in time of war 
or national emergency.
    MARAD, working with the Department of Defense (DoD), 
provides a seamless, time-phased transition from peacetime to 
wartime operations, while balancing the defense and commercial 
elements of the maritime transportation system. MARAD also 
manages the maritime security program, the voluntary intermodal 
sealift agreement program, and the ready reserve force, which 
assures DoD access to commercial and strategic sealift and 
associated intermodal capability. Further, MARAD's education 
and training programs through the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy 
and six state maritime academies help create skilled U.S. 
merchant marine officers.

                       MARITIME SECURITY PROGRAM

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................      $300,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................       300,000,000
Recommended in the bill...............................       300,000,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................             - - -
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................             - - -
 

    The purpose of the maritime security program (MSP) is to 
maintain and preserve a U.S. flag merchant fleet to serve the 
national security needs of the United States. The MSP provides 
direct payments to U.S. flagship operators engaged in U.S.-
foreign trade. Participating operators are required to keep the 
vessels in active commercial service and are required to 
provide intermodal sealift support to the DoD in times of war 
or national emergency.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommends $300,000,000 for the maritime 
security program, consistent with the authorized funding level. 
Funds are available until expended.

                        OPERATIONS AND TRAINING

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................      $149,442,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................       377,497,000
Recommended in the bill...............................       154,442,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................        +5,000,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................      -223,055,000
 

    The operations and training account provides funding for 
headquarters and field offices to administer and direct MARAD 
operations and programs as well as the operation of the U.S. 
Merchant Marine Academy.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommends $154,442,000 for MARAD operations 
and training expenses, available until September 30, 2021. The 
following table provides funding levels for activities within 
this account.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Request       Recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
USMMA Operations....................       $77,944,000       $77,944,000
USMMA Capital.......................         4,000,000         5,225,000
MARAD Headquarters..................        53,273,000        53,273,000
Marine Enviro. & Tech. Assistance...             - - -         3,000,000
Short Sea Transportation Program....             - - -        15,000,000
                                     -----------------------------------
    TOTAL...........................       135,217,000       154,442,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Committee continues the reporting requirement that 
MARAD submit information on the number of vacancies at MARAD 
headquarters and regional offices, and the duties associated 
with each vacancy concurrent with the fiscal year 2021 budget 
submission.
    Capital planning at the United States Merchant Marine 
Academy (USMMA).--The Committee directs the Administrator of 
the Maritime Administration, in conjunction with the National 
Academy of Public Administration, to provide a report to 
Congress on the state of the education and training provided at 
the USMMA within 180 days of enactment of the Act. The report 
should include an assessment of the training equipment, 
technology and facilities on the USMMA campus, as well as the 
resources supporting the programs, and an assessment of the 
condition of those resources. The report should be made 
available in an electronic format.
    Sexual assault and sexual harassment at the USMMA.--P.L. 
116-6 directed MARAD to provide the Committee with copies of 
reports required under sections 3508 and 3509 of P.L. 115-232. 
The recommendation includes additional resources for USMMA 
operations, and the Committee directs the USMMA to fully staff 
the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office.
    Shipyards.--Due to the lack of available private shipyard 
facilities and the extended time to relocate vessels and 
assets, there is a backlog of maintenance, repair and 
modernization projects which may impair maritime commerce and 
national security. To avoid displacement, costs, and impacts on 
east coast and west coast-based vessels and personnel, the 
Committee encourages MARAD to continue utilizing privately 
owned shipyards for National Defense Reserve Fleet and Ready 
Reserve Fleet maintenance, repair and modernization. The 
Committee also encourages MARAD to compile a list of available 
shipyards and to share such a list with other government 
partners.

                   STATE MARITIME ACADEMY OPERATIONS

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................      $345,200,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................             - - -
Recommended in the bill...............................       345,200,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................             - - -
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................      +345,200,000
 

    The state maritime academy operations account provides 
financial assistance to the six state maritime academies.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommends $345,200,000 for state maritime 
academy (SMA) operations. The following table provides funding 
levels for activities within this account.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Request       Recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Schoolship Maintenance and Repair...       $30,080,000       $33,000,000
    Training Vessel Sharing.........       [8,060,000]       [8,060,000]
Schoolship Construction.............       205,000,000       300,000,000
Student Incentive Program...........         2,400,000         2,400,000
Fuel Assistance Payments............         1,800,000         3,800,000
Direct Payments for SMAs............         3,000,000         6,000,000
                                     -----------------------------------
    TOTAL...........................       242,280,000       345,200,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Schoolship construction.--The recommendation includes 
$300,000,000 for the construction of a new schoolship in the 
National Security Multi-Mission Vessel Program. The 
recommendation does not include funding for the schoolship 
replacement program proposed in the budget request.

                     ASSISTANCE TO SMALL SHIPYARDS

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................       $20,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................             - - -
Recommended in the bill...............................        20,000,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................             - - -
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................       +20,000,000
 

    As authorized under section 54101 of title 46, United 
States Code, the Assistance to Small Shipyards program provides 
assistance in the form of grants, loans, and loan guarantees to 
small shipyards for capital improvements and training programs.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommends $20,000,000 for the Assistance to 
Small Shipyards program. Funds are available until expended.

                             SHIP DISPOSAL

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................        $5,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................         5,000,000
Recommended in the bill...............................         5,000,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................             - - -
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................             - - -
 

    MARAD serves as the Federal government's disposal agent for 
government-owned merchant vessels weighing 1,500 gross tons or 
more. The ship disposal program provides resources to dispose 
of obsolete merchant-type vessels in the National Defense 
Reserve Fleet. These vessels pose a significant environmental 
threat due to the presence of hazardous substances such as 
asbestos and solid and liquid polychlorinated biphenyls.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommends $5,000,000 for ship disposal 
activities. The recommendation includes $3,000,000 to maintain 
the NS Savannah in protective storage in accordance with the 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission's license requirements while it 
is being disposed. Funds are available until expended.

          MARITIME GUARANTEED LOAN (TITLE XI) PROGRAM ACCOUNT

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................        $3,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................             - - -
Recommended in the bill...............................         3,000,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................             - - -
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................        +3,000,000
 

    The maritime guaranteed loan program, as provided for by 
Title XI of the Merchant Marine Act of 1936, provides for 
guaranteed loans for purchasers of ships from the U.S. 
shipbuilding industry and for modernization of U.S. shipyards.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommends $3,000,000 for the administrative 
expenses of the maritime guaranteed loan program.

                PORT INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................      $292,730,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................             - - -
Recommended in the bill...............................       225,000,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................       -67,730,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................      +225,000,000
 

    The purpose of the Port Infrastructure Development Program 
(46 U.S.C. 50302) is to improve port facilities and the 
transportation networks and flows of cargo in, around, and 
through ports. Port authorities, States and local government, 
and publicly chartered entities are eligible to apply for 
grants.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommends $225,000,000 for the Port 
Infrastructure Development Program. Funds are available until 
expended.
    The Committee directs MARAD to provide grants for 
infrastructure improvement projects for coastal seaports and 
ports on the Great Lakes that are either within the port's 
boundary, or outside its boundary if the project directly 
relates to port operations, or to an intermodal connection to a 
port that improves the safety, efficiency, or reliability of 
the movement of goods into, out of, or around the port. 
Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, highway or 
rail infrastructure that develops or extends intermodal 
connectivity, intermodal facilities, marine terminal equipment, 
wharf construction or redevelopment, vessel alternative fueling 
access and distribution, fuel efficient cargo handling 
equipment, and freight intelligent transportation systems. The 
recommendation includes a prohibition on purchasing fully-
automated cargo handling equipment with grants made through the 
program.

           ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS--MARITIME ADMINISTRATION

    Section 170 authorizes MARAD to furnish utilities and 
services and to make necessary repairs in connection with any 
lease, contract, or occupancy involving government property 
under control of MARAD and allows payments received to be 
credited to the Treasury and to remain available until 
expended.

         Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

    The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration 
(PHMSA) administers nationwide safety programs designed to 
protect the public and the environment from risks inherent in 
the commercial transportation of hazardous materials by 
pipeline, air, rail, vessel, and highway. Many of these 
materials are essential to the national economy. PHMSA's 
highest priority is safety, and it uses safety management 
principles and security assessments to promote the safe 
transport of hazardous materials and the security of the 
Nation's pipelines.

                          OPERATIONAL EXPENSES

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................       $23,710,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................        24,215,000
Recommended in the bill...............................        23,710,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................             - - -
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................          -505,000
 

    This appropriation finances the operational support costs 
for PHMSA, including agency-wide functions of administration, 
management, policy development, legal counsel, budget, 
financial management, civil rights, human resources, 
acquisition services, information technology, and governmental 
and public affairs.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommendation provides $23,710,000 for PHMSA 
operational expenses, of which $1,500,000 shall be for the 
Pipeline Safety Information Grants to Communities program. The 
recommendation does not include the proposal in the budget 
request to combine the Community Safety Grant and Pipeline 
Safety Information Grants to Communities programs.
    Pipeline safety rulemakings.--Pipeline incidents have 
increased nearly two-fold from 1999 to 2018. In response, 
Congress required PHMSA to establish regulations to improve 
pipeline safety in the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, 
and Job Creation Act of 2011 (P.L. 112-90). PHMSA issued a 
notice of proposed rulemaking on the Safety of Hazardous Liquid 
Pipelines in October 2015 and on the Safety of Gas Transmission 
and Gathering Pipelines in April 2016. The Committee notes with 
concern that to date PHMSA has not issued final rules for 
either of these rulemakings. The Committee directs PHMSA to 
issue final rules on the Safety of Hazardous Liquid Pipelines 
and the Safety of Gas Transmission and Gathering Pipelines 
within 180 days of enactment of this Act.
    The Pipeline Safety Act of 2011 also required PHMSA to 
establish regulations on the use of automatic and remote-
controlled shut-off valves on transmission pipeline facilities 
and hazardous liquid pipeline facilities leak detection 
systems. To date PHMSA has not issued a notice of proposed 
rulemaking on these mandates. The Committee directs PHMSA to 
initiate a rulemaking within 90 days of enactment of this Act 
and to issue a final rule no later than one year after 
enactment of this Act.
    To assist PHMSA in executing these regulatory actions, the 
Committee recommendation provides $715,000 for regulatory staff 
positions and contractor support, as requested, and directs 
PHMSA to utilize these resources to expedite compliance with 
overdue Congressional mandates.

                       HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................       $58,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................        53,000,000
Recommended in the bill...............................        61,000,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................        +3,000,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................        +8,000,000
 

    The Hazardous Materials Safety program advances the safe 
and secure transport of hazardous materials (hazmat) in 
commerce by air, truck, rail, and vessel. PHMSA evaluates 
hazmat safety risks, develops and enforces regulations for 
transporting hazmat, educates shippers and carriers, 
investigates hazmat incidents and failures, conducts research, 
and provides grants to improve emergency response to 
transportation incidents involving hazmat.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommendation provides $61,000,000 for the 
Hazardous Materials Safety program. This funding level supports 
PHMSA's existing hazardous materials safety program, including 
the safe transportation of energy products, and provides 
$2,000,000 for the Community Safety Grant program.
    LNG by rail.--A petition was filed with PHMSA to develop 
standards for the bulk transportation of liquified natural gas 
(LNG) in rail tank cars in 2017, and PHMSA accepted this 
petition in 2018. The transportation of LNG in rail tank cars 
poses new and different risks to the public, environment, and 
property. The Committee is deeply concerned with the aggressive 
timeline established in Executive Order 13868 for the 
Department to finalize a rulemaking on LNG by rail within 13 
months of April 10, 2019. This artificial timeline would 
prevent PHMSA, in coordination with the Federal Railroad 
Administration, from thoroughly accessing and evaluating the 
safety risks associated with the transportation of LNG in rail 
tank cars. Therefore, the Committee directs PHMSA to enter into 
an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, 
Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a study through the 
Transportation Research Board on the transportation of LNG in 
rail tank cars. This study should address different 
transportation scenarios, including a freight train carrying 
individual LNG tank cars, multiple LNG tank cars, and a unit 
train of LNG tank cars; release events; hazards when a spill is 
coupled with an ignition source; leak detection; impacted 
geographic areas; route terrain challenges; and emergency and 
first responder training and notification. The Committee 
provides up to $1,000,000 for PHMSA to initiate this study 
within 30 days of enactment of this Act, and to complete this 
study no later than 18 months after enactment of this Act. 
Further, the Committee directs PHMSA to incorporate the 
findings and recommendations from this study into any potential 
rulemaking on the transportation of LNG in rail tank cars and 
prior to issuing a final rule authorizing such shipments.
    Safe transportation of energy products.--The Committee 
continues to closely monitor PHMSA's efforts to improve the 
safety of transporting Class 3 flammable liquids, including 
crude oil and ethanol, by rail. The Fixing America's Surface 
Transportation (FAST) Act (P.L. 114-94) established a schedule 
to phase-out certain rail tank cars used to transport Class 3 
flammable liquids. In September 2018, the Bureau of 
Transportation Statistics reported that nearly 20 percent of 
all tank cars transporting Class 3 flammable liquids in 2017 
met the new safety requirements, which represents a significant 
increase from 2 percent in 2015. The Committee encourages the 
Department to work with industry to ensure continued progress 
on the tank car phaseout, and if possible, accelerate the 
phaseout timeline.
    The Committee is pleased with the Department's work to date 
in partnership with the Department of Energy on the multi-phase 
collaborative research study on the volatility and properties 
of crude oil from various locations, including the Bakken Shale 
in North Dakota, and to accurately assess and characterize 
volatility before transportation. The Committee directs the 
Department to continue this research and provide briefings 
after the completion of each research task to the House and 
Senate Committees on Appropriations on the findings and the 
necessity for any additional research tasks. The Committee 
further directs the Department to utilize the findings of this 
research to update regulations for the transportation of crude 
oil, if necessary. The Department shall brief the Committees on 
any regulatory decisions resulting from this research study, 
including decisions not to take regulatory action.
    Inland ports of entry.--The Committee directs PHMSA to work 
with local governments and their Mexican counterparts at 
international inland ports of entry with a high volume of 
hazardous materials crossing the border to reduce the risk 
associated with transporting and storing hazardous materials 
and to enhance the capacity of local officials in dealing with 
the threat of hazardous materials incidents. The Committee 
notes that PHMSA has not reported to the House and Senate 
Committees on Appropriations on its progress as directed in 
House Report 115-750, and directs PHMSA to brief the Committees 
on progress within 30 days of enactment of this Act. Further, 
PHMSA is directed to submit a final report to the Committees 
within 120 days of enactment of this Act.

                            PIPELINE SAFETY

                         (PIPELINE SAFETY FUND)

                    (OIL SPILL LIABILITY TRUST FUND)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Underground
                                                                  Oil Spill       Natural Gas
                                              Pipeline Safety  Liability Trust      Storage           Total
                                                    Fund             Fund       Facility Safety
                                                                                     Account
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.............     $134,000,000      $23,000,000       $8,000,000     $165,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020............      119,000,000       22,000,000        8,000,000      149,000,000
Recommended in the bill.....................      137,000,000       23,000,000        8,000,000      168,000,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019...........       +3,000,000            - - -            - - -       +3,000,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020..........      +18,000,000       +1,000,000            - - -      +19,000,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    PHMSA oversees the safety, security, and environmental 
protection of more than 2,700,000 miles of pipelines through 
analysis of data, damage prevention, education and training, 
development and enforcement of regulations and policies, 
research and development, grants for State pipeline safety 
programs, and emergency planning and response to accidents. The 
Pipeline Safety program is responsible for a national 
regulatory program to protect the public against the risks to 
life and property in the transportation of natural gas, 
petroleum, and other hazardous materials by pipeline.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommendation provides $168,000,000 to 
continue pipeline safety operations, research, and development, 
and State grants-in-aid. Of the total, $23,000,000 is from the 
Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, $137,000,000 is from the 
Pipeline Safety Fund, and $8,000,000 is from the Underground 
Natural Gas Storage Facility Safety account within the Pipeline 
Safety Fund. The following table provides funding levels for 
activities within this account.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         Request         Recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Research and Development..........        $12,000,000        $15,000,000
State Pipeline Safety Grants......         46,800,000         56,000,000
State One-Call Grants.............          1,058,000          1,058,000
State Damage Prevention Grants....          1,490,000          1,500,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Staffing and hiring plans.--PHMSA shall deliver a report to 
the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations within 120 
days of enactment of this Act that details staffing and hiring 
plans for fiscal year 2020 as well as actual turnover and 
hiring in fiscal year 2019.
    LNG facilities.--The Committee recognizes the growth in the 
size and scope of liquified natural gas (LNG) facilities, and 
that PHMSA's Part 193 safety regulations do not reflect the 
risks associated with today's LNG facilities. The PIPES Act of 
2016 (P.L. 114-183) directed the Department to review and 
update minimum safety standards for LNG facilities, and PHMSA 
announced its intent to update Part 193 regulations in 2018. 
The Committee is deeply concerned with the aggressive timeline 
established in Executive Order 13868 for the Department to 
initiate and finalize such a rulemaking within 13 months of 
April 10, 2019, especially considering that PHMSA has not 
completed rulemakings required under the Pipeline Safety Act of 
2011 and the PIPES Act of 2016. While the Committee supports 
PHMSA's efforts to update regulations for LNG facilities, the 
Committee strongly opposes the artificial timeline in Executive 
Order 13868. It is critical that PHMSA conduct a thorough and 
methodical rulemaking process on Part 193 to ensure the safety 
of the public and environment. Therefore, the Committee directs 
PHMSA to move forward with a notice of proposed rulemaking to 
update Part 193, provide a minimum of 60 days for public 
comment, and issue a final rule upon review and analysis of all 
comments. Further, the Committee directs PHMSA not to delay any 
efforts to complete the overdue Congressional mandates from the 
Pipeline Safety Act of 2011 and the PIPES Act of 2016 as the 
agency pursues updating Part 193 regulations.

                     EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS GRANTS

                     (EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FUND)

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................       $28,318,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................        28,318,000
Recommended in the bill...............................        28,318,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................             - - -
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................             - - -
 

    The Hazardous Materials Transportation Uniform Safety Act 
of 1990 (P.L. 101-615) requires PHMSA to: (1) develop and 
implement a reimbursable Emergency Preparedness Grants program; 
(2) monitor public sector emergency response training and 
planning and provide technical assistance to States, political 
subdivisions, and Indian tribes; and (3) develop and 
periodically update a mandatory training curriculum for 
emergency responders.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommendation provides $28,318,000 for the 
Emergency Preparedness Grants program.
    Energy products training.--The Committee recognizes the 
important role the Emergency Preparedness Grants program plays 
in training local emergency responders, including response 
activities related to the transportation of crude oil, ethanol, 
and other flammable liquids by rail. As PHMSA's 
responsibilities for the safe movement of liquified natural gas 
(LNG) expand, the Committee directs PHMSA to enhance its 
training curriculum for local emergency responders to account 
for LNG facilities and the transportation of LNG in rail tank 
cars.

                      Office of Inspector General


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.........................     $92,600,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020........................      92,152,000
Recommended in the bill.................................      96,700,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................      +4,100,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................      +4,548,000
 

    The Office of Inspector General (OIG) was established in 
1978 to provide an objective and independent organization that 
would be more effective in: (1) preventing and detecting fraud, 
waste, and abuse in departmental programs and operations; and 
(2) providing a means of keeping the Secretary of 
Transportation and the Congress fully and currently informed of 
problems and deficiencies in the administration of such 
programs and operations. According to the authorizing 
legislation, the Inspector General is to report dually to the 
Secretary of Transportation and to the Congress.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommends $96,700,000 for the Office of 
Inspector General.
    Audit reports.--The Committee requests the OIG to continue 
forwarding copies of all audit reports to the Committee 
immediately after they are issued, and to continue to make the 
Committee aware immediately of any review that recommends 
cancellation or modifications to any major acquisition project 
or grant, or which recommends significant budgetary savings. 
The OIG is also directed to withhold from public distribution 
for a period of 15 days any final audit or investigative report 
that was requested by the House or Senate Committees on 
Appropriations.
    The Committee is aware of the OIG's increased scrutiny of 
the FAA certification process audit and the resources necessary 
to conduct a complete and thorough investigation. The Committee 
recognizes that the Congressionally mandated and self-initiated 
audits are vital to ensure consumer safety and efficiency at 
the Department of Transportation. The recommendation provides 
resources accordingly.

            GENERAL PROVISIONS--DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

    Section 180 provides authorization for DOT to maintain and 
operate aircraft, hire passenger motor vehicles and aircraft, 
purchase liability insurance, buy uniforms, or allowances 
therefor.
    Section 181 limits appropriations for services authorized 
by 5 U.S.C. 3109 to the rate permitted for an Executive Level 
IV.
    Section 182 prohibits recipients of funds in this Act from 
disseminating personal information obtained by State DMVs in 
connection to motor vehicle records with an exception.
    Section 183 prohibits funds in this Act for salaries and 
expenses of more than 110 political and Presidential appointees 
in DOT. The limitation shall increase to 125 political and 
Presidential appointees beginning on the date on which the 
Secretary announces the selection of projects to receive awards 
for certain competitive grant programs funded in fiscal year 
2019.
    Section 184 stipulates that revenue collected by FHWA and 
FRA from States, counties, municipalities, other public 
authorities, and private sources for training be transferred 
into specific accounts within the agency with an exception.
    Section 185 prohibits DOT from using funds to make a grant, 
loan, loan guarantee, or cooperative agreement, unless DOT 
provides 3-day advance notice to the House and Senate 
Committees on Appropriations. The provision also requires 
notice of any ``quick release'' of funds from FHWA's emergency 
relief program, and prohibits notifications from involving 
funds not available for obligation. The provision requires DOT 
to provide a comprehensive list of all loans, loan guarantees, 
lines of credit, cooperative agreements, and discretionary 
grants that will be announced with a 3-day advance notice to 
the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations.
    Section 186 allows funds received from rebates, refunds, 
and similar sources to be credited to appropriations of DOT.
    Section 187 allows amounts from improper payments to a 
third-party contractor that are lawfully recovered by DOT to be 
made available until expended to cover expenses incurred in 
recovery of such payments.
    Section 188 requires that reprogramming actions have to be 
approved or denied by the House and Senate Committees on 
Appropriations, and reprogramming notifications shall be 
transmitted solely to the Appropriations Committees.
    Section 189 allows funds appropriated to modal 
administrations to be obligated for the Office of the Secretary 
for costs related to assessments only when such funds provide a 
direct benefit to that modal administration.
    Section 190 authorizes the Secretary to carry out a program 
that establishes uniform standards for developing and 
supporting agency transit pass and transit benefits, including 
distribution of transit benefits.
    Section 191 allows the use of funds to assist a contract 
utilizing geographic, economic, or other hiring preference not 
otherwise authorized by law, only if certain requirements are 
met related to availability of local labor, displacement of 
existing employees, and delays in transportation plans.
    Section 192 includes a prohibition relating to high speed 
rail in California.
    Section 193 requires DOT to consider Transportation 
Infrastructure Finance and Investment Act loans to be part of 
the non-Federal share of project costs if the loans are repaid 
by non-Federal funds.
    Section 194 extends the deadline by which the Secretary may 
provide direct loans and loan guarantees under the Railroad 
Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing program for transit-
oriented development projects until September 30, 2020.
    Section 195 includes a prohibition on issuing grants to 
entities that do not comply with practices for control system 
procurement recommended by the U.S. Department of Homeland 
Security's National Cybersecurity and Communications 
Integration Center.

         TITLE II--DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT


                     Management and Administration


                           EXECUTIVE OFFICES

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.........................     $14,900,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020........................      16,000,000
Recommended in the bill.................................      14,788,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................        -112,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................      -1,212,000
 

    The Executive Offices (EO) account funds the salaries and 
expenses for the leadership and executive management offices of 
the Department. Specifically, these offices are the Office of 
the Secretary, the Office of the Deputy Secretary, the Office 
of Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations, the Office of 
Public Affairs, the Office of Adjudicatory Services, the Office 
of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, and the Center 
for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommends the following amounts for each EO 
office.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Executive Offices (EO)              Request       Recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Office of the Secretary.............        $4,557,000        $4,557,000
Office of the Deputy Secretary......         1,333,000         1,201,000
Office of Adjudicatory Services.....         1,405,000         1,405,000
Office of Congressional and                  2,816,000         2,192,000
 Intergovernmental Relations........
Office of Public Affairs............         4,335,000         3,835,000
Office of Small and Disadvantaged              661,000           661,000
 Business Utilization...............
Center for Faith-Based and                     893,000           937,000
 Neighborhood Partnerships..........
                                     -----------------------------------
    Total, EO.......................        16,000,000        14,788,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Office of the Secretary.--The Committee provides $4,557,000 
for the Office of the Secretary as requested, but prohibits the 
augmentation of the office through reprogrammings, transfers, 
and detailees. The Committee is disappointed by the 
Department's lack of candor and forthrightness on matters of 
policy and program implementation, which influences the 
resource level required to carry them out effectively.
    Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations 
(CIR).--The Committee does not provide any funding to increase 
the staffing level of the CIR, thereby prohibiting the proposal 
to realign Appropriations Liaison Division from the Office of 
the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) to CIR. The Committee is 
adamantly opposed to such a realignment because it would upend 
the current working relationship and natural affinity between 
the Committee and the OCFO. The Committee insists on direct and 
unobstructed communications with the OCFO and bureau budget 
offices.

                     ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT OFFICES

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................      $541,500,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................       556,500,000
Recommended in the bill...............................       521,500,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................       -20,000,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................       -35,000,000
 

    The Administrative Support Offices (ASO) appropriation pays 
for the staff and activity cost that cannot be attributable to 
specific Department programs. ASO offices provide Department-
wide services for both the programs and the program staff. 
Specifically, these offices are: the Office of the Chief 
Financial Officer, the Office of the General Counsel, the 
Office of Field Policy and Management, the Office of 
Departmental Equal Employment Opportunity, the Office of the 
Chief Information Officer, and a consolidated Assistant 
Secretary for Administration.
           The Office of the Chief Financial Officer is 
        responsible for all aspects of financial management, 
        accounting, and budgetary matters.
           The Office of the General Counsel provides 
        legal opinions, advice and services with respect to all 
        programs and activities, and provides counsel and 
        assistance in the development of the Department's 
        programs and policies.
           The Office of Field Policy and Management 
        are the operational managers in each of the field 
        offices and manage and coordinate cross-program 
        delivery in the field.
           The Office of Departmental Equal Employment 
        Opportunity is to ensure the enforcement of Federal 
        laws relating to the elimination of all forms of 
        discrimination in the Department's employment 
        practices.
           The Office of the Chief Information Officer 
        is responsible for providing modern information 
        technology that is secure, accessible and cost 
        effective while ensuring compliance with applicable 
        regulatory requirements.
           The Assistant Secretary for Administration 
        consolidates the Office of Administration, the Office 
        of the Chief Human Capital Officer, the Office of the 
        Chief Procurement Officer, and the Office of Business 
        Transformation into a single office.
           The Office of Administration provides 
        nationwide management and operation of buildings, 
        Freedom of Information Act processing, records 
        management, Privacy Act administration, and disaster 
        and emergency response coordination.
           The Office of the Chief Human Capital 
        Officer provides strategic human capital management, 
        enterprise level training and learning, recruitment and 
        staffing, workforce planning, retention, engagement, 
        succession planning, and Departmental performance 
        management.
           The Office of the Chief Procurement Officer 
        provides advice, guidance, and technical assistance to 
        all departmental offices on matters concerning 
        procurement; assist program offices in defining and 
        specifying their procurement needs; develop and 
        maintain all procurement guidance, including 
        regulations, policies, and procedures; and assist in 
        the development of sound acquisition strategies.
           The Office of Business Transformation 
        facilitates the Department-wide strategic planning 
        process by identifying strategic priorities and change 
        initiatives, monitoring key performance measures, and 
        implementing and overseeing formula and competitive 
        grants.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommends the following amounts for each ASO 
office.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Administrative Support Offices (ASO)       Request       Recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Office of the Chief Financial              $74,000,000       $52,691,000
 Officer............................
Office of Credit....................             - - -       [1,200,000]
Office of the General Counsel.......       100,000,000        95,890,000
Office of Field Policy and                  54,000,000        54,000,000
 Management.........................
Office of Departmental Equal                 4,000,000         3,900,000
 Employment Opportunity.............
Office of the Chief Information             56,000,000        55,019,000
 Officer............................
Consolidated: Assistant Secretary          268,500,000       260,000,000
 for Administration.................
                                     -----------------------------------
        Total, ASO..................       556,500,000       521,500,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Access to records.--The Committee notes with concern the 
April 29, 2019 Management Alert (2019-IG-0001) issued by the 
HUD Office of Inspector General. The recommendation continues a 
funding prohibition in title IV (section 418) that requires 
agencies to provide their Inspector General with timely access 
to records, documents, or other materials. The Committee 
reminds the Department that failure to comply with section 418 
is an Antideficiency Act violation.
    Financial transformation initiative.--The Committee is 
wholly dissatisfied with the Department's abbreviated responses 
to inquiries about the scope, scale, and workplan of the 
financial transformation initiative and, therefore, provides no 
funding for it. The Committee's confidence in this initiative 
eroded because of the Department's either inability or 
unwillingness to keep the House and Senate Committees on 
Appropriations apprised of how implementation of the initiative 
is different from the description provided at the time of the 
request.
    Hiring and separation report.--The Committee directs HUD's 
Office of the Chief Financial Officer and the Office of the 
Chief Human Capital Officer to submit quarterly reports to the 
House and Senate Committees on Appropriations on hiring and 
separations by program office. This report shall include 
position titles, location, associated full-time equivalents, 
total number of unfilled FTEs and the length of time each 
individual FTE has been unfilled, and include the Office of 
Inspector General and Government National Mortgage Association.
    Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO).--The 
Committee does not support the realignment of staff from OCFO 
to the Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations 
(CIR). Therefore, these staff and a corresponding amount of 
funding remain in OCFO. The Committee is adamantly opposed to 
such a realignment because it would upend the current working 
relationship and natural affinity between the Committee and the 
OCFO. The Committee insists on direct and unobstructed 
communications with the OCFO and bureau budget offices.
    Office of Credit.--The Committee supports centralized 
management and budgeting for the Department's loan programs to 
ensure a consistent application of policy and management 
practices that are unique to these types of programs. Unlike 
the rest of the Department's programs, which are budgeted for 
on a cash basis, loan programs are required to be budgeted for 
on a net present value basis. The Committee directs the OCFO to 
establish an Office of Credit dedicated to budgeting and 
managing loan programs.

                 PROGRAM OFFICES SALARIES AND EXPENSES

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................      $822,144,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................       827,000,000
Recommended in the bill...............................       849,144,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................       +27,000,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................       +22,144,000
 

    The Program Offices Salaries and Expenses (POSE) 
appropriation pays for the staff cost attributable to specific 
Department programs, whereas the cost of the assistance is 
accounted for in the proceeding program accounts, such as 
Tenant-based Rental Assistance. Each POSE office implements one 
or more HUD programs.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommends the following amounts for each 
POSE office.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Program Office Salaries and Expenses
               (POSE)                      Request       Recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Office of Public and Indian Housing.      $206,000,000      $230,000,000
Office of Community Planning and           114,000,000       117,000,000
 Development........................
Office of Housing...................       399,000,000       386,144,000
Office of Policy Development and            26,000,000        26,000,000
 Research...........................
Office of Fair Housing and Equal            73,000,000        80,000,000
 Opportunity........................
Office of Lead Hazard Control and            9,000,000        10,000,000
 Healthy Homes......................
                                     -----------------------------------
    Total, POSE.....................       827,000,000       849,144,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

           The Office of Public and Indian Housing 
        oversees the administration of the Public Housing, 
        Housing Choice Vouchers, and Native American programs.
           The Office of Community Planning and 
        Development is responsible for the administration of 
        Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), the Home 
        Investment Partnership (HOME), Homeless Assistance 
        Grants, and other community development programs.
           The Office of Housing implements Federal 
        Housing Administration multi- and single-family 
        homeownership programs and assisted rental housing 
        programs.
           The Office of Policy Development and 
        Research directs the Department's annual research 
        agenda to support the research and evaluation of 
        housing and other departmental initiatives to improve 
        HUD's effectiveness and operational efficiencies.
           The Office of Fair Housing and Equal 
        Opportunity receives, investigates, conciliates and 
        recommends the issuance of charges of discrimination 
        and determinations of non-compliance for complaints 
        filed under Title VIII and other civil rights 
        authorities.
           The Office of Lead Hazard Control and 
        Healthy Homes is responsible for the Lead-Based Paint 
        Hazard Reduction program and addressing multiple 
        housing-related hazards affecting the health of 
        residents, particularly children.
    Public and tribal housing inspections.--The Committee 
provides additional resources for public and tribal housing to 
support ongoing public housing financial and physical 
assessment activities, pilot a new physical inspection process, 
and implement the recommendations made in the March 2019 
Government Accountability Office (GAO) report ``Real Estate 
Inspection Center: HUD Should Improve Physical Inspection 
Process and Oversight of Inspectors'' (GAO-19-254). In 
addition, these resources are intended to support inspections, 
monitoring, and other oversight activities conducted by the 
Office of Native American Programs in support of the Native 
American Housing Block Grants, Indian Community Development 
Block Grants, Section 184 Indian Housing Loan Guarantee, and 
Tribal HUD-VASH programs.
    Sexual harassment in housing.--The Committee supports the 
interagency task force between the Departments of Housing and 
Urban Development (HUD) and Justice (DOJ) to combat sexual 
harassment in housing that was announced in 2018. The Committee 
directs the Departments to submit a joint report to the House 
and Senate Committees on Appropriations no later than 90 days 
after enactment of this Act on activities of the task force. 
Specifically, the joint report shall address the development of 
a shared strategy between HUD and DOJ for combating sexual 
harassment in housing across the country, continued data 
sharing and analysis, joint development of training, evaluation 
of public housing complaint mechanisms, coordination of public 
outreach and press strategy, and review of Federal policies.
    Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).--The Violence Against 
Women Reauthorization Act included critical housing protections 
for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual 
assault, and stalking across HUD's core housing and 
homelessness programs. The Committee provides additional 
resources for the Department to carry out these authorities. In 
particular, the Committee directs the Department to prioritize 
the creation of guidance and outreach to public housing 
authorities and private property owners participating in HUD 
programs on their responsibilities under VAWA including 
emergency transfers and record retention.

                          WORKING CAPITAL FUND

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

    The Department of Housing and Urban Development's Working 
Capital Fund (WCF), in its present form, was established by the 
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 to perform a limited 
number of commodity-like administrative functions where 
economies of scale can be achieved. These functions are limited 
in statute to: financial management, procurement, travel, 
relocation, human resources, printing, records management, 
space renovation, furniture, and supply services.
    The Committee does not provide any funding to the WCF. 
Instead, the WCF staff and its activities are funded with 
transfers from the Department's salary and expenses accounts 
(i.e., Executive Offices, Administrative Support Offices, 
Program Office Salaries and Expenses, and Government National 
Mortgage Association).
    The Committee expects that, prior to exercising discretion 
to centrally fund an activity, the Secretary shall have 
established transparent and reliable unit cost accounting for 
the offices and agencies of the Department that use the 
activity, and shall have adequately trained staff within each 
affected office and agency on resource planning and accounting 
processes associated with the centralization of funds to this 
account.
    Prior to exercising its authority to transfer funds for 
activities beyond what is required for shared service 
agreements, the Committee directs HUD to establish a clear 
execution plan for centralizing the additional activities, and 
to transmit that plan to the House and Senate Committees on 
Appropriations 30 days prior to transferring such funds into 
the WCF.

                       Public and Indian Housing


                     TENANT-BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................   $22,598,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................    22,237,500,000
Recommended in the bill...............................    23,810,000,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................    +1,212,000,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................    +1,572,500,000
 

    In fiscal year 2005, the Housing Certificate Fund was 
separated into two new accounts: Tenant-Based Rental Assistance 
and Project-Based Rental Assistance. This account administers 
the tenant-based Section 8 rental assistance program otherwise 
known as the Housing Choice Voucher program.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommends $23,810,000,000 for Tenant-Based 
Rental Assistance. Consistent with the budget request, the 
Committee continues the advance of $4,000,000,000 of the funds 
appropriated under this heading for Section 8 programs to 
October 1, 2020.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Request         Recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Voucher Renewals................     $20,115,541,000     $21,400,000,000
Administrative Fees.............       1,738,459,000       1,925,000,000
Veterans Affairs Supportive                    - - -          40,000,000
 Housing (VASH).................
Tribal HUD-VASH.................               - - -           5,000,000
Tenant Protection Vouchers......         130,000,000         150,000,000
Family Unification Vouchers.....               - - -          40,000,000
Mainstream Vouchers.............         259,500,000         225,000,000
Family Mobility Demonstration...               - - -          25,000,000
                                 ---------------------------------------
    TOTAL.......................      22,237,500,000      23,810,000,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Voucher renewals.--The Committee provides $21,400,000,000 
for the renewal of tenant-based vouchers. The Committee directs 
the Department to monitor and report to the House and Senate 
Committees on Appropriations each quarter on the trends in 
Section 8 subsidies and to report on the required program 
alterations due to changes in rent or changes in tenant income. 
The Committee provides additional resources that can be a tool 
to reduce homelessness among families with children and the 
unsheltered.
    Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH).--To continue 
the effort to eliminate homelessness among our Nation's 
veterans, the Committee provides $40,000,000 for new, 
incremental vouchers dedicated to vulnerable veteran 
households. In addition, no less than $723,000,000 in voucher 
renewal appropriation is available to renew approximately 
100,000 eligible VASH vouchers funded in prior years. Since 
2008, the Committee has provided more than $755,000,000 in 
targeted funding to increase the number of VASH vouchers 
available to address veteran homelessness and billions of 
dollars have been made available to renew HUD-VASH vouchers 
over the same period.
    Vouchers for homeless Native American veterans.--The 
Committee provides $5,000,000 for rental assistance and 
associated administrative costs for Tribal HUD-VASH to serve 
Native American veterans who are homeless or at risk of 
homelessness living on or near a reservation, or other Indian 
areas. The Committee anticipates that most of this funding will 
be needed to renew previously provided assistance. To the 
extent funds remain after previously awarded assistance has 
been renewed, HUD may use the remaining funds to award new 
assistance based on need and administrative capacity. This 
program was first funded in fiscal year 2015, and because of 
the unique nature of the program, a separate renewal line is 
required. These resources are in addition to VASH 
appropriations included within voucher renewal funding.
    The Committee recognizes that the rural and remote nature 
of many Native communities presents unique barriers to hiring 
and retaining qualified professionals who meet the Department 
of Veterans Affairs (VA) standards for case managers. The 
Committee encourages HUD to continue working collaboratively 
with the VA and Tribal HUD-VASH funding recipients to implement 
their program. In addition, the Committee urges HUD to ensure 
that Tribal HUD-VASH funding recipients unable to fully 
implement their program due to challenges hiring and retaining 
case managers are not treated inequitably due to delays, 
particularly in performance evaluations and when applying for 
continued funding.
    Tenant Protection vouchers.--The Committee provides 
$150,000,000 for Tenant Protection vouchers. The Committee 
rejects proposals included in the budget to reduce public 
housing, but includes this increase to address anticipated 
closures of certain public housing properties unrelated to any 
reductions proposed by the Administration. In its annual notice 
of funding awards for tenant protection vouchers, the 
Department shall also include each specific Property ID and 
name that experienced a triggering event to support each 
funding award.
    Section 811 Mainstream vouchers.--The Committee provides 
$225,000,000 for Section 811 tenant-based subsidies. This is 
equal to the fiscal year 2019 enacted level and sufficient to 
renew previously awarded eligible vouchers.
    Family Unification Program vouchers.--The Committee 
provides $40,000,000 for Family Unification vouchers. This is 
$20,000,000 over the fiscal year 2019 level to provide housing 
vouchers on demand for at-risk youth who have ``aged out'' of 
foster care.
    Homeless veterans on U.S.-Mexico border.--The Committee 
notes that there are many homeless veterans living on the U.S.-
Mexico border, many of whom have not historically been counted 
in the point-in-time homeless survey. The Committee directs HUD 
to take action to ensure that HUD-VASH vouchers are made 
available to this unique population. The Committee further 
directs HUD to develop strategies and recommendations for 
addressing and reducing veteran homelessness on the U.S.-Mexico 
border, and to provide a report on its efforts within 90 days 
of enactment of this Act.
    HUD-VASH case management.--The Committee recognizes the 
value and impact of the HUD-VA Supportive Housing (VASH) 
program, which serves veterans experiencing homelessness. Case 
management services are critically important to the function of 
the program, and public housing authorities rely on VA Medical 
Center referrals to house veterans. Due to the joint nature of 
HUD-VASH funding, the Committee recognizes the importance of 
the VA's budget for case managers in relationship to the 
vouchers provided.
    Section 8 Management Assessment Program.--In fiscal year 
2019, the Committee directed the Department to analyze whether 
differences in scoring PHAs created inequities and to report to 
the Committee. The Committee looks forward to receiving the 
results of the report.
    Collaboration with SAMHSA.--The Committee directs the 
Department to conduct a feasibility study with the Department 
of Health and Human Services to understand how Section 8 
vouchers could provide housing opportunities to those who seek 
SAMSHA supported services, modeled on the success of the HUD-
VASH program. Such a report shall include recommendations for 
Congress on providing authorization for such a program, as well 
as a review of how federal funds flow to localities, 
opportunities for local and state partnership with federal 
agencies, and a review of potential barriers to housing for 
these individuals. This study should be provided within 120 
days of enactment to the House and Senate Committees on 
Appropriations and the House and Senate authorizing committees.
    Small public housing agencies.--The Committee is aware of 
confusion regarding the definition of ``rural'' as applied to 
small public housing agencies by the Department of Housing and 
Urban Development (HUD) in implementing Public Law 115-174. The 
Committee directs HUD to provide a report to the relevant 
congressional committees no later than 120 days after enactment 
of this Act clarifying what small public housing agencies 
qualify as rural under such law.
    Housing for the reentry population.--The Committee is 
encouraged by the actions that HUD has taken to reduce the 
barriers that the reentry population faces in securing housing. 
Recognizing that a firm foundation including safe and reliable 
housing is a critical part of reducing recidivism, the 
Committee urges HUD to further explore other initiatives to 
reducing barriers.
    Fair market rents.--The Committee is aware of the concerns 
regarding the data used to calculate fair market rents and 
directs the Department to work with its authorizing 
Congressional Committees to develop statutory flexibilities for 
operating the voucher program in such a way that vouchers will 
be usable in rapidly rising rental markets.
    Purchasing power of vouchers.--The Committee directs the 
Department to report to the Committee on the impacts that 
rising rental market prices have had on the purchasing power of 
rental assistance vouchers administered by public housing 
authorities (PHAs), including Moving To Work (MTW) agencies and 
HUD-VASH vouchers. The Committee directs the Department to 
develop recommendations regarding funding levels necessary to 
ensure that PHAs, including MTW agencies, are able to continue 
serving the same number of households. The Committee is aware 
that an MTW expansion cohort will study landlord incentive 
programs and looks forward to the results of that study.
    Hardship exemptions.--The Committee directs the Department 
to submit a report to the Committee within 120 days of 
enactment of this Act that provides the Department's plan and 
associated timeline for increasing tenant awareness of hardship 
exemption policies. This plan must include HUD's strategy and 
timing for conducting additional outreach on hardship 
exemptions, including but not limited to, notice about the 
availability of hardship exemptions and the applicable process 
to each family paying or notified of the obligation to pay 
minimum rents. The plan should also update relevant guidance 
documents for the covered programs.
    Evictions data.--The Committee directs the Department to 
explore what it would take to collect, analyze, and make 
publicly available data on evictions from all of its Federally-
assisted housing properties, including tenant characteristics 
such as the age, gender, race, and ethnicity of all tenants 
residing on the property, and report on its findings within 120 
days of enactment of this Act.
    Administration ``rent reform'' proposals.--The Committee 
does not include language implementing any of the 
Administration's ``rent reform'' proposals and funds accounts 
accordingly. The Committee believes these proposals would harm 
America's most vulnerable populations and do nothing to address 
the issues of poverty they face.

                        HOUSING CERTIFICATE FUND

                        (INCLUDING RESCISSIONS)

    The Housing Certificate Fund, until fiscal year 2005, 
provided funding for both the project-based and tenant-based 
components of the Section 8 program. Project-Based Rental 
Assistance and Tenant-Based Rental Assistance are now 
separately funded accounts. The Housing Certificate Fund 
retains balances from previous years' appropriations.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    Language is included to allow unobligated balances from 
specific accounts to renew or amend Project-Based Rental 
Assistance contracts.

                      PUBLIC HOUSING CAPITAL FUND

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................    $2,775,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................             - - -
Recommended in the bill...............................     2,855,057,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................       +80,057,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................    +2,855,057,000
 

    The Public Housing Capital Fund provides funding for public 
housing capital programs, including public housing development 
and modernization. Examples of capital modernization projects 
include replacing roofs and windows, improving common spaces, 
upgrading electrical and plumbing systems, and renovating the 
interior of an apartment.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommends $2,855,057,000 for the Public 
Housing Capital Fund. The recommendation does not include the 
request to eliminate this account and direct unobligated 
balances to the Public Housing Operating Fund, nor does it 
provide for competitive grants to demolish public housing. The 
Committee continues to support a significant Federal commitment 
to public housing and rejects multiple proposals included in 
the budget intended to facilitate a reduction of the public 
housing portfolio.
    Within the amounts provided, the Committee directs that:
           $28,000,000 is to support the ongoing public 
        housing financial and physical assessment activities of 
        the Real Estate Assessment Center, pilot a new physical 
        inspection process and implement recommendations made 
        in the March 2019 GAO report (GAO-19-254);
           Up to $16,000,000 is to support the costs of 
        administrative and judicial receiverships;
           Up to $30,000,000 is made available for 
        emergency capital needs, excluding Presidentially-
        declared disasters. The Committee includes language to 
        ensure that funds are used only for repairs needed due 
        to an unforeseen and unanticipated emergency event or 
        natural disaster that occurs during fiscal year 2020, 
        or for certain security measures. Of that amount, 
        $10,000,000 is for safety and security measures;
           $25,000,000 is for competitive grants to 
        evaluate and reduce lead-based paint hazards; and
           $25,000,000 is for competitive grants for 
        activities under the Healthy Homes Initiative, 
        including addressing carbon monoxide poisoning, mold, 
        and other household hazards.
    The Committee directs that all PHAs, including those that 
are troubled, substandard, or are under the direction of HUD, a 
monitor, or a court-appointed receiver are eligible for funding 
for competitive grants for both lead-based paint hazards and 
activities under the Healthy Homes Initiative. The Committee 
intends that the PHAs with the greatest need will have access 
to the funds. Additionally, the Committee directs that HUD 
consider increasing the amount of individual grants so that the 
scale of the problems can be addressed appropriately.
    The Committee notes that funding for the Resident 
Opportunity and Self-Sufficiency (ROSS) program and Jobs Plus 
is included in this Act, but has been moved to a new account 
called Self-Sufficiency Programs.
    Carbon monoxide poisoning.--The Committee is alarmed at 
reports of deaths resulting from carbon monoxide poisoning in 
public housing subsidized by the Department. Therefore, the 
Committee recommends that the Secretary evaluate requiring 
carbon monoxide detectors in rental housing that receives 
funding from HUD.

                     PUBLIC HOUSING OPERATING FUND

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................    $4,653,116,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................     2,863,000,000
Recommended in the bill...............................     4,753,116,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................      +100,000,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................    +1,890,116,000
 

    The Public Housing Operating Fund subsidizes the costs 
associated with operating and maintaining public housing. This 
subsidy supplements funding received by public housing 
authorities (PHAs) from tenant rent contributions and other 
income. In accordance with section 9 of the United States 
Housing Act of 1937, as amended, funds are allocated by formula 
to public housing authorities for the following purposes: 
utility costs; anti-crime and anti-drug activities, including 
the costs of providing adequate security; routine maintenance 
costs; administrative costs; and general operating expenses.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommends $4,753,116,000 for the Federal 
share of PHA operating expenses.
    Quality assurance of physical inspections.--The Committee 
is troubled by reports of deplorable living conditions found in 
some HUD-subsidized properties across the country. The scope of 
this issue spans geographic regions, highlights systemic 
problems, and calls into question the effectiveness of HUD 
oversight, and the Real Estate Assessment Center's (REAC) 
inspections of HUD-assisted housing. The Committee encourages 
the Department to work with the Congress on enforcement 
actions, including civil monetary penalties, that HUD can take 
to ensure PHAs and landlords maintain the physical quality of 
HUD-assisted units. Similarly, while the Committee is 
supportive of efforts to quickly issue tenant-protection 
vouchers, the issuance of these vouchers is a tacit 
acknowledgement that the Department has failed to ensure units 
are maintained as decent, safe and sanitary. Additionally, 
failure to maintain the physical condition of HUD-assisted 
properties results in a loss of critical affordable housing and 
tenant protection vouchers are of questionable value to 
families that encounter a lack of affordable housing in their 
communities. The Committee directs the Department to solicit 
comments from stakeholders, including tenants, to identify ways 
the Department can improve its inspection protocols and 
oversight. The Committee will continue to closely monitor the 
Department's efforts and progress and directs the Department to 
submit to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations 
within 60 days of enactment of this Act a report identifying 
how HUD is improving the inspection process and related 
protocols, including quality assurance of inspections, 
identified actions yet to be implemented, the status of actions 
undertaken, and a timeline for completion of all actions.
    Lead assessments in Federally-assisted housing.--The 
Committee continues to believe that, given the significant 
impact lead exposure can have on children and their 
development, there continues to be a need for lead inspection 
standards within Federally assisted housing, including public 
housing and the Housing Choice Voucher program. The Committee 
believes that the Department has the statutory authority 
necessary to require stringent inspections when checking homes 
for lead paint. Visual lead inspections have proven 
insufficient and more rigorous standards such as requiring risk 
assessments prior to a family moving into a home should be 
considered, where appropriate, to ensure that children living 
in Federally-assisted homes are protected from lead poisoning.
    Operating fund adjustment factors.--The Committee is 
concerned that the Department's current methodology for 
calculating formula income and utility expenses for PHAs does 
not accurately reflect the reality that many experience 
locally. This is especially true for those PHAs that serve 
large elderly or disabled populations, or operate on a utility 
that is of higher cost than other parts of the country. The 
Committee appreciates that the Department takes seriously 
concerns raised by PHAs and is reviewing its data and 
evaluating alternative approaches. The Committee directs the 
Department to report to the House and Senate Committees on 
Appropriations within 60 days of enactment of this Act on 
alternative methodologies for calculating PHA formula income 
for purposes of Operating Fund eligibility.
    Enterprise Income Verification.--The Committee directs the 
Department, through its Enterprise Income Verification system, 
to ensure that all public housing authorities have automated 
access to upfront income verification tools that provide 
current employment and income information available through 
payroll data providers in addition to data already provided via 
data matching agreements with the Social Security 
Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services. 
The Committee directs the Department of Housing and Urban 
Development to enter into legal agreements with payroll data 
providers to provide current employment and income information 
to housing agencies.

                    CHOICE NEIGHBORHOODS INITIATIVE

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................      $150,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................             - - -
Recommended in the bill...............................       300,000,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................      +150,000,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................      +300,000,000
 

    The CHOICE Neighborhoods Initiative leverages significant 
public and private dollars to support locally driven strategies 
that address struggling neighborhoods with distressed public or 
HUD-assisted housing through a comprehensive approach to 
neighborhood transformation. The program uses Federal grants to 
help communities transform neighborhoods by revitalizing 
severely distressed public and/or assisted housing and 
catalyzing critical improvements in the neighborhood, including 
vacant property, housing, businesses, services, and schools.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommends $300,000,000 for the Choice 
Neighborhoods Initiative Program.
    The Committee encourages the Department to give prior year 
planning grant recipients priority consideration when awarding 
implementation grants.

                       SELF-SUFFICIENCY PROGRAMS

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................      $130,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................        75,000,000
Recommended in the bill...............................       150,000,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................       +20,000,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................       +75,000,000
 

    HUD funds several programs to help low-income families 
living in subsidized housing enhance job skills, increase 
earnings and improve economic security. This recommendation 
moves the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS), Resident Opportunity 
and Self-Sufficiency (ROSS), and Jobs Plus programs into a new 
account entitled Self-Sufficiency Programs. Previously, Jobs 
Plus and ROSS were funded through the Public Housing Capital 
Fund.
    The FSS program provides grants to public housing 
authorities (PHAs) for FSS coordinators and, with authorization 
legislation enacted in 2018, has expanded eligibility to 
residents of Project-Based Rental Assistance housing. The ROSS 
program funds Service Coordinators to work with residents of 
Public and Indian Housing. The Jobs Plus Initiative provides 
grants to PHAs, which are required to partner with Department 
of Labor jobs centers.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee provides a total of $150,000,000 for Self-
Sufficiency Programs. The following table outlines the funding 
recommended for activities under this section.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Request       Recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Family Self-Sufficiency.............       $75,000,000      $100,000,000
Resident Opportunity and Self-                   - - -        35,000,000
 Sufficiency........................
Jobs Plus...........................             - - -        15,000,000
                                     -----------------------------------
      Total.........................        75,000,000       150,000,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    FSS authorization changes.--This recommendation reflects 
authorizing changes made by the Family Self-Sufficiency Act and 
enacted in Public Law 115-174 (Section 306), which streamline 
FSS program administration and expand the program to residents 
of Project-Based Rental Assistance properties. HUD has not yet 
proposed regulations to implement these changes. The Committee 
directs HUD to complete and release revisions to the FSS 
regulations no later than 90 days after enactment of this Act.
    FSS data.--The Committee directs HUD to submit data 
annually to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations 
showing FSS participation, escrow accumulation, and graduation 
rates for various racial and ethnic groups participating in FSS 
(regardless of receipt of FSS coordinator grants), consistent 
with the categories used in HUD Forms 50058 and 50059. If HUD 
has not incorporated FSS data gathered into Form 50059 used by 
owners of PBRA properties to report tenant data by January 1, 
2020, HUD shall match the racial and ethnic data submitted by 
owners on that form with the FSS data.
    Promoting upward mobility.--The Committee directs the 
Department to explore opportunities for stronger interagency 
collaboration to effectively promote and execute upward 
mobility and economic empowerment for HUD-assisted households 
through education and workforce development, including 
enhancement of current Department initiatives such as FSS, Jobs 
Plus, and ROSS. A report on proposed interagency collaboration 
projects shall be submitted to the House and Senate Committees 
on Appropriations within 270 days of the enactment of this Act.

                        NATIVE AMERICAN PROGRAMS

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................      $820,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................       600,000,000
Recommended in the bill...............................       855,000,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................       +35,000,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................      +255,000,000
 

    The Act restructures the major programs administered by 
HUD's Office of Native American Programs into a single account. 
The Native American Programs account funds the Native American 
Housing Block Grants and Indian Community Development Block 
Grants programs. The Native American Housing Block Grants 
program, authorized by the Native American Housing Assistance 
and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (NAHASDA), provides funding 
to American Indian tribes and their Tribally Designated Housing 
Entities (TDHEs) to help address affordable housing needs 
within their communities. The Indian Community Development 
Block Grants program, authorized under title I of the Housing 
and Community Development Act of 1974, provides American Indian 
tribes the opportunity to compete for funding to address tribal 
community development needs.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee provides $855,000,000 for the Native American 
Programs account. The following table provides funding levels 
for activities within this account.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Request         Recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Native American Housing Block           $598,000,000        $671,000,000
 Grants--Formula................
Title VI Loan Program...........           2,000,000           2,000,000
Native American Housing Block                  - - -         100,000,000
 Grants--Competitive............
Indian Community Development                   - - -          75,000,000
 Block Grants...................
Training and Technical                         - - -           7,000,000
 Assistance.....................
                                 ---------------------------------------
  Total.........................         600,000,000         855,000,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    A January 2017 report published by HUD confirmed that 
homelessness in tribal areas translates into overcrowded homes, 
finding that between 42,000 and 85,000 Native Americans were 
living with friends or relatives only because they had no place 
of their own and to prevent homelessness. According to the 
report, 33,000 new units are needed in Indian country to 
eliminate overcrowding and another 35,000 new units are needed 
to replace units that are physically inadequate. Recognizing 
this significant need for affordable housing and improving 
living conditions in tribal communities across the nation, the 
Committee recommendation provides $25,000,000 more than the 
amount provided in fiscal year 2019 for formula grants to 
tribes and TDHEs under the Native American Housing Block Grants 
program. In addition, for the third consecutive fiscal year, 
the Committee provides $100,000,000 in additional resources 
through competitive grants to be awarded on the basis of need 
and administrative capacity to recipients eligible under 
NAHASDA. Further, the Committee notes that $1,727,000 in fiscal 
year 2017 appropriated funding was provided to the Section 184 
Indian Housing Loan Guarantee program for the construction of 
rental housing for law enforcement, healthcare, educational, 
technical, and other skilled workers. The Committee encourages 
tribes and TDHEs to consider utilizing this support for 
workforce housing when developing projects for the competitive 
grants under the Native American Housing Block Grants program.
    Similarly, the needs continue to exceed the funding 
available for the Indian Community Development Block Grants 
program. In fiscal year 2017, HUD was only able to fund 62 
percent of the eligible applications received. Given the 
challenges in Indian country and the limited resources 
available to address them, the Committee recommendation 
provides $10,000,000 more than the amount provided in fiscal 
year 2019 for the Indian Community Development Block Grants 
program.
    Formula grant overfunding.--The Native American Housing 
Block Grants allocation formula is based on need as measured in 
part by current assisted housing stock. However, housing data 
used to calculate allocations in any given year often contains 
inaccuracies that are subsequently corrected. These data 
revisions result in some Indian tribes having received grants 
in excess of their accurate formula allocation which in turn 
causes all other Indian tribes to be technically underfunded 
for that same year. To address this recurring problem, the 
Department has in the past recouped prior year awards made in 
excess of eligibility by offsetting current year awards. The 
Committee believes that this practice is within the 
Department's authority. To ensure that Native American Housing 
Block Grants under this heading are allocated accurately and in 
accordance with statutory requirements, the Committee directs 
the Department to continue the practice of offsetting formula 
allocations in fiscal year 2020 should it receive data 
indicating that an overpayment occurred, provided the 
Department takes action within three years from the date the 
Formula Response Form is sent out. If the Department recoups 
funds from a tribe and a subsequent appeals process determines 
that the funds should not have been recouped, the Committee 
directs the Department to increase the tribe's next funding 
allocation, following the final appeals determination, equal to 
the amount of the improperly recouped funds.
    Technical assistance.--The Committee provides $7,000,000 
for technical assistance needs in Indian country to support the 
Native American Housing Block Grants program, the Indian 
Community Development Block Grants program, and other HUD 
programs in order to meet the needs of Native American families 
and tribal communities. The Committee directs HUD to use the 
technical assistance funding to aid tribes with capacity 
challenges. The funding should be used for training, contract 
expertise, inspections, and other services necessary to address 
needs identified by tribes. Of the total technical assistance 
funding provided, no less than $2,000,000 shall be awarded to a 
national organization as authorized by section 703 of NAHASDA.
    Reservation housing.--The Committee recognizes the 
importance of housing assistance provided as a result of 
NAHASDA and encourages the Department to support efforts by 
tribes to renovate substandard reservation housing. HUD has an 
obligation to ensure that housing in its inventory is 
transferred to Indian tribes, TDHEs, or eligible Native 
American families as expeditiously as possible.
    The Committee also recognizes that a number of coastal 
tribal communities are actively working to relocate homes and 
other critical infrastructure to higher ground to mitigate the 
impacts of climate change. The Committee encourages the 
Department to prioritize funding and technical assistance 
resources to support these efforts and to encourage resilient 
building and planning practices throughout Indian Country.

           INDIAN HOUSING LOAN GUARANTEE FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................        $1,440,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................         2,500,000
Recommended in the bill...............................         2,500,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................        +1,060,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................             - - -
 

    Section 184 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 
1992 established a loan guarantee program for Native American 
individuals, tribes, and Tribally Designated Housing Entities 
to build new housing or purchase existing housing on trust 
land. This program provides access to private financing that 
otherwise might be unavailable because of the unique legal 
status of Indian trust land.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee provides $2,500,000 in new credit subsidy for 
the Section 184 loan guarantee program. This will support a 
loan volume of $1,000,000,000.

                  NATIVE HAWAIIAN HOUSING BLOCK GRANT

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................        $2,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................             - - -
Recommended in the bill...............................         2,500,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................          +500,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................        +2,500,000
 

    The Hawaiian Homelands Homeownership Act of 2000 created 
the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant program to provide 
grants to the State of Hawaii Department of Hawaiian Home Lands 
(DHHL) for housing activities on Hawaiian home lands, in order 
to develop, maintain, and operate affordable housing for 
eligible low-income Native Hawaiian families. As one of the 
United States' indigenous people, Native Hawaiian people have a 
unique relationship with the Federal government.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee provides $2,500,000 for the Native Hawaiian 
Housing Block Grant program. The Committee encourages the 
Department to continue to provide technical assistance to DHHL 
in developing and executing plans to meet the housing needs of 
low-income Native Hawaiians.

      NATIVE HAWAIIAN HOUSING LOAN GUARANTEE FUND PROGRAM ACCOUNT

    Section 184A of the Housing and Community Development Act 
of 1992 established a loan guarantee program for Native 
Hawaiian families who are eligible to reside on Hawaiian home 
lands and would otherwise face barriers to acquiring such 
financing because of the unique legal status of the Hawaiian 
home lands.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee provides no funding for the Section 184A loan 
guarantee program as proposed in the budget request. The 
program operates on a negative subsidy basis and has sufficient 
balances of prior year loan guarantee limitation to continue 
making Section 184A loans.

                   Community Planning and Development


               HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH AIDS

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................      $393,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................       330,000,000
Recommended in the bill...............................       410,000,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................       +17,000,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................       +80,000,000
 

    The Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) 
program provides States and localities with resources to 
address the housing needs of low-income persons living with 
HIV/AIDS. Stable housing can reduce risky behavior, improve 
adherence to medication, and reduce HIV transmission. Funding 
is distributed primarily by formula to qualifying States and 
metropolitan areas based on the number of individuals living 
with HIV/AIDS reported to the Centers for Disease Control, 
housing costs, and poverty rates. Government grantees are 
required to have a HUD-approved Comprehensive Plan.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommends $410,000,000 for HOPWA, which will 
ensure that grantees are held harmless as the Department 
implements HOPWA formula modernization. The Committee 
recommendation includes formula grants and funding for the 
renewal of certain expiring contracts that were previously 
funded under HOPWA competitive grants.
    Priority renewal for competitive grants.--The Department 
requested the removal of a provision which requires that 
competitive grantees receive priority renewal. The 
recommendation does not include that change. However, the 
Committee believes that holding projects accountable for their 
ability to demonstrate effectiveness through performance data 
is essential to getting the most out of limited Federal 
resources. The Committee directs the Department to work with 
communities to prepare to implement this change in the future.

                       COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUND

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................    $3,300,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................             - - -
Recommended in the bill...............................     3,600,000,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................      +300,000,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................    +3,600,000,000
 

    The Community Development Fund, authorized by the Housing 
and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.), 
provides funding, primarily through Community Development Block 
Grants (CDBG), to State and local governments and other 
eligible entities to carry out community and economic 
development activities.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommends a total of $3,600,000,000 for the 
CDBG formula program for entitlement communities and States. 
Funding is also provided for Indian CDBG, but it has been moved 
to the new Native American Programs account.
    Of the amount provided for the CDBG formula programs, 
$7,000,000 is for insular areas, per 42 U.S.C. 5306(a)(2), 
which is the same as the fiscal year 2019 enacted level.
    The recommendation continues language requiring the 
Department to notify grantees of their formula allocation 
within 60 days of enactment of this Act.
    Resilience.--The Secretary is directed to encourage 
grantees of the CDBG program to utilize funds for activities 
designed to increase project resilience to harden structures to 
withstand severe weather and other natural hazards, including 
flooding, wind, and other hazards identified by the Secretary. 
In addition, the Committee recommends that the Secretary issue 
guidelines for jurisdictions relating to the appropriate 
inclusion of residential manufactured homes in a Consolidated 
Plan of the jurisdiction.
    A provision in the Title II General Provisions directs the 
Department to make data for broadband and resiliency 
requirements to be incorporated into Consolidated Plans 
available to grantees not later than 90 days after enactment of 
this Act and requires grantees to incorporate broadband and 
resiliency components into their Consolidated Plans not later 
than 270 days after enactment of this Act.
    Distressed coal communities.--The Committee encourages the 
Department to prioritize technical assistance to assist coal 
communities emerging from economic downturn and help utilize 
CDBG funds to revitalize those communities.
    Transitional housing for individuals exiting recovery.--The 
Committee recognizes the importance of stable transitional 
living environments for individuals in recovery from substance 
misuse disorder, including opioid addiction. The Committee 
directs HUD to encourage CDBG recipients to provide funding to 
organizations that offer transitional housing opportunities to 
those in recovery and looks forward to receiving HUD's guidance 
on how relevant programs would be operated.
    Best practices.--The Committee recognizes that the 
flexibility of CDBG is a great asset to bring development to 
communities with diverse needs. The Committee urges the 
Department to conduct trainings on best development practices 
gleaned from success stories from urban areas to provide 
technical expertise to other struggling urban areas on how best 
to invest and leverage these grants. The Committee directs the 
Department to submit a report to the Committee on these efforts 
within 120 days of enactment of this Act.
    Weatherization report.--The Committee recognizes that many 
individuals who would otherwise be eligible for the 
Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) have homes with 
structural deficiencies--particularly of the roof and building 
envelope--which preclude them from participating. Within 180 
days of enactment of this Act, the Department shall issue a 
report to the Committee characterizing the deficiencies of 
these homes and the costs to meet the requirements of the WAP. 
The report shall correlate the needs of the homes with the 
demographics of the residents and their geographical location 
with particular attention paid to cities eligible for Hardest 
Hit Funds. The Department is also directed to provide technical 
assistance and educational training opportunities to its 
regional staff and grantees on utilizing HOME funds along-side 
other complementary weatherization funds from LIHEAP and the 
Department of Energy. HUD shall instruct grantees about the 
possibilities of a community approach in outreach.
    Small communities surveys.--The Committee understands that 
the Department is completing an analysis of small survey sample 
problems in Washington State and looks forward to seeing the 
results and any accompanying recommendations within 120 days of 
enactment of this Act.
    Neighborhood Stabilization/Hardest Hit Fund.--The Committee 
notes that Neighborhood Stabilization Program grantees have 
$400,000,000 remaining in grant funds and program income and 
encourages the Department to work with grantees to address the 
need for revitalization of distressed neighborhoods.

         COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT LOAN GUARANTEES PROGRAM ACCOUNT

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        Limitation on
                                Budget  authority     guaranteed loans
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appropriation, fiscal year                   - - -          $300,000,000
 2019.......................
Budget request, fiscal year                  - - -                 - - -
 2020.......................
Recommended in the bill.....                 - - -           300,000,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year                 - - -                 - - -
 2019.......................
  Budget request, fiscal                     - - -          +300,000,000
 year 2020..................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Section 108 Loan Guarantee program is a source of 
variable and fixed-rate financing for communities undertaking 
projects eligible under the CDBG program.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommendation continues the Section 108 Loan 
Guarantee program as a borrower-paid subsidy program, and 
therefore recommends providing no budget authority, but 
provides a limit on guaranteed loan volume of $300,000,000.

                  HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................    $1,250,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................             - - -
Recommended in the bill...............................     1,750,000,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................      +500,000,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................    +1,750,000,000
 

    The HOME Investment Partnerships Program provides block 
grants to participating jurisdictions (States and units of 
general local government) to undertake activities that expand 
the supply of affordable housing. HOME block grants are 
distributed based on formula allocations. Upon receipt of these 
Federal funds, State and local governments develop a housing 
affordability strategy to acquire, rehabilitate, or construct 
new affordable housing, or to provide rental assistance to 
eligible families.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommends $1,750,000,000 for activities 
funded under this account. This increase is especially 
significant because the HOME program is both an infrastructure 
program that creates jobs and one that serves vulnerable 
populations by enabling States and localities to expand their 
supply of affordable housing. HOME has invested $31,900,000,000 
since 1992 to help build and preserve about 1,300,000 
affordable homes and to provide direct rental assistance to 
more than 358,000 families. This investment has supported more 
than 640,000 jobs and leveraged over $147,000,000,000 in other 
public and private funds.
    High-cost metropolitan areas.--In fiscal year 2019, the 
Committee directed the Department to report to the House and 
Senate Committees on Appropriations to identify metropolitan 
areas where entry limits harmful to geographic and economic 
mobility are most prevalent and to recommend best practices to 
promote the production of new housing stock in such areas. The 
Committee looks forward to receiving that report.
    Increasing homeownership opportunities.--The Committee 
encourages the Department to examine HOME's rental unit 
requirements, which may inhibit opportunities for homeownership 
for income eligible homebuyers under the program.

        SELF-HELP AND ASSISTED HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................       $54,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................             - - -
Recommended in the bill...............................        55,000,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................        +1,000,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................       +55,000,000
 

    The Self-Help and Assisted Homeownership Opportunity 
Program (SHOP) helps support low-income homeownership by 
providing funding for non-profits and consortia that utilize 
the sweat-equity model to build housing for first-time 
homeowners. Grant funds are used for land acquisition and 
improvements associated with developing new, quality dwellings 
for low-income persons, including those living in colonias, 
using the self-help model.
    Section 4 Capacity Building funds are set aside within this 
account and are awarded to a limited number of non-profits to 
develop the capacity of community development corporations and 
community housing development organizations to carry out 
community development and affordable housing activities. 
Section 4 funds must be matched by recipients with at least 
three times the grant amount in private funding.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommends $55,000,000 for the Self-Help and 
Assisted Homeownership Program and directs that Section 4 funds 
be awarded competitively to non-profits to aid community 
development corporations and community housing development 
organizations. The following table provides funding levels for 
activities within this account.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         Request         Recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SHOP..............................              - - -        $10,000,000
Section 4 Capacity Building.......              - - -         40,000,000
  [Rural Capacity Building].......            [- - -]        [5,000,000]
National Organizations Rural                    - - -          5,000,000
 Housing Capacity Building........
                                   -------------------------------------
    Total.........................              - - -         55,000,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       HOMELESS ASSISTANCE GRANTS

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................    $2,636,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................     2,598,600,000
Recommended in the bill...............................     2,800,000,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................      +164,000,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................      +201,400,000
 

    The Homeless Assistance Grants account provides funding for 
programs under title IV of the McKinney Act, as amended by the 
Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing 
(HEARTH) Act of 2009. HEARTH Act programs include the Continuum 
of Care (CoC) competitive grants, the Emergency Solutions 
Grants (ESG) program, and the Rural Housing Stability Grants 
program.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommends $2,800,000,000 for homeless 
assistance grants, available until September 30, 2022. The 
following table provides funding levels for activities within 
this account.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         Request         Recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Continuum of Care.................     $2,321,600,000     $2,344,000,000
Emergency Solutions Grants........        270,000,000        290,000,000
Domestic Violence Survivors.......              - - -         50,000,000
Homeless Data Analysis Project....          7,000,000          7,000,000
Youth Homelessness Demonstration..              - - -        100,000,000
Unallocated.......................              - - -          9,000,000
                                   -------------------------------------
    TOTAL.........................      2,598,000,000      2,800,000,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Performance-driven funding awards.--Holding projects 
accountable to their ability to demonstrate effectiveness 
through performance data is essential to getting the most out 
of limited Federal resources. While the recommendation does not 
include bill language directing the Secretary to increase the 
share of funding on the basis of system performance as in prior 
years, the Committee recognizes the increased competition in 
the program and directs the Secretary to maintain the share of 
the score awarded on performance criteria.
    Continuum of Care funding reallocation.--The recommendation 
includes language that directs the Secretary to prioritize 
funding to grantees that, when appropriate, reallocate funding 
from lower performing projects to higher performing projects. 
Reallocation drives higher return on investment and can also 
serve as a mechanism for containing annual inflation.
    HUD HAG Fund.--The Homeless Assistance Grants account 
recaptures funding from grantees that are unable to utilize 
grant awards in a given fiscal year. HUD's use of recaptures 
has ensured that grantees remain accountable in providing 
services and meeting performance goals. However, in fiscal year 
2018, HUD allowed $164,000,000 of prior year funding to lapse. 
These funds could have been used to deepen America's response 
to homelessness. The Committee recommendation includes language 
in section 231 that creates the ``HUD HAG Fund'' which allows 
the Department to deposit recaptured funds into a central 
account and to use those funds until expended. The funding may 
be used in the Continuum of Care program and the Emergency 
Solutions Grant program. Additionally, no less than 10 percent 
of the funds will be targeted for new grants to rural areas and 
no less than 10 percent for a new program to assist people 
experiencing homelessness in areas that were impacted by a 
major natural disaster. Past data indicate that the HUD HAG 
Fund will provide approximately $90,000,000 in additional 
resources to fight homelessness each year.
    Comprehensive approaches to serving homeless youth.--The 
recommendation includes $100,000,000 for a fifth round of the 
youth homelessness demonstration program, of which up to 
$10,000,000 shall be used to provide technical assistance and 
capacity building. The Committee believes that every Continuum 
of Care must provide safe, inclusive, and culturally 
appropriate services for homeless youth. LGBTQ youth and youth 
of color are disproportionately impacted by experiences of 
homelessness. In anticipation of the transition from a 
demonstration program to services provided by all continua of 
care, the Committee directs the Secretary to compile best 
practices in serving youth experiencing homelessness and 
disseminate those best practices to all grantees.
    Further, the Committee recognizes the challenges faced by 
vulnerable youth exiting the foster care system who face 
significantly higher risks of experiencing homelessness, 
domestic violence, and sex trafficking. The Committee 
encourages HUD to diligently ensure that the Continuum of Care 
program continues to address all populations including youth 
who have aged out of foster care.
    Maintaining progress toward ending youth homelessness.--The 
Administration's regulatory impact analysis accompanying the 
proposed rule ``Housing and Community Development Act of 1980: 
Verification of Eligible Status'' regarding undocumented 
immigrants in assisted housing indicates that the proposed rule 
would threaten the housing tenure of thousands of children who 
are U.S. citizens. The recommendation prohibits HUD from 
implementing the proposed rule or proposing a similar rule in 
the future. The Committee rejects this and any other proposal 
that would likely increase the number of homeless youth.
    A 2012 study from the Williams Institute indicated that 
LGBTQ youth comprised up to 40 percent of the homeless 
population, and a 2017 study from Chapin Hall indicates that 
LGBTQ youth were 120 percent more likely to experience 
homelessness than non-LGBTQ youth. HUD's Equal Access to 
Housing rules (77 FR 5662 and 81 FR 64763) are critical in 
ensuring that all homeless youth have access to services. To 
ensure progress toward ending youth homelessness, the 
recommendation includes a prohibition on HUD altering or 
rescinding these rules. In January 2017, HUD withdrew guidance 
that clarified the Equal Access to Housing rules--guidance of 
practical use to providers who serve youth experiencing 
homelessness. In fiscal years 2016 and 2019, the Committee 
requested that the Department provide a report detailing the 
Department's strategy for continuing to ensure that LGBTQ 
individuals have access to HUD programs for which they are 
eligible, and the plan for disseminating this information to 
PHAs. HUD has yet to provide such a strategy or a plan. 
Accordingly, the recommendation includes language restoring the 
guidance that was withdrawn in 2017 and codifies the guidance 
in law. Together, these actions will ensure that all homeless 
youth have access to HUD-funded services.
    Finally, the recommendation also includes language that 
requires HUD to use the criteria specified in the 2018 notice 
of funding availability (NOFA) when administering homeless 
assistance grants programs. HUD's fiscal year 2018 NOFA 
provides a framework that prioritizes permanent housing first, 
while allowing for the strategic use of transitional housing 
for targeted populations, including homeless youth.
    Addressing the needs of victims and survivors of domestic 
violence, sexual violence and stalking.--The recommendation 
includes $50,000,000 for rapid re-housing and supportive 
service projects for survivors of domestic violence, sexual 
assault, dating violence, and stalking. The Committee 
recommends that the Department and CoCs partner with providers, 
including victim service providers, that have experience in 
delivering trauma-specific and culturally appropriate care to 
survivors.
    Companion animals.--The Committee directs the Secretary to 
enter into consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture 
within 60 days of enactment of this Act, and enter into a 
memoranda of understanding as directed, to establish the 
requirements for grant application and execution under Section 
12502 of P.L. 115-334, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, 
to provide emergency and transitional shelter and housing 
options for domestic violence survivors with companion animals.
    Trauma-informed care.--The Committee recognizes the value 
of trauma-informed care and housing services and supports 
expanding the availability of these services to families, 
families with children, and individuals that are currently, or 
on the verge of, being homeless.
    Unsheltered homelessness.--The Committee directs the 
Secretary to prioritize interventions that will reduce 
unsheltered homelessness in both the Continuum of Care and 
Emergency Solutions Grants programs. The Committee reminds 
grantees that the Emergency Solutions Grant program can be used 
as a tool to prevent evictions.
    Service needs of local communities.--The Committee 
recognizes that local communities are best able to determine 
the housing and service needs of different local homeless 
populations, including youth, families, veterans, persons with 
disabilities, and others, and may wish to do more to address 
the needs of the populations for which they identify the 
greatest local gaps. The Committee encourages HUD to honor 
communities' pressing local priorities and assessments of need.
    Additional homeless housing options.--The Committee directs 
the Department to report on the legislative and programmatic 
changes required to utilize ``tiny homes'' to house homeless 
individuals through the Continuum of Care program. The report 
should also identify other HUD programs where tiny house 
construction and operation are eligible uses of funds. The 
report should be provided 120 days after enactment of this Act.
    Homelessness and transit.--The Committee recognizes that 
the lack of affordable housing is resulting in increasing 
numbers of homeless individuals and families using public 
transit systems for shelter. The Committee encourages Community 
Planning and Development, together with the FTA, to collaborate 
with local transit agencies and homelessness stakeholders to 
develop collaborative, multi-sectoral strategies and models to 
address the needs of transit systems and homeless populations 
using transit for shelter.

                            Housing Programs


                    PROJECT-BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................   $11,747,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................    12,021,000,000
Recommended in the bill...............................    12,590,000,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................      +843,000,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................      +569,000,000
 

    The Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA) account provides 
rental assistance to approximately 1.2 million low-income and 
very low-income households in specific multifamily rental 
developments. The assistance is provided through contracts with 
private landlords, so the property itself is subsidized. This 
account includes funding for the renewal of expiring project-
based contracts, including Section 8, moderate rehabilitation, 
and single room occupancy contracts, amendments to Section 8 
project-based contracts, and administrative costs for contract 
administration.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee provides a total of $12,590,000,000, 
including $400,000,000 provided as advance appropriations, for 
the annual renewal of project-based contracts. The 
recommendation funds renewals and amendments, provides 12 
months of funding for all contracts in the portfolio, and also 
includes $345,000,000 for performance-based contract 
administrators. The Committee rejects the rental reforms 
proposed in the Administration's budget request.
    Performance-based contract administrators (PBCAs).--PBCAs 
are responsible for conducting on-site management reviews of 
assisted properties, adjusting contract rents, and reviewing, 
processing, and paying monthly vouchers, among other tasks. 
PBCAs have been integral to the Department's efforts to be more 
effective and efficient in the oversight and monitoring of HUD-
assisted housing, reduce improper payments, protect residents, 
and ensure properties are well maintained.
    The Committee remains concerned about HUD's PBCA 
solicitation and awards procedures, which have resulted in 
litigation, as well as by the structure of the contracts, which 
increases costs and creates the potential for excessive 
profits. The fees earned by PBCAs are based on the area's fair 
market rent and are unrelated to the costs of performing the 
contract. HUD spent hundreds of millions on incentive fees for 
performing required tasks on time and for providing customer 
service. A Committee analysis of the 2011 and 2012 PBCA bids 
indicates that competitive bidding of PBCA contracts could have 
saved $80 to $100 million in fiscal year 2017 alone.
    The Committee recognizes that HUD is working to develop a 
new solicitation for PBCA contracts while balancing Court 
rulings, stakeholder comments and requirements under the 
Federal Acquisition Regulations and Competition in Contracting 
Act. The Committee looks forward to the process moving forward 
with a new contract structure that removes the potential for 
excessive profits. The Committee also directs HUD to ensure 
that affected stakeholders have sufficient time to submit 
comments and provide input regarding any proposed program 
changes.

                        HOUSING FOR THE ELDERLY

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................      $678,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................       644,000,000
Recommended in the bill...............................       803,000,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................      +125,000,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................      +159,000,000
 

    The Housing for the Elderly (Section 202) program provides 
eligible private, non-profit organizations with capital grants 
to finance the acquisition, rehabilitation or construction of 
housing intended for low-income, elderly people. In addition, 
the program provides project-based rental assistance contracts 
(PRAC) to support operational costs for units constructed under 
the program.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee provides $803,000,000 for Housing for the 
Elderly, which will fully fund contract renewals and 
amendments. Up to $95,000,000 of that amount may be directed to 
service coordinators and the continuation of congregate 
services grants to provide supportive services for frail 
residents. This recommendation includes more than $140,000,000 
for new construction of affordable senior housing. The 
Committee continues to include bill language relating to the 
initial contract and renewal terms for assistance provided 
under this heading and language allowing funds to be used for 
inspections and analysis of data by HUD's real estate 
assessment center (REAC) program office. The Committee rejects 
rental reforms proposed in the budget request.
    New construction.--For the third year in a row, the 
Committee is providing significant resources for new 
construction of affordable housing for low-income elderly 
residents. These investments reflect the Committee's commitment 
to increase the supply of senior housing and address acute 
housing shortages. Currently, HUD can only provide assisted 
housing to one out of three eligible seniors, and that shortage 
will only increase as Baby Boomers age into retirement. The 
Committee directs the Department to move expeditiously to 
develop Notices of Funding Availability to begin construction 
on this much needed housing as quickly as possible.
    Aging in place.--The Committee recognizes that significant 
cost savings are associated with independent living, as opposed 
to a nursing home or assisted living facility. The Act provides 
$10,000,000 to continue an aging in place program which 
provides grants to experienced non-profit organizations, 
States, local governments, or public housing agencies for 
safety and functional home modification repairs to meet the 
needs of low-income elderly persons to enable them to remain in 
their primary residence.

                 HOUSING FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................      $184,155,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................       157,000,000
Recommended in the bill...............................       258,510,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................       +74,355,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................      +101,510,000
 

    The Housing for Persons with Disabilities (Section 811) 
program provides eligible private, non-profit organizations 
with capital grants to finance the acquisition, rehabilitation 
or construction of supportive housing for disabled persons and 
provides project-based rental assistance (PRAC) to support 
operational costs for such units.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee provides $258,510,000 for Housing for Persons 
with Disabilities, which will fully fund project rental 
assistance and project assistant contract renewals and 
amendments. This recommendation includes $96,510,000 for new 
construction of affordable housing for persons with 
disabilities. The recommendation continues to include bill 
language allowing funds to be used for inspections and analysis 
of data by HUD's REAC office. The Committee rejects rental 
reforms proposed in the budget request.
    Importance of supportive services.--Access to affordable 
housing is a significant barrier to providing persons with 
disabilities with the option of independent living, which is 
significantly more cost-effective than nursing homes or other 
institutions. The Committee is deeply concerned by reports that 
in some States, despite long waiting lists for 811-funded 
housing, units remain vacant due to the lack of supportive 
services. These services are a program requirement and are 
essential to meeting program goals. The Committee has provided 
increased resources over the past several years for the Section 
811 program to address the need for affordable housing for 
persons with disabilities. The Committee directs the Department 
to work with housing providers to ensure that 811 projects are 
meeting program goals. In addition, the Department is directed 
to provide the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations 
and the authorizing Committees with information on vacancy 
rates and waiting lists (by State), how 811-funded projects are 
partnering with service providers including State health and 
human services departments and Medicaid agencies to provide 
access to community-based supportive services, and 
recommendations to ensure that necessary supportive services 
for tenants are provided in all units.

                     HOUSING COUNSELING ASSISTANCE

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................       $50,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................        45,000,000
Recommended in the bill...............................        60,000,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................       +10,000,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................       +15,000,000
 

    The Housing Counseling Assistance program, authorized under 
Section 106 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968, 
works with a nationwide network of housing counseling agencies 
and counselors to provide tools to current and prospective 
homeowners and renters so they can make responsible choices to 
address their housing needs. Housing counseling services range 
from addressing homelessness and preventing foreclosures to 
planning for first-time home purchases. Housing counselors have 
also provided assistance to victims of natural disasters.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommends $60,000,000 for Housing Counseling 
Assistance, which will help provide quality counseling services 
to 1.3 million consumers. The Committee retains bill language 
that provides two-year funding availability, requires the 
Department to make grants within 180 days of enactment, and 
allows multi-year agreements.
    Eviction counseling.--Nearly one million households in the 
United States were evicted in 2016. The Committee is concerned 
about the short- and long-term effects of these evictions on 
families and individuals. The Committee directs the Department 
to work with housing counselors to improve prevention efforts 
in order to assist renters at risk of eviction and to report to 
the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations within 120 
days of enactment of this Act on their efforts to improve their 
processes, including the identification of any barriers to the 
collection of data on at-risk households, and how the 
Department will augment the services offered by housing 
counselors.
    Language accessibility.--The Housing Counseling Assistance 
program publishes flyers, brochures, and posters in Spanish and 
English to help homebuyers and renters make informed decisions. 
The Committee directs the Department to expand publication of 
Housing Counseling Assistance resources in additional 
languages, prioritizing based on data published by the U.S. 
Census Bureau on the most commonly spoken languages in the 
United States.

                       RENTAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................        $5,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................         3,000,000
Recommended in the bill...............................         3,000,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................        -2,000,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................             - - -
 

    As the contracts for Rent Supplement and Rental Assistance 
Payment expire, these properties can be preserved as affordable 
housing stock under the Rental Assistance Demonstration 
program. The Rental Housing Assistance program bridges the 
costs attributable to the timing of this conversion.

            PAYMENT TO MANUFACTURED HOUSING FEES TRUST FUND

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................       $12,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................        12,000,000
Recommended in the bill...............................        12,400,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................          +400,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................          +400,000
 

    The Office of Manufactured Housing establishes and enforces 
Federal standards for the design and construction of 
manufactured homes to assure quality, durability, safety, and 
affordability. All manufactured homes are required to meet 
Federal standards, and fees are charged to producers to cover 
the costs of administering the program.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recognizes the difficulty that communities 
have in providing affordable housing to residents and 
encourages the Secretary to consider incorporating manufactured 
housing in the Department's affordable housing strategies.

                     Federal Housing Administration


                   MUTUAL MORTGAGE INSURANCE PROGRAM

                     (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Limitation of      Limitation of      Administrative
                                                            direct loans     guaranteed loans  contract expenses
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019........................         $1,000,000   $400,000,000,000       $130,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020.......................          1,000,000    400,000,000,000        150,000,000
Recommended in the bill................................          1,000,000    400,000,000,000        130,000,000
Bill compared to:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019......................              - - -              - - -              - - -
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020.....................              - - -              - - -        -20,000,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) provides mortgage 
insurance for the purchase, refinance, and rehabilitation of 
single-family homes. FHA mortgage insurance is designed to 
encourage lenders to make credit available to borrowers whom 
the conventional market perceives as bearing more risk, 
including first-time homebuyers, minorities, lower-income 
families, and residents of underserved areas (central cities 
and rural areas).

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    Information technology.--The Committee supports technology 
upgrades at the FHA and provides additional resources within 
the Cybersecurity and Information Technology Fund specifically 
for FHA.
    Loan limits.--The Committee encourages HUD to use the 
highest possible median house price to calculate FHA loan 
limits for Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA) that 
experienced a drop in FHA loan limits of 20 percent or more 
when the Housing Economic Recovery Act went into effect. To 
qualify, MSAs must be at least 1,300 square miles or more in 
land area.

                GENERAL AND SPECIAL RISK PROGRAM ACCOUNT

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Limitation of     Limitation of
                                        direct loans    guaranteed loans
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....        $1,000,000   $30,000,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020....         1,000,000    30,000,000,000
Recommended in the bill.............         1,000,000    30,000,000,000
Bill compared to:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019...             - - -             - - -
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020..             - - -             - - -
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Federal Housing Administration's (FHA) general 
insurance and special risk insurance (GI and SRI) program 
account includes 17 different programs administered by FHA. The 
GI fund includes a wide variety of insurance programs for 
special-purpose single and multifamily loans, including loans 
for property improvements, manufactured housing, multifamily 
rental housing, condominiums, housing for the elderly, 
hospitals, group practice facilities, and nursing homes. The 
SRI fund includes insurance programs for mortgages in older, 
declining urban areas that would not be otherwise eligible for 
insurance, mortgages with interest reduction payments, and 
mortgages for experimental housing and for high-risk mortgagors 
who would not normally be eligible for mortgage insurance 
without housing counseling.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    Not later than 120 days after the enactment of this Act, 
the FHA shall submit a report to the House and Senate 
Committees on Appropriations on the feasibility of expanding 
the section 232 mortgage insurance program to finance 
facilities that provide drug and alcohol rehabilitation 
services (especially for opioid addiction treatment) in a 
residential setting. The report shall include a review of 
statutory and regulatory permissibility, the estimated cost to 
the section 232 program, and options for structuring a 
demonstration program.

                Government National Mortgage Association


        GUARANTEES OF MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES LOAN GUARANTEE

                            PROGRAM ACCOUNT

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Limitation of      Administrative
                                   guaranteed loans    contract expenses
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.    $550,000,000,000         $27,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020     550,000,000,000          28,400,000
Recommended in the bill.........     550,000,000,000          27,000,000
Bill compared to:
  Appropriation, fiscal year                   - - -               - - -
 2019...........................
  Budget request, fiscal year                  - - -          -1,400,000
 2020...........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA) guarantees 
the timely payment of principal and interest on mortgage-backed 
securities issued by private institutions such as mortgage 
companies and banks. The only loans in these privately issued 
securities are mortgages either issued or guaranteed by the 
Federal Housing Administration, the Department of Veterans 
Affairs, and U.S. Department of Agriculture.

                    Policy Development and Research


                        RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................       $96,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................        87,000,000
Recommended in the bill...............................        98,000,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................        +2,000,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................       +11,000,000
 

    Title V of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1970, 
as amended, directs the Secretary of the Department of Housing 
and Urban Development to undertake programs of research, 
evaluation, and reports relating to the Department's mission 
and programs. These functions are carried out internally and 
through grants and contracts with industry, nonprofit research 
organizations, educational institutions, and through agreements 
with State and local governments and other Federal agencies. 
The research programs seek ways to improve the efficiency, 
effectiveness, and equity of HUD programs and to identify 
methods to achieve cost reductions. This appropriation is used 
to support HUD evaluation and monitoring activities and to 
conduct housing surveys. Finally, funds under this heading are 
used to support technical assistance activities to the various 
States, communities, and agencies that are charged with 
administering HUD's programs and funds.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommends $98,000,000 for this account.
    Of the activities proposed in the budget, the Committee 
recommends up to $50,000,000 for the core research programs, 
including market surveys, research support and dissemination, 
data acquisition, housing finance studies, research 
partnerships, and housing technology.
    The Committee recommends $17,000,000 for new and continuing 
studies and demonstration evaluations, including the:
           Housing Discrimination Study 2020, including 
        studying discrimination faced by Low English 
        Proficiency (LEP) individuals,
           Collaboration with Centers for Medicare and 
        Medicaid Services: how Medicare and Medicaid funds can 
        be used to support programs that use affordable senior 
        housing as a platform for coordinating health, 
        wellness, and supportive services and programs to help 
        older adults remain healthy, age in their community, 
        and reduce their use of costly health care services,
           Moving to Work Expansion,
           Disaster Recovery Research,
           Family Options: 10 Year Follow-up,
           Family Self-Sufficiency Long-term Program 
        Tracking,
           Competitive Evaluation Grants: Assessing the 
        Impacts of CDBG and HOME eligible activities,
           Evaluation of Section 202 Construction 
        Activities,
           Evaluation of Programs in Response to 
        Foreclosure Crisis,
           Impact of RAD on Children in Assisted 
        Households,
           Qualitative study of how publicly available 
        data on rental property health and safety violations 
        impact landlord and renter behavior,
           Housing Search Assistance for People with 
        Disabilities, and
           A study of alternative methods for 
        calculating Fair Market Rents in rental markets with 
        rapidly rising rents.
    The recommendation does not include additional funding for 
the Envision Center technical assistance funded in fiscal year 
2019 and directs the Department to provide a briefing and 
report to the Committee on the outcomes from fiscal year 2019 
funding before seeking additional resources.
    Further, the Committee's recommendation includes 
$31,000,000 for all technical assistance. Of the funds made 
available under technical assistance, $5,000,000 shall be 
available on a competitive basis to non-profit or private 
sector organizations to provide technical assistance to 
distressed cities or regions, including those that were 
impacted by a natural disaster.
    As in prior years, the Committee includes a provision 
prohibiting funds from being used for a doctoral dissertation 
research grant program. The Committee also includes a general 
provision in title II of this Act that allows the Department to 
use prior year deobligated or unexpended funds made available 
to the Office of Policy Development and Research for other 
research and evaluations. The Committee provides this authority 
under the condition that any new obligations are subject to the 
regular reprogramming procedures outlined in section 405 of 
this Act.
    Worst Case Housing Needs.--The Committee is concerned with 
the shortage of affordable housing across the country. HUD 
reports to Congress biennially on the Worst Case Housing Needs 
(WCN) using American Housing Survey data. The Committee looks 
forward to receiving HUD's report on 2017 WCN this year and the 
2019 report early in 2021.
    HUD housing data obtained from the U.S. Postal Service.--
The Committee appreciates the importance of sharing anonymized 
data about the occupancy status and condition of residential 
and commercial addresses with researchers inside and outside 
government. The Committee recognizes that this data, collected 
by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), could be a powerful tool for 
understanding the nature of vacancy and blight at the 
neighborhood level. However, the Committee is concerned that 
useful granular data on these conditions do not exist. The 
Committee is providing the Department up to $500,000 to work 
with the USPS to design and undertake further research on how 
these data could be made more useful for research and 
practitioners to understand neighborhood change. Specifically, 
the Committee recommends studying ways to improve data 
consistency, segregate P.O. box data, differentiate no-stat for 
blight versus no-stat for development, distinguish a vacant 
single-family home versus a vacant unit in a multi-family 
building, and preserve the geographic integrity of the data 
across time.

                   Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity


                        FAIR HOUSING ACTIVITIES

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................       $65,300,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................        62,300,000
Recommended in the bill...............................        75,300,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................       +10,000,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................       +13,000,000
 

    The Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (OFHEO) is 
responsible for implementation and enforcement of the Fair 
Housing Act, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 
109 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, 
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Titles II and 
III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the 
Architectural Barriers Act of 1968, the Age Discrimination Act 
of 1975, Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, and 
Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968.
    OFHEO is responsible for the enforcement, administration, 
development, and public understanding of Federal fair housing 
policies and laws. OFHEO manages fair housing grants, 
investigates discrimination complaints, conducts civil rights 
compliance reviews, and ensures civil rights protections are 
included in HUD programs, with the overall goal of preventing 
housing discrimination.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee provides $75,300,000 for the Office of Fair 
Housing and Equal Opportunity. The following table details the 
funding for various fair housing activities undertaken by the 
office.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Request         Recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fair Housing Assistance Program.         $24,300,000         $27,000,000
Fair Housing Initiative Program.          36,200,000          46,350,000
Limited English Proficiency                  300,000             450,000
 Initiative.....................
National Fair Housing Training             1,500,000           1,500,000
 Academy........................
                                 ---------------------------------------
    Total.......................          62,300,000          75,300,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Grant award disbursements.--The Committee is concerned 
about ongoing delays in administering Fair Housing Initiatives 
Program grants, which serve to address housing discrimination 
through testing, enforcement, and educational activities. These 
delays threaten the integrity and function of the program, 
which plays an essential role in enforcing the Fair Housing 
Act. The Act includes a requirement that fiscal year 2020 
grants be awarded no later than 120 days after enactment of 
this Act. Further, the Committee directs that any outstanding 
fiscal year 2019 grants also be awarded no later than 120 days 
after enactment of this Act.
    Fair housing enforcement.--The Committee is concerned about 
recent policy decisions by the Department that suggest a shift 
away from enforcing the Fair Housing Act of 1968, or Title VIII 
of P.L. 90-284. The Committee is particularly concerned that 
the OFHEO is inadequately staffed to resolve complaints of 
discrimination and find justice for families who become 
homeless or destabilized as a result of illegal discrimination. 
The Committee looks forward to receiving the report requested 
in the fiscal year 2019 Act detailing the total number of Fair 
Housing and Equal Opportunity investigations, settlements, 
closures and dismissals that occurred over the past year, 
categorized by State.
    In addition, the Committee directs the Department to 
provide a comprehensive report on the disposition of housing 
discrimination complaints in the Secretary's annual fair 
housing report to Congress (42 U.S.C. 3608(e)(2)). This report 
should provide the following data for HUD and Fair Housing 
Assistance Program jurisdictions: the total number of 
complaints filed, pending and resolved in the last fiscal year 
and an analysis of whether the complaint was based on race, 
religion, sex, national origin, familial status (families with 
children under 18), or disability. The report should also 
include an analysis of the average wait times from when a 
complaint is filed to when it is resolved, disaggregated by 
State, county, and protected basis. This report should be 
completed within 180 days of enactment of this Act and every 
year thereafter. The Department should refrain from including 
any information that may be privileged, is otherwise protected 
from disclosure, or that the Department determines would be 
detrimental to any investigation, settlement, or case.
    Discrimination against individuals with disabilities.--
Equal access to the rental housing market for individuals with 
disabilities is crucial to meeting the holdings of Olmstead v. 
L.C., 527 U.S. 581 (1999), and ensuring that those populations 
are not forced to remain in nursing homes and other 
institutional settings. Housing discrimination complaints based 
on disability have made up more than half of housing 
discrimination complaints received by public and private fair 
housing organizations. The Committee directs the Department to 
develop educational materials for individuals with disabilities 
and for housing providers regarding fair housing rights and 
obligations, including appropriate policies and practices when 
dealing with individuals with mental illnesses and intellectual 
or developmental disabilities. These materials should also 
assist individuals with disabilities who are leaving 
institutional or segregated settings by informing them of their 
legal rights, how to recognize discrimination, and what actions 
to take when faced with discrimination.
    No lobbying with Federal funds.--Under 18 U.S.C. 1913, 
Federal funds can not be used for the purposes of lobbying. 
Bill language restating this prohibition was removed as it was 
redundant of current law.
    Spending plan.--The Committee directs the Department to 
provide a spending plan for all funds and activities in this 
account concurrent with the fiscal year 2020 operating plan.

            Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes


                         LEAD HAZARD REDUCTION

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................      $279,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................       290,000,000
Recommended in the bill...............................       290,000,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................       +11,000,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................             - - -
 

    The Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control 
(OHHLHC) is responsible for the administration of the Lead-
Based Paint Hazard Reduction program authorized by Title X of 
the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992. Through the 
Healthy Homes Initiative, the Office also addresses multiple 
housing-related hazards affecting the health of residents, 
particularly children. OHHLHC develops lead-based paint 
regulations, guidelines, and policies applicable to HUD 
programs, and enforces the Lead Disclosure Rule issued under 
Title X. For both lead-related and healthy homes issues, OHHLHC 
designs and administers programs for grants, training, 
research, demonstration, and education.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommends $290,000,000 for the Office of 
Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes. Of this amount, 
$56,000,000 is directed to the Healthy Homes Initiative.
    Coordination with weatherization activities.--Of the funds 
provided for the Healthy Homes Initiative, the Committee 
directs that $5,000,000 be used to establish pilot projects in 
up to five communities that are served by both Healthy Homes 
and Department of Energy weatherization programs. Grantees will 
coordinate Healthy Homes remediation activities with 
weatherization activities and evaluate whether better outcomes 
are achieved in improving the safety and quality of the homes.
    Lead in drinking water.--The Committee encourages the 
Secretary to evaluate high priority sources of lead 
contamination in HUD-assisted housing and to work in 
coordination with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to 
mitigate sources of lead exposure as a result of water from the 
public water supply and ambient air levels or industrial 
emissions. The Committee directs the Secretary to establish a 
pilot program to test for lead water levels, identify lead 
service lines and other sources of lead in drinking water 
serving housing units. The Committee also directs the Secretary 
to encourage EPA to have public water systems remediate such 
threats and optimize corrosion control treatment in public 
water systems serving such housing units.
    Lead hazard control.--The Committee notes the value of the 
OHHLHC in the effort to eliminate childhood lead poisoning. 
Lead risk assessments are essential in halting exposure to 
lead-based paint. The Committee requests that HUD evaluate the 
implemention of the Lead Safe Housing Rule in multifamily 
housing in which a child under the age of six is found with an 
elevated blood lead level. HUD should also evaluate the 
implemention of the requirement to conduct a risk assessment 
for lead-based paint hazards in other units in a multifamily 
development.
    Period of availability.--Per the Department's budget 
request, the Act changes the period of grant availability from 
two to three years.
    Spending plan.--The Committee directs the Department to 
provide a spending plan for all funds and activities in this 
account concurrent with the fiscal year 2020 operating plan.

             Cybersecurity and Information Technology Fund


 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................      $280,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................       280,000,000
Recommended in the bill...............................       300,000,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................       +20,000,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................       +20,000,000
 

    The Cybersecurity and Information Technology (CIT) Fund 
finances the information technology (IT) systems that support 
departmental programs and operations, including mortgage 
insurance, housing assistance and grant programs, as well as 
core financial and general operations. More importantly, the 
CIT prevents breaches into HUD's information technology 
systems, which contain personal identifiable information, 
sensitive financial data, and data exchanges with financial 
institutions.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee continues to support HUD's efforts to retire 
obsolete, inefficient, and expensive IT and provides 
$20,000,000 specifically for Federal Housing Administration 
(FHA) IT for the purposes of improving operations, data 
security and financial risk assessment, and program 
performance, and eliminating fraud. FHA's reliance on legacy 
systems has resulted in outages, sometimes lasting for days, 
disrupting the home purchasing process.

                      Office of Inspector General


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................      $128,082,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................       129,400,000
Recommended in the bill...............................       132,489,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................        +4,407,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................        +3,089,000
 

    The Office of Inspector General (OIG) provides agency-wide 
audit and investigative functions to identify and correct 
management and administrative deficiencies that create 
conditions for waste, fraud, and mismanagement. The audit 
function provides internal audit, contract audit, and 
inspection services. Contract audits provide professional 
advice to agency contracting officials on accounting and 
financial matters relative to negotiation, award, 
administration, re-pricing, and settlement of contracts. 
Internal audits evaluate all facets of agency operations. 
Inspection services provide detailed technical evaluations of 
agency operations. The investigative function provides for the 
detection and investigation of improper and illegal activities 
involving programs, personnel, and operations.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommends $132,489,000 for the Office of 
Inspector General.
    The Committee recognizes the importance of the OIG's role 
in safeguarding against waste and fraud and upholding HUD as a 
principled and financially sound agency. The congressionally 
mandated and self-initiated reports and investigations 
undertaken by the OIG continue to be extremely helpful to the 
Committee.

    General Provisions--Department of Housing and Urban Development


                     (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

                         (INCLUDING RESCISSION)

    Section 201 splits overpayments evenly between Treasury and 
State Housing Finance Agencies.
    Section 202 prohibits funds from being used to investigate 
or prosecute lawful activities under the Fair Housing Act.
    Section 203 requires any grant or cooperative agreement to 
be made on a competitive basis, unless otherwise provided, in 
accordance with Section 102 of the Department of Housing and 
Urban Development Reform Act of 1989.
    Section 204 relates to the availability of funds for 
services and facilities for GSEs and others subject to the 
Government Corporation Control Act and the Housing Act of 1950.
    Section 205 prohibits the use of funds in excess of the 
budget estimates, unless provided otherwise.
    Section 206 relates to the expenditure of funds for 
corporations and agencies subject to the Government Corporation 
Control Act.
    Section 207 requires the Secretary to provide quarterly 
reports on uncommitted, unobligated, recaptured, and excess 
funds in each departmental program and activity.
    Section 208 requires the Administration's budget and HUD's 
budget justifications for fiscal year 2021 to be submitted in 
the identical account and sub-account structure provided in 
this Act.
    Section 209 exempts GNMA from certain requirements of the 
Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990.
    Section 210 authorizes HUD to transfer debt and use 
agreements from an obsolete project to a viable project, 
provided that no additional costs are incurred and other 
conditions are met.
    Section 211 sets forth requirements for Section 8 voucher 
assistance eligibility, and includes consideration for persons 
with disabilities.
    Section 212 distributes Native American Housing Block 
Grants to the same Native Alaskan recipients as in fiscal year 
2005.
    Section 213 instructs HUD on managing and disposing of any 
multifamily property that is owned or held by HUD.
    Section 214 allows PHAs that own and operate 400 or fewer 
units of public housing to be exempt from asset management 
requirements.
    Section 215 restricts the Secretary from imposing any 
requirements or guidelines relating to asset management that 
restrict or limit the use of capital funds for central office 
costs, up to the limits established in law.
    Section 216 requires that no employee of the Department 
shall be designated as an allotment holder unless the CFO 
determines that such employee has received certain training.
    Section 217 requires the Secretary to publish all notices 
of funding availability that are competitively awarded on the 
internet for fiscal year 2020.
    Section 218 requires attorney fees for programmatic 
litigation to be paid from the individual program office and 
Office of General Counsel salaries and expenses appropriations, 
and requires the Department to submit a spend plan to the House 
and Senate Committees on Appropriations.
    Section 219 allows the Secretary to transfer up to 10 
percent of funds or $5,000,000, whichever is less, appropriated 
under the headings ``Administrative Support Offices'' or 
``Program Office Salaries and Expenses'' to any other office 
funded under such headings.
    Section 220 requires HUD to take certain actions against 
owners receiving rental subsidies that do not maintain safe 
properties.
    Section 221 places a salary and bonus limit on public 
housing agency officials and employees.
    Section 222 requires the Secretary to notify the House and 
Senate Committees on Appropriations at least three full 
business days before grant awards are announced.
    Section 223 prohibits funds to be used to require or 
enforce the Physical Needs Assessment.
    Section 224 prohibits funds for HUD financing of mortgages 
for properties that have been subject to eminent domain.
    Section 225 prohibits the use of funds to terminate the 
status of a unit of general local government as a metropolitan 
city with respect to grants under section 106 of the Housing 
and Community Development Act of 1974.
    Section 226 allows funding for research, evaluation, and 
statistical purposes that is unexpended at the time of 
completion of the contract, grant, or cooperative agreement to 
be reobligated for additional research.
    Section 227 authorizes the Secretary on a limited basis to 
use funds available under the ``Homeless Assistance Grants'' 
heading to participate in the multiagency Performance 
Partnership Pilots program for fiscal year 2020.
    Section 228 allows program income as an eligible match for 
2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 continuum of care funds.
    Section 229 permits HUD to provide one year transition 
grants under the continuum of care program with no more than 50 
percent of the grant provided for costs of eligible activities 
of the program component originally funded.
    Section 230 prohibits the use of funds to direct a grantee 
to undertake specific changes to existing zoning laws as part 
of carrying out the final rule entitled, ``Affirmatively 
Furthering Fair Housing'' or the notice entitled, 
``Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Assessment Tool''.
    Section 231 establishes the HUD HAG Fund.
    Section 232 maintains current Promise Zone designations and 
agreements.
    Section 233 prohibits funds from being used to establish 
review criteria, including rating factors or preference points, 
for competitive grants programs for EnVision Center 
participation or coordination.
    Section 234 prohibits funds in this or any other Act from 
being used to implement, administer, enforce, or in any way 
make effective the proposed rule entitled ``Housing and 
Community Development Act of 1980: Verification of Eligible 
Status'', issued by the Department on May 10, 2019 (Docket No. 
FR-6124-P-01), or any final rule based substantially on such 
proposed rule.
    Section 235 requires the Department to make data for 
broadband and resiliency requirements to be incorporated into 
Consolidated Plans available to grantees not later than 90 days 
after enactment of this Act and requires grantees to 
incorporate broadband and resiliency components into their 
Consolidated Plans not later than 270 days after enactment of 
this Act.
    Section 236 prohibits funds in this or any other Act from 
being used to repeal or revise the ``Equal Access in Accordance 
With an Individual's Gender Identity in Community Planning and 
Development Programs'' rule.
    Section 237 codifies the sub-regulatory guidance issued by 
the Department of Housing and Urban Development on February 20, 
2015, entitled ``Appropriate Placement for Transgender Persons 
in Single-Sex Emergency Shelters and Other Facilities.''
    Section 238 prohibits the Secretary, in this fiscal year or 
any fiscal year thereafter, to implement, require, enforce, or 
otherwise make effective any change, amendment, or alteration 
to any term or condition of the Annual Contributions Contract 
between the Secretary and any public housing agency, as such 
contract was in effect as of January 1, 2018, unless such 
change, amendment, or alteration is made pursuant to a rule 
issued after notice and an opportunity for public comment and 
in accordance with the procedure under section 553 of title 5, 
United States Code.

                      TITLE III--RELATED AGENCIES


                              Access Board


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................        $8,400,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................         8,400,000
Recommended in the bill...............................         8,400,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................             - - -
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................             - - -
 

    The United States Access Board (Access Board) was 
established by section 502 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 
with the mission of promoting equality for people with 
disabilities through accessible design and the development of 
accessibility guidelines and standards for the built 
environment, transportation, communication, medical diagnostic 
equipment, and information technology.
    The Access Board is responsible for developing guidelines 
under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Architectural 
Barriers Act, and the Communications Act, as well as for 
developing standards under the Rehabilitation Act for 
accessible electronic and information technology used by 
Federal agencies. The Access Board enforces the Architectural 
Barriers Act and provides training and technical assistance on 
its guidelines and standards. The Access Board serves on the 
Election Assistance Commission's Board of Advisors and 
Technical Guidelines Development Committee to assist in 
developing voluntary guidelines for voting systems, including 
accessibility for people with disabilities. Additionally, the 
Access Board maintains a small research program that develops 
technical assistance materials and provides information needed 
for rulemaking.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommends $8,400,000 for the operations of 
the Access Board.

                      Federal Maritime Commission


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................       $27,490,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................        28,000,000
Recommended in the bill...............................        28,000,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................          +510,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................             - - -
 

    Established in 1961, the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) 
is an independent government agency, responsible for the 
regulation of oceanborne transportation in the foreign commerce 
of the United States. FMC monitors ocean common carriers, 
marine terminal operators, conferences, ports, and ocean 
transportation intermediaries to ensure they maintain just and 
reasonable practices. Among other activities, FMC also 
maintains a trade monitoring and enforcement program, monitors 
the laws and practices of foreign governments and their impacts 
on shipping conditions in the U.S., and enforces special 
regulatory requirements as they apply to controlled carriers.
    The principal shipping statutes administered by the FMC are 
the Shipping Act of 1984 (46 U.S.C. 40101-41309), the Foreign 
Shipping Practices Act of 1988 (46 U.S.C. 42301-42307), Section 
19 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1920 (46 U.S.C. 42101-42109), 
and Public Law 89-777 (46 U.S.C. 44101-44106).

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommends $28,000,000 for the Federal 
Maritime Commission. Of the funds provided, up to $487,159 is 
available for the Office of Inspector General.

            National Railroad Passenger Corporation (AMTRAK)


                      Office of Inspector General


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................       $23,274,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................        23,274,000
Recommended in the bill...............................        23,274,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................             - - -
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................             - - -
 

    The Amtrak Office of Inspector General (Amtrak OIG) is an 
independent, objective unit responsible for detecting and 
preventing fraud, waste, abuse, and violations of law and for 
promoting economy, efficiency, and effectiveness at Amtrak.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommendation provides $23,274,000 for the 
Amtrak OIG. The recommended level will allow the Amtrak OIG to 
undertake audits, evaluations, and investigations and will 
ensure effective oversight of Amtrak's programs and operations.
    The Amtrak OIG's efforts have resulted in valuable studies 
and recommendations for this Committee and for Amtrak that have 
yielded cost savings and management improvements. The Committee 
retains language that requires the Amtrak OIG to submit a 
budget request for fiscal year 2021 in similar format and 
substance to those submitted by other executive agencies in the 
Federal government.

                  National Transportation Safety Board


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................      $110,400,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................       110,400,000
Recommended in the bill...............................       110,400,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................             - - -
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................             - - -
 

    The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is an 
independent Federal agency charged by Congress with 
investigating every civil aviation accident in the United 
States. The NTSB also investigates significant accidents in 
other modes of transportation, including railroad, highway, 
marine, and pipeline transportation, and issues safety 
recommendations aimed at preventing future accidents.
    In addition to its investigatory duties, the NTSB is 
responsible for maintaining the government's database of civil 
aviation accidents and conducting special studies of 
transportation safety issues of national significance. 
Furthermore, in accordance with the provisions of international 
treaties, the NTSB supplies investigators to serve as U.S. 
Accredited Representatives for aviation accidents overseas 
involving U.S.-registered aircraft or involving aircraft or 
major components of a U.S. manufacturer. The NTSB also serves 
as the court of appeals for any airman, mechanic, or mariner 
whenever certificate action is taken by the Administrator of 
the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the U.S. Coast Guard 
Commandant, or when civil penalties are assessed by the FAA. In 
addition, the NTSB operates the NTSB Academy in Ashburn, 
Virginia.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommends $110,400,000 for the salaries and 
expenses of the NTSB.

                 Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation


          PAYMENT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD REINVESTMENT CORPORATION

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................      $152,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................        27,400,000
Recommended in the bill...............................       170,000,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................       +18,000,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................      +142,600,000
 

    The Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation (NRC) was created 
by the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation Act (title VI of 
the Housing and Community Development Amendments of 1978). 
Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation now operates under the 
trade name `NeighborWorks America.' NeighborWorks America helps 
local communities establish working partnerships between 
residents and representatives of the public and private 
sectors. These partnership-based organizations are independent, 
tax-exempt, community-based nonprofit entities, often referred 
to as NeighborWorks organizations.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $170,000,000 
for fiscal year 2020.
    Aging in place.--Due to the rising costs of long-term care 
and societal changes, the Committee supports aging in place 
programs that modify and improve older homes so that seniors 
may safely live in those homes for a longer period as they age. 
The Committee encourages the Neighborhood Reinvestment 
Corporation to continue to support training, counseling, and 
programs that assist seniors in sustainable aging in place and 
to identify the conflux of older housing stock, older-
population States, and, in particular, older-population regions 
of those States and to invest robustly in those regions with 
aging in place housing programs.

                      Surface Transportation Board


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................       $37,100,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................        37,100,000
Recommended in the bill...............................        37,100,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................             - - -
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................             - - -
 

    The Surface Transportation Board (STB) was created in the 
Interstate Commerce Commission Termination Act of 1995 and is 
the successor agency to the Interstate Commerce Commission. The 
STB is an economic regulatory and adjudicatory body charged by 
Congress with resolving railroad rate and service disputes and 
reviewing proposed railroad mergers, and the regulation of 
other surface transportation carriers, including the intercity 
bus industry and surface pipeline carriers, and household-good 
carriers. The Surface Transportation Board Reauthorization Act 
of 2015 (P.L. 114-110) established the STB as a wholly 
independent agency and expanded the STB's membership from three 
to five Board Members.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommendation provides an appropriation of 
$37,100,000. The STB is estimated to collect $1,250,000 in 
fees, which will offset the appropriation for a total program 
cost of $35,850,000.

           United States Interagency Council on Homelessness


                           OPERATING EXPENSES

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.......................        $3,600,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2020......................           730,000
Recommended in the bill...............................         4,100,000
Bill compared with:
  Appropriation, fiscal year 2019.....................          +500,000
  Budget request, fiscal year 2020....................        +3,370,000
 

    The mission of the United States Interagency Council on 
Homelessness (USICH) is to coordinate multi-agency Federal 
response to homelessness.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee recommends $4,100,000 for continued 
operations of the USICH, available until September 30, 2021. 
Additional funding is provided to deepen interagency responses 
to youth and unsheltered homelessness.
    Trauma-informed care.-- The Committee recognizes the value 
of trauma-informed care and housing services and supports 
expanding the availability of these services to families, 
families with children, and individuals that are currently 
homeless, or on the verge of being homeless. The Committee 
notes the fiscal year 2019 Omnibus Appropriations Act requires 
the submission of a report on trauma-informed care within 180 
days of enactment of that Act.

                                TITLE IV


                      GENERAL PROVISIONS--THIS ACT

    Section 401 prohibits the use of funds for the planning or 
execution of any program to pay the expenses of, or otherwise 
compensate, non-Federal parties intervening in regulatory or 
adjudicatory proceedings.
    Section 402 prohibits the obligation of funds beyond the 
current fiscal year and the transfer of funds to other 
appropriations, unless expressly provided.
    Section 403 limits consulting service expenditures through 
procurement contracts to those contracts contained in the 
public record, except where otherwise provided under existing 
law.
    Section 404 prohibits funds from being used for certain 
types of employee training.
    Section 405 specifies requirements for the reprogramming of 
funds and requires agencies to submit a report in order to 
establish the baseline for the application of reprogramming and 
transfer authorities.
    Section 406 provides that not to exceed fifty percent of 
unobligated balances for salaries and expenses may remain 
available until September 30, 2021, for each account for the 
purposes authorized, subject to the approval of the House and 
Senate Committees on Appropriations.
    Section 407 prohibits the use of funds for any project that 
seeks to use the power of eminent domain, unless eminent domain 
is employed only for a public use.
    Section 408 prohibits funds from being transferred to any 
department, agency, or instrumentality of the U.S. Government, 
except where transfer authority is provided in this or any 
other appropriations Act.
    Section 409 prohibits funds from being used to permanently 
replace an employee intent on returning to his or her past 
occupation following completion of military service.
    Section 410 prohibits funds from being used by an entity 
unless the expenditure is in compliance with the Buy American 
Act.
    Section 411 prohibits funds from being made available to 
any person or entity that has been convicted of violating the 
Buy American Act.
    Section 412 prohibits funds from being used for first-class 
airline accommodations in contravention of sections 301-10.122 
and 301-10.123 of title 41 CFR.
    Section 413 prohibits funds from being used for the 
approval of a new foreign air carrier permit or exemption 
application if that approval would contravene United States law 
or Article 17 bis of the U.S.-E.U.-Iceland-Norway Air Transport 
Agreement.
    Section 414 restricts the number of employees that agencies 
may send to international conferences unless such attendance is 
important to the national interest.
    Section 415 caps the amount of fees the Surface 
Transportation Board can charge or collect for rate or practice 
complaints filed at the amount authorized for district court 
civil suit filing fees.
    Section 416 prohibits the use of funds to purchase or lease 
new light-duty vehicles for any executive fleet or fleet 
inventory, except in accordance with Presidential Memorandum-
Federal Fleet Performance, dated May 24, 2011.
    Section 417 prohibits funds from being used to maintain or 
establish computer networks unless such networks block the 
viewing, downloading, or exchange of pornography.
    Section 418 prohibits funds from being used to deny an 
Inspector General timely access to any records, documents, or 
other materials available to the department or agency over 
which that Inspector General has responsibilities, or to 
prevent or impede that Inspector General's access to such 
records, documents, or other materials.
    Section 419 prohibits funds to be used to pay award or 
incentive fees for contractors whose performance is below 
satisfactory, behind schedule, over budget, or failed to meet 
requirements of the contract, with exceptions.

            House of Representatives Reporting Requirements


         STATEMENT OF GENERAL PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the following is a statement of 
general performance goals and objectives for which this measure 
authorizes funding:
    The Committee on Appropriations considers program 
performance, including a program's success in developing and 
attaining outcome-related goals and objectives, in developing 
funding recommendations.

                          RESCISSION OF FUNDS

    Pursuant to clause 3(f)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the following table lists the 
rescissions in the accompanying bill:
           Such sums that are available from the 
        Department of Housing and Urban Development--Housing 
        Certificate Fund;
           Section 201 rescinds 50% of funds that are 
        recaptured from projects described in section 1012(a) 
        of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance 
        Amendment of 1998;
           Section 231 rescinds 90% of certain 
        unobligated balances from the Department of Housing and 
        Urban Development--Community Planning and Development--
        Homeless Assistance Grant Account.

                           TRANSFER OF FUNDS

    Pursuant to clause 3(f)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the following statements are 
submitted describing the transfer of funds provided in the 
accompanying bill.

              UNDER TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   Account to which
 Account from which the transfer    the transfer is         Amount
             is made                     made
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Office of the Secretary.........  Office of the       7% of certain
                                   Secretary.          funds subject to
                                                       conditions
Federal Aviation Administration,  Federal Aviation    5% of certain
 Operations.                       Administration,     funds subject to
                                   Operations.         conditions
FHWA: Limitation on               Appalachian         $3,248,000
 administrative expenses.          Regional
                                   Commission.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

      UNDER TITLE II--DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   Account to which
 Account from which the transfer    the transfer is         Amount
             is made                     made
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Executive Offices,                Working Capital     Such sums as
 Administrative Support Offices,   Fund.               necessary
 Program Office Salaries and
 Expenses, Government National
 Mortgage Association.
Administrative Support Offices..  Program Office      10% subject to
                                   Salaries and        conditions
                                   Expenses.
Program Office Salaries and       Administrative      10% subject to
 Expenses.                         Support Offices.    conditions
Homeless Assistance Grants......  HUD HAG Fund......  Such sums as
                                                       necessary
HUD HAG Fund....................  Homeless            Such sums as
                                   Assistance Grants.  necessary
------------------------------------------------------------------------

   DISCLOSURE OF EARMARKS AND CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING ITEMS

    Neither the bill nor the report contains any Congressional 
earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as 
defined in clause 9 of rule XXI.

          COMPLIANCE WITH RULE XIII, CL. 3(E) (RAMSEYER RULE)

  In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law 
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new 
matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is 
proposed is shown in roman):

            NATIONAL HIGHWAY SYSTEM DESIGNATION ACT OF 1995



           *       *       *       *       *       *       *
TITLE III--MISCELLANEOUS HIGHWAY PROVISIONS

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


[SEC. 352. COLLECTION OF BRIDGE TOLLS.

  [Notwithstanding any other provision of law, tolls collected 
for motor vehicles on any bridge connecting the boroughs of 
Brooklyn, New York, and Staten Island, New York, shall continue 
to be collected for only those vehicles exiting from such 
bridge in Staten Island.]

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

                              ----------                              


 SECTION 324 OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND RELATED AGENCIES 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1986

  [Sec. 324. (a) General Rule.--Tolls collected for motor 
vehicles on any bridge connecting the borough of Brooklyn, New 
York, and Staten Island, New York, shall only be collected for 
those vehicles exiting from such bridge in Staten Island.
  [(b) Enforcement.--The Secretary shall withhold 1 percent of 
the amount required to be apportioned to the State of New York 
under sections 104 and 144 of title 23, United States Code, on 
the first day of the fiscal year succeeding any fiscal year in 
which tolls collected for motor vehicles on the bridge referred 
to in subsection (a) are collected for those vehicles exiting 
from such bridge in the borough of Brooklyn.
  [(c)  Period of Applicability.--This section shall apply on 
and after the 90th day following the date of enactment of this 
section, except that this section shall not apply after the 
date on which the Secretary publishes in the Federal Register a 
determination under subsection (d).
  [(d) Removal of Limitation.--
          [(1) Determination of Secretary.--Subsections (a) and 
        (b) shall cease to be in effect if, upon petition by 
        the Governor of New York under paragraph (2), the 
        Secretary determines that--
                  [(A) a substantial loss of revenues has 
                resulted from the limitation imposed by 
                subsection (a), or
                  [(B) such limitation has resulted in 
                significant traffic problems,
        and the Secretary publishes such determination in the 
        Federal Register.
          [(2) Petition.--The Governor of New York may petition 
        the Secretary for a determination under paragraph (1) 
        at any time after a period of six consecutive months in 
        which tolls collected for motor vehicles on the bridge 
        referred to in subsection (a) have been collected only 
        for those vehicles exiting from such bridge in Staten 
        Island. ]
                              ----------                              


                       SECTION 1948 OF SAFETEA-LU

[SEC. 1948. EMERGENCY SERVICE ROUTE.

  [Notwithstanding any Federal law, regulation, or policy to 
the contrary, no Federal funds shall be obligated or expended 
for the demolition of the existing Brightman Street Bridge 
connecting Fall River and Somerset, Massachusetts, and the 
existing Brightman Street Bridge shall be maintained for 
pedestrian and bicycle access, and as an emergency service 
route.]
                              ----------                              


 SECTION 325 OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND RELATED AGENCIES 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1996

  [Sec. 325.  Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, 
tolls collected for motor vehicles on any bridge connecting the 
boroughs of Brooklyn, New York, and Staten Island, New York, 
shall continue to be collected for only those vehicles exiting 
from such bridge in Staten Island.]
                              ----------                              


                      TITLE 23, UNITED STATES CODE



           *       *       *       *       *       *       *
CHAPTER 1--FEDERAL-AID HIGHWAYS

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


Sec. 119. National highway performance program

  (a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish and 
implement a national highway performance program under this 
section.
  (b) Purposes.--The purposes of the national highway 
performance program shall be--
          (1) to provide support for the condition and 
        performance of the National Highway System;
          (2) to provide support for the construction of new 
        facilities on the National Highway System; and
          (3) to ensure that investments of Federal-aid funds 
        in highway construction are directed to support 
        progress toward the achievement of performance targets 
        established in an asset management plan of a State for 
        the National Highway System.
  (c) Eligible Facilities.--Except as provided in subsection 
(d), to be eligible for funding apportioned under section 
104(b)(1) to carry out this section, a facility shall be 
located on the National Highway System, as defined in section 
103.
  (d) Eligible Projects.--Funds apportioned to a State to carry 
out the national highway performance program may be obligated 
only for a project on an eligible facility that is--
          (1)(A) a project or part of a program of projects 
        supporting progress toward the achievement of national 
        performance goals for improving infrastructure 
        condition, safety, congestion reduction, system 
        reliability, or freight movement on the National 
        Highway System; and
                  (B) consistent with sections 134 and 135; and
          (2) for 1 or more of the following purposes:
                  (A) Construction, reconstruction, 
                resurfacing, restoration, rehabilitation, 
                preservation, or operational improvement of 
                segments of the National Highway System.
                  (B) Construction, replacement (including 
                replacement with fill material), 
                rehabilitation, preservation, and protection 
                (including scour countermeasures, seismic 
                retrofits, impact protection measures, security 
                countermeasures, and protection against extreme 
                events) of bridges on the National Highway 
                System.
                  (C) Construction, replacement (including 
                replacement with fill material), 
                rehabilitation, preservation, and protection 
                (including impact protection measures, security 
                countermeasures, and protection against extreme 
                events) of tunnels on the National Highway 
                System.
                  (D) Inspection and evaluation, as described 
                in section 144, of bridges and tunnels on the 
                National Highway System, and inspection and 
                evaluation of other highway infrastructure 
                assets on the National Highway System, 
                including signs and sign structures, earth 
                retaining walls, and drainage structures.
                  (E) Training of bridge and tunnel inspectors, 
                as described in section 144.
                  (F) Construction, rehabilitation, or 
                replacement of existing ferry boats and ferry 
                boat facilities, including approaches, that 
                connect road segments of the National Highway 
                System.
                  (G) Construction, reconstruction, 
                resurfacing, restoration, rehabilitation, and 
                preservation of, and operational improvements 
                for, a Federal-aid highway not on the National 
                Highway System, and construction of a transit 
                project eligible for assistance under chapter 
                53 of title 49, if--
                          (i) the highway project or transit 
                        project is in the same corridor as, and 
                        in proximity to, a fully access-
                        controlled highway designated as a part 
                        of the National Highway System;
                          (ii) the construction or improvements 
                        will reduce delays or produce travel 
                        time savings on the fully access-
                        controlled highway described in clause 
                        (i) and improve regional traffic flow; 
                        and
                          (iii) the construction or 
                        improvements are more cost-effective, 
                        as determined by benefit-cost analysis, 
                        than an improvement to the fully 
                        access-controlled highway described in 
                        clause (i).
                  (H) Bicycle transportation and pedestrian 
                walkways in accordance with section 217.
                  (I) Highway safety improvements for segments 
                of the National Highway System.
                  (J) Capital and operating costs for traffic 
                and traveler information monitoring, 
                management, and control facilities and 
                programs.
                  (K) Development and implementation of a State 
                asset management plan for the National Highway 
                System in accordance with this section, 
                including data collection, maintenance, and 
                integration and the cost associated with 
                obtaining, updating, and licensing software and 
                equipment required for risk-based asset 
                management and performance-based management.
                  (L) Infrastructure-based intelligent 
                transportation systems capital improvements, 
                including the installation of vehicle-to-
                infrastructure communication equipment.
                  (M) Environmental restoration and pollution 
                abatement in accordance with section 328.
                  (N) Control of noxious weeds and aquatic 
                noxious weeds and establishment of native 
                species in accordance with section 329.
                  (O) Environmental mitigation efforts related 
                to projects funded under this section, as 
                described in subsection (g).
                  (P) Construction of publicly owned intracity 
                or intercity bus terminals servicing the 
                National Highway System.
  (e) State Performance Management.--
          (1) In general.--A State shall develop a risk-based 
        asset management plan for the National Highway System 
        to improve or preserve the condition of the assets and 
        the performance of the system.
          (2) Performance driven plan.--A State asset 
        management plan shall include strategies leading to a 
        program of projects that would make progress toward 
        achievement of the State targets for asset condition 
        and performance of the National Highway System in 
        accordance with section 150(d) and supporting the 
        progress toward the achievement of the national goals 
        identified in section 150(b).
          (3) Scope.--In developing a risk-based asset 
        management plan, the Secretary shall encourage States 
        to include all infrastructure assets within the right-
        of-way corridor in such plan.
          (4) Plan contents.--A State asset management plan 
        shall, at a minimum, be in a form that the Secretary 
        determines to be appropriate and include--
                  (A) a summary listing of the pavement and 
                bridge assets on the National Highway System in 
                the State, including a description of the 
                condition of those assets;
                  (B) asset management objectives and measures;
                  (C) performance gap identification;
                  (D) lifecycle cost and risk management 
                analysis;
                  (E) a financial plan; and
                  (F) investment strategies.
          [(5) Requirement for plan.--Notwithstanding section 
        120, with respect to the second fiscal year beginning 
        after the date of establishment of the process 
        established in paragraph (8) or any subsequent fiscal 
        year, if the Secretary determines that a State has not 
        developed and implemented a State asset management plan 
        consistent with this section, the Federal share payable 
        on account of any project or activity carried out by 
        the State in that fiscal year under this section shall 
        be 65 percent.]
          (5) Requirement for plan.--
                  (A) In general.--Notwithstanding section 120, 
                beginning on October 1, 2019, and each fiscal 
                year thereafter, if the Secretary determines 
                that a State has not developed and implemented 
                a State asset management plan consistent with 
                this section, the Federal share payable on 
                account of any project or activity for which 
                funds are obligated by the State in that fiscal 
                year under this section shall be 65 percent.
                  (B) Determination.--The Secretary shall make 
                the determination under subparagraph (A) not 
                later than the day before the beginning of each 
                fiscal year.
          (6) Certification of plan development process.--
                  (A) In general.--Not later than 90 days after 
                the date on which a State submits a request for 
                approval of the process used by the State to 
                develop the State asset management plan for the 
                National Highway System, the Secretary shall--
                          (i) review the process; and
                          (ii)(I) certify that the process 
                        meets the requirements established by 
                        the Secretary; or
                                  (II) deny certification and 
                                specify actions necessary for 
                                the State to take to correct 
                                deficiencies in the State 
                                process.
                  (B) Recertification.--Not less frequently 
                than once every 4 years, the Secretary shall 
                review and recertify that the process used by a 
                State to develop and maintain the State asset 
                management plan for the National Highway System 
                meets the requirements for the process, as 
                established by the Secretary.
                  (C) Opportunity to cure.--If the Secretary 
                denies certification under subparagraph (A), 
                the Secretary shall provide the State with--
                          (i) not less than 90 days to cure the 
                        deficiencies of the plan, during which 
                        time period all penalties and other 
                        legal impacts of a denial of 
                        certification shall be stayed; and
                          (ii) a written statement of the 
                        specific actions the Secretary 
                        determines to be necessary for the 
                        State to cure the plan.
          (7) Performance achievement.--A State that does not 
        achieve or make significant progress toward achieving 
        the targets of the State for performance measures 
        described in section 150(d) for the National Highway 
        System shall include as part of the performance target 
        report under section 150(e) a description of the 
        actions the State will undertake to achieve the 
        targets.
          (8) Process.--Not later than 18 months after the date 
        of enactment of the MAP-21, the Secretary shall, by 
        regulation and in consultation with State departments 
        of transportation, establish the process to develop the 
        State asset management plan described in paragraph (1).
  (f) Interstate System and NHS Bridge Conditions.--
          (1) Condition of interstate system.--
                  (A) Penalty.--If a State reports that the 
                condition of the Interstate System, excluding 
                bridges on the Interstate System, has fallen 
                below the minimum condition level established 
                by the Secretary under section 150(c)(3), the 
                State shall be required, during the following 
                fiscal year--
                          (i) to obligate, from the amounts 
                        apportioned to the State under section 
                        104(b)(1), an amount that is not less 
                        than the amount of funds apportioned to 
                        the State for fiscal year 2009 under 
                        the Interstate maintenance program for 
                        the purposes described in this section 
                        (as in effect on the day before the 
                        date of enactment of the MAP-21), 
                        except that for each year after fiscal 
                        year 2013, the amount required to be 
                        obligated under this clause shall be 
                        increased by 2 percent over the amount 
                        required to be obligated in the 
                        previous fiscal year; and
                          (ii) to transfer, from the amounts 
                        apportioned to the State under section 
                        104(b)(2) (other than amounts 
                        suballocated to metropolitan areas and 
                        other areas of the State under section 
                        133(d)) to the apportionment of the 
                        State under section 104(b)(1), an 
                        amount equal to 10 percent of the 
                        amount of funds apportioned to the 
                        State for fiscal year 2009 under the 
                        Interstate maintenance program for the 
                        purposes described in this section (as 
                        in effect on the day before the date of 
                        enactment of the MAP-21).
                  (B) Restoration.--The obligation requirement 
                for the Interstate System in a State required 
                by subparagraph (A) for a fiscal year shall 
                remain in effect for each subsequent fiscal 
                year until such time as the condition of the 
                Interstate System in the State exceeds the 
                minimum condition level established by the 
                Secretary.
          (2) Condition of nhs bridges.--
                  (A) Penalty.--If the Secretary determines 
                that, for the 3-year-period preceding the date 
                of the determination, more than 10 percent of 
                the total deck area of bridges in the State on 
                the National Highway System is located on 
                bridges that have been classified as 
                structurally deficient, an amount equal to 50 
                percent of funds apportioned to such State for 
                fiscal year 2009 to carry out section 144 (as 
                in effect the day before enactment of MAP-21) 
                shall be set aside from amounts apportioned to 
                a State for a fiscal year under section 
                104(b)(1) only for eligible projects on bridges 
                on the National Highway System.
                  (B) Restoration.--The set-aside requirement 
                for bridges on the National Highway System in a 
                State under subparagraph (A) for a fiscal year 
                shall remain in effect for each subsequent 
                fiscal year until such time as less than 10 
                percent of the total deck area of bridges in 
                the State on the National Highway System is 
                located on bridges that have been classified as 
                structurally deficient, as determined by the 
                Secretary.
  (g) Environmental Mitigation.--
          (1) Eligible activities.--In accordance with all 
        applicable Federal law (including regulations), 
        environmental mitigation efforts referred to in 
        subsection (d)(2)(O) include participation in natural 
        habitat and wetlands mitigation efforts relating to 
        projects funded under this title, which may include--
                  (A) participation in mitigation banking or 
                other third-party mitigation arrangements, such 
                as--
                          (i) the purchase of credits from 
                        commercial mitigation banks;
                          (ii) the establishment and management 
                        of agency-sponsored mitigation banks; 
                        and
                          (iii) the purchase of credits or 
                        establishment of in-lieu fee mitigation 
                        programs;
                  (B) contributions to statewide and regional 
                efforts to conserve, restore, enhance, and 
                create natural habitats and wetlands; and
                  (C) the development of statewide and regional 
                environmental protection plans, including 
                natural habitat and wetland conservation and 
                restoration plans.
          (2) Inclusion of other activities.--The banks, 
        efforts, and plans described in paragraph (1) include 
        any such banks, efforts, and plans developed in 
        accordance with applicable law (including regulations).
          (3) Terms and conditions.--The following terms and 
        conditions apply to natural habitat and wetlands 
        mitigation efforts under this subsection:
                  (A) Contributions to the mitigation effort 
                may--
                          (i) take place concurrent with, or in 
                        advance of, commitment of funding under 
                        this title to a project or projects; 
                        and
                          (ii) occur in advance of project 
                        construction only if the efforts are 
                        consistent with all applicable 
                        requirements of Federal law (including 
                        regulations) and State transportation 
                        planning processes.
                  (B) Credits from any agency-sponsored 
                mitigation bank that are attributable to 
                funding under this section may be used only for 
                projects funded under this title, unless the 
                agency pays to the Secretary an amount equal to 
                the Federal funds attributable to the 
                mitigation bank credits the agency uses for 
                purposes other than mitigation of a project 
                funded under this title.
          (4) Preference.--At the discretion of the project 
        sponsor, preference shall be given, to the maximum 
        extent practicable, to mitigating an environmental 
        impact through the use of a mitigation bank, in-lieu 
        fee, or other third-party mitigation arrangement, if 
        the use of credits from the mitigation bank or in-lieu 
        fee, or the other third-party mitigation arrangement 
        for the project, is approved by the applicable Federal 
        agency.
  (h) TIFIA Program.--Upon Secretarial approval of credit 
assistance under chapter 6, the Secretary, at the request of a 
State, may allow the State to use funds apportioned under 
section 104(b)(1) to pay subsidy and administrative costs 
necessary to provide an eligible entity Federal credit 
assistance under chapter 6 with respect to a project eligible 
for assistance under this section.
  (i) Additional Funding Eligibility for Certain Bridges.--
          (1) In general.--Funds apportioned to a State to 
        carry out the national highway performance program may 
        be obligated for a project for the reconstruction, 
        resurfacing, restoration, rehabilitation, or 
        preservation of a bridge not on the National Highway 
        System, if the bridge is on a Federal-aid highway.
          (2) Limitation.--A State required to make obligations 
        under subsection (f) shall ensure such requirements are 
        satisfied in order to use the flexibility under 
        paragraph (1).
  (j) Critical Infrastructure.--
          (1) Critical infrastructure defined.--In this 
        subsection, the term ``critical infrastructure'' means 
        those facilities the incapacity or failure of which 
        would have a debilitating impact on national or 
        regional economic security, national or regional energy 
        security, national or regional public health or safety, 
        or any combination of those matters.
          (2) Consideration.--The asset management plan of a 
        State may include consideration of critical 
        infrastructure from among those facilities in the State 
        that are eligible under subsection (c).
          (3) Risk reduction.--A State may use funds 
        apportioned under this section for projects intended to 
        reduce the risk of failure of critical infrastructure 
        in the State.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


Sec. 125. Emergency relief

  (a) In General.--Subject to this section and section 120, an 
emergency fund is authorized for expenditure by the Secretary 
for the repair or reconstruction of highways, roads, and 
trails, in any area of the United States, including Indian 
reservations, that the Secretary finds have suffered serious 
damage as a result of--
          (1) a natural disaster over a wide area, such as by a 
        flood, hurricane, tidal wave, earthquake, severe storm, 
        or landslide; or
          (2) catastrophic failure from any external cause.
  (b) Restriction on Eligibility.--
          (1) Definition of construction phase.--In this 
        subsection, the term ``construction phase'' means the 
        phase of physical construction of a highway or bridge 
        facility that is separate from any other identified 
        phases, such as planning, design, or right-of-way 
        phases, in the State transportation improvement 
        program.
          (2) Restriction.--In no case shall funds be used 
        under this section for the repair or reconstruction of 
        a bridge--
                  (A) that has been permanently closed to all 
                vehicular traffic by the State or responsible 
                local official because of imminent danger of 
                collapse due to a structural deficiency or 
                physical deterioration; or
                  (B) if a construction phase of a replacement 
                structure is included in the approved Statewide 
                transportation improvement program at the time 
                of an event described in subsection (a).
  (c) Funding.--
          (1) In general.--Subject to the limitations described 
        in paragraph (2), there are authorized to be 
        appropriated from the Highway Trust Fund (other than 
        the Mass Transit Account) such sums as are necessary to 
        establish the fund authorized by this section and to 
        replenish that fund on an annual basis.
          (2) Limitations.--The limitations referred to in 
        paragraph (1) are that--
                  (A) not more than $100,000,000 is authorized 
                to be obligated in any 1 fiscal year commencing 
                after September 30, 1980, to carry out this 
                section, except that, if for any fiscal year 
                the total of all obligations under this section 
                is less than the amount authorized to be 
                obligated for the fiscal year, the unobligated 
                balance of that amount shall--
                          (i) remain available until expended; 
                        and
                          (ii) be in addition to amounts 
                        otherwise available to carry out this 
                        section for each year; and
                  (B)(i) pending such appropriation or 
                replenishment, the Secretary may obligate from 
                any funds appropriated at any time for 
                obligation in accordance with this title, 
                including existing Federal-aid appropriations, 
                such sums as are necessary for the immediate 
                prosecution of the work herein authorized; and
                          (ii) funds obligated under this 
                        subparagraph shall be reimbursed from 
                        the appropriation or replenishment.
  (d) Eligibility.--
          (1) In general.--The Secretary may expend funds from 
        the emergency fund authorized by this section only for 
        the repair or reconstruction of highways on Federal-aid 
        highways in accordance with this chapter, except that--
                  (A) no funds shall be so expended unless an 
                emergency has been declared by the Governor of 
                the State with concurrence by the Secretary, 
                unless the President has declared the emergency 
                to be a major disaster for the purposes of the 
                Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
                Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et 
                seq.) for which concurrence of the Secretary is 
                not required; and
                  (B) the Secretary has received an application 
                from the State transportation department that 
                includes a comprehensive list of all eligible 
                project sites and repair costs by not later 
                than 2 years after the natural disaster or 
                catastrophic failure.
          (2) Cost limitation.--
                  (A) Definition of comparable facility.--In 
                this paragraph, the term ``comparable 
                facility'' means a facility that meets the 
                current geometric and construction standards 
                required for the types and volume of traffic 
                that the facility will carry over its design 
                life.
                  (B) Limitation.--The total cost of a project 
                funded under this section may not exceed the 
                cost of repair or reconstruction of a 
                comparable facility.
          (3) Debris removal.--The costs of debris removal 
        shall be an eligible expense under this section only 
        for--
                  (A) an event not declared a major disaster or 
                emergency by the President under the Robert T. 
                Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
                Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.);
                  (B) an event declared a major disaster or 
                emergency by the President under that Act if 
                the debris removal is not eligible for 
                assistance under section 403, 407, or 502 of 
                that Act (42 U.S.C. 5170b, 5173, 5192); or
                  (C) projects eligible for assistance under 
                this section located on tribal transportation 
                facilities, Federal lands transportation 
                facilities, or other federally owned roads that 
                are open to public travel (as defined in 
                subsection (e)(1)).
          [(4) Territories.--The total obligations for projects 
        under this section for any fiscal year in the Virgin 
        Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of 
        the Northern Mariana Islands shall not exceed 
        $20,000,000.]
          (5) Substitute traffic.--Notwithstanding any other 
        provision of this section, actual and necessary costs 
        of maintenance and operation of ferryboats or 
        additional transit service providing temporary 
        substitute highway traffic service, less the amount of 
        fares charged for comparable service, may be expended 
        from the emergency fund authorized by this section for 
        Federal-aid highways.
  (e) Tribal Transportation Facilities, Federal Lands 
Transportation Facilities, and Public Roads on Federal Lands.--
          (1) Definitions.--In this subsection, the following 
        definitions apply:
                  (A) Open to public travel.--The term ``open 
                to public travel'' means, with respect to a 
                road, that, except during scheduled periods, 
                extreme weather conditions, or emergencies, the 
                road--
                          (i) is maintained;
                          (ii) is open to the general public; 
                        and
                          (iii) can accommodate travel by a 
                        standard passenger vehicle, without 
                        restrictive gates or prohibitive signs 
                        or regulations, other than for general 
                        traffic control or restrictions based 
                        on size, weight, or class of 
                        registration.
                  (B) Standard passenger vehicle.--The term 
                ``standard passenger vehicle'' means a vehicle 
                with 6 inches of clearance from the lowest 
                point of the frame, body, suspension, or 
                differential to the ground.
          (2) Expenditure of funds.--Notwithstanding subsection 
        (d)(1), the Secretary may expend funds from the 
        emergency fund authorized by this section, 
        independently or in cooperation with any other branch 
        of the Federal Government, a State agency, a tribal 
        government, an organization, or a person, for the 
        repair or reconstruction of tribal transportation 
        facilities, Federal lands transportation facilities, 
        and other federally owned roads that are open to public 
        travel, whether or not those facilities are Federal-aid 
        highways.
          (3) Reimbursement.--
                  (A) In general.--The Secretary may reimburse 
                Federal and State agencies (including political 
                subdivisions) for expenditures made for 
                projects determined eligible under this 
                section, including expenditures for emergency 
                repairs made before a determination of 
                eligibility.
                  (B) Transfers.--With respect to 
                reimbursements described in subparagraph (A)--
                          (i) those reimbursements to Federal 
                        agencies and Indian tribal governments 
                        shall be transferred to the account 
                        from which the expenditure was made, or 
                        to a similar account that remains 
                        available for obligation; and
                          (ii) the budget authority associated 
                        with the expenditure shall be restored 
                        to the agency from which the authority 
                        was derived and shall be available for 
                        obligation until the end of the fiscal 
                        year following the year in which the 
                        transfer occurs.
  (f) Treatment of Territories.--For purposes of this section, 
the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth 
of the Northern Mariana Islands shall be considered to be 
States and parts of the United States, and the chief executive 
officer of each such territory shall be considered to be a 
Governor of a State.
  (g) Protecting Public Safety and Maintaining Roadways.--The 
Secretary may use not more than 5 percent of amounts from the 
emergency fund authorized by this section to carry out projects 
that the Secretary determines are necessary to protect the 
public safety or to maintain or protect roadways that are 
included within the scope of an emergency declaration by the 
Governor of the State or by the President, in accordance with 
this section, and the Governor deems to be an ongoing concern 
in order to maintain vehicular traffic on the roadway.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


CHAPTER 6--INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCE

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Sec. 603. Secured loans

  (a) In General.--
          (1) Agreements.--Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), 
        the Secretary may enter into agreements with 1 or more 
        obligors to make secured loans, the proceeds of which 
        shall be used--
                  (A) to finance eligible project costs of any 
                project selected under section 602;
                  (B) to refinance interim construction 
                financing of eligible project costs of any 
                project selected under section 602;
                  (C) to refinance existing Federal credit 
                instruments for rural infrastructure projects; 
                or
                  (D) to refinance long-term project 
                obligations or Federal credit instruments, if 
                the refinancing provides additional funding 
                capacity for the completion, enhancement, or 
                expansion of any project that--
                          (i) is selected under section 602; or
                          (ii) otherwise meets the requirements 
                        of section 602.
          (2) Limitation on refinancing of interim construction 
        financing.--A loan under paragraph (1) shall not 
        refinance interim construction financing under 
        paragraph (1)(B)--
                  (A) if the maturity of such interim 
                construction financing is later than 1 year 
                after the substantial completion of the 
                project; and
                  (B) later than 1 year after the date of 
                substantial completion of the project.
          (3) Risk assessment.--Before entering into an 
        agreement under this subsection, the Secretary, in 
        consultation with the Director of the Office of 
        Management and Budget, shall determine an appropriate 
        capital reserve subsidy amount for each secured loan, 
        taking into account each rating letter provided by an 
        agency under section 602(b)(3)(B).
  (b) Terms and Limitations.--
          (1) In general.--A secured loan under this section 
        with respect to a project shall be on such terms and 
        conditions and contain such covenants, representations, 
        warranties, and requirements (including requirements 
        for audits) as the Secretary determines to be 
        appropriate.
          (2) Maximum amount.--
                  (A) In general.--Except as provided in 
                subparagraph (B), the amount of a secured loan 
                under this section shall not exceed the lesser 
                of 49 percent of the reasonably anticipated 
                eligible project costs or if the secured loan 
                does not receive an investment grade rating, 
                the amount of the senior project obligations.
                  (B) Rural projects fund.--In the case of a 
                project capitalizing a rural projects fund, the 
                maximum amount of a secured loan made to a 
                State infrastructure bank shall be determined 
                in accordance with section 602(a)(5)(B)(iii).
          (3) Payment.--A secured loan under this section--
                  (A) shall--
                          (i) be payable, in whole or in part, 
                        from--
                                  (I) tolls;
                                  (II) user fees;
                                  (III) payments owing to the 
                                obligor under a public-private 
                                partnership;
                                  (IV) other dedicated revenue 
                                sources that also secure the 
                                senior project obligations; or
                                  (V) in the case of a secured 
                                loan for a project capitalizing 
                                a rural projects fund, any 
                                other dedicated revenue sources 
                                available to a State 
                                infrastructure bank, including 
                                repayments from loans made by 
                                the bank for rural 
                                infrastructure projects; and
                          (ii) include a rate covenant, 
                        coverage requirement, or similar 
                        security feature supporting the project 
                        obligations; and
                  (B) may have a lien on revenues described in 
                subparagraph (A), subject to any lien securing 
                project obligations.
          (4) Interest rate.--
                  (A) In general.--Except as provided in 
                subparagraphs (B) and (C), the interest rate on 
                a secured loan under this section shall be not 
                less than the yield on United States Treasury 
                securities of a similar maturity to the 
                maturity of the secured loan on the date of 
                execution of the loan agreement.
                  (B) Rural infrastructure projects.--
                          (i) In general.--The interest rate of 
                        a loan offered to a rural 
                        infrastructure project or a rural 
                        projects fund under the TIFIA program 
                        shall be at 1/2 of the Treasury Rate in 
                        effect on the date of execution of the 
                        loan agreement.
                          (ii) Application.--The rate described 
                        in clause (i) shall only apply to any 
                        portion of a loan the subsidy cost of 
                        which is funded by amounts set aside 
                        for rural infrastructure projects and 
                        rural project funds under section 
                        608(a)(3)(A).
                  (C) Limited buydowns.--The interest rate of a 
                secured loan under this section may not be 
                lowered by more than the lower of--
                          (i) 11/2 percentage points (150 basis 
                        points); or
                          (ii) the amount of the increase in 
                        the interest rate.
          (5) Maturity date.--
                  (A) In general.--Except as provided in 
                subparagraph (B), the final maturity date of 
                the secured loan shall be the lesser of--
                          (i) 35 years after the date of 
                        substantial completion of the project; 
                        and
                          (ii) if the useful life of the 
                        capital asset being financed is of a 
                        lesser period, the useful life of the 
                        asset.
                  (B) Rural projects fund.--In the case of a 
                project capitalizing a rural projects fund, the 
                final maturity date of the secured loan shall 
                not exceed 35 years after the date on which the 
                secured loan is obligated.
          (6) Nonsubordination.--
                  (A) In general.--Except as provided in 
                subparagraph (B), the secured 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.
                  (B) Preexisting indenture.--
                          (i) In general.--The Secretary shall 
                        waive the requirement under 
                        subparagraph (A) for a public agency 
                        borrower that is financing ongoing 
                        capital programs and has outstanding 
                        senior bonds under a preexisting 
                        indenture, if--
                                  (I) the secured loan is rated 
                                in the A category or higher;
                                  (II) the secured loan is 
                                secured and payable from 
                                pledged revenues not affected 
                                by project performance, such as 
                                a tax-backed revenue pledge or 
                                a system-backed pledge of 
                                project revenues; and
                                  (III) the TIFIA program share 
                                of eligible project costs is 33 
                                percent or less.
                          (ii) Limitation.--If the Secretary 
                        waives the nonsubordination requirement 
                        under this subparagraph--
                                  (I) the maximum credit 
                                subsidy to be paid by the 
                                Federal Government shall be not 
                                more than 10 percent of the 
                                principal amount of the secured 
                                loan; and
                                  (II) the obligor shall be 
                                responsible for paying the 
                                remainder of the subsidy cost, 
                                if any.
          (7) Fees.--The Secretary may establish fees at a 
        level sufficient to cover all or a portion of the costs 
        to the Federal Government of making a secured loan 
        under this section.
          [(8) Non-federal share.--The proceeds of a secured 
        loan under the TIFIA program may be used for any non-
        Federal share of project costs required under this 
        title or chapter 53 of title 49, if the loan is 
        repayable from non-Federal funds.]
          (8) Non-federal share.--Notwithstanding paragraph (9) 
        and section 117(j)(2), the proceeds of a secured loan 
        under the TIFIA program shall be considered to be part 
        of the non-Federal share of project costs required 
        under this title or chapter 53 of title 49, if the loan 
        is repayable from non-Federal funds.
          (9) Maximum federal involvement.--
                  (A) In general.--The total Federal assistance 
                provided for a project receiving a loan under 
                the TIFIA program shall not exceed 80 percent 
                of the total project cost.
                  (B) Rural projects fund.--A project 
                capitalizing a rural projects fund shall 
                satisfy subparagraph (A) through compliance 
                with the Federal share requirement described in 
                section 610(e)(3)(B).
  (c) Repayment.--
          (1) Schedule.--The Secretary shall establish a 
        repayment schedule for each secured loan under this 
        section based on--
                  (A) the projected cash flow from project 
                revenues and other repayment sources; and
                  (B) the useful life of the project.
          (2) Commencement.--Scheduled loan repayments of 
        principal or interest on a secured loan under this 
        section shall commence not later than 5 years after the 
        date of substantial completion of the project.
          (3) Deferred payments.--
                  (A) In general.--If, at any time after the 
                date of substantial completion of the project, 
                the project is unable to generate sufficient 
                revenues to pay the scheduled loan repayments 
                of principal and interest on the secured loan, 
                the Secretary may, subject to subparagraph (C), 
                allow the obligor to add unpaid principal and 
                interest to the outstanding balance of the 
                secured loan.
                  (B) Interest.--Any payment deferred under 
                subparagraph (A) shall--
                          (i) continue to accrue interest in 
                        accordance with subsection (b)(4) until 
                        fully repaid; and
                          (ii) be scheduled to be amortized 
                        over the remaining term of the loan.
                  (C) Criteria.--
                          (i) In general.--Any payment deferral 
                        under subparagraph (A) shall be 
                        contingent on the project meeting 
                        criteria established by the Secretary.
                          (ii) Repayment standards.--The 
                        criteria established pursuant to clause 
                        (i) shall include standards for 
                        reasonable assurance of repayment.
          (4) Prepayment.--
                  (A) Use of excess revenues.--Any excess 
                revenues that remain after satisfying scheduled 
                debt service requirements on the project 
                obligations and secured 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 secured loan 
                without penalty.
                  (B) Use of proceeds of refinancing.--The 
                secured loan may be prepaid at any time without 
                penalty from the proceeds of refinancing from 
                non-Federal funding sources.
  (d) Sale of Secured Loans.--
          (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), as soon as 
        practicable after substantial completion of a project 
        and after notifying the obligor, the Secretary may sell 
        to another entity or reoffer into the capital markets a 
        secured loan for the project if the Secretary 
        determines that the sale or reoffering can be 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 written consent of the obligor.
  (e) Loan Guarantees.--
          (1) In general.--The Secretary may provide a loan 
        guarantee to a lender in lieu of making a secured loan 
        under this section if the Secretary determines that the 
        budgetary cost of the loan guarantee is substantially 
        the same as that of a secured loan.
          (2) Terms.--The terms of a loan guarantee under 
        paragraph (1) shall be consistent with the terms 
        required under this section for a secured loan, except 
        that the rate on the guaranteed loan and any prepayment 
        features shall be negotiated between the obligor and 
        the lender, with the consent of the Secretary.
  (f) Streamlined Application Process.--
          (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the 
        date of enactment of the FAST Act, the Secretary shall 
        make available an expedited application process or 
        processes available at the request of entities seeking 
        secured loans under the TIFIA program that use a set or 
        sets of conventional terms established pursuant to this 
        section.
          (2) Terms.--In establishing the streamlined 
        application process required by this subsection, the 
        Secretary may include terms commonly included in prior 
        credit agreements and allow for an expedited 
        application period, including--
                  (A) the secured loan is in an amount of not 
                greater than $100,000,000;
                  (B) the secured loan is secured and payable 
                from pledged revenues not affected by project 
                performance, such as a tax-backed revenue 
                pledge, tax increment financing, or a system-
                backed pledge of project revenues; and
                  (C) repayment of the loan commences not later 
                than 5 years after disbursement.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

                              ----------                              


                 CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2018

(Public Law 115-141)

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


DIVISION L--TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND RELATED 
                   AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2018

TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


                     Federal Transit Administration

                        ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

  For necessary administrative expenses of the Federal Transit 
Administration's programs authorized by chapter 53 of title 49, 
United States Code, $113,165,000: Provided, That none of the 
funds provided or limited in this Act may be used to create a 
permanent office of transit security under this heading: 
Provided further, That upon submission to the Congress of the 
fiscal year 2019 President's budget, the Secretary of 
Transportation shall transmit to Congress the annual report on 
New Starts, including proposed allocations for fiscal year 
2019.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


                       CAPITAL INVESTMENT GRANTS

  For necessary expenses to carry out fixed guideway capital 
investment grants under section 5309 of title 49, United States 
Code, $2,644,960,000 to remain available until September 30, 
2021: Provided, That of the amounts made available under this 
heading, $2,252,508,586 shall be obligated by [December 31, 
2019] September 30, 2020: Provided further, That $5,050,000 
from unobligated amounts appropriated for the buses and bus 
facilities program under section 5309 of such title from fiscal 
years 2000 to 2005 shall remain available until September 30, 
2021 to carry out section 5309: Provided further, That of the 
amounts made available under this heading, $1,506,910,000 shall 
be available for projects authorized under section 5309(d) of 
such title, $715,700,000 shall be available for projects 
authorized under section 5309(e) of such title, $400,900,000 
shall be available for projects authorized under section 
5309(h) of such title: Provided further, That the Secretary 
shall continue to administer the capital investment grant 
program in accordance with the procedural and substantive 
requirements of section 5309 of such title.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

                              ----------                              


       RAILROAD REVITALIZATION AND REGULATORY REFORM ACT OF 1976



           *       *       *       *       *       *       *
TITLE V--RAILROAD REHABILITATION AND IMPROVEMENT FINANCING

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 502. DIRECT LOANS AND LOAN GUARANTEES.

  (a) General Authority.--The Secretary shall provide direct 
loans and loan guarantees to--
          (1) State and local governments;
          (2) interstate compacts consented to by Congress 
        under section 410(a) of the Amtrak Reform and 
        Accountability Act of 1997 (49 U.S.C. 24101 note);
          (3) government sponsored authorities and 
        corporations;
          (4) railroads;
          (5) joint ventures that include at least 1 of the 
        entities described in paragraph (1), (2), (3), (4), or 
        (6); and
          (6) solely for the purpose of constructing a rail 
        connection between a plant or facility and a railroad, 
        limited option freight shippers that own or operate a 
        plant or other facility.
  (b) Eligible Purposes.--
          (1) In general.--Direct loans and loan guarantees 
        under this section shall be used to--
                  (A) acquire, improve, or rehabilitate 
                intermodal or rail equipment or facilities, 
                including track, components of track, bridges, 
                yards, buildings, and shops, and costs related 
                to these activities, including pre-construction 
                costs;
                  (B) refinance outstanding debt incurred for 
                the purposes described in subparagraph (A) or 
                (C);
                  (C) develop or establish new intermodal or 
                railroad facilities;
                  (D) reimburse planning and design expenses 
                relating to activities 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.
          (2) Operating expenses not eligible.--Direct loans 
        and loan guarantees under this section shall not be 
        used for railroad operating expenses.
          (3) Sunset.--The Secretary may provide a direct loan 
        or loan guarantee under this section for a project 
        described in paragraph (1)(E) [only during the 4-year 
        period beginning on the date of enactment of the 
        Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2015] until 
        September 30, 2020.
  (c) Priority Projects.--In granting applications for direct 
loans or guaranteed loans under this section, the Secretary 
shall give priority to projects that--
          (1) enhance public safety, including projects for the 
        installation of a positive train control system (as 
        defined in section 20157(i) of title 49, United States 
        Code);
          (2) promote economic development;
          (3) enhance the environment;
          (4) enable United States companies to be more 
        competitive in international markets;
          (5) are endorsed by the plans prepared under section 
        135 of title 23 or chapter 227 of title 49, United 
        States Code, by the State or States in which they are 
        located;
          (6) improve railroad stations and passenger 
        facilities and increase transit-oriented development;
          (7) preserve or enhance rail or intermodal service to 
        small communities or rural areas;
          (8) enhance service and capacity in the national rail 
        system; or
          (9) would materially alleviate rail capacity problems 
        which degrade the provision of service to shippers and 
        would fulfill a need in the national transportation 
        system.
  (d) Extent of Authority.--The aggregate unpaid principal 
amounts of obligations under direct loans and loan guarantees 
made under this section shall not exceed $35,000,000,000 at any 
one time. Of this amount, not less than $7,000,000,000 shall be 
available solely for projects primarily benefiting freight 
railroads other than Class I carriers. The Secretary shall not 
establish any limit on the proportion of the unused amount 
authorized under this subsection that may be used for 1 loan or 
loan guarantee.
  (e) Rates of Interest.--
          (1) Direct loans.--The Secretary shall require 
        interest to be paid on a direct loan made under this 
        section at a rate not less than that necessary to 
        recover the cost of making the loan.
          (2) Loan guarantees.--The Secretary shall not make a 
        loan guarantee under this section if the interest rate 
        for the loan exceeds that which the Secretary 
        determines to be reasonable, taking into consideration 
        the prevailing interest rates and customary fees 
        incurred under similar obligations in the private 
        capital market.
  (f) Infrastructure Partners.--
          (1) Authority of secretary.--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. In no event 
        shall the aggregate of appropriations of budget 
        authority and credit risk premiums described in this 
        paragraph with respect to a direct loan or loan 
        guarantee be less than the cost of that direct loan or 
        loan guarantee.
          (2) Credit risk premium amount.--The Secretary shall 
        determine the amount required for credit risk premiums 
        under this subsection on the basis of--
                  (A) the circumstances of the applicant, 
                including the amount of collateral offered, if 
                any;
                  (B) the proposed schedule of loan 
                disbursements;
                  (C) historical data on the repayment history 
                of similar borrowers;
                  (D) consultation with the Congressional 
                Budget Office; and
                  (E) any other factors the Secretary considers 
                relevant.
          (3) Creditworthiness.--An applicant may propose and 
        the Secretary shall 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.
          (4) Payment of premiums.--Credit risk premiums under 
        this subsection shall be paid to the Secretary before 
        the disbursement of loan 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.
  (g) Prerequisites for Assistance.--The Secretary shall not 
make a direct loan or loan guarantee under this section unless 
the Secretary has made a finding in writing that--
          (1) repayment of the obligation is required to be 
        made within a term of not more than the lesser of--
                  (A) 35 years after the date of substantial 
                completion of the project; or
                  (B) the estimated useful life of the rail 
                equipment or facilities to be acquired, 
                rehabilitated, improved, developed, or 
                established;
          (2) the direct loan or loan guarantee is justified by 
        the present and probable future demand for rail 
        services or intermodal facilities;
          (3) the applicant has given reasonable assurances 
        that the facilities or equipment to be acquired, 
        rehabilitated, improved, developed, or established with 
        the proceeds of the obligation will be economically and 
        efficiently utilized;
          (4) the obligation can reasonably be repaid, using an 
        appropriate combination of credit risk premiums and 
        collateral offered by the applicant to protect the 
        Federal Government; and
          (5) the purposes of the direct loan or loan guarantee 
        are consistent with subsection (b).
  (h) Conditions of Assistance.--(1) The Secretary shall, 
before granting assistance under this section, require the 
applicant to agree to such terms and conditions as are 
sufficient, in the judgment of the Secretary, to ensure that, 
as long as any principal or interest is due and payable on such 
obligation, the applicant, and any railroad or railroad partner 
for whose benefit the assistance is intended--
          (A) will not use any funds or assets from railroad or 
        intermodal operations for purposes not related to such 
        operations, if such use would impair the ability of the 
        applicant, railroad, or railroad partner to provide 
        rail or intermodal services in an efficient and 
        economic manner, or would adversely affect the ability 
        of the applicant, railroad, or railroad partner to 
        perform any obligation entered into by the applicant 
        under this section;
          (B) will, consistent with its capital resources, 
        maintain its capital program, equipment, facilities, 
        and operations on a continuing basis; and
          (C) will not make any discretionary dividend payments 
        that unreasonably conflict with the purposes stated in 
        subsection (b).
  (2) The Secretary shall not require an applicant for a direct 
loan or loan guarantee under this section to provide 
collateral. Any collateral provided or thereafter enhanced 
shall be valued as a going concern after giving effect to the 
present value of improvements contemplated by the completion 
and operation of the project, if applicable. The Secretary 
shall not require that an applicant for a direct loan or loan 
guarantee under this section have previously sought the 
financial assistance requested from another source.
  (3) The Secretary shall require recipients of direct loans or 
loan guarantees under this section to comply with--
          (A) the standards of section 24312 of title 49, 
        United States Code, as in effect on September 1, 2002, 
        with respect to the project in the same manner that the 
        National Railroad Passenger Corporation is required to 
        comply with such standards for construction work 
        financed under an agreement made under section 24308(a) 
        of that title; and
          (B) the protective arrangements established under 
        section 504 of this Act, with respect to employees 
        affected by actions taken in connection with the 
        project to be financed by the loan or loan guarantee.
  (4) The Secretary shall require each recipient of a direct 
loan or loan guarantee under this section for a project 
described in subsection (b)(1)(E) to provide a non-Federal 
match of not less than 25 percent of the total amount expended 
by the recipient for such project.
  (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, or additional 
        information and material under paragraph (2)(B), 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, 
                including any information required by an 
                independent financial analyst; and
                  (B) allow the applicant to resubmit the 
                application with 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 an application for a direct loan or loan 
        guarantee under this title.
          (5) Dashboard.--The Secretary shall post on the 
        Department of Transportation's Internet Web site a 
        monthly report that includes, for each application--
                  (A) the applicant type;
                  (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).
  (j) Repayment Schedules.--
          (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a 
        repayment schedule requiring payments to commence not 
        later than 5 years after the date of substantial 
        completion.
          (2) Accrual.--Interest shall accrue as of the date of 
        disbursement, and shall be amortized over the remaining 
        term of the loan beginning at the time the payments 
        begin.
          (3) Deferred payments.--
                  (A) In general.--If at any time after the 
                date of substantial completion the obligor is 
                unable to pay the scheduled loan repayments of 
                principal and interest on a direct loan 
                provided under this section, 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.--With respect to 
                a direct loan provided by the Secretary under 
                this section, 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.
  (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.
  (l) Nonsubordination.--
          (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), 
        a direct loan provided by the Secretary under this 
        section 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.
  (m) Master Credit Agreements.--
          (1) In general.--Subject to subsection (d) and 
        paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Secretary may 
        enter into a master credit agreement that is contingent 
        on all of the conditions for the provision of a direct 
        loan or loan guarantee, as applicable, under this title 
        and other applicable requirements being 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 contingent 
                on and 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.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


               CHANGES IN THE APPLICATION OF EXISTING LAW

    Pursuant to clause 3(f)(1)(A) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, the following statements are 
submitted describing the effect of provisions in the 
accompanying bill that directly or indirectly change the 
application of existing law.

                 TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

    Language is included under Office of the Secretary, 
`Salaries and Expenses' specifying certain amounts for 
individual offices of the Office of the Secretary and official 
reception and representation expenses, specifying transfer 
authority among offices, allowing up to $2,500,000 in user fees 
to be credited to the account, and preventing funds for certain 
activities.
    Language is included under the Office of the Secretary, 
`Research and Technology' which limits the availability of 
funds, changes the availability of funds, provides funds for 
specified activities, allows funds received from other entities 
to be credited to the account, and deems the title of the 
office.
    Language is included under the Office of the Secretary, 
`National Infrastructure Investments' which authorizes and 
appropriates grant funding for surface transportation 
infrastructure to be competitively awarded at the discretion of 
the Secretary, limits the availability of funds, specifies 
grantee and project eligibility requirements, authorizes a 
portion of the funds for Federal credit assistance awards, 
specifies requirements for how the Secretary shall prioritize 
funding and select projects, specifies minimum and maximum 
grants sizes and sets limits on awards per project and per 
state, specifies a limit on federal share of projects receiving 
awards, establishes minimum funding amounts for rural and urban 
projects, authorizes the Secretary to use funds for 
departmental administrative costs, and establishes requirements 
and deadlines for when and how the Secretary shall solicit 
applications for grants and make awards.
    Language is included under the Office of the Secretary, 
`National Surface and Innovative Finance Bureau' which makes 
funding available until expended and sets a notification 
requirement.
    Language is included under the Office of the Secretary, 
`Financial Management Capital' which provides funds for 
financial systems and business process upgrades and changes the 
availability of funds.
    Language is included under the Office of the Secretary, 
`Cyber Security Initiatives' which provides funds for 
information technology security upgrades and changes the 
availability of funds.
    Language is included under the Office of the Secretary, 
`Transportation Planning, Research, and Development' which 
provides funds for conducting transportation planning, 
research, and development activities and making grants; changes 
the availability of funds; and specifies funding minimums for 
and authorities related to the Interagency Infrastructure 
Permitting Improvement Center.
    Language is included that limits operating costs and 
capital outlays of the Working Capital Fund for the Department 
of Transportation (DOT); provides that services shall be 
provided on a competitive basis, except for non-DOT entities; 
restricts the transfer for any funds to the Working Capital 
Fund with approval; and limits special assessments or 
reimbursable agreements levied against any program, project, or 
activity funded in this Act to only those assessments or 
reimbursable agreements that are presented to and approved by 
the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations.
    Language is included under Office of the Secretary, `Small 
and Disadvantaged Business Utilization and Outreach' specifying 
that funds may be used for business opportunities related to 
any mode of transportation, limiting the availability of funds, 
and specifying that funds may be used for activities previously 
under the heading `Minority Business Resource Center'.
    Language is included under the Office of the Secretary, 
`Payments to Air Carriers' that allows the Secretary of 
Transportation to consider subsidy requirements when 
determining service to a community, eliminates the requirement 
that carriers use at least 15-passenger aircraft, prohibits 
funds for communities within a certain distance of a small hub 
airport without a cost-share, allows amounts to be made 
available from the Federal Aviation Administration, and allows 
the reimbursement of such amounts from overflight fees.
    Section 101 prohibits the Office of the Secretary of 
Transportation from approving assessments or reimbursable 
agreements pertaining to funds appropriated to the modal 
administrations in this Act, unless such assessments or 
agreements have completed the normal reprogramming process for 
Congressional notification.
    Section 102 sets administrative requirements of the 
Department's Council on Credit and Finance.
    Section 103 allows the Department to use the Working 
Capital Fund to provide transit benefits to Federal employees.
    Section 104 provides additional amounts to the Office of 
the Secretary, `Salaries and Expenses' if the Secretary 
completes work on certain competitive grant programs.
    Section 105 specifies certain amounts for the Office of the 
Secretary, `Research and Technology' for the Secretary to 
conduct a study and establishes requirements and deadlines for 
when and how the Secretary shall execute such a study.
    Section 106 specifies certain amounts for the Office of the 
Secretary, `Research and Technology' for the Secretary to 
establish a center of excellence within the Department and 
establishes requirements and deadlines for when and how the 
Secretary shall execute such a center of excellence.
    Language is included under the Federal Aviation 
Administration, `Operations' that specifies funds for certain 
activities; limits the availability of funds; derives funds 
from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund; specifies transfer 
authorities among activities; requires various staffing plans 
by a certain date with financial penalties for late 
submissions; permits the use of funds to enter into a grant 
agreement with a nonprofit standard setting organization to 
develop aviation safety standards; prohibits the use of funds 
for new applicants of the second career training program; 
prohibits funds to plan, finalize, or implement any regulation 
that would promulgate new aviation user fees not specifically 
authorized by law; credits funds received from other entities 
for expenses incurred in the provision of agency services; 
specifies funds for the contract tower program; prohibits funds 
from certain activities coordinated through the Working Capital 
Fund; prohibits funds to eliminate the Contract Weather 
Observer program; and requires organizational changes to field 
or regional offices to be subject to section 405 of this Act.
    Language is included under Federal Aviation Administration, 
`Facilities and Equipment' that funds various activities from 
the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, limits the availability of 
funds, credits funds received from other entities for expenses 
incurred in the modernization of air navigation systems, and 
requires a capital investment.
    Language is included under Federal Aviation Administration, 
`Research, Engineering, and Development' that provides funds 
from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund that limits the 
availability of funds; credits funds received from other 
entities for expenses incurred for in research, engineering and 
development to be credited to the account; requires funds to be 
used in accordance with the report accompanying this Act; and 
specifies transfer authorities among amounts in the report 
subject to section 405 of this Act.
    Language is included under Federal Aviation Administration, 
`Grants-in-aid for Airports' that provides funds from the 
Airport and Airway Trust Fund and from general funds, specifies 
the availability of funds, prohibits funds for certain 
activities, sets a cost share requirement on certain airport 
construction projects, limits the availability of funds for 
certain activities, allows the participation of certain 
additional airports, allows the Federal share of certain grants 
to be 95 percent, allows funds to be used for administrative 
expenses, research, and the ``Small Community Air Service 
Development Program''; and defines airport eligibility.
    Section 110 limits the number of technical work years at 
the Center for Advanced Aviation Systems Development to 600.
    Section 111 prohibits FAA from requiring airport sponsors 
to provide the agency `without cost' building construction, 
maintenance, utilities and expenses, or space in sponsor-owned 
buildings, except in the case of certain specified exceptions.
    Section 112 allows reimbursement for fees collected and 
credited under 49 U.S.C. 45303.
    Section 113 allows reimbursement of funds for providing 
technical assistance to foreign aviation authorities to be 
credited to the operations account.
    Section 114 prohibits FAA from paying Sunday premium pay, 
except in those cases where the individual actually worked on a 
Sunday.
    Section 115 prohibits FAA from using funds to purchase 
store gift cards or gift certificates through a government-
issued credit card.
    Section 116 requires approval from the Deputy Assistant 
Secretary for Administration of the Department of 
Transportation for retention bonuses for any FAA employee.
    Section 117 requires the Secretary to block the display of 
an owner or operator's aircraft registration number in the 
Aircraft Situational Display to Industry program, upon the 
request of an owner or operator.
    Section 118 limits the number of FAA political appointees 
to eight.
    Section 119 prohibits funds for any increase in fees for 
navigational products until FAA has reported a justification 
for such fees to the House and Senate Committees on 
Appropriations.
    Section 119A requires FAA to notify the House and Senate 
Committees on Appropriations at least 90 days before closing a 
regional operations center or reducing the services it 
provides.
    Section 119B prohibits funds to change weight restrictions 
or prior permission rules at Teterboro Airport in Teterboro, 
New Jersey.
    Section 119C sets requirements for the Contract Tower 
program.
    Section 119D allows for reimbursements to airports affected 
by Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs).
    Language is included under the Federal Highway 
Administration, `Limitation on Administrative Expenses' that 
limits the amount to be paid, together with advances and 
reimbursements received, for the administrative expenses of the 
agency. In addition to this limitation, an amount is specified 
that is to be made available to the Appalachian Regional 
Commission for administrative expenses.
    Language is included under the Federal Highway 
Administration, `Federal-aid Highways' that limits the 
obligations for Federal-aid highways and highway safety 
construction programs; allows the Secretary to charge, collect 
and spend fees for the costs of underwriting and servicing 
Federal credit instruments; and provides that such amounts are 
in addition to administrative expenses, and not subject to any 
obligation limitation or limitation on administrative expenses 
under section 608 of title 23, U.S.C., and are available until 
expended.
    Language is included under the Federal Highway 
Administration, `Federal-aid Highways' that liquidates contract 
authority from the Highway Trust Fund.
    Language is included under the Federal Highway 
Administration, `Highway Infrastructure Programs' that 
authorizes and appropriates additional amounts for activities 
eligible under sections 133(b), 130(a), 151, 165(b)(2) and 
165(c)(6) of title 23, and the Nationally Significant Federal 
lands and tribal projects program and the Regional 
Infrastructure Accelerator Demonstration Program as authorized 
under the FAST Act, an Advanced Digital Construction Management 
System, a National Road Network Pilot Program, and a research 
study on Tribal populations. Language specifies the formula 
distribution of funding, applies and waives various statutory 
requirements for each subset of funding, and changes the 
availability of funds.
    Section 120 distributes obligation authority among Federal-
aid highways programs, contingent on enactment of authorization 
legislation.
    Section 121 credits funds received by the Bureau of 
Transportation Statistics to the Federal-aid highways account.
    Section 122 provides requirements for any waiver of the Buy 
America Act.
    Section 123 requires Congressional notification before the 
Department provides credit assistance under section 603 and 604 
of title 23, U.S.C.
    Section 124 requires Congressional notification before the 
Department provides grant assistance under section 117 of title 
23, U.S.C.
    Section 125 authorizes the Secretary to repurpose certain 
unobligated balances of previously earmarked funds, set 
requirements for exercising such authority, defines what 
constitutes an earmarked amount for purposes of such authority, 
specifies limitations on what earmark balances are eligible for 
repurposing, and specifies requirements that new projects must 
meet in order to be eligible for repurposed funding.
    Section 126 repeals a prohibition on two-way tolling on the 
Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in New York.
    Section 127 removes a cap on annual spending of emergency 
relief funds for the Territories.
    Section 128 requires the Department to make determinations 
on certain waivers to the Buy America Act.
    Section 129 repeals a prohibition on removing a bridge in 
Boston, Massachusetts.
    Section 129A modifies a provision of the FAST Act regarding 
the availability of funds for states without a State Asset 
Management plan.
    Language is included under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
Administration, `Motor Carrier Safety Operations and Programs' 
that provides a limitation on obligations and liquidation of 
contract authorization; changes the availability of funds; and 
specifies amounts available for specific activities.
    Language is included under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
Administration, `Motor Carrier Safety Grants' that provides 
limitation on obligations and liquidation of contract 
authorization; modifies the availability of certain funds; and 
specifies amounts available for various programs.
    Section 130 requires the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
Administration to send notices of certain violations such that 
the receipt of such notice is confirmed.
    Section 131 prohibits funds to enforce Electronic Logging 
Device regulations with respect to carriers transporting 
livestock or insects.
    Section 132 requires the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
Administration to require rear underride guards be inspected 
annually.
    Section 133 prohibits the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
Administration from using funds to review and issue a decision 
on a petition to preempt certain State meal and rest break 
laws.
    Section 134 requires the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
Administration to make Compliance, Safety, Accountability 
program data publicly available consistent with the way it was 
made available before December 4, 2015.
    Section 135 prohibits the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
Administration from using funds to promulgate or enforce a rule 
that eliminates the 30-minute rest break.
    Language is included under National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration, `Operations and Research' that provides funds 
for vehicle safety activities; and modifies the period of 
availability of certain funds.
    Language is included under National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration, `Operations and Research' that provides a 
limitation on obligations and a liquidation of contract 
authorization from the Highway Trust Fund; specifies amounts 
for various programs; and modifies the period of availability 
of certain funds.
    Language is included under the National Highway Traffic 
Safety Administration `Highway Traffic Safety Grants' that 
provides a limitation on obligations; changes the availability 
of funds; provides a liquidation of contract authorization from 
the Highway Trust Fund; specifies the amounts for various 
programs; prohibits and limits funds for specific purposes; and 
requires certain Congressional notifications.
    Section 140 provides funding for travel and related 
expenses for state management reviews and highway safety core 
competency development training.
    Section 141 exempts obligation authority that was made 
available in previous public laws from limitations on 
obligations set in this Act.
    Section 142 prohibits funding for mandated global 
positioning system tracking.
    Section 143 authorizes and appropriates additional funding 
for activities eligible under section 403 of title 23 and 
changes the availability of funds.
    Section 144 authorizes and appropriates additional funding 
for a study on children in vehicles with Automated Driving 
Systems.
    Section 145 prohibits the National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration from using funds to finalize ``The Safer 
Affordable Fuel-Efficient Vehicles Rule''.
    Section 146 prohibits the National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration from using funds to enforce requirements imposed 
by section 405(a)(9) of title 23.
    Language is included under Federal Railroad Administration, 
`Safety and Operations' which provides funds and funding 
availability.
    Language is included under Federal Railroad Administration, 
`Railroad Research and Development' which provides funds and 
funding availability.
    Language is included under Federal Railroad Administration, 
`Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing Program' 
authorizing the Secretary to issue direct loans and loan 
guarantees under sections 501 through 504 of the Railroad 
Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act and provides authority 
availability.
    Language is included under the Federal Railroad 
Administration, `Federal-State Partnership for State of Good 
Repair' which provides funds, provides funding availability, 
allows the Secretary to withhold funds for a specified purpose, 
and establishes requirements and deadlines for when and how the 
Secretary shall solicit applications for grants and make 
awards.
    Language is included under the Federal Railroad 
Administration, `Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety 
Improvements' which provides funds and provides funding 
availability. Language sets aside amounts for specified 
purposes, expands eligibility for the set-asides and other 
purposes, allows certain funds to be transferred based on 
criteria, and allows unobligated balances remaining after four 
years to be used for any eligible project. Language establishes 
requirements and deadlines for when and how the Secretary shall 
solicit applications for grants and make awards, and allows the 
Secretary to withhold funding for a specified purpose.
    Language is included under the Federal Railroad 
Administration, `Magnetic Levitation Technology Deployment 
Program' which provides funds and funding availability.
    Language is included under the Federal Railroad 
Administration, `Northeast Corridor Grants to the National 
Railroad Passenger Corporation' which provides funds and 
funding availability, allows the Secretary to withhold funding 
for specified purposes, and sets aside amounts for specified 
activities.
    Language is included under the Federal Railroad 
Administration, `National Network Grants to the National 
Railroad Passenger Corporation' which provides funding and 
funding availability, and allows the Secretary to withhold 
funding for a specified purpose.
    Section 150 limits overtime to $35,000 per employee, allows 
Amtrak to waive this restriction for specific employees for 
safety or operational efficiency reasons, requires quarterly 
notification to the House and Senate Committees on 
Appropriations on waivers granted for overtime and specified 
information related to overtime, and requires the Amtrak to 
provide a report that includes specified information on 
overtime payments incurred for 2019 and three prior years.
    Section 151 prohibits funds under the Federal Railroad 
Administration, `Northeast Corridor Grants to the National 
Railroad Passenger Corporation' and `National Network Grants to 
the National Railroad Passenger Corporation' to reduce the size 
of the Amtrak Police Department.
    Language is included under Federal Transit Administration, 
`Administrative Expenses' specifying amounts for certain 
activities, modifying the period of availability, prohibiting a 
permanent office of transit security, and directing the 
submission of the annual report on new starts.
    Language is included under Federal Transit Administration, 
`Transit Formula Grants' that provides a limitation on 
obligations from the Highway Trust Fund, and provides for the 
liquidation of contract authority.
    Language is included under Federal Transit Administration, 
`Transit Infrastructure Grants' that specifies amounts for 
certain activities authorized by sections 5339, 5337, 5312 and 
5318 of title 49, from the general fund, and are not subject to 
any limitation on obligations.
    Language is included under Federal Transit Administration 
`Technical Assistance and Training' that specifies amounts for 
certain activities.
    Language is included under Federal Transit Administration, 
`Capital Investment Grants' that specifies amounts for specific 
purposes, changes the period of availability of funds, changes 
the obligation deadline, and requires the Secretary to continue 
to administer the capital investment grant program pursuant to 
49 U.S.C. 5309.
    Language is included under Federal Transit Administration, 
`Grants to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority' 
that changes the period of availability of funds, requires the 
Secretary to review projects before a grant is made, requires 
the Secretary to determine that WMATA has placed the highest 
priority on safety investments and has eliminated financial 
management issues, requires the Secretary to place the highest 
priority on safety investments, and allows the Secretary to 
waive the requirement for cellular phone service.
    Section 160 exempts previously made transit obligations 
from limitations on obligations.
    Section 161 allows funds appropriated for capital 
investment grants and bus and bus facilities not obligated by a 
certain date, plus other recoveries to be available for other 
projects under 49 U.S.C. 5309.
    Section 162 allows for the transfer of prior year 
appropriations from older accounts to be merged into new 
accounts with similar, current activities.
    Section 163 modifies the obligation deadline for certain 
funds provided under the heading Capital Investment Grants.
    Section 164 prohibits the Federal Transit Administration 
from using funds to enforce provisions in section 9503(e)(4) of 
Title 26, request or require a Capital Investment Grant project 
to have a maximum Capital Investment Grant contribution lower 
than 50 percent of the total project cost; to determine the 
maximum Capital Investment Grant contribution until the project 
has been in Engineering for at least 180 days; and requiring 
projects currently in Project Development or Engineering from 
exceeding a 50 percent probability threshold when determining 
the reasonableness of that estimate.
    Section 165 permits grantees under section 5339(c) of title 
49 to submit applications with partners and permits those 
arrangements to comply with competitive procurement 
regulations.
    Language is included under the Saint Lawrence Seaway 
Development Corporation that authorizes expenditures, 
contracts, and commitments as may be necessary.
    Language is included under the Saint Lawrence Seaway 
Development Corporation `Operations and Maintenance' that 
provides funds derived from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, 
and specifies a certain amount for asset renewal activities.
    Language is included under Maritime Administration, 
`Maritime Security Program' that provides funds and funding 
availability.
    Language is included under Maritime Administration, 
`Operations and Training' that provides funds for specific 
purposes, limits funding availability, and requires a report on 
sexual assault and harassment at the United States Merchant 
Marine Academy.
    Language is included under Maritime Administration, 
`Assistance to Small Shipyards' that provides funding, and 
limits funding availability.
    Language is included under Maritime Administration, `Ship 
Disposal' that provides funds and limits funding availability.
    Language is included under Maritime Administration, `Port 
Infrastructure Development Program', that provides funds and 
limits funding availability.
    Section 170 allows the Maritime Administration to furnish 
utilities and services and make repairs to any lease, contract, 
or occupancy involving government property under the control of 
MARAD.
    Language is included under Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 
Safety Administration, `Operational Expenses' which provides 
funding for operations and funding availability. Language 
establishes requirements and deadlines for when the Secretary 
shall complete several rulemakings.
    Language is included under Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 
Safety Administration, `Hazardous Materials Safety' which 
provides funds for hazardous materials safety functions and 
funding availability. Language allows up to $800,000 in fees 
collected under 49 U.S.C. 5108(g) to be deposited in the 
general fund of the Treasury as offsetting receipts, and 
credits to the appropriation for the account funds received 
from States, counties, other public authorities, and private 
sources for certain expenses.
    Language is included under Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 
Safety Administration, `Pipeline Safety' which specifies 
amounts derived from the Pipeline Safety Fund, the Oil Spill 
Liability Trust Fund, and the Underground Natural Gas Storage 
Facility Safety Account; limits availability of funds; and 
specifies a minimum amount for certain activities.
    Language is included under Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 
Safety Administration, `Emergency Preparedness Grants' which 
specifies the amount derived from the Emergency Preparedness 
Fund, limits the availability of funds, allows up to four 
percent of funds made available for administrative costs, and 
allows prior year recoveries for certain activities.
    Language is included under Office of Inspector General, 
`Salaries and Expenses' that provides the Inspector General 
with all necessary authority to investigate allegations of 
fraud by any person or entity that is subject to regulation by 
the Department of Transportation, the authority to investigate 
unfair or deceptive practices and unfair methods of competition 
by domestic and foreign air carriers and ticket agents, and 
allows funds to be available from forfeiture proceedings.
    Section 180 provides authorization for DOT to maintain and 
operate aircraft, hire passenger motor vehicles and aircraft, 
purchase liability insurance, buy uniforms, or allowances 
therefor.
    Section 181 limits appropriations for services authorized 
by 5 U.S.C. 3109 to the rate permitted for an Executive Level 
IV.
    Section 182 prohibits recipients of funds in this Act from 
disseminating personal information obtained by state DMVs in 
connection to motor vehicle records with an exception.
    Section 183 limits the number of political and Presidential 
appointees within the Department of Transportation and 
increases the limitation if the Secretary completes work on 
certain competitive grant programs.
    Section 184 stipulates that revenue collected by FHWA and 
FRA from States, counties, municipalities, other public 
authorities, and private sources for training be transferred 
into specific accounts within the agency with an exception.
    Section 185 prohibits DOT from using funds to make a grant, 
loan, loan guarantee, or cooperative agreement, unless DOT 
gives a 3-day advance notice to the House and Senate Committees 
on Appropriations. Also requires notice of any ``quick 
release'' of funds from FHWA's emergency relief program, and 
prohibits notifications from involving funds not available for 
obligation. Requires DOT to provide a comprehensive list of all 
loans, loan guarantees, lines of credit, cooperative 
agreements, and discretionary grants that will be announced 
with a 3-day advance notice to the House and Senate Committees 
on Appropriations.
    Section 186 allows funds received from rebates, refunds, 
and similar sources to be credited to appropriations of DOT.
    Section 187 allows amounts from improper payments to a 
third party contractor that are lawfully recovered by DOT to be 
made available until expended to cover expenses incurred in 
recovery of such payments.
    Section 188 requires that reprogramming actions have to be 
approved or denied by the House and Senate Committees on 
Appropriations, and reprogramming notifications shall be 
transmitted solely to the Appropriations Committees.
    Section 189 allows funds appropriated to modal 
administrations to be obligated for the Office of the Secretary 
for costs related to assessments only when such funds provide a 
direct benefit to that modal administration.
    Section 190 authorizes the Secretary to carry out a program 
that establishes uniform standards for developing and 
supporting agency transit pass and transit benefits, including 
distribution of transit benefits.
    Section 191 allows the use of funds to assist a contract 
utilizing geographic, economic, or other hiring preference not 
otherwise authorized by law, only if certain requirements are 
met related to availability of local labor, displacement of 
existing employees, and delays in transportation plans.
    Section 192 prohibits funds to take certain actions 
relating to the California High Speed Rail Authority. Language 
establishes requirements and deadlines for when and how the 
Secretary may solicit applications for grants and make awards 
for specified funding.
    Section 195 prohibits the Department of Transportation from 
using funds for grants to entities that do not comply with 
practices for control system procurement recommended by the 
Department of Homeland Security.

         TITLE II--DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

    Language is included under Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, `Management and Administration', `Executive 
Offices' that specifies funds for the Office of the Secretary, 
the Office of the Deputy Secretary, the Office of Congressional 
and Intergovernmental Relations, the Office of Public Affairs, 
the Office of Adjudicatory Services, the Office of Small and 
Disadvantaged Business Utilization, and the Center for Faith-
Based and Neighborhood Partnerships; limits funds available for 
reception and representation; limits reprogramming among these 
offices; limits funds to detail individuals to these offices; 
and limits funds for certain positions in the Office of Budget.
    Language is included under Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, `Management and Administration', `Administrative 
Support Offices' that specifies funds for the Office of the 
Chief Financial Officer, the Office of the General Counsel, the 
Office of Field Policy and Management, the Office of 
Departmental Equal Employment Opportunity, the Office of the 
Chief Information Officer, and a consolidated Assistant 
Secretary for Administration; allows funds for the hire of 
passenger motor vehicles and to hire experts or consultants; 
requires a quarterly reports on congressional reports; requires 
congressional reports to be submitted electronically; and 
requires an expenditure plan for the financial transformation 
initiative.
    Language is included under Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, `Management and Administration', `Program Office 
Salaries and Expenses' that specifies funds for the Office of 
Public and Indian Housing, Office of Community Planning and 
Development, Office of Housing, Office of Policy Development 
and Research, Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, and 
Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes; specifies an 
amount for implementing provisions of the Violence Against 
Women Act, public and tribal housing inspections, hiring 
permanent positions for disaster recovery; and transfers 
unobligated balances from prior years.
    Language is included under Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, `Management and Administration', `Working Capital 
Fund' which specifies the shared services to be used by the 
Department specifies the conditions for reimbursement; and 
allows for an additional amount from salaries and expenses to 
be merged with the working capital fund.
    Language is included under Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, `Tenant-Based Rental Assistance' which specifies 
funds for certain programs, activities and purposes and limits 
the use and availability of certain funds; specifies the 
methodology for allocation of renewal funding; directs the 
Secretary to provide renewal funding based on validated voucher 
system leasing and cost data for the prior year; directs the 
Secretary, to the extent necessary, to prorate each public 
housing agency's (PHA) allocation; directs the Secretary to 
notify PHAs of their annual budget the later of 60 days after 
enactment of the Act or March 1, 2019; allows the Secretary to 
extend the notification period with the prior approval of the 
House and Senate appropriations committees; specifies the 
amounts available to the Secretary to allocate to PHAs that 
need additional funds and for fees; specifies the amount for 
additional rental subsidy due to unforeseen emergencies and 
portability; provides funding for public housing agencies with 
vouchers that were not in use during the previous 12 month 
period in order to be available to meet a commitment pursuant 
to section 8(o)(13); and provides funding for public housing 
agencies that despite taking reasonable measures, would 
otherwise be required to terminate assistance for families as a 
result of insufficient funding.
    Language is included under Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, `Tenant-Based Rental Assistance' which provides 
funds for tenant protection vouchers; sets certain conditions 
for the Secretary to provide such vouchers; provides funds for 
residents of multi-family properties that would not otherwise 
have been eligible for tenant-protection vouchers; sets 
eligibility requirements for multi-family properties to 
participate in the program; requires the Secretary to issue 
guidance on requirements; sets conditions for the reissuance of 
vouchers; and allows the Secretary to use unobligated and 
recaptured funds from prior years.
    Language is included under Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, `Tenant-Based Rental Assistance' which provides 
funds for administrative and other expenses of public housing 
agencies to administer the section 8 tenant-based rental 
assistance program; sets an amount to be available to PHAs that 
need additional funds to administer their section 8 programs, 
including fees to administer tenant protection assistance, 
disaster related vouchers, Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing 
vouchers and other special purpose vouchers; provides for the 
distribution of funds; provides for a uniform percentage 
decrease of amounts to be allocated if funds are not 
sufficient; establishes that `Moving to Work' (MTW) agencies be 
funded pursuant to their MTW agreements and in accordance with 
the requirements of the MTW program; provides funds for section 
811 mainstream vouchers; provides funds for incremental HUD-
VASH; provides funds for rental assistance and administrative 
costs associated with tribal veteran vouchers subject to 
certain conditions; provides funding for Family Unification 
Program vouchers, subject to certain conditions; provides 
funding for a mobility demonstration and specifies amounts for 
certain eligible activities and requires vouchers funded 
therein to be and remain for families with children; and 
requires the Secretary to track special purpose vouchers.
    Language is included under Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, `Housing Certificate Fund' which rescinds prior 
year funds and allows the Secretary to use recaptures to fund 
project-based contracts and contract administrators.
    Language is included under Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, `Public Housing Capital Fund' which specifies the 
total amount available for certain activities; limits the 
availability of funds; limits the delegation of certain waiver 
authorities; specifies an amount for ongoing Public Housing 
Financial and Physical Assessment activities of the Real Estate 
Assessment Center, pilot a new physical inspection process, and 
implement recommendations made in the March 2019 GAO report 
``Real Estate Inspection Center: HUD Should Improve Physical 
Inspection Process and Oversight of Inspectors'' (GAO-19-254); 
specifies an amount for judicial receiverships, specifies an 
amount for emergency capital needs; specifies an amount for 
competitive grants to public housing agencies to evaluate and 
reduce lead-based paint hazards in public housing, specifies an 
amount for competitive grants to public housing agencies for 
activities authorized under the Healthy Homes Initiative; 
establishes a limitation on amounts that can be transferred; 
makes funds available for bonuses for high performing PHAs; and 
establishes requirements for the notification to public housing 
agencies of their formula allocations.
    Language is included under Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, `Public Housing Operating Fund' which specifies 
the total amount available for certain activities; and modifies 
the period of availability.
    Language is included under Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, `Choice Neighborhoods Initiative' which allows the 
Secretary to make competitive grants for neighborhood 
rehabilitation; changes the availability of funds; allows funds 
to be used for services, development, and housing; declares 
funds not for ``public housing''; requires a period of 
affordability; requires local planning and cost share; allows 
local governments, tribal entities, public housing authorities 
and non-profits to be grantees; allows for-profits to partner 
and apply with a public entity; requires grantees to partner 
with local organizations; establishes conditions for 
environmental review; requires grantees to create partnerships 
with other local organizations; requires the Secretary to 
consult with other federal agencies; and allows prior year 
program funds and HOPE VI funds to be used for this program.
    Language is included under Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, `Self-Sufficiency Programs' which allows the 
Secretary to waive or specify certain requirements, establishes 
entities eligible to compete for funding, allows the 
establishment of escrow funds, allows the use of residual 
receipt accounts to hire coordinators for a number of 
sufficiency programs, and expands eligibility for Family Self-
Sufficiency Programs to include Project-Based Rental Assistance 
properties.
    Language is included under Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, `Native American Programs' which provides funding 
and funding availability. Language specifies amounts and 
conditions for the Native American Housing Block Grants formula 
program, training and technical assistance, guarantee notes and 
obligations as defined in section 502 of the Congressional 
Budget Act of 1974, and the Indian Community Development Block 
Grant program. Language authorizes and appropriates funding for 
competitive grants through the Native American Housing Block 
Grant program to be awarded at the discretion of the Secretary, 
specifies considerations for the Secretary in making funding 
awards, establishes a maximum grant award size, and authorizes 
transfers of funds for administrative expenses.
    Language is included under Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, `Indian Housing Loan Guarantee Fund Program 
Account' which specifies the amount and availability of funds 
to subsidize total loan principal, specifies how to define the 
costs of modifying loans, and provides a dedicated amount for 
administrative expenses.
    Language is included under Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, `Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant' which 
provides funding and funding availability. Language prevents 
and authorizes certain activities.
    Language is included under Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, `Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS' 
which limits availability of funds and sets forth certain 
requirements for the allocation of funds, renewal of contracts, 
and grantee notification.
    Language is included under Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, `Community Development Fund' which limits the use 
and availability of certain funds; specifies the allocation of 
certain funds; prohibits grant recipients from selling, trading 
or transferring funds; prohibits the provision of funds to for-
profit entities for economic development projects unless 
certain conditions are met; and requires grantee notification 
of formula allocations within 60 days of enactment.
    Language is included under Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, `Community Development Loan Guarantees Program 
Account' which limits the principal amount of loan guarantees; 
directs the Secretary to collect fees from borrowers adequate 
to result in credit subsidy cost of zero; and allows the 
Section 108 loan guarantee program to guarantee notes or other 
obligations issued by any State on behalf of non-entitlement 
communities in the State.
    Language is included under Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, `Home Investment Partnerships Program' which 
limits the availability of funds; specifies the allocation of 
certain funds for certain purposes; requires grantee 
notification within 60 days of enactment; and prohibits 
sections 218(g) and 231(b) of the Cranston-Gonzalez National 
Affordable Housing Act from applying with respect to the right 
of a jurisdiction to draw HOME funds that otherwise expired or 
would expire in 2016 through 2022, and to uninvested funds that 
otherwise were deducted or would be deducted in 2018 through 
2022, respectively, and that the funds shall only be invested 
in housing to be developed, sponsored, or owned by community 
housing development organizations.
    Language is included under Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, `Self-help and Assisted Homeownership Opportunity 
Program' which specifies funding amounts for certain programs, 
limits the period of availability, and specifies certain 
amounts for rural activities and organizations.
    Language is included under Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, `Homeless Assistance Grants' which limits the 
availability of funds; specifies the allocation of certain 
funds for certain purposes; specifies matching requirements; 
requires the Secretary to establish minimum performance 
thresholds for projects; requires the Secretary to prioritize 
funding to grant applicants that demonstrate a capacity to 
reallocate funding to higher performing projects; requires 
grantees to integrate homeless programs with other social 
service providers; requires notification of formula allocations 
within 60 days of enactment.
    Language is included under Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, `Project-Based Rental Assistance' which provides 
funds, limits the availability of funds, specifies the 
allocation of certain funds for certain purposes, and allows 
the Secretary to recapture residual receipts from certain 
properties.
    Language is included under Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, `Housing for the Elderly' which limits the 
availability of funds; specifies the allocation of certain 
funds; designates certain funds to be used only for certain 
grants; allows funds to be used for specified inspections or 
inspection-related activities; allows funds to be used to renew 
certain contracts; allows the Secretary to waive certain 
provisions governing contract terms; allows excess funds held 
in residual receipts accounts, after contract termination, to 
be deposited in this account; and limits the availability and 
use of these funds.
    Language is included under Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, `Housing for Persons with Disabilities' which 
limits the availability of funds; specifies the allocation of 
certain funds; allows funds to be used for inspections or 
inspection-related activities; allows funds to be used to renew 
certain contracts; allows funds held in residual account, after 
contract termination, to be deposited in this account; and 
limits the availability and use of these funds.
    Language is included under Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, `Housing Counseling Assistance' that provides 
funds for described purposes, limits the availability of funds, 
specifies amounts to be used for specified purposes, requires 
the Secretary to make grants within a specified time frame, and 
allows multiyear agreements subject to the availability of 
annual appropriations.
    Language is included under Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, `Rental Housing Assistance' that provides funds 
for the cost of contract amendments; limits the availability of 
funds; and allows the Secretary to use specified unobligated 
balances, including recaptures, carryover and other specified 
remaining funds for specified purposes.
    Language is included under Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, `Payment to Manufactured Housing Fees Trust Fund' 
that permits fees to be assessed, modified, and collected for 
dispute resolution and installation programs; permits temporary 
borrowing authority from the general fund of the Treasury; 
provides that general fund amounts from collections offset the 
appropriation so that the resulting appropriation is a 
specified amount; requires fees collected to be deposited into 
the Manufactured Housing Fees Trust Fund; allows fees to be 
used for necessary expenses and limits their availability; and 
allows the Secretary to use approved service providers.
    Language is included under the Department of Housing and 
Urban Development, `Mutual Mortgage Insurance Program Account' 
which limits new commitments to issue guarantees, limits new 
obligations to make direct loans, specifies funds for 
administrative contract expenses, specifies that the Secretary 
may insure specific mortgages only under certain conditions; 
specifies the extent that the commitment levels allow for 
additional contract expenses, and limits the availability of 
funds.
    Language is included under Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, `General and Special Risk Program Account' which 
limits new commitments to issue guarantees, limits new 
obligations to make direct loans, and limits the availability 
of funds.
    Language is included under Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, `Government National Mortgage Association' which 
limits new commitments to issue guarantees, provides funds for 
salaries and expenses, allows specified receipts to be credited 
as offsetting collections, allows for additional contract 
expenses as guaranteed loan commitments exceed certain levels, 
and limits the availability of funds.
    Language is included under Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, `Policy Development and Research' which limits the 
availability of funds, specifies authorized uses, allows the 
Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements under specified 
circumstances; directs the submission of a spend plan; and 
prohibits funding for a specified use.
    Language is included under Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, `Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity' which 
provides funds for certain purposes, limits the availability of 
funds, requires the Secretary to make grants within a specified 
time frame, authorizes the Secretary to assess and collect 
fees, and provides funds for programs that support the 
assistance of persons with limited English proficiency.
    Language is included under Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, `Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes' 
which changes the period of availability of funds, specifies 
the amount of funds for specific purposes, specifies the 
treatment of certain grants, specifies a matching requirement 
for grants, and requires a certification of adequate capacity.
    Language is included under Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, `Information Technology Fund' which changes the 
period of availability and purpose of funds, including funds 
transferred, and requires a plan for expenditure.
    Language is included under Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, `Office of Inspector General' which specifies the 
use of funds and directs that the IG shall have independent 
authority over all personnel issues within the office.
    Section 201 splits overpayments evenly between Treasury and 
State HFAs.
    Section 202 prohibits funds from being used to investigate 
or prosecute lawful activities under the Fair Housing Act.
    Section 203 requires any grant or cooperative agreement to 
be made on a competitive basis, unless otherwise provided, in 
accordance with Section 102 of the Department of Housing and 
Urban Development Reform Act of 1989.
    Section 204 relates to the availability of funds for 
services and facilities for GSEs and others subject to the 
Government Corporation Control Act and the Housing Act of 1950.
    Section 205 prohibits the use of funds in excess of the 
budget estimates, unless provided otherwise.
    Section 206 relates to the expenditure of funds for 
corporations and agencies subject to the Government Corporation 
Control Act.
    Section 207 requires the Secretary to provide quarterly 
reports on uncommitted, unobligated, recaptured, and excess 
funds in each departmental program and activity.
    Section 208 requires the Administration's budget and HUD's 
budget justifications for fiscal year 2020 be submitted in the 
identical account and sub-account structure provided in this 
Act.
    Section 209 exempts GNMA from certain requirements of the 
Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990.
    Section 210 authorizes HUD to transfer debt and use 
agreements from an obsolete project to a viable project, 
provided that no additional costs are incurred and other 
conditions are met.
    Section 211 sets forth requirements for Section 8 voucher 
assistance eligibility, and includes consideration for persons 
with disabilities.
    Section 212 distributes Native American Housing Block 
Grants to the same Native Alaskan recipients as in fiscal year 
2005.
    Section 213 instructs HUD on managing and disposing of any 
multifamily property that is owned or held by HUD.
    Section 214 allows PHAs that own and operate 400 or fewer 
units of public housing to be exempt from asset management 
requirements.
    Section 215 restricts the Secretary from imposing any 
requirements or guidelines relating to asset management that 
restrict or limit the use of capital funds for central office 
costs, up to the limit established in QHWRA.
    Section 216 requires that no employee of the Department 
shall be designated as an allotment holder unless the CFO 
determines that such employee has received certain training.
    Section 217 requires the Secretary to publish all notices 
of funding availability that are competitively awarded on the 
internet for fiscal year 2019.
    Section 218 requires attorney fees for programmatic 
litigation to be paid from the individual program office and 
Office of General Counsel salaries and expenses appropriations, 
and requires the Department to submit a spend plan to the House 
and Senate Committees on Appropriations.
    Section 219 allows the Secretary to transfer up to 10 
percent of funds or $5,000,000, whichever is less, appropriated 
under the headings `Administrative Support Offices' or `Program 
Office Salaries and Expenses' to any other office funded under 
such headings.
    Section 220 requires HUD to take certain actions against 
owners receiving rental subsidies that do not maintain safe 
properties.
    Section 221 places a salary and bonus limit on public 
housing agency officials and employees.
    Section 222 requires the Secretary to notify the House and 
Senate Committees on Appropriations at least 3 full business 
days before grant awards are announced.
    Section 223 prohibits funds to be used to require or 
enforce the Physical Needs Assessment (PNA).
    Section 224 prohibits funds for HUD financing of mortgages 
for properties that have been subject to eminent domain.
    Section 225 prohibits the use of funds to terminate the 
status of a unit of general local government as a metropolitan 
city with respect to grants under section 106 of the Housing 
and Community Development Act of 1974.
    Section 226 allows funding for research, evaluation, and 
statistical purposes that is unexpended at the time of 
completion of the contract, grant, or cooperative agreement to 
be reobligated for additional research.
    Section 227 authorizes the Secretary on a limited basis to 
use funds available under the `Homeless Assistance Grants' 
heading to participate in the multiagency Performance 
Partnership Pilots program.
    Section 228 allows program income as an eligible match for 
2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 Continuum of Care funds.
    Section 229 permits HUD to provide one year transition 
grants under the continuum of care program with no more than 50 
percent of the grant provided for costs of eligible activities 
of the program component originally funded.
    Section 230 prohibits the use of funds to direct a grantee 
to undertake specific changes to existing zoning laws as part 
of carrying out the final rule entitled, ``Affirmatively 
Furthering Fair Housing'' or the notice entitled, 
``Affirmatively Further Fair Housing Assessment Tool''.
    Section 231 establishes the HUD HAG fund, specifies 
authorized uses and specifies conditions for transfers into the 
fund.
    Section 232 maintains current Promise Zone designations and 
agreements.
    Section 233 prohibits funds from being used to establish 
review criteria, including rating factors or preference points, 
for competitive grants programs for EnVision Center 
participation or coordination.
    Section 234 prohibits funds from being used to implement, 
administer, enforce, or in any way make effective the proposed 
rule entitled ``Housing and Community Development Act of 1980: 
Verification of Eligible Status'', issued by the Department on 
May 10, 2019 (Docket No. FR-6124-P-01), or any final rule based 
substantively on such proposed rule.
    Section 235 requires the Department to make data for 
broadband and resiliency requirements to be incorporated into 
Consolidated Plans available to grantees not later than 90 days 
after enactment of this Act and requires grantees to 
incorporate broadband and resiliency components into their 
Consolidated Plans not later than 270 days from enactment of 
this Act.
    Section 236 prohibits the use of funds to repeal or revise 
the ``Equal Access in Accordance With an Individual's Gender 
Identity in Community Planning and Development Programs'' (81 
Fed. Reg. 64763) or the ``Equal Access to Housing in HUD 
Programs Regardless of Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity'' 
(77 Fed. Reg. 5662) rules.
    Section 237 gives the HUD notice entitled ``Appropriate 
Placement for Transgender Persons in Single-Sex Emergency 
Shelters and Other Facilities'' (Notice CPD-15-02) the force 
and effect of law.
    Section 238 prohibits the Secretary, in this fiscal year or 
any fiscal year thereafter, to implement, require, enforce, or 
otherwise make effective any change, amendment, or alteration 
to any term or condition of the Annual Contributions Contract 
between the Secretary and any public housing agency, as such 
contract was in effect as of January 1, 2018, unless such 
change, amendment, or alteration is made pursuant to a rule 
issued after notice and an opportunity for public comment and 
in accordance with the procedure under section 553 of title 5, 
United States Code.

                      TITLE III--RELATED AGENCIES

    Language is included for the Access Board, `Salaries and 
Expenses' that limits funds for necessary expenses and allows 
for the credit to the appropriation of funds received for 
publications and training expenses.
    Language is included for the Federal Maritime Commission, 
`Salaries and Expenses' that provides funds for services 
authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109, the hire of passenger motor 
vehicles, uniforms and allowances; and limits funds for 
official reception and representation expenses.
    Language is included for the National Railroad Passenger 
Corporation, Office of Inspector General (OIG), `Salaries and 
Expenses' which provides funds for an independent, objective 
unit responsible for detecting and preventing fraud, waste, 
abuse, and violations of law. Language allows the OIG to enter 
into contracts; allows the OIG to select, appoint, or employ 
officers and employees to carry out its functions; and requires 
the OIG to submit its budget request concurrently with the 
President's budget and in a similar format.
    Language is included under National Transportation Safety 
Board, `Salaries and Expenses' that provides funds for hire of 
passenger motor vehicles and aircraft, services authorized by 5 
U.S.C. 3109, uniforms or allowances therefore, limits funds for 
official reception and representation expenses and allows funds 
to be used to pay for costs associated with a capital lease.
    Language is included in the Neighborhood Reinvestment 
Corporation (NRC), `Payment to the Neighborhood Reinvestment 
Corporation' that specifies the allocation of funds.
    Language is included under Surface Transportation Board, 
`Salaries and Expenses' which provides funds, allows the 
collection of a specified level of fees established by the 
Chairman of the Surface Transportation Board, and provides that 
the sum appropriated from the general fund of the Treasury 
shall be reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis as such fees are 
received.
    Language is included under the United States Interagency 
Council on Homelessness, `Operating Expenses' that provides 
funds to carry out functions pursuant to title II of the 
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.

                 TITLE IV--GENERAL PROVISIONS, THIS ACT

    Section 401 prohibits the use of funds for the planning or 
execution of any program to pay the expenses of, or otherwise 
compensate, non-Federal parties intervening in regulatory or 
adjudicatory proceedings.
    Section 402 prohibits the obligation of funds beyond the 
current fiscal year and the transfer of funds to other 
appropriations, unless expressly provided.
    Section 403 limits consulting service expenditures through 
procurement contracts to those contracts contained in the 
public record, except where otherwise provided under existing 
law.
    Section 404 prohibits funds from being used for certain 
types of employee training.
    Section 405 specifies requirements for the reprogramming of 
funds and requires agencies to submit a report in order to 
establish the baseline for the application of reprogramming and 
transfer authorities.
    Section 406 provides that not to exceed fifty percent of 
unobligated balances for salaries and expenses may remain 
available until September 30, 2020, for each account for the 
purposes authorized, subject to the approval of the House and 
Senate Committees on Appropriations.
    Section 407 prohibits the use of funds for any project that 
seeks to use the power of eminent domain, unless eminent domain 
is employed only for a public use.
    Section 408 prohibits funds from being transferred to any 
department, agency, or instrumentality of the U.S. Government, 
except where transfer authority is provided in this or any 
other appropriations Act.
    Section 409 prohibits funds from being used to permanently 
replace an employee intent on returning to his or her past 
occupation following completion of military service.
    Section 410 prohibits funds from being used by an entity 
unless the expenditure is in compliance with the Buy American 
Act.
    Section 411 prohibits funds from being made available to 
any person or entity that has been convicted of violating the 
Buy American Act.
    Section 412 prohibits funds from being used for first-class 
airline accommodations in contravention of sections 301-10.122 
and 301-10.123 of title 41 CFR.
    Section 413 prohibits funds from being used for the 
approval of a new foreign air carrier permit or exemption 
application if that approval would contravene United States law 
or Article 17 bis of the U.S.-E.U.-Iceland-Norway Air Transport 
Agreement.
    Section 414 restricts the number of employees that agencies 
may send to international conferences unless such attendance is 
important to the national interest.
    Section 415 caps the amount of fees the Surface 
Transportation Board can charge or collect for rate or practice 
complaints filed at the amount authorized for district court 
civil suit filing fees.
    Section 416 prohibits the use of funds to purchase or lease 
new light-duty vehicles for any executive fleet, except in 
accordance with Presidential Memorandum-Federal Fleet 
Performance, dated May 24, 2011.
    Section 417 prohibits funds from being used to maintain or 
establish computer networks unless such networks block the 
viewing, downloading, or exchange of pornography.
    Section 418 prohibits funds from being used to deny an 
Inspector General timely access to any records, documents, or 
other materials available to the department or agency over 
which that Inspector General has responsibilities, or to 
prevent or impede that Inspector General's access to such 
records, documents, or other materials.
    Section 419 prohibits funds from being used to pay award or 
incentive payments to contractors who fail to meet certain 
requirements.

                  APPROPRIATIONS NOT AUTHORIZED BY LAW

    Pursuant to clause 3(f)(1)(B) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, the following table lists the 
appropriations in the accompanying bill which are not 
authorized by law for the period concerned:

                        APPROPRIATIONS NOT AUTHORIZED BY LAW AND EXPIRING AUTHORIZATIONS
                                             [Dollars in Thousands]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Appropriations
                                                   Last year of    Authorization   in last year   Appropriations
                    Program                       authorization        level            of         in this bill
                                                                                   authorization
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Title I--Department of Transportation
 
Office of the Secretary:
    National Infrastructure Investments........             N/A   not applicable  not applicable      $1,000,000
    Payments to Air Carriers...................            2018         $150,000        $155,000        $175,000
    Section 106................................             N/A   not applicable  not applicable         $10,000
Federal Highway Administration:
    Highway Infrastructure Grants..............             N/A   not applicable  not applicable       1,750,000
Federal Railroad Administration:
    Safety and Operations......................            2013          293,000         169,254         226,698
    Magnetic Levitation Technology Development             2009           45,000  not applicable          10,000
     Program...................................
Federal Transit Administration:
    Transit Infrastructure Grants..............             N/A   not applicable  not applicable         750,000
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
 Administration:
    Operational Expenses.......................            2019           23,000          23,710          23,710
    Pipeline Safety
        Pipeline Safety Fund...................            2019          134,000         134,000         137,000
        Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund.........            2019           23,000          23,000          23,000
        Underground Natural Gas Storage                    2019            8,000           8,000           8,000
         Facility Safety Account...............
 
                              Title II--Department of Housing and Urban Development
 
Management and Administration                              1994       $1,029,496        $916,963      $1,385,432
Rental Assistance:
    Section 8 Voucher Renewals and                         1994        8,446,173       5,458,106      23,810,000
     Administrative Expenses...................
    Public Housing Capital Fund................            2003        3,000,000       2,712,555       2,855,057
    Public Housing Operating Fund..............            2003        2,900,000       3,576,600       4,753,116
Native American Housing Block Grants                       2013     Such sums as         616,001         780,000
                                                                       necessary
Indian Housing Loan Guarantee Fund                         2014           50,000           1,000           2,500
Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant                        2005     Such sums as  not applicable           2,500
                                                                       necessary
Housing Opportunity for Persons with AIDS                  1994          156,300         156,000         410,000
Community Development Fund\1\                              1994        4,168,000       4,877,389       3,675,000
Community Development Loan Guarantee Limitation            1994   not applicable  not applicable       [300,000]
Home Investment Partnerships Program                       1994        2,173,612       1,275,000       1,750,000
Choice Neighborhoods Initiatives                            N/A   not applicable  not applicable         300,000
Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program                2001     Such sums as          48,000          55,000
                                                                       necessary
Homeless Assistance                                        2011     Such sums as       1,901,190       2,546,000
                                                                       necessary
Housing for the Elderly                                    2003     Such sums as         783,286         803,000
                                                                       necessary
Housing for Persons with Disabilities                      2015          300,000         135,000         258,510
FHA General and Special Risk Program Account:
    Limitations on Guaranteed Loans............            1995     Such sums as    [20,885,072]    [30,000,000]
                                                                       necessary
    Limitation on Direct Loans.................            1995     Such sums as       [220,000]         [1,000]
                                                                       necessary
GNMA Mortgage Backed Securities Loan Guarantee
 Program Account:
    Limitations on Guaranteed Loans............            1996    [110,000,000]   [110,000,000]   [550,000,000]
    Administrative Expenses....................            1996     Such sums as           9,101          24,400
                                                                       necessary
Policy Development and Research                            1994           36,470          35,000          98,000
Fair Housing Activities, Fair Housing Program              1994           26,000          20,481          75,300
Lead Hazard Reduction Program                              1994          250,000         150,000         290,000
 
                                           Title III--Related Agencies
 
Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation..........            1994           30,714          31,715         170,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Reflects amounts associated with Indian Community Development Block Grants appropriated within the Native
  American Programs account.

                          PROGRAM DUPLICATIONS

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(5) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, no provision of this bill establishes 
or reauthorizes a program of the Federal Government known to be 
duplicative of another Federal program, a program that was 
included in any report from the Government Accountability 
Office to Congress pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111-
139, or a program related to a program identified in the most 
recent Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance.

                   COMPARISON WITH BUDGET RESOLUTION

    Section 308(a)(1)(A) of the Congressional Budget Act of 
1974 (P.L. 93-344), as amended, requires the report 
accompanying a bill providing new budget authority to contain a 
statement comparing the levels in the bill to the 
suballocations submitted under section 302(b) of the Act for 
the most recently agreed to concurrent resolution on the budget 
for the applicable fiscal year.

                                            [In millions of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      302(b) Allocation                    This Bill
                                              ------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Budget                          Budget
                                                  Authority        Outlays        Authority         Outlays
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comparison of amounts in the bill with
 Committee allocations to its subcommittees:
 Subcommittee on Transportation, and Housing
 and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
    Discretionary............................          75,771         133,300          75,771         \1\133,149
    Mandatory................................               0               0               0               \1\0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Includes outlays from prior-year budget authority.
Note.--The amounts in this report do not include $878,000,000 in discretionary outlays from funding provided by
  the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act, 2019, that was designated as being for
  emergency requirements pursuant to section 251 of the Balanced Budget Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit
  Control Act of 1985. Consistent with the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, in the House of Representatives
  such amounts do not count against the Committee's allocation.

                      FIVE-YEAR OUTLAY PROJECTIONS

    In compliance with section 308(a)(1)(B) of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-344), as amended, the 
following table contains five-year projections associated with 
the budget authority provided in the accompanying bill.

                                            [In millions of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                      Outlays
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Projection of outlays associated with the
 recommendation:
    2020........................................  ..............  ..............  ..............       \1\49,580
    2021........................................  ..............  ..............  ..............          40,803
    2022........................................  ..............  ..............  ..............          17,797
    2023........................................  ..............  ..............  ..............           8,745
    2024 and future years.......................  ..............  ..............  ..............          13,224
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Excludes outlays from prior-year budget authority.

          FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

    In accordance with section 308(a)(1)(C) of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-344), as amended, the 
Congressional Budget Office has provided the following 
estimates of new budget authority and outlays provided by the 
accompanying bill for financial assistance to State and local 
governments.

                        [In millions of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              Budget
                                             Authority        Outlays
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Financial assistance to State and local           41,136       \1\35,098
 governments for 2020...................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Excludes outlays from prior-year budget authority.

                           COMMITTEE HEARINGS

    In compliance with Sec. 103(i) of H. Res. 6 (116th 
Congress) the following hearings were used to develop the 
fiscal year 2020 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, 
and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Date                 Title of Hearing        Witnesses
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Feb. 12, 2019...................  Oversight Hearing:  Mr. Brian
                                   The Department of   Montgomery,
                                   Housing and Urban   Acting Deputy
                                   Development's       Secretary, FHA
                                   Management of       Commissioner and
                                   Housing Contracts   Assistant
                                   During the          Secretary for
                                   Shutdown.           Housing,
                                                       Department of
                                                       Housing and Urban
                                                       Development; Mr.
                                                       Irv Dennis, Chief
                                                       Financial
                                                       Officer,
                                                       Department of
                                                       Housing and Urban
                                                       Development.
Feb. 27, 2019...................  Stakeholder         Ms. Claudia L.
                                   Perspectives:       Aranda, Senior
                                   Fair Housing..      Research
                                                       Associate,
                                                       Director of Field
                                                       Operations, Urban
                                                       Institute; Mrs.
                                                       Keenya Robertson,
                                                       President & CEO,
                                                       Housing
                                                       Opportunities
                                                       Project for
                                                       Excellence, Inc.
March 7, 2019...................  Stakeholder         Mr. Scott Farmer,
                                   Perspectives:       Executive
                                   Affordable          Director, North
                                   Housing             Carolina Housing
                                   Production.         Finance Agency;
                                                       Ms. Ellen Lurie
                                                       Hoffman, Federal
                                                       Policy Director,
                                                       National Housing
                                                       Trust; Mr.
                                                       Anthony Scott,
                                                       Chief Executive
                                                       Officer, Durham
                                                       Housing
                                                       Authority.
March 12, 2019..................  Stakeholder         Mr. Stephen
                                   Perspectives:       Gardner, Senior
                                   Passenger Rail      Executive Vice
                                   Development.        President,
                                                       Commercial,
                                                       Marketing and
                                                       Strategy, Amtrak;
                                                       Mr. Jason
                                                       Orthner, Rail
                                                       Division
                                                       Director, North
                                                       Carolina
                                                       Department of
                                                       Transportation;
                                                       Mr. DJ Mitchell,
                                                       Assistant Vice
                                                       President,
                                                       Passenger
                                                       Operations, BNSF
                                                       Railway.
March 13, 2019..................  Stakeholder         Carol Haddock,
                                   Perspectives:       Director, Houston
                                   Building            Public Works;
                                   Resilient           Laura Lightbody,
                                   Communities.        Project Director,
                                                       Flood-Prepared
                                                       Communities, Pew
                                                       Charitable
                                                       Trusts; Franklin
                                                       Moon, Professor,
                                                       Civil and
                                                       Environmental
                                                       Engineering,
                                                       Rutgers
                                                       University;
                                                       Jennifer Raitt,
                                                       Director of
                                                       Planning and
                                                       Community
                                                       Development, Town
                                                       of Arlington, MA.
March 26, 2019..................  Member Day Hearing  The Honorable
                                                       Peter J.
                                                       Visclosky (IN01);
                                                       The Honorable Tom
                                                       Malinowski
                                                       (NJ07); The
                                                       Honorable Max
                                                       Rose (NY11); The
                                                       Honorable Steve
                                                       C. Watkins Jr.
                                                       (KS02); The
                                                       Honorable Gilbert
                                                       Ray Cisneros Jr.
                                                       (CA39); The
                                                       Honorable Adriano
                                                       Espaillat (NY13);
                                                       The Honorable
                                                       Jefferson Van
                                                       Drew (NJ02); The
                                                       Honorable Sheila
                                                       Jackson Lee
                                                       (TX18).
April 3, 2019...................  Department of       The Honorable
                                   Housing and Urban   Benjamin S.
                                   Development         Carson,
                                   Budget Request      Secretary,
                                   for Fiscal Year     Department of
                                   2020.               Housing and Urban
                                                       Development.
April 10, 2019..................  Department of       The Honorable
                                   Transportation      Elaine L. Chao,
                                   Budget Request      Secretary,
                                   for Fiscal Year     Department of
                                   2020.               Transportation.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
                                                       

                             MINORITY VIEWS

    We appreciate that the Transportation, Housing and Urban 
Development, and Related Agencies bill supports several 
programs and policies that are priorities for Members on both 
sides of the aisle. In addition, we commend the majority for 
continuing to work in a collaborative manner on a wide range of 
initiatives in this bill. This spirit of cooperation will 
enable the Committee to continue to improve this bill as it 
moves through the legislative process.
    We are pleased that the majority has included funding for 
several programs to improve our nation's transportation 
infrastructure. These investments will help facilitate the 
movement of American goods, both domestically and 
internationally, and will improve the safety of the traveling 
public.
    We commend the majority for including funding for grant 
programs that will directly benefit states and local 
communities, including significant funding for Better Utilizing 
Investment to Leverage Development (BUILD), airport, highway, 
rail, and transit grants. We are particularly pleased that the 
majority included funding for port infrastructure and marine 
highways, which will facilitate transport of cargo domestically 
and internationally.
    The bill includes a provision exempting agriculture haulers 
from electronic logging device requirements. This common-sense 
regulatory relief will create benefits across multiple sectors 
of the agricultural economy.
    We appreciate that the bill allocates funds to ensure that 
vulnerable citizens continue to have opportunities for safe, 
affordable housing. In particular, we are pleased that the bill 
includes funding for the mobility voucher program, which helps 
families move to neighborhoods with greater economic and 
educational opportunities, as well as funding for vouchers for 
persons with disabilities.
    We object to the inclusion of provisions that prohibit the 
Department of Transportation from establishing uniform rules 
for commercial motor vehicles (Section 133); require the 
Department of Transportation to publish flawed Compliance, 
Safety, Accountability data on motor carrier enforcement 
(Section 134); and prevent the Department of Transportation 
from providing targeted relief to commercial motor vehicle 
hours of service requirements (Section 135).
    We also oppose the inclusion of a prohibition that prevents 
the Department of Transportation from finalizing or enforcing 
the Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient Vehicles Rule or any 
successor rule. This would leave in place a rule that would 
drive up costs for consumers and compromise public safety.
    We have serious concerns about a provision that would limit 
the Department of Transportation's ability to recover and 
reallocate funds from the California High Speed Rail Authority, 
even though the grantee has failed to meet the terms of its 
grant agreement (Section 192).
    Our primary concern, however, is that this bill has been 
written with an unrealistic allocation and without a budget 
agreement that sets responsible caps for fiscal year 2020 
discretionary spending. The bill's allocation is nearly seven 
percent above the fiscal year 2019 enacted level. This is an 
irresponsible and unsustainable spending increase. We look 
forward to working with the majority to modify this bill once a 
responsible top line budget agreement is enacted for fiscal 
year 2020.

                                   Kay Granger.
                                   Mario Diaz-Balart.

                                  [all]