[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 131, 115th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


Public Law 115-54
115th Congress

Joint Resolution


 
Granting the consent and approval of Congress for the Commonwealth of
Virginia, the State of Maryland, and the District of Columbia to enter
into a compact relating to the establishment of the Washington Metrorail
Safety Commission. <>

Whereas the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, an
interstate compact agency of the District of Columbia, the
Commonwealth of Virginia, and the State of Maryland, provides
transportation services to millions of people each year, the safety
of whom is paramount;

Whereas an effective and safe Washington Metropolitan Area Transit
Authority system is essential to the commerce and prosperity of the
National Capital region;

Whereas the Tri-State Oversight Committee, created by a memorandum of
understanding amongst these 3 jurisdictions, has provided safety
oversight of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority;

Whereas 49 U.S.C. 5329 requires the creation of a legally and
financially independent state authority for safety oversight of all
fixed rail transit facilities;

Whereas the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the
State of Maryland intend to create a Washington Metrorail Safety
Commission to act as the state safety oversight authority for the
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority system under 49
U.S.C. 5329; and

Whereas this compact is created for the benefit of the people of the
District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the State of
Maryland and for the increase of their safety, commerce, and
prosperity: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,


consent and approval of congress


Section 1. The consent and approval of Congress is hereby given for
the Commonwealth of Virginia, the State of Maryland, and the District of
Columbia to enter into a compact for the safety oversight of the
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Metrorail system (known
as the Metrorail Safety Commission Interstate Compact), which has been
negotiated by representatives of the State, the Commonwealth, and the
District, substantially as follows:

[[Page 1094]]

``ARTICLE I

``DEFINITIONS

``1. As used in this MSC Compact, the following words and terms
shall have the meanings set forth below, unless the context clearly
requires a different meaning. Capitalized terms used herein, but not
otherwise defined in this MSC Compact, shall have the definition set
forth in regulations issued under 49 U.S.C. Sec.  5329, as they may be
revised from time to time.
``(a) `Alternate Member' means an alternate member of the
Board;
``(b) `Board' means the board of directors of the
Commission;
``(c) `Commission' means the Washington Metrorail Safety
Commission;
``(d) `Member' means a member of the Board;
``(e) `MSC Compact' means this Washington Metrorail Safety
Commission Interstate Compact;
``(f) `Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan' means the
comprehensive agency safety plan for a rail transit agency
required by 49 U.S.C. Sec.  5329 and the regulations issued
thereunder, as may be amended or revised from time to time;
``(g) `Public Transportation Safety Certification Training
Program' means the federal certification training program, as
established and amended from time to time by applicable federal
laws and regulations, for federal and state employees, or other
designated personnel, who conduct safety audits and examinations
of public transportation systems, and employees of public
transportation agencies directly responsible for safety
oversight;
``(h) `Safety Sensitive Position' means any position held by
a WMATA employee or contractor designated in the Public
Transportation Agency Safety Plan for the WMATA Rail System and
approved by the Commission as directly or indirectly affecting
the safety of the passengers or employees of the WMATA Rail
System;
``(i) `Signatory' means the State of Maryland, the
Commonwealth of Virginia, and the District of Columbia;
``(j) `State', `state', or `jurisdiction' means the District
of Columbia, the State of Maryland, or the Commonwealth of
Virginia;
``(k) `Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority' or
`WMATA' is the entity created by the WMATA Compact, which entity
is responsible for providing certain rail fixed guideway public
transportation system services;
``(l) `WMATA Compact' means the Washington Metropolitan Area
Transit Authority Compact, approved November 6, 1966 (80 Stat.
1324; D.C. Official Code Sec.  9-1107.01 et seq.); and
``(m) `WMATA Rail System' or `Metrorail' means the rail
fixed guideway public transportation system and all other real
and personal property owned, leased, operated, or otherwise used
by WMATA rail services and shall include WMATA rail projects
under design or construction by owners other than WMATA.

[[Page 1095]]

``ARTICLE II

``PURPOSE AND FUNCTIONS

``2. The Signatories to the WMATA Compact hereby adopt this MSC
Compact pursuant to 49 U.S.C. Sec.  5329. The Commission created
hereunder shall have safety regulatory and enforcement authority over
the WMATA Rail System and shall act as the state safety oversight
authority for WMATA under 49 U.S.C. Sec.  5329, as may be amended from
time to time. WMATA shall be subject to the Commission's rules,
regulations, actions, and orders.
``3. The purpose of this MSC Compact is to create a state safety
oversight authority for the WMATA Rail System, pursuant to the mandate
of federal law, as a common agency of each Signatory, empowered in the
manner hereinafter set forth to review, approve, oversee, and enforce
the safety of the WMATA Rail System, including, without limitation, to:
``(a) Have exclusive safety oversight authority and
responsibility over the WMATA Rail System pursuant to federal
law, including, without limitation, the power to restrict,
suspend, or prohibit rail service on all or part of the WMATA
Rail System as set forth in this MSC Compact;
``(b) Develop and adopt a written state safety oversight
program standard;
``(c) Review and approve the WMATA Public Transportation
Agency Safety Plan;
``(d) Investigate hazards, incidents, and accidents on the
WMATA Rail System;
``(e) Require, review, approve, oversee, and enforce
Corrective Action Plans developed by WMATA; and
``(f) Meet other requirements of federal and State law
relating to safety oversight of the WMATA Rail System.

``ARTICLE III

``ESTABLISHMENT AND ORGANIZATION

``A. Washington Metrorail Safety Commission
``4. The Commission is hereby created as an instrumentality of each
Signatory, which shall be a public body corporate and politic, and which
shall have the powers and duties set forth in this MSC Compact.
``5. The Commission shall be financially and legally independent
from WMATA.
``B. Board Membership
``6. The Commission shall be governed by a Board of 6 Members with 2
Members appointed or reappointed (including to fill an unexpired term)
by each Signatory pursuant to the Signatory's applicable laws.
``7. Each Signatory shall also appoint or reappoint (including to
fill an unexpired term) one Alternate Member pursuant to the Signatory's
applicable laws.
``8. An Alternate Member shall participate and take action as a
Member only in the absence of one or both Members appointed from the
same jurisdiction as the Alternate Member's appointing jurisdiction and,
in such instances, may cast a single vote.

[[Page 1096]]

``9. Members and Alternate Members shall have backgrounds in transit
safety, transportation, relevant engineering disciplines, or public
finance.
``10. No Member or Alternate Member shall simultaneously hold an
elected public office, serve on the WMATA board of directors, be
employed by WMATA, or be a contractor to WMATA.
``11. Each Member and Alternate Member shall serve a 4-year term and
may be reappointed for additional terms; except that, each Signatory
shall make its initial appointments as follows:
``(a) One Member shall be appointed for a 4-year term;
``(b) One Member shall be appointed for a 2-year term; and
``(c) <> The Alternate Member shall be
appointed for a 3-year term.

``12. Any person appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve for the
unexpired term.
``13. Members and Alternate Members shall be entitled to
reimbursement for reasonable and necessary expenses and shall be
compensated for each day spent meeting on the business of the Commission
at a rate of $200 per day or at such other rate as may be adjusted in
appropriations approved by all of the Signatories.
``14. A Member or an Alternate Member may be removed or suspended
from office only for cause in accordance with the laws of such Member's
or Alternate Member's appointing jurisdiction.
``C. Quorum and Actions of the Board
``15. Four Members shall constitute a quorum, and the affirmative
vote of 4 Members is required for action of the Board. Quorum and voting
requirements under this paragraph may be met with one or more Alternate
Members pursuant to section 8.
``16. <> The Commission action shall become
effective upon enactment unless otherwise provided for by the
Commission.

``D. Oath of Office
``17. Before entering office, each Member and Alternate Member shall
take and subscribe to the following oath (or affirmation) of office or
any such other oath or affirmation as the constitution or laws of the
Signatory he or she represents shall provide:

``I, ___________, hereby solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will
support and defend the Constitution and the laws of the United States as
a Member (or Alternate Member) of the Board of the Washington Metrorail
Safety Commission and will faithfully discharge the duties of the office
upon which I am about to enter.
``E. Organization and Procedure
``18. The Board shall provide for its own organization and
procedure. Meetings of the Board shall be held as frequently as the
Board determines, but in no event less than quarterly. The Board shall
keep minutes of its meetings and establish rules and regulations
governing its transactions and internal affairs, including, without
limitation, policies regarding records retention that are not in
conflict with applicable federal record retention laws.
``19. The Commission shall keep commercially reasonable records of
its financial transactions in accordance with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America.
``20. The Commission shall establish an office for the conduct of
its affairs at a location to be determined by the Commission.

[[Page 1097]]

``21. The Commission shall adopt 5 U.S.C. Sec.  552(a)-(d) and (g),
and 5 U.S.C. Sec.  552b, as both may be amended from time to time, as
its freedom-of-information policy and open-meeting policy, respectively,
and shall not be subject to the comparable laws or policies of any
Signatory.
``22. Reports of investigations or inquiries adopted by the Board
shall be made publicly available.
``23. The Commission shall adopt a policy on conflict of interest
that shall be consistent with the regulations issued under 49 U.S.C.
Sec.  5329, as they may be revised from time to time, which, among other
things, places appropriate separation between Members, officers,
employees, contractors, and agents of the Commission and WMATA.
``24. The Commission shall adopt and utilize its own administrative
procedure and procurement policies in conformance with applicable
federal regulations and shall not be subject to the administrative
procedure or procurement laws of any Signatory.
``F. Officers and Employees
``25. The Board shall elect a Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary,
and Treasurer from among its Members, each for a 2-year term and shall
prescribe their powers and duties.
``26. The Board shall appoint and fix the compensation and benefits
of a chief executive officer who shall be the chief administrative
officer of the Commission and who shall have expertise in transportation
safety and one or more industry-recognized transportation safety
certifications.
``27. Consistent with 49 U.S.C. Sec.  5329, as may be amended from
time to time, the Commission may employ, under the direction of the
chief executive officer, such other technical, legal, clerical, and
other employees on a regular, part-time, or as-needed basis as it
determines necessary or desirable for the discharge of its duties.
``28. The Commission shall not be bound by any statute or regulation
of any Signatory in the employment or discharge of any officer or
employee of the Commission, but shall develop its own policies in
compliance with federal law. The MSC shall, however, consider the laws
of the Signatories in devising its employment and discharge policies,
and when it deems it practical, devise policies consistent with the laws
of the Signatories.
``29. The Board may fix and provide policies for the qualification,
appointment, removal, term, tenure, compensation benefits, worker's
compensation, pension, and retirement rights of its employees subject to
federal law. The Board may also establish a personnel system based on
merit and fitness and, subject to eligibility, participate in the
pension, retirement, and worker's compensation plans of any Signatory or
agency or political subdivision thereof.

``ARTICLE IV

``POWERS

``A. Safety Oversight Powers
``30. In carrying out its purposes, the Commission, through its
Board or designated employees or agents, shall, consistent with federal
law:

[[Page 1098]]

``(a) Adopt, revise, and distribute a written State Safety Oversight
Program;
``(b) <> Review, approve, oversee, and enforce the
adoption and implementation of WMATA's Public Transportation Agency
Safety Plan;

``(c) <> Require, review, approve, oversee, and
enforce the adoption and implementation of any Corrective Action Plans
that the Commission deems appropriate;

``(d) Implement and enforce relevant federal and State laws and
regulations relating to safety of the WMATA Rail System; and
``(e) <> Audit every 3 years the
compliance of WMATA with WMATA's Public Transportation Agency Safety
Plan or conduct such an audit on an ongoing basis over a 3-year time
frame.

``31. In performing its duties, the Commission, through its Board or
designated employees or agents, may:
``(a) Conduct, or cause to be conducted, inspections,
investigations, examinations, and testing of WMATA personnel and
contractors, property, equipment, facilities, rolling stock, and
operations of the WMATA Rail System, including, without limitation,
electronic information and databases through reasonable means, which may
include issuance of subpoenas;
``(b) Enter upon the WMATA Rail System and, upon reasonable notice
and a finding by the chief executive officer that a need exists, upon
any lands, waters, and premises adjacent to the WMATA Rail System,
including, without limitation, property owned or occupied by the federal
government, for the purpose of making inspections, investigations,
examinations, and testing as the Commission may deem necessary to carry
out the purposes of this MSC Compact, and such entry shall not be deemed
a trespass. The Commission shall make reasonable reimbursement for any
actual damage resulting to any such adjacent lands, waters, and premises
as a result of such activities;
``(c) Compel WMATA's compliance with any Corrective Action Plan or
order of the Commission by such means as the Commission deems
appropriate, including, without limitation, by:
``(1) Taking legal action in a court of competent
jurisdiction;
``(2) Issuing citations or fines with funds going into an
escrow account for spending by WMATA on Commission-directed
safety measures;
``(3) Directing WMATA to prioritize spending on safety-
critical items;
``(4) Removing a specific vehicle, infrastructure element,
or hazard from the WMATA Rail System; and
``(5) Compelling WMATA to restrict, suspend, or prohibit
rail service on all or part of the WMATA Rail System with an
appropriate notice period dictated by the circumstances;

``(d) Direct WMATA to suspend or disqualify from performing in any
Safety Sensitive Position an individual who is alleged to or has
violated safety rules, regulations, policies, or laws;
``(e) Compel WMATA's Office of the Inspector General, created under
WMATA Board Resolution 2006-18, or any successor WMATA office or
organization having similar duties, to conduct safety-related audits or
investigations and to provide its findings to the Commission; and
``(f) Take such other actions as the Commission may deem appropriate
consistent with its purpose and powers.

[[Page 1099]]

``32. Action by the Board under section 31(c)(5) shall require the
unanimous vote of all Members present and voting. The Commission shall
coordinate its enforcement activities with appropriate federal and State
governmental authorities.
``B. General Powers
``33. In addition to the powers and duties set forth above, the
Commission may:
``(a) Sue and be sued;
``(b) Adopt, amend, and repeal rules and regulations respecting the
exercise of the powers conferred by this MSC Compact;
``(c) Create and abolish offices, employments, and positions (other
than those specifically provided for in this MSC Compact) necessary or
desirable for the purposes of the Commission;
``(d) Determine a staffing level for the Commission that is
commensurate with the size and complexity of the WMATA Rail System, and
require that employees and other designated personnel of the Commission,
who are responsible for safety oversight, be qualified to perform such
functions through appropriate training, including, without limitation,
successful completion of the Public Transportation Safety Certification
Training Program;
``(e) Contract for or employ consulting attorneys, inspectors,
engineers, and such other experts necessary or desirable and, within the
limitations prescribed in this MSC Compact, prescribe their powers and
duties and fix their compensation;
``(f) Enter into and perform contracts, leases, and agreements
necessary or desirable in the performance of its duties and in the
execution of the powers granted under this MSC Compact;
``(g) Apply for, receive, and accept such payments, appropriations,
grants, gifts, loans, advances, and other funds, properties, and
services as may be transferred or made available to it by the United
States government or any other public or private entity or individual,
subject to the limitations specified in section 42;
``(h) Adopt an official seal and alter the same at its pleasure;
``(i) Adopt and amend by-laws, policies, and procedures governing
the regulation of its affairs;
``(j) Appoint one or more advisory committees; and
``(k) Do such other acts necessary or desirable for the performance
of its duties and the execution of its powers under this MSC Compact.
``34. <> Consistent with this MSC Compact, the
Commission shall promulgate rules and regulations to carry out the
purposes of this MSC Compact.

``ARTICLE V

``GENERAL PROVISIONS

``A. Annual Safety Report
``35. The Commission shall make and publish annually a status report
on the safety of the WMATA Rail System, which shall include, among other
requirements established by the Commission and federal law, status
updates of outstanding Corrective Action Plans, Commission directives,
and on-going investigations. A copy of each such report shall be
provided to:
``(a) The Administrator of the Federal Transit
Administration;

[[Page 1100]]

``(b) The Governor of Virginia, the Governor of Maryland,
and the Mayor of the District of Columbia;
``(c) The Chairman of the Council of the District of
Columbia;
``(d) The President of the Maryland Senate and the Speaker
of the Maryland House of Delegates;
``(e) The President of the Virginia Senate and the Speaker
of the Virginia House of Delegates; and
``(f) The General Manager and each member of the board of
directors of WMATA.

``36. The Commission may prepare, publish, and distribute such other
safety reports that it deems necessary or desirable.
``B. Annual Report of Operations
``37. The Commission shall make and publish an annual report on its
programs, operations, and finances, which shall be distributed in the
same manner provided by section 35.
``38. The Commission may also prepare, publish, and distribute such
other public reports and informational materials as it deems necessary
or desirable.
``C. Annual Independent Audit
``39. An independent annual audit shall be made of the financial
accounts of the Commission. The audit shall be made by qualified
certified public accountants selected by the Board, who shall have no
personal interest, direct or indirect, in the financial affairs of the
Commission or any of its officers or employees. The report of audit
shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing
principles and shall be distributed in the same manner provided by
section 35. Members, employees, agents, and contractors of the
Commission shall provide access to information necessary or desirable
for the conduct of the annual audit.
``D. Financing
``40. The Commission's operations shall be funded, independently of
WMATA, by the Signatory jurisdictions and, when available, by federal
funds. The Commission shall have no authority to levy taxes.
``41. The Signatories shall unanimously agree on adequate funding
levels for the Commission and make equal contributions of such funding,
subject to annual appropriation, to cover the portion of Commission
operations not funded by federal funds.
``42. <> The Commission may borrow up to 5% of its
last annual appropriations budget in anticipation of receipts, or as
otherwise set forth in the appropriations budget approved by all of the
Signatories, from any lawful lending institution for any purpose of this
MSC Compact, including, without limitation, for administrative
expenses. <> Such loans shall be for a term not to
exceed 2 years, or at such longer term approved by each Signatory
pursuant to its laws as evidenced by the written authorization by the
Mayor of the District of Columbia and the Governors of Maryland and
Virginia, and at such rates of interest as shall be acceptable to the
Commission.

``43. With respect to the District of Columbia, the commitment or
obligation to render financial assistance to the Commission shall be
created, by appropriation or in such other manner, or by such other
legislation, as the District of Columbia shall determine; provided, that
any such commitment or obligation shall be approved by Congress pursuant
to the District of Columbia Home Rule Act,

[[Page 1101]]

approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 774; D.C. Official Code Sec.  1-
201.01 et seq.).
``44. Pursuant to the requirements of 31 U.S.C. Sec. Sec.  1341,
1342, 1349 to 1351, and 1511 to 1519, and D.C. Official Code Sec. Sec.
47-105 and 47-355.01 to 355.08 (collectively, the `Anti-Deficiency
Acts'), the District cannot obligate itself to any financial commitment
in any present or future year unless the necessary funds to pay that
commitment have been appropriated and are lawfully available for the
purpose committed. Thus, pursuant to the Anti-Deficiency Acts, nothing
in the MSC Compact creates an obligation of the District in anticipation
of an appropriation for such purpose, and the District's legal liability
for the payment of any amount under this MSC Compact does not and may
not arise or obtain in advance of the lawful availability of
appropriated funds for the applicable fiscal year.
``E. Tax Exemption
``45. The exercise of the powers granted by this MSC Compact shall
in all respects be for the benefit of the people of the District of
Columbia, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the State of Maryland and
for the increase of their safety, commerce, and prosperity, and as the
activities associated with this MSC Compact shall constitute the
performance of essential governmental functions, the Commission shall
not be required to pay any taxes or assessments upon the services or any
property acquired or used by the Commission under the provisions of this
MSC Compact or upon the income therefrom, and shall at all times be free
from taxation within the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of
Virginia, and the State of Maryland.
``F. Reconsideration of Commission Orders
``46. WMATA shall have the right to petition the Commission for
reconsideration of an order based on rules and procedures developed by
the Commission.
``47. Consistent with section 16, the filing of a petition for
reconsideration shall not act as a stay upon the execution of a
Commission order, or any part of it, unless the Commission orders
otherwise. WMATA may appeal any adverse action on a petition for
reconsideration as set forth in section 48.
``G. Judicial Matters
``48. The United States District Court for the Eastern District of
Virginia, Alexandria Division, the United States District Court for the
District of Maryland, Southern Division, and the United States District
Court for the District of Columbia shall have exclusive and original
jurisdiction of all actions brought by or against the Commission and to
enforce subpoenas under this MSC Compact.
``49. The commencement of a judicial proceeding shall not operate as
a stay of a Commission order unless specifically ordered by the court.
``H. Liability and Indemnification
``50. The Commission and its Members, Alternate Members, officers,
agents, employees, or representatives shall not be liable for suit or
action or for any judgment or decree for damages, loss, or injury
resulting from action taken within the scope of their employment or
duties under this MSC Compact, nor required in any case arising or any
appeal taken under this MSC Compact to give a supersedeas bond or
security for damages. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to
protect such person from

[[Page 1102]]

suit or liability for damage, loss, injury, or liability caused by the
intentional or willful and wanton misconduct of such person.
``51. <> The Commission shall be liable for its
contracts and for its torts and those of its Members, Alternate Members,
officers, agents, employees, and representatives committed in the
conduct of any proprietary function, in accordance with the law of the
applicable Signatory (including, without limitation, rules on conflict
of laws) but shall not be liable for any torts occurring in the
performance of a governmental function. The exclusive remedy for such
breach of contract or tort for which the Commission shall be liable, as
herein provided, shall be by suit against the Commission. Nothing
contained in this MSC Compact shall be construed as a waiver by the
District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Virginia, or the State of
Maryland of any immunity from suit.

``I. Commitment of Parties
``52. Each of the Signatories pledges to each other faithful
cooperation in providing safety oversight for the WMATA Rail System,
and, to affect such purposes, agrees to consider in good faith and
request any necessary legislation to achieve the objectives of this MSC
Compact.
``J. Amendments and Supplements
``53. Amendments and supplements to this MSC Compact shall be
adopted by legislative action of each of the Signatories and the consent
of Congress. When one Signatory adopts an amendment or supplement to an
existing section of this MSC Compact, that amendment or supplement shall
not be immediately effective, and the previously enacted provision or
provisions shall remain in effect in each jurisdiction until the
amendment or supplement is approved by the other Signatories and is
consented to by Congress.
``K. Withdrawal and Termination
``54. Any Signatory may withdraw from this MSC Compact, which action
shall constitute a termination of this MSC Compact.
``55. <> Withdrawal from this MSC
Compact shall be by a Signatory's repeal of this MSC Compact from its
laws, but such repeal shall not take effect until 2 years after the
effective date of the repealed statute and written notice of the
withdrawal being given by the withdrawing Signatory to the governors or
mayor, as appropriate, of the other Signatories.

``56. <> Prior to termination of this MSC Compact, the
Commission shall provide each Signatory:
``(a) A mechanism for concluding the operations of the
Commission;
``(b) <> A proposal to maintain state
safety oversight of the WMATA Rail System in compliance with
applicable federal law;
``(c) A plan to hold surplus funds in a trust for a
successor regulatory entity for 4 years after the termination of
this MSC Compact; and
``(d) A plan to return any surplus funds that remain 4 years
after the creation of the trust.

``L. Construction and Severability
``57. This MSC Compact shall be liberally construed to effectuate
the purposes for which it is created.
``58. If any part or provision of this MSC Compact or the
application thereof to any person or circumstances be adjudged invalid
by any court of competent jurisdiction, such judgment shall be confined
in its operation to the part, provision, or application

[[Page 1103]]

directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment shall have
been rendered and shall not affect or impair the validity of the
remainder of this MSC Compact or the application thereof to other
persons or circumstances, and the Signatories hereby declare that they
would have entered into this MSC Compact or the remainder thereof had
the invalidity of such provision or application thereof been apparent.
``M. Adoption; Effective Date
``59. This MSC Compact shall be adopted by the Signatories in the
manner provided by law therefor and shall be signed and sealed in 4
duplicate original copies. One such copy shall be filed with the
Secretary of State of the State of Maryland, the Secretary of the
Commonwealth of Virginia, and the Secretary of the District of Columbia
in accordance with the laws of each jurisdiction. One copy shall be
filed and retained in the archives of the Commission upon its
organization. This MSC Compact shall become effective upon the enactment
of concurring legislation by the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth
of Virginia, and the State of Maryland, and consent thereto by Congress
and when all other acts or actions have been taken, including, without
limitation, the signing and execution of this MSC Compact by the
Governors of Maryland and Virginia and the Mayor of the District of
Columbia.
``N. Conflict of Laws
``60. Any conflict between any authority granted herein, or the
exercise of such authority, and the provisions of the WMATA Compact
shall be resolved in favor of the exercise of such authority by the
Commission.
``61. All other general or special laws inconsistent with this MSC
Compact are hereby declared to be inapplicable to the Commission or its
activities.''.


right to alter, amend, or repeal


Sec. 2. The right to alter, amend, or repeal this joint resolution
is expressly reserved. The consent granted by this joint resolution
shall not be construed as impairing or in any manner affecting any right
or jurisdiction of the United States in and over the region that forms
the subject of the Compact.


construction and severability


Sec. 3. It is intended that the provisions of this Compact shall be
reasonably and liberally construed to effectuate the purposes thereof.
If any part or application of this Compact, or legislation enabling the
Compact, is held invalid, the remainder of the Compact or its
application to other situations or persons shall not be affected.


inconsistency of language


Sec. 4. The validity of this Compact shall not be affected by any
insubstantial differences in its form or language as adopted by the
State of Maryland, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the District of
Columbia.

[[Page 1104]]

effective date


Sec. 5. This joint resolution shall take effect on the date of
enactment of this joint resolution.

Approved August 22, 2017.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.J. Res. 76 (S.J. Res. 22):
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

HOUSE REPORTS: No. 115-227 (Comm. on the Judiciary).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 163 (2017):
July 17, considered and passed House.
Aug. 4, considered and passed Senate pursuant to a
unanimous-consent agreement on Aug. 3.