[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 132, 115th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


Public Law 115-420
115th Congress

An Act


 
To amend certain transportation-related reporting requirements to
improve congressional oversight, reduce reporting burdens, and promote
transparency, and for other purposes. <>

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <>
SECTION 1. <>  SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Department of Transportation Reports
Harmonization Act''.
SEC. 2. <>  PUBLIC AVAILABILITY OF CHARGES AND
FEES FOR ATTENDANCE AT UNITED STATES MERCHANT
MARINE ACADEMY.

Section 51314(b) of title 46, United States Code, is amended by
striking ``shall notify Congress of'' and inserting ``shall present at
the next meeting of the Board of Visitors, and post on a publicly
available website,''.
SEC. 3. <>  PUBLIC AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION
ON ALIGNING FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS.

Section 310(f)(1) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by
inserting ``, and make publicly available on the Department of
Transportation website,'' after ``House of Representatives''.
SEC. 4. REPORTING ON THE NORTHEAST CORRIDOR.

(a) Northeast Corridor Safety Committee Report.--Section 24905(e) of
title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking paragraph (3).
(b) Contents of Grant Requests.--
(1) In general.--Section 24319(c) of title 49, United States
Code, is amended--
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``; and'' and
inserting a semicolon;
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the
end and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) describe the status of efforts to improve safety and
security on the Northeast Corridor main line, including a
description of any efforts to implement recommendations of
relevant railroad safety advisory committees.''.
(2) <>  Rule of construction.--
Nothing in this subsection or an amendment made by this
subsection shall affect a grant request made under section 24319
of title 49, United States Code, before the date of enactment of
this Act.

[[Page 5445]]

SEC. 5. HIGHWAY SAFETY PROGRAMS REPORT TO CONGRESS.

(a) DOT Reports.--Section 402 of title 23, United States Code, is
amended by striking subsection (n) and inserting the following:
``(n) <>  Public Transparency.--The
Secretary shall publicly release on its website information that
contains each State's performance with respect to the State's highway
safety plan under subsection (k) and performance targets set by the
States in such plans. Such information shall be posted on the website
within 45 calendar days of approval of a State's highway safety plan.''.

(b) GAO Report.--
(1) <>  In general.--The Comptroller General
of the United States shall conduct a review of the highway
safety programs under section 402 of title 23, United States
Code. In carrying out the review, the Comptroller General shall
review States' progress in achieving safety performance targets,
including how States are utilizing grants and problems
encountered in achieving such targets.
(2) <>  Submission.--Not later
than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Comptroller General of the United States shall submit a report
to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the
Senate and Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the
House of Representatives that contains the results of the study
conducted under paragraph (1), including any recommendations for
improvements to State activities and the Secretary of
Transportation's administration of the highway safety programs.
SEC. 6. CESSATION OF CERTAIN ADVISORY COUNCILS AND ADVISORY
COMMITTEES.

(a) Northeast Corridor Safety Committee.--Section 24905(e) of title
49, United States Code, as amended by this Act, is further amended by
striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
``(2) <>  Sunset.--The Committee
established under this subsection ceases to exist on the date
that the Secretary determines positive train control, as
required by section 20157, is fully implemented along the
Northeast Corridor.''.

(b) National Rail Cooperative Research Program Oversight
Committee.--Section 24910(c) of title 49, United States Code, is amended
by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Sunset.--The advisory board established under this
subsection ceases to exist effective January 1, 2019.''.
SEC. 7. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS TO RAIL IMPROVEMENT GRANTS.

(a) Redesignation.--Subtitle V of title 49, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) by redesignating sections 24401 through 24408 as
sections 22901 through 22908, respectively;
(2) <>  by redesignating chapter
244 as chapter 229;
(3) <>  by moving chapter 229, as
redesignated, to appear at the end of part B;
(4) <>  in the table of
chapters--
(A) by striking the item relating to chapter 244;
and
(B) by inserting after the item relating to chapter
227 the following:

``Chapter 229.  Rail Improvement Grants.........................22901'';

and

[[Page 5446]]

(5) by amending the table of sections for chapter 229, as
redesignated, to read as follows:

``CHAPTER 229--RAIL IMPROVEMENT GRANTS

``Sec.
``22901. Definitions.
``22902. Capital investment grants to support intercity passenger rail
services.
``22903. Project management oversight.
``22904. Use of capital grants to finance first-dollar liability of
grant project.
``22905. Grant conditions.
``22906. Authorization of appropriations.
``22907. Consolidated rail infrastructure and safety improvements.
``22908. Restoration and enhancement grants.''.

(b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Technical amendments.--Chapter 229 of title 49, United
States Code, as redesignated, is amended--
(A) in section 22902, as redesignated--
(i) in subsection (c)(3)(A)--
(I) in the matter preceding clause
(i), by inserting ``of'' after ``other
modes''; and
(II) in clause (vi) by striking
``environmentally'' and inserting
``environmental''; and
(ii) in subsection (k), by striking ``state
rail plan'' and inserting ``State rail plan''; and
(B) in section 22905(e)(1), as redesignated--
(i) by striking ``government authority'' and
inserting ``governmental authority''; and
(ii) by striking ``section 5302(11) and (6),
respectively, of this title'' and inserting
``section 5302''.
(2) Conforming amendments.--Chapter 229 of title 49, United
States Code, as redesignated, is amended--
(A) in section 22901(2)(D), as redesignated, by
striking ``24404'' and inserting ``22904'';
(B) in section 22904, as redesignated, by striking
``24402'' and inserting ``22902'';
(C) in section 22905(e)(1), as redesignated, by
striking ``24102(4) of this title'' and inserting
``24102'';
(D) in section 22907, as redesignated--
(i) in subsection (c)(2), by striking
``24401(2)'' and inserting ``22901(2)''; and
(ii) in subsection (k), by striking ``of
sections 24402, 24403, and 24404 and the
definition contained in 24401(1)'' and inserting
``under sections 22902, 22903, and 22904, and the
definition contained in section 22901(1)''; and
(E) in section 22908, as redesignated--
(i) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding
paragraph (1), by striking ``24401(1)'' and
inserting ``22901(1)''; and
(ii) in subsection (i)(3), by striking
``24405'' and inserting ``22905''.
(3) Additional conforming amendments.--
(A) Subtitle v.--Subtitle V of title 49, United
States Code, is amended--
(i) in part C--
(I) in section 24102(7)(D)(ii), by
striking ``chapter 244'' and inserting
``chapter 229'';

[[Page 5447]]

(II) in section 24103, by inserting
``or chapter 229'' after ``this part''
each place it appears;
(III) in section 24711(c)(3), by
striking ``24405'' and inserting
``22905''; and
(IV) in section 24911(i), by
striking ``24405'' and inserting
``22905''; and
(ii) in part D, in section 26106(e)(3), by
striking ``24405 of this title'' and inserting
``22905''.
(B) Railroad safety enhancement act of 2008.--The
Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008
(division B of Public Law 110-432) is amended--
(i) in section 301(c) (49 U.S.C. 24405 note),
by striking ``24405(a)'' and inserting
``22905(a)''; and
(ii) in section 502(a)(4)(I) (49 U.S.C. 26106
note), by striking ``24405'' and inserting
``22905''.
(C) FAST act.--The Fixing America's Surface
Transportation Act (Public Law 114-94; 129 Stat. 1312)
is amended--
(i) in section 11102, by adding at the end the
following:

``(c) <>  Conforming Provision for
Redesignation of Applicable Section.--Any amounts authorized under this
section for grants or project management oversight under section 24407
of such title shall be deemed to refer to grants or project management
oversight under section 22907 of such title on or after the date of
enactment of the Department of Transportation Reports Harmonization
Act.'';
(ii) in section 11104, by adding at the end
the following:

``(c) <>  Conforming Provision for
Redesignation of Applicable Section.--Any amounts authorized under this
section for grants or project management oversight under section 24408
of such title shall be deemed to refer to grants or project management
oversight under section 22908 of such title on or after the date of
enactment of the Department of Transportation Reports Harmonization
Act.'';
(iii) in section 11308(a)(4)(I), by striking
``24405'' and inserting ``22905''; and

[[Page 5448]]

(iv) <>  in section
11401(b)(5), by striking ``chapter 244'' and
inserting ``chapter 229''.

Approved January 3, 2019.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 3367:
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SENATE REPORTS: No. 115-390 (Comm. on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 164 (2018):
Dec. 18, considered and passed Senate.
Dec. 21, considered and passed House.