Bill Summary
The Rural Economic Infrastructure Equity Act of 2019 is a bill that aims to improve and prioritize transportation policies and investments in rural communities. It would establish an Assistant Secretary for Rural Economic Investment and an Office of Rural Economic Investment within the Department of Transportation to ensure that the unique needs of rural areas are considered in federal decision-making. The bill also includes provisions for rural consultation, a reorganization plan, and the creation of a rural transportation advisory council to advise and make recommendations to the Office of Rural Economic Investment. The goal of this legislation is to promote economic development and improve transportation infrastructure in rural communities.
Possible Impacts
1. If this bill were to become a law, it could potentially lead to an increase in transportation funding for rural communities. This could greatly benefit people living in those areas by providing better infrastructure and improved access to transportation.
2. The establishment of the Office of Rural Economic Investment could also lead to the creation of new job opportunities in rural areas. This could positively impact people living in those communities by providing them with more job options and potentially boosting the local economy.
3. The requirement for consultation with rural stakeholders before implementing regulations, guidance, or policies could ensure that the unique needs and concerns of these communities are taken into account. This could lead to more equitable and effective policies that better serve the needs of rural residents.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2518 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2518
To amend title 49, United States Code, to establish an Assistant
Secretary for Rural Economic Investment and an Office of Rural Economic
Investment, to ensure that rural communities are adequately represented
in Federal decisionmaking for transportation policy, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 19, 2019
Mr. Durbin (for himself and Mr. Braun) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 49, United States Code, to establish an Assistant
Secretary for Rural Economic Investment and an Office of Rural Economic
Investment, to ensure that rural communities are adequately represented
in Federal decisionmaking for transportation policy, 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 ``Rural Economic Infrastructure Equity
Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. RURAL ECONOMIC INVESTMENT.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the
Department of Transportation.
(2) Relevant congressional committees.--The term ``relevant
congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives;
(B) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the
House of Representatives;
(C) the Committee on Environment and Public Works
of the Senate;
(D) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate;
(E) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban
Affairs of the Senate;
(F) the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and
Urban Development, and Related Agencies of the
Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives; and
(G) the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and
Urban Development, and Related Agencies of the
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Transportation.
(b) Establishment.--
(1) In general.--Section 102 of title 49, United States
Code, is amended--
(A) in subsection (a), by inserting ``(referred to
in this section as the `Department')'' after
``Department of Transportation'';
(B) in subsection (e)(1)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), by striking ``6'' and inserting ``7'';
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking
``and'' at the end;
(iii) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as
subparagraph (E); and
(iv) by inserting after subparagraph (C)
the following:
``(D) an Assistant Secretary for Rural Economic
Investment, who shall be appointed by the Secretary;
and'';
(C) in subsection (f)(1), by striking ``Department
of Transportation'' each place it appears and inserting
``Department'';
(D) by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection
(i); and
(E) by inserting after subsection (g) the
following:
``(h) Office of Rural Economic Investment.--
``(1) In general.--There is established in the Department
an Office of Rural Economic Investment (referred to in this
subsection as the `Office').
``(2) Leadership.--The head of the Office shall be the
Assistant Secretary for Rural Economic Investment (referred to
in this subsection as the `Assistant Secretary'), who shall
report directly to the Secretary.
``(3) Mission and goals.--The mission and goals of the
Office shall be to coordinate with other offices and agencies
within the Department and with other Federal agencies--
``(A) to ensure that the unique needs and
attributes of rural transportation, involving all
modes, are fully addressed and prioritized during the
development and implementation of transportation
policies, programs, and activities within the
Department;
``(B) to improve coordination of Federal
transportation policies, programs, and activities
within the Department in a manner that expands economic
development in rural communities and regions, and to
provide recommendations for improvement, including
additional reorganization and realignments;
``(C) to expand Federal transportation
infrastructure investment in rural communities,
including by providing recommendations for changes in
formula funds or other existing funding distribution
patterns;
``(D) to use innovation to resolve local and
regional transportation challenges faced by rural
communities;
``(E) to promote and improve planning and
coordination among rural areas to maximize the unique
competitive advantage in those areas while avoiding
duplicative Federal, State, and local investments; and
``(F) to ensure that all rural communities lacking
resources receive proactive outreach, education, and
technical assistance to improve access to Federal
transportation programs.
``(4) Duties of assistant secretary.--The Assistant
Secretary shall--
``(A) provide information and outreach to rural
communities concerning the availability and eligibility
requirements of participating in programs of the
Department;
``(B) help rural communities identify competitive
economic advantages and avoid duplicative
transportation investments in order to ensure continued
economic growth;
``(C) serve as a resource for assisting rural
communities with respect to Federal transportation
programs;
``(D) ensure and coordinate a routine rural
consultation on the development of policies, programs,
and activities of the Department;
``(E) serve as an advocate within the Department on
behalf of rural communities; and
``(F) work in coordination with the Department of
Agriculture, the Department of Health and Human
Services, the Department of Commerce, the Federal
Communications Commission, and other Federal agencies,
as the Secretary determines to be appropriate, in
carrying out the responsibilities of the Assistant
Secretary.
``(5) Contracts and agreements.--For the purpose of
carrying out the mission and goals of the Office under
paragraph (3) and the duties of the Assistant Secretary under
paragraph (4), the Assistant Secretary may enter into
contracts, cooperative agreements, and other agreements as
necessary, including with research centers, institutions of
higher education, States, units of local government, nonprofit
organizations, or a combination of any of those entities--
``(A) to conduct research on transportation
investments that promote rural economic development;
``(B) to solicit information in the development of
policy, programs, and activities of the Department that
can improve infrastructure investment and economic
development in rural areas;
``(C) to develop educational and outreach
materials, including the conduct of workshops, courses,
and certified training for rural communities and
regions that can further the mission and goals of the
Office and the Department; and
``(D) to carry out any other activities, as
determined by the Secretary to be appropriate.
``(6) Employees.--The Secretary shall ensure that not more
than 4 full-time equivalent employees are assigned to the
Office.
``(7) Applicability.--In carrying out the mission and goals
of the Office under paragraph (3) and the duties of the
Assistant Secretary under paragraph (4), the Assistant
Secretary shall consider as rural any area considered to be a
rural area under a Federal transportation program of the
Department.''.
(2) Council on credit and finance.--Section 117(b)(1) of
title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end
the following:
``(I) The Assistant Secretary for Rural Economic
Investment.''.
(c) Reorganization Proposal.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation with the
relevant congressional committees, shall develop a proposed
reorganization of the functions of the Department to ensure
improved coordination and prioritization of programs and
services that promote rural infrastructure investment,
expansion, equity, and economic development.
(2) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the
relevant congressional committees a report that describes the
proposed reorganization plan under paragraph (1).
(d) Rural Consultation.--
(1) Requirement.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the
date of enactment of this Act, each office and agency
within the Department shall develop and implement a
process to ensure meaningful and timely input from
rural stakeholders during the development of any
regulation, guidance, or policy that would have
substantial direct effects on 1 or more rural areas.
(B) Consultation.--To the maximum extent
practicable and in accordance with applicable Federal
law, an office or agency of the Department shall not
promulgate a regulation, issue guidance, or implement a
policy described in subparagraph (A) unless the office
or agency--
(i) consults with rural stakeholders before
developing the proposed regulation;
(ii) publishes in the Federal Register a
summary rural impact statement, which shall
consist of--
(I) a description of the
consultation with rural stakeholders on
the regulation, guidance, or policy;
(II) a summary of any concerns
raised by the rural stakeholders;
(III) a description of the extent
to which concerns referred to in
subclause (II) have been alleviated;
and
(IV) a description of why the
regulation, guidance, or policy is
needed; and
(iii) submits to the Director of the Office
of Management and Budget--
(I) the summary rural impact
statement described in clause (ii); and
(II) on request of the Director,
any written communications submitted to
the office or agency from rural
stakeholders.
(2) Designation.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, each office and agency within the
Department shall designate an official within that office or
agency to serve as the official with principal responsibility
for the implementation of this subsection.
(e) Advisory Committee.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a rural
transportation advisory council (referred to in this subsection
as the ``advisory council'') to consult with and advise the
Office of Rural Economic Investment.
(2) Membership.--The Secretary shall appoint members to the
advisory council in a manner that ensures that the geographic
and economic diversity of rural regions of the United States
are represented.
(3) Meetings.--The advisory council shall meet not less
than twice per year, as determined by the Secretary.
(4) Duties.--The advisory council shall--
(A) advise the Office of Rural Economic Investment
on issues related to rural needs relating to Federal
transportation programs;
(B) develop recommendations for any changes to
Federal law, regulations, internal Department guidance,
or other measures that would eliminate barriers for
rural access or improve rural equity in transportation
investments;
(C) examine methods of maximizing the number of
opportunities for assistance for rural areas under
Federal transportation programs, including expanded
outreach and technical assistance;
(D) examine methods of encouraging
intergovernmental and local resource cooperation to
mitigate duplicative investments in key regions and
improve the efficiencies in the delivery of Federal
transportation programs;
(E) evaluate other methods of creating new
opportunities for rural regions; and
(F) address any other relevant issues as the
Secretary determines to be appropriate.
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