Congress 108 - HR 2571 - Rail Infrastructure Development and Expansion Act for the 21st Century

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Administrative procedure Air traffic Alaska Authorization Collective bargaining Department of Transportation Economics and Public Finance Electronic government information Employee rights Employee selection Federal aid to transportation Federally-guaranteed loans Fees Finance and Financial Sector Government lending Government Operations and Politics Government paperwork Government publicity Government trust funds Health Highspeed ground transportation Highway finance Income tax Industrial arbitration Industrial relations Infrastructure Interest Intermodal transportation Internet Interstate compacts Joint ventures Labor and Employment Labor contracts Law Magnetic levitation vehicles Maintenance and repair Occupational health and safety Railroad commuting traffic Railroad employees Railroad engineering Railroad equipment Railroad finance Railroad freight operations Railroad passenger traffic Railroad safety Railroad terminals Railroads Right-of-way Science, Technology, Communications Surety and fidelity Tax credits Tax exclusion Tax-exempt securities Taxation Traffic congestion Traffic signs and signals Transportation and Public Works User charges Web sites

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Summary

Rail Infrastructure Development and Expansion Act for the 21st Century - (Sec. 2) Amends Federal transportation law known as the Swift Rail Development Act (or the Swift Act) to make corridor development activities (including the acquisition of locomotives, rolling stock, track, and signal equipment) eligible for Federal assistance. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004 through 2011.

(Sec. 3) Amends specified Federal law to change from discretionary to mandatory the Secretary's authority to provide direct loans and loan guarantees for rail rehabilitation and improvement projects to State and local governments, interstate compacts, government sponsored authorities and corporations, railroads, and joint ventures that include at least one railroad.

Extends the meaning of railroad, for rail rehabilitation and infrastructure financing (RRIF) program purposes, to include modern high-speed ground transportation technology such as magnetic levitation.

Increases from $3.5 billion to $35 billion the aggregate unpaid principal amounts of obligations under direct loans and loan guarantees for the RRIF program at any one time. Increases from $1 million to $7 million the set-aside for projects primarily benefiting non-Class I freight railroads. Prohibits the Secretary from establishing any limit on the amount of one loan or loan guarantee issued under the program.

Revises requirements for cohorts of loans, allowing inclusion of loans and loan guarantees.

Prohibits the Secretary from requiring a direct loan or loan guarantee applicant to provide collateral, or from having previously sought financial assistance from another source. Requires the Secretary to require such applicants to apply to their projects certain prevailing wage, health and safety, and employee protection labor standards.

Requires the Secretary to approve or disapprove an application within 90 days after its submission.

Prohibits the Secretary from assessing fees, including user fees, or charges in connection with a direct loan or loan guarantee.

Directs the Secretary to make publicly available and to publish on the Department's website the substantive criteria and standards used in rendering a decision to approve or disapprove an application.

Actions

Nov 6, 2003

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 206.
Nov 6, 2003

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 108-278, Part II.
Oct 31, 2003

House Committee on Ways and Means Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than Nov. 7, 2003.
Oct 28, 2003

Ordered to be Reported Without Recommendation (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Oct 28, 2003

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Oct 3, 2003

House Committee on Ways and Means Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than Oct. 31, 2003.
Sep 18, 2003

House Committee on Ways and Means Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than Oct. 3, 2003.
Sep 18, 2003

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation. H. Rept. 108-278, Part I.
Jun 25, 2003

Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
Jun 25, 2003

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jun 24, 2003

Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Jun 24, 2003

Introduced in House

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