,i #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #cfch ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,december #c1 #bjac,mr4 ,blumenauer introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,ways and ,means1 and in addition to the ,committees on ,transportation and ,infrastructure and ,energy and ,commerce1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to establish a ,road ,usage ,fee ,pilot ,program to study mileage-based fee systems1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,road ,usage ,fee ,pilot ,program ,act of #bjac4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,the #bjji report of the ,national ,surface ,transportation ,infrastructure ,financing ,commission recommends a transition away from the fuel tax to a more stable funding source1 noting that a mileage-based fee system is the consensus choice for policy leaders4 7#b7 ,the #bjjh report of the ,national ,surface ,transportation and ,revenue ,study ,commission recommends further study of the implementation of mileage-based fee systems at the ,state level and of their compatibility with a national revenue system1 noting that in the long run1 a mileage-based fee system seems the most likely and appropriate method to be implemented4 7#c7 ,according to the ,congressional ,budget ,office1 the revenue raised from the gas tax since its last increase in #aiib has lost over one-third of its purchasing power due to increasing fuel efficiency1 changing transportation patterns1 and inflation4 7#d7 ,by #bjcj1 the corporate average fuel economy standards will have reduced ,highway ,trust ,fund receipts by more than #bj percent4 7#e7 ,the fuel tax revenue mechanism results in some industries paying more than their commensurate road use4 7#f7 ,since #aiij1 while gas tax revenues have consistently decreased1 the number of vehicle miles traveled nationally has consistently increased4 #c4 ,road ,usage ,fee ,pilot ,program 7a7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary of the ,treasury 7in this ,act referred to as the ,secretary7 shall establish a competitive grant program to be known as the ,road ,usage ,fee ,pilot ,program 7in this ,act referred to as the ,program7 to make grants to eligible entities to-- 7#a7 conduct pilot studies of methods for recording and reporting the number of miles traveled by particular vehicles2 7#b7 conduct pilot studies of payment1 enforcement1 and privacy protection methods for mileage-based fee systems2 and 7#c7 implement mileage-based fee systems in jurisdictions that have adopted a plan for such systems4 7b7 ,application required ,to be eligible for a grant under the ,program1 an eligible entity shall submit to the ,secretary an application at such time1 in such form1 and containing such information and assurances as the ,secretary may require4 7c7 ,selection of pilot studies ,in awarding grants under the ,program1 the ,secretary shall select pilot studies that1 in combination1 explore means to address the following concerns3 7#a7 ,protection of personal privacy4 7#b7 ,ease of public compliance4 7#c7 ,level of public acceptance4 7#d7 ,geographic and income equity4 7#e7 ,integration with ,state and local transportation revenue mechanisms4 7#f7 ,administrative issues4 7#g7 ,cost4 7#h7 ,enforcement issues4 7#i7 ,potential for fraud or evasion4 7#aj7 ,feasibility of implementation4 7d7 ,priority ,in awarding grants under the ,program1 the ,secretary shall give priority to pilot studies that-- 7#a7 serve as a model for broad implementation of a mileage-based fee system2 7#b7 address concerns of rural and urban user equity2 7#c7 involve multistate projects2 7#d7 have a high volume of enrolled vehicles2 7#e7 integrate with ,state and local revenue systems2 7#f7 integrate with local demand management plans2 7#g7 are likely to lead to implementation of mileage-based fee systems1 dependent on the results of the program2 7#h7 integrate with other intelligent transportation system technologies2 and 7#i7 test the proposed revenue collection system by collecting and distributing revenue4 7e7 ,required minimum funds for planning organizations ,in awarding grants under the ,program1 the ,secretary shall ensure that not less than #aj percent of funds available under the ,program in a fiscal year are reserved for pilot studies carried out in conjunction with metropolitan planning organizations or regional transportation planning organizations4 7f7 ,cost sharing ,an eligible entity that receives a grant under this ,act shall provide funds1 from non-,federal sources1 in an amount equal to #bj percent of the amount of grant funds provided to the entity to carry out the activities supported by the grant4 #d4 ,working groups 7a7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,transportation1 shall establish the following working groups3 7#a7 ,a technology and privacy working group that shall-- 7,a7 evaluate the technology platforms and standards used in the ,program2 7,b7 develop national technology standards and make recommendations to provide consistency in transportation data laws2 and 7,c7 balance the effectiveness of revenue systems with user privacy4 7#b7 ,a transportation system and equity working group that shall evaluate the costs of collection and administration of methods studied in the ,program and the success of such methods in achieving rural and urban user equity4 7#c7 ,an environmental working group that shall evaluate the potential of the methods studied in the ,program to manage demand and to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases4 7b7 ,membership ,each of the working groups established under subsection 7a7 shall be comprised of at least #a member with relevant subject-matter experience in the private sector and at least #a member with relevant subject-matter experience in the public sector4 #e4 ,reports 7a7 ,interim ,report ,not later than #b years after the date of the first disbursement of funds under a grant under the ,program1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress an interim report describing the progress of the ,program1 the progress of the working groups established under section #d7;a71 and any data or results from the ,program4 7b7 ,final ,report ,not later than #d years after the date of the first disbursement of funds under a grant under the ,program1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a final report containing data and results from the ,program1 an analysis of the feasibility of each method studied to be used as a mileage-based fee system1 and the evaluations done by the working groups established under section #d7;a74 #f4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means one or more of the following3 7,a7 ,a ,state government or political subdivision thereof4 7,b7 ,a local government or political subdivision thereof4 7,c7 ,a metropolitan planning organization4 7,d7 ,a regional transportation planning organization4 7,e7 ,a tribal organization4 7#b7 ,metropolitan planning organization ,the term metropolitan planning organization has the meaning given that term in section #acd7;b7 of title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#c7 ,regional transportation planning organization ,the term regional transportation planning organization has the meaning given that term in section #acd7;b7 of title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code4 #g4 ,authorization of ,appropriations 7a7 ,grant program ,there is authorized to be appropriated #cj1jjj1jjj to carry out section #c1 to remain available until expended4 7b7 ,working group and report ,there is authorized to be appropriated #b1ejj1jjj to carry out section #d and #b1ejj1jjj to carry out section #e1 to remain available until expended4