,,ii #aacth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #bchj ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #ba1 #bjad ,mr4 ,booker introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to amend title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 to improve the national freight policy of the ,united ,states1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,freight ,priorities ,act4 #b4 ,national freight policy 7a7 ,in general ,subtitle ,,iii of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #fd ,national freight policy #fdja4 ,national freight policy2 measuring the performance of multimodal freight infrastructure 7a7 ,in general ,it is the policy of the ,united ,states to improve the efficiency1 operation1 and security of the national freight network by leveraging investments and promoting partnerships that-- 7#a7 advance interstate and foreign commerce2 7#b7 promote economic competitiveness and job creation2 7#c7 improve the safe and efficient mobility of goods2 and 7#d7 protect the public health and the environment4 7b7 ,objectives2 goals 7#a7 ,objectives ,the objectives of the national freight policy are-- 7,a7 to target investment in freight transportation projects that strengthen the economic competitiveness of the ,united ,states with a focus on domestic industries and businesses and the creation of high-value jobs2 7,b7 to promote and advance energy conservation and the environmental sustainability of freight movements2 7,c7 to facilitate and advance the safety and health of the public1 including communities adjacent to freight movements2 7,d7 to provide for systematic and balanced investment to improve the overall performance and reliability of the national freight network system to move freight1 including ensuring trade facilitation and transportation system improvements are mutually supportive2 7,e7 to promote partnerships between ,federal1 ,state1 and local governments1 the private sector1 and other transportation stakeholders to leverage investments in freight transportation projects2 and 7,f7 to encourage adoption of operational policies1 such as intelligent transportation systems1 to improve the efficiency of freight-related transportation movements and infrastructure4 7#b7 ,goals ,the goals of the national freight policy are-- 7,a7 to reduce transportation infrastructure-related delays of goods and commodities entering into and out of international points of entry on an annual basis2 7,b7 to increase travel time reliability on major freight corridors that connect major population centers to freight generators and international gateways on an annual basis2 7,c7 to reduce by #aj percent the number of freight transportation-related fatalities by #bjah2 7,d7 to reduce national freight transportation-related carbon dioxide levels by #dj percent by #bjcj2 7,e7 to reduce freight transportation-related air1 water1 and noise pollution and impacts on ecosystems and communities on an annual basis2 and 7,f7 to promote the inclusion of ports in freight network planning and project selection4 4 7b7 ,conforming amendment ,the analysis for subtitle ,,iii of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following3 ,chapter #fd--,national freight policy ,sec4 #fdja4 ,national freight policy2 measuring the performance of multimodal freight infrastructure4 4 #c4 ,participation of public port authorities 7a7 ,policies and purposes ,section #ecja7;b7 of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#g71 by striking 2 and and inserting a semicolon2 7#b7 in paragraph 7#h71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 and2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following3 7#i7 ensure that public port authorities are included in metropolitan freight transportation planning4 4 7b7 ,metropolitan transportation planning ,section #ecjc7;i77#f77;,a7 of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by inserting public ports1 before freight shippers14 7c7 ,nonmetropolitan transportation planning ,section #ecjd7;g77#c7 of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by inserting public ports1 before freight shippers14 #d4 ,multimodal freight network 7a7 ,in general ,subtitle ,,iii of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code 7as amended by section #b71 is amended by adding at the following3 #fe ,multimodal freight network #feja4 ,definitions ,in this chapter3 7#a7 ,metropolitan planning organization ,the term metropolitan planning organization has the meaning given the term in section #acd7;b7 of title #bc4 7#b7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,transportation4 7#c7 ,selected entity ,the term selected entity means an entity selected to participate in the multimodal freight performance pilot program established under section #fejb7;b74 7#d7 ,urbanized area ,the term urbanized area has the meaning given the term in section #acd7;b7 of title #bc4 #fejb4 ,multimodal freight network 7a7 ,establishment of performance measures ,the ,secretary may1 in accordance with the national freight strategic plan developed under section #afg7;f7 of title #bc1 establish measures to assess the performance of a multimodal freight network4 7b7 ,multimodal freight performance pilot program 7#a7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary shall establish a pilot program under which not more than #e urbanized areas shall develop and deploy #a or more pilot measures and targets to improve multimodal freight movement in densely populated and congested urban areas4 7#b7 ,locations ,the ,secretary shall select not more than #e locations1 each of which represents an urbanized area of more than #a1jjj1jjj individuals for the pilot program4 7#c7 ,selection ,the ,secretary shall select entities or a combination of entities to carry out this subsection1 which may include-- 7,a7 metropolitan planning organizations2 7,b7 ,state departments of transportation2 7,c7 multistate planning commissions2 7,d7 freight advisory committees2 and 7,e7 other appropriate entities4 7#d7 ,entity designations ,of the selected entities1 the ,secretary shall designate-- 7,a7 an entity that has previous successful use of freight performance measures and performance-based planning efforts as a mentor grantee2 and 7,b7 an entity that has limited or no successful previous experience in freight performance measures and performance-based planning efforts as a novice grantee4 7#e7 ,pilot program activities 7,a7 ,multimodal freight infrastructure performance baseline ,not later than #ahj days after the date on which the ,secretary selects a pilot program location1 the applicable selected entity shall develop a baseline of freight transportation assets within the urbanized area that describes-- 7i7 the condition of key highway1 rail1 seaport1 airport1 barge1 and intermodal facilities that handle freight2 7ii7 bottlenecks in the freight system that cause delays and unreliability in freight movements2 7iii7 the speed1 reliability1 and costs of moving goods through the metropolitan area2 7iv7 the degree to which transport of freight affects surrounding communities1 including public health and air quality2 and 7v7 the degree to which the intermodal freight network provides economic opportunities to local communities1 including jobs at ports and other intermodal freight facilities4 7,b7 ,performance indicators ,the ,secretary shall work with selected entities at pilot locations to implement #a or more provisional indicators to measure improvements against the freight infrastructure performance baseline developed under subparagraph 7,a74 7,c7 ,data collection and reporting ,the selected entities shall collect and report baseline and annual performance data4 7,d7 ,knowledge-sharing ,a selected entity designated as a mentor grantee shall engage in knowledge-sharing activities with novice grantees to the maximum extent practicable1 which may include peer exchanges and technical assistance1 as appropriate to the level of performance measurement capacity4 7c7 ,national performance measure development activities 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary-- 7,a7 shall evaluate the multimodal freight performance measures developed by selected entities in pilot locations2 and 7,b7 in accordance with the national freight strategic plan developed under section #afg7;f7 of title #bc1 may establish performance measures to assess the efficiency of the multimodal freight network4 7#b7 ,multimodal freight movement final report 7,a7 ,in general ,at the end of the pilot program under this section1 the ,secretary shall prepare 7including seeking public comment on7 a final report describing the results of the pilot program that includes-- 7i7 recommendations on-- 7,i7 the establishment of #a or more national multimodal freight infrastructure performance measures2 and 7,,ii7 the integration of the measures into the ,federal transportation performance management framework2 7ii7 a description of actions taken under the pilot program to measure and improve multimodal freight infrastructure performance2 and 7iii7 an assessment of-- 7,i7 outcomes and impacts that may result from the pilot measures2 7,,ii7 estimated savings and new tax revenues to ,federal1 ,state and local governments from improved freight system performance4 7,b7 ,publication ,the ,secretary shall publish in the ,federal ,register the report required under subparagraph 7,a74 7#c7 ,performance measures and standards ,not later than #b years after the date of the publication of the final report required under paragraph 7#b71 the ,secretary 7in consultation with ,state ,departments of ,transportation1 metropolitan planning organizations1 and other stakeholders7 may promulgate a rule that establishes performance measures and standards for multimodal freight4 4 7b7 ,conforming amendments 7#a7 ,the analysis for subtitle ,,iii of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code 7as amended by section #b71 is amended by adding at the end the following3 ,chapter #fe--,multimodal freight network #feja4 ,definitions4 #fejb4 ,multimodal freight network4 4 7#b7 ,section #afg of title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code1 is repealed4 7#c7 ,section #eje7;a77#c7 of title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by striking #adi1 and #afg and inserting and #adi1 and section #fejb of title #di4 #e4 ,national cooperative freight transportation research program 7a7 ,in general ,chapter #e of title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #eai4 ,national cooperative freight transportation research program 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall establish and support a national cooperative freight transportation research program4 7b7 ,agreement ,the ,secretary shall offer to enter into an agreement with the ,transportation ,research ,board of the ,national ,research ,council of the ,national ,academies 7referred to in this section as the ,national ,academies7 to support and carry out administrative and management activities relating to the governance of the national cooperative freight transportation research program4 7c7 ,advisory committee ,the ,national ,academies shall select an advisory committee consisting of a representative cross-section of freight stakeholders1 including representatives of-- 7#a7 the ,department of ,transportation2 7#b7 other ,federal agencies2 7#c7 ,state transportation departments2 7#d7 local governments2 7#e7 nonprofit entities2 7#f7 academic institutions2 7#g7 private sector carriers and shippers2 7#h7 port authorities2 7#i7 air quality organizations2 and 7#aj7 other interested parties4 7d7 ,governance 7#a7 ,in general ,the national cooperative freight transportation research program established under this section shall include the administrative and management elements described in this subsection4 7#b7 ,national research agenda 7,a7 ,in general ,the advisory committee1 in consultation with interested parties1 shall recommend a national research agenda for the program4 7,b7 ,component ,the agenda shall-- 7i7 emphasize multimodal goods movement2 7ii7 address major freight challenges in urban and rural areas2 and 7iii7 include a multiyear strategic plan4 7#c7 ,involvement ,interested parties may-- 7,a7 submit research proposals to the advisory committee2 7,b7 participate in merit reviews of research proposals and peer reviews of research products2 and 7,c7 receive research results4 7#d7 ,open competition and peer review of research proposals ,the ,national ,academies may award research contracts and grants under the program established under this section through open competition and merit review conducted on a regular basis4 7#e7 ,research coordination ,the ,national ,academies shall ensure that research contracts and grants awarded under this section are not duplicative of-- 7,a7 research conducted under other cooperative transportation research programs governed by the ,national ,academies2 or 7,b7 research conducted by the ,department of ,transportation or any other ,federal1 ,state1 or local agency4 7#f7 ,evaluation of research 7,a7 ,peer review ,research contracts and grants under the program may allow peer review of the research results4 7,b7 ,programmatic evaluations ,the ,national ,academies may conduct periodic programmatic evaluations on a regular basis of research contracts and grants4 7#g7 ,dissemination of research findings ,the ,national ,academies shall disseminate research findings to researchers1 practitioners1 and decisionmakers through-- 7,a7 conferences and seminars2 7,b7 field demonstrations2 7,c7 workshops2 7,d7 training programs2 7,e7 presentations2 7,f7 testimony to government officials2 7,g7 the ,internet2 7,h7 publications for the general public2 7,i7 collaboration with the ,national ,transportation ,library2 and 7,j7 other appropriate means4 7e7 ,contents ,the national research agenda required under subsection 7d77#b7 shall1 at a minimum1 include research on-- 7#a7 techniques for estimating and quantifying public benefits derived from freight transportation projects2 7#b7 the feasibility of consolidating origins and destinations for freight movement2 7#c7 methods for incorporating estimates of domestic and international trade into landside transportation planning2 7#d7 means of synchronizing infrastructure improvements with freight transportation demand2 7#e7 the effect of changing patterns of freight movement on transportation planning decisions2 7#f7 the reduction of impacts on urban communities2 and 7#g7 other research areas to identify and address emerging and future research needs relating to freight transportation by all modes4 7f7 ,funding 7#a7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as are necessary4 7#b7 ,federal share ,the ,federal share of the cost of an activity carried out under this section shall be up to #ajj percent1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7#c7 ,acceptance of non-,federal funds ,in addition to using funds authorized for this section1 the ,national ,academies may seek and accept additional funding sources from-- 7,a7 public and private entities capable of accepting funding from the ,department of ,transportation2 7,b7 ,states and local governments2 7,c7 nonprofit foundations2 and 7,d7 the private sector4 4 7b7 ,conforming amendment ,the analysis for chapter #e of title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following3 ,sec4 #eai4 ,national cooperative freight transportation research program4 4