,i #aaeth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #bcdg ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,may #c1 #bjag,mrs4 ,torres 7for herself and ,mrs4 ,napolitano7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,secretary of the ,treasury to establish a regional infrastructure accelerator program to facilitate investments in and the financing of certain infrastructure projects1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,regional ,infrastructure ,accelerator ,act of #bjag4 #b4 ,purpose ,the purpose of this ,act is to establish a regional infrastructure accelerator program that-- 7#a7 facilitates and mobilizes investment in1 and the long-term financing of1 economically viable covered infrastructure projects of regional or national significance by providing funding for these projects1 including through private sector financing1 to accelerate the delivery of high-quality1 critical infrastructure facilities through a self-sustaining regional infrastructure accelerator that mitigates risk with technical expertise and best practices2 and 7#b7 encourages regional infrastructure accelerators to provide assistance and communicate best practices and financing and funding opportunities to ,state1 local1 and regional public entities1 to provide assistance with applications for ,federal funding opportunities1 to promote innovative financing best practices1 and to reduce costs and risks to taxpayers4 #c4 ,regional infrastructure accelerator program ,using amounts appropriated under section #aj7a71 the ,secretary shall establish a regional infrastructure accelerator 7,,ria7 program to provide initial and subsequent grants to ,r,i,as in accordance with the requirements of this ,act4 #d4 ,structure of regional infrastructure accelerators 7a7 ,in general ,to be eligible to receive a grant under this ,act1 an ,,ria shall have a board of directors4 7b7 ,board of directors 7#a7 ,composition ,the board of directors of an ,,ria shall include at least #a representative of a ,state1 local1 or regional public entity in the area served by the ,,ria4 7#b7 ,appointment ,the members of the board of directors of an ,,ria shall be initially appointed by the person or entity that submitted an application on behalf of the ,,ria under section #e7;a74 ,subsequent appointments to the board shall be made in accordance with such bylaws as may be adopted by the board4 7#c7 ,duties ,the duties of the board of directors of an ,,ria shall include-- 7,a7 developing a final regional infrastructure accelerator plan for the ,,ria1 based on the proposed plan submitted on behalf of the ,,ria under section #e7;b72 7,b7 selecting ,state1 local1 and regional public entities to receive subgrants from the ,,ria under section #f2 and 7,c7 submitting a report to the ,secretary under subsection #e7;d74 7#d7 ,requirements to approve plan ,in carrying out its duties under paragraph 7#c77;,a71 the board of directors of an ,,ria shall consider public stakeholder input from-- 7,a7 a public project sponsor with experience in infrastructure financing2 7,b7 an entity with the ability to finance covered infrastructure projects in the area served by the ,,ria1 including private sector equity investors1 public pension funds1 endowments1 and other financial investment funds2 7,c7 a construction or real estate development entity with the capacity to develop covered infrastructure projects in the area served by the ,,ria2 7,d7 a representative of an organized labor association or an association of workers representing labor and workplace standards2 7,e7 a legal expert with experience in contract development and the execution of public-private partnerships2 and 7,f7 a representative of each ,federal department or agency with jurisdiction over covered infrastructure projects being considered by the ,,ria4 #e4 ,initial grants 7a7 ,application ,an ,,ria desiring a grant under this section shall submit to the ,secretary an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may reasonably require4 7b7 ,proposed plan ,an application submitted by an ,,ria under subsection 7a7 shall include a proposed plan that describes how the ,,ria will promote investment in covered infrastructure projects-- 7#a7 by providing guidance and feedback to ,state1 local1 and regional public entities on infrastructure priorities1 financing strategies1 and other matters relating to such projects2 7#b7 by evaluating and promoting innovative methods for financing such projects2 7#c7 by establishing connections between sources of financing for such projects and appropriate ,state1 local1 and regional public entities2 7#d7 by establishing standards to measure the life-cycle costs of investments in such projects2 7#e7 by enhancing the capacity of ,state and local governments to evaluate and structure such projects that involve the investment of private capital2 and 7#f7 by providing technical assistance and information on best practices with respect to such projects1 including-- 7,a7 identifying and selecting qualified advisors1 such as infrastructure financial analysts and contract negotiators2 7,b7 incorporating resiliency risk analyses into the planning and design of such projects2 7,c7 preparing and reviewing requests for qualifications and proposals from private sector partners2 and 7,d7 applying standardized analyses and processes that provide quantitative data on infrastructure investments1 including a value-for-money analysis4 7c7 ,selection ,for fiscal year #bjah and each fiscal year thereafter1 the ,secretary shall select1 from among applications received under subsection 7a71 #e ,r,i,as from geographically diverse regions to receive a grant under this section4 7d7 ,use of funds ,an ,,ria that receives a grant under this section shall use the amounts of the grant-- 7#a7 to assess regional approaches for advancing innovative investment in covered infrastructure projects2 7#b7 to develop strategies for-- 7,a7 transparency in the analysis of covered infrastructure projects to ensure protection of the public interest2 7,b7 the bundling of smaller-scale and rural projects into larger covered infrastructure projects to facilitate transactions and investments2 and 7,c7 reducing transaction costs associated with investments in covered infrastructure projects2 7#c7 to facilitate the creation of a catalog of covered infrastructure projects available for investment2 7#d7 to analyze and apply procurement methods for covered infrastructure projects1 including-- 7,a7 assessing strategies for management of risks associated with covered infrastructure projects2 7,b7 measuring the speed of completion and quality of covered infrastructure projects2 and 7,c7 assessing the use of contracting strategies for covered infrastructure projects in which teams provide design1 construction1 financing1 and maintenance solutions to achieve performance outcomes2 and 7#e7 to complete the report of the ,,ria described in subsection 7e74 7e7 ,report ,not later than #a year after the date on which an ,,ria receives a grant under this section1 the ,,ria shall submit to the ,secretary a report that includes1 at a minimum-- 7#a7 an update on the implementation of the plan of the ,,ria described in subsection 7a71 as finalized by the board of directors of the ,,ria2 7#b7 a description of the infrastructure needs of the region to be served by the ,,ria2 7#c7 a proposal of covered infrastructure projects to be accomplished by the ,,ria through a subsequent grant1 as awarded under section #f2 and 7#d7 the procurement strategies the ,,ria intends to use for such covered infrastructure projects4 7f7 ,selection for subsequent grant ,not later than #fj days after the date of receipt of the final report submitted by an ,,ria under subsection 7e71 the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 review the reports submitted under subsection 7e72 and 7#b7 for fiscal year #bjai and each fiscal year thereafter1 select not fewer than #d ,r,i,as for which funds are appropriated under section #aj to receive a subsequent grant under section #f4 #f4 ,subsequent grants 7a7 ,in general ,using amounts appropriated under section #aj7b71 the ,secretary shall award a subsequent grant to an ,,ria selected under section #d7;f74 7b7 ,subgrants ,an ,,ria shall use the amounts of a subsequent grant received under this section-- 7#a7 to make subgrants to one or more ,state1 local1 or regional public entities for the purposes described in subsection 7d72 and 7#b7 for such other purposes as the ,,ria1 after notifying the ,secretary1 determines appropriate4 7c7 ,application ,a ,state1 local1 or regional public entity desiring a subgrant from an ,,ria under this section may submit to the ,,ria an application for a subgrant at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,,ria may reasonably require4 7d7 ,use of funds ,the amounts of a subgrant received by a ,state1 local1 or regional public entity from an ,,ria under this section may be used for payment of the following costs associated with a covered infrastructure project3 7#a7 ,project planning1 feasibility studies1 economic assessments1 cost-benefit analyses1 and public benefit studies4 7#b7 ,value-for-money analyses4 7#c7 ,design and engineering4 7#d7 ,financial planning 7including the identification of funding and financing options74 7#e7 ,permitting1 environmental review1 and regulatory processes4 7#f7 ,assessment of the impacts of potential projects on the area1 including the effect on communities and environment4 7#g7 ,the workforce and wages and benefits1 as well as assessment of infrastructure vulnerability and resilience to the impacts of climate change and other risks4 7#h7 ,public outreach and community engagement4 7e7 ,amount ,a subgrant made by an ,,ria under this section may not be in an amount that is greater than #cjj1jjj or #ge percent of the projected cost of activities described in subsection 7d7 associated with the covered infrastructure project concerned1 whichever is less4 ,the recipient of the subgrant shall provide funding for the remaining balance of such costs4 7f7 ,limitation ,funds made available under this section may not be used to pay for work already completed on a covered infrastructure project4 #g4 ,administrative provisions 7a7 ,prevailing rate of wage 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall take such action as may be necessary to ensure that all laborers and mechanics employed by contractors or subcontractors on construction work performed on projects assisted with a grant under this ,act shall be paid wages at rates not less than those prevailing on the same type of work on similar construction in the immediate locality as determined by the ,secretary of ,labor in accordance with sections #cada1 #cadf1 and #cadg of title #dj1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#b7 ,consultation ,in carrying out the duties of paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary of ,labor shall consult with the relevant agency of the ,state in which a project assisted with a grant under this ,act is to be performed4 ,after giving due regard to the information thus obtained1 the ,secretary of ,labor shall make a predetermination of the minimum wages to be paid laborers and mechanics in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 7#a7 which shall be set out in each project advertisement for bids and in each bid proposal form and shall be made a part of the contract covering the project4 7#c7 ,exceptions ,the provisions of this paragraph shall not be applicable to employment pursuant to apprenticeship and skill training programs which have been certified by the ,secretary as promoting equal employment opportunity in connection with a construction program4 7b7 ,environmental compliance ,the ,secretary shall take such action as may be necessary to ensure that projects assisted with a grant under this ,act are conducted in accordance with the environmental review and permitting process under the ,national ,environmental ,policy ,act of #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq474 #h4 ,report to ,congress 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date on which the ,secretary first makes a grant under this ,act1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report on the effectiveness of the ,program4 7b7 ,contents ,the report shall include-- 7#a7 an overview of the ,program2 and 7#b7 the findings of the ,secretary on the effectiveness of regional collaboration on infrastructure investment1 infrastructure finance1 and the use of procurement methods 7as described in section #e7;d77#d774 #i4 ,definitions ,in this ,act1 the following definitions shall apply3 7#a7 ,covered infrastructure project ,the term covered infrastructure project means a project that is located in a ,state1 that is sponsored by a ,state1 local1 or regional public entity1 and that involves the construction1 consolidation1 alteration1 or repair of any of the following3 7,a7 ,intercity passenger or freight rail lines4 7,b7 ,intercity passenger rail facilities or equipment4 7,c7 ,intercity freight rail facilities or equipment4 7,d7 ,intercity passenger bus facilities or equipment4 7,e7 ,public transportation facilities or equipment4 7,f7 ,highway facilities1 including bridges and tunnels4 7,g7 ,airports4 7,h7 ,air traffic control systems4 7,i7 ,port or marine terminal facilities1 including approaches to marine terminal facilities or inland port facilities4 7,j7 ,port or marine equipment1 including fixed equipment to serve approaches to marine terminals or inland ports4 7,k7 ,ports of entry or border crossing infrastructure4 7,l7 ,transmission or distribution pipelines4 7,m7 ,inland waterways4 7,n7 ,intermodal facilities or equipment related to two or more of the sectors described in subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,m74 7,o7 ,water treatment and solid waste disposal facilities1 including drinking water facilities4 7,p7 ,storm water management systems4 7,q7 ,dams and levees4 7,r7 ,facilities or equipment for energy transmission1 distribution1 or storage4 7#b7 ,life-cycle costs ,the term life-cycle costs means1 with respect to an infrastructure facility1 the budgetary impacts of the design1 development1 construction1 and operations and maintenance of the infrastructure facility4 7#c7 ,program ,the term ,program means the regional infrastructure accelerator program established under section #c4 7#d7 ,regional infrastructure accelerator2 ,,ria ,the term regional infrastructure accelerator or ,,ria means a multi-jurisdictional organization organized and dedicated to providing technical assistance1 financing options1 and resources for covered infrastructure projects within the jurisdictions represented in such organization4 7#e7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of the ,treasury4 7#f7 ,state ,the term ,state means each of the several ,states1 the ,district of ,columbia1 ,puerto ,rico1 and any territory or possession of the ,united ,states4 #aj4 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the ,program-- 7#a7 for fiscal year #bjah and each fiscal year thereafter-- 7,a7 #aa1ejj1jjj for making initial grants to ,r,i,as under section #e2 and 7,b7 #ejj1jjj for covering the administrative costs of the ,program2 and 7#b7 for fiscal year #bjai and each fiscal year thereafter1 #ac1jjj1jjj for making subsequent grants to ,r,i,as under section #f4