,i #aae? ,,congress #a/ ,session ,h4 ,r4 #ccf ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,( ,,repres5tatives ,janu>y #e1 #bjag,mr4 ,mead[s 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,connolly1 ,mrs4 ,com/ock1 ,mr4 ,s*weik]t1 & ,mr4 ,bey]7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,ways & ,means1 & 9 addition to ! ,committee on ,ov]sight & ,gov]nm5t ,re=m1 = a p]iod to be subsequ5tly det]m9$ by ! ,speak]1 9 ea* case = consid]ation ( su* provisions z fall )9 ! jurisdiction ( ! committee conc]n$ ,a ,,bill ,to provide transit b5efits to ,f$]al employees :o use ! s]vices ( digital transportation companies )9 ! national capital region1 & = o!r purposes4 #a4 ,%ort title2 f9d+s 7a7 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,transit ,b5efits ,mod]nization ,act4 7b7 ,f9d+s ,congress f9ds ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,! ,wa%+ton ,metropolitan ,area ,transit ,au?ority 7,,wmata7 provides approximately #b4c million ,metrorail & ,metrobus trips p] ye> across ! ,national ,capital ,region to ,f$]al employees1 commut]s1 & millions ( visitors to ! ,nation's capital4 7#b7 ,approximately #dj p]c5t ( ,,wmata peak-h\r commut]s are ,f$]al employees4 7#c7 ,,wmata began build+ its rail sy/em 9 #aifi1 curr5tly s]ves #ia /ations1 & has #aag miles ( track4 7#d7 ,! ,f$]al ,transit ,adm9i/ration 7,,fta7 & ! ,national ,transportation ,safety ,bo>d h f\nd significant safety conc]ns result+ f a backlog ( def]r$ ma9t5ance4 7#e7 ,,wmata has design$ a plan1 call$ ,safe,track1 9 an ef=t to address ?is backlog ( def]r$ ma9t5ance4 7#f7 ,safe,track w\ld close ! sy/em e>li] on week5ds & exp& weekday ma9t5ance by r$uc+ ! numb] ( rails 9 use at c]ta9 /ations f two to "o4 7#g7 ,! plan includes #ae ,safety ,surges ) ar\nd-!-clock s+le track+ or segm5t %utd[ns t w impact ru% h\r commutes4 7#h7 ,,fta's review ( ,safe,track's fir/ two safety surge areas f\nd a numb] ( defects 9 ! plan's execution4 7#i7 ,safe,track is s*$ul$ to conclude 9 ,m>* #bjag4 7#aj7 ,dur+ ,safe,track1 ,,wmata is enc\rag+ cu/om]s to utilize o!r commut+ options1 includ+ ride-%>+ s]vices4 7#aa7 ,,wmata has indicat$ t s]vice disruptions w cont9ue to occur foll[+ ,safe,track z r\t9e ma9t5ance is ne$$4 7#ab7 ,! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t1 :i* is negatively affect$ :5 employees _c easily commute to & f "w1 has an int]e/ 9 assi/+ employees ) alt]nate commut+ options4 #b4 ,provid+ a fr+e transit b5efit = use ( transportation network companies ,= purposes ( section #acb7;a7 ( ! ,int]nal ,rev5ue ,code ( #aihf1 ! use ( a transportation network company by ,f$]al employees z provid$ = 9 ?is ,act %all be treat$ z a fr+e b5efit :i* qualifies z a qualifi$ transportation fr+e = ! p]iod e/abli%$ 9 section #c7;a7 ( ?is ,act4 #c4 ,transit b5efits = ,f$]al employees = ! use ( digital transportation companies 7a7 ,9 ,g5]al ,dur+ ! p]iod beg9n+ on ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act & end+ on ,decemb] #ca1 #bjah1 any ag5cy t has a program1 includ+ a program e/abli%$ "u section #gije ( title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 or ,executive ,ord] #acaej 7,april #ba1 #bjjj2 #fe ,f$4 ,reg4 #bdfac71 to provide transit b5efits to employees ( ! ag5cy %all provide transit b5efits to employees :o use ! s]vices ( any digital transportation company )9 ! ,wa%+ton ,metropolitan ,area 9 ! same mann] z su* ag5cy provides transit b5efits to employees :o use public transportation s]vices )9 ! ,wa%+ton ,metropolitan ,area4 7b7 ,requirem5ts 7#a7 ,election ,unless o!rwise /atutorily au?oriz$1 an employee may receive transit b5efits "u ?is section only if ! employee agrees 9 writ+ to n accept any o!r transit or p>k+ b5efit (f]$ by ! head ( any ag5cy ) a transit b5efit program :ile receiv+ ! transit b5efits "u ?is section4 7#b7 ,limitation ,! am\nt ( ! transit b5efit provid$ to an employee "u ?is section dur+ any mon? = ! use ( s]vices provid$ by any digital transportation company may n exce$ ! am\nt ( ! mon?ly av]age transit b5efit receiv$ by ! employee dur+ ! #f-mon? p]iod imm$iately prec$+ ! mon? dur+ :i* an election is made "u p>agraph 7#a74 7#c7 ,implem5tation ,transit b5efits "u ?is section %all be provid$ 9 a mann] sub/antially simil> to ! mann] 9 :i* transit b5efits are provid$ to employees :o use mass transportation s]vices4 ,! head ( any ag5cy ) a transit b5efit program may consult ) any digital transportation company & any o!r head ( any ag5cy ) a transit b5efit program to e/abli% ! proc$ures necess>y to provide transit b5efits "u ?is section4 7#d7 ,sub/antiation ,! head ( any ag5cy ) a transit b5efit program1 ! ,secret>y ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,transportation1 & ! ,secret>y ( ! ,treasury %all1 9 connection ) ! e/abli%m5t ( a process = implem5t+ ! transit b5efit = any digital transportation company1 "w ) any su* digital transportation company 9 e/abli%+ a process to sub/antiate ! use ( transit b5efits by ,f$]al employees us+ ! b5efit = s]vices provid$ by a digital transportation company ea* mon?4 7c7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is section-- 7#a7 ! t]m ,wa%+ton ,metropolitan ,area means ! ,di/rict ( ,columbia2 ,montgom]y1 ,pr9ce ,george's1 ,fr$]ick1 & ,*>les ,c\nties 9 ,m>yl&2 ,arl+ton1 ,fairfax1 ,l\don1 & ,pr9ce ,william ,c\nties 9 ,virg9ia2 & all cities n[ or h]eaft] exi/+ 9 ,m>yl& or ,virg9ia )9 ! geographic area b\nd$ by ! out] b\nd>ies ( ! comb9$ area ( said c\nties2 7#b7 ! t]m digital transportation company means any transportation network company or c>-%>+ s]vice2 7#c7 ! t]m c>-%>+ s]vice means a memb]%ip or non-memb]%ip bas$ s]vice prim>ily design$ = %ort] "t or %ort] di/ance trips :]e individuals are *>g$ p] mile or p] h\r1 or bo?1 = vehicle usage2 & 7#d7 ! t]m transportation network company means a corporation1 p>tn]%ip1 sole proprietor%ip1 or o!r entity t uses a digital network to connect rid]s to driv]s affiliat$ ) ! entity 9 ord] = a driv] to provide transportation s]vices to a rid]4