,,ii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #beah ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,september #ai1 #bjai ,mr4 ,durbin 7for himself and ,mr4 ,braun7 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 establish an ,assistant ,secretary for ,rural ,economic ,investment and an ,office of ,rural ,economic ,investment1 to ensure that rural communities are adequately represented in ,federal decisionmaking for transportation policy1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,rural ,economic ,infrastructure ,equity ,act of #bjai4 #b4 ,rural economic investment 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,department ,the term ,department means the ,department of ,transportation4 7#b7 ,relevant congressional committees ,the term relevant congressional committees means-- 7,a7 the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure of the ,house of ,representatives2 7,b7 the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce of the ,house of ,representatives2 7,c7 the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works of the ,senate2 7,d7 the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate2 7,e7 the ,committee on ,banking1 ,housing1 and ,urban ,affairs of the ,senate2 7,f7 the ,subcommittee on ,transportation1 ,housing and ,urban ,development1 and ,related ,agencies of the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,house of ,representatives2 and 7,g7 the ,subcommittee on ,transportation1 ,housing and ,urban ,development1 and ,related ,agencies of the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,senate4 7#c7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,transportation4 7b7 ,establishment 7#a7 ,in general ,section #ajb of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7,a7 in subsection 7a71 by inserting 7referred to in this section as the ,department7 after ,department of ,transportation2 7,b7 in subsection 7e77#a7-- 7i7 in the matter preceding subparagraph 7,a71 by striking #f and inserting #g2 7ii7 in subparagraph 7,c71 by striking and at the end2 7iii7 by redesignating subparagraph 7,d7 as subparagraph 7,e72 and 7iv7 by inserting after subparagraph 7,c7 the following3 7,d7 an ,assistant ,secretary for ,rural ,economic ,investment1 who shall be appointed by the ,secretary2 and 2 7,c7 in subsection 7f77#a71 by striking 8,department of ,transportation0 each place it appears and inserting 8,department02 7,d7 by redesignating subsection 7h7 as subsection 7i72 and 7,e7 by inserting after subsection 7g7 the following3 7h7 ,office of ,rural ,economic ,investment 7#a7 ,in general ,there is established in the ,department an ,office of ,rural ,economic ,investment 7referred to in this subsection as the ,office74 7#b7 ,leadership ,the head of the ,office shall be the ,assistant ,secretary for ,rural ,economic ,investment 7referred to in this subsection as the ,assistant ,secretary71 who shall report directly to the ,secretary4 7#c7 ,mission and goals ,the mission and goals of the ,office shall be to coordinate with other offices and agencies within the ,department and with other ,federal agencies-- 7,a7 to ensure that the unique needs and attributes of rural transportation1 involving all modes1 are fully addressed and prioritized during the development and implementation of transportation policies1 programs1 and activities within the ,department2 7,b7 to improve coordination of ,federal transportation policies1 programs1 and activities within the ,department in a manner that expands economic development in rural communities and regions1 and to provide recommendations for improvement1 including additional reorganization and realignments2 7,c7 to expand ,federal transportation infrastructure investment in rural communities1 including by providing recommendations for changes in formula funds or other existing funding distribution patterns2 7,d7 to use innovation to resolve local and regional transportation challenges faced by rural communities2 7,e7 to promote and improve planning and coordination among rural areas to maximize the unique competitive advantage in those areas while avoiding duplicative ,federal1 ,state1 and local investments2 and 7,f7 to ensure that all rural communities lacking resources receive proactive outreach1 education1 and technical assistance to improve access to ,federal transportation programs4 7#d7 ,duties of ,assistant ,secretary ,the ,assistant ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 provide information and outreach to rural communities concerning the availability and eligibility requirements of participating in programs of the ,department2 7,b7 help rural communities identify competitive economic advantages and avoid duplicative transportation investments in order to ensure continued economic growth2 7,c7 serve as a resource for assisting rural communities with respect to ,federal transportation programs2 7,d7 ensure and coordinate a routine rural consultation on the development of policies1 programs1 and activities of the ,department2 7,e7 serve as an advocate within the ,department on behalf of rural communities2 and 7,f7 work in coordination with the ,department of ,agriculture1 the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services1 the ,department of ,commerce1 the ,federal ,communications ,commission1 and other ,federal agencies1 as the ,secretary determines to be appropriate1 in carrying out the responsibilities of the ,assistant ,secretary4 7#e7 ,contracts and agreements ,for the purpose of carrying out the mission and goals of the ,office under paragraph 7#c7 and the duties of the ,assistant ,secretary under paragraph 7#d71 the ,assistant ,secretary may enter into contracts1 cooperative agreements1 and other agreements as necessary1 including with research centers1 institutions of higher education1 ,states1 units of local government1 nonprofit organizations1 or a combination of any of those entities-- 7,a7 to conduct research on transportation investments that promote rural economic development2 7,b7 to solicit information in the development of policy1 programs1 and activities of the ,department that can improve infrastructure investment and economic development in rural areas2 7,c7 to develop educational and outreach materials1 including the conduct of workshops1 courses1 and certified training for rural communities and regions that can further the mission and goals of the ,office and the ,department2 and 7,d7 to carry out any other activities1 as determined by the ,secretary to be appropriate4 7#f7 ,employees ,the ,secretary shall ensure that not more than #d full-time equivalent employees are assigned to the ,office4 7#g7 ,applicability ,in carrying out the mission and goals of the ,office under paragraph 7#c7 and the duties of the ,assistant ,secretary under paragraph 7#d71 the ,assistant ,secretary shall consider as rural any area considered to be a rural area under a ,federal transportation program of the ,department4 4 7#b7 ,council on ,credit and ,finance ,section #aag7;b77#a7 of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7,i7 ,the ,assistant ,secretary for ,rural ,economic ,investment4 4 7c7 ,reorganization proposal 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary1 in consultation with the relevant congressional committees1 shall develop a proposed reorganization of the functions of the ,department to ensure improved coordination and prioritization of programs and services that promote rural infrastructure investment1 expansion1 equity1 and economic development4 7#b7 ,report ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall submit to the relevant congressional committees a report that describes the proposed reorganization plan under paragraph 7#a74 7d7 ,rural consultation 7#a7 ,requirement 7,a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 each office and agency within the ,department shall develop and implement a process to ensure meaningful and timely input from rural stakeholders during the development of any regulation1 guidance1 or policy that would have substantial direct effects on #a or more rural areas4 7,b7 ,consultation ,to the maximum extent practicable and in accordance with applicable ,federal law1 an office or agency of the ,department shall not promulgate a regulation1 issue guidance1 or implement a policy described in subparagraph 7,a7 unless the office or agency-- 7i7 consults with rural stakeholders before developing the proposed regulation2 7ii7 publishes in the ,federal ,register a summary rural impact statement1 which shall consist of-- 7,i7 a description of the consultation with rural stakeholders on the regulation1 guidance1 or policy2 7,,ii7 a summary of any concerns raised by the rural stakeholders2 7,,iii7 a description of the extent to which concerns referred to in subclause 7,,ii7 have been alleviated2 and 7,,iv7 a description of why the regulation1 guidance1 or policy is needed2 and 7iii7 submits to the ,director of the ,office of ,management and ,budget-- 7,i7 the summary rural impact statement described in clause 7ii72 and 7,,ii7 on request of the ,director1 any written communications submitted to the office or agency from rural stakeholders4 7#b7 ,designation ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 each office and agency within the ,department shall designate an official within that office or agency to serve as the official with principal responsibility for the implementation of this subsection4 7e7 ,advisory committee 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall establish a rural transportation advisory council 7referred to in this subsection as the advisory council7 to consult with and advise the ,office of ,rural ,economic ,investment4 7#b7 ,membership ,the ,secretary shall appoint members to the advisory council in a manner that ensures that the geographic and economic diversity of rural regions of the ,united ,states are represented4 7#c7 ,meetings ,the advisory council shall meet not less than twice per year1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7#d7 ,duties ,the advisory council shall-- 7,a7 advise the ,office of ,rural ,economic ,investment on issues related to rural needs relating to ,federal transportation programs2 7,b7 develop recommendations for any changes to ,federal law1 regulations1 internal ,department guidance1 or other measures that would eliminate barriers for rural access or improve rural equity in transportation investments2 7,c7 examine methods of maximizing the number of opportunities for assistance for rural areas under ,federal transportation programs1 including expanded outreach and technical assistance2 7,d7 examine methods of encouraging intergovernmental and local resource cooperation to mitigate duplicative investments in key regions and improve the efficiencies in the delivery of ,federal transportation programs2 7,e7 evaluate other methods of creating new opportunities for rural regions2 and 7,f7 address any other relevant issues as the ,secretary determines to be appropriate4