,,ii #aaf? ,,congress #a/ ,session ,s4 #beah ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,! ,,unit$ ,,/ates ,septemb] #ai1 #bjai ,mr4 ,durb9 7= himself & ,mr4 ,braun7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,comm]ce1 ,sci5ce1 & ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to am5d title #di1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 to e/abli% an ,assi/ant ,secret>y = ,rural ,economic ,inve/m5t & an ,(fice ( ,rural ,economic ,inve/m5t1 to ensure t rural communities are adequately repres5t$ 9 ,f$]al decisionmak+ = transportation policy1 & = o!r purposes4 #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,rural ,economic ,infra/ructure ,equity ,act ( #bjai4 #b4 ,rural economic inve/m5t 7a7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is section3 7#a7 ,dep>tm5t ,! t]m ,dep>tm5t means ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,transportation4 7#b7 ,relevant congressional committees ,! t]m relevant congressional committees means-- 7,a7 ! ,committee on ,transportation & ,infra/ructure ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives2 7,b7 ! ,committee on ,en]gy & ,comm]ce ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives2 7,c7 ! ,committee on ,environm5t & ,public ,works ( ! ,s5ate2 7,d7 ! ,committee on ,comm]ce1 ,sci5ce1 & ,transportation ( ! ,s5ate2 7,e7 ! ,committee on ,bank+1 ,h\s+1 & ,urban ,affairs ( ! ,s5ate2 7,f7 ! ,subcommittee on ,transportation1 ,h\s+ & ,urban ,developm5t1 & ,relat$ ,ag5cies ( ! ,committee on ,appropriations ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives2 & 7,g7 ! ,subcommittee on ,transportation1 ,h\s+ & ,urban ,developm5t1 & ,relat$ ,ag5cies ( ! ,committee on ,appropriations ( ! ,s5ate4 7#c7 ,secret>y ,! t]m ,secret>y means ! ,secret>y ( ,transportation4 7b7 ,e/abli%m5t 7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,section #ajb ( title #di1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$-- 7,a7 9 subsection 7a71 by ins]t+ 7ref]r$ to 9 ?is section z ! ,dep>tm5t7 aft] ,dep>tm5t ( ,transportation2 7,b7 9 subsection 7e77#a7-- 7i7 9 ! matt] prec$+ subp>agraph 7,a71 by /rik+ #f & ins]t+ #g2 7ii7 9 subp>agraph 7,c71 by /rik+ & at ! end2 7iii7 by r$esignat+ subp>agraph 7,d7 z subp>agraph 7,e72 & 7iv7 by ins]t+ aft] subp>agraph 7,c7 ! foll[+3 7,d7 an ,assi/ant ,secret>y = ,rural ,economic ,inve/m5t1 :o %all be appo9t$ by ! ,secret>y2 & 2 7,c7 9 subsection 7f77#a71 by /rik+ 8,dep>tm5t ( ,transportation0 ea* place x appe>s & ins]t+ 8,dep>tm5t02 7,d7 by r$esignat+ subsection 7h7 z subsection 7i72 & 7,e7 by ins]t+ aft] subsection 7g7 ! foll[+3 7h7 ,(fice ( ,rural ,economic ,inve/m5t 7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,!re is e/abli%$ 9 ! ,dep>tm5t an ,(fice ( ,rural ,economic ,inve/m5t 7ref]r$ to 9 ?is subsection z ! ,(fice74 7#b7 ,lead]%ip ,! head ( ! ,(fice %all be ! ,assi/ant ,secret>y = ,rural ,economic ,inve/m5t 7ref]r$ to 9 ?is subsection z ! ,assi/ant ,secret>y71 :o %all report directly to ! ,secret>y4 7#c7 ,mission & goals ,! mission & goals ( ! ,(fice %all be to coord9ate ) o!r (fices & ag5cies )9 ! ,dep>tm5t & ) o!r ,f$]al ag5cies-- 7,a7 to ensure t ! unique ne$s & attributes ( rural transportation1 involv+ all modes1 are fully address$ & prioritiz$ dur+ ! developm5t & implem5tation ( transportation policies1 programs1 & activities )9 ! ,dep>tm5t2 7,b7 to improve coord9ation ( ,f$]al transportation policies1 programs1 & activities )9 ! ,dep>tm5t 9 a mann] t exp&s economic developm5t 9 rural communities & regions1 & to provide recomm5dations = improvem5t1 includ+ additional reorganization & realignm5ts2 7,c7 to exp& ,f$]al transportation infra/ructure inve/m5t 9 rural communities1 includ+ by provid+ recomm5dations = *anges 9 =mula funds or o!r exi/+ fund+ di/ribution patt]ns2 7,d7 to use innovation to resolve local & regional transportation *all5ges fac$ by rural communities2 7,e7 to promote & improve plann+ & coord9ation among rural areas to maximize ! unique competitive advantage 9 ^? areas :ile avoid+ duplicative ,f$]al1 ,/ate1 & local inve/m5ts2 & 7,f7 to ensure t all rural communities lack+ res\rces receive proactive outrea*1 education1 & te*nical assi/ance to improve access to ,f$]al transportation programs4 7#d7 ,duties ( ,assi/ant ,secret>y ,! ,assi/ant ,secret>y %all-- 7,a7 provide in=mation & outrea* to rural communities conc]n+ ! availability & eligibility requirem5ts ( p>ticipat+ 9 programs ( ! ,dep>tm5t2 7,b7 help rural communities id5tify competitive economic advantages & avoid duplicative transportation inve/m5ts 9 ord] to ensure cont9u$ economic gr[?2 7,c7 s]ve z a res\rce = assi/+ rural communities ) respect to ,f$]al transportation programs2 7,d7 ensure & coord9ate a r\t9e rural consultation on ! developm5t ( policies1 programs1 & activities ( ! ,dep>tm5t2 7,e7 s]ve z an advocate )9 ! ,dep>tm5t on behalf ( rural communities2 & 7,f7 "w 9 coord9ation ) ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,agriculture1 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,heal? & ,human ,s]vices1 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,comm]ce1 ! ,f$]al ,communications ,commission1 & o!r ,f$]al ag5cies1 z ! ,secret>y det]m9es to be appropriate1 9 c>ry+ out ! responsibilities ( ! ,assi/ant ,secret>y4 7#e7 ,contracts & agreem5ts ,= ! purpose ( c>ry+ out ! mission & goals ( ! ,(fice "u p>agraph 7#c7 & ! duties ( ! ,assi/ant ,secret>y "u p>agraph 7#d71 ! ,assi/ant ,secret>y may ent] into contracts1 coop]ative agreem5ts1 & o!r agreem5ts z necess>y1 includ+ ) rese>* c5t]s1 in/itutions ( high] education1 ,/ates1 units ( local gov]nm5t1 nonpr(it organizations1 or a comb9ation ( any ( ^? entities-- 7,a7 to conduct rese>* on transportation inve/m5ts t promote rural economic developm5t2 7,b7 to solicit in=mation 9 ! developm5t ( policy1 programs1 & activities ( ! ,dep>tm5t t c improve infra/ructure inve/m5t & economic developm5t 9 rural areas2 7,c7 to develop educational & outrea* mat]ials1 includ+ ! conduct ( work%ops1 c\rses1 & c]tifi$ tra9+ = rural communities & regions t c fur!r ! mission & goals ( ! ,(fice & ! ,dep>tm5t2 & 7,d7 to c>ry out any o!r activities1 z det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y to be appropriate4 7#f7 ,employees ,! ,secret>y %all ensure t n m ?an #d full-"t equival5t employees are assign$ to ! ,(fice4 7#g7 ,applicability ,9 c>ry+ out ! mission & goals ( ! ,(fice "u p>agraph 7#c7 & ! duties ( ! ,assi/ant ,secret>y "u p>agraph 7#d71 ! ,assi/ant ,secret>y %all consid] z rural any area consid]$ to be a rural area "u a ,f$]al transportation program ( ! ,dep>tm5t4 4 7#b7 ,c\ncil on ,cr$it & ,f9ance ,section #aag7;b77#a7 ( title #di1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3 7,i7 ,! ,assi/ant ,secret>y = ,rural ,economic ,inve/m5t4 4 7c7 ,reorganization proposal 7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y1 9 consultation ) ! relevant congressional committees1 %all develop a propos$ reorganization ( ! functions ( ! ,dep>tm5t to ensure improv$ coord9ation & prioritization ( programs & s]vices t promote rural infra/ructure inve/m5t1 expansion1 equity1 & economic developm5t4 7#b7 ,report ,n lat] ?an #ahj days aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y %all submit to ! relevant congressional committees a report t describes ! propos$ reorganization plan "u p>agraph 7#a74 7d7 ,rural consultation 7#a7 ,requirem5t 7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an #a ye> aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ea* (fice & ag5cy )9 ! ,dep>tm5t %all develop & implem5t a process to ensure mean+ful & timely input f rural /akehold]s dur+ ! developm5t ( any regulation1 guidance1 or policy t w\ld h sub/antial direct effects on #a or m rural areas4 7,b7 ,consultation ,to ! maximum ext5t practicable & 9 accordance ) applicable ,f$]al law1 an (fice or ag5cy ( ! ,dep>tm5t %all n promulgate a regulation1 issue guidance1 or implem5t a policy describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,a7 unless ! (fice or ag5cy-- 7i7 consults ) rural /akehold]s be=e develop+ ! propos$ regulation2 7ii7 publi%es 9 ! ,f$]al ,regi/] a summ>y rural impact /atem5t1 :i* %all consi/ (-- 7,i7 a description ( ! consultation ) rural /akehold]s on ! regulation1 guidance1 or policy2 7,,ii7 a summ>y ( any conc]ns rais$ by ! rural /akehold]s2 7,,iii7 a description ( ! ext5t to :i* conc]ns ref]r$ to 9 subclause 7,,ii7 h be5 alleviat$2 & 7,,iv7 a description ( :y ! regulation1 guidance1 or policy is ne$$2 & 7iii7 submits to ! ,director ( ! ,(fice ( ,managem5t & ,budget-- 7,i7 ! summ>y rural impact /atem5t describ$ 9 clause 7ii72 & 7,,ii7 on reque/ ( ! ,director1 any writt5 communications submitt$ to ! (fice or ag5cy f rural /akehold]s4 7#b7 ,designation ,n lat] ?an #ahj days aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ea* (fice & ag5cy )9 ! ,dep>tm5t %all designate an (ficial )9 t (fice or ag5cy to s]ve z ! (ficial ) pr9cipal responsibility = ! implem5tation ( ?is subsection4 7e7 ,advisory committee 7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y %all e/abli% a rural transportation advisory c\ncil 7ref]r$ to 9 ?is subsection z ! advisory c\ncil7 to consult ) & advise ! ,(fice ( ,rural ,economic ,inve/m5t4 7#b7 ,memb]%ip ,! ,secret>y %all appo9t memb]s to ! advisory c\ncil 9 a mann] t ensures t ! geographic & economic div]sity ( rural regions ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates are repres5t$4 7#c7 ,meet+s ,! advisory c\ncil %all meet n less ?an twice p] ye>1 z det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y4 7#d7 ,duties ,! advisory c\ncil %all-- 7,a7 advise ! ,(fice ( ,rural ,economic ,inve/m5t on issues relat$ to rural ne$s relat+ to ,f$]al transportation programs2 7,b7 develop recomm5dations = any *anges to ,f$]al law1 regulations1 int]nal ,dep>tm5t guidance1 or o!r measures t w\ld elim9ate b>ri]s = rural access or improve rural equity 9 transportation inve/m5ts2 7,c7 exam9e me?ods ( maximiz+ ! numb] ( opportunities = assi/ance = rural areas "u ,f$]al transportation programs1 includ+ exp&$ outrea* & te*nical assi/ance2 7,d7 exam9e me?ods ( enc\rag+ int]gov]nm5tal & local res\rce coop]ation to mitigate duplicative inve/m5ts 9 key regions & improve ! effici5cies 9 ! deliv]y ( ,f$]al transportation programs2 7,e7 evaluate o!r me?ods ( creat+ new opportunities = rural regions2 & 7,f7 address any o!r relevant issues z ! ,secret>y det]m9es to be appropriate4