,,ii #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #aihe ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,june #i1 #bjba,mrs4 ,fischer 7for herself and ,mr4 ,peters7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to establish a ,rural ,opportunities to ,use ,transportation for ,economic ,success ,initiative1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,rural ,opportunities to ,use ,transportation for ,economic ,success ,act or the ,,routes ,act4 #b4 ,rural opportunities to use transportation for economic success initiative 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,,routes council ,the term ,,routes ,council means the ,rural ,opportunities to ,use ,transportation for ,economic ,success ,council established by subsection 7c77#a74 7#b7 ,,routes office ,the term ,,routes ,office means the ,rural ,opportunities to ,use ,transportation for ,economic ,success ,office established by subsection 7b77#a74 7#c7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,transportation4 7b7 ,,routes office 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall establish within the ,department of ,transportation the ,rural ,opportunities to ,use ,transportation for ,economic ,success ,office-- 7,a7 to improve analysis of projects from rural areas1 ,tribal areas1 and underserved communities in rural or ,tribal areas applying for ,department of ,transportation discretionary grants1 including ensuring that project costs1 local resources1 and the larger benefits to the people and the economy of the ,united ,states are appropriately considered2 and 7,b7 to provide rural communities1 ,tribal communities1 and underserved communities in rural or ,tribal areas with technical assistance for meeting the transportation infrastructure investment needs of the ,united ,states in a financially sustainable manner4 7#b7 ,objectives ,the ,,routes ,office shall-- 7,a7 collect input from knowledgeable entities and the public on-- 7i7 the benefits of rural and ,tribal transportation projects2 7ii7 the technical and financial assistance required for constructing and operating rural and ,tribal transportation infrastructure and services2 7iii7 barriers and opportunities to funding rural and ,tribal transportation projects2 and 7iv7 unique transportation barriers and challenges facing underserved communities in rural and ,tribal areas and ways to address those challenges2 7,b7 evaluate data on rural and ,tribal transportation challenges and determining methods to align the discretionary funding and financing opportunities of the ,department of ,transportation with the needs of those communities for meeting national transportation goals2 and 7,c7 educate rural communities and ,tribal communities about applicable ,department of ,transportation discretionary grants1 develop effective methods to evaluate projects in those communities in discretionary grant programs1 and communicate those methods through program guidance4 7c7 ,,routes council 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall establish a ,rural ,opportunities to ,use ,transportation for ,economic ,success ,council-- 7,a7 to organize1 guide1 and lead the ,,routes ,office2 and 7,b7 to coordinate rural-related and ,tribal-related funding programs and assistance among the modal administrations4 7#b7 ,membership 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,,routes ,council shall be composed of the following officers of the ,department of ,transportation1 or their designees3 7i7 ,the ,under ,secretary of ,transportation for ,policy4 7ii7 ,the ,general ,counsel4 7iii7 ,the ,chief ,financial ,officer and ,assistant ,secretary for ,budget and ,programs4 7iv7 ,the ,assistant ,secretary for ,research and ,technology4 7v7 ,the ,administrators of-- 7,i7 the ,federal ,aviation ,administration2 7,,ii7 the ,federal ,highway ,administration2 7,,iii7 the ,federal ,railroad ,administration2 and 7,,iv7 the ,federal ,transit ,administration4 7vi7 ,the ,executive ,director of the ,national ,surface ,transportation and ,innovative ,finance ,bureau established under section #aaf of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code4 7vii7 ,the ,assistant ,secretary of ,government ,affairs4 7viii7 ,such other individuals as the ,secretary may designate4 7,b7 ,chair ,the ,under ,secretary of ,transportation for ,policy shall be the ,chair of the ,,routes ,council4 7,c7 ,additional members ,the ,secretary or the ,chair of the ,,routes ,council may designate additional members to serve on the ,,routes ,council4 7#c7 ,additional modal input ,to address issues related to safety and transport of rural and ,tribal commodities1 the ,,routes ,council shall consult with the ,administrators 7or their designees7 of-- 7,a7 the ,maritime ,administration2 7,b7 the ,great ,lakes ,st4 ,lawrence ,seaway ,development ,corporation2 and 7,c7 the ,national ,highway ,traffic ,safety ,administration4 7#d7 ,duties ,members of the ,,routes ,council shall-- 7,a7 participate in all meetings and relevant ,,routes ,council activities and be prepared to share information relevant to rural and ,tribal transportation infrastructure projects and issues2 7,b7 provide guidance and leadership on rural and ,tribal transportation infrastructure issues and represent the work of the ,,routes ,council and ,department of ,transportation on those issues to external stakeholders2 and 7,c7 recommend initiatives to the ,chair of the ,,routes ,council to consider1 establish1 and staff any resulting activities or working groups4 7#e7 ,meetings ,the ,,routes ,council shall meet bimonthly4 7#f7 ,work products and deliverables ,the ,,routes ,council may develop work products or deliverables to meet the goals of the ,,routes ,council1 including-- 7,a7 an annual report to ,congress describing ,,routes ,council activities for the past year and expected activities for the coming year2 7,b7 any recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of ,department of ,transportation discretionary grant programs regarding rural and ,tribal infrastructure issues2 and 7,c7 other guides and reports for relevant groups and the public4