[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7642 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7642
To require the Secretary of the Treasury to provide assistance to
certain providers of transportation services affected by the novel
coronavirus.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 16, 2020
Mr. LaHood (for himself, Mr. Sires, Mr. Young, and Mr. Lowenthal)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Appropriations, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a
period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of the Treasury to provide assistance to
certain providers of transportation services affected by the novel
coronavirus.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Coronavirus Economic Relief for
Transportation Services Act''.
SEC. 2. ASSISTANCE FOR PROVIDERS OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES AFFECTED BY
COVID-19.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Provider of transportation services.--The term
``provider of transportation services'' means an entity that--
(A) is established or organized--
(i) in the United States; or
(ii) pursuant to Federal law;
(B) has significant operations, and a majority of
employees based, in the United States;
(C) was in operation on March 1, 2020; and
(D) is the operator of--
(i) a vessel of the United States (as
defined in section 116 of title 46, United
States Code) that is--
(I) a passenger vessel (as defined
in section 2101 of title 46, United
States Code) carrying fewer than 2,400
passengers; or
(II) a small passenger vessel (as
defined in section 2101 of title 46,
United States Code);
(ii) a company providing transportation
services using a bus characterized by an
elevated passenger deck located over a baggage
compartment (commonly known as an ``over-the-
road bus''), including local and intercity
fixed-route service, commuter service, and
charter or tour service (including tour or
excursion service that includes features in
addition to bus transportation, such as meals,
lodging, admission to points of interest or
special attractions, or the services of a
guide);
(iii) a company providing transportation
services using a school bus (as defined in
section 571.3 of title 49, Code of Federal
Regulations (or successor regulations)); or
(iv) any other transportation service
company subject to regulation by the Department
of Transportation as the Secretary, in
consultation with the Secretary of
Transportation, determines to be appropriate.
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Treasury.
(b) Funding.--
(1) In general.--Out of any funds in the Treasury not
otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated to provide
grants and other forms of emergency assistance to eligible
providers of transportation services under this section,
$10,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2020.
(2) Emergency designation.--
(A) In general.--The amounts provided by this
section are designated as an emergency requirement
pursuant to section 4(g) of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go
Act of 2010 (2 U.S.C. 933(g)).
(B) Designation in senate.--In the Senate, this
section is designated as an emergency requirement
pursuant to section 4112(a) of H. Con. Res. 71 (115th
Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for
fiscal year 2018.
(c) Provision of Assistance.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation with the
Secretary of Transportation, shall use the amounts made
available under subsection (b) to provide grants and other
forms of emergency assistance to eligible providers of
transportation services described in paragraph (2) that have
experienced a significant revenue loss as direct or indirect
result of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
(2) Description of eligible providers of transportation
services.--An eligible provider of transportation services
referred to in paragraph (1) is--
(A) a provider of transportation services that, on
March 1, 2020--
(i) had 500 or fewer employees; and
(ii) was not a subsidiary of, or controlled
by, another entity with a combined total full-
time workforce of more than 500 employees; or
(B) a provider of transportation services that--
(i) on March 1, 2020, had more than 500
employees; and
(ii) has not received assistance under
paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of section 4003(b),
or subtitle B of title IV, of the Coronavirus
Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (Public
Law 116-136; 134 Stat. 281).
(3) Amount.--
(A) Factors for consideration.--In determining the
amount of assistance to be provided to an eligible
provider of transportation services under this
subsection, the Secretary shall take into
consideration--
(i) the estimated revenue and cash flow of
the provider of transportation services during
the 12-month period beginning on the date of
receipt of the assistance;
(ii) the amount of debt owed by the
provider of transportation services on major
equipment, if any; and
(iii) other sources of Federal assistance
provided to the provider of transportation
services, if any.
(B) Limitation.--The Secretary shall ensure that
the amount of assistance provided to a provider of
transportation services under this subsection, when
combined with any other Federal assistance provided in
response to COVID-19 under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief,
and Economic Security Act (Public Law 116-136; 134
Stat. 281), the Paycheck Protection Program and Health
Care Enhancement Act (Public Law 116-139; 134 Stat.
620), or any other provision of law, does not exceed
the total amount of revenue earned by the provider of
transportation services during calendar year 2019.
(4) Type of assistance.--The Secretary shall ensure that
not less than 50 percent of the amounts made available under
subsection (b) are used to provide grants.
(5) Equal access.--The Secretary shall ensure equal access
to the assistance provided under this section to eligible
providers of transportation services that are small, minority-
owned, and women-owned businesses.
(6) Condition of receipt.--As a condition of receipt of
assistance under this subsection, the Secretary shall require
that a provider of transportation services shall agree--
(A) to use the funds, on a priority basis and to
the extent available, to maintain through December 31,
2020, pay, paid administrative leave, and benefits to
all employees as of the date of enactment of this Act,
after making any adjustments required for--
(i) retirement; or
(ii) voluntary employee separation; and
(B) to recall or rehire any employee laid off,
furloughed, or terminated because of reduced service as
a result of COVID-19 or the effects of COVID-19, to the
extent warranted by increased service levels.
(d) Eligible Activities.--A provider of transportation services
shall use assistance provided under subsection (c) only for--
(1) activities to ensure the preservation of jobs based in
the United States;
(2) the acquisition of services, equipment, including
personal protective equipment, and other measures needed to
protect workers and customers from COVID-19; or
(3) continued operations and maintenance of existing
capital equipment and facilities (including rent, leases,
insurance, and debt service) during the period of economic
distress caused by the outbreak of COVID-19.
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