[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2769 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2769
To establish the Intercity Passenger Rail Trust Fund to ensure a safe,
sustainable, convenient transportation option for the people of the
United States, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 22, 2021
Mr. Danny K. Davis of Illinois (for himself, Ms. Schakowsky, and Mr.
Rush) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the
Committee on Ways and Means, 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 establish the Intercity Passenger Rail Trust Fund to ensure a safe,
sustainable, convenient transportation option for the people of the
United States, and for other purposes.
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 ``Intercity Passenger Rail Trust Fund
Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) An effective transportation system for the Nation
requires dedicated, predictable Federal funding for various
capital and operating expenses, as demonstrated by the Highway
Trust Fund, which supports all Federal highway programs, most
public transit programs, and many Federal transportation safety
programs.
(2) Intercity passenger rail is the only surface
transportation mode in the United States that--
(A) does not receive any Federal funding through a
trust fund for capital investment; and
(B) is completely dependent on annual discretionary
appropriations for both its capital expenses and its
operating costs.
(3) In fiscal year 2019, Amtrak experienced record
ridership, a historic low operating loss, and a record capital
spend rate.
(4) In markets with sufficient infrastructure and train
frequency, Amtrak has proven to be an effective mode of
transportation compared to commercial air and bus service and
private automobile use.
(5) Intercity passenger rail offers substantial safety,
energy, and environmental advantages compared to most other
transportation modes, but decades of in sufficient capital
funding has drastically limited the role that intercity
passenger rail can play in the Nation's overall transportation
network.
(6) There are critical capital needs for the Northeast
Corridor and the National Network, including infrastructure,
fleet, stations, and facilities.
(7) Adding to the urgency of these capital investment
needs, due to changing demographics, population growth,
urbanization, and changing travel trends, intercity passenger
rail will be needed to help move our Nation into the future.
(8) For these reasons, an Intercity Passenger Rail Trust
Fund is needed now, more than ever, to ensure a safe,
sustainable, convenient transportation option for the people of
the United States.
SEC. 3. INTERCITY PASSENGER RAIL TRUST FUND.
(a) In General.--Subchapter A of chapter 98 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 9512. INTERCITY PASSENGER RAIL TRUST FUND.
``(a) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury of the
United States a trust fund, which shall be known as the `Intercity
Passenger Rail Trust Fund', consisting of such amounts as may be
appropriated or credited to the Intercity Passenger Railroad Trust Fund
as provided in this section and section 9602(b).
``(b) Transfer to Intercity Passenger Rail Trust Fund.--
``(1) In general.--There is hereby appropriated to the
Intercity Passenger Rail Trust Fund for fiscal year 2022, and
for each fiscal year thereafter, an amount equal to 50 percent
of the average annual amounts appropriated to the Highway Trust
Fund under section 9503 for fiscal years 2008 through 2020.
``(2) Authorization of appropriation of additional sums.--
There are hereby authorized to be appropriated to the Intercity
Passenger Rail Trust Fund such additional sums as may be
required to make the expenditures referred to in subsection
(c).
``(c) Expenditures From the Intercity Passenger Rail Trust Fund.--
Amounts in the Intercity Passenger Rail Trust Fund shall be available
for obligation without further appropriations action for making
expenditures to carry out section 24314 of title 49.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subchapter A of
chapter 98 of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following
new item:
``Sec. 9512. Intercity Passenger Rail Trust Fund.''.
SEC. 4. INTERCITY PASSENGER RAIL TRUST FUND EXPENDITURES.
(a) In General.--Chapter 243 of title 49, United States Code, is
amended by inserting after section 24313 the following:
``Sec. 24314. Intercity Passenger Rail Trust Fund expenditures
``(a) Expenditures From the Intercity Passenger Rail Trust Fund.--
Amounts deposited into the Intercity Passenger Rail Trust Fund each
fiscal year pursuant to section 9512(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986 shall be available for obligation, without further appropriation,
in accordance with the ratios set forth in subsection (b). Amounts made
available under this section shall remain available until expended.
``(b) Intercity Passenger Rail Trust Fund Expenditure Ratios.--The
Secretary may use amounts deposited into the Intercity Passenger Rail
Trust Fund each fiscal year to award grants to Amtrak, in accordance
with the process described in section 24319. Of the grant funds awarded
pursuant to this subsection--
``(1) 40 percent shall be used for activities associated
with the Northeast Corridor; and
``(2) 60 percent shall be used for activities associated
with the National Network.
``(c) Savings Provision.--Nothing in this section may be construed
as prohibiting discretionary funding from being provided to Amtrak.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 243 of title
49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating
to section 24313 the following:
``24314. Intercity Passenger Rail Trust Fund expenditures.''.
<all>