National Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2004 - Establishes the National Commission on the Infrastructure of the United States to ensure that U.S. infrastructure meets current and future demand and facilitates economic growth.
Requires the Commission to study the state of U.S. infrastructure, including such matters as: (1) the capacity of infrastructure improvements to sustain economic development; (2) the age and condition of public infrastructure; (3) the methods used to finance the construction, acquisition, rehabilitation, and maintenance of public works improvements; (4) investment requirements needed to maintain and to improve facilities and the projected share of investment requirements and expenditures on infrastructure facility improvements by Federal, State, and local governments; and (5) estimates of the return to the economy from public works investment.
Directs the Commission to develop recommendations regarding: (1) a Federal infrastructure plan that will detail national infrastructure program priorities; (2) public works improvements and methods of delivering and providing for public work facilities; (3) analysis or criteria and procedures that may be used by Federal agencies and State and local governments in inventorying existing and needed public works improvements, assessing the condition of improvements, and developing uniform criteria and procedures; and (4) proposed guidelines for the uniform reporting by Federal agencies of data regarding infrastructure improvements.
[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2993 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
108th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2993
To establish a National Commission on the Infrastructure of the United
States.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
November 17, 2004
Mr. Graham of Florida (for himself and Mr. Voinovich) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Environment and Public Works
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a National Commission on the Infrastructure of the United
States.
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 ``National Infrastructure Improvement
Act of 2004''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Acquisition.--The term ``acquisition'' includes the
addition of land, sites, equipment, structures, facilities, or
rolling stock by purchase, lease-purchase, trade, or donation.
(2) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the National
Commission on the Infrastructure of the United States
established by section 3(a).
(3) Construction.--The term ``construction'' means--
(A) the design, planning, and erection of new
infrastructure;
(B) the expansion of existing infrastructure;
(C) the reconstruction of an infrastructure project
at an existing site; and
(D) the installation of initial or replacement
infrastructure equipment.
(4) Infrastructure.--
(A) In general.--The term ``infrastructure'' means
a nonmilitary structure or facility and equipment
associated with that structure or facility.
(B) Inclusions.--The term ``infrastructure''
includes--
(i) a surface transportation facility (such
as a road, bridge, highway, public
transportation facility, and freight and
passenger rail);
(ii) a mass transit facility;
(iii) an airport or airway facility;
(iv) a resource recovery facility;
(v) a water supply and distribution system;
(vi) a wastewater collection, treatment,
and related facility;
(vii) a waterway;
(viii) a dock or port;
(ix) a school building; and
(x) a solid waste disposal facility.
(5) Maintenance.--The term ``maintenance'' means any
regularly scheduled activity, such as a routine repair,
intended to ensure that infrastructure continues to operate
efficiently.
(6) Rehabilitation.--The term ``rehabilitation'' means--
(A) the correction of a deficiency in existing
infrastructure so as to extend the useful life or
improve the effectiveness of the infrastructure;
(B) the modernization or replacement of equipment
of existing infrastructure; and
(C) the modernization of, or replacement of parts
for, rolling stock relating to infrastructure.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.
(a) Establishment.--There is established a commission to be known
as the ``National Commission on the Infrastructure of the United
States'' to ensure that the infrastructure of the United States--
(1) meets current and future demand; and
(2) facilitates economic growth.
(b) Membership.--
(1) Composition.--The Commission shall be composed of 7
members, of whom--
(A) 3 members shall be appointed by the President;
(B) 1 member shall be appointed by the Speaker of
the House of Representatives;
(C) 1 member shall be appointed by the minority
leader of the House of Representatives;
(D) 1 member shall be appointed by the majority
leader of the Senate; and
(E) 1 member shall be appointed by the minority
leader of the Senate.
(2) Qualifications.--Each member of the Commission shall
have experience in 1 or more of the fields of economics, public
administration, civil engineering, public works, and related
design professions, planning, or public investment financing.
(3) Date of appointments.--The members of the Commission
shall be appointed under paragraph (1) not later than 90 days
after the enactment of this Act.
(c) Term; Vacancies.--
(1) Term.--A member shall be appointed for the life of the
Commission.
(2) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission--
(A) shall not affect the powers of the Commission;
and
(B) shall be filled, not later than 30 days after
the date on which the vacancy occurs, in the same
manner as the original appointment was made.
(d) Initial Meeting.--Not later than 30 days after the date on
which all members of the Commission have been appointed, the Commission
shall hold the initial meeting of the Commission.
(e) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the call of the
Chairperson or the majority of the Commission members.
(f) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission shall
constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of members may hold hearings.
(g) Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.--The Commission shall select
a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from among the members of the
Commission.
SEC. 4. DUTIES.
(a) Study.--
(1) In general.--Not later than February 15, 2007, the
Commission shall complete a study of all matters relating to
the state of the infrastructure of the United States.
(2) Matters to be studied.--In carrying out paragraph (1),
the Commission shall study such matters as--
(A) the capacity of infrastructure improvements to
sustain current and anticipated economic development,
including long-term economic construction and to
support a sustained and expanding economy;
(B) the age and condition of public infrastructure
(including congestion and changes in the condition of
that infrastructure as compared with preceding years);
(C) the methods used to finance the construction,
acquisition, rehabilitation, and maintenance of public
works improvements (including general obligation bonds,
tax-credit bonds, revenue bonds, user fees, excise
taxes, direct governmental assistance, and private
investment);
(D) any trends or innovations in methods used to
finance that construction, acquisition, rehabilitation,
and maintenance;
(E) investment requirements, by type of facility,
that are necessary to maintain the current condition
and performance of those facilities and the investment
needed to improve those facilities in the future;
(F)(i) the projected historical share of Federal,
State, local, and other government levels of investment
requirements as identified in subparagraph (E); and
(ii) the projected expenditure on infrastructure
facility improvements described in subparagraph (E) by
each level of government;
(G) estimates of the return to the economy from
public works investment;
(H) any trends or innovations in infrastructure
procurement methods; and
(I) any trends or innovations in construction
methods or materials.
(3) Consultation.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the
Commission shall consult with appropriate stakeholders,
including--
(A) the Secretary of the Army;
(B) the Secretary of Agriculture;
(C) the Secretary of Transportation;
(D) the Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency;
(E) the Secretary of Commerce;
(F) the Secretary of Education;
(G) the Secretary of Energy;
(H) the Secretary of the Treasury;
(I) the Secretary of the Interior;
(J) the Administrator of General Services;
(K) associations representing private sector
stakeholders;
(L) associations representing State and local
governments; and
(M) such other individuals and entities as are
determined to be appropriate by the Commission.
(4) Resources; data.--In carrying out paragraph (1), to the
maximum extent practicable, the Commission shall--
(A) use existing studies, data, sampling
techniques, and reports of other commissions; and
(B) if collecting new data under this section, make
every effort to ensure that the data is collected in
consultation with the States so as to ensure that
uniform methods, categories, and analyses are used.
(b) Recommendations.--The Commission shall develop
recommendations--
(1) on a Federal infrastructure plan that will detail
national infrastructure program priorities, including
alternative methods of meeting national infrastructure needs to
effectuate balanced growth and economic development;
(2) on public works improvements and methods of delivering
and providing for public work facilities;
(3) for analysis or criteria and procedures that may be
used by Federal agencies and State and local governments in--
(A) inventorying existing and needed public works
improvements;
(B) assessing the condition of public works
improvements; and
(C) developing uniform criteria and procedures for
use in conducting those inventories and assessments;
and
(4) for proposed guidelines for the uniform reporting, by
Federal agencies, of construction, acquisition, rehabilitation,
and maintenance data with respect to infrastructure
improvements.
(c) Statement and Recommendations.--Not later than February 15,
2007, the Commission shall submit to Congress--
(1) a detailed statement of the findings and conclusions of
the Commission; and
(2) the recommendations of the Commission under subsection
(b), including recommendations for such legislation and
administrative actions for 5-, 15-, 30-, and 50-year time
periods as the Commission considers to be appropriate.
SEC. 5. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) Hearings.--The Commission shall hold such hearings, meet and
act at such times and places, take such testimony, administer such
oaths, and receive such evidence as the Commission considers advisable
to carry out this Act.
(b) Information From Federal Agencies.--
(1) In general.--The Commission may secure directly from a
Federal agency such information as the Commission considers
necessary to carry out this Act.
(2) Provision of information.--On request of the
Chairperson of the Commission, the head of the Federal agency
shall provide the information to the Commission.
(c) Gifts.--The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or
donations of services or property.
(d) Contracts.--The Commission may enter into contracts with other
entities, including contracts under which 1 or more entities, with the
guidance of the Commission, conduct the study required under section
4(a).
(e) Postal Services.--The Commission may use the United States
mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other
agencies of the Federal Government.
SEC. 6. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.
(a) Compensation of Members.--A member of the Commission shall
serve without pay, but shall be allowed a per diem allowance for travel
expenses, at rates authorized for an employee of an agency under
subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away
from the home or regular place of business of the member in the
performance of the duties of the Commission.
(b) Staff.--
(1) In general.--The Chairperson of the Commission may,
without regard to the civil service laws, including
regulations, appoint and terminate an executive director and
such other additional personnel as are necessary to enable the
Commission to perform the duties of the Commission.
(2) Confirmation of executive director.--The employment of
an executive director shall be subject to confirmation by a
majority of the members of the Commission.
(3) Compensation.--
(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph
(B), the Chairperson of the Commission may fix the
compensation of the executive director and other
personnel without regard to the provisions of chapter
51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, United
States Code, relating to classification of positions
and General Schedule pay rates.
(B) Maximum rate of pay.--In no event shall any
employee of the Commission (other than the executive
director) receive as compensation an amount in excess
of the maximum rate of pay for Executive Level IV under
section 5315 of title 5, United States Code.
(c) Detail of Federal Government Employees.--
(1) In general.--An employee of the Federal Government may
be detailed to the Commission without reimbursement.
(2) Civil service status.--The detail of a Federal employee
shall be without interruption or loss of civil service status
or privilege.
(d) Procurement of Temporary and Intermittent Services.--On request
of the Commission, the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief
of Engineers, shall provide, on a reimbursable basis, such office
space, supplies, equipment, and other support services to the
Commission and staff of the Commission as are necessary for the
Commission to carry out the duties of the Commission under this Act.
SEC. 7. CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE REVIEW.
Not later than 90 days after the date on which the report under
section 4(c) is submitted to Congress by the Commission, the
Congressional Budget Office shall review the report and submit a report
on the results of the review to the Committee on Environment and Public
Works and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the
Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the
House of Representatives.
SEC. 8. FUNDING.
(a) Fiscal Year 2005.--For fiscal year 2005, from amounts otherwise
made available to the Secretary of the Army for the purpose of civil
works for that fiscal year, the Secretary of the Army shall transfer to
the Commission such amount, not to exceed $2,000,000, as the Commission
may request to carry out this Act.
(b) Future Fiscal Years.--There is authorized to be appropriated to
the Commission to carry out this Act $1,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2006 and 2007.
SEC. 9. TERMINATION OF COMMISSION.
The Commission shall terminate on September 30, 2007.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S11432)
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (text of measure as introduced: CR S11432-11434)
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