Transportation Equity Act

I 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 3289 To re-establish an advisory committee to provide independent advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Transportation regarding com- prehensive, interdisciplinary issues related to transportation from a vari- ety of stakeholders in transportation planning, design, research, policy, and advocacy, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAY 17, 2021 Ms. WILSON of Florida (for herself, Ms. TLAIB, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Ms. BOURDEAUX, Ms. BROWNLEY, Mr. CA´RDENAS, Mr. CICILLINE, Mr. COHEN, Ms. BARRAGA´N, Mr. ESPAILLAT, Mr. GARCI´A of Illinois, Mr. HUFFMAN, Ms. JACKSON LEE, Ms. LEE of California, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Mr. MORELLE, Mr. PAYNE, Ms. PRESSLEY, Ms. ROSS, Mr. TAKANO, and Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastruc- ture A BILL To re-establish an advisory committee to provide independent advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Trans- portation regarding comprehensive, interdisciplinary issues related to transportation from a variety of stake- holders in transportation planning, design, research, pol- icy, and advocacy, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:27 Jul 01, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3289.IH H3289 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 3289 IH SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 1 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Transportation Equity 2 Act’’. 3 SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF TRANSPORTATION EQUITY AD- 4 VISORY COMMITTEE. 5 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 120 days after 6 the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Trans- 7 portation shall establish an advisory committee, to be 8 known as the Transportation Equity Committee (referred 9 to in this Act as the ‘‘Committee’’), regarding comprehen- 10 sive and interdisciplinary issues related to transportation 11 equity from a variety of stakeholders in transportation 12 planning, design, research, policy, and advocacy. 13 (b) PURPOSE OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—The 14 Committee established under subsection (a) shall provide 15 independent advice and recommendations to the Secretary 16 on transportation equity, including developing a strategic 17 plan with recommendations to the Secretary on national 18 transportation metrics and the effect on such factors as 19 economic development, connectivity, and public engage- 20 ment. 21 (c) DUTIES.—The Committee shall evaluate the De- 22 partment’s work in connecting people to economic and re- 23 lated forms of opportunity and revitalize communities in 24 carrying out its strategic, research, technological, regu- 25 latory, community engagement, and economic policy ac- 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:27 Jul 01, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3289.IH H3289 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 3289 IH tivities related to transportation and opportunity. Deci- 1 sions directly affecting implementation of transportation 2 policy remain with the Secretary. 3 (d) MEMBERSHIP.— 4 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall appoint 5 an odd number of members of not less than 9 but 6 not more than 15 members (with a quorum con- 7 sisting of a majority of members rounded up to the 8 nearest odd number), to include balanced represen- 9 tation from academia, community groups, industry 10 and business, non-governmental organizations, State 11 and local governments, federally recognized Tribal 12 Governments, advocacy organizations, and indige- 13 nous groups with varying points of view. 14 (2) BROAD REPRESENTATION.—To the extent 15 practicable, members of the Committee shall reflect 16 a variety of backgrounds and experiences, geo- 17 graphic diversity, including urban, rural, tribal, ter- 18 ritories, and underserved and marginalized commu- 19 nities throughout the country, and individuals with 20 expertise in related areas such as housing, health 21 care, and the environment. 22 (3) REPLACEMENT FOR NON-ACTIVE MEM- 23 BERS.—The Secretary may remove a non-active 24 member who misses 3 consecutive meetings and ap- 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:27 Jul 01, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3289.IH H3289 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 3289 IH point a replacement to service for the period of time 1 set forth in subsection (f). 2 (e) MEETINGS.—The Committee shall meet not less 3 than 2 times each year with not more than 9 months be- 4 tween meetings at a reasonable time, in a place accessible 5 to the public, and in a room large enough to accommodate 6 the Committee members, staff, and reasonable number of 7 interested members of the public. The room in which the 8 Committee meets shall be large enough to accommodate 9 at least 100 and shall be compliant with the Americans 10 with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.). 11 (f) TERM.—Each member of the Committee shall 12 serve a 2-year term with not more than 2 consecutive term 13 reappointments, but may continue service until a replace- 14 ment is appointed. 15 (g) SUPPORT.—The Office of the Under Secretary for 16 Policy of the Department of the Department of Transpor- 17 tation shall provide necessary funding, logistics, and ad- 18 ministrative support for the Committee. 19 (h) APPLICATION OF FACA.—The Federal Advisory 20 Committee Act (5 U.S.C. app.) shall apply, except section 21 14, to the Committee established under this section. 22 SEC. 3. DESIGNATED FEDERAL OFFICER. 23 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation 24 shall appoint a full-time Federal employee to serve as the 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:27 Jul 01, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3289.IH H3289 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 5 •HR 3289 IH coordinator of the Committee on Transportation Equity 1 and act as the Designated Federal Officer for the Trans- 2 portation Equity Committee. The designated Federal offi- 3 cer shall ensure that administrative support is provided 4 for the Committee. 5 (b) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Designated Federal Of- 6 ficer shall— 7 (1) call meetings of the Committee, and any 8 subcommittees that the Committee designates, after 9 consultation with the Chair; 10 (2) formulate and approve an agenda, in con- 11 sultation with the Chair, for each meeting; 12 (3) notify all Committee members of the time, 13 place, and agenda for any meeting; 14 (4) provide administrative support for all meet- 15 ings of the Committee; 16 (5) attend each Committee and subcommittee 17 meeting; 18 (6) maintain all Advisory Committee on Trans- 19 portation Equity files and records, including minutes 20 from each meeting; 21 (7) adjourn any meeting when it is determined 22 to be in the public interest and chair meetings when 23 directed to do so by the Secretary; 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:27 Jul 01, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3289.IH H3289 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 6 •HR 3289 IH (8) make available to the public meeting notes 1 and information; and 2 (9) publish notice of any meeting of the Com- 3 mittee in the Federal Register at least 15 days be- 4 fore such meeting. 5 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:27 Jul 01, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H3289.IH H3289 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS