To make certain revisions relating to alternative methods to improve the accessibility of public transportation for persons with visual disabilities, tax-free transit benefits, authority to use government vehicles to transport federal employees, and projects in Alaska and Hawaii for new fixed guideway systems and extension projects utilizing ferry boats.

SA 737. Mr. INHOFE submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to
amendment SA 605 proposed by Mr. Inhofe to the bill H.R. 3, to
authorize funds for Federal-aid highways, highway safety programs, and
transit programs, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on
the table as follows:

On page 38, line 8, strike ``$9,386,289'' and insert
``$8,386,289''.
On page 327, line 18, strike ``under section 204''.
On page 417, line 24, strike ``209'' and insert ``2009''.
On page 418, line 13, strike ``$2,000,000'' and insert
``$3,000,000''.
On page 558, line 17, insert ``and Boating'' before
``Trust''.
On page 558, line 23, strike ``2004'' and insert ``2005''.
On page 633, line 15, strike ``by all States''.
On page 652, line 23, strike ``Section'' and insert ``(a)
In General.--Section''.
On page 653, between lines 8 and 9, insert the following:
(b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section
shall apply to transactions entered into after the date of
the enactment of this Act.
On page 807, after line 16, insert the following:
(h) Contracted Paratransit Pilot.--
(1) In general.--Notwithstanding section 5302(a)(1)(I) of
title 49, United States Code, for fiscal years 2005 through
2009, a recipient of assistance under section 5307 of title
49, United States Code, in an urbanized area with a
population of 558,329 according to the 2000 decennial census
of population may use not more than 20 percent of such
recipient's annual formula apportionment under section 5307
of title 49, United States Code, for the provision of
nonfixed route paratransit services in accordance with
section 223 of the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C.
12143), but only if the grant recipient is in compliance with
applicable requirements of that Act, including both fixed
route and demand responsive service and the service is
acquired by contract.
(2) Report.--Not later than January 1, 2009, the Secretary
shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the
Senate, a report on the implementation of this section and
any recommendations of the Secretary regarding the
application of this section.
On page 846, after line 6, insert the following:
(m) Miami Metrorail.--The Secretary may credit funds
provided by the Florida Department of Transportation for the
extension of the Miami Metrorail System from Earlington
Heights to the Miami Intermodal Center to satisfy the
matching requirements of section 5309(h)(4) of title 49,
United Stated Code, for the Miami North Corridor and Miami
East-West Corridor projects.
On page 872, strike line 24, and insert the following:
tives.
``(e) Study of Methods to Improve Accessibility of Public
Transportation for Persons With Visual Disabilities.--Not
later than October 1, 2006, the Secretary shall transmit to
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Banking,
Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate a report on the
effectiveness of alternative methods to improve the
accessibility of public transportation for persons with
visual disabilities. The report shall evaluate a variety of
methods and techniques for improving accessibility, including
installation of Remote Infrared Audible Signs for provision
of wayfinding and information for people who have visual,
cognitive, or learning disabilities.''.
On page 900, line 18, strike ``and''.
On page 900, line 22, strike the period and insert ``;
and''.
On page 900, after line 22, insert the following:
(5) by adding at the end the following:
``(l) Notification of pending discretionary grants.--Not
less than 3 full business days before announcement of award
by the Secretary of any discretionary grant, letter of
intent, or full funding grant agreement totaling $1,000,000
or more, the Secretary shall notify the Committees on
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and Appropriations of the
Senate and Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure
and Appropriation of the House of Representatives.''.
On page 944, after line 21, insert the following:

SEC.__. TRANSIT PASS TRANSPORTATION FRINGE BENEFITS.

(a) Transit Pass Transportation Fringe Benefits Study.--
(1) Study.--The Secretary of Transportation shall conduct a
study on tax-free transit benefits and ways to promote
improved access to and increased usage of such benefits, at
Federal agencies in the National Capital Region, including
agencies not currently offering the benefit.
(2) Content.--The study under this subsection shall
include--
(A) an examination of how agencies offering the benefit
make its availability known to their employees and the
methods agencies use to deliver the benefit to employees,
including examples of best practices; and
(B) an analysis of the impact of Federal employees' use of
transit on traffic congestion and pollution in the National
Capital Region.
(3) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to
Congress on the results of the study under this subsection.
(b) Authority to Use Government Vehicles To Transport
Federal Employees Between Their Place of Employment and Mass
Transit Facilities.--
(1) In general.--Section 1344 of title 31, United States
Code, is amended--
(A) by redesignating subsections (g) and (h) as subsections
(h) and (i), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after subsection (f) the following:
``(g)(1) A passenger carrier may be used to transport an
officer or employee of a Federal agency between the officer's
or employee's place of employment and a mass transit facility
(whether or not publicly owned) in accordance with succeeding
provisions of this subsection.
``(2) Notwithstanding section 1343, a Federal agency that
provides transportation services under this subsection
(including by passenger carrier) shall absorb the costs of
such services using any funds available to such agency,
whether by appropriation or otherwise.
``(3) In carrying out this subsection, a Federal agency
shall--
``(A) to the maximum extent practicable, use alternative
fuel vehicles to provide transportation services;
``(B) to the extent consistent with the purposes of this
subsection, provide transportation services in a manner that
does not result in additional gross income for Federal income
tax purposes; and
``(C) coordinate with other Federal agencies to share, and
otherwise avoid duplication of, transportation services
provided under this subsection.
``(4) For purposes of any determination under chapter 81 of
title 5, an individual shall not be considered to be in the
`performance of duty' by virtue of the fact that such
individual is receiving transportation services under this
subsection.
``(5)(A) The Administrator of General Services, after
consultation with the National Capital Planning Commission
and other appropriate agencies, shall prescribe any
regulations necessary to carry out this subsection.
``(B) Transportation services under this subsection shall
be subject neither to the last sentence of subsection (d)(3)
nor to any regulations under the last sentence of subsection
(e)(1).
``(6) In this subsection, the term `passenger carrier'
means a passenger motor vehicle, aircraft, boat, ship, or
other similar means of transportation that is owned or leased
by the United States Government or the government of the
District of Columbia.''.
(2) Funds for maintenance, repair, etc.--Subsection (a) of
section 1344 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``(3) For purposes of paragraph (1), the transportation of
an individual between such individual's place of employment
and a mass transit facility pursuant to subsection (g) is
transportation for an official purpose.''.
(3) Coordination.--The authority to provide transportation
services under section 1344(g) of title 31, United States
Code (as amended by paragraph (1)) shall be in addition to
any authority otherwise available to the agency involved.

SEC. __. FUNDING FOR FERRY BOATS.

Section 5309(i)(5) of title 49, United States Code, as
amended by section 6011(j) of this Act, is amended to read as
follows:
``(5) Funding for ferry boats.--Of the amounts described in
paragraphs (1)(A) and (2)(A)--
``(A) $10,400,000 shall be available in fiscal year 2005
for capital projects in Alaska and Hawaii for new fixed
guideway systems and extension projects utilizing ferry
boats, ferry boat terminals, or approaches to ferry boat
terminals;
``(B) $15,000,000 shall be available in each of fiscal
years 2006 through 2009 for capital projects in Alaska and
Hawaii for new fixed guideway systems and extension projects
utilizing ferry boats, ferry boat terminals, or approaches to
ferry boat terminals; and
``(C) $5,000,000 shall be available in each of fiscal years
2006 through 2009 for payments to the Denali Commission under
the terms of section 307(e) of the Denali Commission Act of
1998, as amended (42 U.S.C. 3121 note), for docks, waterfront
development projects, and related transportation
infrastructure.''.

[[Page S5004]]

On page 1291, strike lines 12 through 16 and insert the
following:
(1) For fiscal year 2005, $7,646,336,000.
(2) For fiscal year 2006, $8,900,000,000.
(3) For fiscal year 2007, $9,267,464,000.
(4) For fiscal year 2008, $10,050,700,000.
(5) For fiscal year 2009, $10,686,500,000.
______