Amendment sought to establish a national water-based freight policy to improve the movement of freight and cargo over waterways, canals, ports, and harbors.

1. Adds SEC. 137. NATIONAL WATER-BASED FREIGHT POLICY on page 95, line 15

   Adds a sectionPrinted page

   Inserted: SEC. 137. NATIONAL WATER-BASED FREIGHT POLICY.

   Inserted: (a) In General.--It is the policy of the United States to improve the condition and performance of the national water-based freight network to ensure that such network provides the foundation for the United States to compete in the global economy and achieve each goal described in subsection (b).

   Inserted: (b) Goals.--The goals of the national water-based freight policy are--

   Inserted: (1) to invest in infrastructure improvements and to implement operational improvements that--

   Inserted: (A) strengthen the contribution of the national water-based freight network to the economic competitiveness of the United States;

   Inserted: (B) reduce congestion; and

   Inserted: (C) increase productivity, particularly for domestic industries and businesses that create high-value jobs;

   Inserted: (2) to improve the safety, security, and resilience of water-based freight transportation;

   Inserted: (3) to improve the state of good repair of the national water-based freight network;

   Inserted: (4) to use advanced technology to improve the safety and efficiency of the national water-based freight network;

   Inserted: (5) to incorporate concepts of performance, innovation, competition, and accountability into the operation and maintenance of the national water-based freight network;

   Inserted: (6) to improve the economic efficiency of the national water-based freight network; and

   Show 38 more inserted paragraphsShow less

   Inserted: (7) to reduce the environmental impacts of freight movement on the national water-based freight network.

   Inserted: (c) Establishment of a National Water-based Freight Network.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a national water-based freight network in accordance with this section to assist States in strategically directing resources toward improved system performance to achieve efficient movement of freight on inland waterways, canals, ports, and harbors, and related freight intermodal connectors.

   Inserted: (2) Network components.--The national water-based freight network shall consist of the primary water-based freight network, as designated by the Secretary under subsection (d) as most critical to the movement of water-based freight.

   Inserted: (d) Designation of Primary Water-based Freight Network.--

   Inserted: (1) Initial designation.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall designate a primary water-based freight network based on an inventory of national water-based freight volume and in consultation with stakeholders, including system users, transportation providers, and States.

   Inserted: (2) Factors for designation.--In designating the primary water-based freight network, the Secretary shall consider--

   Inserted: (A) the origins and destinations of water-based freight movement in the United States;

   Inserted: (B) the total tonnage and value of water-based freight moved across United States bodies of water;

   Inserted: (C) the average annual water-based freight traffic on United States bodies of water;

   Inserted: (D) maritime ports of entry;

   Inserted: (E) access to energy exploration, development, installation, or production areas;

   Inserted: (F) population centers; and

   Inserted: (G) network connectivity.

   Inserted: (3) Redesignation.--On the date that is 10 years after the initial designation of the primary water-based freight network, and every 10 years thereafter, using the factors described in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall redesignate the primary water-based freight network.

   Inserted: (e) National Water-Based Freight Strategic Plan.--

   Inserted: (1) Initial development.--Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary, in consultation with State departments of transportation and other appropriate public and private transportation stakeholders, shall develop and post on a public Web site a national water-based freight strategic plan that shall include--

   Inserted: (A) an assessment of the condition and performance of the national water-based freight network;

   Inserted: (B) an identification of bottlenecks on the national water-based freight network that create significant freight congestion problems, based on a quantitative methodology developed by the Secretary, and, to the maximum extent practicable, an estimate of the cost of addressing each bottleneck and any operational improvements that could be implemented;

   Inserted: (C) forecasts of water-based freight volumes for the 20-year period beginning with the year during which the plan is issued;

   Inserted: (D) an identification of major trade gateways and national water-based freight corridors that connect major population centers, trade gateways, and other major water-based freight generators for current and forecasted traffic and water-based freight volumes, the identification of which shall be revised, as appropriate, in subsequent plans;

   Inserted: (E) an assessment of statutory, regulatory, technological, institutional, financial, and other barriers to improved water-based freight transportation performance (including opportunities for overcoming the barriers);

   Inserted: (F) an identification of routes providing access to energy exploration, development, installation, or production areas;

   Inserted: (G) an identification of best practices for improving the performance of the national water-based freight network;

   Inserted: (H) an identification of best practices for mitigating the impacts of water-based freight movement on communities;

   Inserted: (I) an identification of a process for addressing multistate projects and encouraging jurisdictions to collaborate; and

   Inserted: (J) an identification of strategies to improve freight intermodal connectivity.

   Inserted: (2) Updates.--Not later than 5 years after the date of completion of the first national water-based freight strategic plan under paragraph (1), and every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary shall update and post on a public Web site a revised national water-based freight strategic plan.

   Inserted: (f) Water-based Freight Transportation Conditions and Performance Reports.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this section, and biennially thereafter, the Secretary shall prepare a report that contains a description of the conditions and performance of the national water-based freight network in the United States.

   Inserted: (g) Transportation Investment Data and Planning Tools.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall--

   Inserted: (A) begin the development of new tools or improve existing tools to support an outcome-oriented, performance-based approach to evaluating proposed water-based freight-related projects, including--

   Inserted: (i) methodologies for systematic analysis of benefits and costs;

   Inserted: (ii) tools for ensuring that the evaluation of water-based freight-related projects and other transportation projects considers safety, economic competitiveness, environmental sustainability, and system condition in the project selection process; and

   Inserted: (iii) other elements to assist in effective transportation planning;

   Inserted: (B) identify water-based transportation-related model data elements to support a broad range of evaluation methods and techniques to assist in making water-based transportation investment decisions; and

   Inserted: (C) at a minimum, in consultation with other relevant Federal agencies, consider any improvements to existing water-based freight flow data collection efforts that could reduce identified water-based freight data gaps and deficiencies and help improve forecasts of water-based freight transportation demand.

   Inserted: (2) Consultation.--The Secretary shall consult with Federal, State, and other stakeholders to develop, improve, and implement tools and data collection under paragraph (1).

   Original wording

   Page 95, after line 15, insert the following (and redesignate subsequent sections accordingly):

Read automatically from the Congressional Record. Check the original before relying on it.

As printed