H.R. 511House117th Congress (2021-2023)In Committee

National Multimodal Freight Network Improvement Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 7, 2026 at 9:54 PM UTC

The National Multimodal Freight Network Improvement Act amends Title 49 of the U.S. Code to add a revenue‑based criterion for ports that are part of the National Multimodal Freight Network. It requires that public ports handling at least $1 billion in cargo value each year be identified and included in the network, affecting how the network is designated and managed by the Under Secretary of Transportation.

Key Provisions

Adds a definition that public ports of the United States with an annual cargo value of $1 billion or more, as identified by Customs and Border Protection and reported by the Census Bureau, are considered in the network criteria.
Requires the Under Secretary to ensure that, when designating or redesignating the National Multimodal Freight Network, the components listed in subsection (b)(2) – including the newly defined high‑value ports – are included.

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.

Highways and Transit Subcommittee

February 4, 2021

View full timeline

HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

January 28, 2021

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

January 28, 2021

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.

Highways and Transit Subcommittee

February 4, 2021

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

Reading Mode

Raw Text PDF XML

Introduced in HouseIssued January 28, 2021

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 511

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 28, 2021

Ms. Brownley introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

A BILL

To amend title 49, United States Code, to include a revenue metric in the port network components to better achieve the policy goals of the National Multimodal Freight Network.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the National Multimodal Freight Network Improvement Act.

National Multimodal Freight Network

Section 70103 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in subsection (b)(2)(C) by inserting , and the public ports of the United States that have a total annual value of cargo of at least $1,000,000,000, as identified by the United States Customs and Border Protection and reported by the Bureau of the Census after is available; and

(2)

in subsection (c) by adding at the end the following:

(5)

Required network components

In designating or redesignating the National Multimodal Freight Network, the Under Secretary shall ensure that the National Multimodal Freight Network includes the components listed under subsection (b)(2).