117th CONGRESS 1st Session |
To amend title 23, United States Code, to improve the transportation infrastructure finance and innovation (TIFIA) program, and for other purposes.
June 1, 2021
Mr. Allred (for himself and Mr. Gallagher) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
To amend title 23, United States Code, to improve the transportation infrastructure finance and innovation (TIFIA) program, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
This Act may be cited as the “Revitalizing American Priorities for Infrastructure Development Act” or the “RAPID Act”.
SEC. 2. Transportation infrastructure finance and innovation program.
(a) Eligibility.—Section 602(a)(2) of title 23, United States Code, is amended—
(A) by striking “a rating” and inserting “an investment-grade rating”; and
(B) by striking “$75,000,000” and inserting “$150,000,000”; and
(A) by striking “the senior debt” and inserting “senior debt”; and
(B) by striking “credit instrument is for an amount less than $75,000,000” and inserting “total amount of other senior debt and the Federal credit instrument is less than $150,000,000”.
(b) Streamlined application process.—Section 603(f) of title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(3) ADDITIONAL TERMS FOR EXPEDITED DECISIONS.—
“(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall implement an expedited decision timeline for public agency borrowers seeking secured loans that meet—
“(i) the terms under paragraph (2); and
“(ii) the additional criteria described in subparagraph (B).
“(B) ADDITIONAL CRITERIA.—The additional criteria referred to in subparagraph (A)(ii) are the following:
“(i) The secured loan is made on terms and conditions that substantially conform to the conventional terms and conditions established by the National Surface Transportation Innovative Finance Bureau.
“(ii) The secured loan is rated in the A category or higher.
“(iii) The TIFIA program share of eligible project costs is 33 percent or less.
“(iv) The applicant demonstrates a reasonable expectation that the contracting process for the project can commence by not later than 90 days after the date on which a Federal credit instrument is obligated for the project under the TIFIA program.
“(v) The project has received a categorical exclusion, a finding of no significant impact, or a record of decision under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
“(C) WRITTEN NOTICE.—The Secretary shall provide to an applicant seeking a secured loan under the expedited decision process under this paragraph a written notice informing the applicant whether the Secretary has approved or disapproved the application by not later than 180 days after the date on which the Secretary submits to the applicant a letter indicating that the National Surface Transportation Innovative Finance Bureau has commenced the creditworthiness review of the project.”.
(c) Status reports.—Section 609 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall publish on the website for the TIFIA program—
“(A) on a monthly basis, a current status report on all submitted letters of interest and applications received for assistance under the TIFIA program; and
“(B) on a quarterly basis, a current status report on all approved applications for assistance under the TIFIA program.
“(2) INCLUSIONS.—Each monthly and quarterly status report under paragraph (1) shall include, at a minimum, with respect to each project included in the status report—
“(A) the name of the party submitting the letter of interest or application;
“(B) the name of the project;
“(C) the date on which the letter of interest or application was received;
“(D) the estimated project eligible costs;
“(E) the type of credit assistance sought; and
“(F) the anticipated fiscal year and quarter for closing of the credit assistance.”.