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Managing America: Infrastructure

TheWeekInCongress.com (TM)

Week Ending August 3, 2007

S.775 A bill to establish a National Commission on the Infrastructure of the United States.

The bill creates the National Commission on the Infrastructure of the United States for the purpose of assuring that US non-military infrastructure meets current and future demands. The term includes roads, bridges, highways, public and mass transportation facilities, freight and passenger rail, water supply and distribution systems, wastewater collection, treatment and use, storm water treatment and management, waterways, locks and dams and levees, docks, ports and solid waste disposal facilities.

The Commission will look to current and future demands on infrastructure and determine that it can facilitate economic growth, is maintained to ensure public safety and is developed in a sustainable manner. The Commission will have two Presidential appointees, 2 appointed by the Speaker of the House, 2 from the Senate Majority leader and 1 each from the House and Senate minority leaders. Members must have experience in one or more fields of economics, public administration, civil engineering, public works, financing and other field related to the position responsibilities.

The Commission will conduct studies to determine the capacity of the infrastructure, the age and condition and the methods used to finance the construction, acquisition, rehabilitation and maintenance of the infrastructure.

By 2010 the Commission will make recommendations to Congress. The Commission will serve without pay but can be given per diem expenses but the Chair will be compensated at a Federal executive pay level.

The Commission ends on September 30, 2010.

Sponsor:  Senator Tom Carper (DE)

Vote: Passed Senate by voice vote August 2, 2007

Cost to the taxpayers: $1.2 million

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MATTERS TO BE STUDIED.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the Commission shall study matters such as--

    (A) the capacity of infrastructure to sustain current and anticipated economic development and competitiveness, including long-term economic growth, including the potential return to the United States economy on investments in new infrastructure as opposed to investments in existing infrastructure;

    (B) the age and condition of public infrastructure (including congestion and changes in the condition of that infrastructure as compared with preceding years);

    (C) the methods used to finance the construction, acquisition, rehabilitation, and maintenance of infrastructure (including general obligation bonds, tax-credit bonds, revenue bonds, user fees, excise taxes, direct governmental assistance, and private investment);

    (D) any trends or innovations in methods used to finance the construction, acquisition, rehabilitation, and maintenance of infrastructure;

    (E) investment requirements, by type of infrastructure, that are necessary to maintain the current condition and performance of the infrastructure and the investment needed (adjusted for inflation and expressed in real dollars) to improve infrastructure in the future;

    (F) based on the current level of expenditure (calculated as a percentage of total expenditure and in constant dollars) by Federal, State, and local governments--

    (i) the projected amount of need the expenditures will meet 5, 15, 30, and 50 years after the date of enactment of this Act; and

    (ii) the levels of investment requirements, as identified under subparagraph (E);

    (G) any trends or innovations in infrastructure procurement methods;

    (H) any trends or innovations in construction methods or materials for infrastructure;

    (I) the impact of local development patterns on demand for Federal funding of infrastructure;

    (J) the impact of deferred maintenance; and

    (K) the collateral impact of deteriorated infrastructure.

    (b) Recommendations.--The Commission shall develop recommendations--

    (1) on a Federal infrastructure plan that will detail national infrastructure program priorities, including alternative methods of meeting national infrastructure investment needs to effectuate balanced economic development;

    (2) on infrastructure improvements and methods of delivering and providing for infrastructure facilities;

    (3) for analysis or criteria and procedures that may be used by Federal agencies and State and local governments in--

    (A) inventorying existing and needed infrastructure improvements;

    (B) assessing the condition of infrastructure improvements;

    (C) developing uniform criteria and procedures for use in conducting the inventories and assessments; and

    (D) maintaining publicly accessible data; and

    (4) for proposed guidelines for the uniform reporting, by Federal agencies, of construction, acquisition, rehabilitation, and maintenance data with respect to infrastructure improvements.

    (c) Statement and Recommendations.--Not later than February 15, 2010, the Commission shall submit to Congress--

    (1) a detailed statement of the findings and conclusions of the Commission; and

    (2) the recommendations of the Commission under subsection (b), including recommendations for such legislation and administrative actions for 5-, 15-, 30-, and 50-year time periods as the Commission considers to be appropriate.

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