SPIRIT Act | Strategic Public Infrastructure for Rail and Integrated Transport Act
Draft Mock Federal Legislation
This is a hand-typed document modeled after the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022.
by Wilson W. Ahrens
A Bill
To establish a strategic public infrastructure system for integrated rail and aviation transport, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. TABLE OF CONTENTS.
The table of contents for this Bill is as follows:
Sec. 1. Table of contents.
Sec. 2. References.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
DIVISION A—SPIRIT ACT
Sec. 101. Short title.
Sec. 102. Purposes.
Sec. 103. Creating the aviation and integrated rail (AIR) for America fund.
Sec. 104. Establishment of public transport entities.
Sec. 105. National infrastructure development.
Sec. 106. Public service guarantees.
Sec. 107. Preservation of private operations.
Sec. 108. Relationship to private carriers.
Sec. 109. Labor and workforce protections.
Sec. 110. Findings.
Sec. 111. Sense of Congress.
SECTION 2. REFERENCES.
Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to “this Bill” contained in any division of this Bill shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division.
SECTION 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Bill:
(1) COVERED PRIVATE CARRIER.—The term “Covered Private Carrier” means any privately owned entity engaged in the transportation of passengers that—
(A) operates within the United States;
(B) participates in a federally regulated or federally funded transportation program.
(2) ESSENTIAL SERVICE AREA.—The term “Essential Service Area” means a geographic area designated under this Bill as being of substantial importance to the commerce, industry, national defense, economic stability, or social connectivity of the United States.
(3) HIGH-SPEED RAIL.—The term “high-speed rail” means intercity passenger rail service designed for sustained operating speeds of not less than 125 miles per hour.
DIVISION A—SPIRIT ACT
SECTION 101. SHORT TITLE.
This division may be cited as the “SPIRIT Act” (Strategic Public Infrastructure for Rail and Integrated Transport Act).
The purposes listed herein represent the demands of We the People for an accessible and affordable integrated high-speed railway and aviation public transportation network.
SECTION 102. PURPOSES.
The purposes of this Bill are—
(1) to establish federally owned and operated passenger rail and aviation systems as core national infrastructure and a public good;
(2) to guarantee baseline transportation access essential to interstate commerce, economic participation, and national mobility;
(3) to develop and expand a national high-speed rail network integrated with public aviation services;
(4) to provide publicly operated transportation alternatives to promote competition, system resilience, and continuity of transport services; and
(5) to ensure equitable, affordable, and reliable and adequate transportation access across urban, suburban, and rural regions, with routes informed by public need and long-term operational sustainability.
SECTION 103. CREATING THE AVIATION AND INTEGRATED RAIL (AIR) FOR AMERICA FUND.
(a) AIR FOR AMERICA FUND.—
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.— There is established within the Treasury of the United States the AIR for America Fund to support the development, operation, and maintenance of transportation infrastructure authorized under this Bill.
(2) AUTHORIZED USES.—Amounts made available under the Fund may be used for—
(A) high-speed rail infrastructure;
(B) public aviation operations;
(C) transportation hubs and terminals;
(D) domestic transportation manufacturing;
(E) workforce development; and
(F) other transportation purposes consistent with this Bill.
(3) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary of Transportation may issue grants, loans, loan guarantees, and other financial assistance for projects authorized under this Bill.
(4) APPROPRIATION.—Congress may appropriate such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.
(5) ALLOCATION AUTHORITY.—Priority shall be given to projects demonstrating measurable improvements in public accessibility, regional economic connectivity, affordability, and long-term operational sustainability.
(6) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary of Transportation shall submit annual reports to Congress regarding expenditures, project status, infrastructure development, and operational performance under this section.
(7) ASSISTANCE TO INCENTIVIZE TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION.— [Reserved].
(8) DOMESTIC MANUFACTURING INCENTIVES.— [Reserved]
(9) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.— [Reserved].
(10) RENEWAL.— [Reserved].
(b) [Section reserved for other funds].
SECTION 104. ESTABLISHMENT OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT ENTITIES.
(a) UNITED STATES PUBLIC AIR SERVICE.—There is established within the Department of Transportation a federally owned corporation to be known as the “United States Public Air Service” (USPAS), and shall be responsible for domestic passenger air transportation in coordination with existing Federal aviation authorities.
(b) UNITED STATES HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY.—There is established within the Department of Transportation an authority to be known as the “United States High-Speed Rail Authority” (USHSRA), which shall be responsible for the planning, construction, maintenance, and operation of high-speed rail infrastructure in coordination with existing Federal rail authorities.
(c) PUBLIC SERVICE MANDATE.—Entities established under this section shall operate—
(1) in the public interest;
(2) without a primary obligation to maximize profit; and
(3) with priority given to accessibility, affordability, and national connectivity.
(d) POWERS AND AUTHORITIES.—Entities established under this section are authorized to—
(1) enter into contracts and agreements;
(2) acquire, lease, and dispose of property;
(3) set and collect fares and fees;
(4) coordinate with Federal, State, and local agencies; and
(5) carry out such other activities as are necessary to fulfill the purposes of this Bill.
(e) COORDINATION WITH EXISTING FEDERAL AUTHORITIES.—Entities established under this section shall coordinate with existing federal authorities regarding—
(1) REGULATORY CONTINUITY.—Nothing in this Bill shall be construed to eliminate or diminish the authorities of the Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Railroad Administration, Transportation Security Administration, or Surface Transportation Board except where expressly provided by law.
(2) INTERAGENCY COORDINATION.—Public entities established under this Bill shall coordinate with existing Federal transportation agencies to ensure regulatory compliance, operational continuity, infrastructure compatibility, and transportation security.
(3) AMTRAK COORDINATION.—The Secretary of Transportation may coordinate operations, infrastructure planning, scheduling, and service integration between entities established under this Bill and existing federally supported passenger rail providers.
(4) STATE AND REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS.—Public entities established under this Bill may enter into cooperative agreements with State governments, regional transportation authorities, metropolitan planning organizations, airport authorities, and local transit agencies.
(5) FREIGHT RAIL COORDINATION.—The United States High-Speed Rail Authority may negotiate shared-use agreements, right-of-way arrangements, and infrastructure coordination agreements with private freight rail operators where operationally feasible.
(f) IMPLEMENTATION AND TRANSITION.—This Bill shall be implemented over a 10-year period—
(1) INITIAL ROLLOUT.—Priority shall be given to—
(A) high-demand corridors; and
(B) regions lacking reliable service.
(2) [Section reserved for implementation roadmaps].
SECTION 105. NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT.
(a) HIGH-SPEED RAIL NETWORK.—The USHSRA shall develop a national high-speed rail network connecting major metropolitan regions and Essential Service Areas.
(b) INTEGRATED PLANNING.—Rail and aviation systems shall be planned as a unified network to—
(1) reduce redundancy;
(2) optimize route efficiency; and
(3) improve intermodal connectivity between transportation hubs.
(c) PRIORITY CORRIDORS.—Initial development shall prioritize—
(1) high-density population corridors;
(2) regions with high air traffic congestion; and
(3) underserved or economically isolated regions.
(d) CORRIDOR DESIGNATION AND ACQUISITION AUTHORITY.—The United States High-Speed Rail Authority may designate strategic national rail corridors necessary to carry out the purposes of this Bill.
(e)CORRIDOR SELECTION CRITERIA.—In designating corridors, the Authority shall consider—
(1) population density and projected ridership;
(2) regional economic impact;
(3) existing transportation congestion;
(4) environmental and energy efficiency benefits;
(5) regional equity and service accessibility; and
(6) national transportation resilience and continuity needs.
(f) RIGHT-OF-WAY ACQUISITION.—The Authority may acquire land and rights-of-way through voluntary purchase, negotiated agreement, lease, exchange, or other lawful means.
(g) EMINENT DOMAIN AUTHORITY.—Where necessary to complete designated national transportation corridors, the Authority may exercise eminent domain authority consistent with Federal law, subject to judicial review and the requirements of just compensation under the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
(h) ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.—Projects authorized under this Bill shall remain subject to all otherwise applicable Federal environmental review and permitting requirements.
(i) COMMUNITY IMPACT MITIGATION.—The Authority shall act diligently in efforts to minimize community displacement, environmental harm, and disruption to existing residential and commercial areas during infrastructure development.
The Public Service Guarantees listed herein represent the demands of We the People for any such integrated high-speed railway and aviation public transportation network to be equitable and accessible to all.
SECTION 106. PUBLIC SERVICE GUARANTEES.
(a) UNIVERSAL ACCESS.—All residents of the United States shall have reasonable access to—
(1) public air service; or
(2) rail service connecting to the national network.
(b) FARE POLICY.—Fares shall be structured to—
(1) promote affordability;
(2) support long-term operational sustainability; and
(3) ensure broad public access to transportation services.
(c) SERVICE REQUIREMENTS.—Public carriers shall meet minimum standards for—
(1) frequency;
(2) reliability; and
(3) accessibility compliance.
SECTION 107. PRESERVATION OF PRIVATE OPERATIONS.
Nothing in this Bill shall be construed to require the nationalization, forced acquisition, dissolution, or mandatory transfer of ownership of any Covered Private Carrier operating lawfully within the United States.
SECTION 108. RELATIONSHIP TO PRIVATE CARRIERS.
(a) OPEN COMPETITION.—Private carriers may continue to operate alongside public carriers within the national transportation system.
(b) NON-PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT.—No private carrier shall receive preferential Federal subsidy or regulatory advantage relative to public carriers established under this Bill.
(c) CONDITIONS FOR FEDERAL ASSISTANCE.—No private carrier may receive Federal financial assistance unless—
(1) the Federal Government receives an equity stake; or
(2) the carrier agrees to binding public service obligations aligned with this Bill.
(d) VOLUNTARY PARTNERSHIPS.—The Secretary of Transportation may facilitate voluntary partnerships or asset-sharing agreements between public and private carriers to enhance system efficiency.
The Labor and Workforce Protections listed herein represent the demands of We the People for any such integrated high-speed railway and aviation public transportation to implement fair labors standards and employee compensation and benefits.
SECTION 109. LABOR AND WORKFORCE PROTECTIONS.
(a) EMPLOYEE PROTECTIONS.—Employees transitioning from private carriers to public entities shall retain—
(1) equivalent compensation where feasible;
(2) collective bargaining rights; and
(3) eligibility for Federal employment benefits.
(b) LABOR STANDARDS.—Federal labor standards shall apply to all public entities.
(c) WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.—Public entities established under this Bill may establish apprenticeship, technical training, and workforce transition programs for transportation employees.
(d) PREVAILING WAGE.—Projects funded under this Bill shall comply with applicable Federal prevailing wage requirements.
The Findings listed herein represent the concerns of We the People that deem it necessary for the United States Government to provide for the People an integrated high-speed railway and aviation public transportation network.
SECTION 110. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that—
(1) transportation infrastructure is essential to national economic stability and interstate commerce;
(2) market-driven transportation systems may not consistently provide equitable access across all regions;
(3) publicly operated transportation systems can enhance competition, stimulate innovation, improve system resilience, and ensure continuity of service; and
(4) integrated rail and aviation systems are necessary to meet future mobility and infrastructure demands, and serve a critical public function.
The Sense of Congress herein reflects the assertions of We the People that deem it necessary for the United States Government to provide for the People an integrated high-speed railway and aviation public transportation network.
SECTION 111. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that a modern, integrated national transportation system is essential to economic competitiveness, national defense, national connectivity, and equal access to opportunity for all citizens.
Author’s Note
This mock legislation is intended to provide a concrete framework for expanding equitable access to transportation. It is presented as a citizen-drafted proposal to illustrate how publicly oriented infrastructure systems could be structured in the national interest.
