States, and to promote the revitalization of such railway system, so that this mode of transportation will remain viable in the private sector of the economy and will be able to provide energy-efficient, ecologically compatible transportation services with greater efficiency, effectiveness, and economy, through

(1) ratemaking and regulatory reform;

(2) the encouragement of efforts to restructure the system on a more economically justified basis, including planning authority in the Secretary of Transportation, an expedited procedure for determining whether merger and consolidation applications are in the public interest, and continuing reorganization authority;

(3) financing mechanisms that will assure adequate rehabilitation and improvement of facilities and equipment, implementation of the final system plan, and implementation of the Northeast Corridor project;

(4) transitional continuation of service on light-density rail lines that are necessary to continued employment and community well-being throughout the United States;

(5) auditing, accounting, reporting, and other requirements to protect Federal funds and assure repayment of loans and financial responsibility; and

(6) necessary studies.

(b) POLICY.—It is declared to be the policy of the Congress in this Act to

(1) balance the needs of carriers, shippers, and the public; (2) foster competition among all carriers by railroad and other modes of transportation, to promote more adequate and efficient transportation services, and to increase the attractiveness of investing in railroads and rail-service-related enterprises;

(3) permit railroads greater freedom to raise or lower rates for rail services in competitive markets;

(4) promote the establishment of railroad rate structures which are more sensitive to changes in the level of seasonal, regional, and shipper demand;

(5) promote separate pricing of distinct rail and rail-related services;

(6) formulate standards and guidelines for determining adequate revenue levels for railroads; and

(7) modernize and clarify the functions of railroad rate bu

reaus.

(45 U.S.C. 801)

DEFINITIONS

SEC. 102. As used in this Act, unless the context otherwise indicates, the term

(1) "Association" means the United States Railway Association;

(2) "Commission" means the Interstate Commerce Commission;

(3) "Corporation" means the Consolidated Rail Corpora

(4) "final system plan" means the final system plan and any additions thereto adopted by the Association pursuant to the Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973 (45 U.S.C. 701 et seq.);

(5) "includes" and variants thereof should be read as if the phrase "but is not limited to" were also set forth;

(6) "Office" means the Rail Services Planning Office of the Commission;

(7) "railroad" means a rail carrier subject to part A of subtitle IV of title 49, United States Code, and includes the National Railroad Passenger Corporation; and

(8) "Secretary" means the Secretary of Transportation or his designated representative.

[Titles II, III, and IV are omitted because they consist entirely of sections making amendments to other laws in this compilation or obsolete policy.]

TITLE V-RAILROAD REHABILITATION AND IMPROVEMENT FINANCING

SEC. 501. DEFINITIONS.

For purposes of this title:

(1)(A) The term "cost" means the estimated long-term cost to the Government of a direct loan or loan guarantee or modification thereof, calculated on a net present value basis, excluding administrative costs and any incidental effects on governmental receipts or outlays.

(B) The cost of a direct loan shall be the net present value, at the time when the direct loan is disbursed, of the following estimated cash flows:

(i) Loan disbursements.

(ii) Repayments of principal.

(iii) Payments of interest and other payments by or to the Government over the life of the loan after adjusting for estimated defaults, prepayments, fees, penalties, and other recoveries.

Calculation of the cost of a direct loan shall include the effects of changes in loan terms resulting from the exercise by the borrower of an option included in the loan contract.

(C) The cost of a loan guarantee shall be the net present value, at the time when the guaranteed loan is disbursed, of the following estimated cash flows:

(i) Payments by the Government to cover defaults and delinquencies, interest subsidies, or other payments.

(ii) Payments to the Government, including origination and other fees, penalties, and recoveries.

Calculation of the cost of a loan guarantee shall include the effects of changes in loan terms resulting from the exercise by the guaranteed lender of an option included in the loan guarantee contract, or by the borrower of an option included in the guaranteed loan contract.

(D) The cost of a modification is the difference between the current estimate of the net present value of the remaining cash flows under the terms of a direct loan or loan guarantee contract, and the current estimate of the net present value of the remaining cash flows under the terms of the contract, as modified.

(E) In estimating net present values, the discount rate shall be the average interest rate on marketable Treasury securities of similar maturity to the cash flows of the direct loan or loan guarantee for which the estimate is being made.

(F) When funds are obligated for a direct loan or loan guarantee, the estimated cost shall be based on the current assumptions, adjusted to incorporate the terms of the loan contract, for the fiscal year in which the funds are obligated.

(2) The term "current" has the same meaning as in section 250(c)(9) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

(3) The term "direct loan" means a disbursement of funds by the Government to a non-Federal borrower under a contract that requires the repayment of such funds. The term includes the purchase of, or participation in, a loan made by another lender and financing arrangements that defer payment for more than 90 days, including the sale of a Government asset on credit terms. The term does not include the acquisition of a federally guaranteed loan in satisfaction of default claims.

(4) The term "direct loan obligation" means a binding agreement by the Secretary to make a direct loan when specified conditions are fulfilled by the borrower.

(5) The term “intermodal" means of or relating to the connection between rail service and other modes of transportation, including all parts of facilities at which such connection is made.

(6) The term "loan guarantee" means any guarantee, insurance, or other pledge with respect to the payment of all or a part of the principal or interest on any debt obligation of a non-Federal borrower to a non-Federal lender, but does not include the insurance of deposits, shares, or other withdrawable accounts in financial institutions.

(7) The term “loan guarantee commitment" means a binding agreement by the Secretary to make a loan guarantee when specified conditions are fulfilled by the borrower, the lender, or any other party to the guarantee agreement.

(8) The term "modification" means any Government action that alters the estimated cost of an outstanding direct loan (or direct loan obligation) or an outstanding loan guarantee (or loan guarantee commitment) from the current estimate of cash flows. This includes the sale of loan assets, with or without recourse, and the purchase of guaranteed loans. This also includes any action resulting from new legislation, or from the exercise of administrative discretion under existing law, that directly or indirectly alters the estimated cost of outstanding direct loans (or direct loan obligations) or loan guarantees (or loan guarantee commitments) such as a change in collection procedures.

(45 U.S.C. 821)

SEC. 502. DIRECT LOANS AND LOAN GUARANTEES.

(a) GENERAL AUTHORITY.-The Secretary may provide direct loans and loan guarantees to State and local governments, government sponsored authorities and corporations, railroads, and joint ventures that include at least 1 railroad.

(b) ELIGIBLE PURPOSES.—

(1) IN GENERAL.-Direct loans and loan guarantees under this section shall be used to—

(A) acquire, improve, or rehabilitate intermodal or rail equipment or facilities, including track, components of track, bridges, yards, buildings, and shops;

(B) refinance outstanding debt incurred for the purposes described in subparagraph (A); or

(C) develop or establish new intermodal or railroad facilities.

(2) OPERATING EXPENSES NOT ELIGIBLE.-Direct loans and loan guarantees under this section shall not be used for railroad operating expenses.

(c) PRIORITY PROJECTS.-In granting applications for direct loans or guaranteed loans under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to projects that—

(1) enhance public safety;

(2) enhance the environment;

(3) promote economic development;

(4) enable United States companies to be more competitive in international markets;

(5) are endorsed by the plans prepared under section 135 of title 23, United States Code, by the State or States in which they are located; or

(6) preserve or enhance rail or intermodal service to small communities or rural areas.

(d) EXTENT OF AUTHORITY.-The aggregate unpaid principal amounts of obligations under direct loans and loan guarantees made under this section shall not exceed $3,500,000,000 at any one time. Of this amount, not less than $1,000,000,000 shall be available solely for projects primarily benefiting freight railroads other than Class I carriers.

(e) RATES OF INTEREST.

(1) DIRECT LOANS.-The Secretary shall require interest to be paid on a direct loan made under this section at a rate not less than that necessary to recover the cost of making the loan.

(2) LOAN GUARANTEES.-The Secretary shall not make a loan guarantee under this section if the interest rate for the loan exceeds that which the Secretary determines to be reasonable, taking into consideration the prevailing interest rates and customary fees incurred under similar obligations in the private capital market.

(f) INFRASTRUCTURE PARTNERS.

(1) AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY.—In lieu of or in combination with appropriations of budget authority to cover the costs of direct loans and loan guarantees as required under section 504(b)(1) of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990, the Secretary may accept on behalf of an applicant for assistance under this section a commitment from a non-Federal source to fund in whole or in part credit risk premiums with respect to

the loan that is the subject of the application. In no event shall the aggregate of appropriations of budget authority and credit risk premiums described in this paragraph with respect to a direct loan or loan guarantee be less than the cost of that direct loan or loan guarantee.

(2) CREDIT RISK PREMIUM AMOUNT.-The Secretary shall determine the amount required for credit risk premiums under this subsection on the basis of

(A) the circumstances of the applicant, including the amount of collateral offered;

(B) the proposed schedule of loan disbursements;

(C) historical data on the repayment history of similar borrowers;

(D) consultation with the Congressional Budget Office; and

(E) any other factors the Secretary considers relevant. (3) PAYMENT OF PREMIUMS.-Credit risk premiums under this subsection shall be paid to the Secretary before the disbursement of loan amounts.

(4) COHORTS OF LOANS.-In order to maintain sufficient balances of credit risk premiums to adequately protect the Federal Government from risk of default, while minimizing the length of time the Government retains possession of those balances, the Secretary shall establish cohorts of loans. When all obligations attached to a cohort of loans have been satisfied, credit risk premiums paid for the cohort, and interest accrued thereon, which were not used to mitigate losses shall be returned to the original source on a pro rata basis.

(g) PREREQUISITES FOR ASSISTANCE.-The Secretary shall not make a direct loan or loan guarantee under this section unless the Secretary has made a finding in writing that—

(1) repayment of the obligation is required to be made within a term of not more than 25 years from the date of its execution;

(2) the direct loan or loan guarantee is justified by the present and probable future demand for rail services or intermodal facilities;

(3) the applicant has given reasonable assurances that the facilities or equipment to be acquired, rehabilitated, improved, developed, or established with the proceeds of the obligation will be economically and efficiently utilized;

(4) the obligation can reasonably be repaid, using an appropriate combination of credit risk premiums and collateral offered by the applicant to protect the Federal Government; and

(5) the purposes of the direct loan or loan guarantee are consistent with subsection (b).

(h) CONDITIONS OF ASSISTANCE.-The Secretary shall, before granting assistance under this section, require the applicant to agree to such terms and conditions as are sufficient, in the judgment of the Secretary, to ensure that, as long as any principal or interest is due and payable on such obligation, the applicant, and any railroad or railroad partner for whose benefit the assistance is intended