Sec. 25015. RESEARCH PLANNING MODIFICATIONS

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## SEC. 25015 RESEARCH PLANNING MODIFICATIONS ###

(a)Annual Modal Research Plans Section 6501 of title 49, United States Code, is amended— ####

(1)in subsection (a)— #####

(A)by striking paragraph

(1)and inserting the following: > > #### “(1) In general > > Not later than June 1 of each year, the head of each modal administration and joint program office of the Department of Transportation shall prepare and submit to the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology of the Department of Transportation (referred to in this chapter as the ‘Assistant Secretary’)— > > > ##### “(A) > > a comprehensive annual modal research plan for the following fiscal year; and > > > ##### “(B) > > a detailed outlook for the fiscal year thereafter.” > ; #####

(B)in paragraph (2), by inserting “prepared or” before “submitted”; #####

(C)by redesignating paragraph

(2)as paragraph (3); and #####

(D)by inserting after paragraph

(1)the following: > > #### “(2) Requirements > > Each plan under paragraph

(1)shall include— > > > ##### “(A) > > a general description of the strategic goals of the Department that are addressed by the research programs being carried out by the Assistant Secretary or modal administration, as applicable; > > > ##### “(B) > > a description of each proposed research program, as described in the budget request submitted by the Secretary of Transportation to the President under section 1108 of title 31 for the following fiscal year, including— > > > ###### “(i) > > the major objectives of the program; and > > > ###### “(ii) > > the requested amount of funding for each program and area; > > > ##### “(C) > > a list of activities the Assistant Secretary or modal administration plans to carry out under the research programs described in subparagraph (B); > > > ##### “(D) > > an assessment of the potential impact of the research programs described in subparagraph (B), including— > > > ###### “(i) > > potential outputs, outcomes, and impacts on technologies and practices used by entities subject to the jurisdiction of the modal administration; > > > ###### “(ii) > > potential effects on applicable regulations of the modal administration, including the modification or modernization of those regulations; > > > ###### “(iii) > > potential economic or societal impacts; and > > > ###### “(iv) > > progress made toward achieving strategic goals of— > > > ###### “(I) > > the applicable modal administration; or > > > ###### “(II) > > the Department of Transportation; > > > ##### “(E) > > a description of potential partnerships to be established to conduct the research program, including partnerships with— > > > ###### “(i) > > institutions of higher education; and > > > ###### “(ii) > > private sector entities; and > > > ##### “(F) > > such other requirements as the Assistant Secretary considers to be necessary.” > ; ####

(2)in subsection (b)— #####

(A)in paragraph (1)— ######

(i)in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting “by the head of a modal administration or joint program office” after “submitted”; and ######

(ii)in subparagraph (B), by striking clause

(ii)and inserting the following: > > ###### “(ii) > > request that the plan and outlook be— > > > ###### “(I) > > revised in accordance with such suggestions as the Assistant Secretary shall include to ensure conformity with the criteria described in paragraph (2); and > > > ###### “(II) > > resubmitted to the Assistant Secretary for approval.” > ; #####

(B)by redesignating paragraphs

(2)and

(3)as paragraphs

(3)and (4), respectively; and #####

(C)by inserting after paragraph

(1)the following: > > #### “(2) Criteria > > In conducting a review under paragraph (1)(A), the Assistant Secretary shall, with respect to the modal research plan that is the subject of the review— > > > ##### “(A) > > take into consideration whether— > > > ###### “(i) > > the plan contains research objectives that are consistent with the strategic research and policy objectives of the Department of Transportation included in the strategic plan required under section 6503; and > > > ###### “(ii) > > the research programs described in the plan have the potential to benefit the safety, mobility, and efficiency of the United States transportation system; > > > ##### “(B) > > identify and evaluate any potential opportunities for collaboration between or among modal administrations with respect to particular research programs described in the plan; > > > ##### “(C) > > identify and evaluate whether other modal administrations may be better suited to carry out the research programs described in the plan; > > > ##### “(D) > > assess whether any projects described in the plan are— > > > ###### “(i) > > duplicative across modal administrations; or > > > ###### “(ii) > > unnecessary; and > > > ##### “(E) > > take into consideration such other criteria as the Assistant Secretary determines to be necessary.” > ; and #####

(D)by adding at the end the following: > > #### “(5) Savings clause > > Nothing in this subsection limits the ability of the head of a modal administration to comply with applicable law.” > ; and ####

(3)in subsection (c), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking “subsection (b)(3)” and inserting “subsection (b)(4). ###

(b)Consolidated Research Database Section 6502(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking the subsection designation and heading and all that follows through subparagraph

(B)of paragraph

(2)and inserting the following: > > ### “(a) Research Abstract Database > > > #### “(1) Submission > > Not later than September 1 of each year, the head of each modal administration and joint program office of the Department of Transportation shall submit to the Assistant Secretary, for review and public posting, a description of each proposed research project to be carried out during the following fiscal year, including— > > > ##### “(A) > > proposed funding for any new projects; and > > > ##### “(B) > > proposed additional funding for any existing projects. > > > #### “(2) Publication > > Not less frequently than annually, after receiving the descriptions under paragraph (1), the Assistant Secretary shall publish on a public website a comprehensive database including a description of all research projects conducted by the Department of Transportation, including research funded through university transportation centers under section 5505. > > > #### “(3) Contents > > The database published under paragraph

(2)shall— > > > ##### “(A) > > be delimited by research project; and > > > ##### “(B) > > include a description of, with respect to each research project— > > > ###### “(i) > > research objectives; > > > ###### “(ii) > > the progress made with respect to the project, including whether the project is ongoing or complete; > > > ###### “(iii) > > any outcomes of the project, including potential implications for policy, regulations, or guidance issued by a modal administration or the Department of Transportation; > > > ###### “(iv) > > any findings of the project; > > > ###### “(v) > > the amount of funds allocated for the project; and > > > ###### “(vi) > > such other information as the Assistant Secretary determines to be necessary to address Departmental priorities and statutory mandates;” > .