[House Report 116-613]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


116th Congress  }                                               {  Report
                         HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session     }                                               { 116-613

======================================================================



 
                        LONG BRIDGE ACT OF 2020

                                _______
                                

December 2, 2020.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

 Mr. Grijalva, from the Committee on Natural Resources, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 7489]

    The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred 
the bill (H.R. 7489) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior 
to convey to the Commonwealth of Virginia or the District of 
Columbia certain Federal land under the administrative 
jurisdiction of the National Park Service for the construction 
of rail and other infrastructure, and for other purposes, 
having considered the same, reports favorably thereon without 
amendment and recommends that the bill do pass.

                          PURPOSE OF THE BILL

    The purpose of H.R. 7489 is to authorize the Secretary of 
the Interior to convey to the Commonwealth of Virginia or the 
District of Columbia certain federal land under the 
administrative jurisdiction of the National Park Service for 
the construction of rail or other infrastructure.

                  BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

    Long Bridge, the most heavily traveled railroad bridge 
connecting Washington, D.C., to Virginia and other southern 
states, is one of the most significant chokepoints for the East 
Coast's rail transportation system. The bridge connects the 
northeast and southeast freight rail networks and extends the 
spine of the nation's intercity passenger rail system from the 
Northeast Corridor to the Southeast. The existing bridge, which 
is at 98 percent capacity during peak hours, is used by Amtrak, 
CSX freight trains, and Virginia Railway Express (VRE) commuter 
trains.
    H.R. 7489 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to 
convey to, and authorize the use by, Virginia and D.C., certain 
National Park Service (NPS) land for the construction of a new 
Long Bridge structure for rail and other infrastructure 
purposes. The Long Bridge Project would double the capacity of 
the Potomac River rail crossing by adding a second two-track 
bridge adjacent to the existing bridge. As required for the 
construction of the bridge, the bill conveys the title and 
interest to approximately 4.4 acres of NPS land to Virginia, of 
which any unused portions would revert back to NPS at the 
discretion of the NPS director when the project is completed.

                            COMMITTEE ACTION

    H.R. 7489 was introduced on July 2, 2020, by Representative 
Rob Wittman (R-VA). The bill was referred solely to the 
Committee on Natural Resources, and within the Committee to the 
Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands. On 
July 13, 2020, the Subcommittee held a hearing on the bill. On 
July 29, 2020, the Natural Resources Committee met to consider 
the bill. The Subcommittee was discharged by unanimous consent. 
No amendments were offered, and the bill was adopted and 
ordered favorably reported to the House of Representatives by 
unanimous consent.

                                HEARINGS

    For the purposes of section 103(i) of H. Res. 6 of the 
116th Congress--the following hearing was used to develop or 
consider H.R. 7489: legislative hearing by the Subcommittee on 
National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands held on July 13, 
2020.

            COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

    Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee on Natural Resources' oversight findings and 
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.

      COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII AND CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET ACT

    1. Cost of Legislation and the Congressional Budget Act. 
With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII 
of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 308(a) 
of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and with respect to 
requirements of clause (3)(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives and section 402 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has requested 
but not received a cost estimate for this bill from the 
Director of Congressional Budget Office. The Committee adopts 
as its own cost estimate the forthcoming cost estimate of the 
Director of the Congressional Budget Office, should such cost 
estimate be made available before House passage of the bill.
    The Committee has requested but not received from the 
Director of the Congressional Budget Office a statement as to 
whether this bill contains any new budget authority, spending 
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in 
revenues or tax expenditures.
    Congressional Budget Office staff has informed the 
Committee on a preliminary, informal, nonbinding basis that the 
bill will likely have no revenue effects and would result in an 
insignificant net decrease in direct spending over the 2021-
2030 period.
    2. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by 
clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goals and 
objectives of this bill are to authorize the Secretary of the 
Interior to convey to the Commonwealth of Virginia or the 
District of Columbia certain federal land under the 
administrative jurisdiction of the National Park Service for 
the construction of rail or other infrastructure.

                           EARMARK STATEMENT

    This bill does not contain any Congressional earmarks, 
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined 
under clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives.

                 UNFUNDED MANDATES REFORM ACT STATEMENT

    An estimate of Federal mandates prepared by the Director of 
the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 423 of the 
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act was not made available to the 
Committee in time for the filing of this report. The Chair of 
the Committee shall cause such estimate to be printed in the 
Congressional Record upon its receipt by the Committee.

                           EXISTING PROGRAMS

    This bill does not establish or reauthorize a program of 
the federal government known to be duplicative of another 
program.

                  APPLICABILITY TO LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

    The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to 
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public 
services or accommodations within the meaning of section 
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.

               PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL, OR TRIBAL LAW

    Any preemptive effect of this bill over state, local, or 
tribal law is intended to be consistent with the bill's 
purposes and text and the Supremacy Clause of Article VI of the 
U.S. Constitution.

                        CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

    If enacted, this bill would make no changes to existing 
law.

        SUPPLEMENTAL, MINORITY, ADDITIONAL, OR DISSENTING VIEWS

    None.