Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Freight for Farms Act”.
Freight for Farms Act
A BILL
To amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to support the expansion of freight rail infrastructure to support the transport of agricultural inputs and products to farms, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Including freight rail infrastructure in community facilities loans and grants
In general— Section 306(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)) is amended—
in paragraph (1), by striking “and essential community facilities including necessary related equipment” and inserting “and essential community facilities (such as freight rail infrastructure that supports access to agricultural and related entities) including necessary related equipment”;
in each of paragraphs (19)(A), (20)(B), and (21)(A) by striking “essential community facilities” and inserting “essential community facilities (such as freight rail infrastructure that supports access to agricultural and related entities)”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(27) Requirements for freight rail infrastructure projects
“(A) In general—The requirements of sections 22905 and 22404 of title 49, United States Code, shall apply to any project for freight rail infrastructure that supports access to agricultural and related entities for which a loan or grant is awarded under this subsection.
“(B) References—For the purpose of applying the requirements of such sections to such projects—
“(i) references to the Secretary of Transportation shall be deemed to refer to the Secretary of Agriculture; and
“(ii) references to “this chapter” shall be deemed to refer to this subsection.”
Applicability— The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply beginning on the date that is 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act.