Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 114 Part 5.djvu/1029

 PUBLIC LAW 106-570—DEC. 27, 2000 114 STAT. 3043 TITLE III—UNITED STATES-CANADA ALASKA RAIL COMMISSION SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE. This title may be cited as the "Rails to Resources Act of 2000". SEC. 302. FINDINGS. Congress finds that— (1) rail transportation is an essential component of the North American intermodal transportation system; (2) the development of economically strong and socially stable communities in the western United States and Canada was encouraged significantly by government policies promoting the development of integrated transcontinental, interstate and interprovincial rail systems in the States, territories and provinces of the two countries; (3) United States and Canadian federal support for the completion of new elements of the transcontinental, interstate and interprovincial rail systems was halted before rail connections were established to the State of Alaska and the Yukon Territory; (4) rail transportation in otherwise isolated areas facilitates controlled access and may reduce overall impact to environmentally sensitive areas; (5) the extension of the continental rail system through northern British Columbia and the Yukon Territory to the current terminus of the Alaska Railroad would significantly benefit the United States and Canadian visitor industries by facilitating the comfortable movement of passengers over long distances while minimizing effects on the surrounding areas; and (6) ongoing research and development efforts in the rail industry continue to increase the efficiency of rail transportation, ensure safety, and decrease the impact of rail service on the environment. SEC. 303. AGREEMENT FOR A UNITED STATES-CANADA BILATERAL COMMISSION. The President is authorized and urged to enter into an agreement with the Government of Canada to establish an independent joint commission to study the feasibility and advisability of linking the rail system in Alaska to the nearest appropriate point on the North American continental rail system. SEC. 304. COMPOSITION OF COMMISSION. (a) MEMBERSHIP. — (1) TOTAL MEMBERSHIP.— The Agreement should provide for the Commission to be composed of 24 members, of which 12 members are appointed by the President and 12 members are appointed by the Government of Canada. (2) GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS. —The Agreement should provide for the membership of the Commission, to the maximum extent practicable, to be representative of— (A) the interests of the local communities (including the governments of the communities), aboriginal peoples, and businesses that would be affected by the connection Rails to Resourajs Act of 2000. 49 USC note prec. 28101.

�