---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 70201"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "70201"
heading: "State freight advisory committees"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/70201"
units:
  - "Subtitle IX — Multimodal Freight Transportation"
  - "Chapter 702 — Multimodal Freight Transportation Planning and Information"
---

# §70201. State freight advisory committees

- (a) **In General.—** The Secretary of [Transportation](/usc/49/13907.md?p=e-2) shall encourage each [State](/usc/49/31132.md?p=8) to establish a freight advisory committee consisting of a representative cross-section of public and private sector freight stakeholders, including representatives of—
  - (1) ports, if applicable;
  - (2) freight railroads, if applicable;
  - (3) shippers;
  - (4) carriers;
  - (5) freight-related associations;
  - (6) third-party logistics providers;
  - (7) the freight industry workforce;
  - (8) the [transportation](/usc/49/13907.md?p=e-2) department of the [State](/usc/49/31132.md?p=8);
  - (9) metropolitan planning organizations;
  - (10) local governments;
  - (11) the environmental protection department of the [State](/usc/49/31132.md?p=8), if applicable;
  - (12) the air resources board of the [State](/usc/49/31132.md?p=8), if applicable;
  - (13) economic development [agencies](/usc/49/114.md?p=n-2-A-i) of the [State](/usc/49/31132.md?p=8); and
  - (14) not-for-profit organizations or community organizations.
- (b) **Qualifications.—** Each member of a freight advisory committee established under [subsection (a)](#a) shall have qualifications sufficient to serve on a freight advisory committee, including, as applicable—
  - (1) general business and financial experience;
  - (2) experience or qualifications in the areas of freight [transportation](/usc/49/13907.md?p=e-2) and logistics;
  - (3) experience in [transportation](/usc/49/13907.md?p=e-2) planning;
  - (4) experience representing employees of the freight industry;
  - (5) experience representing a [State](/usc/49/31132.md?p=8), local government, or metropolitan planning organization; or
  - (6) experience representing the views of a community group or not-for-profit organization.
- (c) **Role of Committee.—** A freight advisory committee of a [State](/usc/49/31132.md?p=8) described in [subsection (a)](#a) shall—
  - (1) advise the [State](/usc/49/31132.md?p=8) on freight-related priorities, issues, projects, and funding needs;
  - (2) serve as a forum for discussion for [State](/usc/49/31132.md?p=8) [transportation](/usc/49/13907.md?p=e-2) decisions affecting freight mobility;
  - (3) communicate and coordinate regional priorities with other organizations;
  - (4) promote the sharing of information between the private and public sectors on freight issues; and
  - (5) participate in the development of the freight plan of the [State](/usc/49/31132.md?p=8) described in [section 70202](/usc/49/70202.md), including by providing advice regarding the development of the freight investment plan.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 114–94, div. A, title VIII, § 8001(a), Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1610; amended Pub. L. 117–58, div. B, title I, § 21107, Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 662.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2021—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 117–58, § 21107(1), substituted “representatives of—” and pars. (1) to (14) for “representatives of ports, freight railroads, shippers, carriers, freight-related associations, third-party logistics providers, the freight industry workforce, the transportation department of the State, and local governments.”

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 117–58, § 21107(4), added subsec. (b). Former subsec. (b) redesignated (c).

Subsec. (b)(5). Pub. L. 117–58, § 21107(2), substituted “70202, including by providing advice regarding the development of the freight investment plan.” for “70202.”

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 117–58, § 21107(3), redesignated subsec. (b) as (c).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective Oct. 1, 2015, see section 1003 of Pub. L. 114–94, set out as an Effective Date of 2015 Amendment note under section 5313 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.