STUDY OF RURAL TRANSPORTATION ISSUES.

SEC. 6206. STUDY OF RURAL TRANSPORTATION ISSUES.(a) In General.—The Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Transportation shall jointly conduct a study of transportation issues regarding the movement of agricultural products, domestically produced renewable fuels, and domestically produced resources for the production of electricity for rural areas of the United States, and economic development in those areas.(b) Inclusions.—The study shall include an examination of—(1) the importance of freight transportation, including rail, truck, and barge, to—(A) the delivery of equipment, seed, fertilizer, and other such products important to the development of agricultural commodities and products;(B) the movement of agricultural commodities and products to market;(C) the delivery of ethanol and other renewable fuels;(D) the delivery of domestically produced resources for use in the generation of electricity for rural areas;(E) the location of grain elevators, ethanol plants, and other facilities;(F) the development of manufacturing facilities in rural areas; and(G) the vitality and economic development of rural communities;(2) the sufficiency in rural areas of transportation capacity, the sufficiency of competition in the transportation system, the reliability of transportation services, and the reasonableness of transportation rates;(3) the sufficiency of facility investment in rural areas necessary for efficient and cost-effective transportation; and(4) the accessibility to shippers in rural areas of Federal processes for the resolution of grievances arising within various transportation modes.(c) Report to Congress.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary and the Secretary of Transportation shall submit to Congress a report that contains the results of the study required by subsection (a).