### Question
What does rating agency mean?


### Answer
**Rating agency** has the following meaning in *49 U.S.C. § 22401*:

> a credit rating agency registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (as defined in section 3(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78c(a)))

#### Citation:
  - *49 U.S.C. § 22401*
  - Heading: **SUBTITLE V-RAIL PROGRAMS > PART B-ASSISTANCE > CHAPTER 224-RAILROAD REHABILITATION AND IMPROVEMENT FINANCING**

