A fresh legislative effort to allow companies to return profits to the U.S. at a lower tax rate will likely run into the same problems that have dogged repatriation advocates in recent years: its cost and the lack of guarantees that it will create jobs.

Repatriation legislation introduced yesterday by Representative Kevin Brady, a Texas Republican, repeats most of a 2004 law. It would allow U.S.-based companies to repatriate, for one year, income earned overseas at a 5.25 percent rate instead of the 35 percent statutory corporate rate. The money that would flow to the U.S. — estimated to be as much as $1 trillion — would spur job creation and investment, Brady maintains.

“This is about creating jobs, expanding U.S. businesses and strengthening American companies,” he said yesterday in a statement yesterday about his bill, which was introduced with some Democratic support.