[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7192 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7192
To amend chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, to establish a
program to provide public transportation agencies with grants to be
used during a disaster declaration.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 11, 2020
Ms. Velazquez introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, to establish a
program to provide public transportation agencies with grants to be
used during a disaster declaration.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Transit Reliability, Acknowledgment,
Investment and Need Act of 2020'' or the ``TRAIN Act of 2020''.
SEC. 2. GRANT PROGRAM FOR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS FUNDING PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION DURING MAJOR DISASTERS.
(a) In General.--Chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 5341. Emergency and continuity of operations during disaster
declarations
``(a) Establishment of Grant Program.--The Secretary of
Transportation shall establish a program to provide public
transportation agencies with grants to be used during a State disaster
declaration.
``(b) Criteria for Eligible Agencies.--A public transportation
agency is eligible to participate in the program if the agency--
``(1) at the time of application, receives funds (or
eligible for such funds) under the surface transportation block
grant program under section 133 of title 23;
``(2) for each of the 3 years before the date of
application, has received funding (or eligible for such funds)
for a public transportation project under this chapter; and
``(3) submits an application as described in subsection
(c).
``(c) Application.--In accordance with such requirements as the
Secretary may by rule establish, each application for a grant under
this section shall--
``(1) include a strategy and detailed implementation plan
that reflects consultation with community groups and
appropriate stakeholders, and shall specify how the transit
agency will continue operations during a disaster declaration;
``(2) assess the public transportation agency's ability to
operate during a disaster declaration;
``(3) identify how the grant will ensure continuity of
public transportation services and meet applicable safety and
health standards requirements under subsection (i) during such
disaster declaration;
``(4) demonstrate the agency's plan to provide no-cost
transportation for general transportation service, premium
transportation service, and paratransit services during the
time period under which such disaster declaration;
``(5) include the total of revenue losses as of the date of
application caused by the disaster declaration and a projection
of such future losses anticipated during the course of such
disaster declaration and shall include an analysis and
description of such revenue losses following the 6-month period
following the expected termination of such disaster
declaration;
``(6) describe the mechanisms to be employed by the public
transportation agency to protect employees from exposure to the
conditions generating the disaster declaration;
``(7) provide a list of protocol and supplies that will be
used to clean and disinfect surfaces impacted by the events
generating the disaster declaration;
``(8) include a list of protective gear to be used by
public transit employees that will reduce employee exposure to
the conditions generating the disaster declaration;
``(9) identify related governmental and community
initiatives which compliment or will be coordinated with the
proposal;
``(10) certify that there has been appropriate coordination
with all appropriate agencies; and
``(11) additional information as required by the Secretary.
``(d) Forms of Assistance.--Funds provided under this section may
be expended for--
``(1) providing continued services during the pandemic or
disaster declaration, consistent with the requirements under
subsection (i);
``(2) stabilization of fare prices for passengers during
the period of such disaster declaration;
``(3) no-cost public transportation services during such
disaster declaration;
``(4) provision of new or supplemental public
transportation service bus routes, or bus rapid systems; and
``(5) procurement of personal protective gear and equipment
needed to protect employees from hazards generated or
originating from the disaster declaration.
``(e) Special Rule on Expenditures and Minimum Requirement for
Eligibility of Funds.--A public transportation agency receiving grant
funds under this section shall provide assistance to the general public
under subsection (d)(3) and (d)(4) during the disaster declaration
period and, subsequently, for a period of 6 months after the
termination of such disaster declaration.
``(f) Grant Requirements.--
``(1) Amount.--A grant awarded under this section may not
exceed $5,000,000,000.
``(2) Renewals of certain grants.--
``(A) In general.--A grant may be renewed during
the disaster declaration period, provided the public
transportation agency--
``(i) submits to the Secretary an
application for renewal at such time, in such
manner, and containing such information as the
Secretary may require; and
``(ii) demonstrates in such application for
renewal that--
``(I) the initial grant was used in
a manner required under the most
recently approved application; and
``(II) the public transportation
agency has made progress in achieving
the objectives of the initial
application approved for the public
transportation agency under this
section.
``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--
``(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated
to carry out this section $50,000,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2020 and 2021.
``(2) Availability.--Funds authorized to be appropriated
under this section shall remain available until expended.
``(h) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed to limit a project from receiving a grant under this section
while simultaneously receiving funds for associated transit improvement
or capital projects.
``(i) Required Certification of Safety and Health Protocol.--A
public transportation agency shall certify with the Secretary every 7
days that any use of funds under subsection (d) meet applicable health
and safety standards and guidance by the Centers for Disease Control
issued during the disaster declaration for passengers and employees of
the public transportation agency that includes a description of the
compliance mechanisms employed by such agency.
``(j) Annual Reports.--A public transportation agency that receives
funds under this section during a fiscal year shall submit to the
Secretary a description and an evaluation report on a date specified by
the Secretary regarding the progress such projects have made to make
transportation access points accessible to persons with limited
mobility.
``(k) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Disaster declaration.--The term `disaster
declaration' means--
``(A) an emergency involving Federal primary
responsibility determined to exist by the President
under section 501(b) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C.
5191(b));
``(B) a national emergency declared by the
President under the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C.
1601 et seq.);
``(C) an emergency declared by a Federal official
with respect to coronavirus (as defined in section 506
of the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response
Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 (Public Law 116-
123)); or
``(D) a public health emergency declared by the
Secretary of Health and Human Services pursuant to
section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
247(d)) with respect to COVID-19 or any other
coronavirus with pandemic potential.
``(2) General transportation service.--The term `general
transportation service' means a transportation service that is
subject to the same base fare established by the transportation
agency for local or general service.
``(3) Premium transportation service.--The term `premium
transportation service' means a transportation service that is
not a general transportation service.
``(4) Paratransit services.--The term `paratransit
services' means service to individuals with disabilities that
is comparable to the level of service provided to individuals
without disabilities who use routes operated by the public
transportation agency.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of chapters for chapter 53 of
subtitle III of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding
after the item relating to section 5340 the following new item:
``5341. Emergency and continuity of operations during disaster
declarations.''.
SEC. 3. RULEMAKING.
Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act,
the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register interim final rules
implementing this title, which shall allow eligible public
transportation agencies to immediately apply for funds under section
5341 of title 49, United States Code (as added by section 2).
Notwithstanding section 553 of title 5, United States Code, the
regulation shall be effective, on an interim basis, immediately upon
publication, but may be subject to change and revision after public
notice and opportunity for a period of public comment. The Secretary
shall finalize such rules not later than 90 days after the date of
publication.
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