[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2334 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2334
To establish an innovative mobility and technology deployment grants
program, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 1, 2021
Mrs. Miller of West Virginia (for herself, Mr. Rodney Davis of
Illinois, and Mr. Van Drew) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish an innovative mobility and technology deployment grants
program, and for other purposes.
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 ``Reinvesting in Essential
Partnerships And Infrastructure for Rural America Act'' or the ``REPAIR
Act''.
SEC. 2. FIXED GUIDEWAY CAPITAL INVESTMENT GRANTS.
Section 5309 of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (7)--
(i) in subparagraph (A) by striking
``$100,000,000'' and inserting
``$200,000,000''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (B) by striking
``$300,000,000'' and inserting
``$400,000,000''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(8) Rural start project.--The term `rural start project'
means a new transit capital project that is not in an urbanized
area for which--
``(A) the Federal assistance provided or to be
provided under this section is less than $80,000,000;
and
``(B) the total estimated net capital cost is less
than $150,000,000.'';
(2) in subsection (b)(1) by striking ``or small start
projects'' and inserting ``, small start projects, or rural
start projects'';
(3) in subsection (c)(1) by striking ``small start
projects'' and inserting ``, small start projects, rural start
projects''; and
(4) in subsection (h)--
(A) in the heading by striking ``Small Start
Projects'' and inserting ``Small Start Projects and
Rural Start Projects'';
(B) in paragraph (1) by striking ``small start
project'' and inserting ``small start project or rural
start project'';
(C) in paragraph (2)(A) by striking ``small starts
project'' and inserting ``small start project or rural
start project'';
(D) in paragraph (3) by striking ``small start
project'' and inserting ``small start project or rural
start project''; and
(E) in paragraph (6)(A) by striking ``small start
project'' and inserting ``small start project or rural
start project''.
SEC. 3. ENHANCED MOBILITY OF SENIORS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.
Section 5310 of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(2) by striking ``(A) Amount
available'' and all that follows through ``A recipient of a
grant under'' and inserting ``A recipient of a grant under'';
(2) in subsection (c)(2) by adding at the end the
following:
``(E) Reallocation.--Amounts apportioned under
section 5310(c)(1)(A) may be reallocated to projects in
areas other than urbanized areas.'';
(3) by striking paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (d)
and inserting the following:
``(1) Capital projects.--
``(A) In general.--Except as provided in
subparagraph (B), a grant awarded under this section
for a capital project shall be 80 percent of the net
costs of the project, as determined by the Secretary.
``(B) Exception.--A State described in section
120(b) of title 23 shall receive a Government share of
the net costs in accordance with the formula under such
section.
``(2) Operating assistance.--
``(A) In general.--Except as provided by
subparagraph (B), a grant awarded under this section
for a operating assistance may not exceed an amount
equal to 50 percent of the net operating costs of the
project, as determined by the Secretary.
``(B) Exception.--A State described in section
120(b) of title 23 shall receive a Government share of
the net costs that is equal to 62.5 percent of the
Government share provided for under paragraph
(1)(B).''; and
(4) by striking subsection (e)(1) and inserting the
following:
``(1) In general.--To the extent the Secretary determines
appropriate, the requirements of--
``(A) section 5307 shall apply to recipients of
grants made in urbanized areas under this subsection;
and
``(B) section 5311 shall apply to recipients of
grants made in rural areas under this subsection.''.
SEC. 4. FORMULA GRANTS FOR RURAL AREAS.
Section 5311(g) of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) Projects in qualified opportunity zones,
medically underserved areas, or areas with a medically
underserved population.--A grant awarded under this
section for a capital project in a qualified
opportunity zone, a medically underserved area, or
areas with a medically underserved population shall be
for 90 percent of the net costs of the project, as
determined by the Secretary.'';
(2) in paragraph (2) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) Projects in qualified opportunity zones,
medically underserved areas, or areas with a medically
underserved population.--A grant awarded under this
section for a capital project in a qualified
opportunity zone, a medically underserved area, or an
area with a medically underserved population shall be
for 62.5 percent of the Government share provided for
under paragraph (1)(B).''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(6) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Qualified opportunity zone.--The term
`qualified opportunity zone' has the meaning given such
term section 1400Z-1 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986.
``(B) Medically underserved areas; an area with a
medically underserved population.--The term `medically
underserved areas' or `an area with a medically
underserved population' means an area or populations
that are designated as medically underserved by the
Secretary of Health and Human Services pursuant to
section 330(b)(3) of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 254b(b)(3)).''.
SEC. 5. NON-EMERGENCY MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION.
(a) Research Project Eligibility.--Section 5312(c)(2) of title 49,
United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (M), by striking ``or'' at the end;
(2) by redesignating subparagraph (N) as subparagraph (O);
and
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (M) the following:
``(N) access to hospitals and healthcare providers
in areas underserved by transit or with limited public
transportation options, as determined by the Secretary;
or''.
(b) Innovation and Development Project Eligibility.--Section
5312(d)(2) of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (G), by striking ``or'' at the end;
(2) by redesignating subparagraph (H) as subparagraph (I);
and
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (G) the following:
``(H) public transportation projects that improve
health care access and outcomes; or''.
(c) Demonstration, Deployment, and Evaluation Project
Eligibility.--Section 5312(e)(3) of title 49, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``or'' at the end;
(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period and
inserting ``; or''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(D) the deployment of public transportation
projects or practices that--
``(i) achieve measurable improvements in
transportation access to health care for
medically underserved areas or populations, as
designated by the Health Resources and Services
Administration pursuant to section 330(b)(3) of
the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
254b(b)(3));
``(ii) implement transportation strategies
for addressing significant health needs as
identified by a community health needs
assessment pursuant to the requirements of
section 501(r)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986; or
``(iii) eliminate or reduce transportation
barriers to accessing health care that are
identified and prioritized in the coordinated
public transit-human services transportation
plan described in section 5310(e)(2)(A).''.
SEC. 6. INNOVATIVE MOBILITY AND TECHNOLOGY DEPLOYMENT GRANTS.
(a) In General.--Chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, is
amended by inserting after section 5312 the following:
``Sec. 5313. Innovative mobility and technology deployment grants
``(a) Authority.--The Secretary shall establish an innovative
mobility and technology deployment grants program to award grants to
entities described in subsection (b) to assist in financing of public
transportation projects that--
``(1) allow for the integration of mobility services or
technologies in public transportation services, including
traveler information, trip planning information, new or
expanded reservation capabilities, integrated payment
solutions, fare automation, or delivery designs to improve
options in public transportation;
``(2) advance first-mile, last-mile, late night, or low
density services that connect riders to public transportation,
including--
``(A) microtransit;
``(B) commuter busing; or
``(C) commuter highway vehicles;
``(3) advance on demand complementary paratransit services;
``(4) provide accessibility and connectivity for rural
areas not being adequately served by public transportation, as
determined by the Secretary;
``(5) expand high-performing public transportation business
models that increase access to public transportation; or
``(6) provide any other transit service that the Secretary
determines appropriate to meet the purposes of this section.
``(b) Eligible Entities.--To be eligible for a grant under this
section, an entity shall be--
``(1) a State or local government; or
``(2) a publicly owned operator of public transportation.
``(c) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this
section, an entity described in subsection (b) shall submit to the
Secretary an application in such form and contain such information as
the Secretary may require.
``(d) Rulemaking.--The Secretary shall--
``(1) issue such regulations as are necessary to carry out
this section, and publish such regulations in the Federal
Register, not later than 270 days after the date of enactment
of this section; and
``(2) in issuing such regulations, solicit and receive
comments from stakeholders not later than 180 days after the
date of enactment of this section.
``(e) Grant Requirements.--The Secretary may approve modified grant
requirements for projects carried out using a grant under this section.
``(f) Limitations.--
``(1) Period of grant.--A grant under this section shall be
for a 3-year period beginning on the date on which the first
payment of any amount under the grant is provided to an
eligible entity.
``(2) Rural grant minimum.--The Secretary shall award not
less than 20 percent of the total amounts made available to
carry out this section to support activities described under
subsection (a) in rural areas.
``(3) Government share of costs.--The Federal share of the
total project cost of a project carried out under this section
may not exceed 80 percent.
``(4) Allocation.--Of the amounts authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section for each fiscal year,
not more than 20 percent may be awarded under subsection (a) to
a single entity.
``(g) Best Practices.--The Secretary shall annually collect from,
review, and disseminate to public transportation agencies findings or
best practices from projects funded under this section.
``(h) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Commuter highway vehicle.--The term `commuter highway
vehicle' has the meaning given such term in section
132(f)(5)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
``(2) High-performing public transportation.--The term
`high-performing public transportation' means a public
transportation service, whether provided by a public agency,
private nonprofit, or for-profit organization, that is able to
collect all operating costs through fare-box revenue or other
dedicated sources for an activity and increases access to
public transportation.
``(3) Micro-transit.--The term `micro-transit' means
internet-enabled, public transportation services that use
dynamically generated routes calculated by algorithms developed
to increase the occupancy of vehicles.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 53 of title 49,
United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 5312 the
following:
``5313. Innovative mobility and technology deployment grants.''.
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