[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3556 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 3556
To reauthorize and improve the wildlife crossings program, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
December 17, 2025
Ms. Alsobrooks (for herself, Mr. Cramer, Mr. Merkley, and Mr. Curtis)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Environment and Public Works
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To reauthorize and improve the wildlife crossings 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 ``Wildlife Crossings Program
Reauthorization Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. WILDLIFE CROSSINGS PROGRAM.
(a) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated out
of the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account)
for the wildlife crossings program under section 171 of title
23, United States Code, $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years
2027 through 2031.
(2) Availability.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, amounts made available under paragraph (1) shall be
available until expended.
(b) Wildlife Crossings Program.--
(1) In general.--Section 171 of title 23, United States
Code, is amended--
(A) in the section heading, by striking ``pilot'';
(B) by striking ``pilot'' each place it appears;
(C) by redesignating subsections (h) and (i) as
subsections (k) and (l), respectively; and
(D) by inserting after subsection (g) the
following:
``(h) Federal Share for Small, Rural, and Disadvantaged
Communities.--
``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), in the case of
a grant under the program provided to an eligible entity for
the benefit of a small, rural, or disadvantaged community, the
Federal share of the cost of the project shall be 90 percent.
``(2) Waiver.--The Secretary may increase the Federal share
under paragraph (1) to 100 percent if the Secretary determines
that the eligible entity is unable to pay, or would experience
significant financial hardship if required to pay, the non-
Federal share.
``(i) Tribal Technical Assistance.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary may use an amount equal to
not more than 0.5 percent of the amounts made available to
carry out the program for each fiscal year to improve the
ability of eligible entities described in subsection (c)(6) to
access funding for projects under the program in an efficient
and expeditious manner by providing to those entities
application assistance, technical assistance, and assistance in
reducing the period of time between the selection of the
project and the obligation of funds for the project.
``(2) Use of funds.--Amounts used under paragraph (1) may
be expended--
``(A) by the Secretary; or
``(B) through contracts with--
``(i) a Federal, Tribal, regional, or State
government entity;
``(ii) a private entity; or
``(iii) a nonprofit entity.
``(j) Grant Administration.--The Secretary may retain not more than
a total of 0.5 percent of the amounts made available to carry out the
program for each fiscal year--
``(1) to review applications for grants under the program;
``(2) to obligate and administer grant awards selected
under the program; and
``(3) to carry out the requirements of--
``(A) section 172; and
``(B) subsections (b)(6) and (i)(3) of section
144.''.
(2) Clerical amendment.--The analysis for chapter 1 of
title 23, United States Code, is amended by striking the item
relating to section 171 and inserting the following:
``171. Wildlife crossings program.''.
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