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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3477 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 3477

  To increase access to higher education by providing public transit 
                                grants.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           December 12, 2023

  Mr. Casey (for himself, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mrs. Shaheen, and Mr. Van 
    Hollen) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
    referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
  To increase access to higher education by providing public transit 
                                grants.

    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 ``Promoting Advancement Through 
Transit Help to College Act'' or the ``PATH to College Act''.

SEC. 2. INCREASING ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION THROUGH PUBLIC TRANSIT 
              GRANTS.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Eligible institution.--The term ``eligible 
        institution'' means--
                    (A) a community college;
                    (B) a historically Black college or university;
                    (C) a Tribal College or University (as defined in 
                section 316 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
                U.S.C. 1059c)); or
                    (D) a minority-serving institution.
            (2) Eligible recipient.--The term ``eligible recipient'' 
        means a public transit provider that is an eligible recipient 
        under chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, in 
        partnership with 1 or more eligible institutions.
            (3) Historically black college or university.--The term 
        ``historically Black college or university'' has the meaning 
        given the term ``part B institution'' in section 322 of the 
        Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061).
            (4) Minority-serving institution.--The term ``minority-
        serving institution'' means an eligible institution under 
        section 371 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        1067q).
            (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Transportation.
    (b) In General.--The Secretary may make grants under this section 
to eligible recipients to enable those eligible recipients to carry out 
projects described in subsection (c) to better connect students with 
transportation to eligible institutions.
    (c) Eligible Projects.--An eligible recipient receiving a grant 
under this section shall use grant funds to carry out one or more of 
the following activities to better connect students with transportation 
to one or more of the eligible institutions that are part of the 
eligible recipient partnership:
            (1) Adding bus or rail stops or routes and complementary 
        paratransit service that serve campuses and connect to 
        surrounding areas or other cities.
            (2) Increasing the frequency of service or adjusting the 
        time of bus, rail, or paratransit routes to allow students to 
        get to and from their classes.
            (3) Operating costs for service described in paragraphs (1) 
        and (2) if such costs are eligible under section 5307 or 
        section 5311 of title 49, United States Code.
    (d) Application.--
            (1) In general.--An eligible recipient that desires a grant 
        under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary 
        at such time, in such manner, and containing such information 
        as the Secretary may require, including information on the 
        extent to which the proposed projects using grant funds will 
        improve the availability of transit access for students.
            (2) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
        Secretary shall give priority to an eligible recipient whose 
        partnership includes an eligible institution with respect to 
        which more than 25 percent of students enrolled in that 
        eligible institution receive a Federal Pell Grant.
    (e) Federal Share.--
            (1) Capital project.--Except as provided in section 5323(i) 
        of title 49, United States Code, the Federal share of the net 
        project cost of a capital project carried out using a grant 
        under this section shall be not more than 80 percent.
            (2) Operating costs.--The Federal share of net operating 
        costs for a project carried out using a grant under this 
        section shall be not more than 50 percent.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section--
            (1) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;
            (2) $4,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;
            (3) $6,000,000 for fiscal year 2027;
            (4) $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2028; and
            (5) $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2029 through 2031.
                                 <all>
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