Bicycles for Rural African Transport Act

To establish within the Office of Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment of the United States Agency for International Development a rural mobility program to promote mobility in rural communities through access to affordable, fit-for-purpose bicycles, provide support to sustainably increase access to rural areas, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Bicycles for Rural African Transport Act 2. Rural mobility program in sub-Saharan Africa (a) Establishment (1) In general The Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (referred to in this Act as USAID Program (2) Purpose The Program shall focus on country-driven projects within sub-Saharan Africa— (A) to promote rural communities’ access to critical services and opportunities, including education, health care, and livelihood opportunities, through access to affordable, fit-for-purpose bicycles; and (B) to provide support to sustainably increase access to critical services, such as education, health care, and livelihood opportunities in rural areas, including through support for rural-based mechanics, access to spare parts, reduction of social and gender-based stigma, and community project management capacity. (3) Partnerships To the greatest extent practicable, the Program shall partner with existing entities overseas that have successful models for providing access to affordable bicycles to achieve development objectives. (4) Authorization of appropriations To carry out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated— (A) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; (B) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; (C) $6,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; (D) $6,000,000 for fiscal year 2027; and (E) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2028 and for each fiscal year thereafter. (b) Report (1) Prior projects Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of USAID shall submit a report to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate Committee on Appropriations of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives (A) identify in which countries USAID embedded rural bicycle mobility into strategies, programs, and projects of USAID; (B) describe the mechanisms by which rural bicycle mobility was so embedded; (C) specify the number of bicycles distributed each fiscal year; (D) assess the outcomes for and impacts on participants in such projects; and (E) assess USAID’s efforts to disseminate lessons learned from such projects. (2) Current projects Not later than December 30, 2025, and not later than each December 30 thereafter, the Administrator of USAID shall submit a report to the congressional committees listed in paragraph (1) regarding projects carried out by USAID during the immediately preceding fiscal year. Each such report shall include information relating to the matters described in subparagraphs (A) through (E) of paragraph (1).

Summary: Bicycles for Rural African Transport Act This bill provides statutory authority for the U.S. Agency for International Development to administer a bicycle mobility program in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa. The purpose of the program is to (1) promote rural communities' access to critical services and opportunities by means of affordable bicycles; and (2) provide support to sustainably increase access to critical services in rural areas, including through support for rural-based mechanics, access to spare parts, and reduction of social and gender-based stigma. To the greatest extent practicable, the program must partner with overseas entities that have successful models for providing access to affordable bicycles.