Strengthening America's Bridges Act

To establish the Strengthening America's Bridges Fund, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Strengthening America's Bridges Act 2. Strengthening America's Bridges Fund (a) Strengthening America's Bridges Fund (1) In general There is established in the Treasury of the United States a fund to be known as the Strengthening America's Bridges Fund (2) Transfers to fund There is hereby appropriated to the Strengthening America's Bridges Fund an amount equivalent to the increase in revenue received in the Treasury by reason of the amendments made by subsection (b), as determined by the Secretary of the Treasury (or the Secretary's delegate). (3) Expenditures from fund Amounts in the Strengthening America's Bridges Fund shall be made available by the Secretary of Transportation (referred to in this Act as the Secretary (4) Selection process (A) In general The Secretary shall select the recipients of grants awarded under this subsection in accordance with the criteria published under subparagraph (B) and described in paragraph (5). (B) Publication of criteria The Secretary shall publish selection criteria for any grants awarded under this subsection not earlier than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act. (C) Timeline for submission Applications for funding made available under this Act shall be submitted not earlier than 120 days after the date on which the criteria are published under subparagraph (B). (D) Deadline for selection The Secretary shall select and announce all projects selected under this paragraph not earlier than 60 days after the last day of the submission period described in subparagraph (C). (5) Criteria In making grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall ensure— (A) an equitable geographic distribution of funds, including an appropriate balance in addressing the needs of urban and rural areas; (B) that not more than 25 percent of the funds made available under this Act are awarded to projects in a single State; (C) that not less than 20 percent of the funds provided under this Act shall be for projects located in rural areas; (D) that for projects located in rural areas, the Secretary may increase the Federal share of costs to more than 80 percent; and (E) that priority is given to projects that require a contribution of Federal funds in order to complete an overall financing package. (6) Retention of funds The Secretary may retain up to 10 percent of the funds made available to the Secretary under paragraph (3), and may transfer portions of those funds to the Administrators of the Federal Highway Administration, to fund the award and oversight of grants made under this subsection. (7) Federal share Except as provided in paragraph (5)(D), the Federal share of the costs for which an expenditure is made under this subsection shall be, at the option of the recipient, not more than 80 percent. (b) Social Security number required To claim the refundable portion of the child tax credit (1) In general Subsection (e) of section 24 (e) Identification requirement with respect to qualifying children (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2), no credit shall be allowed under this section to a taxpayer with respect to any qualifying child unless the taxpayer includes the name and taxpayer identification number of such qualifying child on the return of tax for the taxable year. (2) Refundable portion Subsection (d)(1) shall not apply to any taxpayer with respect to any qualifying child unless the taxpayer includes the name and social security number of such qualifying child on the return of tax for the taxable year. . (2) Omission treated as mathematical or clerical error Subparagraph (I) of section 6213(g)(2) (I) an omission of a correct TIN under section 24(e)(1) (relating to child tax credit) or a correct Social Security number required under section 24(e)(2) (relating to refundable portion of child tax credit), to be included on a return, . (c) Effective date The amendments made by this subsection shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Summary: Strengthening America's Bridges Act This bill establishes in the Treasury the Strengthening America's Bridges Fund to furnish amounts to the Department of Transportation to make grants to states for the repair or maintenance of any bridges classified as deficient in the National Bridge Inventory. The Internal Revenue Code is amended with respect to the requirement that taxpayers claiming the refundable portion of the child tax credit include on their tax returns the name and taxpayer identification number (e.g., Social Security number) of their qualifying child. Any such credit is disallowed to any taxpayer that fails to include such a name and tax identification number on his or her tax return. Amounts equivalent to the increase in revenues from this child tax credit amendment are appropriated to the Fund for such grants.