I 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5542 
To establish a grant program under which the Secretary of Transportation 
will reimburse public transportation agencies that offer free unlimited 
transportation passes to eligible individuals. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 17, 2018 
Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ (for herself, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. SERRANO, Mr. ESPAILLAT, 
Mr. NADLER, and Mr. ENGEL) introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To establish a grant program under which the Secretary 
of Transportation will reimburse public transportation 
agencies that offer free unlimited transportation passes 
to eligible individuals. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Transportation Equity Act’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
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Sec. 2. Establishment of grant program. 
Sec. 3. Eligible agencies. 
Sec. 4. Eligible individuals. 
Sec. 5. Eligible services and requirements. 
Sec. 6. Features of T–U Pass. 
Sec. 7. Proof of eligibility. 
Sec. 8. Applications submitted by transportation agencies. 
Sec. 9. Amount of reimbursement to transit agencies. 
Sec. 10. Reports from agencies. 
Sec. 11. Termination of benefits under certain circumstances. 
Sec. 12. Rule of construction. 
Sec. 13. Authorization of appropriations. 
Sec. 14. Definitions. 
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF GRANT PROGRAM. 
The Secretary of Transportation shall establish a 
program to reimburse eligible public transportation agen-
cies that provide eligible individuals a free unlimited trans-
portation pass (to be known as a ‘‘T–U Pass’’). 
SEC. 3. ELIGIBLE AGENCIES. 
A public transportation agency is eligible to partici-
pate in the program if the agency— 
(1) at the time of application, receives funds 
pursuant to the surface transportation block grant 
program described in section 133 of title 23, United 
States Code; 
(2) for each year beginning in the year that is 
five years before the date of application, has received 
funding for public transportation projects pursuant 
to programs described in chapter 53 of title 49, 
United States Code; 
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(3) provides a monthly, flat-rate, unlimited 
transportation pass for purchase by any individual; 
and 
(4) agrees to establish a separate T–U Pass for 
eligible individuals. 
SEC. 4. ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS. 
The following individuals are eligible to receive a free 
T–U Pass: 
(1) An individual aged 60 and older. 
(2) An individual with a disability (as defined 
in section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities Act 
of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102)). 
(3) An individual who receives a means-tested 
benefit, as determined by the Secretary. 
(4) A low-income individual (as defined in this 
Act). 
(5) The spouse of an individual described in 
paragraphs (1) through (4) who lives with such indi-
vidual. 
(6) The unmarried dependent of an individual 
described in paragraphs (1) through (4) who lives 
with such individual. 
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SEC. 5. ELIGIBLE SERVICES AND REQUIREMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subsection (b), a T– 
U Pass shall only provide general transportation services 
and not premium transportation services. 
(b) EXCEPTION FOR CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS.—A pub-
lic transportation agency may seek a waiver from the Sec-
retary to provide a T–U Pass that provides premium 
transportation services to an eligible individual who the 
transit agency determines— 
(1) has no access to reasonably accessible trans-
portation access points and is not eligible for para-
transit transportation services; or 
(2) is disabled and whose principal place of res-
idence, primary or specialist medical facilities, edu-
cational facilities, or place of employment is not 
within one-half mile of a transportation access point 
that contains the necessary infrastructure for the in-
dividual to use public transportation. 
(c) T–U PASS REQUIREMENTS.—A T–U Pass shall 
provide unlimited access to public transportation and shall 
be valid for all schedules, times, and periods the transpor-
tation agency offers service. 
(d) AUTOMATIC MONTHLY LOADING CAPABILITY OF 
TRANSPORTATION BENEFITS.—A T–U Pass shall— 
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(1) be able to receive funds remotely or be load-
ed with funds automatically on the first day of each 
calendar month; and 
(2) make such funds available upon entrance or 
boarding at the first transportation access point on 
the first day the T–U Pass is used in such month. 
(e) WAIVER FOR CERTAIN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION 
AGENCIES.—The Secretary may waive a requirement 
under subsection (d) if the Secretary determines that— 
(1) a public transportation agency cannot meet 
such requirement because of infrastructure limita-
tions, cost inefficiencies, inability to finance, or un-
available technology; and 
(2) the transportation agency provides a T–U 
Pass that— 
(A) only functions at entry and exit points 
of the transit system; or 
(B) only permits transactions of transpor-
tation-related expenses at facilities operated by 
the transportation agency, including— 
(i) booths or automated vending ma-
chines at transportation access points oper-
ated by the transit agency; 
(ii) telephone or online interfaces op-
erated by the transit agencies; and 
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(iii) additional facilities as determined 
by the Secretary. 
(f) ROLLOVER PROHIBITED.—Any funds that are 
disbursed to a T–U Pass shall be surrendered if not used 
in the course of the month for which such benefits were 
provided. 
(g) PROHIBITION
OF
DUPLICATIVE
TRANSPOR-
TATION BENEFITS.—Grants made pursuant to the pro-
gram shall not be used to reimburse more than one T– 
U Pass per individual. 
SEC. 6. FEATURES OF T–U PASS. 
(a) EXPIRATION.—Subject to section 11, a T–U Pass 
expires one year after issuance, and a public transpor-
tation agency may not terminate the validity of the T– 
U Pass until the date of expiration regardless of whether 
the individual continues to be eligible under section 4 of 
this Act. 
(b) DESIGN.—A public transportation agency receiv-
ing a grant pursuant to the program shall select a design 
that distinguishes the T–U Pass from other passes. The 
T–U Pass shall— 
(1) be a card, ticket, or voucher; 
(2) include the words ‘‘Photo ID T–U Pass’’ on 
the front and back; 
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(3) include the words ‘‘If found, please return 
to’’ immediately followed by the address of the 
issuing office of the transportation agency; 
(4) include a photo of the person to whom the 
T–U Pass was provided; 
(5) include a seal with the logo of the transpor-
tation agency; 
(6) include the full name of such eligible per-
son; 
(7) include the expiration date of the T–U 
Pass; and 
(8) include any additional features the Sec-
retary determines is necessary. 
SEC. 7. PROOF OF ELIGIBILITY. 
An individual seeking a T–U Pass must provide to 
the public transportation agency— 
(1) proof of the basis of at least one ground of 
eligibility described section 4; and 
(2) documentation the Secretary determines is 
necessary to support the basis of eligibility. 
SEC. 8. APPLICATION AND SELECTION. 
The Secretary shall award grants on a competitive 
basis and may require that an application from a public 
transportation agency be submitted in a prescribed form 
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and manner and that it contains specified agreements, as-
surances, and information. 
SEC. 9. AMOUNT OF REIMBURSEMENT TO TRANSIT AGEN-
CIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Grants made pursuant to the pro-
gram shall be used only to reimburse a public transpor-
tation agency for the cost of providing a T–U Pass. 
(b) AMOUNT OF REIMBURSEMENT.—A public trans-
portation agency shall be eligible to receive reimbursement 
for each T–U Pass at the cost charged for a monthly, flat- 
rate, unlimited transportation pass. 
(c) 
EXCEPTION
FOR
DISCOUNTED
MONTHLY 
PASSES.—If an eligible individual is eligible for a reduced- 
cost monthly, flat-rate, unlimited transportation pass for 
reasons including disability or age, the public transpor-
tation agency shall be eligible to receive compensation 
equaling the cost of such reduced-cost pass. 
SEC. 10. REPORTS FROM AGENCIES. 
A public transportation agency receiving a grant 
under this Act shall provide to the Secretary an annual 
report explaining— 
(1) the agency’s plan to annually verify the eli-
gibility of holders of a T–U Pass; and 
(2) the number of T–U Passes that have been 
terminated pursuant to section 11. 
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SEC. 11. TERMINATION OF BENEFITS UNDER CERTAIN CIR-
CUMSTANCES. 
(a) FRAUD AND SALE.—The Secretary shall establish 
procedures for termination of a T–U Pass if— 
(1) an individual obtains or uses the T–U Pass 
fraudulently; or 
(2) an individual sells, distributes, or provisions 
the T–U Pass to an individual other than the indi-
vidual to whom the T–U Pass was provided. 
(b) PROCEDURES.—The procedures required by sub-
section (a) shall include notice, opportunity for hearing, 
and civil monetary penalties. 
SEC. 12. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION. 
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit any 
other programs that are sponsored by public transpor-
tation agencies to provide free transportation to eligible 
individuals. 
SEC. 13. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums 
as may be necessary to carry out this Act. 
SEC. 14. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) DEPENDENT.—The term ‘‘dependent’’ has 
the meaning given such term in section 152 of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, except that the term 
also includes an individual who is not a citizen or 
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