I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8865 
To improve the process for awarding grants under certain programs of the 
Department of Transportation to certain counties in which the majority 
of land is owned or managed by the Federal Government and to other 
units of local government and Tribal governments in those counties, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 3, 2020 
Mr. STEWART (for himself, Mr. COOK, Mr. SIMPSON, Mr. AMODEI, and Mr. 
LAMBORN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To improve the process for awarding grants under certain 
programs of the Department of Transportation to certain 
counties in which the majority of land is owned or man-
aged by the Federal Government and to other units 
of local government and Tribal governments in those 
counties, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘More Opportunities 
for Rural Economies from DOT Grants Act’’ or the 
‘‘MORE DOT Grants Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) HIGH-DENSITY
PUBLIC
LAND
COUNTY.— 
The term ‘‘High-Density Public Land County’’ 
means a county (or equivalent jurisdiction) of a 
State or territory of the United States— 
(A) that has a population of not more than 
100,000 people, according to the most recent 
annual estimates of population by the Bureau 
of the Census; and 
(B) in which more than 50 percent of the 
land is owned or managed by the Federal Gov-
ernment. 
(2) QUALIFYING GRANT PROGRAM.—The term 
‘‘qualifying grant program’’ means— 
(A) the Better Utilizing Investments to Le-
verage Development (BUILD) Transportation 
discretionary grant program of the Department 
of Transportation; 
(B) the Infrastructure for Rebuilding 
America (INFRA) grant program of the De-
partment of Transportation; 
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(C) the public transportation innovation 
grant program established under section 5312 
of title 49, United States Code; 
(D) the public transportation safety pro-
gram established under section 5329 of title 49, 
United States Code; 
(E) the Federal lands access program 
under section 204 of title 23, United States 
Code; 
(F) the airport improvement program es-
tablished under subchapter I of chapter 471 of 
title 49, United States Code; 
(G) the consolidated rail infrastructure and 
safety improvements program under section 
22907 of title 49, United States Code; and 
(H) any other discretionary grant program 
of the Department of Transportation under 
which grants are awarded to— 
(i) counties; 
(ii) other units of local government; or 
(iii) Tribal governments. 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Transportation. 
(4) TRIBAL GOVERNMENT.—The term ‘‘Tribal 
government’’ means the recognized governing body 
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of any Indian or Alaska Native tribe, band, nation, 
pueblo, village, community, component band, or com-
ponent reservation, individually identified (including 
parenthetically) in the list published most recently as 
of the date of enactment of this Act pursuant to sec-
tion 104 of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe 
List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 5131). 
SEC. 3. GRANTS. 
(a) REDUCTION
IN LOCAL MATCHING REQUIRE-
MENTS.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
with respect to a High-Density Public Land County and 
any unit of local government or Tribal government within 
a High-Density Public Land County, any requirement for 
local matching funds under a qualifying grant program 
shall be reduced by 50 percent. 
(b) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—On request of a High- 
Density Public Land County or any unit of local govern-
ment or Tribal government within a High-Density Public 
Land County, the Secretary shall provide additional tech-
nical assistance to the High-Density Public Land County, 
unit of local government, or Tribal government before and 
during the annual application period for each qualifying 
grant program. 
(c) PRIORITY.— 
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(e) OTHER SUPPORT.—The Secretary may provide 
additional support, as the Secretary determines to be ap-
propriate, for a High-Density Public Land County or a 
unit of local government or Tribal government within a 
High-Density Public Land County, including by consid-
ering and, if appropriate, offering flexibility with respect 
to any requirement of, or barrier to applying for or receiv-
ing assistance under, a qualifying grant program if the 
requirement or barrier relates to— 
(1) scoring criteria relating to numerical size 
and impact, such as the number of jobs created or 
the number of people served, which disadvantage 
small and isolated communities; 
(2) any requirement that an applicant for a 
qualifying grant program partner with other institu-
tions, such as community colleges or foundations, 
which may not operate in the jurisdiction of the 
High-Density Public Land County, unit of local gov-
ernment, or Tribal government seeking assistance 
under the qualifying grant program; 
(3) any financial or cash-on-hand requirement 
that a High-Density Public Land County or a unit 
of local government or Tribal government within a 
High-Density Public Land County cannot meet for 
reasons other than any financial constraints to 
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which the High-Density Public Land County, unit of 
local government, or Tribal government is subject; or 
(4) an overly complicated or overly technical ap-
plication for a qualifying grant program that deters 
High-Density Public Land Counties or units of local 
government or Tribal governments within High-Den-
sity Public Land Counties from applying for the 
qualifying grant program. 
Æ 
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