I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 5152 
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 
NOVEMBER 18, 2019 
Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ (for herself and Mr. ESPAILLAT) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure 
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. Application and selection. 
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) provides a monthly, flat-rate, unlimited 
transportation pass for purchase by any individual; 
and 
(2) 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. 
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(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. 
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 
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