I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 180 
To provide dedicated funding for the national infrastructure investment 
program and the capital investment grant program, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 3, 2019 
Mr. HASTINGS (for himself, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Ms. JACKSON LEE, 
Ms. JOHNSON of Texas, and Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and 
Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To provide dedicated funding for the national infrastructure 
investment program and the capital investment grant 
program, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Build America Act of 
2019’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:12 Jan 15, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H180.IH
H180
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
SEC. 2. NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall carry out a national infrastructure investment 
program (in this section referred to as the ‘‘program’’) 
for capital investments in surface transportation infra-
structure in accordance with the requirements of this sec-
tion. 
(b) DISCRETIONARY GRANTS.—The Secretary shall 
distribute funds made available to carry out the program 
as discretionary grants to be awarded to a State, local gov-
ernment, or transit agency, or a collaboration among such 
entities, on a competitive basis for projects that will have 
a significant impact on the Nation, a metropolitan area, 
or a region. 
(c) ELIGIBLE PROJECTS.—Projects that are eligible 
for funding under the program include, at a minimum, 
the following: 
(1) Highway and bridge projects eligible under 
title 23, United States Code. 
(2) Public transportation projects eligible under 
chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code. 
(3) Passenger and freight rail transportation 
projects. 
(4) Port infrastructure investments (including 
inland port infrastructure and land ports of entry). 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:12 Jan 15, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H180.IH
H180
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
(d) TIFIA.—The Secretary may use up to 20 percent 
of the funds made available to carry out the program for 
a fiscal year for the purpose of paying the subsidy and 
administrative costs of projects eligible for Federal credit 
assistance under chapter 6 of title 23, United States Code, 
if the Secretary finds that such use of the funds would 
advance the purposes of the program. 
(e) DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS.—In distributing funds 
provided under the program, the Secretary shall take 
measures to ensure— 
(1) an equitable geographic distribution of 
funds; 
(2) an appropriate balance in addressing the 
needs of urban and rural areas; and 
(3) investment in a variety of transportation 
modes. 
(f) FAIR CONSIDERATION.—The Secretary shall en-
sure that— 
(1) eligible projects receive fair consideration 
under the program; and 
(2) funds made available to carry out the pro-
gram are used to provide funding for eligible 
projects to the maximum extent practicable. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:12 Jan 15, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H180.IH
H180
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
(g) GRANT AMOUNTS.—A grant funded under the 
program shall be not less than $5,000,000 and not greater 
than $45,000,000. 
(h) AWARDS IN SINGLE STATE.—Not more than 10 
percent of the funds made available under the program 
for a fiscal year may be awarded to projects in a single 
State. 
(i) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of the 
costs for which an expenditure is made under the program 
shall be, at the option of the recipient, up to 80 percent. 
(j) PRIORITY PROJECTS.—In carrying out the pro-
gram, the Secretary shall give priority to projects that re-
quire a contribution of Federal funds in order to complete 
an overall financing package. 
(k) RURAL AREAS.— 
(1) SET ASIDE.—Not less than 20 percent of 
the funds provided under the program for a fiscal 
year shall be for projects located in rural areas (as 
defined in section 101(a) of title 23, United States 
Code). 
(2) GRANT AMOUNTS; FEDERAL SHARE.—For 
projects located in rural areas— 
(A) the minimum grant size under the pro-
gram shall be $1,000,000; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:12 Jan 15, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H180.IH
H180
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS