Road User Charge Advancement Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.383 | Sponsor: Rep. Blumenauer, Earl (D-OR)
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
Road User Charge Advancement Act of 2021
This bill revises the Surface Transportation Systems Funding Alternatives program. The program provides grants to states to demonstrate user-based alternative revenue mechanisms that utilize a user fee structure to maintain the long-term solvency of the Highway Trust Fund.
Specifically, the bill revises the program to
The bill also provides funding for FY2022-FY2025 to carry out the program.

To include certain eligibility requirements in the surface 
   transportation system funding alternatives program, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Road User Charge Advancement Act of 
2021''.

SEC. 2. STATE SURFACE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM FUNDING PILOTS.

    Section 6020 of the FAST Act (23 U.S.C. 503 note) is amended--
            (1) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
    ``(b) Eligibility.--
            ``(1) Application.--To be eligible for a grant under this 
        section, a State or group of States shall submit to the 
        Secretary an application in such form and containing such 
        information as the Secretary may require.
            ``(2) Eligible projects.--The Secretary may provide grants 
        to States or a group of States under this section for the 
        following projects:
                    ``(A) State pilot projects.--
                            ``(i) In general.--A pilot project to 
                        demonstrate a user-based alternative revenue 
                        mechanism in a State.
                            ``(ii) Limitation.--If an applicant has 
                        previously been awarded a grant under this 
                        section, such applicant's proposed pilot 
                        project must be comprised of core activities or 
                        iterations not substantially similar in manner 
                        or scope to activities previously carried out 
                        by the applicant with a grant for a project 
                        under this section.
                    ``(B) State implementation projects.--A project--
                            ``(i) to implement a user-based alternative 
                        revenue mechanism that collects revenue to be 
                        expended on projects for the surface 
                        transportation system of the State; or
                            ``(ii) that demonstrates progress towards 
                        implementation of a user-based alternative 
                        revenue mechanism, with consideration for 
                        previous grants awarded to the applicant under 
                        this section.'';
            (2) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1) by striking ``2 or more 
                future''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(6) To test solutions to ensure the privacy and security 
        of data collected for the purpose of implementing a user-based 
        alternative revenue mechanism.'';
            (3) in subsection (d) by striking ``to test the design, 
        acceptance, and implementation of a user-based alternative 
        revenue mechanism'' and inserting ``to test the design and 
        acceptance of, or implement, a user-based alternative revenue 
        mechanism'';
            (4) in subsection (g) by striking ``50 percent'' and 
        inserting ``80 percent'';
            (5) in subsection (i)--
                    (A) in the heading by striking ``Biennial'' and 
                inserting ``Annual'';
                    (B) by striking ``2 years after the date of 
                enactment of this Act'' and inserting ``1 year after 
                the date of enactment of the Road User Charge 
                Advancement Act of 2021'';
                    (C) by striking ``every 2 years thereafter'' and 
                inserting ``every year thereafter''; and
                    (D) by inserting ``and containing a determination 
                of the characteristics of the most successful 
                mechanisms with the highest potential for future 
                widespread deployment'' before the period at the end; 
                and
            (6) by striking subsections (j) and (k) and inserting the 
        following:
    ``(j) Funding.--From funds made available to carry out section 
503(b) of title 23, United States Code, $35,000,000 shall be used to 
carry out this section for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2025.
    ``(k) Use of Funds.--Of amounts made available pursuant to 
subsection (j)--
            ``(1) for fiscal year 2022, $17,500,000 shall be used to 
        carry out projects under subsection (b)(2)(A) and $17,500,000 
        shall be used to carry out projects under subsection (b)(2)(B);
            ``(2) for fiscal year 2023, $15,000,000 shall be used to 
        carry out projects under subsection (b)(2)(A) and $20,000,000 
        shall be used to carry out projects under subsection (b)(2)(B);
            ``(3) for fiscal year 2024, $12,500,000 shall be used to 
        carry out projects under subsection (b)(2)(A) and $22,500,000 
        shall be used to carry out projects under subsection (b)(2)(B); 
        and
            ``(4) for fiscal year 2025, $10,000,000 shall be used to 
        carry out projects under subsection (b)(2)(A) and $25,000,000 
        shall be used to carry out projects under subsection 
        (b)(2)(B).''.
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