REPAIR Act

Bill: 116-hr-8859
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Miller, Carol D. [R-WV-3]
Introduced: 2020-12-03
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations

Commuting

Disability assistance

Health care coverage and access

Infrastructure development

Motor vehicles

Public transit

Research administration and funding

Research and development

Roads and highways

Rural conditions and development

Social security and elderly assistance

State and local finance

Transportation programs funding

Urban and suburban affairs and development
Latest action: action_date: 2020-12-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-12-03
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Reinvesting in Essential Partnerships And Infrastructure for Rural America Act or the REPAIR Act</b></p> <p>This bill revises the fixed guideway capital investment grant program to include rural start projects within the program and directs the Department of Transportation to establish an innovative mobility and technology deployment grants program to assist states, local governments, or publicly owned operators of public transportation with financing certain public transportation projects.</p> <p>The bill also provides additional funding and flexibility for other transportation projects, including for projects in areas that are designated as medically underserved.</p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8859 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 3, 2020 Mrs. Miller (for herself, Mr. Crawford , Mr. Weber of Texas , Mr. Graves of Louisiana , and Mr. Pence ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To establish an innovative mobility and technology deployment grants program, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Reinvesting in Essential Partnerships And Infrastructure for Rural America Act or the REPAIR Act . 2. Fixed guideway capital investment grants Section 5309 of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (7)— (i) in subparagraph (A) by striking $100,000,000 and inserting $200,000,000 ; and (ii) in subparagraph (B) by striking $300,000,000 and inserting $400,000,000 ; and (B) by adding at the end the following: (8) Rural start project The term rural start project means a new transit capital project that is not in an urbanized area for which— (A) the Federal assistance provided or to be provided under this section is less than $80,000,000; and (B) the total estimated net capital cost is less than $150,000,000. ; (2) in subsection (b)(1) by striking or small start projects and inserting , small start projects, or rural start projects ; (3) in subsection (c)(1) by striking small start projects and inserting , small start projects, rural start projects ; and (4) in subsection (h)— (A) in the heading by striking Small start projects and inserting Small start projects and rural start projects ; (B) in paragraph (1) by striking small start project and inserting small start project or rural start project ; (C) in paragraph (2)(A) by striking small starts project and inserting small start project or rural start project ; (D) in paragraph (3) by striking small start project and inserting small start project or rural start project ; and (E) in paragraph (6)(A) by striking small start project and inserting small start project or rural start project . 3. Enhanced mobility of seniors and individuals with disabilities Section 5310 of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (b)(2) by striking (A) Amount available and all that follows through A recipient of a grant under and inserting A recipient of a grant under ; (2) in subsection (c)(2) by adding at the end the following: (E) Reallocation Amounts apportioned under section 5310(c)(1)(A) may be reallocated to projects in areas other than urbanized areas. ; (3) by striking paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (d) and inserting the following: (1) Capital projects (A) In general Except as provided in subparagraph (B), a grant awarded under this section for a capital project shall be 80 percent of the net costs of the project, as determined by the Secretary. (B) Exception A State described in section 120(b) of title 23 shall receive a Government share of the net costs in accordance with the formula under such section. (2) Operating Assistance (A) In general Except as provided by subparagraph (B), a grant awarded under this section for a operating assistance may not exceed an amount equal to 50 percent of the net operating costs of the project, as determined by the Secretary. (B) Exception A State described in section 120(b) of title 23 shall receive a Government share of the net costs that is equal to 62.5 percent of the Government share provided for under paragraph (1)(B). ; and (4) by striking subsection (e)(1) and inserting the following: (1) In general To the extent the Secretary determines appropriate, the requirements of— (A) section 5307 shall apply to recipients of grants made in urbanized areas under this subsection; and (B) section 5311 shall apply to recipients of grants made in rural areas under this subsection. . 4. Formula grants for rural areas Section 5311(g) of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (1) by adding at the end the following: (C) Projects in qualified opportunity zones, medically underserved areas, or areas with a medically underserved population A grant awarded under this section for a capital project in a qualified opportunity zone, a medically underserved area, or areas with a medically underserved population shall be for 90 percent of the net costs of the project, as determined by the Secretary. ; (2) in paragraph (2) by adding at the end the following: (C) Projects in qualified opportunity zones, medically underserved areas, or areas with a medically underserved population A grant awarded under this section for a capital project in a qualified opportunity zone, a medically underserved area, or an area with a medically underserved population shall be for 62.5 percent of the Government share provided for under paragraph (1)(B). ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (6) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Qualified opportunity zone The term qualified opportunity zone has the meaning given such term section 1400Z–1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. (B) Medically underserved areas; an area with a medically underserved population The term medically underserved areas or an area with a medically underserved population means an area or populations that are designated as medically underserved by the Secretary of Health and Human Services pursuant to section 330(b)(3) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 254b(b)(3) ). . 5. Non-emergency medical transportation (a) Research project eligibility Section 5312(c)(2) of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subparagraph (M), by striking or at the end; (2) by redesignating subparagraph (N) as subparagraph (O); and (3) by inserting after subparagraph (M) the following: (N) access to hospitals and healthcare providers in areas underserved by transit or with limited public transportation options, as determined by the Secretary; or . (b) Innovation and development project eligibility Section 5312(d)(2) of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subparagraph (G), by striking or at the end; (2) by redesignating subparagraph (H) as subparagraph (I); and (3) by inserting after subparagraph (G) the following: (H) public transportation projects that improve health care access and outcomes; or . (c) Demonstration, deployment, and evaluation project eligibility Section 5312(e)(3) of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subparagraph (B), by striking or at the end; (2) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period and inserting ; or ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (D) the deployment of public transportation projects or practices that— (i) achieve measurable improvements in transportation access to health care for medically underserved areas or populations, as designated by the Health Resources and Services Administration pursuant to section 330(b)(3) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 254b(b)(3) ); (ii) implement transportation strategies for addressing significant health needs as identified by a community health needs assessment pursuant to the requirements of section 501(r)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; or (iii) eliminate or reduce transportation barriers to accessing health care that are identified and prioritized in the coordinated public transit-human services transportation plan described in section 5310(e)(2)(A). . 6. Innovative mobility and technology deployment grants (a) In general Chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 5312 the following: 5313. Innovative mobility and technology deployment grants (a) Authority The Secretary shall establish an innovative mobility and technology deployment grants program to award grants to entities described in subsection (b) to assist in financing of public transportation projects that— (1) allow for the integration of mobility services or technologies in public transportation services, including traveler information, trip planning information, new or expanded reservation capabilities, integrated payment solutions, fare automation, or delivery designs to improve options in public transportation; (2) advance first-mile, last-mile, late night, or low density services that connect riders to public transportation, including— (A) microtransit; (B) commuter busing; or (C) commuter highway vehicles; (3) advance on demand complementary paratransit services; (4) provide accessibility and connectivity for rural areas not being adequately served by public transportation, as determined by the Secretary; (5) expand high-performing public transportation business models that increase access to public transportation; or (6) provide any other transit service that the Secretary determines appropriate to meet the purposes of this section. (b) Eligible entities To be eligible for a grant under this section, an entity shall be— (1) a State or local government; or (2) a publicly owned operator of public transportation. (c) Application To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an entity described in subsection (b) shall submit to the Secretary an application in such form and contain such information as the Secretary may require. (d) Rulemaking The Secretary shall— (1) issue such regulations as are necessary to carry out this section, and publish such regulations in the Federal Register, not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this section; and (2) in issuing such regulations, solicit and receive comments from stakeholders not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section. (e) Grant requirements The Secretary may approve modified grant requirements for projects carried out using a grant under this section. (f) Limitations (1) Period of grant A grant under this section shall be for a 3-year period beginning on the date on which the first payment of any amount under the grant is provided to an eligible entity. (2) Rural grant minimum The Secretary shall award not less than 20 percent of the total amounts made available to carry out this section to support activities described under subsection (a) in rural areas. (3) Government share of costs The Federal share of the total project cost of a project carried out under this section may not exceed 80 percent. (4) Allocation Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section for each fiscal year, not more than 20 percent may be awarded under subsection (a) to a single entity. (g) Best practices The Secretary shall annually collect from, review, and disseminate to public transportation agencies findings or best practices from projects funded under this section. (h) Definitions In this section: (1) Commuter highway vehicle The term commuter highway vehicle has the meaning given such term in section 132(f)(5)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. (2) High-performing public transportation The term high-performing public transportation means a public transportation service, whether provided by a public agency, private nonprofit, or for-profit organization, that is able to collect all operating costs through fare-box revenue or other dedicated sources for an activity and increases access to public transportation. (3) Micro-transit The term micro-transit means internet-enabled, public transportation services that use dynamically generated routes calculated by algorithms developed to increase the occupancy of vehicles. . (b) Clerical amendment The analysis for chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 5312 the following: 5313. Innovative mobility and technology deployment grants. .