Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Protecting Infrastructure Investments for Rural America Act”.
Protecting Infrastructure Investments for Rural America Act
A BILL
To ensure the rural surface transportation grant program is accessible to rural areas, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Rural surface transportation grant program
Section 173 of title 23, United States Code, is amended—
in subsection (a)—
in paragraph (2) by striking “over 200,000” and inserting “30,000 or less”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(3) Small community—The term “small community” means an area that is outside an urbanized area and that has a population of 5,000 or less.”
in subsection (b)(2)—
in subparagraph (B) by striking “and” at the end;
in subparagraph (C) by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(D) to generate economic growth and development in rural areas to improve the quality of life for citizens in rural areas and small communities.”
in subsection (e)(1)—
in subparagraph (F) by striking “or” at the end;
in subparagraph (G) by striking the period at the end and inserting “; or”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(H) a highway, road, bridge, or tunnel project that would benefit the economic development or quality of life for citizens of the community in which the project takes place.”
by striking subsection (i);
by redesignating subsections (j), (k), (l), (m), (n), and (o) as subsections (i), (j), (k), (l), (m), and (n), respectively;
in subsection (i) (as so redesignated)—
in paragraph (1) by striking “paragraph (2)” and inserting “paragraphs (2) or (3)”;
by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and
by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
“(3) Federal share for projects in small communities—The Federal share of the cost of a project carried out in a small community with a grant under the program may not exceed 90 percent.”
in subsection (j) (as so redesignated) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
“(1) Projects in small communities—The Secretary shall use not less than 5 percent of the amounts made available for the program for each fiscal year to provide grants for eligible projects in a small community.”
in subsection (l) (as so redesignated) by striking “subsection (l)(1)” and inserting “subsection (k)(1)”.