Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Wildlife Crossings Program Reauthorization Act of 2025”.
Wildlife Crossings Program Reauthorization Act of 2025
A BILL
To reauthorize and improve the wildlife crossings program, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Wildlife crossings program
Authorization of appropriations—
In general— There is authorized to be appropriated out of the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account) for the wildlife crossings program under section 171 of title 23, United States Code, $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
Availability— Notwithstanding any other provision of law, amounts made available under paragraph (1) shall be available until expended.
Wildlife crossings program—
in the section heading, by striking “pilot”;
by striking “pilot” each place it appears;
by redesignating subsections (h) and (i) as subsections (k) and (l), respectively; and
by inserting after subsection (g) the following:
“(h) Federal share for small, rural, and disadvantaged communities
“(1) In general—Subject to paragraph (2), in the case of a grant under the program provided to an eligible entity for the benefit of a small, rural, or disadvantaged community, the Federal share of the cost of the project shall be 90 percent.
“(2) Waiver—The Secretary may increase the Federal share under paragraph (1) to 100 percent if the Secretary determines that the eligible entity is unable to pay, or would experience significant financial hardship if required to pay, the non-Federal share.
“(i) Tribal technical assistance
“(1) In general—The Secretary may use an amount equal to not more than 0.5 percent of the amounts made available to carry out the program for each fiscal year to improve the ability of eligible entities described in subsection (c)(6) to access funding for projects under the program in an efficient and expeditious manner by providing to those entities application assistance, technical assistance, and assistance in reducing the period of time between the selection of the project and the obligation of funds for the project.
“(2) Use of Funds—Amounts used under paragraph (1) may be expended—
“(A) by the Secretary; or
“(B) through contracts with—
“(i) a Federal, Tribal, regional, or State government entity;
“(ii) a private entity; or
“(iii) a nonprofit entity.
“(j) Grant administration—The Secretary may retain not more than a total of 0.5 percent of the amounts made available to carry out the program for each fiscal year—
“(1) to review applications for grants under the program;
“(2) to obligate and administer grant awards selected under the program; and
“(3) to carry out the requirements of—
“(A) section 172; and
“(B) subsections (b)(6) and (i)(3) of section 144.”
Clerical amendment— The analysis for chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 171 and inserting the following: