Fair Transportation Act
This bill addresses the disbursement of surface transportation funding in an equitable way by federal, state, and local entities.
Specifically, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) must review the extent to which states consider equity and improve equity outcomes in the use of federal surface transportation funds at all phases of project delivery, including the diverse transportation needs of economically disadvantaged and underserved populations.
Additionally, the Department of Transportation (DOT) must carry out a transportation equity research program for research and demonstration activities that focus on the impacts that surface transportation planning, investment, and operations have on economically disadvantaged and underserved populations, including communities of color, low-income communities, and individuals with disabilities.
The GAO must also review discretionary grant programs for surface transportation projects to determine the extent to which DOT is awarding funding through such programs to projects that serve groups or populations experiencing differential impacts in the transportation sector.
Further, DOT must issue guidance on equity consideration metrics and best practices while disbursing federal funds.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2177 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2177
To review equity best practices in relation to transportation funding
and to reinstitute the transportation equity research program.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 23, 2021
Mrs. Torres of California (for herself, Mr. Garcia of Illinois, Mrs.
Napolitano, Mr. Takano, Mr. Grijalva, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Ms.
Jackson Lee, Mr. Carbajal, Ms. Barragan, Ms. Eshoo, Mr. Vargas, Ms.
Bush, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Ms. Pressley, Mr. Bowman, and Ms. Williams
of Georgia) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To review equity best practices in relation to transportation funding
and to reinstitute the transportation equity research program.
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 ``Fair Transportation Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF COVERED POPULATIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Affordability.--The term ``affordability'' means the
cost-burden threshold on households by income, including
housing and transportation costs, which may be determined by
the Federal agency carrying out a specific task such as a
report or guidance.
(2) Covered populations.--The term ``covered populations''
means, as determined by the Federal agency applying such term--
(A) communities of color;
(B) low-income communities;
(C) individuals with disabilities;
(D) LGBTQ people;
(E) people experiencing homelessness;
(F) youth and elderly populations;
(G) formerly incarcerated individuals;
(H) women; and
(I) individuals who are members of Indian tribes.
SEC. 3. GAO REVIEW OF EQUITY CONSIDERATIONS AT STATE DEPARTMENTS OF
TRANSPORTATION.
(a) Review Required.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United
States shall undertake a review, to the extent practicable, of
the extent to which State departments of transportation
consider equity and improve equity outcomes in the use of
Federal surface transportation funds at all phases of project
delivery, including--
(A) the transportation planning, project selection,
and project delivery; and
(B) considerations of the diverse transportation
needs of covered populations.
(2) Considerations.--In carrying out the review under
paragraph (1), the Comptroller General shall--
(A) consider relevant State department of
transportation practices and transportation equity
measures and the impacts of such measures and practices
on covered populations experiencing differential
impacts in the surface transportation sector;
(B) evaluate, to the extent possible, whether any
such equity measures and practices consider the access,
affordability, safety, convenience, resilience, and
reliability of transportation in covered populations;
and
(C) evaluate, to the extent possible, whether such
measures and practices consider the impact of surface
transportation funding on the distribution of economic
benefits such as from job creation and receipts of
Federal funding by the community, of transportation in
covered populations.
(b) Final Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Environment and Public Works, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation, the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs,
and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, and make available
on a publicly accessible website, a report detailing--
(1) the findings based on the review in subsection (a);
(2) any recommendations for State departments of
transportation to improve equity considerations and incorporate
equity considerations into all phases of project delivery,
including the planning, bidding, project design, and project
selection process as well as how bids are advertised and
awarded, which may be in the form of model legislation, best
practices, or guidance; and
(3) recommended actions the Secretary of Transportation
could take, if any, to effectively address the recommendations
provided under paragraph (2) to improve equity considerations
in the surface transportation sector.
SEC. 4. TRANSPORTATION EQUITY RESEARCH PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Transportation shall carry out a
transportation equity research program for research and demonstration
activities that focus on the impacts that surface transportation
planning, investment, and operations have on covered populations.
(b) Activities.--Demonstration activities referred to in subsection
(a) shall include research on surface transportation equity issues such
as infrastructure barriers that cut off individuals and communities
from essential jobs and services, (including inadequate services
rendered during natural and man-made disasters), access to publicly-
owned and public benefit data, data gathering and analyzing
particularly to support the development of equity measures, as well as
the development of strategies to advance economic and community
development in public transportation-dependent populations.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $8,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2022 through 2025.
(d) Information Collection.--
(1) Datasets and data analysis tools.--In carrying out this
section, the Secretary shall collect, develop, use, and
maintain datasets and data analysis tools as necessary for the
development of evidence for evaluation purposes, in support of
the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018
(Public Law 115-435).
(2) Application of chapter 35 of title 44.--Any survey,
questionnaire, or interview that the Secretary determines to be
necessary to carry out reporting requirements relating to this
subsection, including customer satisfaction assessments, shall
not be subject to chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code.
SEC. 5. GAO REVIEW OF DISCRETIONARY GRANT PROGRAMS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit
to the Secretary of Transportation, the Committee on Appropriations and
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works, the
Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Banking, Housing, and
Urban Affairs, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate a review of covered discretionary grant
programs, as selected by the Comptroller General, to determine the
extent to which the Secretary is considering the needs of and awarding
funding through such programs to projects that serve any group or
population experiencing differential impacts in the transportation
sector.
(b) Recommendations.--The Comptroller General shall include as part
of the review under subsection (a) recommendations to the Secretary on
possible means to consider equity and improve equity outcomes.
(c) Definition of Covered Discretionary Grant Program.--In this
section, the term ``covered discretionary grant programs'' means
discretionary grant programs under title 23, United States Code, and
chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code.
SEC. 6. GUIDANCE ON EQUITY IN DISBURSING FUNDING.
(a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall issue guidance on
how to consider equity in disbursing funding, including the equity
measures and best practices the Secretary shall use to consider equity.
(b) Considerations.--In issuing guidance under subsection (a), the
Secretary shall ensure transportation equity measures, if applicable,
consider--
(1) the impact of transportation planning, investment, and
operations on covered populations; and
(2) the access, affordability, safety, convenience, and
reliability of transportation in underserved communities.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
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