,i #aaeth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #ejaf ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,february #ad1 #bjah,mr4 ,abraham introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure1 and in addition to the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,secretary of ,transportation to establish a ,revitalize ,rural ,america ,grant ,program1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,revitalize ,rural ,america ,act of #bjah4 #b4 ,revitalize ,rural ,america ,grant ,program 7a7 ,establishment 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #abj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,transportation shall establish a ,revitalize ,rural ,america ,grant ,program 7in this section referred to as the ,program7 to facilitate infrastructure projects in rural areas4 7#b7 ,goals ,the goals of the ,program shall be to-- 7,a7 generate regional and national economic benefits2 7,b7 improve the safety1 efficiency1 and reliability of the movement of people1 commodities1 and goods2 7,c7 reduce highway congestion and bottlenecks2 7,d7 improve connectivity between modes of transportation2 7,e7 enhance the resiliency of critical infrastructure2 7,f7 improve infrastructure vital to national energy and food security2 7,g7 increase access to reliable high-speed internet2 and 7,h7 improve the health and vitality of rural communities4 7b7 ,grant authority 7#a7 ,in general ,in carrying out the ,program1 the ,secretary may make grants1 on a competitive basis1 to public and private entities in accordance with this section4 7#b7 ,limitations 7,a7 ,location ,the ,secretary may only make a grant under the ,program for a project carried out in a rural area 7as such term is defined in section #aag7;i77#c7 of title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code74 7,b7 ,amount ,the aggregate amount of grant funding that the ,secretary may provide under the ,program for an individual project may not exceed #dj1jjj1jjj4 7c7 ,applications ,to be eligible for a grant under the ,program an entity shall submit to the ,secretary an application in such form1 at such time1 and containing such information as the ,secretary determines is appropriate4 7d7 ,eligible projects ,the ,secretary may make a grant under the ,program for a project that is-- 7#a7 a highway or bridge project carried out on the ,national ,highway ,system2 7#b7 a highway freight project carried out on the ,national ,highway ,freight ,network established under section #afg of title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code2 7#c7 a drinking water or wastewater project2 7#d7 a telecommunications project2 7#e7 a project for flood control or waterborne navigation2 or 7#f7 a project related to the electric grid4 7e7 ,eligible project costs ,grant amounts received for a project under the ,program may be used for-- 7#a7 development phase activities1 including planning1 feasibility analysis1 revenue forecasting1 environmental review1 preliminary engineering and design work1 and other preconstruction activities2 and 7#b7 construction1 reconstruction1 rehabilitation1 acquisition of real property 7including land related to the project and improvements to the land71 environmental mitigation1 construction contingencies1 acquisition of equipment1 and operational improvements directly related to improving system performance4 7f7 ,project requirements ,the ,secretary may select a project for funding under the ,program only if the ,secretary determines that-- 7#a7 the project will generate national and regional economic1 mobility1 or safety benefits2 7#b7 the project will be cost effective and have a measurable return on investment2 7#c7 the project will contribute to the accomplishment of one or more of the goals described under subsection 7a77#b72 7#d7 the project is based on the results of preliminary engineering2 7#e7 with respect to related non-,federal financial commitments-- 7,a7 one or more stable and dependable sources of funding and financing are available to construct1 maintain1 and operate the project2 and 7,b7 contingency amounts are available to cover unanticipated cost increases2 7#f7 the project cannot be easily and efficiently completed without ,federal funding or financial assistance available to the project sponsor2 and 7#g7 the project is reasonably expected to begin construction not later than #ah months after the date of obligation of funds for the project4 7g7 ,priority consideration ,in making a grant under the ,program1 the ,secretary shall give priority to-- 7#a7 a project for which non-,federal contributions exceed #be percent of the costs of the project2 and 7#b7 a project in an area with an unemployment rate that exceeds the national average4 7h7 ,federal share 7#a7 ,in general ,except as provided in paragraph 7#b71 the ,federal share of the cost of a project assisted with a grant under the ,program may not exceed #ge percent4 7#b7 ,maximum ,federal involvement ,federal assistance other than a grant under the ,program may be used to satisfy the non-,federal share of the cost of a project for which such a grant is made1 except that the total ,federal assistance provided for a project receiving a grant under the ,program may not exceed #hj percent of the total project cost4 7i7 ,consultation ,in carrying out the ,program1 the ,secretary shall consult with the heads of other ,federal departments and agencies as appropriate4 7j7 ,congressional notification 7#a7 ,notification 7,a7 ,requirement ,at least #fj days before making a grant for a project under the ,program1 the ,secretary shall notify1 in writing1 the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure1 the ,committee on ,agriculture1 and the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works1 the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry1 and the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate of the proposed grant4 7,b7 ,contents ,a notification under subparagraph 7,a7 shall include an evaluation and justification for the relevant project and the amount of the proposed grant award4 7#b7 ,congressional disapproval ,the ,secretary may not make a grant or any other obligation or commitment to fund a project under the ,program if a joint resolution is enacted disapproving funding for the project before the last day of the #fj-;day period described in paragraph 7#a74 7k7 ,reports 7#a7 ,annual report ,the ,secretary shall make available on the website of the ,department of ,transportation at the end of each fiscal year an annual report that lists each project for which a grant has been provided under the ,program during that fiscal year4 7#b7 ,comptroller general 7,a7 ,assessment ,the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall conduct an assessment of the administrative establishment1 solicitation1 selection1 and justification process with respect to grants under the ,program4 7,b7 ,report ,not later than #a year after the initial awarding of grants under the ,program1 the ,comptroller ,general shall submit to the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure1 the ,committee on ,agriculture1 and the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works1 the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry1 and the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate a report that describes-- 7i7 the adequacy and fairness of the process by which each project selected for a grant under the ,program was selected2 and 7ii7 the justification and criteria used for the selection of each such project4 #c4 ,surface transportation block grant program 7a7 ,,stp ,set-,aside ,section #acc7;h7 of title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking paragraphs 7#b7 through 7#g72 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following3 7#b7 ,use of funds ,funds reserved under paragraph 7#a7 shall be used by the ,secretary to carry out and make grants under the ,revitalize ,rural ,america ,grant ,program4 4 7b7 ,treatment of projects ,section #acc7;i7 of title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by striking 7excluding those carried out under subsection 7h77#e774 #d4 ,additional funding for ,revitalize ,rural ,america ,grant ,program 7a7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the ,revitalize ,rural ,america ,grant ,program 7established under section #b of this ,act7 #a1cja1ghe1gfj for each of fiscal years #bjai and #bjbj4 7b7 ,capital ,investment ,grants ,section #ecch7;d7 of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by striking through #bjbj and inserting through #bjah and #a1jjj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjai and #bjbj4