,i #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #gaib ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,june #aa1 #bjbj,ms4 ,velzquez introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure ,a ,,bill ,to amend chapter #ec of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 to establish a program to provide public transportation agencies with grants to be used during a disaster declaration4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,transit ,reliability1 ,acknowledgment1 ,investment and ,need ,act of #bjbj or the ,,train ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,grant program for emergency operations funding public transportation during major disasters 7a7 ,in general ,chapter #ec of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #ecda4 ,emergency and continuity of operations during disaster declarations 7a7 ,establishment of grant program ,the ,secretary of ,transportation shall establish a program to provide public transportation agencies with grants to be used during a ,state disaster declaration4 7b7 ,criteria for eligible agencies ,a public transportation agency is eligible to participate in the program if the agency-- 7#a7 at the time of application1 receives funds 7or eligible for such funds7 under the surface transportation block grant program under section #acc of title #bc2 7#b7 for each of the #c years before the date of application1 has received funding 7or eligible for such funds7 for a public transportation project under this chapter2 and 7#c7 submits an application as described in subsection 7c74 7c7 ,application ,in accordance with such requirements as the ,secretary may by rule establish1 each application for a grant under this section shall-- 7#a7 include a strategy and detailed implementation plan that reflects consultation with community groups and appropriate stakeholders1 and shall specify how the transit agency will continue operations during a disaster declaration2 7#b7 assess the public transportation agency's ability to operate during a disaster declaration2 7#c7 identify how the grant will ensure continuity of public transportation services and meet applicable safety and health standards requirements under subsection 7i7 during such disaster declaration2 7#d7 demonstrate the agency's plan to provide no-cost transportation for general transportation service1 premium transportation service1 and paratransit services during the time period under which such disaster declaration2 7#e7 include the total of revenue losses as of the date of application caused by the disaster declaration and a projection of such future losses anticipated during the course of such disaster declaration and shall include an analysis and description of such revenue losses following the #f-month period following the expected termination of such disaster declaration2 7#f7 describe the mechanisms to be employed by the public transportation agency to protect employees from exposure to the conditions generating the disaster declaration2 7#g7 provide a list of protocol and supplies that will be used to clean and disinfect surfaces impacted by the events generating the disaster declaration2 7#h7 include a list of protective gear to be used by public transit employees that will reduce employee exposure to the conditions generating the disaster declaration2 7#i7 identify related governmental and community initiatives which compliment or will be coordinated with the proposal2 7#aj7 certify that there has been appropriate coordination with all appropriate agencies2 and 7#aa7 additional information as required by the ,secretary4 7d7 ,forms of assistance ,funds provided under this section may be expended for-- 7#a7 providing continued services during the pandemic or disaster declaration1 consistent with the requirements under subsection 7i72 7#b7 stabilization of fare prices for passengers during the period of such disaster declaration2 7#c7 no-cost public transportation services during such disaster declaration2 7#d7 provision of new or supplemental public transportation service bus routes1 or bus rapid systems2 and 7#e7 procurement of personal protective gear and equipment needed to protect employees from hazards generated or originating from the disaster declaration4 7e7 ,special rule on expenditures and minimum requirement for eligibility of funds ,a public transportation agency receiving grant funds under this section shall provide assistance to the general public under subsection 7d77#c7 and 7d77#d7 during the disaster declaration period and1 subsequently1 for a period of #f months after the termination of such disaster declaration4 7f7 ,grant requirements 7#a7 ,amount ,a grant awarded under this section may not exceed #e1jjj1jjj1jjj4 7#b7 ,renewals of certain grants 7,a7 ,in general ,a grant may be renewed during the disaster declaration period1 provided the public transportation agency-- 7i7 submits to the ,secretary an application for renewal at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require2 and 7ii7 demonstrates in such application for renewal that-- 7,i7 the initial grant was used in a manner required under the most recently approved application2 and 7,,ii7 the public transportation agency has made progress in achieving the objectives of the initial application approved for the public transportation agency under this section4 7g7 ,authorization of appropriations 7#a7 ,in general ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #ej1jjj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbj and #bjba4 7#b7 ,availability ,funds authorized to be appropriated under this section shall remain available until expended4 7h7 ,rule of construction ,nothing in this section shall be construed to limit a project from receiving a grant under this section while simultaneously receiving funds for associated transit improvement or capital projects4 7i7 ,required certification of safety and health protocol ,a public transportation agency shall certify with the ,secretary every #g days that any use of funds under subsection 7d7 meet applicable health and safety standards and guidance by the ,centers for ,disease ,control issued during the disaster declaration for passengers and employees of the public transportation agency that includes a description of the compliance mechanisms employed by such agency4 7j7 ,annual reports ,a public transportation agency that receives funds under this section during a fiscal year shall submit to the ,secretary a description and an evaluation report on a date specified by the ,secretary regarding the progress such projects have made to make transportation access points accessible to persons with limited mobility4 7k7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,disaster declaration ,the term disaster declaration means-- 7,a7 an emergency involving ,federal primary responsibility determined to exist by the ,president under section #eja7;b7 of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eaia7;b772 7,b7 a national emergency declared by the ,president under the ,national ,emergencies ,act 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #afja et seq472 7,c7 an emergency declared by a ,federal official with respect to coronavirus 7as defined in section #ejf of the ,coronavirus ,preparedness and ,response ,supplemental ,appropriations ,act1 #bjbj 7,public ,law #aaf-abc772 or 7,d7 a public health emergency declared by the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services pursuant to section #cai of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bdg7;d77 with respect to ,,covid-#ai or any other coronavirus with pandemic potential4 7#b7 ,general transportation service ,the term general transportation service means a transportation service that is subject to the same base fare established by the transportation agency for local or general service4 7#c7 ,premium transportation service ,the term premium transportation service means a transportation service that is not a general transportation service4 7#d7 ,paratransit services ,the term paratransit services means service to individuals with disabilities that is comparable to the level of service provided to individuals without disabilities who use routes operated by the public transportation agency4 4 7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of chapters for chapter #ec of subtitle ,,iii of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding after the item relating to section #ecdj the following new item3 #ecda4 ,emergency and continuity of operations during disaster declarations4 4 #c4 ,rulemaking ,not later than #cj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall publish in the ,federal ,register interim final rules implementing this title1 which shall allow eligible public transportation agencies to immediately apply for funds under section #ecda of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code 7as added by section #b74 ,notwithstanding section #eec of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 the regulation shall be effective1 on an interim basis1 immediately upon publication1 but may be subject to change and revision after public notice and opportunity for a period of public comment4 ,the ,secretary shall finalize such rules not later than #ij days after the date of publication4