,i #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #bagg ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,march #bc1 #bjba,mrs4 ,torres of ,california 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,garca of ,illinois1 ,mrs4 ,napolitano1 ,mr4 ,takano1 ,mr4 ,grijalva1 ,ms4 ,moore of ,wisconsin1 ,ms4 ,jackson ,lee1 ,mr4 ,carbajal1 ,ms4 ,barragn1 ,ms4 ,eshoo1 ,mr4 ,vargas1 ,ms4 ,bush1 ,mrs4 ,watson ,coleman1 ,ms4 ,pressley1 ,mr4 ,bowman1 and ,ms4 ,williams of ,georgia7 introduced the following bill2 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 program4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,fair ,transportation ,act4 #b4 ,definition of covered populations ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,affordability ,the term affordability means the cost-burden threshold on households by income1 including housing and transportation costs1 which may be determined by the ,federal agency carrying out a specific task such as a report or guidance4 7#b7 ,covered populations ,the term covered populations means1 as determined by the ,federal agency applying such term-- 7,a7 communities of color2 7,b7 low-income communities2 7,c7 individuals with disabilities2 7,d7 ,,lgbtq people2 7,e7 people experiencing homelessness2 7,f7 youth and elderly populations2 7,g7 formerly incarcerated individuals2 7,h7 women2 and 7,i7 individuals who are members of ,indian tribes4 #c4 ,,gao review of equity considerations at ,state departments of transportation 7a7 ,review required 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall undertake a review1 to the extent practicable1 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 delivery1 including-- 7,a7 the transportation planning1 project selection1 and project delivery2 and 7,b7 considerations of the diverse transportation needs of covered populations4 7#b7 ,considerations ,in carrying out the review under paragraph 7#a71 the ,comptroller ,general shall-- 7,a7 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 sector2 7,b7 evaluate1 to the extent possible1 whether any such equity measures and practices consider the access1 affordability1 safety1 convenience1 resilience1 and reliability of transportation in covered populations2 and 7,c7 evaluate1 to the extent possible1 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 community1 of transportation in covered populations4 7b7 ,final report ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 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 ,works1 the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation1 the ,committee on ,banking1 ,housing1 and ,urban ,affairs1 and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,senate1 and make available on a publicly accessible website1 a report detailing-- 7#a7 the findings based on the review in subsection 7a72 7#b7 any recommendations for ,state departments of transportation to improve equity considerations and incorporate equity considerations into all phases of project delivery1 including the planning1 bidding1 project design1 and project selection process as well as how bids are advertised and awarded1 which may be in the form of model legislation1 best practices1 or guidance2 and 7#c7 recommended actions the ,secretary of ,transportation could take1 if any1 to effectively address the recommendations provided under paragraph 7#b7 to improve equity considerations in the surface transportation sector4 #d4 ,transportation equity research program 7a7 ,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 planning1 investment1 and operations have on covered populations4 7b7 ,activities ,demonstration activities referred to in subsection 7a7 shall include research on surface transportation equity issues such as infrastructure barriers that cut off individuals and communities from essential jobs and services1 7including inadequate services rendered during natural and man-made disasters71 access to publicly-owned and public benefit data1 data gathering and analyzing particularly to support the development of equity measures1 as well as the development of strategies to advance economic and community development in public transportation-dependent populations4 7c7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #h1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbb through #bjbe4 7d7 ,information collection 7#a7 ,datasets and data analysis tools ,in carrying out this section1 the ,secretary shall collect1 develop1 use1 and maintain datasets and data analysis tools as necessary for the development of evidence for evaluation purposes1 in support of the ,foundations for ,evidence-,based ,policymaking ,act of #bjah 7,public ,law #aae-dce74 7#b7 ,application of chapter #ce of title #dd ,any survey1 questionnaire1 or interview that the ,secretary determines to be necessary to carry out reporting requirements relating to this subsection1 including customer satisfaction assessments1 shall not be subject to chapter #ce of title #dd1 ,united ,states ,code4 #e4 ,,gao review of discretionary grant programs 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall submit to the ,secretary of ,transportation1 the ,committee on ,appropriations and ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works1 the ,committee on ,appropriations1 the ,committee on ,banking1 ,housing1 and ,urban ,affairs1 and the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate a review of covered discretionary grant programs1 as selected by the ,comptroller ,general1 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 sector4 7b7 ,recommendations ,the ,comptroller ,general shall include as part of the review under subsection 7a7 recommendations to the ,secretary on possible means to consider equity and improve equity outcomes4 7c7 ,definition of covered discretionary grant program ,in this section1 the term covered discretionary grant programs means discretionary grant programs under title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code1 and chapter #ec of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code4 #f4 ,guidance on equity in disbursing funding 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,transportation shall issue guidance on how to consider equity in disbursing funding1 including the equity measures and best practices the ,secretary shall use to consider equity4 7b7 ,considerations ,in issuing guidance under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall ensure transportation equity measures1 if applicable1 consider-- 7#a7 the impact of transportation planning1 investment1 and operations on covered populations2 and 7#b7 the access1 affordability1 safety1 convenience1 and reliability of transportation in underserved communities4