Make Transportation Authorities Accountable and Transparent Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 171
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-01-04: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
- Last Updated
- 2025-02-28T21:32:51Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation, titled the "Make Transportation Authorities Accountable and Transparent Act," aims to promote accountability and transparency in how major public transportation providers use federal funds, particularly those allocated for COVID-19 relief and general transit support. It mandates an audit to review spending over a five-year period prior to enactment.
Key Provisions
- Required Audit: The Inspector General (IG) of the Department of Transportation (DOT) must conduct a comprehensive audit of federal funds received by the five largest public transportation agencies (based on 2019 passenger trips reported to the National Transit Database) that also received funds under specified laws.
- Scope of Audit: The audit covers funds provided during the five fiscal years ending before the bill's enactment date. It must detail the total amounts received under each relevant law and describe how those funds were spent.
- Reporting Requirement: The IG must submit a report to Congress with the audit results no later than 180 days after the bill's enactment.
- Definitions:
- Applicable Laws: Includes federal transit programs under Chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code (the main U.S. law governing public transit funding), plus COVID-19 relief acts: the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020; the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act; the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021; and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
- Public Transportation: Defined as regular transport of passengers by bus, rail, or other modes, excluding services like intercity bus or commuter rail (per section 5302 of title 49, U.S. Code).
- Specified Transit Agency: The top five agencies by unlinked passenger trips (a measure of total boardings) in 2019 that received federal funds under the applicable laws.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill does not amend or repeal existing laws but introduces a new, one-time mandate for a targeted audit by the DOT IG. It builds on existing oversight mechanisms under federal transit laws (like Chapter 53) by specifically focusing on major agencies' use of recent COVID-19 relief funds, which were not previously subject to this level of centralized review.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The DOT IG will need to allocate resources for the audit, potentially leading to recommendations for improved fund management or recovery of misused funds. Congress may use the report to inform future oversight or appropriations.
- On Citizens: Taxpayers could benefit from greater transparency, ensuring federal dollars support public transit effectively, especially post-COVID recovery. Riders of major transit systems may see indirect improvements if audits identify efficiencies or prevent waste.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic public transportation funding.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Primary: The five largest U.S. public transit agencies (e.g., likely including New York City's MTA, Chicago's CTA, and similar large systems based on 2019 data), which must provide records and face potential scrutiny.
- Secondary: The DOT Inspector General's office (responsible for conducting the audit); Congress (receives the report for legislative action); and federal taxpayers funding these programs.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens federal oversight of grant spending under existing transit and relief laws, potentially enabling enforcement actions if misuse is found (e.g., via clawbacks or penalties). No new enforcement powers are granted, but it aligns with the IG's statutory role in auditing federal programs.
- Constitutional: No significant issues; the bill exercises Congress's spending power and oversight authority over executive agencies, consistent with Article I of the U.S. Constitution.
- Political: Could highlight fiscal responsibility in public transit, influencing debates on transportation funding amid post-pandemic recovery. It may pressure large urban agencies to demonstrate efficient use of relief funds, potentially affecting bipartisan support for future infrastructure bills.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11]
Cosponsors (1)
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
Recent Actions
- 2025-01-04: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
- 2025-01-03: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 2025-01-03: Introduced in House
- 2025-01-03: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Make Transportation Authorities Accountable and Transparent Act — issued 2025-01-03 — PDF (3 pages)