Protecting Infrastructure Investments for Rural America Act

Bill Number

H.R. 502

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Transportation and Public Works

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-01-17: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.

Last Updated

2025-02-20T13:46:07Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The "Protecting Infrastructure Investments for Rural America Act" (H.R. 502) aims to make the Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program more accessible to smaller and more remote rural areas by adjusting eligibility criteria, expanding project purposes, and prioritizing funding for very small communities. This helps direct federal infrastructure investments toward underserved rural regions to support economic growth and improve quality of life.

Key Provisions

• Eligibility Adjustments: Redefines rural areas eligible for grants to include those with populations of 30,000 or less (previously over 200,000). Introduces a new category of "small community" for areas outside urban zones with 5,000 or fewer residents.
• Program Goals: Adds a new objective to promote economic development and enhance quality of life in rural areas and small communities.
• Eligible Projects: Expands funding to cover highway, road, bridge, or tunnel projects that support local economic development or community well-being.
• Funding Allocation: Requires at least 5% of annual program funds to go toward projects in small communities.
• Federal Cost Share: Increases the federal government's contribution to up to 90% of project costs for small communities (higher than standard shares for other areas).
• Administrative Updates: Removes certain outdated subsections, renumbers others, and makes minor reference corrections for clarity.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill amends Section 173 of Title 23, United States Code (the federal highway code), which governs the Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program:

• Lowers the population threshold for rural eligibility from areas over 200,000 to 30,000 or less, broadening access to smaller locales.
• Introduces the "small community" definition and mandates dedicated funding and higher federal matching for them, shifting emphasis from larger rural areas to the smallest ones.
• Adds economic and quality-of-life benefits as explicit program purposes and project types, moving beyond prior focuses like safety or connectivity.
• Eliminates a previous subsection (likely on specific restrictions) and streamlines the overall structure without altering core funding mechanisms.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) will need to prioritize and track grants for small communities, potentially increasing administrative efforts to ensure the 5% funding minimum and 90% federal share are applied correctly. This could lead to more grant applications from rural areas.
• On Citizens: Rural and small-town residents may see improved roads, bridges, and tunnels, boosting local economies through better access to jobs, services, and markets, and enhancing daily life with safer, more reliable infrastructure.
• On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic rural transportation.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Rural and Small Communities: Primary beneficiaries, including towns with 5,000 or fewer residents outside urban areas, gaining easier access to federal funds for infrastructure.
• State and Local Governments: Eligible applicants (e.g., counties, municipalities) that can now secure higher federal matching funds and pursue a wider range of projects.
• U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT): Responsible for implementing changes, reviewing applications, and allocating funds.
• Rural Businesses and Residents: Indirectly affected through economic growth from improved transportation, potentially creating jobs and reducing isolation.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Strengthens federal support for rural infrastructure under existing highway laws without creating new entitlements, ensuring compliance with spending authority in Title 23. The changes promote equitable distribution of funds, aligning with congressional intent for rural aid.
• Constitutional: No major issues; the bill exercises Congress's spending power under Article I to fund interstate commerce and general welfare, with no federalism conflicts as it partners with state/local entities.
• Political: Highlights bipartisan rural advocacy (introduced by multiple representatives), potentially influencing future infrastructure bills by emphasizing small-community needs amid urban-rural divides. It may encourage similar targeted funding in other policy areas without sparking controversy over costs, as it reallocates within an existing program.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Finstad, Brad [R-MN-1]

Cosponsors (8)

Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2], Rep. Stauber, Pete [R-MN-8], Rep. Mann, Tracey [R-KS-1], Rep. Fischbach, Michelle [R-MN-7], Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3], Rep. Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2], Rep. Flood, Mike [R-NE-1], Rep. Tiffany, Thomas P. [R-WI-7]

Recent Actions

• 2025-01-17: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
• 2025-01-16: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
• 2025-01-16: Introduced in House
• 2025-01-16: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Protecting Infrastructure Investments for Rural America Act — issued 2025-01-16 — PDF (4 pages)