H.R. 6889

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6889 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6889

To establish a competitive grant program to provide capital assistance 
for the maintenance, replacement, and rehabilitation needs of commuter 
rail bridges.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

December 18, 2025

Mr. Quigley introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To establish a competitive grant program to provide capital assistance 
for the maintenance, replacement, and rehabilitation needs of commuter 
rail bridges.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Building Rail Infrastructure for a 
Durable and Growing Economy Act'' or the ``BRIDGE Act''.

SEC. 2. COMMUTER RAIL BRIDGE GRANTS.

(a) In General.--Chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 5312 the following:
``Sec. 5313. Commuter rail bridge grants
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Commuter rail.--The term `commuter rail' shall have 
the meaning given the term by the Secretary for purposes of 
reporting to the national transit database under section 5335.
``(2) Commuter rail bridge.--The term `commuter rail 
bridge'--
``(A) means a bridge used in commuter rail 
operations; and
``(B) includes a bridge described in subparagraph 
(A) that is also utilized for--
``(i) intercity passenger railroad service;
``(ii) other public transportation service; 
or
``(iii) a roadway.
``(3) Covered grant.--The term `covered grant' means a 
grant awarded under subsection (b).
``(b) Grant Authority.--The Secretary may make grants to operators 
of public transportation systems for capital costs of maintenance, 
replacement, or rehabilitation of a commuter rail bridge.
``(c) Grant Requirements.--
``(1) Terms and conditions.--Except as otherwise provided 
in this section, a covered grant shall be subject to the same 
terms and conditions as a grant under section 5337.
``(2) Eligible costs.--Eligible costs for a project funded 
by a covered grant shall be limited to the net capital costs of 
the public transportation costs attributable to the project 
based on projected use of the commuter rail bridge.
``(3) Bridge access agreement.--Before executing a grant 
agreement with the Secretary under this section, an operator of 
a public transportation system seeking a covered grant for a 
commuter rail bridge that is not owned by the operator shall 
establish and maintain an agreement with the owner of the 
bridge that ensures bridge access by the operator.
``(d) Competitive Process.--The Secretary shall--
``(1) not later than 30 days after the date on which 
amounts are made available for obligation under this section 
for a full fiscal year, solicit applications for covered grants 
on a competitive basis; and
``(2) award a covered grant based on the solicitation under 
paragraph (1) not later than the earlier of--
``(A) 75 days after the date on which the 
solicitation expires; or
``(B) the last day of the fiscal year in which the 
Secretary solicits the applications for covered grants.
``(e) Consideration.--In awarding covered grants, the Secretary 
shall consider--
``(1) the size of the commuter rail system of the 
applicant;
``(2) the amount of funds available to the applicant under 
section 5337;
``(3) the age and condition of the commuter rail bridge; 
and
``(4) whether the applicant has identified replacement of 
the commuter rail bridge as a priority in the investment 
prioritization portion of the transit asset management plan 
developed by the applicant pursuant to part 625 of title 49, 
Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations).''.
(b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for 
chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 5312 the following:

``5313. Commuter rail bridge grants.''.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 5338 of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(f) Commuter Rail Bridge Grants.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out section 5313 $1,500,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2027 through 2031.''.
<all>