“A bill to reauthorize and improve the wildlife crossings program, and for other purposes.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section authorizes $100 million annually for FY2027 through FY2031 from the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account) for the wildlife crossings program under 23 U.S.C. 171, with funds available until expended. The section revises the program—previously established as a competitive pilot program to award grants for projects reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions and improving habitat connectivity for terrestrial and aquatic species—by (1) striking all references to "pilot" (including in the section heading), (2) establishing a 90% federal cost share (up to 100% if the Secretary determines financial hardship) for grants benefiting small, rural, or disadvantaged communities, (3) authorizing the Secretary to use up to 0.5% of annual funds to provide tribes with application, technical, and expedited funding assistance, and (4) authorizing the Secretary to retain up to 0.5% of annual funds for grant application review, award administration, and compliance with related statutory requirements. (Thus, these changes convert the temporary pilot into an ongoing program with enhanced flexibilities for underserved applicants.)