S. 3556

119 S3556 IS: Wildlife Crossings Program Reauthorization Act of 2025
 U.S. Senate
 2025-12-17
 text/xml
 EN
 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 II  119th CONGRESS
  1st Session  S. 3556  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES   December 17, 2025   Ms. Alsobrooks  (for herself,  Mr. Cramer ,  Mr. Merkley , and  Mr. Curtis ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the  Committee on Environment and Public Works    A BILL
To reauthorize and improve the wildlife crossings program, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Wildlife Crossings Program Reauthorization Act of 2025  .
2.
Wildlife crossings program
(a)
Authorization of appropriations
(1)
In general
There is authorized to be appropriated out of the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account) for the wildlife crossings program under section 171 of title 23, United States Code, $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
(2)
Availability
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, amounts made available under paragraph (1) shall be available until expended.
(b)
Wildlife crossings program
(1)
In general
Section 171 of title 23, United States Code, is amended—
(A)
in the section heading, by striking
pilot  ;
(B)
by striking  pilot  each place it appears;
(C)
by redesignating subsections (h) and (i) as subsections (k) and (l), respectively; and
(D)
by inserting after subsection (g) the following:
(h)
Federal share for small, rural, and disadvantaged communities
(1)
In general
Subject to paragraph (2), in the case of a grant under the program provided to an eligible entity for the benefit of a small, rural, or disadvantaged community, the Federal share of the cost of the project shall be 90 percent.
(2)
Waiver
The Secretary may increase the Federal share under paragraph (1) to 100 percent if the Secretary determines that the eligible entity is unable to pay, or would experience significant financial hardship if required to pay, the non-Federal share.
(i)
Tribal technical assistance
(1)
In general
The Secretary may use an amount equal to not more than 0.5 percent of the amounts made available to carry out the program for each fiscal year to improve the ability of eligible entities described in subsection (c)(6) to access funding for projects under the program in an efficient and expeditious manner by providing to those entities application assistance, technical assistance, and assistance in reducing the period of time between the selection of the project and the obligation of funds for the project.
(2)
Use of Funds
Amounts used under paragraph (1) may be expended—
(A)
by the Secretary; or
(B)
through contracts with—
(i)
a Federal, Tribal, regional, or State government entity;
(ii)
a private entity; or
(iii)
a nonprofit entity.
(j)
Grant administration
The Secretary may retain not more than a total of 0.5 percent of the amounts made available to carry out the program for each fiscal year—
(1)
to review applications for grants under the program;
(2)
to obligate and administer grant awards selected under the program; and
(3)
to carry out the requirements of—
(A)
section 172; and
(B)
subsections (b)(6) and (i)(3) of section 144.
 .
(2)
Clerical amendment
The analysis for  chapter 1  of title 23, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 171 and inserting the following:
171. Wildlife crossings program.
  .