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S. 3250 (117th): Providing Assistance for Transit Help to College Act

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The text of the bill below is as of Nov 18, 2021 (Introduced). The bill was not enacted into law.

II

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 3250

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

November 18, 2021

introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

A BILL

To increase access to higher education by providing public transit grants.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Providing Assistance for Transit Help to College Act or the PATH to College Act.

2.

Increasing Access to higher education through public transit grants

(a)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Eligible institution

The term eligible institution means—

(A)

a community college;

(B)

a historically Black college or university;

(C)

a Tribal College or University (as defined in section 316 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c)); or

(D)

a minority-serving institution.

(2)

Eligible recipient

The term eligible recipient means a public transit provider in partnership with one or more eligible institutions.

(3)

Historically Black college or university

The term historically Black college and university has the meaning given the term part B institution in section 322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061).

(4)

Minority-serving institution

The term minority-serving institution means an eligible institution under section 371 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q).

(5)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Transportation.

(b)

In general

The Secretary may make grants under this section to eligible recipients to enable those eligible recipients to carry out projects described in subsection (c) to better connect students with transportation to eligible institutions.

(c)

Eligible projects

An eligible recipient receiving a grant under this section shall use grant funds to carry out one or more of the following activities to better connect students with transportation to one or more of the eligible institutions that are part of the eligible recipient partnership:

(1)

Adding bus, rail, or paratransit stops at or within walking distances of campuses.

(2)

Adding bus, rail, or paratransit routes to and from campuses from surrounding areas and other cities.

(3)

Increasing the frequency of service or adjusting the time of bus, rail, or paratransit routes to allow students to get to and from their classes.

(4)

Subsidizing bus, rail, or paratransit costs for students.

(d)

Application

(1)

In General

An eligible recipient that desires a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including information on the extent to which the proposed projects using grant funds will improve the availability of transit access for students.

(2)

Priority

In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to an eligible recipient whose partnership includes an eligible institution with respect to which more than 25 percent of students enrolled in that eligible institution receive a Federal Pell Grant.

(e)

Federal share

(1)

Capital project

The Federal share of the net project cost of a capital project carried out using a grant under this section shall be not more than 80 percent.

(2)

Operating costs

The Federal share of net operating costs for a project carried out using a grant under this section shall be not more than 50 percent.