S 1236 — Rebuilding Stronger Infrastructure Act

(a) In General.— Subject to this section and section 120, an emergency fund is authorized for expenditure by the Secretary for the repair or reconstruction of highways, roads, and trails, in any area of the United States, including Indian reservations, that the Secretary finds have suffered serious damage as a result of— (1) a natural disaster over a wide area, such as by a flood, hurricane, tidal wave, earthquake, severe storm, wildfire, or landslide; or (2) catastrophic failure from any external cause. (b) Restriction on Eligibility.— Funds under this section shall not be used for the repair or reconstruction of a bridge that has been permanently closed to all vehicular traffic by the State or responsible local official because of imminent danger of collapse due to a structural deficiency or physical deterioration. (c) Funding.— (1) In general.— Subject to the limitations described in paragraph (2), there are authorized to be appropriated from the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account) such sums as are necessary to establish the fund authorized by this section and to replenish that fund on an annual basis. (2) Limitations.— The limitations referred to in paragraph (1) are that— (A) not more than $100,000,000 is authorized to be obligated in any 1 fiscal year commencing after September 30, 1980, to carry out this section, except that, if for any fiscal year the total of all obligations under this section is less than the amount authorized to be obligated for the fiscal year, the unobligated balance of that amount shall— (i) remain available until expended; and (ii) be in addition to amounts otherwise available to carry out this section for each year; and (B) (i) pending such appropriation or replenishment, the Secretary may obligate from any funds appropriated at any time for obligation in accordance with this title, including existing Federal-aid appropriations, such sums as are necessary for the immediate prosecution of the work herein authorized; and (ii) funds obligated under this subparagraph shall be reimbursed from the appropriation or replenishment. (d) Eligibility.— (1) In general.— The Secretary may expend funds from the emergency fund authorized by this section only for the repair or reconstruction of highways on Federal-aid highways in accordance with this chapter, except that— (A) no funds shall be so expended unless an emergency has been declared by the Governor of the State with concurrence by the Secretary, unless the President has declared the emergency to be a major disaster for the purposes of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) for which concurrence of the Secretary is not required; and (B) the Secretary has received an application from the State transportation department that includes a comprehensive list of all eligible project sites and repair costs by not later than 2 years after the natural disaster or catastrophic failure. (2) Cost limitation.— (A) Definition of comparable facility.— In this paragraph, the term “comparable facility” means a facility that— (i) meets the current geometric and construction standards required for the types and volume of traffic that the facility will carry over its design life; and (ii) incorporates economically justifiable improvements that will mitigate the risk of recurring damage from extreme weather, flooding, and other natural disasters. (B) Limitation.— The total cost of a project funded under this section may not exceed the cost of repair or reconstruction of a comparable facility. (3) Protective features.— (A) In general.— The cost of an improvement that is part of a project under this section shall be an eligible expense under this section if the improvement is a protective feature that will mitigate the risk of recurring damage or the cost of future repair from extreme weather, flooding, and other natural disasters. (B) Protective features described.— A protective feature referred to...