119 S1218 IS: Transportation Assistance for Olympic and World Cup Cities Act of 2025
U.S. Senate
2025-04-01
text/xml
EN
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II
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1218
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 1 (legislative day, March 31), 2025
Mr. Moran (for himself and Ms. Cantwell) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
A BILL
To amend title 49, United States Code, to provide assistance for cities hosting international sporting events taking place in the United States, and for other purposes.
1.

Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Transportation Assistance for Olympic and World Cup Cities Act of 2025”.
2.

Transportation assistance for international sporting events
(a)

In general
Chapter 55 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 5501 the following:
“5502.

Transportation assistance for international sporting events
(a)

Purpose
The purpose of this section is to support State, Tribal, and local efforts on transportation issues necessary to obtain the national recognition and economic benefits of hosting international sporting events in the United States.
(b)

Definitions
In this section:
(1)

Covered event
(A)

In general
The term covered event means an Olympic event, Paralympic event, Special Olympics event, FIFA Men’s World Cup event, or FIFA Women’s World Cup event that is held at a site within the United States (including any territory of the United States) that has been selected by the International Olympic Committee or the International Federation of Association Football to hold such event.
(B)

Grouping
Multiple events described in subparagraph (A) occurring in the same stadium, city, metropolitan planning area (as defined in section 134(b) of title 23), or metropolitan statistical area (as designated by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget) as part of the same overall competition, sporting event, or grouping of competitions or sporting events shall be considered to be 1 covered event.
(C)

Exclusion
The term covered event does not include activities relating to preparing or submitting a bid to be selected to hold an event described in subparagraph (A).
(2)

Eligible entity
The term eligible entity means—
(A)
a State, Indian Tribe, or unit of local government (including a port authority or transit agency) hosting a covered event;
(B)
a State, Indian Tribe, or unit of local government (including a port authority or transit agency) that—
(i)
is supporting a covered event; and
(ii)
owns a transportation facility or provides a transportation service that is located not more than 100 miles from the location in which the applicable covered event is or will be held;
(C)
a metropolitan planning organization that serves an area that—
(i)
is under the jurisdiction of a State, Indian Tribe, or unit of local government described in subparagraph (A) or (B); and
(ii)
is located not more than 100 miles from the location in which the applicable covered event is or will be held;
(D)
an entity eligible to receive a grant under section 5339 for services provided within 100 miles of the location in which the applicable covered event is or will be held; or
(E)
a nonprofit entity established for execution of a covered event.
(3)

Host metropolitan planning organization
The term host metropolitan planning organization means a metropolitan planning organization for an urbanized area (as defined in section 134(b) of title 23) within which a covered event is or will be held.
(4)

Indian Tribe
The term Indian Tribe has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
(5)

Metropolitan planning organization
The term metropolitan planning organization has the meaning given the term in section 134(b) of title 23.
(6)

Secretary
The term Secretary means the Secretary of Transportation.
(c)

Grants for transportation projects relating to international games
(1)

Allocation of funds
For each fiscal year, the Secretary shall allocate the amounts made available to the Secretary to carry out this subsection as follows:
(A)
First, the Secretary shall allocate those amounts equally among the host metropolitan planning organizations for the most imminent covered event and any other covered events occurring during the same fiscal year, subject to the condition that a host metropolitan planning organization may not receive more than $10,000,000 under this subparagraph for a single covered event.
(B)
Once the host metropolitan planning organizations described in subparagraph (A) have each been allocated a total of $10,000,000 under this subsection for each covered event described in that subparagraph, including any amounts for previous fiscal years allocated for the same covered event, the Secretary shall allocate any remaining amounts—
(i)
first, equally among all host metropolitan planning organizations eligible to receive assistance under this subsection for a covered event not described in subparagraph (A), subject to the condition that a host metropolitan planning organization may not receive more than $10,000,000 under this clause for a single covered event; and
(ii)
once the host metropolitan planning organizations described in clause (i) have each been allocated a total of $10,000,000 under this subsection for each covered event described in that clause, including any amounts for previous fiscal years allocated for the same covered event, equally among all host metropolitan planning organizations eligible to receive assistance under this subsection.
(2)

Use of funds
(A)

In general
A host metropolitan planning organization receiving amounts under paragraph (1) may use the amounts to provide funding to eligible entities to carry out projects described in subparagraph (B) that—
(i)
are located not more than 100 miles from the location in which the applicable covered event is or will be held; and
(ii)
in the determination of the host metropolitan planning organization, are not temporary infrastructure needed for hosting the covered event.
(B)

Project described
A project referred to in subparagraph (A) is any of the following:
(i)
A transportation project that—
(I)
is eligible for assistance under any provision of this title or title 23; and
(II)
in the determination of the host metropolitan planning organization, will assist with the movement of people or goods related to the applicable covered event.
(ii)
A transportation planning activity that, in the determination of the host metropolitan planning organization, will assist with the movement of people and goods for the applicable covered event.
(3)

Requirements
The requirements described in section 6701 (n) shall apply to a project described in paragraph (2) that is funded by a grant under this subsection.
(4)

Limitations
(A)

Allocations
For purposes of the allocation of amounts under paragraph (1), a host metropolitan planning organization is eligible to receive assistance under this subsection only during the period beginning on the date that is 5 years before the date on which a covered event begins and ending on the date that is 30 days after the date on which the covered event ends.
(B)

Reimbursements
Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), but subject to subparagraph (C), the Secretary shall provide, from amounts allocated to the applicable host metropolitan planning organization under paragraph (1), reimbursements for activities described in paragraph (2) that are carried out during the period described in subparagraph (A).
(C)

Release of funds
Any amounts allocated under paragraph (1) that are not expended by the date that is 1 year after the date on which the applicable covered event ends shall be reallocated in accordance with paragraph (1).
(5)

Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this subsection $50,000,000 for each fiscal year, to remain available until expended.
(d)

Transportation planning activities
(1)

In general
The Secretary, on request, shall provide technical and planning assistance to eligible entities, including—
(A)
by providing technical assistance for planning activities of States, Indian Tribes, units of local government, and metropolitan planning organizations under sections 134 and 135 of title 23 and sections 5303, 5304, and 5305 of this title for transportation projects relating to a covered event;
(B)
by assisting States, Indian Tribes, units of local government, and metropolitan planning organizations with the development of intermodal transportation plans;
(C)
by facilitating programs or providing incentives to temporarily pool and share, for the duration of a covered event, buses and related equipment among—
(i)
States, Indian Tribes, and units of local government hosting or supporting a covered event; and
(ii)
States, Indian Tribes, and units of local government not hosting or supporting a covered event;
(D)
by expediting review and comment of any required submissions to the Secretary relating to a covered event;
(E)
by assisting with the coordination of transportation planning efforts between governments or the private sector; and
(F)
by providing any other technical or planning assistance the Secretary determines to be necessary for advancing the purpose of this section described in subsection (a).
(2)

Limitation
The Secretary shall provide assistance under this subsection for a covered event only during the period beginning on the date that is 5 years before the date on which the covered event begins and ending on the date that is 30 days after the date on which the covered event ends.”.
(b)

Clerical amendment
The analysis for chapter 55 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 5501 the following:
“5502. Transportation assistance for international sporting events.”.
3.

Studies on the effects of hosting the Olympics and World Cup on the travel and tourism industry in the United States
(a)

Definitions
In this section:
(1)

Local Planning Committees
The term Local Planning Committees means the World Cup planning committees specific to each World Cup host city.
(2)

Olympics
The term Olympics means the 2028 Summer Olympics and 2028 Paralympics, both hosted by Los Angeles, California.
(3)

Secretary
The term Secretary means the Secretary of Commerce.
(4)

Travel and tourism industry
The term travel and tourism industry means the travel and tourism industry in the United States.
(5)

World cup
The term World Cup means the 2026 Men’s FIFA World Cup, hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
(b)

Department of Commerce study and report on effects on travel and tourism of hosting the Olympics
(1)

Study
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act and after consultation with the United States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board and the United States Olympic Planning Committee, the Secretary shall, subject to the availability of appropriations, commence a study to examine the impact of the Olympics on the travel and tourism industry, including—
(A)
changes in the frequency of international travel to the United States;
(B)
changes in the frequency of domestic travel within the United States;
(C)
changes in the revenues of businesses in the travel and tourism industry; and
(D)
changes in employment rates in the travel and tourism industry.
(2)

Report
(A)

In general
Not later than 180 days after the conclusion of the Olympics, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report containing the results of the study conducted under paragraph (1).
(B)

Availability
The Secretary shall make the report described in subparagraph (A) publicly available on the website of the Department of Commerce.
(c)

Department of Commerce study and report on effects on travel and tourism of hosting the World Cup
(1)

Study
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act and after consultation with the United States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board and Local Planning Committees, the Secretary shall, subject to the availability of appropriations, commence a study to examine the impact of the World Cup on the travel and tourism industry, including—
(A)
changes in the frequency of international travel to the United States;
(B)
changes in the frequency of domestic travel within the United States;
(C)
changes in the revenues of businesses in the travel and tourism industry; and
(D)
changes in employment rates in the travel and tourism industry.
(2)

Report
(A)

In general
Not later than 180 days after the conclusion of the World Cup, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report containing the results of the study conducted under paragraph (1).
(B)

Availability
The Secretary shall make the report described in subparagraph (A) publicly available on the website of the Department of Commerce.