[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 137 (Monday, August 2, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S5588]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 2165. Mr. WARNOCK submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 2137 proposed by Mr. Schumer (for Ms. Sinema (for 
herself, Mr. Portman, Mr. Manchin, Mr. Cassidy, Mrs. Shaheen, Ms. 
Collins, Mr. Tester, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Warner, and Mr. Romney)) to the 
bill H.R. 3684, to authorize funds for Federal-aid highways, highway 
safety programs, and transit programs, and for other purposes; which 
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

        At the appropriate place in division C, insert the 
     following:

     SEC. 30___. HELPING OBTAIN PROSPERITY FOR EVERYONE PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 53 of title 49, United States 
     Code, is amended by inserting after section 5307 the 
     following:

     ``Sec. 5308. Helping Obtain Prosperity for Everyone program

       ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) Area of persistent poverty.--The term `area of 
     persistent poverty' means--
       ``(A) a county that has consistently had greater than or 
     equal to 20 percent of the population living in poverty 
     during the most recent 30-year period for which data is 
     available, as measured by the 1990 and 2000 decennial 
     censuses and the most recent Small Area Income and Poverty 
     Estimates, as estimated by the Bureau of the Census;
       ``(B) a census tract with a poverty rate of at least 20 
     percent as measured by the most recent 5-year data series 
     available from the American Community Survey of the Bureau of 
     the Census for all States and Puerto Rico; or
       ``(C) any other territory or possession of the United 
     States of which at least 20 percent of the population has 
     consistently lived in poverty over the most recent 30-year 
     period for which data is available, as measured by the 1990, 
     2000, and 2010 decennial censuses or equivalent data of the 
     Bureau of the Census.
       ``(2) Covered project.--The term `covered project' means 
     any project eligible under this chapter carried out by an 
     eligible entity that would serve an area of persistent 
     poverty.
       ``(3) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means an 
     eligible recipient or subrecipient under section 5307, 5310, 
     or 5311 that seeks to carry out a covered project.
       ``(4) Program.--The term `program' means the Helping Obtain 
     Prosperity for Everyone program established under subsection 
     (b).
       ``(b) Establishment.--The Secretary shall carry out a 
     program, to be known as the `Helping Obtain Prosperity for 
     Everyone' program, to award grants to eligible entities--
       ``(1) to carry out planning or engineering work for covered 
     projects, which may include studies or analyses to assess the 
     transit needs of an area of persistent poverty; and
       ``(2) to develop technical or financing plans for covered 
     projects.
       ``(c) Application.--An eligible entity seeking a grant 
     under the program, or a State department of transportation 
     acting on behalf of an eligible entity seeking a grant under 
     the program, shall submit to the Secretary an application at 
     such time, in such manner, and containing such information as 
     the Secretary may require.
       ``(d) Federal Share.--The Federal share of the cost of an 
     activity described in subsection (b) shall be not less than 
     90 percent.
       ``(e) Outreach.--Not later than 1 year after the date on 
     which the Secretary establishes the program, the Secretary 
     shall conduct outreach, including through personal contact, 
     webinars, online materials, and other appropriate methods 
     determined by the Secretary, to eligible entities with 
     respect to grant opportunities under the program.
       ``(f) Partnerships.--
       ``(1) In general.--The recipient of a grant under the 
     program may enter into a partnership with a nonprofit 
     organization or other entity to assist the recipient in 
     carrying out the activities described in subsection (b).
       ``(2) Encouragement.--The Secretary shall encourage 
     recipients of grants under the program to enter into 
     partnerships with nonprofit organizations that could assist 
     the recipient in ensuring that a covered project results in 
     lower emissions or no emissions.
       ``(g) Rural Areas.--Of the amounts made available to carry 
     out the program each fiscal year, the Secretary shall ensure 
     that not less than 20 percent is used to carry out covered 
     projects in rural areas.
       ``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section $25,000,000 for 
     each of fiscal year 2022 through 2026.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 
     53 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting 
     after the item relating to section 5307 the following:

``5308. Helping Obtain Prosperity for Everyone program.''.
                                 ______