H.R. 5437 — Protecting Infrastructure Investments for Rural America Act

This bill modifies the definition of rural area that is used for the Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program and adds provisions for small communities. As background, the grant program supports projects that improve and expand the surface transportation infrastructure in rural areas. Eligible applicants for the grant program include states, regional transportation planning organizations, local governments, and tribal governments. For purposes of the program, the bill defines rural area as an area outside an urbanized area that has a population of 20,000 or less. Current law requires a rural area to be outside of an urbanized area with a population of over 200,000. The bill includes pro...