What This Bill Does · Plain English
GovGreed Synthesis · AI extraction
This bill reauthorizes and modifies the Wildlife Crossings Program, which provides grants for projects that reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and improve habitat connectivity. It authorizes $100 million per year from the Highway Trust Fund for fiscal years 2027 through 2031, increases the federal cost share for projects benefiting small, rural, or disadvantaged communities to 90% (with a waiver up to 100%), and allows the Secretary of Transportation to use a small percentage of funds for Tribal technical assistance and grant administration.
Carveouts & Earmarks · 2 line items · $500M tagged
Specific dollar amounts in this bill that flow to identifiable companies or programs — the actual cash trail.
$500M
Sec. 2(a)(1)
"There is authorized to be appropriated out of the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account) for the wildlife crossings program under section 171 of title 23, United States Code, $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031."
→ wildlife crossings program under section 171 of title 23, United States Code
—
Sec. 2(b)(1)(D) (new subsection (i)(2)(B))
"Amounts used under paragraph (1) may be expended— (A) by the Secretary; or (B) through contracts with— (i) a Federal, Tribal, regional, or State government entity; (ii) a private entity; or (iii) a nonprofit entity."
→ Secretary of Transportation
Action Timeline
2025-12-17
Introduced in Senate
2025-12-17
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did S.3556 pass?
S.3556 is still alive. Current stage: COMMITTEE. Pass likelihood: pending.
What does S.3556 do?
This bill reauthorizes and modifies the Wildlife Crossings Program, which provides grants for projects that reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and improve habitat connectivity. It authorizes $100 million per year from the Highway Trust Fund for fiscal years 2027 through 2031, increases the federal cost share for projects benefiting small, rural, or disadvantaged communities to 90% (with a waiver up to 100%), and allows the Secretary of Transportation to use a small percentage of funds for Tribal technical assistance and grant administration.
Who sponsored S.3556?
S.3556 was sponsored by Angela D. Alsobrooks (D-Maryland).
How much money does S.3556 spend?
S.3556 contains $500M in identified line-item carveouts to specific programs and companies, across 2 earmarks.
Full Bill Text
119 S3556 IS: Wildlife Crossings Program Reauthorization Act of 2025 U.S. Senate 2025-12-17 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. II 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 3556 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES December 17, 2025 Ms. Alsobrooks (for herself, Mr. Cramer , Mr. Merkley , and Mr. Curtis ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works A BILL To reauthorize and improve the wildlife crossings program, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Wildlife Crossings Program Reauthorization Act of 2025 . 2. Wildlife crossings program (a) Authorization of appropriations (1) In general There is authorized to be appropriated out of the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account) for the wildlife crossings program under section 171 of title 23, United States Code, $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031. (2) Availability Notwithstanding any other provision of law, amounts made available under paragraph (1) shall be available until expended. (b) Wildlife crossings program (1) In general Section 171 of title 23, United States Code, is amended— (A) in the section heading, by striking pilot ; (B) by striking pilot each place it appears; (C) by redesignating subsections (h) and (i) as subsections (k) and (l), respectively; and (D) by inserting after subsection (g) the following: (h) Federal share for small, rural, and disadvantaged communities (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2), in the case of a grant under the program provided to an eligible entity for the benefit of a small, rural, or disadvantaged community, the Federal share of the cost of the project shall be 90 percent. (2) Waiver The Secretary may increase the Federal share under paragraph (1) to 100 percent if the Secretary determines that the eligible entity is unable to pay, or would experience significant financial hardship if required to pay, the non-Federal share. (i) Tribal technical assistance (1) In general The Secretary may use an amount equal to not more than 0.5 percent of the amounts made available to carry out the program for each fiscal year to improve the ability of eligible entities described in subsection (c)(6) to access funding for projects under the program in an efficient and expeditious manner by providing to those entities application assistance, technical assistance, and assistance in reducing the period of time between the selection of the project and the obligation of funds for the project. (2) Use of Funds Amounts used under paragraph (1) may be expended— (A) by the Secretary; or (B) through contracts with— (i) a Federal, Tribal, regional, or State government entity; (ii) a private entity; or (iii) a nonprofit entity. (j) Grant administration The Secretary may retain not more than a total of 0.5 percent of the amounts made available to carry out the program for each fiscal year— (1) to review applications for grants under the program; (2) to obligate and administer grant awards selected under the program; and (3) to carry out the requirements of— (A) section 172; and (B) subsections (b)(6) and (i)(3) of section 144. . (2) Clerical amendment The analysis for chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 171 and inserting the following: 171. Wildlife crossings program. .
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