What This Bill Does · Plain English
GovGreed Synthesis · AI extraction
This bill reauthorizes and expands a federal program that provides grants for building wildlife crossings, such as overpasses and underpasses, to reduce animal-vehicle collisions and improve habitat connectivity. It authorizes $200 million per year for five years from the Highway Trust Fund, removes the 'pilot' designation from the program, and adds new provisions for 100% federal funding and technical assistance for projects led by Indian tribes.
Carveouts & Earmarks · 2 line items · $1.0B tagged
Specific dollar amounts in this bill that flow to identifiable companies or programs — the actual cash trail.
$1.00B
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, $200,000,000 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
Action Timeline
2025-12-16
Introduced in Senate
2025-12-16
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did S.3503 pass?
S.3503 is still alive. Current stage: COMMITTEE. Pass likelihood: pending.
What does S.3503 do?
This bill reauthorizes and expands a federal program that provides grants for building wildlife crossings, such as overpasses and underpasses, to reduce animal-vehicle collisions and improve habitat connectivity. It authorizes $200 million per year for five years from the Highway Trust Fund, removes the 'pilot' designation from the program, and adds new provisions for 100% federal funding and technical assistance for projects led by Indian tribes.
Who sponsored S.3503?
S.3503 was sponsored by Martin Heinrich (D-New Mexico).
How much money does S.3503 spend?
S.3503 contains $1.0B in identified line-item carveouts to specific programs and companies, across 2 earmarks.
Full Bill Text
119 S3503 IS: Wildlife Road Crossing Program Reauthorization Act of 2025 U.S. Senate 2025-12-16 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. 3503 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES December 16, 2025 Mr. Heinrich (for himself and Mr. Sheehy ) 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 Road Crossing 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, $200,000,000 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 Indian tribes In the case of a grant under the program provided to an eligible entity described in subsection (c)(6), the Federal share of the cost of the project shall be 100 percent. (i) Tribal technical assistance (1) In general The Secretary shall 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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