Elderly and Handicapped Transportation Improvement Act

Elderly and Handicapped Transportation Improvement Act - Amends the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 to authorize the Secretary of Transportation to make grants and loans to private nonprofit corporations and associations to be used to pay operating expenses related to new and existing mass transportation services for elderly and handicapped persons.

Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992-1996.

 
HR 2804 IH
102d CONGRESS
1st Session
 H. R. 2804
To amend the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 to provide for grants and
loans to private nonprofit corporations and associations to be used to pay
operating expenses related to new and existing mass transportation services
for elderly and handicapped persons.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 26, 1991
Mr. MARTINEZ introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Public Works and Transportation
A BILL
To amend the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 to provide for grants and
loans to private nonprofit corporations and associations to be used to pay
operating expenses related to new and existing mass transportation services
for elderly and handicapped persons.
  Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
  States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  This Act may be cited as the `Elderly and Handicapped Transportation
  Improvement Act'.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
  (a) FINDINGS- The Congress finds that--
  (1) the population of the United States that is 60 years of age and older
  will increase by 32 percent within the next 20 years;
  (2) the population of the United States that is 85 years of age and older
  will increase by 88 percent in the next 20 years;
  (3) senior citizens are becoming increasingly isolated from transportation
  services;
  (4) a majority of senior citizens view the lack of transportation as a
  serious problem in obtaining medical care; and
  (5) nonprofit social services organizations that provide services to elderly
  and handicapped persons are facing increasing insurance, maintenance,
  and operating costs.
  (b) PURPOSES- The purposes of this Act are--
  (1) to increase the authorization of appropriations for the existing
  program providing mass transportation services for elderly and handicapped
  persons; and
  (2) to provide grants and loans to nonprofit organizations and associations
  to be used to pay operating expenses related to new and existing mass
  transportation services for elderly and handicapped persons.
SEC. 3. OPERATING EXPENSES GRANTS FOR NEW AND EXISTING TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS
FOR THE ELDERLY AND HANDICAPPED.
  (a) IN GENERAL- Section 16(b) of the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964
  (49 U.S.C. App. 1612(b)) is amended--
  (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs (A) and
  (B), respectively;
  (2) by inserting `(1)' after `(b)';
  (3) by striking `and' at the end of subparagraph (A), as redesignated;
  (4) in subparagraph (B), as redesignated--
  (A) by striking `paragraph (1)' each place it appears and inserting
  `subparagraph (A)'; and
  (B) by striking the period at the end and all that follows through the
  end of subsection (b), and inserting the following: `; and
  `(C) to private nonprofit corporations and associations to be used by such
  corporations and associations for the specific purpose of paying operating
  expenses related to new and existing transportation services meeting the
  special needs of elderly and handicapped persons.
  `(2) Recipients of grants or loans under paragraph (1) shall coordinate
  transportation services provided in accordance with this section with
  other local transportation services designed to meet the special needs
  of elderly and handicapped persons, including those assisted under this
  Act, the Older Americans Act of 1965, and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,
  for the purpose of preventing duplication of such efforts.
  `(3) Nothing in subparagraph (B) shall be construed to prohibit the leasing
  of vehicles purchased in accordance with subparagraph (B) to local public
  bodies or agencies for the purpose of improving transportation services
  designed to meet the special needs of elderly and handicapped persons.'.
  (b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- Section 21(g) of the Urban Mass
  Transportation Act of 1964 (49 U.S.C. App. 1617(g)) is amended by adding
  at the end the following:
  `(3) From the funds made available under subsection (a)(2), there shall
  be set aside to carry out section 16(b)--
  `(A) $70,000,000 for fiscal year 1992;
  `(B) $75,000,000 for fiscal year 1993;
  `(C) $80,000,000 for fiscal year 1994;
  `(D) $85,000,000 for fiscal year 1995; and
  `(E) $90,000,000 for fiscal year 1996.'.