Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: Impacts for FMCSA Grant Programs
INTRODUCTION
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, popularly known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (“BIL”), was signed into law on November 15, 2021, providing a nearly $1.2 trillion dollar investment in our Nation’s infrastructure and future.
The sections of the law that provide investments in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) grant programs are truly historic, providing more than $3.2 billion in resources over five years. In short, formula grant funding provided through FMCSA’s Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) increases by approximately 61% and, discretionary funding by roughly 90%. Additionally, BIL establishes a new Safety Enforcement Training grant program totaling $25 million over the life of the law to support the needs of state and local commercial vehicle safety enforcement professionals. In addition to the amounts included in the BIL, Congress also appropriated supplemental funds. These supplemental dollars allow FMCSA to further augment the already historic increase in grant support provided under BIL.
Most of the increased funding authorized under the BIL will be available once Congress appropriates the additional funding; currently, the Agency is operating under a continuing resolution at FAST Act fiscal year 2020 levels.
Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, FMCSA’s formula grant program provides increased funding for all 50 States, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. territories with allocations to be made based on the existing formula. Discretionary grant programs will continue to be awarded through competitive processes.
GRANTS
MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (MCSAP)
BIL Increases total funding by $919M compared to FAST Act levels
- This formula grant program supports initiatives that contribute to:
- A uniform and reciprocal system for enforcing Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and Hazardous Materials Regulations;
- Reducing the number and severity of crashes and hazardous material incidents involving commercial motor vehicles;
- Improving safety through enforcement, education, outreach, and technology investments and support; and
- Prioritizing the prevention and detection of human trafficking.
*FY21 funding included in chart for comparison only; not included in BIL and program total below.
| Grant | FY21* | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 | FY25 | FY26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
MCSAP BIL |
$308.7M | $390.5M | $398.5M | $406.5M | $414.5M | $422.5M |
|
Supplemental |
N/A | $80M | $80M | $80M | $80M | $80M |
Cumulative MCSAP over 5 fiscal years-
Total MCSAP contract authority: $2.0325B
Total MCSAP contract authority + Supplemental advanced appropriations: $2.4325B
NOTE: Up to 1.5% may be withheld for administrative takedown
HIGH PRIORITY (HP) GRANTS – COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SAFETY ACTIVITIES AND INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY DEPLOYMENT (ITD)
BIL Increases total funding by $211.4M compared to FAST Act levels
- The High Priorities discretionary grant program funds initiatives to:
- Augment a State’s/Territory’s Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) safety, enforcement, and outreach efforts;
- Target unsafe driving through highly visible traffic enforcement;
- Prioritizes prevention and detection of human trafficking;
- Implement innovative technological solutions, other related efforts;
- Support research efforts impacting commercial motor vehicle safety; and
- Detect and immobilize unsafe large trucks and passenger carrying vehicles operating on nation’s roadways (new in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law).
*FY21 funding included in chart for comparison only; not included in BIL and program total below.
| Grant | FY21* | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 | FY25 | FY26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HP BIL | $45.9M | $57.6M | $58.8M | $60M | $61.2M | $62.4M |
|
BIL Funding (advanced appropriations) |
N/A | $26.5M | $26.5M | $26.5M | $26.5M | $26.5M |
Cumulative HP over 5 fiscal years-
Total HP contract authority: $300M
Total HP contract authority + Supplemental advanced appropriations: $432.5M
COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION (CDLPI)
BIL Increases total funding by $135.6 million compared to FAST Act levels
- The CDLPI discretionary grant program:
- Provides financial assistance to States and other eligible entities to improve the national CDL program and achieve compliance with FMCSA’s CDL regulations;
- Seeks to ensure quality electronic exchange of data between jurisdictions;
- Ensures that only qualified drivers are eligible to receive and retain CDLs; and
- Ensures “One Driver – One License – One Record” for each CDL holder.
*FY21 funding included in chart for comparison only; not included in BIL and program total below.
| Grant | FY21 | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 | FY25 | FY26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CDLPI BIL | $33.2M | $41.8M | $42.65M | $43.5M | $44.35M | $45.2M |
| BIL Funding | N/A | $16M | $16M | $16M | $16M | $16M |
Cumulative CDLPI over 5 fiscal years-
Total CDLPI contract authority: $217.5M
Total CDLPI contract authority + Supplemental: advanced appropriations $297.5M
NEW: STATE ENFORCEMENT TRAINING (SET)
BIL Increases Annual Total Funding by $25M
- The SET discretionary grant program:
- Supports the training and education of non-Federal personnel who conduct CMV safety activities (e.g., inspections, investigations, audits, traffic enforcement, etc.); and
- Is available for non-profit organizations that have expertise in training and CMV safety-related efforts.
| Grant | FY21 | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 | FY25 | FY26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SET BIL | N/A | $5M | $5M | $5M | $5M | $5M |
Cumulative SET Over 5 fiscal years-
Total SET contract authority: $25M
COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE OPERATOR SAFETY TRAINING (CMVOST)
BIL Increases total funding by $11.5M compared to FAST Act levels
- The CDLPI discretionary grant program:
- Helps reduce crashes involving CMVs by expanding the number of CDL holders possessing enhanced operator safety training; and
- Assists current or former members of the U.S. Armed Forces, as well as certain family members, to obtain CDLs.
*FY21 funding included in chart for comparison only; not included in BIL and program total below.
| Grant | FY21* | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 | FY25 | FY26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CMVOST BIL | $2M | $1.1M | $1.2M | $1.3M | $1.4M | $1.5M |
| Supplemental | N/A | $2M | $2M | $2M | $2M | $2M |
Cumulative CMOST over 5 fiscal years-
Total CMVOST contract authority: $6.5M
Cumulative Total CMVOST contract authority + Supplemental advanced appropriations: $16.5
BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW GRANT FUND BREAKDOWNS (assumes full appropriations)
Breakdown by Fiscal Year
| Grant | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 | FY25 | FY26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCSAP BIL | $390,500,000 | $398,500,000 | $406,500,000 | $414,500,00 | $422,500,000 |
| MCSAP Supplemental | $80,000,000 | $80,000,000 | $80,000,000 | $80,000,000 | $80,000,000 |
| HP BIL | $57,600,000 | $58,800,000 | $60,000,000 | $61,200,000 | $62,400,000 |
| HP Supplemental | $26,500,000 | $26,500,000 | $26,500,000 | $26,500,000 | $26,500,000 |
| CDLPI BIL | $41,800,000 | $42,650,000 | $43,500,000 | $44,350,000 | $45,200,000 |
| CDLPI Supplemental | $16,000,000 | $16,000,000 | $16,000,000 | $16,000,000 | $16,000,000 |
| CMVOST BIL | $1,100,000 | $1,200,000 | $1,300,000 | $1,400,000 | $1,500,000 |
| CMVOST Supplemental | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 |
| SET BIL | $5,000,000 | $5,000,000 | $5,000,000 | $5,000,000 | $5,000,000 |
Cumulative Totals
| Grant | Total | Program + Supplemental |
|---|---|---|
| MCSAP BIL | $2,032,500,000 | $2,432,500,000 |
| MCSAP Supplemental | $400,000,000 | |
| HP BIL | $300,000,000 | $432,500,000 |
| HP Supplemental | $132,500,000 | |
| CDLPI BIL | $217,500,000 | $297,500,000 |
| CDLPI Supplemental | $80,000,000 | |
| CMVOST BIL | $6,500,000 | $16,500,000 |
| CMVOST Supplemental | $10,000,000 | |
| SET BIL | $25,000,000 | $25,000,000 |
| Total: | $3,204,000,000 |
All grant programs except CMVOST and SET are allowed an administrative takedown.
Last updated: Thursday, January 6, 2022