[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1218 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1218
To amend title 49, United States Code, to provide assistance for cities
hosting international sporting events taking place in the United
States, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 1 (legislative day, March 31), 2025
Mr. Moran (for himself and Ms. Cantwell) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 49, United States Code, to provide assistance for cities
hosting international sporting events taking place in the United
States, and for other purposes.
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 ``Transportation Assistance for
Olympic and World Cup Cities Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE FOR INTERNATIONAL SPORTING EVENTS.
(a) In General.--Chapter 55 of title 49, United States Code, is
amended by inserting after section 5501 the following:
``Sec. 5502. Transportation assistance for international sporting
events
``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to support State,
Tribal, and local efforts on transportation issues necessary to obtain
the national recognition and economic benefits of hosting international
sporting events in the United States.
``(b) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Covered event.--
``(A) In general.--The term `covered event' means
an Olympic event, Paralympic event, Special Olympics
event, FIFA Men's World Cup event, or FIFA Women's
World Cup event that is held at a site within the
United States (including any territory of the United
States) that has been selected by the International
Olympic Committee or the International Federation of
Association Football to hold such event.
``(B) Grouping.--Multiple events described in
subparagraph (A) occurring in the same stadium, city,
metropolitan planning area (as defined in section
134(b) of title 23), or metropolitan statistical area
(as designated by the Director of the Office of
Management and Budget) as part of the same overall
competition, sporting event, or grouping of
competitions or sporting events shall be considered to
be 1 covered event.
``(C) Exclusion.--The term `covered event' does not
include activities relating to preparing or submitting
a bid to be selected to hold an event described in
subparagraph (A).
``(2) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
``(A) a State, Indian Tribe, or unit of local
government (including a port authority or transit
agency) hosting a covered event;
``(B) a State, Indian Tribe, or unit of local
government (including a port authority or transit
agency) that--
``(i) is supporting a covered event; and
``(ii) owns a transportation facility or
provides a transportation service that is
located not more than 100 miles from the
location in which the applicable covered event
is or will be held;
``(C) a metropolitan planning organization that
serves an area that--
``(i) is under the jurisdiction of a State,
Indian Tribe, or unit of local government
described in subparagraph (A) or (B); and
``(ii) is located not more than 100 miles
from the location in which the applicable
covered event is or will be held;
``(D) an entity eligible to receive a grant under
section 5339 for services provided within 100 miles of
the location in which the applicable covered event is
or will be held; or
``(E) a nonprofit entity established for execution
of a covered event.
``(3) Host metropolitan planning organization.--The term
`host metropolitan planning organization' means a metropolitan
planning organization for an urbanized area (as defined in
section 134(b) of title 23) within which a covered event is or
will be held.
``(4) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian Tribe' has the
meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
``(5) Metropolitan planning organization.--The term
`metropolitan planning organization' has the meaning given the
term in section 134(b) of title 23.
``(6) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary
of Transportation.
``(c) Grants for Transportation Projects Relating to International
Games.--
``(1) Allocation of funds.--For each fiscal year, the
Secretary shall allocate the amounts made available to the
Secretary to carry out this subsection as follows:
``(A) First, the Secretary shall allocate those
amounts equally among the host metropolitan planning
organizations for the most imminent covered event and
any other covered events occurring during the same
fiscal year, subject to the condition that a host
metropolitan planning organization may not receive more
than $10,000,000 under this subparagraph for a single
covered event.
``(B) Once the host metropolitan planning
organizations described in subparagraph (A) have each
been allocated a total of $10,000,000 under this
subsection for each covered event described in that
subparagraph, including any amounts for previous fiscal
years allocated for the same covered event, the
Secretary shall allocate any remaining amounts--
``(i) first, equally among all host
metropolitan planning organizations eligible to
receive assistance under this subsection for a
covered event not described in subparagraph
(A), subject to the condition that a host
metropolitan planning organization may not
receive more than $10,000,000 under this clause
for a single covered event; and
``(ii) once the host metropolitan planning
organizations described in clause (i) have each
been allocated a total of $10,000,000 under
this subsection for each covered event
described in that clause, including any amounts
for previous fiscal years allocated for the
same covered event, equally among all host
metropolitan planning organizations eligible to
receive assistance under this subsection.
``(2) Use of funds.--
``(A) In general.--A host metropolitan planning
organization receiving amounts under paragraph (1) may
use the amounts to provide funding to eligible entities
to carry out projects described in subparagraph (B)
that--
``(i) are located not more than 100 miles
from the location in which the applicable
covered event is or will be held; and
``(ii) in the determination of the host
metropolitan planning organization, are not
temporary infrastructure needed for hosting the
covered event.
``(B) Project described.--A project referred to in
subparagraph (A) is any of the following:
``(i) A transportation project that--
``(I) is eligible for assistance
under any provision of this title or
title 23; and
``(II) in the determination of the
host metropolitan planning
organization, will assist with the
movement of people or goods related to
the applicable covered event.
``(ii) A transportation planning activity
that, in the determination of the host
metropolitan planning organization, will assist
with the movement of people and goods for the
applicable covered event.
``(3) Requirements.--The requirements described in section
6701 (n) shall apply to a project described in paragraph (2)
that is funded by a grant under this subsection.
``(4) Limitations.--
``(A) Allocations.--For purposes of the allocation
of amounts under paragraph (1), a host metropolitan
planning organization is eligible to receive assistance
under this subsection only during the period beginning
on the date that is 5 years before the date on which a
covered event begins and ending on the date that is 30
days after the date on which the covered event ends.
``(B) Reimbursements.--Notwithstanding subparagraph
(A), but subject to subparagraph (C), the Secretary
shall provide, from amounts allocated to the applicable
host metropolitan planning organization under paragraph
(1), reimbursements for activities described in
paragraph (2) that are carried out during the period
described in subparagraph (A).
``(C) Release of funds.--Any amounts allocated
under paragraph (1) that are not expended by the date
that is 1 year after the date on which the applicable
covered event ends shall be reallocated in accordance
with paragraph (1).
``(5) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this
subsection $50,000,000 for each fiscal year, to remain
available until expended.
``(d) Transportation Planning Activities.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary, on request, shall provide
technical and planning assistance to eligible entities,
including--
``(A) by providing technical assistance for
planning activities of States, Indian Tribes, units of
local government, and metropolitan planning
organizations under sections 134 and 135 of title 23
and sections 5303, 5304, and 5305 of this title for
transportation projects relating to a covered event;
``(B) by assisting States, Indian Tribes, units of
local government, and metropolitan planning
organizations with the development of intermodal
transportation plans;
``(C) by facilitating programs or providing
incentives to temporarily pool and share, for the
duration of a covered event, buses and related
equipment among--
``(i) States, Indian Tribes, and units of
local government hosting or supporting a
covered event; and
``(ii) States, Indian Tribes, and units of
local government not hosting or supporting a
covered event;
``(D) by expediting review and comment of any
required submissions to the Secretary relating to a
covered event;
``(E) by assisting with the coordination of
transportation planning efforts between governments or
the private sector; and
``(F) by providing any other technical or planning
assistance the Secretary determines to be necessary for
advancing the purpose of this section described in
subsection (a).
``(2) Limitation.--The Secretary shall provide assistance
under this subsection for a covered event only during the
period beginning on the date that is 5 years before the date on
which the covered event begins and ending on the date that is
30 days after the date on which the covered event ends.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 55 of title 49,
United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to
section 5501 the following:
``5502. Transportation assistance for international sporting events.''.
SEC. 3. STUDIES ON THE EFFECTS OF HOSTING THE OLYMPICS AND WORLD CUP ON
THE TRAVEL AND TOURISM INDUSTRY IN THE UNITED STATES.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Local planning committees.--The term ``Local Planning
Committees'' means the World Cup planning committees specific
to each World Cup host city.
(2) Olympics.--The term ``Olympics'' means the 2028 Summer
Olympics and 2028 Paralympics, both hosted by Los Angeles,
California.
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Commerce.
(4) Travel and tourism industry.--The term ``travel and
tourism industry'' means the travel and tourism industry in the
United States.
(5) World cup.--The term ``World Cup'' means the 2026 Men's
FIFA World Cup, hosted by the United States, Mexico, and
Canada.
(b) Department of Commerce Study and Report on Effects on Travel
and Tourism of Hosting the Olympics.--
(1) Study.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of this Act and after consultation with the United
States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board and the United States
Olympic Planning Committee, the Secretary shall, subject to the
availability of appropriations, commence a study to examine the
impact of the Olympics on the travel and tourism industry,
including--
(A) changes in the frequency of international
travel to the United States;
(B) changes in the frequency of domestic travel
within the United States;
(C) changes in the revenues of businesses in the
travel and tourism industry; and
(D) changes in employment rates in the travel and
tourism industry.
(2) Report.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the
conclusion of the Olympics, the Secretary shall submit
to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on
Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a
report containing the results of the study conducted
under paragraph (1).
(B) Availability.--The Secretary shall make the
report described in subparagraph (A) publicly available
on the website of the Department of Commerce.
(c) Department of Commerce Study and Report on Effects on Travel
and Tourism of Hosting the World Cup.--
(1) Study.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of this Act and after consultation with the United
States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board and Local Planning
Committees, the Secretary shall, subject to the availability of
appropriations, commence a study to examine the impact of the
World Cup on the travel and tourism industry, including--
(A) changes in the frequency of international
travel to the United States;
(B) changes in the frequency of domestic travel
within the United States;
(C) changes in the revenues of businesses in the
travel and tourism industry; and
(D) changes in employment rates in the travel and
tourism industry.
(2) Report.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the
conclusion of the World Cup, the Secretary shall submit
to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on
Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a
report containing the results of the study conducted
under paragraph (1).
(B) Availability.--The Secretary shall make the
report described in subparagraph (A) publicly available
on the website of the Department of Commerce.
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