H.R. 6950 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Jan 6, 2026
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryDC becomes eligible for more transportation funding
Right now, the District of Columbia is treated differently than states when it comes to federal transportation money. This bill would change that by treating DC like a state for four different Department of Transportation grant programs. These programs fund things like buying and fixing buses, removing barriers to fish passage in culverts, preventing road deaths and injuries, and providing additional money to densely populated areas.
How it affects you
This change would mainly affect people in Washington, DC, who rely on public transportation and roads. The District would become eligible for more federal grant money that could go toward improving buses, bus facilities, and road safety projects. The official summary doesn't spell out exactly what services or improvements residents would see, but the idea is that DC would have better access to the same funding that states do.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Jan 6, 2026)
District of Columbia Transportation Funding Equality Act
This bill makes the District of Columbia eligible for certain Department of Transportation (DOT) grant programs by treating the District as a state under the programs.
Specifically, the bill applies to the Bus and Bus Facilities Grant Program, which provides funding for capital expenses to purchase and rehabilitate buses and to construct bus-related facilities. Under the program, a state is eligible for higher payments than a territory. Currently, the District is treated as a territory under the program.
The bill also treats the District as a state under two additional DOT programs. The National Culvert Removal, Replacement, and Restoration Grant Program provides competitive grants to eligible entities for projects that meaningfully improve or restore fish passage for certain types of fish. The Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program supports initiatives to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries. Currently, the District is not included under either of these programs.
Further, the bill treats the District as a state for purposes of the Growing States and High Density States Formula, which provides additional money to some places (e.g., states with a population density greater than 370 persons per square mile) and is distributed through the Urbanized and Rural Area Formula Programs. Currently, the District is not included under the formula.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
2nd SessionH. R. 6950
A BILL
District of Columbia Transportation Funding Equality Act
Sponsor: Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-At Large) · Introduced Jan 6, 2026 · Transportation and Public Works · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Jan 7, 2026: “Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.”
Sections
Sections · 5
- Sec. 1Short titleNo change
- Sec. 2Formula grants for busesNo change
- Sec. 3Apportionments based on growing States and high density States formula factorsNo change
- Sec. 4National culvert removal, replacement, and restoration grant programNo change
- Sec. 5Safe streets and roads for all grant programNo change