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Bill

HR 6228

To amend titles 23 and 49, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish creditworthiness standards for residential and mix-use development projects to be eligible for TIFIA funds and RRIF funds, and for other purposes.

119th Congress Introduced by Sarah McBride and 1 co-sponsor

Bill requires Transportation Secretary to establish creditworthiness standards for residential/mixed-use projects seeking federal TIFIA and RRIF loans, potentially restricting access for economically disadvantaged communities.

Introduced in House
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 6228

Legislative bill overview

HR 6228 would require the Secretary of Transportation to establish creditworthiness standards for residential and mixed-use development projects seeking federal funding through TIFIA (Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act) loans and RRIF (Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing) loans. This represents a more restrictive approach to these existing federal lending programs by adding new eligibility criteria based on financial assessment of projects.

Why is this important

These federal loan programs currently finance transportation and infrastructure projects, including those integrated with residential and mixed-use development. Adding creditworthiness standards could fundamentally change which projects receive funding—potentially excluding smaller municipalities, nonprofits, or lower-income communities with weaker balance sheets, while also affecting project costs if lenders demand higher returns for riskier borrowers. The standards could accelerate development in wealthy areas with strong credit while slowing it in developing communities.

Potential points of contention

  • Geographic equity concerns: Stricter creditworthiness standards may systematically disadvantage rural, economically distressed, or lower-income communities that lack strong credit profiles, potentially widening regional development disparities
  • Project complexity and cost: Added financial vetting could increase application complexity and administrative costs for municipalities and developers, potentially pricing out smaller entities and delaying projects
  • Definition ambiguity: The bill doesn't specify what "creditworthiness standards" means, leaving broad discretion to the Secretary—standards could vary significantly in application and may face legal challenges over their fairness and specificity

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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