Bill > HR1068

This bill, the Tribal Transportation Self-Governance Act of 2015, establishes a program allowing eligible Indian tribes to manage their own transportation programs and services through agreements with the Department of Transportation (DOT). An eligible tribe, which must demonstrate financial stability and management capability, can enter into a written compact with the Secretary of Transportation. Following this, an annual funding agreement will be negotiated, authorizing the tribe to plan, administer, and receive full funding for DOT-administered transportation programs, including discretionary and competitive grants. This aims to give tribes greater control and flexibility in how they develop and maintain their transportation infrastructure, with provisions for flexible financing, program redesign, and the ability to retrocede programs if necessary. The act also clarifies cost principles and funding transfers, and incorporates relevant provisions from the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act.