Protecting Infrastructure Investments for Rural America Act

HR 5437, the Protecting Infrastructure Investments for Rural America Act, modifies federal transportation grant rules to better support small rural communities. It redefines "small community" as areas outside urbanized zones with 5,000 or fewer residents (down from 20,000) and requires at least 5% of annual program funds to support projects in these areas. The bill increases federal funding for eligible projects in small communities from 80% to 90% of costs and mandates that projects must improve economic development or quality of life for residents. This directly affects rural towns and villages with populations under 5,000 seeking highway, road, bridge, or tunnel improvements.