Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA)
Incentivizing Value Capture for Greener Transportation Act
A Democratic bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Incentivizing Value Capture for Greener Transportation Act," seeks to amend title 49 of the United States Code. It aims to provide grants to state and local governments to develop value capture mechanisms and improve public transportation. The legislation focuses on promoting mobility and affordable transit-oriented development to reduce congestion and greenhouse gas emissions. It establishes requirements for performance benchmarks and the maintenance of existing funding levels. Additionally, the bill mandates that laborers be paid prevailing wages on construction work financed by these grants.
Yes· 3 of 19
- Scored +8
Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change?
The bill explicitly aims to reduce CO2 emissions through increased transit capacity and ridership.
- Scored +8
Does this improve buses, trains and other public transport?
The primary purpose of the bill is to improve public transportation and mobility.
- Scored +7
Does this make housing cost less?
The bill promotes transit-oriented development that specifically includes affordable housing.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Improved Mobility and Transportation: The Secretary may provide grants to help state and local governments improve public transportation and mobility (Section 3, subsection a, paragraph 1).
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Development of Affordable Housing and Commercial Space: The bill promotes transit-oriented development, which includes a mix of residential and commercial spaces that promote affordable housing and affordable commercial space (Section 3, subsection b, paragraph 2).
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Economic and Environmental Benefits: By increasing transit capacity and ridership, the bill aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, vehicle miles traveled, and congestion (Section 3, subsection a, paragraph 2, subparagraph A).
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Protection of Worker Wages: The bill ensures that laborers and mechanics employed by contractors or subcontractors on construction work financed by these grants are paid wages not less than those prevailing in the locality (Section 3, subsection a, paragraph 3).
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Support for Small Businesses: The definition of affordable commercial space includes space dedicated to protecting or promoting small and disadvantaged businesses by providing it below market rent value (Section 3, subsection b, paragraph 4).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Risk of Reduced Grant Support: If a state or local government reduces its funding for value capture, public transportation, or affordable transit-oriented development programs, the Secretary may reduce the grant support by the same amount as the decline in local effort (Section 3, subsection a, paragraph 2, subparagraph B, clause i).
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Strict Funding Requirements: Grantees must certify that they will maintain the same funding level as the average expenditures in the two fiscal years prior to the enactment of this section (Section 3, subsection a, paragraph 2, subparagraph B, clause i).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would union members be better off under this? — The bill mandates prevailing wages for construction workers, benefiting unionized labor. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Improved transit and transit-oriented development are highly beneficial for urban dwellers. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Improved transit and affordable housing directly benefit low-income households. Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill supports small businesses via affordable commercial space and improved transit connectivity. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Reduced congestion and better mobility provide economic benefits to the middle class.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this improve buses, trains and other public transport? — The primary purpose of the bill is to improve public transportation and mobility. Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change? — The bill explicitly aims to reduce CO2 emissions through increased transit capacity and ridership. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill's focus on reducing vehicle miles traveled provides environmental benefits.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill specifically aims to promote affordable commercial space for small and disadvantaged businesses. Does this strengthen the rights of workers to organise? — The bill mandates Davis-Bacon prevailing wages for construction work financed by these grants. Is this likely to grow the economy? — By improving mobility and transit-oriented development, the bill seeks to enhance economic productivity. Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill supports infrastructure and transit projects that can stimulate job growth. Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — The bill encourages value capture mechanisms to create sustainable, long-term funding streams.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make housing cost less? — The bill promotes transit-oriented development that specifically includes affordable housing. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — By increasing access to affordable housing and transit, the bill can help alleviate economic burdens. Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill targets support for disadvantaged businesses through affordable commercial space. Is this likely to reduce homelessness? — The promotion of affordable housing may indirectly assist in reducing homelessness.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill increases federal oversight through grant requirements and performance benchmarks. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires public reporting on value capture examples.
- 8/3/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- Introduced in House