June 17, 2025
Mr. Durbin introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
To establish, within the United States Agency for International Development, a program to promote mobility in rural communities through access to affordable, fit-for-purpose bicycles, to provide support to sustainably increase access to critical services in rural areas, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Bicycles for Rural African Transport Act
.
Sec. 2. Rural mobility program in sub-Saharan Africa
(a) Establishment
(1) In general
The Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (referred to in this Act as USAID
) shall establish a rural mobility program (referred to in this section as the Program
) to carry out the purposes described in paragraph (2), including through grants made to eligible nongovernmental partner organizations. In carrying out the program, the Administrator shall prioritize organizations with demonstrated success conducting rural mobility programs in the region.
(2) Purpose
The Program shall focus on country-driven projects within sub-Saharan Africa—
(A)
to promote rural communities’ access to critical services and opportunities, including education, health care, and livelihood opportunities, through access to affordable, fit-for-purpose bicycles; and
(B)
to provide support to sustainably increase access to critical services, such as education, health care, and livelihood opportunities in rural areas, including through support for rural-based mechanics, access to spare parts, reduction of social and gender-based stigma, and community project management capacity.
(3) Partnerships
To the greatest extent practicable, the Program shall partner with existing entities overseas that have successful models for providing access to affordable bicycles to achieve development objectives.
(4) Authorization of appropriations
To carry out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated—
(A)
$3,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;
(B)
$3,000,000 for fiscal year 2027;
(C)
$6,000,000 for fiscal year 2028;
(D)
$6,000,000 for fiscal year 2029; and
(E)
$6,000,000 for fiscal year 2030 and for each fiscal year thereafter.
(b) Reports
(1) Prior projects
(A) In general
Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of USAID shall submit a report to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives regarding projects carried out by USAID during each of the fiscal years 2022 through 2025 relating to the purposes described in subsection (a)(2).
(B) Contents
The report required under subparagraph (A) shall—
(i)
identify the countries in which USAID embedded rural bicycle mobility into its strategies, programs, and projects;
(ii)
describe the mechanisms by which rural bicycle mobility was so embedded;
(iii)
specify the number of bicycles distributed each fiscal year;
(iv)
assess the outcomes for, and the impacts on, participants in such projects; and
(v)
assess USAID’s efforts to disseminate lessons learned from such projects.
(2) Current projects
Not later than December 30, 2026, and annually thereafter, the Administrator of USAID shall submit a report to the congressional committees listed in paragraph (1)(A) regarding projects carried out by USAID during the fiscal year immediately preceding the submission of such report. Each such report shall include information relating to the matters described in clauses (i) through (v) of paragraph (1)(B).