Community Infrastructure Repair and Accountability Act

This Act establishes a competitive federal grant program, administered by the Secretary of Transportation in coordination with the Environmental Protection Agency, to support the repair and rehabilitation of aging roads, bridges, drinking-water and wastewater systems, and public transit in economically distressed communities. Priority shall be given to projects demonstrating clear safety and reliability benefits, regional need, and limited access to existing infrastructure funds. Grant recipients must adopt labor standards consistent with federal law, make good-faith efforts to hire locally—including veterans, apprentices, and workers from disadvantaged communities—and publish project costs, timelines, contractors, and progress reports. Funds may not be used for unrelated administrative expenses, and recipients that materially misuse funds or fail to meet reporting requirements may be required to repay them.