49 U.S.C. § 31110 — Authorization of appropriations

(a) Administrative Expenses. Congress authorizes amounts from the Highway Trust Fund, other than the Mass Transit Account, for the Secretary to pay the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s administrative expenses: $360,000,000 for fiscal year 2022; $367,500,000 for 2023; $375,000,000 for 2024; $382,500,000 for 2025; and $390,000,000 for 2026.

(b) Use of Funds. The authorized funds shall be used for personnel costs; administrative infrastructure; rent; information technology; research and technology, information management, regulatory development, and administration of the performance and registration information system under section 31106(b); outreach and education under subsection (c); other operating expenses; safety reviews of new operators; and other expenses needed from time to time to carry out the Administration’s statutory mandates that are not funded from other sources.

(c) Outreach and Education Program. The Secretary may conduct an internal and external outreach and education program through grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, and other activities, administered by the Administrator. In addition to other available funds, the program may support recognizing, preventing, and reporting human trafficking while deferring to existing resources when practicable. The Federal share may be up to 100 percent of a project’s cost. The Secretary shall make no more than $4,000,000 available each fiscal year from subsection (a) amounts for this subsection.

(d) Contract Authority; Initial Date of Availability. The authorized amounts are available for obligation on the date apportioned or allocated, or October 1 of the authorized fiscal year, whichever comes first.

(e) Funding Availability. The amounts remain available until expended.

(f) Contractual Obligation. The Secretary’s approval of funds is a contractual obligation of the Federal Government to pay the Federal Government’s share of costs.