Mark DeSaulnier will maintain and improve the SMART Discretionary Grant Program.

Mark DeSaulnier · California · Democratic

policy impact 3.00 specificity 1.00 extraction confidence 97%

Occurrences

Maintaining and improving the Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Discretionary Grant Program

The press release says DeSaulnier authored a provision to maintain and improve the SMART Discretionary Grant Program.

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Passes 8 DeSaulnier-Authored Provisions to Reduce Traffic Congestion, Improve Commutes, and Protect Environment | Congressman Mark Desaulnier
primary · press_release · model gpt-5.4-mini

Evidence

One of the eight provisions passed by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee was “Maintaining and improving the Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Discretionary Grant Program,” described as a program Congressman DeSaulnier was initially responsible for creating.

Strong recent evidence of concrete legislative action in the same term to maintain and improve the SMART Discretionary Grant Program. This is an effort-oriented step, not final enactment.

partial same_term A for effort

USDOT states that the SMART program was established under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, that no new notices of funding will be issued after H.R. 7148 reallocated unobligated balances from the program, and that existing SMART grant agreements will continue to be honored.

Official agency evidence that the program continues to exist for existing awards but was materially reduced for new funding in FY2026 appropriations, indicating the program was not fully maintained or improved and is at least partially curtailed.

partial same_term

SMART Grants Program | US Department of Transportation
secondary · model gpt-5.4-mini · confidence 90%

DeSaulnier's office said the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passed eight DeSaulnier-authored provisions, including one for maintaining and improving the Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Discretionary Grant Program, described as a program he helped create.

This remains the strongest candidate-specific same-term effort evidence: committee passage of a DeSaulnier-authored SMART maintenance/improvement provision, but not final enactment.

partial same_term A for effort

USDOT says IIJA established SMART with $100 million appropriated annually for FY2022-FY2026, but H.R. 7148 reallocated $204,912,000 in unobligated SMART balances; no new funding notices will be issued, while existing SMART grant agreements, including 122 Stage 1 and seven Stage 2 grants, will continue to be honored.

Official current program status shows partial preservation of existing agreements but a major curtailment of future SMART funding opportunities, undercutting full delivery.

partial same_term

SMART Grants Program | US Department of Transportation
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 96%

The enacted bill text provides that $204,912,000 shall be derived by transfer from unobligated balances previously appropriated for FY2022-FY2026 under the Office of the Secretary--Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation Grant Program.

The statutory text confirms the funding reallocation from SMART balances, which is concrete evidence the program was not fully maintained or improved.

partial same_term

Text - H.R.7148 - 119th Congress (2025-2026): Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 95%

The House vote on concurring in the Senate amendments to H.R. 7148 passed 217-214; Mark DeSaulnier voted Nay.

DeSaulnier opposed final passage of the appropriations act that reallocated SMART balances, supporting an effort badge even though the blocking effort failed.

partial same_term A for effort

Roll Call 53 | Bill Number: H.R.7148 | Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 93%

USDOT announced approval of 180 infrastructure grants totaling more than $3.2 billion, including 27 Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) projects totaling $90.6 million.

This shows some SMART grants continued to be approved and implemented after the promise period began, but it does not show new or improved statutory authority and is outweighed by later curtailment of new NOFOs.

partial same_term

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Approves Another 180 Grants to Get America Building Again
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 86%

Assessments

partial same_term A for effort

DeSaulnier materially advanced the promise during the same federal term by authoring a provision that passed the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to maintain and improve the SMART Discretionary Grant Program, and he opposed H.R. 7148, which reallocated unobligated SMART funds. However, the promised outcome was not fully delivered: enacted appropriations reallocated about $204.9 million from SMART balances, USDOT said no new SMART funding notices would be issued, and only existing grant agreements continued to be honored. That supports partial credit for preservation and serious effort, not full delivery.

provider codex_cli · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 93%

partial same_term A for effort

DeSaulnier appears to have taken meaningful same-term legislative action to protect and enhance the SMART Discretionary Grant Program, including committee passage of provisions specifically described as maintaining and improving the program and tied to a program he helped create. However, the available evidence does not show final enactment of those improvements, and official USDOT information indicates the program was not fully maintained because new funding opportunities were halted after unobligated balances were reallocated, even though existing grant agreements continue. That supports credit for substantial effort and some preservation, but not full delivery of the promise to maintain and improve the program.

provider openai · model gpt-5.4 · confidence 89%