WORK ZONE SAFETY GRANTS.

SEC. 1409. WORK ZONE SAFETY GRANTS.(a) In General.—The Secretary shall establish and implement a work zone safety grant program under which the Secretary may make grants to nonprofit organizations and not-for-profit organizations to provide training to prevent or reduce highway work zone injuries and fatalities.(b) Eligible Activities.—Grants may be made under the program for the following purposes:(1) Training for construction craft workers on the prevention of injuries and fatalities in highway and road construction.(2) Development of guidelines for the prevention of highway work zone injuries and fatalities.(3) Training for State and local government transportation agencies and other groups implementing guidelines for the prevention of highway work zone injuries and fatalities.(c) Funding.—(1) In general.—There is authorized to be appropriated from the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account) to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2009.(2) Contract authority.—Funds authorized by this subsection shall be available for obligation in the same manner as if the funds were apportioned under chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code; except that such funds shall not be transferable.(d) Construction Work in Alaska.—Section 114 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end of the following:“(c) Construction Work in Alaska.—“(1) In general.—The Secretary shall ensure that a worker who is employed on a remote project for the construction of a highway or portion of a highway located on a Federal-aid system in the State of Alaska and who is not a domiciled resident of the locality shall receive meals and lodging.119 STAT. 1233“(2) Lodging.—The lodging under paragraph (1) shall be in accordance with section 1910.142 of title 29, Code of Federal Regulations (relating to temporary labor camp requirements).“(3) Per diem.—“(A) In general.—Contractors are encouraged to use commercial facilities and lodges on remote projects, however, when such facilities are not available, per diem in lieu of room and lodging may be paid on remote Federal highway projects at a basic rate of $75.00 per day or part of a day the worker is employed on the project. Where the contractor provides or furnishes room and lodging or pays a per diem, the cost of the amount shall not be considered a part of wages and shall be excluded from the calculation of wages.“(B) Secretary of labor.—Such per diem rate shall be adopted by the Secretary of Labor for all applicable remote Federal highway projects in Alaska.“(C) Exception.—Per diem shall not be allowed on any of the following remote projects for the construction of a highway or portion of a highway located on a Federal-aid system:“(i) West of Livengood on the Elliot Highway.“(ii) Mile 0 on the Dalton Highway to the North Slope of Alaska; north of Mile 20 on the Taylor Highway.“(iii) East of Chicken on the Top of the World Highway and south of Tetlin Junction to the Alaska Canadian border.“(4) Definitions.—In this subsection, the following definitions apply:“(A) Remote.—The term ‘remote’, as used with respect to a project, means that the project is 65 road miles or more from the international airport in Fairbanks, Anchorage, or Juneau, Alaska, as the case may be, or is inaccessible by road in a 2-wheel drive vehicle.“(B) Resident.—The term ‘resident’, as used with respect to a project, means a person living within 65 road miles of the midpoint of the project for at least 12 consecutive months prior to the award of the project.”.