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(1) the identification of factors that contribute 
to construction delays of bridge rehabilitation; and 
(2) any recommendations the Comptroller Gen-
eral may have to simplify and expedite the construc-
tion of bridges that are to be rehabilitated. 
SEC. 5. SURFACE TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH. 
Section 502(d) of title 23, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2) in the matter preceding 
subparagraph (A) by inserting ‘‘and enhance the 
safety’’ before ‘‘of bridge structures’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (4) by striking ‘‘for use with 
existing infrastructure facilities and with next-gen-
eration infrastructure facilities’’ and inserting ‘‘for 
assessing the structural integrity of existing infra-
structure facilities and next-generation infrastruc-
ture facilities’’. 
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appro-
priated to carry out section 144 of title 23, United States 
Code, $1,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2009. 
(b) APPORTIONMENT AND USE OF FUNDS.—Funds 
appropriated pursuant to subsection (a)— 
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(1) shall be apportioned among the States 
under paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 144(e) of 
such title; 
(2) shall be used for the replacement and reha-
bilitation of structurally deficient highway bridges on 
the National Highway System; and 
(3) shall be available for obligation in the same 
manner as other funds apportioned under chapter 1 
of such title, except that such funds shall not be 
transferable and shall remain available until ex-
pended. 
(c) LIMITATION.—None of the funds appropriated 
pursuant to subsection (a) may be earmarked by Congress 
or any Federal department or agency for a specific project 
or activity. 
(d) COMPLIANCE WITH IMMIGRATION AND NATION-
ALITY ACT.—None of the funds appropriated pursuant to 
subsection (a) may be used to employ workers in violation 
of section 274A of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
(8 U.S.C. 1324a). 
SEC. 7. BRIDGE ADVANCED CONDITION ASSESSMENT PILOT 
PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall establish and implement a pilot program to 
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evaluate the effectiveness, accuracy, and reliability of the 
use of advanced condition assessment inspection processes 
and technologies (including fiber optic, vibrating wire, 
acoustical emissions, and peak strain displacement tech-
nologies) in monitoring and evaluating the structural 
health of a highway bridge. Technologies evaluated under 
the pilot program shall be real-time sensing technologies 
that record objective data to determine accurate conditions 
assessments of critical bridge elements. 
(b) GRANTS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary may make 
grants to States to conduct projects under the pilot 
program. 
(2) APPLICATIONS.—A State seeking a grant 
under the pilot program shall submit an application 
to the Secretary in such form and containing such 
information as the Secretary may require by regula-
tion. 
(c) ELIGIBILITY.— 
(1) SELECTION OF HIGHWAY BRIDGES.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—In awarding grants 
under the pilot program, the Secretary shall se-
lect not more than 15 highway bridges in not 
more than 5 States for participation in the pro-
gram. 
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(B) BRIDGE
REQUIREMENTS.—The Sec-
retary may select a highway bridge under sub-
paragraph (A) only if the bridge is— 
(i) as of the date of enactment of this 
Act, classified as structurally deficient 
under section 144 of title 23, United 
States Code; 
(ii) a nonredundant, fracture critical 
structure; and 
(iii) greater than 200 feet in length. 
(2) SELECTION AND USE OF TECHNOLOGIES.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall se-
lect no fewer than 2 types of real-time, in-serv-
ice, sensor-based, commercially-available, ad-
vanced-condition assessment technologies to be 
used in the pilot program. 
(B) DURATION OF REAL-TIME DATA COL-
LECTION.—The duration of real-time data col-
lection from each highway bridge selected for 
participation in the pilot program shall be not 
less than 1 year. 
(C) USE OF CALIBRATED FINITE ELEMENT 
ANALYSIS
MODEL.—At least one-half of the 
highway bridges selected for participation in the 
pilot program shall also be evaluated using a 
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calibrated finite element analysis model of the 
bridge, based upon data from the advanced con-
dition assessment technologies. 
(d) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share payable on 
account of a project carried out under the pilot program 
shall be 80 percent of the cost of the project. 
(e) DURATION OF THE PILOT PROGRAM.—The Sec-
retary shall carry out the pilot program for a period of 
2 fiscal years. 
(f) FINAL REPORT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months 
after the last day of the pilot program, the Secretary 
shall submit to the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Environment and Public 
Works of the Senate a report that describes the ef-
fectiveness and benefits of the pilot program carried 
out under this section. 
(2) CONTENTS.—The report shall describe, at a 
minimum–– 
(A) the cost effectiveness of the tech-
nologies and processes selected; 
(B) the objectivity, reliability, and accuracy 
of the technologies and processes employed in 
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