I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2197 
To encourage the research and use of innovative materials and associated 
techniques in the construction and preservation of the domestic transpor-
tation and water infrastructure system, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 26, 2021 
Mr. CICILLINE (for himself, Mr. LARSEN of Washington, and Mr. RODNEY 
DAVIS of Illinois) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the 
Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, and Energy and Com-
merce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To encourage the research and use of innovative materials 
and associated techniques in the construction and preser-
vation of the domestic transportation and water infra-
structure system, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Innovative Materials 
for America’s Growth and Infrastructure Newly Expanded 
Act of 2021’’ or the ‘‘IMAGINE Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. PURPOSES. 
The purposes of this Act are— 
(1) to encourage the research and use of inno-
vative materials, in concert with traditional mate-
rials, and associated techniques in the construction 
and preservation of the domestic infrastructure net-
work; 
(2) to accelerate the deployment and extend the 
service life, improve the performance, and reduce the 
cost of infrastructure projects; and 
(3) to improve the economy, resilience, main-
tainability, sustainability, and safety of the domestic 
infrastructure network. 
SEC. 3. INTERAGENCY INNOVATIVE MATERIALS STAND-
ARDS TASK FORCE. 
(a) DEFINITION OF INNOVATIVE MATERIAL.—In this 
section, the term ‘‘innovative material’’, with respect to 
an infrastructure project, includes a material, or a com-
bination or process for use of materials, that, as deter-
mined by the appropriate Secretary or agency head— 
(1) enhances the overall service life, sustain-
ability, and resiliency of the project; or 
(2) provides ancillary benefits relative to widely 
adopted state of practice technologies. 
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this section are— 
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(1) to encourage the research, design, and use 
of innovative materials, in concert with traditional 
materials, and associated techniques in the construc-
tion and preservation of the domestic infrastructure 
network; 
(2) to accelerate the deployment, extend the 
service life, improve the performance, and reduce the 
cost of infrastructure projects; and 
(3) to improve the economy, resilience, main-
tainability, sustainability, and safety of the domestic 
infrastructure network. 
(c) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director 
of the National Institute of Standards and Tech-
nology shall establish an Interagency Innovative Ma-
terials Standards Task Force (referred to in this 
section as the ‘‘Task Force’’) composed of the heads 
of Federal agencies responsible for significant civil 
infrastructure projects, including the Administrator 
of the Federal Highway Administration. 
(2) CHAIRPERSON.—The Director of the Na-
tional Institute of Standards and Technology shall 
serve as Chairperson of the Task Force. 
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(d) DUTIES.—The Task Force shall coordinate and 
improve, with respect to infrastructure construction, retro-
fitting, rehabilitation, and other improvements— 
(1) Federal testing standards; 
(2) Federal design and use guidelines; 
(3) Federal regulations; and 
(4) other applicable standards and performance 
and sustainability metrics. 
(e) REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Task 
Force shall conduct, and submit to the appropriate 
committees of Congress a report that describes the 
results of, a study— 
(A) to assess the standards and perform-
ance metrics for the use of innovative materials 
in infrastructure projects; 
(B) to identify any barriers, regulatory or 
otherwise, relating to the standards described in 
subparagraph (A) that preclude the use of cer-
tain products or associated techniques; and 
(C) to identify opportunities for the devel-
opment of standardized designs and materials 
genome approaches that design and use innova-
tive materials to reduce costs, improve perform-
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ance and sustainability, and extend the service 
life of infrastructure assets. 
(2) REPORT.—The report under paragraph (1) 
shall— 
(A) identify any non-Federal entities or 
other organizations, including the American As-
sociation of State Highway and Transportation 
Officials, that develop relevant standards; and 
(B) outline a strategy to improve coordina-
tion and information sharing between the enti-
ties described in subparagraph (A) and any rel-
evant Federal agencies. 
(f) IMPROVED COORDINATION.—Not later than 2 
years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Task 
Force shall collaborate with any non-Federal entity identi-
fied under subsection (e)(2)(A)— 
(1) to identify and carry out appropriate re-
search, testing methods, and processes relating to 
the development and use of innovative materials; 
(2) to develop new methods and processes relat-
ing to the development and use of innovative mate-
rials, as the applicable agency head determines to be 
necessary; 
(3) to contribute to the development of stand-
ards, performance metrics, and guidelines for the 
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use of innovative materials and approaches in civil 
infrastructure projects; 
(4) to develop a plan for addressing potential 
barriers, regulatory or otherwise, identified in sub-
section (e)(1)(B); and 
(5) to develop a plan for the development of 
standardized designs that use innovative materials to 
reduce costs, improve performance and sustain-
ability, and extend the service life of infrastructure 
assets. 
SEC. 4. INNOVATIVE MATERIAL INNOVATION HUBS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) HUB.—The term ‘‘Hub’’ means an Innova-
tive Material Innovation Hub established under this 
section. 
(2) INNOVATIVE MATERIAL.—The term ‘‘inno-
vative material’’, with respect to an infrastructure 
project, includes a material, or a combination or 
process for use of materials, that, as determined by 
the Secretary— 
(A) enhances the overall service life, sus-
tainability, and resiliency of the project; or 
(B) provides ancillary benefits relative to 
widely adopted state of practice technologies. 
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(3) QUALIFYING
ENTITY.—The term ‘‘quali-
fying entity’’ means— 
(A) an institution of higher education (as 
defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))); 
(B) an appropriate Federal or State entity, 
including a federally-funded research and devel-
opment center of the Department of Transpor-
tation; 
(C) a university transportation center 
under section 5505 of title 49, United States 
Code; and 
(D) a research and development entity in 
existence on the date of enactment of this Act 
focused on innovative materials that the Sec-
retary determines to be similar in scope and in-
tent to a Hub. 
(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Transportation. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry 
out a program to enhance the development of inno-
vative materials in the United States by making 
awards to consortia for establishing and operating 
Innovative Material Innovation Hubs to conduct and 
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support multidisciplinary, collaborative research, de-
velopment, demonstration, standardized design de-
velopment, and commercial application of innovative 
materials. 
(2) COORDINATION.—The Secretary shall en-
sure the coordination of, and avoid duplication of, 
the activities of each Hub with the activities of— 
(A) other research entities of the Depart-
ment of Transportation, including the Federal 
Highway Administration; and 
(B) research entities of other Federal 
agencies, as appropriate. 
(c) COMPETITIVE SELECTION PROCESS.— 
(1) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive an 
award for the establishment and operation of a Hub 
under subsection (b)(1), a consortium shall— 
(A) be composed of not fewer than 2 quali-
fying entities; 
(B) operate subject to a binding agree-
ment, entered into by each member of the con-
sortium, that documents— 
(i) the proposed partnership agree-
ment, including the governance and man-
agement structure of the Hub; 
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(ii) measures the consortium will un-
dertake to enable cost-effective implemen-
tation of activities under the program de-
scribed in subsection (b)(1); and 
(iii) a proposed budget, including fi-
nancial contributions from non-Federal 
sources; and 
(C) operate as a nonprofit organization. 
(2) APPLICATION.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—A consortium seeking 
to establish and operate a Hub under sub-
section (b)(1) shall submit to the Secretary an 
application at such time, in such manner, and 
containing such information as the Secretary 
may require, including a detailed description 
of— 
(i) each element of the consortium 
agreement 
required 
under 
paragraph 
(1)(B); and 
(ii) any existing facilities the consor-
tium intends to use for Hub activities. 
(B) REQUIREMENT.—If the consortium 
members will not be located at 1 centralized lo-
cation, the application under subparagraph (A) 
shall include a communications plan that en-
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sures close coordination and integration of Hub 
activities. 
(3) SELECTION.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall se-
lect consortia for awards for the establishment 
and operation of Hubs through a competitive 
selection process. 
(B) CONSIDERATIONS.—In selecting con-
sortia under subparagraph (A), the Secretary 
shall consider— 
(i) any existing facilities a consortium 
has identified to be used for Hub activities; 
(ii) maintaining geographic diversity 
in locations of selected Hubs; 
(iii) the demonstrated ability of the 
recipient to conduct and support multi-
disciplinary, collaborative research, devel-
opment, demonstration, standardized de-
sign development, and commercial applica-
tion of innovative materials; 
(iv) the demonstrated research, tech-
nology transfer, and education resources 
available to the recipient to carry out this 
section; 
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(v) the ability of the recipient to pro-
vide leadership in solving immediate and 
long-range national and regional transpor-
tation problems related to innovative mate-
rials; 
(vi) the demonstrated ability of the re-
cipient to disseminate results and spur the 
implementation of transportation research 
and education programs through national 
or statewide continuing education pro-
grams; 
(vii) the demonstrated commitment of 
the recipient to the use of peer review prin-
ciples and other research best practices in 
the selection, management, and dissemina-
tion of research projects; 
(viii) the performance metrics to be 
used in assessing the performance of the 
recipient in meeting the stated research, 
technology transfer, education, and out-
reach goals; and 
(ix) the ability of the recipient to im-
plement the proposed program in a cost-ef-
ficient manner, including through cost 
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sharing and overall reduced overhead, fa-
cilities, and administrative costs. 
(4) TRANSPARENCY.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
provide to each applicant, on request, any mate-
rials, including copies of reviews (with any in-
formation that would identify a reviewer re-
dacted), used in the evaluation process of the 
proposal of the applicant. 
(B) REPORTS.—The Secretary shall sub-
mit 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 the describes the 
overall review process under paragraph (2), 
given the considerations under paragraph 
(3)(B), that includes— 
(i) specific criteria of evaluation used 
in the review; 
(ii) descriptions of the review process; 
and 
(iii) explanations of the selected 
awards. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section such sums as 
are necessary. 
(2) AVAILABILITY.—Amounts made available to 
carry out this section shall remain available for a pe-
riod of 3 years after the last day of the fiscal year 
in which the amounts were made available. 
(e) HUB OPERATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Each Hub shall conduct, or 
provide for, multidisciplinary, collaborative research, 
development, demonstration, and commercial appli-
cation of innovative materials. 
(2) ACTIVITIES.—Each Hub shall— 
(A) encourage collaboration and commu-
nication among the member qualifying entities 
of the consortium, as described in subsection 
(c)(1), and awardees; 
(B) develop and publish proposed plans 
and programs on a publicly accessible website; 
(C) submit to the Department of Trans-
portation an annual report summarizing the ac-
tivities of the Hub, including information— 
(i) detailing organizational expendi-
tures; and 
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(ii) describing each project under-
taken by the Hub, as it relates to con-
ducting and supporting multidisciplinary, 
collaborative research, development, dem-
onstration, standardized design develop-
ment, and commercial application of inno-
vative materials; and 
(D) monitor project implementation and 
coordination. 
(3) CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.—Each Hub shall 
maintain conflict of interest procedures, consistent 
with the conflict of interest procedures of the De-
partment of Transportation. 
(4) PROHIBITION ON CONSTRUCTION AND REN-
OVATION.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—No funds provided 
under this section may be used for construction 
or renovation of new buildings, test beds, or ad-
ditional facilities for Hubs. 
(B) NON-FEDERAL SHARE.—Construction 
of new buildings or facilities shall not be consid-
ered as part of the non-Federal share of a Hub 
cost-sharing agreement. 
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(f) APPLICABILITY.—The Secretary shall administer 
this section in accordance with section 330 of title 49, 
United States Code. 
SEC. 5. TURNER-FAIRBANK HIGHWAY RESEARCH CENTER. 
Section 503(b)(7) of title 23, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(C) INNOVATIVE MATERIALS.— 
‘‘(i) DEFINITION OF INNOVATIVE MA-
TERIAL.—In this subparagraph, the term 
‘innovative material’, with respect to an in-
frastructure project, includes high perform-
ance asphalt mixtures and concrete formu-
lations, geosynthetic materials, advanced 
insulating materials, advanced alloys and 
metals, reinforced polymer composites, ad-
vanced polymers, nanocellulose and wood- 
based composites, coatings, highly func-
tional adhesives, or other corrosion preven-
tion methods used in conjunction with 
those materials, and any other material or 
aggregate materials, as determined by the 
appropriate agency or department head. 
‘‘(ii) COLLABORATION
WITH
STATES 
AND TRIBES.—The Secretary shall expand 
the capacity of the Turner-Fairbank High-
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way Research Center to collaborate with 
relevant State and Tribal agencies— 
‘‘(I) with respect to the use of in-
novative materials in construction 
projects carried out by the State and 
Tribal agencies; and 
‘‘(II) to understand and iden-
tify— 
‘‘(aa) the needs of the State 
and Tribal agencies; and 
‘‘(bb) innovative materials 
that may be further researched, 
developed, and used to meet 
those needs. 
‘‘(iii) ACTIVITIES.—The collaboration 
described in clause (ii) may include— 
‘‘(I) the development of new 
training for State and Tribal agencies; 
and 
‘‘(II) the expansion of technical 
training that involves State or Tribal 
departments of transportation in the 
development of new construction de-
signs for innovative materials at the 
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Turner-Fairbank Highway Research 
Center. 
‘‘(iv) PRIORITY RESEARCH.—The Tur-
ner-Fairbank Highway Research Center 
shall prioritize research relating to— 
‘‘(I) the use of innovative mate-
rials in— 
‘‘(aa) bridges with a span 
equal to or greater than 50 feet; 
‘‘(bb) highway reconstruc-
tion and rehabilitation; and 
‘‘(cc) rural road infrastruc-
ture; 
‘‘(II) the development of stand-
ardized designs using innovative mate-
rials; and 
‘‘(III) coastal resiliency. 
‘‘(v) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIA-
TIONS.—There is authorized to be appro-
priated to carry out this subparagraph 
$8,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 
through 2026.’’. 
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