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providing condition assessments of the highway 
bridge; 
(C) the quality of the data collected and 
measured; and 
(D) any recommendations for improving or 
expanding the pilot program or the use of 
structural health monitoring technologies or 
processes, including a suggested plan for wider 
adoption based on potential highway bridge re-
pair and replacement savings by the Federal 
Government and State governments. 
(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$5,000,000. 
(h) AVAILABILITY OF AMOUNTS.—Amounts appro-
priated to carry out this section shall be available for obli-
gation in the same manner as funds apportioned under 
chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code, except that such 
funds shall not be transferable and shall remain available 
until expended. 
SEC. 8. EFFECTIVENESS OF BRIDGE RATING SYSTEM. 
(a) STUDY.—The Comptroller General shall conduct 
a study of the effectiveness of the bridge rating system 
of the Federal Highway Administration, including the use 
of the terms ‘‘structurally deficient’’ and ‘‘functionally ob-
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solete’’ to describe the condition of highway bridges in the 
United States. 
(b) EVALUATION
OF STATE SYSTEMS.—In con-
ducting the study, the Comptroller General shall evaluate 
bridge rating systems used by State departments of trans-
portation and provide recommendations on how successful 
aspects of such bridge rating systems may be incorporated 
into the bridge rating system of the Federal Highway Ad-
ministration. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than February 1, 2009, the 
Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on the Environment and 
Public Works of the Senate a report on the results of the 
study. 
SEC. 9. USE OF CARBON FIBER COMPOSITE MATERIALS IN 
BRIDGE REPLACEMENT AND REHABILITA-
TION PROJECTS. 
(a) STUDY.—The Secretary of Transportation shall 
conduct a study of the cost benefits of using carbon fiber 
composite materials in bridge replacement and rehabilita-
tion projects instead of traditional construction materials. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall transmit to 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
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the House of Representatives and the Committee on Envi-
ronment and Public Works of the Senate a report on the 
results of the study conducted under this section. 
SEC. 10. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that each State should 
prepare a corrosion mitigation and prevention plan, for a 
project for construction, replacement, or rehabilitation of 
a bridge, that includes the following: 
(1) An estimate of the expected useful life of 
the bridge. 
(2) An estimate of environmental exposure of 
the bridge, including marine, deicer application, in-
dustrial, rural, rainfall, temperature, freeze-thaw, 
and other factors that influence corrosion prevention 
and corrosion mitigation strategies. 
(3) An identification of the functional classifica-
tion of the bridge. 
(4) Details of corrosion mitigation and preven-
tion methods that will be used with respect to the 
bridge, taking into account— 
(A) material selection; 
(B) coating considerations; 
(C) cathodic protection considerations; 
(D) design considerations for corrosion; 
and 
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(E) concrete requirements. 
(5) Details of a project maintenance program 
for the life of the bridge. 
(6) A certification that the plan was developed 
by the State or States and approved by a corrosion 
expert. 
(7) A certification that each individual con-
ducting inspections of Federal-aid highway bridges 
in the State or States receives training from a corro-
sion expert. 
SEC. 11. FLOOD RISKS TO BRIDGES. 
(a) STUDY.—The Secretary of Transportation, in 
consultation with the States, shall conduct a study of the 
risks posed by floods to bridges on Federal-aid highways, 
bridges on other public roads, bridges on Indian reserva-
tions, and park bridges that are located in a 500-year 
floodplain. 
(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—In conducting the study, the 
Secretary shall give consideration to safety, serviceability, 
essentiality for public use, and public safety, including the 
potential impacts to regional and national freight and pas-
senger mobility if the serviceability of a bridge is restricted 
or diminished. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to 
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the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Envi-
ronment and Public Works of the Senate a report on the 
results of the study. 
SEC. 12. NATIONAL TUNNEL INSPECTION PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title 23, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 149 the following: 
‘‘§ 150. National tunnel inspection program 
‘‘(a) NATIONAL TUNNEL INSPECTION STANDARDS.— 
The Secretary, in consultation with State transportation 
departments and interested and knowledgeable private or-
ganizations and individuals, shall establish national tunnel 
inspection standards for the proper safety inspection and 
evaluation of all highway tunnels. The standards estab-
lished under this subsection shall be designed to ensure 
uniformity among the States in the conduct of such in-
spections and evaluations. 
‘‘(b) MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
FOR INSPECTION 
STANDARDS.—The standards established under sub-
section (a) shall, at a minimum— 
‘‘(1) specify, in detail, the method by which 
highway tunnel inspections shall be carried out by 
the States; 
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