I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 6411 
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 
NOVEMBER 14, 2023 
Mr. MAGAZINER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Com-
mittees on Science, Space, and Technology, and Energy and Commerce, 
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case 
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction 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 2023’’ 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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