I 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6653 
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 
AUGUST 3, 2018 
Ms. ESTY of Connecticut (for herself, Mrs. COMSTOCK, and Mr. CICILLINE) 
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 Commerce, for a period 
to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consider-
ation 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 2018’’ 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. DEFINITION OF INNOVATIVE MATERIAL. 
In this Act, the term ‘‘innovative material’’, with re-
spect to an infrastructure project, includes high perform-
ance asphalt mixtures and concrete formulations, geosyn-
thetic materials, advanced alloys and metals, reinforced 
polymer composites, including any coating or other corro-
sion prevention method used in conjunction with those ma-
terials, advanced polymers, and any other material or ag-
gregate materials, as determined by the appropriate agen-
cy or department head. 
SEC. 4. INTERAGENCY INNOVATIVE MATERIALS STAND-
ARDS TASK FORCE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
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(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— 
(A) the Administrator of the Federal High-
way Administration; 
(B) the Commanding General and Chief of 
Engineers of the Corps of Engineers; 
(C) the Assistant Secretary of the Army 
for Civil Works; and 
(D) the Administrator of the Environ-
mental Protection Agency. 
(2) CHAIRPERSON.—The Director of the Na-
tional Institute of Standards and Technology shall 
serve as Chairperson of the Task Force. 
(b) PURPOSE.—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; and 
(3) other applicable standards. 
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(c) 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 for the use of 
innovative materials in infrastructure projects; 
and 
(B) to identify any barriers relating to the 
standards described in subparagraph (A) that 
preclude the use of certain products or associ-
ated techniques. 
(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. 
(d) IMPROVED COORDINATION.—Not later than 2 
years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Task 
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Force shall collaborate with any non-Federal entity identi-
fied under subsection (c)(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; and 
(3) to contribute to the development of stand-
ards and guidelines for the use of innovative mate-
rials and approaches in civil infrastructure projects. 
SEC. 5. 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) 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-
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opment center of the Department of Transpor-
tation; 
(C) a university transportation center 
under section 5505 of title 49, United States 
Code; 
(D) an Innovative Material Innovation 
Hub in existence on the date of enactment of 
this Act; and 
(E) any other relevant entity the Secretary 
determines to be appropriate. 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Transportation. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF PROGRAM.— 
(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 
new Hubs, to be known as ‘‘Innovative Material In-
novation Hubs’’, to conduct and support multidisci-
plinary, collaborative research, development, dem-
onstration, and commercial application of innovative 
materials. 
(2) LOCATION OF HUBS.—To the extent prac-
ticable, each Hub shall be located at 1 centralized lo-
cation. 
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(3) TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT FOCUS.—The 
Secretary shall designate for each new Hub a unique 
innovative material focus, such as material develop-
ment, infrastructure applications, and other focus 
areas identified by the Secretary. 
(4) COORDINATION.—The Secretary shall en-
sure the coordination of, and avoid unnecessary du-
plication of, the activities of each Hub with the ac-
tivities of— 
(A) other research entities of the Depart-
ment of Transportation, including the Federal 
Highway Administration; 
(B) the National Laboratories (as defined 
in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 
(42 U.S.C. 15801)); 
(C) the Corps of Engineers; 
(D) the Environmental Protection Agency; 
(E) the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency; 
(F) the National Institute of Standards 
and Technology; 
(G) the Department of Defense; 
(H) an industry consortium meeting the 
requirements under subsection (c)(1); and 
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(I) any other Federal agencies or industry 
consortia conducting substantially similar work. 
(c) APPLICATION 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; 
(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-
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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 provide 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-
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— 
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(i) the information disclosed by the 
consortium under this subsection; 
(ii) any existing facilities a consortium 
will provide for Hub activities; and 
(iii) maintaining regional variety in lo-
cations of selected Hubs. 
(d) TERM.—An award made to a Hub under this sec-
tion shall be for a period of not more than 5 years, subject 
to the availability of appropriations, after which the award 
may be renewed, subject to a rigorous merit review. 
(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 within the technology 
development focus designated under subsection 
(b)(3). 
(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; 
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(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 
(ii) describing each project under-
taken by the Hub; 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.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B)— 
(i) no funds provided under this sec-
tion may be used for construction of new 
buildings or facilities for Hubs; and 
(ii) construction of new buildings or 
facilities shall not be considered as part of 
the non-Federal share of a Hub cost-shar-
ing agreement. 
(B) TEST BED AND RENOVATION EXCEP-
TION.—Nothing in this paragraph prohibits the 
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use of funds provided under this section or non- 
Federal cost share funds for the construction of 
a test bed or renovations to existing buildings 
or facilities for the purposes of research if the 
Secretary determines that the test bed or ren-
ovations are limited to a scope and scale nec-
essary for the research to be conducted. 
SEC. 6. 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’ includes high per-
formance asphalt mixtures and concrete 
formulations, geosynthetic materials, ad-
vanced alloys and metals, reinforced poly-
mer composites, including any coating or 
other corrosion prevention method used in 
conjunction with those materials, advanced 
polymers, and any other material, as deter-
mined by the appropriate agency or de-
partment head. 
‘‘(ii) COLLABORATION
WITH
STATES 
AND TRIBES.—The Secretary shall expand 
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the capacity of the Turner-Fairbank High-
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; and 
‘‘(II) coastal resiliency. 
‘‘(v) 
FUNDING.—Of 
the 
amounts 
made available to carry out this paragraph, 
the Secretary shall set aside $8,000,000 to 
carry out this subparagraph. 
‘‘(D) 
AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIA-
TIONS.—There is authorized to be appropriated 
to carry out this paragraph for each of fiscal 
years 2019 through 2023 an amount equal to 
the sum of— 
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‘‘(i) the amount appropriated to carry 
out this paragraph for fiscal year 2018; 
and 
‘‘(ii) $8,000,000.’’. 
SEC. 7. INNOVATIVE BRIDGE PROGRAM. 
(a) DEFINITION OF ADMINISTRATOR.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘Administrator’’ means the Administrator 
of the Federal Highway Administration. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Administrator shall es-
tablish a grant program, to be known as the ‘‘Innovative 
Bridge Program’’, to provide grants to State departments 
of transportation, Tribal governments, or units of local 
government for coastal and rural infrastructure bridge 
projects. 
(c) APPLICATIONS.—To be eligible to receive a grant 
under subsection (b), a State department of transpor-
tation or unit of Tribal or local government shall submit 
to the Administrator an application at such time, in such 
manner, and containing such information as the Adminis-
trator may require. 
(d) ELIGIBLE PROJECTS.—To be eligible to receive 
a grant under subsection (b) or (g), a coastal or rural in-
frastructure bridge project or a value engineering project 
shall— 
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(1) be for the purpose of construction, preserva-
tion, rehabilitation, or reconstruction of a bridge 
with a span equal to or greater than 50 feet; 
(2) be carried out in a manner so as to reduce 
traffic impact; 
(3) use innovative materials that— 
(A) are resistant to corrosion; and 
(B) extend the service life of the bridge; 
and 
(4) reduce preservation costs, as compared to 
conventionally designed and constructed bridges. 
(e) PREFERENCES.—In providing grants under this 
section, the Administrator shall give preference to pro-
posed projects that— 
(1) use materials that are domestically pro-
duced and sourced; 
(2) use nontraditional production techniques, 
such as factory prefabrication; and 
(3) retrofit a bridge. 
(f) SPECIAL CONSIDERATION FOR AT-RISK AREAS.— 
In providing grants under this section, the Administrator 
shall give special consideration to projects located in rural 
areas or areas prone to coastal or inland flooding due to 
severe storms (such as hurricanes or rain bursts), storm 
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surges, or projected sea level rise during the projected life-
time of the project. 
(g) VALUE ENGINEERING USING INNOVATIVE MATE-
RIALS.—Of the amounts made available to carry out this 
section, the Administrator shall set aside $10,000,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023 to provide funding 
to one or more State departments of transportation or 
units of Tribal or local government that submit to the Ad-
ministrator an application to carry out value engineering 
of a standard bridge design to enhance the performance 
of the bridge (including extending the service life of the 
bridge, increasing resistance to corrosion, and reducing 
construction and preservation costs) through the use of 
innovative materials. 
(h) REPORTS.—Not later than 4 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than 
every 2 years thereafter, the Administrator shall submit 
to the appropriate committees of Congress and make pub-
licly available a report describing the status of each project 
carried out using funds awarded under this section. 
(i) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator to 
carry out this section $60,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2019 through 2023. 
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SEC. 8. WATER INFRASTRUCTURE INNOVATION PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Administrator of the En-
vironmental Protection Agency (referred to in this section 
as the ‘‘Administrator’’) shall establish a grant program, 
to be known as the ‘‘Water Infrastructure Innovation Pro-
gram’’, to provide grants for the design and installation 
of water infrastructure projects, including wastewaster 
transport and treatment systems and drinking water 
treatment and distribution systems, that use innovative 
materials to reduce total costs, including operation and 
preservation expenses, and extend the service life of in-
stalled structures. 
(b) APPLICATIONS.—To be eligible to receive a grant 
under subsection (a), an applicant shall submit to the Ad-
ministrator an application at such time, in such manner, 
and containing such information as the Administrator may 
require. 
(c) ELIGIBLE PROJECTS.—To be eligible to receive 
a grant under subsection (a), a water infrastructure 
project shall— 
(1) serve a community with a population be-
tween 3,301 and 99,999; and 
(2) use innovative materials that— 
(A) are resistant to degradation; 
(B) extend service life; or 
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(C) provide long-term protection of water 
facilities and systems. 
(d) PREFERENCE.—In providing grants under this 
section, the Administrator shall give preference to pro-
posed projects that use materials that are domestically 
produced and sourced. 
(e) 
SPECIAL
CONSIDERATION
FOR
AT-RISK 
AREAS.—In providing grants under this section, the Ad-
ministrator shall give special consideration to projects lo-
cated in areas that are prone to saltwater intrusion or 
flooding due to severe storms, rain bursts, storm surges, 
or projected sea level rise during the projected lifetime of 
the project. 
(f) REPORTS.—Not later than 4 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than 
every 2 years thereafter, the Administrator shall submit 
to the appropriate committees of Congress and make pub-
licly available a report describing the status of each project 
carried out using funds awarded under this section. 
(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator to 
carry out this section $65,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2019 through 2023. 
Æ 
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