asphalt production processes, including through 
life cycle assessments. 
‘‘(5) Technologies and approaches to reduce 
greenhouse gas or directly related copollutant emis-
sions from the advanced production of cement, con-
crete, and asphalt. 
‘‘(6) High-performance computing to develop 
advanced materials and production processes that 
may contribute to the focus areas described in para-
graphs (1) through (5), including the following: 
‘‘(A) Modeling, simulation, and optimiza-
tion of the design of cost-effective and energy- 
efficient products and processes. 
‘‘(B) The use of digital prototyping and 
additive production to enhance product design. 
‘‘(7) Advanced sensor technologies and methods 
to monitor and quantify the performance of low- 
emissions cement, concrete, and asphalt materials at 
scale and under a variety of conditions. 
‘‘(8) Technologies that can be retrofitted at ce-
ment, concrete, and asphalt plants that represent 
the most common facility types in the United States 
and in other countries, with consideration for field 
validation of such retrofits.
‘‘(9) Best practices for data standardization 
and data sharing tools and technologies, in coordina-
tion with relevant Federal agencies. 
‘‘(10) Fundamental research in chemistry and 
materials science to identify the following: 
‘‘(A) Novel materials and alternative do-
mestic feedstocks and processing operations for 
the advanced production of low-emissions ce-
ment, concrete, and asphalt. 
‘‘(B) Improved understanding by eligible 
entities of the mechanisms that determine the 
performance and durability of low-emissions ce-
ment, concrete, and asphalt over time. 
‘‘(f) DEMONSTRATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 
days after the date of the enactment of this section, 
the Secretary, in carrying out the program estab-
lished in subsection (b), and in collaboration with 
the Secretary of Transportation, the Administrator 
of General Services, industry partners, institutions 
of higher education, and National Laboratories, shall 
support demonstrations of advanced production of 
low-emissions cement, concrete, and asphalt that 
uses either— 
‘‘(A) a single technology or practice; or
‘‘(B) a combination of multiple tech-
nologies or practices. 
‘‘(2) SELECTION REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying 
out the demonstrations under paragraph (1), the 
Secretary shall select eligible entities to carry out 
demonstration projects and to the maximum extent 
practicable— 
‘‘(A) encourage regional diversity among 
eligible entities, including participation by enti-
ties located in rural areas; 
‘‘(B) 
encourage 
technological 
diversity 
among eligible entities; and 
‘‘(C) ensure that specific projects se-
lected— 
‘‘(i) expand on the existing technology 
demonstration programs of the Depart-
ment; 
‘‘(ii) are based on the extent of green-
house gas emissions reductions achieved; 
and 
‘‘(iii) prioritize leveraging matching 
funds from non-Federal sources. 
‘‘(3) REPORTS.—The Secretary shall submit to 
the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of
the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate— 
‘‘(A) not less frequently than once every 
two years for the duration of the demonstra-
tions under paragraph (1), a report describing 
the performance of such demonstration; and 
‘‘(B) if any such demonstration is termi-
nated, an assessment of the success of, and 
education provided by, the measures carried out 
by such demonstration. 
‘‘(4) TERMINATION.—The Secretary may termi-
nate the demonstratives under paragraph (1) if the 
Secretary determines that sufficient low-emissions 
cement, concrete, and asphalt produced through ad-
vanced production are commercially available domes-
tically at a price comparable to the price of cement, 
concrete, and asphalt produced through traditional 
methods of production. 
‘‘(g) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consulta-
tion with the Secretary of Transportation, the Sec-
retary of Commerce (acting through the Director of 
the National Institute of Standards and Tech-
nology), the Administrator of General Services, the 
Administrator of the Environmental Protection
Agency, and appropriate representatives of relevant 
standards development organizations, shall provide 
technical assistance to eligible entities to carry out 
an activity described in paragraph (2) to promote 
the commercial application of technologies for the 
production and use of low-emissions cement, con-
crete, and asphalt. 
‘‘(2) ACTIVITIES DESCRIBED.—An activity re-
ferred to in paragraph (1) is any of the following: 
‘‘(A) Efforts related to collecting data that 
could be used in the updating of local codes, 
specifications, and standards to engineering 
performance-based standards. 
‘‘(B) A lifecycle assessment of the final 
product. 
‘‘(C) An environmental impact comparison 
between different cements, concretes, and as-
phalts. 
‘‘(D) A techno-economic assessment. 
‘‘(E) An environmental permitting or other 
regulatory process. 
‘‘(F) An evaluation or testing activity. 
‘‘(G) Any other activity that promotes the 
commercial application of technologies devel-
oped through the program under subsection (b).
‘‘(3) APPLICATIONS.—The Secretary shall seek 
applications for technical assistance under this sub-
section— 
‘‘(A) on a competitive basis; and 
‘‘(B) on a periodic basis, but not less fre-
quently than once every 12 months. 
‘‘(4) REGIONAL CENTERS.—The Secretary may 
designate or establish one or more regional centers 
to provide technical assistance to eligible entities to 
carry out the activity described in paragraph (2)(A). 
‘‘(h) ADDITIONAL COORDINATION.— 
‘‘(1) MANUFACTURING
USA.—In carrying out 
this section the Secretary shall consider— 
‘‘(A) leveraging the resources of relevant 
existing Manufacturing USA Institutes de-
scribed in section 34(d) of the National Insti-
tute of Standards and Technology Act (15 
U.S.C. 278s(d)); 
‘‘(B) integrating program activities into a 
relevant existing Manufacturing USA Institute; 
or 
‘‘(C) awarding financial assistance, con-
sistent with section 34(e) of the National Insti-
tute of Standards and Technology Act (15 
U.S.C. 278s(e)), to a person or group of per-
sons to assist the person or group of persons in 
planning, establishing, or supporting a Manu-
facturing U.S.A. institute focused on advanced 
production of low-emissions cement, concrete, 
and asphalt. 
‘‘(2) OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES.—In carrying 
out this section, the Secretary shall coordinate with 
other Federal agencies, including the Department of 
Defense, the Department of Transportation, and the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology, 
that are carrying out research and development ini-
tiatives to increase industrial competitiveness and 
achieve measurable greenhouse gas or directly re-
lated copollutant emissions reductions through the 
advanced production of cement, concrete, and as-
phalt. 
‘‘(i) SUNSET.—This section shall terminate seven 
years after the date of the enactment of this section. 
‘‘(j) RESEARCH SECURITY.—The activities author-
ized under this section shall be applied in a manner con-
sistent with subtitle D of title VI of the Research and De-
velopment, Competition, and Innovation Act (enacted as 
division B of Public Law 117–167 (42 U.S.C. 19231 et 
seq.)).
‘‘(k) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion may be construed to amend, alter, or affect the au-
thorities of the Secretary to define, establish, or enforce 
new environmental industry standards for, or related to, 
cement, concrete, or asphalt.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
in section 1(b) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs 
Act is amended by inserting after the item relating to sec-
tion 40522 the following new item: 
‘‘Sec. 40523. Advanced cement, concrete, and asphalt production research pro-
gram.’’. 
Passed the House of Representatives September 23, 
2024. 
Attest: 
Clerk.
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7685 
AN ACT 
To strengthen and enhance the competitiveness of 
American industry through the research and de-
velopment of advanced technologies to improve 
the efficiency of cement, concrete, and asphalt 
production, and for other purposes.