(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 2024 
through 2028.’’. 
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SEC. 6. 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, public toll authori-
ties, and units of local government for— 
(1) coastal or rural infrastructure bridge 
projects; and 
(2) value engineering projects under subsection 
(g). 
(c) APPLICATIONS.—To be eligible to receive a grant 
under subsection (b), a State department of transpor-
tation, a unit of Tribal government, a public toll authority, 
or a unit of local government shall submit to the Adminis-
trator an application at such time, in such manner, and 
containing such information as the Administrator may re-
quire. 
(d) ELIGIBLE PROJECTS.—To be eligible to receive 
a grant under this section, a coastal or rural infrastruc-
ture bridge project or a value engineering project shall— 
(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; 
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(2) be carried out in a manner so as to reduce 
traffic impact; 
(3) include multimodal transportation compo-
nents, such as bicycle and pedestrian paths; and 
(4) use innovative materials that— 
(A) are resistant to corrosion; and 
(B) extend the service life of the bridge. 
(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; 
(3) include multimodal transportation compo-
nents, such as bicycle and pedestrian paths; and 
(4) 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 
surges, or projected sea level rise during the projected life-
time of the project. 
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(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 2024 through 2028 to provide funding 
to 1 or more State departments of transportation or units 
of Tribal or local government that submit to the Adminis-
trator 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 construc-
tion and preservation costs) through the use of innovative 
materials. 
(h) RECORDKEEPING; REPORTS.— 
(1) RECORDKEEPING.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Adminis-
trator shall develop a project recordkeeping system 
that maintains comprehensive, current, and accurate 
information on each grant provided under this sec-
tion. 
(2) REPORTS.—Not later than 2 years after the 
development of the recordkeeping system described 
in paragraph (1), and every 2 years thereafter, the 
Administrator shall submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Environment 
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and Public Works of the Senate, and make publicly 
available, a report that describes, with respect to 
each project that receives a grant under this sec-
tion— 
(A) the status of the project; 
(B) the location of the project; 
(C) for each bridge involved in the project, 
the inventory number of the bridge in the Na-
tional Bridge Inventory pursuant to section 144 
of title 23, United States Code; 
(D) a detailed description of the scope of 
the project; 
(E) the amount of project costs paid by 
funds provided under this section and the total 
project costs; 
(F) for each bridge involved in the project, 
the bridge condition, operations, and perform-
ance of the bridge; and 
(G) in every third report submitted under 
this paragraph, the results of the regular moni-
toring and evaluation of the maintenance de-
mands, projects, needs, and costs of each bridge 
in the project during the previous 6 years. 
(i) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator to 
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carry out this section $65,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2024 through 2028. 
SEC. 7. 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 wastewater 
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 this section, an applicant shall submit to the Admin-
istrator an application at such time, in such manner, and 
containing such information as the Administrator may re-
quire. 
(c) ELIGIBLE PROJECTS.—To be eligible to receive 
a grant under this section, 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— 
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(A) are resistant to degradation; 
(B) extend service life; or 
(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) RECORDKEEPING; REPORTS.— 
(1) RECORDKEEPING.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Adminis-
trator shall develop a project recordkeeping system 
that maintains comprehensive, current, and accurate 
information on each grant provided under this sec-
tion. 
(2) REPORTS.—Not later than 2 years after the 
development of the recordkeeping system described 
in paragraph (1), and every 2 years thereafter, the 
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Administrator shall submit to the appropriate com-
mittees of Congress, including the Committee on 
Environment and Public Works of the Senate, and 
make publicly available a report describing, with re-
spect to each project that receives a grant under this 
section— 
(A) the status of the project; 
(B) the location of the project; 
(C) a detailed description of the scope of 
the project; 
(D) the amount of project costs paid by 
funds provided under this section and the total 
project costs; 
(E) the condition, operations, and perform-
ance of the project; and 
(F) in every third report submitted under 
this paragraph, the results of the regular moni-
toring and evaluation of the maintenance de-
mands, projects, needs, and costs of the project 
during the previous 6 years. 
(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 
2024 through 2028. 
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SEC. 8. INNOVATIVE PROJECT DELIVERY FEDERAL SHARE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 120(c)(3)(B) of title 23, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking clauses (i) and (ii) and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(i) prefabricated bridge elements and 
systems, innovative materials, and other 
technologies to reduce bridge construction 
time, extend service life, and reduce preser-
vation costs, as compared to conventionally 
designed and constructed bridges; 
‘‘(ii) innovative construction equip-
ment, materials, techniques, or practices, 
including the use of in-place recycling tech-
nology, digital 3-dimensional modeling 
technologies, and advanced digital con-
struction management systems;’’; 
(2) in clause (v), by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end; 
(3) by redesignating clause (vi) as clause (vii); 
and 
(4) by inserting after clause (v) the following: 
‘‘(vi) innovative pavement materials 
that demonstrate reductions in greenhouse 
gas emissions through sequestration or in-
novative manufacturing processes; or’’. 
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(b) TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.—Section 107(a)(2) of 
title 23, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘sub-
section (c) of’’. 
Æ 
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