Fixing America’s Bridges Act

Bill: 117-hr-1299
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3]
Introduced: 2021-02-24
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Congressional oversight

Infrastructure development

Roads and highways

State and local government operations

Transportation programs funding

Transportation safety and security
Latest action: action_date: 2021-02-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-02-24
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Fixing America's Bridges Act</b></p> <p>This bill authorizes the Department of Transportation (DOT) to provide assistance to states to replace or rehabilitate certain bridges.</p> <p>Among other things, the bill</p> <ul> <li>authorizes DOT to provide assistance for certain activities on bridges, including painting, seismic retrofit, and installation of scour countermeasures (to prevent erosion of soil around a bridge foundation caused by flooding); </li> <li>includes a set-aside to ensure funding locally-owned bridges that are not on the federal-aid highway system; and</li> <li>provides for a federal cost-share of 90%. </li></ul>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1299 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 24, 2021 Mr. Higgins of Louisiana (for himself and Mr. Krishnamoorthi ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To permit the Secretary of Transportation to approve Federal participation in the replacement or rehabilitation of certain bridges, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Fixing America’s Bridges Act . 2. Highway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program (a) In general Section 144 of title 23, United States Code, is amended— (1) in the section heading by striking National bridge and tunnel inventory and inspection standards and inserting Highway bridge replacement and rehabilitation ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (l) Highway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program (1) Participation On application by a State or States to the Secretary for assistance for one or more highway bridges that have been determined to be eligible for replacement or rehabilitation under subsection (b), the Secretary may approve Federal participation in— (A) replacing a bridge with a comparable facility; or (B) rehabilitating a bridge. (2) Types of assistance On application by a State or States to the Secretary, the Secretary may approve Federal assistance for any of the following activities for a highway bridge that has been determined to be eligible for replacement or rehabilitation under subsection (b): (A) Painting. (B) Seismic retrofit. (C) Systematic preventive maintenance. (D) Installation of scour coun­ter­mea­sures. (E) Application of calcium magnesium acetate, sodium acetate/formate, or other environmentally acceptable, minimally corrosive anti-icing and de-icing compositions. (3) Basis for determination The Secretary shall determine the eligibility of highway bridges for replacement or rehabilitation for each State based on highway bridges found to be in poor condition in the State. (4) Special rule for preventive maintenance Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, a State may carry out a project under paragraph (2)(B), (2)(C), or (2)(D) for a highway bridge without regard to whether the bridge is eligible for replacement or rehabilitation under this section. (5) Apportionment (A) In general Funds authorized to carry out this section shall be apportioned among the several States on October 1 of the fiscal year for which authorized in accordance with this subsection. (B) Categories of deficiency Each deficient bridge shall be placed into one of the following categories: (i) Federal-aid system bridges eligible for replacement. (ii) Federal-aid system bridges eligible for rehabilitation. (iii) Off-system bridges eligible for replacement. (iv) Off-system bridges eligible for rehabilitation. (C) Calculation of apportionment (i) In general The deck area of deficient bridges in each category shall be multiplied by the respective unit price on a State-by-State basis, as determined by the Secretary, and the total cost in each State divided by the total cost of the deficient bridges in all States shall determine the apportionment factors. (ii) Determinations The Secretary shall make determinations under clause (i) using the latest available data, which shall be updated annually. (D) Special rule for apportionment If a State transfers funds apportioned to the State under this section in a fiscal year beginning after September 30, 2019, to any other apportionment of funds to such State under this title, the total cost of deficient bridges in such State and in all States to be determined for the succeeding fiscal year shall be reduced by the amount of such transferred funds. (E) Limitation of apportionment No State shall receive more than 10 percent or less than 0.25 percent of the total apportionment for any one fiscal year. (F) Availability of funds Funds apportioned under this section shall be available for expenditure for the period specified in section 118(b). (G) Reapportionment of funds Any funds not obligated at the expiration of the period described in subparagraph (F) shall be reapportioned by the Secretary to the other States in accordance with this subsection. (H) Special rule for use of funds The use of funds authorized under this section to carry out a project for the seismic retrofit of a bridge shall not affect the apportionment of funds under this section. (6) Set-aside for off-system bridges (A) In general Not less than 20 percent of the amount apportioned to each State in each fiscal year shall be expended for projects to replace, rehabilitate, paint, perform systematic preventive maintenance or seismic retrofit of, or apply calcium magnesium acetate, sodium acetate/formate, or other environmentally acceptable, minimally corrosive anti-icing and de­icing compositions to, or install scour countermeasures to, highway bridges located on public roads, other than those on a Federal-aid highway. (B) Reduction of expenditures The Secretary, after consultation with State and local officials, may reduce the requirement for expenditure for bridges not on a Federal-aid highway under subparagraph (A) with respect to the State if the Secretary determines that the State has inadequate needs to justify the expenditure. (7) Inventories and reports The Secretary shall— (A) biennially report to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives on projects approved under this section; (B) annually revise the current inventories authorized by subsection (b) of this section; (C) biennially report to such committees on such inventories; and (D) biennially report to such committees such recommendations as the Secretary may have for improvements of the program authorized by this section. (8) Fair and equitable basis Sums apportioned to a State under this section shall be made available for obligation throughout such State on a fair and equitable basis. (9) Periodic review of application procedures (A) In general Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this subsection, and periodically thereafter, the Secretary shall review the procedure used in approving or disapproving applications submitted under this section to determine what changes, if any, may be made to expedite such procedure. (B) Implementation of changes The Secretary shall implement the changes determined under subparagraph (A) as soon as possible. (C) Report to Congress Not later than 9 months after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress which describes such review and such changes, including any recommendations for legislative changes. (10) Credit for bridges not on Federal-aid highways (A) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law, with respect to any project not on a Federal-aid highway for the replacement of a bridge or rehabilitation of a bridge that is wholly funded from State and local sources, is eligible for Federal funds under this section, is noncontroversial, is certified by the State to have been carried out in accordance with all standards applicable to such projects under this section, and is determined by the Secretary upon completion to be no longer a deficient bridge any amount expended after the date of enactment of this subsection from State and local sources for the project in excess of 20 percent of the cost of construction of the project may be credited to the non-Federal share of the cost of other bridge projects in the State that are eligible for Federal funds under this section. (B) Crediting Crediting described under subparagraph (A) shall be conducted in accordance with procedures established by the Secretary. (11) Definitions In this section: (A) The term rehabilitate means performing major work necessary to restore the structural integrity of a bridge as well as work necessary to correct a major safety defect. (B) The term rehabilitation means major work necessary to restore the structural integrity of a bridge as well as work necessary to correct a major safety defect. (12) Federal share Notwithstanding section 120, the Federal share of the cost of a project carried out under this subsection shall be 90 percent. (13) Treatment of off-system bridge projects Notwithstanding any other provision of law, off-system bridge projects funded in whole, or in part, under paragraphs (5) or (6) shall be treated as projects on a Federal-aid highway under this chapter. (14) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this subsection. . (b) Clerical amendment The analysis for chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 144 and inserting the following: 144. Highway bridge replacement and rehabilitation. . (c) Surface transportation block grant program Section 133(f) of title 23, United States Code, is repealed.