National Bridge Funding Reform Act

119 HR 7442 IH: National Bridge Funding Reform Act U.S. House of Representatives 2026-02-09 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. I 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7442 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 9, 2026 Mr. Nehls (for himself, Mr. Weber of Texas , Mr. Williams of Texas , and Mr. Gill of Texas ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To eliminate the Carbon Reduction Program and PROTECT Program and dedicate the funding to a new bridge formula program that distributes funding based primarily on overall deck area, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the National Bridge Funding Reform Act . 2. National bridge program and program elimination (a) Apportionment Section 104 of title 23, United States Code, is amended— (1) by striking subsection (b)(7) and subsection (b)(8); and (2) by inserting in its place the following: (7) National bridge program For the national bridge program under section 175, 5.47660865256628 percent of the amount remaining after distributing amounts under paragraphs (4), (5), and (6). . (b) Carbon reduction program Chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by striking Section 175. (c) Promoting resilient operations for transformative, efficient, and cost-Saving transportation (PROTECT) program Chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by striking Section 176. (d) In general Title 23, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 175 the following: 175. National bridge program (a) Establishment The Secretary shall establish and implement a national bridge program under this section. (b) Purposes The purpose of the national bridge program shall be to provide support for the replacement, rehabilitation, preservation, protection, and construction of bridges on Federal-aid highways and for other purposes. (c) Eligible projects (1) In general Funds apportioned to a State to carry out the national bridge program may be obligated for the replacement, rehabilitation, preservation, protection, and construction of bridges on Federal-aid highways. (2) Flexibility At the discretion of each State, funds made available for the national bridge program may be obligated for the replacement, rehabilitation, preservation, protection, and construction of bridges not on Federal-aid highways. (d) Apportionment The Secretary shall distribute the funds apportioned under section 104(b)(7) to carry out this section among States as follows— (1) 75 percent by the proportion that the total deck area of bridges on Federal-aid highways in such State bears to the sum of the total deck area of bridges on Federal-aid highways in all States; and (2) 25 percent by the proportion that the total deck area of bridges on Federal-aid highways classified as in poor condition in such State bears to the sum of the total deck area of bridges on Federal-aid highways classified as being in poor condition in all States. (e) National bridge inventory For purposes of determining the distribution of funds to States under subsection (d), the Secretary shall calculate the total deck area of bridges and the total deck area of bridges classified as being in poor condition based on the National Bridge Inventory as of December 31, 2024. . (e) Conforming amendments (1) Section 104 of title 23, United States Code, is amended— (A) in subsection (b)— (i) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking the carbon reduction program under section 175, to carry out subsection (c) of the PROTECT program under section 176, ; and (ii) by striking paragraphs (7) and (8); (B) in subsection (c)(2) by striking the carbon reduction program under section 175, to carry out subsection (c) of the PROTECT program under section 176, ; and (C) in subsection (h) by striking the carbon reduction program under section 175, to carry out subsection (c) of the PROTECT program under section 176, . (2) Section 120(l)(2)(A) of title 23, United States Code, is amended by striking clauses (vi) and (vii). (3) Section 520(e)(3)(B) of title 23, United States Code, is amended by striking clause (ii). (f) Clerical amendment The analysis for chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code, is amended— (1) by striking the items relating to section 175 and section 176 in effect prior to enactment of this section; and (2) by inserting after the item relating to section 174 the following: 175. National bridge program. .