Bill Summary
The "Bridge Protection Act" aims to enhance the safety and resilience of certain bridges in the United States, particularly those built before 1996 that span navigable waters. Key provisions include:
1. **Vessel Collision Assessments**: Owners of designated bridges must conduct vulnerability assessments for potential vessel collisions using specified methodologies. The results must be reported to the Secretary of Transportation.
2. **Risk Reduction Plans**: If a bridge assessment shows it exceeds safety risk thresholds, the owner has one year to develop and implement a risk reduction plan. Failure to do so by October 1, 2026, will render the owner ineligible for federal grants related to that bridge, unless an extension is granted.
3. **National Bridge Inventory Integration**: The Secretary of Transportation is required to integrate assessment results into the National Bridge Inventory while protecting sensitive data.
4. **Interdisciplinary Safety Team**: The Secretary will form a team comprising members from various federal agencies to oversee compliance and maintain a national database on bridge vulnerabilities.
5. **Grant Program**: A new grant program will be established to fund assessments and physical improvements for covered bridges, with an authorization of $500 million for fiscal years 2026-2030.
This legislation is designed to ensure that older bridges are assessed for vulnerability and improved as necessary to enhance public safety and infrastructure integrity.
Possible Impacts
The "Bridge Protection Act" as outlined in the legislation could affect people in several significant ways. Here are three examples:
1. **Increased Safety for Commuters**: The requirement for bridge owners to conduct vessel collision vulnerability assessments means that bridges over navigable waters will be evaluated for their risk of collisions. If a bridge is found to exceed the risk threshold, the implementation of a risk reduction plan could lead to physical improvements or reinforcements of the bridge structure. This would enhance safety for drivers and pedestrians using these bridges, potentially reducing accidents and fatalities.
2. **Financial Implications for Bridge Owners**: Owners of covered bridges who fail to develop and implement a risk reduction plan after an assessment will become ineligible for federal grant funding related to that bridge. This could impose a financial burden on local governments or private entities responsible for bridge maintenance, as they may have to allocate their own resources to make necessary improvements or face increased liability and repair costs.
3. **Creation of Jobs and Economic Opportunities**: The establishment of a bridge vulnerability grant program will provide funding for assessments and physical improvements to covered bridges. This could create jobs in engineering, construction, and bridge maintenance sectors. Additionally, local economies may benefit from increased spending on infrastructure projects, leading to job creation and economic development in regions where these bridges are located.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3663 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3663
To amend title 23, United States Code, to establish requirements for
owners of certain bridges, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 29, 2025
Mr. Van Drew (for himself and Ms. Titus) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 23, United States Code, to establish requirements for
owners of certain bridges, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Bridge Protection Act''.
SEC. 2. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR BRIDGE PROJECTS.
(a) In General.--Chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 180. Requirements for certain bridges
``(a) In General.--As a condition for receiving funds under this
title, the Secretary of Transportation shall require any owner of a
covered bridge to conduct vessel collision vulnerability assessments
using the American Association of State Highway and Transportation
Officials Method II and submit the results of such assessment to the
Secretary.
``(b) Results.--
``(1) In general.--If a covered bridge assessed under
subsection (a) exceeds the American Association of State
Highway and Transportation Officials risk threshold for such
bridge, the owner shall develop and implement a risk reduction
plan not later than 1 year after the completion of the
assessment under subsection (a).
``(2) Ineligibility for future grants.--Beginning on
October 1, 2026, if an owner of a bridge required to develop a
risk reduction plan under paragraph (1) fails to develop and
implement such plan, the owner shall be ineligible for any
Federal grant relating to such bridge, unless such owner
receives an extension to implement such plan from the Secretary
of Transportation.
``(c) Integration of Data.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the
completion of an assessment under subsection (a), the Secretary
of Transportation shall integrate the results of such
assessment into the National Bridge Inventory of the Department
of Transportation.
``(2) Protection of sensitive data.--In integrating results
under paragraph (1), the Secretary may withhold any sensitive
secure data that the Secretary determines appropriate to
preserve the security of the bridges involved in such
assessments.
``(d) Covered Bridge Defined.--In this section, the term `covered
bridge' means a bridge over navigable water that was built before 1996.
``Sec. 181. Interdisciplinary Bridge Safety team
``(a) In General.--The Secretary of Transportation shall establish
an interdisciplinary bridge safety team within the Department of
Transportation to provide guidance, oversee compliance, and maintain a
national vulnerability database for bridges.
``(b) Membership.--The team established under subsection (a) shall
be comprised of detailees from the Federal Highway Administration, the
Coast Guard, and the Corps of Engineers.
``Sec. 182. Bridge vulnerability grant program
``(a) In General.--The Secretary of Transportation shall establish
a program to provide grants on a competitive basis for assessments and
physical improvements for covered bridges.
``(b) Applications.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this
section, an owner of a covered bridge shall submit to the Secretary an
application in such form, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Secretary may require.
``(c) Use of Funds.--A recipient of a grant under this section may
use the grant provided to carry out assessments or make physical
improvements to a covered bridge.
``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out the program under this section, $500,000,000
for fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
``(e) Covered Bridge Defined.--In this section, the term `covered
bridge' means a bridge over navigable water that was built before
1996.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 1 of title 23,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``180. Requirements for certain bridges.
``181. Interagency Bridge Safety Office.
``182. Bridge vulnerability grant program.''.
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