Bill Summary
The Affordable Commutes Act of 2025 is a bill that is being proposed to Congress. Its purpose is to direct the Secretary of Transportation to conduct an investigation and study into the pricing practices of privately-owned toll roads. This includes looking at instances of price gouging, unfair practices, and unreasonable toll prices. If any evidence of these practices is found, the Secretary will refer the case to the Attorney General and the Federal Trade Commission. Additionally, the bill calls for a study on the feasibility and fiscal implications of the federal government purchasing these toll roads and transferring ownership to the state in which they are located. The study will also examine whether this change in ownership would benefit consumers by potentially lowering toll costs. The Secretary is required to submit a report to Congress within one year, which will include the results of the investigation and study, as well as any recommendations on how to address price gouging and to carry out the purchases and transfers of the toll roads.
Possible Impacts
1. The Affordable Commutes Act of 2025 could lead to lower toll costs for commuters if the investigation and study finds evidence of price gouging and unfair practices on privately-owned toll roads. This could benefit people by making their daily commutes more affordable.
2. The Act could also affect people by potentially changing the authority of toll roads from private to state-owned facilities. This could have financial implications for both the government and the private entities who currently own the toll roads.
3. The report to Congress required by the Act could include recommendations for addressing price gouging and unfair practices on toll roads, which could ultimately benefit people by ensuring fair and reasonable prices for tolls.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5008 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5008
To direct the Secretary of Transportation to conduct an investigation
and study relating to purchasing certain toll roads owned by private
entities and transferring ownership of such toll roads to States, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 19, 2025
Mr. Subramanyam introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Transportation to conduct an investigation
and study relating to purchasing certain toll roads owned by private
entities and transferring ownership of such toll roads to States, 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 ``Affordable Commutes Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. INVESTIGATION OF PRICING PRACTICES ON PRIVATE TOLL ROADS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Transportation shall conduct an
investigation of the price setting of toll roads owned by private
entities, including any instances of price gouging, unfair practices,
or unreasonable toll price setting.
(b) Referral of Certain Unfair Practices.--In any case in which the
Secretary finds any evidence of price gouging, unfair practices, or
unreasonable toll price setting pursuant to the investigation under
subsection (a), the Secretary shall refer such cases to the Attorney
General of the United States and the Federal Trade Commission, as
applicable.
SEC. 3. STUDY ON TOLL ROADS OWNED BY PRIVATE ENTITIES.
The Secretary shall conduct a study on the feasibility and fiscal
implications of the Federal Government purchasing toll roads owned by
private entities and transferring the ownership of such toll roads to
the State in which such roads are located, including--
(1) whether a change in authority of toll roads from
privately-owned to State-owned facilities would benefit
consumers, including in the form of lower toll costs;
(2) the procedural framework necessary for the Federal
Government to purchase and transfer private toll roads; and
(3) any other policies relating to tolling facilities that
the Federal Government can pursue to lower costs for commuters.
SEC. 4. REPORT TO CONGRESS.
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Secretary of Transportation shall submit to Congress a report
containing--
(1) the results of the investigation under section 2;
(2) the results of the study under section 3; and
(3) any recommendations to--
(A) address price gouging, unfair practices, or
unreasonable toll price setting; and
(B) carry out the purchases and transfers described
in section 3.
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