Bill Summary
The "Transportation Asset Management Simplification Act" aims to amend existing laws related to transportation asset management plans in the United States. Key provisions of the legislation include:
1. **Recertification Frequency**: States are now required to submit their transportation asset management plans once every four years, aligning this submission with another recertification process, rather than annually.
2. **Compliance Determination**: The act distinguishes between compliant and noncompliant states. Compliant states will maintain their status until the next recertification, while noncompliant states will have a defined period during which they must correct deficiencies identified by the Secretary of Transportation.
3. **Submission Requirements**: States must support their compliance determination with relevant information, focusing primarily on the most recent year. For earlier years, states must certify that their asset management practices meet the necessary standards.
4. **Opportunity to Cure**: If a state is found noncompliant, the Secretary will provide a written notice detailing required actions, along with a minimum 90-day period for the state to address these issues. This period can be extended upon request.
Overall, the bill seeks to streamline the asset management planning process, reduce the frequency of submissions, and provide states with opportunities to rectify compliance deficiencies while minimizing penalties.
Possible Impacts
The "Transportation Asset Management Simplification Act" could affect people in several ways. Here are three examples:
1. **Improved Infrastructure Maintenance**: By changing the compliance timeline for transportation asset management plans from each fiscal year to once every four years, states may allocate resources more efficiently. This could lead to better long-term planning and maintenance of roads and bridges, ultimately improving the safety and reliability of transportation infrastructure for the general public.
2. **Flexibility for Noncompliant States**: The legislation provides an opportunity for states that are found to be noncompliant with asset management requirements to rectify their deficiencies within a specified period (at least 90 days). This flexibility can prevent immediate penalties and allow states to focus on addressing issues without the pressure of legal repercussions, thereby encouraging better compliance and potentially enhancing service to residents in those states.
3. **Impact on State Budgets**: By easing the frequency of reporting and compliance checks, states may experience reduced administrative burdens and costs associated with preparing annual reports. This could allow them to redirect funds towards actual transportation projects, which could lead to improved public transit options and better-maintained roads. Citizens may benefit from reduced congestion and improved transportation services as a result.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1167 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1167
To amend title 23, United States Code, to improve transportation asset
management plans, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 27, 2025
Mr. Cramer (for himself and Mr. Kelly) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and
Public Works
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 23, United States Code, to improve transportation asset
management plans, 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 ``Transportation Asset Management
Simplification Act''.
SEC. 2. TRANSPORTATION ASSET MANAGEMENT PLANS.
Section 119(e) of title 23, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (5)--
(A) in subparagraph (A)--
(i) by striking ``each fiscal year'' and
inserting ``once every 4 years, in conjunction
with the recertification under paragraph
(6)(B)''; and
(ii) by striking ``in that fiscal year'';
and
(B) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the
following:
``(B) Application.--
``(i) Compliant states.--A determination of
compliance under subparagraph (A) shall apply
until the next recertification date under
subparagraph (A) and paragraph (6)(B).
``(ii) Noncompliant states.--A
determination of noncompliance under
subparagraph (A) shall apply during the period
beginning on the date of the determination and
ending on the date on which the Secretary
determines that the State is in compliance.
``(C) Submission.--
``(i) In general.--A State shall submit to
the Secretary information to support a
determination under subparagraph (A) in
conjunction with a submission with respect to
recertification under paragraph (6)(B).
``(ii) Requirements.--For purposes of
subparagraph (A) and paragraph (6)(B), a
submission of a State shall--
``(I) be considered sufficient with
respect to time period if the
submission is for the most recent year;
and
``(II) for applicable years other
than the most recent year, include a
certification by the State that asset
management undertaken in those years by
the State meets the requirements of
this subsection.
``(D) Opportunity to cure.--
``(i) In general.--If the Secretary
determines that a State is not in compliance
under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall
provide to the State--
``(I) a written statement of the
specific actions the Secretary
determines to be necessary for the
State to comply under that
subparagraph; and
``(II) a period of not less than 90
days to cure the deficiencies, during
which time period all penalties and
other legal impacts of a determination
of noncompliance shall be stayed.
``(ii) Extension.--The Secretary, on
request of the State, may extend the time
period provided to cure deficiencies under
clause (i)(II), including the stay of all
penalties and other legal impacts of a
determination of noncompliance.''; and
(2) in paragraph (6)(C)--
(A) by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) as
subclauses (I) and (II), respectively, and indenting
appropriately;
(B) in the matter preceding subclause (I) (as so
redesignated), by striking ``If the'' and inserting the
following:
``(i) In general.--If the''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(ii) Extension.--The Secretary, on
request of the State, may extend the time
period provided to cure deficiencies under
clause (i)(I), including the stay of all
penalties and other legal impacts of a denial
of certification.''.
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