Bridge Protection Act

Bill Number

H.R. 3663

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Transportation and Public Works

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-05-30: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.

Last Updated

2025-10-29T08:05:48Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The Bridge Protection Act (H.R. 3663) aims to improve the safety of older bridges over navigable waters by requiring vulnerability assessments for potential collisions with vessels (ships or boats). It establishes federal oversight, funding incentives, and an interagency team to reduce risks, ensuring these bridges meet modern safety standards as a condition for receiving federal transportation funds.

Key Provisions

• Vulnerability Assessments and Risk Reduction (Section 180):
• Owners of "covered bridges" (bridges over navigable waters built before 1996) must perform collision vulnerability assessments using a specific method from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO Method II, a standardized engineering approach to evaluate risks).
• Results must be submitted to the Secretary of Transportation.
• If the bridge exceeds the AASHTO risk threshold (a safety benchmark indicating high vulnerability), the owner must create and implement a risk reduction plan within one year.
• Starting October 1, 2026, non-compliant owners lose eligibility for federal grants related to that bridge, unless they receive an extension from the Secretary.
• Assessment results will be added to the National Bridge Inventory (a federal database tracking bridge conditions), but sensitive security information can be withheld to protect bridges.

• Interdisciplinary Bridge Safety Team (Section 181):
• The Secretary of Transportation must create a team within the Department of Transportation (DOT) to offer guidance, monitor compliance, and manage a national database of bridge vulnerabilities.
• Team members will be temporary assignees ("detailees") from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA, which oversees highway projects), the U.S. Coast Guard (which regulates waterways), and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (which handles water infrastructure).

• Bridge Vulnerability Grant Program (Section 182):
• Establishes a competitive grant program for covered bridges to fund assessments or physical upgrades (e.g., reinforcements to prevent collisions).
• Owners apply with required details; grants can cover assessment costs or improvements.
• Authorizes $500 million in funding for fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

• Technical Updates:
• Adds these new sections to Chapter 1 of Title 23, U.S. Code (federal highway laws), and updates the chapter's table of contents.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Introduces mandatory vessel collision assessments and risk plans for pre-1996 bridges as a new condition for federal funding under Title 23, which previously focused more broadly on general bridge maintenance without specific vessel risk requirements.
• Creates a dedicated interagency team and national vulnerability database, expanding DOT's role in coordinating bridge safety across federal entities.
• Adds a new grant program targeted at vulnerability reduction, separate from existing highway funding streams, with dedicated appropriations.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: Increases workload for DOT, FHWA, Coast Guard, and Corps of Engineers through assessments, oversight, data integration, and grant administration; promotes better interagency collaboration on infrastructure security.
• Citizens: Enhances public safety by reducing the risk of bridge failures from vessel strikes, potentially preventing accidents, traffic disruptions, and economic losses in areas reliant on bridges over waterways.
• International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. bridges and federal funding.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Bridge Owners: Primarily state and local governments, but also potentially private entities or tribal authorities managing pre-1996 bridges over navigable waters; they face new compliance requirements and funding risks but gain access to grants.
• Federal Agencies: DOT (lead role), FHWA, Coast Guard, and Corps of Engineers (team members and oversight duties).
• Transportation Users: Drivers, commuters, and communities near affected bridges, who benefit from improved safety.
• Taxpayers and Funders: Indirectly affected through $500 million in authorized federal spending.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Ties federal highway funds to safety compliance, using conditional spending (a common federal tool to encourage state actions without direct mandates); allows flexibility via extensions and data protections to balance security and transparency.
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority over interstate commerce and spending (Article I, Section 8), as it conditions grants on safety standards without overriding state sovereignty.
• Political: Emphasizes infrastructure resilience amid growing concerns over aging U.S. bridges (e.g., past collapses like the 2007 Minnesota incident); could spur bipartisan support for transportation safety but may face pushback from resource-strapped local owners on compliance costs.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2]

Cosponsors (2)

Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]

Recent Actions

• 2025-05-30: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
• 2025-05-29: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
• 2025-05-29: Introduced in House
• 2025-05-29: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Bridge Protection Act — issued 2025-05-29 — PDF (5 pages)