Transportation Megaprojects Accountability and Oversight Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6435
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Transportation and Public Works
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-02-02: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
- Last Updated
- 2026-02-03T09:05:40Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "Transportation Megaprojects Accountability and Oversight Act" (H.R. 6435) aims to improve oversight and accountability for large-scale federal transportation projects by requiring enhanced risk management, independent reviews, and transparency. This helps prevent cost overruns, delays, and quality issues in projects costing $2.5 billion or more, ensuring better use of taxpayer funds.
Key Provisions
- Definition of Megaproject: A transportation project with an estimated total cost of $2,500,000,000 or more, or any other projects designated by the Secretary of Transportation.
- Comprehensive Risk Management Plan: Before construction authorization, recipients of federal funding must submit a plan to the Secretary detailing:
- Processes to identify, measure, and track risks that could lead to higher costs, delays, poor quality, or reduced benefits.
- Tools for monitoring risks.
- Strategies to mitigate risks.
- Commitments to provide regular cost updates and maintain financial reserves for known and unforeseen issues.
- Peer Review Group: Within 90 days of construction authorization, recipients must form a group of at least five experts (including one with project management experience) to:
- Meet annually until project completion.
- Review the project's scope, schedule, budget, planning, engineering, financing, and other key elements, especially after major changes.
- Submit reports on findings to the Secretary, Congress, and the recipient.
- The Secretary must issue guidelines within 180 days for recruiting members, ensuring public disclosure of selection criteria and identities, and prohibiting financial conflicts of interest.
- Transparency Requirements: Recipients must post online:
- Names, license numbers, and types for engineers overseeing project aspects.
- Peer review reports within 90 days of submission.
- Transportation Megaprojects Committee: Within 180 days of enactment, the Secretary must arrange with the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies to form a committee. This group will:
- Review existing studies, international experiences (e.g., from the UK and France), common megaproject problems, and potential solutions for U.S. federal and state contexts.
- Recommend improvements to the Department of Transportation's funding and oversight, such as mandatory peer groups reporting to the Inspector General and Congress.
- Submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Secretary and relevant congressional committees within three years.
- Applicability: These requirements apply to projects authorized for construction starting one year after the bill's enactment.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill amends Section 106 of title 23, United States Code (which governs environmental reviews and approvals for federally funded highway and transportation projects), by adding a new subsection (k). It introduces mandatory risk management, peer reviews, and transparency specifically for high-cost projects, which were not previously required under federal transportation law. No existing provisions are repealed, but these additions create new hurdles before construction can begin.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The Department of Transportation (DOT) will face increased administrative duties, including guideline development, plan reviews, and committee coordination, potentially straining resources but improving project outcomes and reducing long-term federal liabilities from overruns.
- Citizens and Taxpayers: Could lead to more efficient use of public funds, minimizing cost escalations on major infrastructure that affects travel, commerce, and daily life; however, added requirements might cause initial delays in project starts.
- International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though the committee's review of foreign practices (e.g., UK and France) could inform U.S. policies and foster indirect knowledge-sharing on global infrastructure challenges.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Government: DOT (for oversight and implementation), Congress (receives reports), and the Transportation Research Board (for committee duties).
- State and Local Governments: Project recipients (e.g., state DOTs or transit authorities) seeking federal funds, who must comply with new planning and reporting to access funding.
- Industry Professionals: Engineers, project managers, and contractors involved in megaprojects, subject to public disclosure and peer scrutiny.
- Public and Taxpayers: Benefit from transparency and accountability but may experience indirect effects like delayed infrastructure improvements.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens federal oversight of state-led projects without altering core environmental review processes, potentially reducing litigation over cost overruns by promoting proactive risk controls. Ensures compliance through assurances and public reporting, with no explicit enforcement penalties outlined.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's spending power under Article I (regulating federal highway funds), imposing conditions on grants without infringing on state sovereignty, as states can opt out by forgoing federal assistance.
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (Democrat DeSaulnier and Republican LaMalfa) suggests broad appeal for fiscal responsibility in infrastructure; could influence future transportation funding debates by highlighting megaproject risks, but may face criticism for adding bureaucracy to already complex approvals.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10]
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-02-02: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
- 2025-12-04: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 2025-12-04: Introduced in House
- 2025-12-04: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Transportation Megaprojects Accountability and Oversight Act — issued 2025-12-04 — PDF (7 pages)