Tribal Roads Improvement Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8188
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Transportation and Public Works
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-03: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-03T08:08:39Z
AI-Generated Summary
Tribal Roads Improvement Act (H.R. 8188)
Purpose
To eliminate restrictions on using funds from the Tribal Transportation Program (TTP) for road grading on Tribal lands and to require a federal study on the effects of this change, aiming to improve road conditions, access to services, and Tribal self-determination.
Key Provisions
- Findings: Recognizes 160,000 miles of roads on or accessing Tribal lands, with 65% in poor condition; notes impacts like vehicle damage, delayed emergency responses, isolation, and limited access to healthcare/education; highlights funding shortfalls (covering <35% of needs) and Tribes' capacity for efficient management.
- Road Grading Amendment: Modifies federal transportation law to allow TTP funds for road grading.
- Study Requirement: Directs the Secretary of the Interior (via Bureau of Indian Affairs Director) to study impacts within 3 years of enactment, assessing:
- Tribes spending ≥25% of TTP funds or ≥$500,000 on grading.
- Miles of roads graded.
- Road condition improvements.
- Effects on economic development, emergency response, community access.
- Tribal satisfaction with added flexibility.
- Tribal member employment in projects.
- Report to Congress: Submit study results and recommendations on ongoing Tribal road grading needs within 2 years after study completion.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Section 202(a)(8)(A) of Title 23, U.S. Code (part of TTP under Chapter 2), by inserting "grading and" after "excluding road." This removes prior exclusions or limits on using TTP funds specifically for road grading activities.
Potential Impacts
- Tribal Communities: Improved road maintenance could reduce isolation, enhance access to healthcare/education/employment, speed emergency responses, and boost economic opportunities.
- Government Agencies: Bureau of Indian Affairs gains study/report duties; may inform future TTP funding/resource allocation.
- No direct impacts noted on citizens outside Tribes or international relations.
Main Stakeholders
- Indian Tribes: Gain funding flexibility for road grading; primary beneficiaries of improved infrastructure.
- Tribal Members: Better access to services and employment in road projects.
- Federal Government: Department of the Interior (Bureau of Indian Affairs) for study/report; indirect involvement of Department of Transportation via TTP.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Reinforces federal trust responsibilities to Tribes by enabling infrastructure improvements and self-determination.
- Promotes Tribal sovereignty through regulatory flexibility in fund use.
- No major constitutional challenges apparent; aligns with existing TTP framework and congressional authority over federal highways/Tribal programs.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-03: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
- 2026-04-02: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-04-02: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-04-02: Introduced in House
- 2026-04-02: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Tribal Roads Improvement Act — issued 2026-04-02 — PDF (4 pages)