May 29, 2025
Mr. Van Drew (for himself and Ms. Titus) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
To amend title 23, United States Code, to establish requirements for owners of certain bridges, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Bridge Protection Act
.
Sec. 2. Additional requirements for bridge projects
(a) In general
Chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
180. Requirements for certain bridges
(a) In general
As a condition for receiving funds under this title, the Secretary of Transportation shall require any owner of a covered bridge to conduct vessel collision vulnerability assessments using the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Method II and submit the results of such assessment to the Secretary.
(b) Results
(1) In general
If a covered bridge assessed under subsection (a) exceeds the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials risk threshold for such bridge, the owner shall develop and implement a risk reduction plan not later than 1 year after the completion of the assessment under subsection (a).
(2) Ineligibility for future grants
Beginning on October 1, 2026, if an owner of a bridge required to develop a risk reduction plan under paragraph (1) fails to develop and implement such plan, the owner shall be ineligible for any Federal grant relating to such bridge, unless such owner receives an extension to implement such plan from the Secretary of Transportation.
(c) Integration of data
(1) In general
Not later than 1 year after the completion of an assessment under subsection (a), the Secretary of Transportation shall integrate the results of such assessment into the National Bridge Inventory of the Department of Transportation.
(2) Protection of sensitive data
In integrating results under paragraph (1), the Secretary may withhold any sensitive secure data that the Secretary determines appropriate to preserve the security of the bridges involved in such assessments.
(d) Covered bridge defined
In this section, the term
covered bridgemeans a bridge over navigable water that was built before 1996.181. Interdisciplinary Bridge Safety team
(a) In general
The Secretary of Transportation shall establish an interdisciplinary bridge safety team within the Department of Transportation to provide guidance, oversee compliance, and maintain a national vulnerability database for bridges.
(b) Membership
The team established under subsection (a) shall be comprised of detailees from the Federal Highway Administration, the Coast Guard, and the Corps of Engineers.
182. Bridge vulnerability grant program
(a) In general
The Secretary of Transportation shall establish a program to provide grants on a competitive basis for assessments and physical improvements for covered bridges.
(b) Applications
To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an owner of a covered bridge shall submit to the Secretary an application in such form, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
(c) Use of funds
A recipient of a grant under this section may use the grant provided to carry out assessments or make physical improvements to a covered bridge.
(d) Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the program under this section, $500,000,000 for fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
(e) Covered bridge defined
In this section, the term
covered bridgemeans a bridge over navigable water that was built before 1996.
(b) Clerical amendment
The analysis for chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: