[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4372 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 4372

To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a pilot program 
for evaluating technologies that are likely to prevent adverse weather 
   effects associated with freezing temperatures on bridges, improve 
     bridge safety, extend the life of bridges, and promote energy 
         efficiency on bridges on the National Highway System.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           December 16, 2009

Mr. Graves (for himself and Mr. Cleaver) introduced the following bill; 
       which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and 
                             Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a pilot program 
for evaluating technologies that are likely to prevent adverse weather 
   effects associated with freezing temperatures on bridges, improve 
     bridge safety, extend the life of bridges, and promote energy 
         efficiency on bridges on the National Highway System.

    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 ``Bridge Ice and Snow Prevention Pilot 
Program Act of 2009''.

SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Transportation shall establish 
and implement a pilot program to evaluate the effectiveness and 
efficiency of the use of technologies to prevent ice, snow, and other 
adverse weather effects associated with freezing temperatures on 
bridges on the National Highway System.
    (b) Grant.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary may make grants to not more 
        than 5 States to conduct projects under the pilot program.
            (2) Applications.--A State seeking a grant under the pilot 
        program shall submit an application to the Secretary in such 
        form, and containing such information, as the Secretary may 
        require.
    (c) Eligibility.--
            (1) Selection of highway bridges.--
                    (A) In general.--In awarding grants under the pilot 
                program, the Secretary shall select not more than 20 
                highway bridges for participation in the program.
                    (B) Bridge requirements.--The Secretary may select 
                a highway bridge under subparagraph (A) only if the 
                bridge is--
                            (i) not greater than 500 feet in length; 
                        and
                            (ii) on the National Highway System.
            (2) Selection of technologies.--The Secretary shall select 
        technologies to be tested under the pilot program that are 
        likely to improve bridge safety, extend the life of a bridge, 
        and promote energy efficiency.
    (d) Federal Share.--The Federal share payable on account of a 
project carried out under the pilot program shall not exceed 80 percent 
of the cost of the project.
    (e) Duration of Pilot Program.--The Secretary shall carry out the 
pilot program for a period of no more than 5 fiscal years.
    (f) Final Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the last day 
        of the pilot program, the Secretary shall submit to the 
        Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
        Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public 
        Works of the Senate a report that describes the effectiveness 
        and benefits of the technologies tested under the pilot 
        program.
            (2) Contents.--The report shall describe, at a minimum, the 
        following:
                    (A) The cost effectiveness of each technology used.
                    (B) The safety impacts of each technology tested 
                and of the pilot program as a whole.
                    (C) Any change in the expected life span of each 
                bridge participating in the pilot program due to the 
                technologies used.
                    (D) The net effect of the pilot program on job 
                creation or job loss.
                    (E) Recommendations for--
                            (i) an improved or expanded program, if 
                        appropriate; and
                            (ii) the use of advanced bridge technology 
                        to prevent ice, snow, and other adverse weather 
                        effects associated with freezing temperatures 
                        on bridges on the National Highway System.
    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section, 
there is authorized to be appropriated out of the Highway Trust Fund 
(other than the Mass Transit Account) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.
    (h) Availability of Amounts.--
            (1) In general.--Amounts made available to carry out this 
        section shall be available for obligation in the same manner as 
        funds apportioned under chapter 1 of title 23, United States 
        Code, except that the Federal share payable on account of a 
        project carried out under the pilot program shall be determined 
        in accordance with this section and such funds shall not be 
        transferable and shall remain available for the duration of the 
        pilot program.
            (2) Limitation.--A State may not receive a total of more 
        than $2,000,000 in grants under the pilot program.
            (3) Prohibition of earmarks.--None of the funds 
        appropriated to carry out this section may be used for a 
        congressional earmark, as defined in clause 9(e) of Rule XXI of 
        the Rules of the House of Representatives of the 111th 
        Congress.
    (i) Report to Congress Relating to Competitive Procedures.--If 
grants are awarded under this section using procedures other than 
competitive procedures, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report 
explaining why competitive procedures were not used.

SEC. 3. DEFINITION.

    In this Act, the term ``State'' has the meaning given that term in 
section 101(a) of title 23, United States Code.
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