[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8748 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8748
To direct the Secretary of Transportation to carry out certain
activities related to surface transportation research, development, and
deployment, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 12, 2026
Mr. Fong (for himself and Mrs. Sykes) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology,
and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
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
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Transportation to carry out certain
activities related to surface transportation research, development, and
deployment, and for other purposes.
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 ``Surface Transportation Research and
Development Act of 2026''.
SEC. 2. TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION PROGRAMS RELATED TO HIGHWAY AND
INTERMODAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS.
Subsection (c) of section 503 of title 23, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (3)(D), by striking ``fiscal years 2022
through 2026'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2027 through
2031'';
(2) in paragraph (4)(I)(i), by striking ``fiscal years 2022
through 2026'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2027 through
2031''; and
(3) in paragraph (5)(C), by striking ``fiscal years 2022
through 2026'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2027 through
2031''.
SEC. 3. UPDATE TO TRANSPORTATION STATISTICS PROGRAMS.
Section 6302 of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(3) by adding at the end the following
new subparagraph:
``(C) Location.--The Director shall be located
within the organizational structure of the Office of
the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology.'';
(2) in subsection (d)(2), in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A), by striking ``a significant role in'' and
inserting ``exclusive authority over''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(e) Coordination of Statistical Activities.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall ensure the
following:
``(A) Any activity of the Department related to the
collection, analysis, and use of data for a statistical
purpose is conducted in a manner that protects the
trust of information providers and maintains the
confidentiality, objectivity, and integrity of such
data, in accordance with subchapter III of chapter 35
of title 44.
``(B) The Department and each operating
administration thereof is following, as appropriate,
best practices, technical standards, and requirements
in accordance with subchapter II of chapter 3 of title
5, subchapter III of chapter 35 of title 44, and any
other appropriate Federal policy in the collection,
analysis, and use of any transportation-related data
intended for a statistical purposes.
``(2) Statistical purpose defined.--In this subsection, the
term `statistical purpose' has the meaning given such term in
section 3561 of title 44.''.
SEC. 4. TRANSPORTATION STATISTICS COORDINATION COUNCIL.
(a) In General.--Title 49, United States Code, is amended by
inserting after section 6302 the following new section:
``Sec. 6302A. Transportation Statistics Coordination Council.
``(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this section, the Secretary shall establish the
`Transportation Statistics Coordination Council' (in this subsection
referred to as the `Council') to coordinate statistical activities and
evaluations across the Department.
``(b) Membership.--The Council shall be composed of a
representative from each operating administration of the Department
that conducts a program related to any statistical activities and
evaluations documented by the Department. The Secretary may designate
additional members to the Council as the Secretary determines
appropriate.
``(c) Chairperson.--The Director shall serve as the Chairperson of
the Council.
``(d) Duties.--The Council shall carry out the following:
``(1) Assist the Director in carrying out the duties
required under subsection (b)(3) of section 6302.
``(2) Review the comprehensive data inventory of the
Department developed and maintained pursuant to section 3511 of
title 44, to identify any data assets of the Department that
are duplicative or fragmented across the Department;
``(3) Identify any opportunity to reduce burden, including
with respect to a State, local, or Tribal government or a
private sector entity, by consolidating into a centralized
repository managed by the Director similar collection of
information from different operating administrations.
``(4) Advise the Director with respect to the development
and implementation of Department-wide data guidelines,
standards, metadata schemas, and common taxonomies related to
any statistical activities and evaluations conducted by the
Department.
``(e) Report.--Not later than three years after the date of the
enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a
report that includes information related to the following:
``(1) A comprehensive inventory of any statistical
activities and evaluations conducted by the Department.
``(2) A plan for the elimination of any statistical
activities and evaluations conducted outside the Bureau that
duplicate the duties required under subsection (b)(3) of
section 6302, including information relating to the following:
``(A) Any plan for an order or agreement under
section 1535 of title 31.
``(B) An analysis related to whether all
statistical activities and evaluations of the
Department should be centralized within the Bureau.
``(3) A governance strategy and any recommendations to
ensure the Department and any operating administration of the
Department is following the Department-wide data guidelines,
standards, metadata schemas, and common taxonomies referred to
in subsection (d)(4).
``(4) An assessment of any administrative, technical, or
legal barrier to the governance strategy and recommendations
described in paragraph (3), including any findings or
milestones for implementation by the Department the Council
determines necessary to achieve a unified, secure, and
efficient departmental statistical infrastructure in accordance
with such subparagraph.
``(f) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Burden; collection of information.--The terms
`burden' and `collection of information' have the meaning given
such terms in section 3502 of title 44.
``(2) Evaluation.--The term `evaluation' has the meaning
given such term in section 311 of title 5.
``(3) Statistical activities.--The term `statistical
activities' has the meaning given such term in section 3561 of
title 44.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections in chapter 63 of
title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item
relating to section 6302 the following new item:
``6302A. Transportation Statistics Coordination Council.''.
SEC. 5. AMENDMENTS TO THE UNIVERSITY TRANSPORTATION CENTERS PROGRAM.
Section 5505 of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A) of subsection (c)(4), by striking
``not more than''; and
(2) in paragraph (3) of subsection (d), by striking
``fiscal years 2022 through 2026'' and inserting ``fiscal years
2027 through 2031''.
SEC. 6. OPEN RESEARCH INITIATIVE.
Section 5506 of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (f), in the matter preceding paragraph
(1), by striking ``Not less frequently than biennially, in
accordance'' and inserting ``In accordance'';
(2) in subsection (i), by striking ``2022 through 2026''
and inserting ``2027 through 2031'';
(3) by redesignating subsection (i) as subsection (j); and
(4) by inserting after subsection (h) the following new
subsection:
``(i) Implementation Plan.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall develop an
implementation plan to transition the advanced transportation
research pilot program described in subsection (b) to a
sustained open research initiative.
``(2) Report.--Not later than two years after the date of
the enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall submit to
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation and the Committee on Environment and Public
Works of the Senate a report that includes information relating
to the following:
``(A) The implementation plan under paragraph (1).
``(B) How the Secretary is carrying out such
implementation plan.''.
SEC. 7. STUDY ON AND RECOMMENDATIONS RELATING TO THE SAFETY EFFECTS OF
EMERGING HEADLAMP TECHNOLOGIES.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, Secretary of Transportation (in this section
referred to as the ``Secretary''), acting through the Assistant
Secretary of Transportation for Research and Technology, and in
consultation with the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration, shall seek to enter into an agreement with an
appropriate entity with relevant expertise, as determined by the
Secretary, to--
(1) conduct a study on the effects of high-intensity light-
emitting diode (LED), matrix LED, and other emerging headlamp
technologies with respect to driver visibility, glare exposure,
and roadway safety; and
(2) make recommendations relating thereto.
(b) Contents.--
(1) Study.--The study under subsection (a) may include any
of the following:
(A) An assessment of any of the following:
(i) Luminous intensity, total luminous
flux, and beam-pattern characteristics of
headlamp technologies utilized in road
vehicles.
(ii) The role of vehicle mounting height
and headlamp aim in real-world glare exposure,
including the geometric interaction between
headlamps and occupants of preceding or
oncoming vehicles, across a range of vehicles
and vehicle mounting heights.
(iii) The physiological and cognitive
effects of high-intensity headlamp exposure on
the following:
(I) Drivers, with particular
attention to older drivers, as defined
by the appropriate entity referred to
in such subsection, and drivers with
cataracts or other visual impairments.
(II) The ability of drivers to
visually identify and avoid vulnerable
road users, including pedestrians,
bicyclists, and motorcyclists.
(B) An analysis of the adequacy of existing
headlamp photometric test procedures to address the
luminance, spectral, and glare characteristics of high-
intensity LED, matrix LED, and other emerging headlamp
technologies.
(2) Recommendations.--The recommendations under subsection
(a) may include a recommendation regarding how to mitigate a
negative finding of the study under such subsection with
respect to the effect of high-intensity LED, matrix LED, or
another emerging headlamp technology on driver visibility,
glare exposure, or roadway safety.
(c) Report.--Not later than two years after entering into an
agreement under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate,
and make publicly available on a website of the Department of
Transportation, a report that includes information relating to the
findings of the study conducted pursuant to such subsection and the
recommendations relating thereto.
SEC. 8. STRATEGY ON RECLAIMED ASPHALT PAVEMENT.
(a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation (in this section
referred to as the ``Secretary''), acting through the Administrator of
the Federal Highway Administration, shall submit to the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Environment
and Public Works of the Senate a strategy to encourage the
standardization and utilization of reclaimed asphalt pavement on
roadways nationwide and ensure asphalt mixture quality does not
decrease as a result of such utilization.
(b) Contents.--The strategy under subsection (a) shall include
information relating to the following:
(1) A review and inventory of the activities of the
Secretary with respect to reclaimed asphalt pavement.
(2) An analysis of cost savings related to increasing the
allowable use of reclaimed asphalt pavement on roadways
nationwide.
(3) A description of any such activities related to
supporting the development of technical standards, best
practices, methodologies, and frameworks for testing and use of
reclaimed asphalt pavement.
(4) Recommendations to promote through programs of the
Department of Transportation the utilization of reclaimed
asphalt pavement.
(c) Consultation.--In submitting the strategy under subsection (a),
the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Federal Highway
Administration, shall carry out the following:
(1) Seek to consult with representatives from the
following:
(A) Institutions of higher education.
(B) State departments of transportation.
(C) Units of local government.
(D) Metropolitan planning organizations.
(E) Regional transportation planning organizations.
(F) Nonprofit research organizations.
(G) Private sector entities that produce asphalt
materials.
(2) Consult with the following:
(A) The heads of other relevant Federal departments
and agencies.
(B) Any other relevant entity as the Secretary
determines appropriate.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given such
term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001).
(2) Metropolitan planning organization.--The term
``metropolitan planning organization'' has the meaning given
such term in section 5303 of title 49, United States Code.
(3) Nonprofit research organization.--The term ``nonprofit
research organization'' has the meaning given the term
``nonprofit institution'' in section 4 of the Stevenson-Wydler
Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3703).
(4) Reclaimed asphalt pavement.--The term ``reclaimed
asphalt pavement'' means material that is removed in the
resurfacing, rehabilitation, or reconstruction of asphalt
pavement and processed for utilization in the production of new
asphalt pavement.
(5) Regional transportation planning organization.--The
term ``regional transportation planning organization'' means an
organization designated under subsection (l) of section 5304 of
title 49, United States Code.
SEC. 9. RAIL RESEARCH PROGRAMS.
Section 24910 of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (3), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(B) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the
end and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(5) address safety challenges with modern and future
infrastructure and technology related to commuter rail,
passenger rail, freight rail, and other rail networks.'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (13), by striking ``and'' after
the semicolon;
(B) by redesignating paragraph (14) as paragraph
(15); and
(C) by inserting after paragraph (13) the following
new paragraph:
``(14) to review safety standards related to the
transportation of hazardous materials on freight rail; and'';
(3) in paragraph (3) of subsection (c), by striking
``2019'' and inserting ``2031''; and
(4) in subsection (e), by striking ``2010 through 2013''
and inserting ``2027 through 2031''.
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