H.R. 6435

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6435 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6435

To amend title 23, United States Code, to establish additional 
requirements for certain transportation projects with estimated costs 
of $2,500,000,000 or more, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

December 4, 2025

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

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend title 23, United States Code, to establish additional 
requirements for certain transportation projects with estimated costs 
of $2,500,000,000 or more, 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 ``Transportation Megaprojects 
Accountability and Oversight Act''.

SEC. 2. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS.

(a) In General.--Section 106 of title 23, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(k) Megaprojects.--
``(1) Megaproject defined.--In this subsection, the term 
`megaproject' means a project that has an estimated total cost 
of $2,500,000,000 or more, and such other projects as may be 
identified by the Secretary.
``(2) Comprehensive risk management plan.--A recipient of 
Federal financial assistance under this title for a megaproject 
shall, in order to be authorized for construction, submit to 
the Secretary a comprehensive risk management plan that 
contains--
``(A) a description of the process by which the 
recipient will identify, quantify, and monitor the 
risks that might result in cost overruns, project 
delays, reduced construction quality, or reductions in 
benefits with respect to the megaproject;
``(B) examples of mechanisms the recipient will use 
to track risks identified pursuant to subparagraph (A);
``(C) a plan to control such risks; and
``(D) such assurances as the Secretary considers 
appropriate that the recipient will, with respect to 
the megaproject--
``(i) regularly submit to the Secretary 
updated cost estimates; and
``(ii) maintain and regularly reassess 
financial reserves for addressing known and 
unknown risks.
``(3) Peer review group.--
``(A) In general.--A recipient of Federal financial 
assistance under this title for a megaproject shall, 
not later than 90 days after the date when such 
megaproject is authorized for construction, establish a 
peer review group for such megaproject that consists of 
at least 5 individuals (including at least 1 individual 
with project management experience) to give expert 
advice on the scientific, technical, and project 
management aspects of the megaproject.
``(B) Membership.--
``(i) In general.--Not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of this subsection, 
the Secretary shall establish guidelines 
describing how a recipient described in 
subparagraph (A) shall--
``(I) recruit and select members 
for a peer review group established 
under such subparagraph; and
``(II) make publicly available the 
criteria for such selection and the 
identity of members so selected.
``(ii) Conflict of interest.--No member of 
a peer review group for a megaproject may have 
a direct or indirect financial interest in such 
megaproject.
``(C) Tasks.--A peer review group established under 
subparagraph (A) by a recipient of Federal financial 
assistance for a megaproject shall--
``(i) meet annually until completion of the 
megaproject;
``(ii) not later than 90 days after the 
date of the establishment of the peer review 
group and not later than 90 days after the date 
of any significant change, as determined by the 
Secretary, to the scope, schedule, or budget of 
the megaproject, review the scope, schedule, 
and budget of the megaproject, including 
planning, engineering, financing, and any other 
elements determined appropriate by the 
Secretary; and
``(iii) submit a report on the findings of 
each review under clause (ii) to the Secretary, 
Congress, and the recipient.
``(4) Transparency.--A recipient of Federal financial 
assistance under this title for a megaproject shall publish on 
the internet website of such recipient--
``(A) the name, license number, and license type of 
each engineer supervising an aspect of the megaproject; 
and
``(B) the report submitted under paragraph 
(3)(C)(iii), not later than 90 days after such 
submission.
``(5) Committee.--
``(A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after 
the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary 
of Transportation shall make appropriate arrangements 
with the Transportation Research Board (hereinafter 
referred to as the `Board') of the National Academies 
under which the Board shall convene a transportation 
megaprojects committee.
``(B) Duties.--The transportation megaprojects 
committee convened pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall--
``(i) perform a literature search and 
assessment of existing megaproject studies;
``(ii) review any relevant foreign 
experience and actions taken, with a particular 
focus on the United Kingdom and France;
``(iii) identify recurring or typical 
problems with megaprojects;
``(iv) outline possible approaches to 
dealing with the problems in the Federal and 
State context; and
``(v) recommend any changes in the 
Department of Transportation's approach to 
megaproject funding and oversight, such as a 
recommendation that each project be required to 
identify a peer group to work with project 
management and report to the Inspector General 
and Congress.
``(C) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the 
date of enactment of this subsection, the committee 
convened pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall submit to 
the Secretary, the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, and the 
Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate 
a report containing any results, findings, and 
recommendations made by the committee under 
subparagraph (B).''.
(b) Applicability.--The amendment made by subsection (a) applies 
with respect to projects that are authorized for construction on or 
after the date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act.
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