H.R. 8748

[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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