May/June 2019

Communities: Construction
Bill Seeks to Improve Infrastructure With Innovation

Legislators on Capitol Hill are promoting a federal role in the development of composite and high-tech construction materials to improve the quality of US infrastructure.

In February, Reps. Rodney Davis (R-IL), David Cicilline (D-RI), Rick Larsen (D-WA), and Don Young (R-AK) introduced a bipartisan bill to boost research of new materials and techniques that could be used to improve and maintain US roads, bridges, and water systems.

The bill (H.R. 1159), seeks to encourage the development of high-performance building components like geo-synthetics, reinforced polymer composites, high-performance asphalt mixtures and concrete formations, and corrosion prevention methods, for use in infrastructure construction. Known as the Innovative Materials for America’s Growth and Infrastructure Newly Expanded—or IMAGINE—Act, the bill would also require the transportation secretary to set up hubs for these materials around the country to promote research and development of any new materials.

“Finding new, more resilient materials will help tax dollars go further and our infrastructure catch up to 21st century transportation needs,” Davis said in his address on the House floor in February.

The IMAGINE Act has been referred to several House committees, including the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee; the Science, Space, and Technology Committee; and the Energy and Commerce Committee.

The Senate version of the bill, sponsored by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), has been assigned to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.