February 9, 2026
Mr. Nehls (for himself, Mr. Weber of Texas, Mr. Williams of Texas, and Mr. Gill of Texas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
To eliminate the Carbon Reduction Program and PROTECT Program and dedicate the funding to a new bridge formula program that distributes funding based primarily on overall deck area, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the National Bridge Funding Reform Act
.
Sec. 2. National bridge program and program elimination
(a) Apportionment
Section 104 of title 23, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
by striking subsection (b)(7) and subsection (b)(8); and
(2)
by inserting in its place the following:
(7) National bridge program
For the national bridge program under section 175, 5.47660865256628 percent of the amount remaining after distributing amounts under paragraphs (4), (5), and (6).
(b) Carbon reduction program
Chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by striking Section 175.
(c) Promoting resilient operations for transformative, efficient, and cost-Saving transportation (PROTECT) program
Chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by striking Section 176.
(d) In general
Title 23, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 175 the following:
175. National bridge program
(a) Establishment
The Secretary shall establish and implement a national bridge program under this section.
(b) Purposes
The purpose of the national bridge program shall be to provide support for the replacement, rehabilitation, preservation, protection, and construction of bridges on Federal-aid highways and for other purposes.
(c) Eligible projects
(1) In general
Funds apportioned to a State to carry out the national bridge program may be obligated for the replacement, rehabilitation, preservation, protection, and construction of bridges on Federal-aid highways.
(2) Flexibility
At the discretion of each State, funds made available for the national bridge program may be obligated for the replacement, rehabilitation, preservation, protection, and construction of bridges not on Federal-aid highways.
(d) Apportionment
The Secretary shall distribute the funds apportioned under section 104(b)(7) to carry out this section among States as follows—
(1)
75 percent by the proportion that the total deck area of bridges on Federal-aid highways in such State bears to the sum of the total deck area of bridges on Federal-aid highways in all States; and
(2)
25 percent by the proportion that the total deck area of bridges on Federal-aid highways classified as in poor condition in such State bears to the sum of the total deck area of bridges on Federal-aid highways classified as being in poor condition in all States.
(e) National bridge inventory
For purposes of determining the distribution of funds to States under subsection (d), the Secretary shall calculate the total deck area of bridges and the total deck area of bridges classified as being in poor condition based on the National Bridge Inventory as of December 31, 2024.
(e) Conforming amendments
(1)
Section 104 of title 23, United States Code, is amended—
(A)
in subsection (b)—
(i)
in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking the carbon reduction program under section 175, to carry out subsection (c) of the PROTECT program under section 176,
; and
(ii)
by striking paragraphs (7) and (8);
(B)
in subsection (c)(2) by striking the carbon reduction program under section 175, to carry out subsection (c) of the PROTECT program under section 176,
; and
(C)
in subsection (h) by striking the carbon reduction program under section 175, to carry out subsection (c) of the PROTECT program under section 176,
.
(2)
Section 120(l)(2)(A) of title 23, United States Code, is amended by striking clauses (vi) and (vii).
(3)
Section 520(e)(3)(B) of title 23, United States Code, is amended by striking clause (ii).
(f) Clerical amendment
The analysis for chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
by striking the items relating to section 175 and section 176 in effect prior to enactment of this section; and
(2)
by inserting after the item relating to section 174 the following: