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119-hr-7437119th CongressWALLET

BASICS Act

Sponsored By: Representative McDonald Rivet, Kristen [D-MI-8]

Introduced

Summary

The BASICS Act would reshape federal transportation funding to strengthen bridge safety. It would create a dedicated bridge program and shift formula and planning rules to expand metropolitan and rural planning roles.

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  • Local governments and Tribes would benefit from a Strengthening Bridges Formula Program that covers bridge construction, replacement, rehabilitation, preservation, and protection. The program would include a 100 percent federal share for off-system bridges they own and a national total of $5.5 billion per year for 2027–2031.
  • Metropolitan planning organizations would get stronger funding and governance. The bill would remove local matches for certain planning funds, let MPOs use federal planning money for housing and economic development studies and data, and create a direct recipient pathway.
  • Rural and regional planning and safety would see new support and rules. The bill would create a regional transportation planning framework for nonmetropolitan areas, boost rural planning funding, and require a Local Safety Set-Aside of 25 percent of certain Highway Safety Improvement funds for 2027–2031.

*The bill would authorize $5.5 billion per year for the Strengthening Bridges Formula Program for 2027–2031.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

More bridge and regional planning funds

This bill would change how federal highway money is split and create two new programs. It would create a Strengthening Bridges formula program that gets $5.5 billion each year for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 and a Regional Transportation Planning program that gets $150 million each year for 2027 through 2031. States would get bridge money based on poor-bridge repair cost shares, with a $45 million minimum per State, a 3% set-aside for a named purpose, and up to 0.5% for FHWA administration. The bill would also add a new set-aside for regional planning and replace several percentage numbers in the overall apportionment formula, shifting money among programs and recipients.

More funding and power for MPOs

This bill would let metropolitan planning organizations use federal planning funds for more local needs, like project administration, preliminary design, housing and economic studies, and data purchases. It would make the federal share for some metropolitan planning activities 100 percent. Within 180 days, the Secretary would set up a simple process to let qualified MPOs become direct recipients so they can receive and manage funds and get the same financial-system access as State transportation agencies.

More local say in safety funding

This bill would require that 25 percent of a State's Highway Safety Improvement Program money for each year 2027 through 2031 be obligated to local projects split across four population tiers. Projects in areas over 50,000 people would need to be on the MPO plan. Smaller-area projects must be identified with a regional planning organization or selected in consultation with local governments. The bill would also expand HSIP eligibility to certain projects named in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and would bar a State from transferring 104(b)(3) safety funds until the State runs a certified competitive process and the Secretary certifies it was open and fair.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

McDonald Rivet, Kristen [D-MI-8]

MI • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Bresnahan, Robert P. [R-PA-8]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 2/9/2026

  • Rep. Obernolte, Jay [R-CA-23]

    CA • R

    Sponsored 4/9/2026

  • Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2]

    NM • D

    Sponsored 4/9/2026

  • Rep. Mrvan, Frank J. [D-IN-1]

    IN • D

    Sponsored 4/15/2026

  • Rep. Baird, James R. [R-IN-4]

    IN • R

    Sponsored 4/15/2026

  • Rep. Calvert, Ken [R-CA-41]

    CA • R

    Sponsored 5/20/2026

  • Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 5/20/2026

  • Rep. Morrison, Kelly [D-MN-3]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 5/21/2026

  • Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3]

    WI • R

    Sponsored 5/21/2026

  • Rep. Mackenzie, Ryan [R-PA-7]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 5/21/2026

  • Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]

    CO • D

    Sponsored 5/21/2026

  • Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 5/26/2026

  • Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22]

    CA • R

    Sponsored 5/26/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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