H.R. 3999 would amend title 23, United States Code, to improve the safety of Federal-aid highway bridges, to strengthen bridge inspection standards and processes, to increase investment in the reconstruction of structurally deficient bridges on the National Highway System.

== Detailed Summary ==

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<b>(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)</b>

National Highway Bridge Reconstruction and Inspection Act of 2007 - (Sec. 2) Amends federal transportation law to revise the national highway bridge replacement and rehabilitation program to direct the Secretary of Transportation to develop a risk-based priority process for states to assign priority for the replacement or rehabilitation of all federal-aid highways bridges found to be structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. Requires the Secretary to arrange with the National Academy of Sciences for an independent review of, and report to Congress on, the risk-based priority assignment process. Authorizes appropriations for FY2008.

Requires states, as a condition for receiving federal assistance, to: (1) inspect all bridges in the state biennially; (2) calculate biennially the load rating for highway bridges with a structural deficiency in a load-carrying member, and ensure that the safe load-carrying capacities for such bridges are properly posted; and (3) develop, and annually update, an approved five-year performance plan for highway bridge inspection and rehabilitation and replacement.

Requires the Secretary to report annually to Congress on projects, including the priority assigned them on a national basis and by state, for the replacement and rehabilitation of each federal-aid highway bridge found to be structurally deficient or functionally obsolete.

Authorizes a state to transfer funds apportioned under the highway bridge program for a fiscal year to other apportioned state transportation programs provided the state demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Secretary that it has no structurally deficient bridges.

(Sec. 3) Requires national bridge inspection standards to be designed to ensure uniformity among the states in the conduct of such inspections and evaluations.

Requires such standards to establish: (1) procedures for conducting annual compliance reviews of state inspections, quality control and quality assurance procedures, load ratings, and weight limit postings of structurally deficient highway bridges; and (2) standards for state bridge management systems to improve the bridge inspection process and the quality of data collected and reported for inclusion in the national bridge inventory.

Requires such standards also to provide for: (1) annual inspections of structurally deficient highway bridges, including hands-on inspections of fracture critical members; and (2) biennial inspections of those bridges that have not been determined to be structurally deficient.

Authorizes the Secretary, under certain conditions, to extend, to a maximum period of four years, the time between required inspections of a highway bridge that has not been determined to be structurally deficient.

Directs the Secretary to: (1) expand the national training program for bridge inspectors to ensure that all bridge inspectors are appropriately trained and certified; and (2) revise regulations for the qualification of state highway bridge inspection personnel to require program managers and team leaders to be licensed professional engineers.

(Sec. 4) Expands activities eligible to receive surface transportation research program funds to include nondestructive tests to assess the structural integrity of surface transportation infrastructure facilities (i.e. bridges).

(Sec. 5) Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2009.
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== Status of the Legislation ==

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Latest Major Action: 9/17/2008: Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee9/23/2008: Placed on Environment and Public Works. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 1050.
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== Points in Favor ==

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== Points Against ==

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