Transportation Emergency Relief Extension Act
Summary
The Transportation Emergency Relief Extension Act amends Title 23 of the United States Code to provide increased flexibility for emergency relief projects. Specifically, it extends the deadline for projects funded under Section 125 to advance to the construction obligation stage. It also mandates the Secretary to update the Emergency Relief Manual of the Federal Highway Administration every two years and make it publicly available.
Expected Effects
This act will likely result in states having more time to complete emergency relief projects after a governor or president declares an emergency. The updated Emergency Relief Manual will provide states with current best practices. This could lead to more efficient and effective disaster recovery efforts related to transportation infrastructure.
Potential Benefits
- Provides states with more time to advance emergency relief projects to the construction phase.
- Allows the Secretary to grant extensions for project completion, offering further flexibility.
- Ensures that the Emergency Relief Manual is regularly updated with the latest information and best practices.
- Increases transparency by making the updated manual publicly available.
- Potentially reduces delays and cost overruns in emergency transportation infrastructure projects.
Potential Disadvantages
- The extended deadlines could potentially lead to slower initial responses in some cases.
- Increased flexibility might create opportunities for misuse or inefficient allocation of funds, requiring strong oversight.
- The act does not address the root causes of infrastructure vulnerability to emergencies.
- The act places an additional administrative burden on the Secretary to update and publish the manual regularly.
- There is no guarantee that the updated manual will be effectively implemented by all states.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the Constitution, particularly Article I, Section 8, which grants Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce and provide for the general welfare. The act's focus on infrastructure and emergency relief falls within the scope of these powers. There is nothing in the bill that appears to infringe on individual rights or liberties as defined in the Bill of Rights.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).