Brian Babin (R-TX)
I–47 Future Interstate Act of 2026
A Republican bill with 6 Republican cosponsors · See all 6 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, titled the "I-47 Future Interstate Act of 2026," aims to amend the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991. The primary purpose is to designate United States Route 287 as a High Priority Corridor. This specific route extends from State Highway 87 in Port Arthur, Texas, to United States Route 89 in Choteau, Montana. Additionally, the bill seeks to officially designate and number this route as Interstate Route I-47.
Yes· 3 of 13
- Scored +8
Does this repair or build roads and bridges?
Designating a route as an interstate leads to significant upgrades in road and bridge quality.
- Scored +7
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
Rural communities along US Route 287 gain better connectivity and economic opportunities.
- Scored +7
Does this invest in rural communities?
Connecting rural areas from Texas to Montana via an interstate promotes regional development.
The opposite
- Scored -1
Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change?
Increased highway capacity and interstate travel typically lead to higher carbon emissions.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Designation as High Priority Corridor: Under Section 2(a), United States Route 287 is added as a High Priority Corridor, stretching from Port Arthur, Texas, to Choteau, Montana.
-
Designation and Numbering as Interstate: According to Section 2(b), the route is designated and numbered as Interstate Route I-47.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts are explicitly mentioned in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Rural communities along US Route 287 gain better connectivity and economic opportunities. Would farmers be better off under this? — Farmers benefit significantly from improved high-capacity routes to transport produce to markets. Would business owners be better off under this? — Business owners along the corridor benefit from increased logistics efficiency and customer access. Would union members be better off under this? — Infrastructure projects generally create demand for unionized construction labor.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this repair or build roads and bridges? — Designating a route as an interstate leads to significant upgrades in road and bridge quality. Does this invest in rural communities? — Connecting rural areas from Texas to Montana via an interstate promotes regional development. Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster? — Better highway infrastructure can improve emergency response and evacuation speeds. Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change? — Increased highway capacity and interstate travel typically lead to higher carbon emissions.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — Improved transportation infrastructure generally facilitates trade and economic growth. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Increased traffic and accessibility from an interstate designation can benefit local businesses along the route. Is this likely to create jobs? — Interstate designation typically leads to increased construction jobs and economic development along the corridor.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make it easier to do business across state lines? — An interstate highway explicitly facilitates the movement of goods and people between states. Does this give the federal government more power? — Interstate designation often involves increased federal oversight and funding standards.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this make trade with other countries easier? — Improved interstate corridors can enhance the efficiency of transporting goods for international trade.
- 9/15/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/3/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 5 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Wesley HuntRepublican · Texas
Ronny JacksonRepublican · Texas
John RoseRepublican · Tennessee
Pete SessionsRepublican · Texas
Randy WeberRepublican · Texas
Roger WilliamsRepublican · Texas