Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA)
Transportation Megaprojects Accountability and Oversight Act
A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
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, known as the "Transportation Megaprojects Accountability and Oversight Act," aims to amend title 23 of the United States Code. It focuses on establishing new requirements for large-scale transportation projects, defined as "megaprojects," which have estimated costs of $2,500,000,000 or more. The act requires these projects to submit comprehensive risk management plans to the Secretary. It also mandates the creation of a peer review group to provide expert advice on technical and management aspects. Additionally, the bill establishes a transportation megaprojects committee through the Transportation Research Board. These requirements apply to projects authorized for construction starting one year after the act is enacted.
Yes
- Scored +6
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill requires the publication of peer review reports and the credentials of supervising engineers on recipient websites.
- Scored +5
Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?
The bill mandates risk management plans and updated cost estimates to mitigate cost overruns in large-scale projects.
- Scored +4
Does this repair or build roads and bridges?
The bill enhances oversight of large-scale transportation projects to prevent delays and quality reductions.
The opposite
- Scored -3
Would business owners be better off under this?
Project recipients face increased administrative and financial burdens due to new peer review and risk management requirements.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Enhanced Risk Management: Recipients of federal assistance for megaprojects must submit a comprehensive risk management plan. This plan includes processes to identify and monitor risks like cost overruns, project delays, and reduced construction quality (Section 2(a)(2)).
-
Financial Oversight: The bill requires recipients to provide assurances that they will regularly submit updated cost estimates and maintain financial reserves to handle known and unknown risks (Section 2(a)(2)(D)).
-
Expert Oversight via Peer Review: Megaprojects must establish a peer review group of at least 5 individuals, including one with project management experience, to provide expert advice on scientific, technical, and project management aspects (Section 2(a)(3)(A)).
-
Increased Transparency: Recipients are required to publish the names, license numbers, and license types of supervising engineers on their websites, as well as the reports submitted by the peer review group (Section 2(a)(4)).
-
Learning from Global Experience: The creation of a transportation megaprojects committee will allow for the review of foreign experience and the identification of recurring problems to improve federal and state approaches (Section 2(a)(5)(B)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Increased Requirements for Project Recipients: Those receiving federal financial assistance for megaprojects must comply with several new burdens, such as creating risk management plans, establishing peer review groups, and publishing specific personnel information online (Section 2(a)(2), (3), and (4)).
-
Mandatory Peer Review Costs and Coordination: Recipients must establish and fund a peer review group that meets annually and performs specific reviews of the project's scope, schedule, and budget (Section 2(a)(3)(C)).
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.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires the publication of peer review reports and the credentials of supervising engineers on recipient websites.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — The bill mandates risk management plans and updated cost estimates to mitigate cost overruns in large-scale projects.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this repair or build roads and bridges? — The bill enhances oversight of large-scale transportation projects to prevent delays and quality reductions.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — Project recipients face increased administrative and financial burdens due to new peer review and risk management requirements.
- 2/2/2026
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
- 12/4/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Doug LaMalfaRepublican · California