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
The HEAT Act of 2025 aims to amend title 23 of the United States Code to provide emergency relief for infrastructure damaged by extreme heat. It seeks to address how extreme heat affects critical transportation infrastructure like bridges and roadways. The bill updates federal disaster programs to explicitly include extreme heat and heat waves as qualifying events for relief. Additionally, it requires a study to evaluate the costs of heat events and how to track damage. Finally, the Secretary of Transportation is tasked with issuing a report on best management practices for highway and bridge safety related to extreme heat.
Yes· 3 of 10
- Scored +7
Does this repair or build roads and bridges?
The bill provides new emergency relief funding specifically for repairing or reconstructing infrastructure damaged by extreme heat.
- Scored +5
Does this invest in rural communities?
The bill addresses the high risk of isolation in rural areas caused by heat-related transportation disruptions.
- Scored +5
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
The bill aims to protect rural communities from being isolated by heat-related infrastructure failures.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Emergency Relief for Heat Damage: By amending section 125 of title 23, the bill provides for emergency relief for repair or reconstruction of infrastructure damaged by extreme heat (Section 3). This helps address risks to critical transportation infrastructure, such as bridges that may crack, fail, or experience operational challenges due to high temperatures (Section 2).
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Improved Tracking and Assistance: The bill mandates a study to provide recommendations on how to track damage from extreme heat events separately from regular deterioration (Section 4). This could help the Secretary better assist State departments of transportation, public transit systems, and freight rail systems (Section 4).
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Enhanced Safety Standards: The Secretary of Transportation must issue a best management practices report regarding new information and advancements in highway and bridge safety related to extreme heat (Section 5). This may help mitigate risks such as unplanned bridge closures that interrupt supply chains and daily commuting (Section 2).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Limitations on Bridge Relief: The bill includes a provision stating that certain relief subsections shall not apply to a bridge if its physical deterioration was substantially caused by extreme heat exposure (Section 3).
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.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this repair or build roads and bridges? — The bill provides new emergency relief funding specifically for repairing or reconstructing infrastructure damaged by extreme heat. Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill addresses the high risk of isolation in rural areas caused by heat-related transportation disruptions. Does this improve buses, trains and other public transport? — The bill mandates a study to help the Secretary better assist public transit systems in tracking and addressing heat damage. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill proactively addresses the structural impacts of extreme heat on the built environment.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill aims to protect rural communities from being isolated by heat-related infrastructure failures. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Improving transportation reliability helps maintain access to essential services for low-income populations.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill helps mitigate supply chain interruptions and freight movement disruptions caused by heat-damaged infrastructure.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The bill funds a study through the Transportation Research Board to evaluate the costs and tracking of extreme heat events.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires the submission of reports regarding infrastructure safety and heat-related damage to Congressional committees.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make housing cost less? — By protecting transportation infrastructure, the bill indirectly supports the economic stability required for housing accessibility.
- 12/13/2025
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
- 12/12/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Michael LawlerRepublican · New York