A Democratic bill with 7 Republican cosponsors · See all 13 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
The "Bridges And Safety Infrastructure for Community Success Act," or the "BASICS Act," aims to improve Federal transportation programs. It establishes a new strengthening bridges formula program to fund the construction, replacement, and protection of highway bridges on public roads. The bill also provides funding for regional transportation planning to assist nonmetropolitan areas. Additionally, it amends existing laws regarding metropolitan planning and highway safety improvements. These changes include adjusting how funds are apportioned and distributed among various areas and population groups.
Yes· 3 of 8
- Scored +8
Does this repair or build roads and bridges?
The bill establishes a $5.5 billion annual strengthening bridges formula program for construction, replacement, and protection of highway bridges.
- Scored +7
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
The bill provides $150 million annually for regional transportation planning specifically to support nonmetropolitan areas.
- Scored +3
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill mandates that the Secretary provide metropolitan planning organizations with the same access to financial management systems as State Departments of Transportation.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Bridge Safety and Infrastructure: The bill establishes a strengthening bridges formula program to fund the construction, replacement, and protection of highway bridges on public roads (Section 5, Section 3).
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Support for Local Governments and Tribes: For projects involving off-system bridges owned by a local government or Tribe, the Federal share for funding will be 100 percent (Section 5).
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Enhanced Local Consultation: The bill requires states to consult with local governments in areas with a population of less than 50,000 before obligating certain funds (Section 4, Section 5, Section 6).
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Increased Flexibility for Metropolitan Planning: Metropolitan planning funds can be used for various purposes such as preliminary design, local technical assistance, and economic development studies (Section 9).
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Direct Funding for Metropolitan Planning Agencies: The Secretary will establish a process for metropolitan planning agencies to qualify as direct recipients of Federal funding (Section 9).
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Support for Rural and Regional Planning: The bill provides assistance to support regional transportation planning organizations and entities in nonmetropolitan areas (Section 10).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Changes to Fund Apportionment: The bill implements several changes to how existing funds are apportioned among various subsections of title 23, United States Code (Section 3).
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Mandatory Set-Asides: The bill requires the Secretary to set aside specific percentages of funds for other purposes, such as section 202(d) and the administration of the Federal Highway Administration (Section 5).
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? — The bill provides $150 million annually for regional transportation planning specifically to support nonmetropolitan areas. Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill allows for economic development studies through metropolitan and regional planning funds. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill provides increased federal support for local infrastructure and regional planning.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this repair or build roads and bridges? — The bill establishes a $5.5 billion annual strengthening bridges formula program for construction, replacement, and protection of highway bridges. Does this improve buses, trains and other public transport? — The bill enhances regional transportation planning which can assist in multimodal long-range transportation plans.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates that the Secretary provide metropolitan planning organizations with the same access to financial management systems as State Departments of Transportation.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill increases funding for regional transportation planning which can support local economic development studies.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make housing cost less? — The bill allows metropolitan planning funds to be used for housing studies directly linked to transportation.
- 5/26/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 5/21/2026
- 4 Cosponsors added.
- 5/20/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 4/15/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 4/9/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 2/9/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
James BairdRepublican · Indiana
Robert BresnahanRepublican · Pennsylvania
Ken CalvertRepublican · California
Salud CarbajalDemocrat · California
Frank MrvanDemocrat · Indiana
Ryan MackenzieRepublican · Pennsylvania
Kelly MorrisonDemocrat · Minnesota
Joe NeguseDemocrat · Colorado
Jay ObernolteRepublican · California
Adam SmithDemocrat · Washington
David ValadaoRepublican · California
Derrick Van OrdenRepublican · Wisconsin
Gabe VasquezDemocrat · New Mexico