Bill > HR3963

This bill requires that public employees (defined as employees of federal, state, or local governments) perform construction inspection functions for federally funded highway projects. Specifically, the bill mandates that state transportation departments or local transportation agencies ensure a public employee conducts critical inspection tasks such as construction engineering, contract administration, on-site quality control inspection, materials testing, and oversight of project acceptance or rejection. In cases where an agency lacks sufficient staff to perform these inspection functions, they may temporarily hire consultants for up to 12 months, but must submit an annual report to the Secretary of Transportation detailing the specific construction inspection functions outsourced and providing a detailed justification for why public employees could not perform the work. The Secretary must then make these reports publicly available on their website. This legislation aims to ensure greater government oversight and quality control in highway construction projects by prioritizing public employee involvement in critical inspection roles.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/3963/all-info