PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · May 7, 1997
Local Officials Transportation Empowerment Act of 1997 - Amends Federal highway provisions to require each State, in cooperation with local officials in areas of less than 50,000 population (excluding projects undertaken on the National Highway System (NHS) and pursuant to the Interstate maintenance program), to establish selection procedures for projects undertaken in such areas. Requires: (1) the State, on or before September 30, 1998, to submit such procedures to the Secretary of Transportation for approval; (2) local officials in such areas to be permitted to participate equally with the State in project selection; (3) the State, in cooperation with such local officials, to review the procedures established on a biennial basis, make such modifications as necessary, and resubmit the procedures as modified to the Secretary for approval; (4) the Secretary to approve or disapprove the procedures in accordance with specified requirements; and (5) the Secretary or the Secretary's designee, upon request of such local officials, to serve as an arbitrator to resolve any disputes that may arise in establishing or modifying the procedures. Amends Federal highway provisions to require that: (1) the State obligate specified surface transportation program funds earmarked for areas of less than 5,000 population for eligible projects not on the NHS; and (2) not less than 30 percent of certain amounts apportioned to each State under the highway bridge replacement and rehabilitation program for FY 1998 and each fiscal year thereafter be expended for specified projects on public roads other than those on a Federal-aid system.
People & committees
Rep. Stupak, Bart [D-MI-1] · D–MI
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
See H.R.2400.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation.
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.
Source last updated: Aug 21, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
AI Conversation Starters
Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.
Analyze H.R.1551 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
Examine H.R.1551 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.
Examine H.R.1551 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.
Examine H.R.1551 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.