Fixing America’s Bridges Act

Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Oct 1, 2019

Fixing America's Bridges Act

This bill authorizes the Department of Transportation (DOT) to provide assistance to states to replace or rehabilitate certain bridges.

Among other things, the bill

authorizes DOT to provide assistance for certain activities on bridges, including painting, seismic retrofit, and installation of scour countermeasures (to prevent erosion of soil around a bridge foundation caused by flooding);

includes a set-aside to ensure funding locally-owned bridges that are not on the federal-aid highway system; and

provides for a federal cost-share of 90%.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Finkenauer, Abby [D-IA-1] · D–IA

Committees

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

3 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Oct 2, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
Oct 1, 2019
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Oct 1, 2019
Introduced in House
Oct 1, 2019
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Oct 1, 2019 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.4591 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.

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Discuss H.R.4591, 116th Congress: Fixing America’s Bridges Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/4591

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2019-10-01.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr4591/BILLS-116hr4591ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:22:36Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.4591 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.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.4591 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.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.4591, 116th Congress: Fixing America’s Bridges Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/4591

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2019-10-01.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr4591/BILLS-116hr4591ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:22:36Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.4591 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.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.4591 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.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.4591, 116th Congress: Fixing America’s Bridges Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/4591

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2019-10-01.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr4591/BILLS-116hr4591ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:22:36Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.4591 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.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.4591 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.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.4591, 116th Congress: Fixing America’s Bridges Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/4591

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2019-10-01.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr4591/BILLS-116hr4591ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:22:36Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.4591 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.