S.Amdt. 577

SA 577. Mr. SPECTER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
him to the bill H.R. 3, Reserved; which

[[Page S4344]]

was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

In section 2001(a)(5), strike ``$40,188,679'' and insert
``$50,188,679''.
In the analysis for chapter 5 of title 23, United States
Code (as added by section 2101(a)), strike the item relating
to section 512 and insert the following:

``512. University bridge research centers.
``513. Transporation analysis simulation system.

In chapter 5 of title 23, United States Code (as amended by
section 2101(a)), redesignate section 512 as section 513.
In chapter 5 of title 23, United States Code (as amended by
section 2101(a)), insert after section 511 the following:

``Sec. 512. University bridge research centers

``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish and
implement a university bridge research center program in
accordance with this section.
``(b) Purposes.--The Secretary, in coordination with
nonprofit institutions of higher learning, shall encourage
and promote specific research on--
``(1) advanced highway bridge materials and systems for
economical, rapid, and durable repair, replacement, and
protection of highway bridges; and
``(2) technology to monitor and evaluate bridge damage and
deterioration to significantly extend the useful life of
highway bridges.
``(c) Bridge Centers.--The Secretary shall make grants to
nonprofit institutions of higher learning to establish and
operate university bridge research centers.
``(d) Selection of Grant Recipients.--
``(1) Applications.--To be eligible to receive a grant
under this section, a nonprofit institution of higher
learning shall submit to the Secretary an application in such
form and containing such information as the Secretary may
require.
``(2) Selection criteria.--
``(A) In general.--Except as otherwise provided by
subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall select each recipient
of a grant under this section through a competitive process
on the basis of--
``(i) the demonstrated research and development resources
available to the recipient to carry out this section;
``(ii) the capability of the recipient to provide
leadership in making national and regional contributions to
the solution of immediate and long-range bridge deterioration
and structure problems;
``(iii) the demonstrated commitment by the recipient of at
least $200,000 in regularly budgeted institutional amounts
each year to support ongoing bridge research and education
programs;
``(iv) the demonstrated ability of the recipient to
disseminate results of bridge transportation research and
education programs through a statewide or regionwide program;
``(v) the demonstrated ability of the recipient to partner
with other institutions that have highway bridge research
expertise;
``(vi) the demonstrated ability of the recipient to conduct
analysis, laboratory testing, and field verification of
bridge design through a record of demonstration projects with
State transportation departments and private, public and
quasi-public bridge authorities;
``(vii) the demonstrated record of the recipient in
transferring technology to practitioners;
``(viii) the demonstrated record of the recipient in
testing full-scale bridge components in laboratory facilities
and implementing results in design changes and field
verification; and
``(ix) the strategic plan that the recipient proposes to
carry out under the grant.
``(B) Preference.--Preference shall be given to nonprofit
institutions of higher learning located in the 10 States with
the worst deficiencies in highway bridges, as ranked by the
2002 Federal Highway Administration National Bridge
Inventory.
``(e) Activities.--A Federal Highway Administration
university bridge transportation center that receives a grant
under this section shall conduct--
``(1) basic and applied bridge research, the products of
which are judged by peers or other experts in the field to
advance the body of knowledge in bridge longevity;
``(2) an education program that includes multidisciplinary
course work and student participation in research; and
``(3) an ongoing program of technology transfer that makes
research results available to potential users in a form that
can be implemented, used, or otherwise applied.
``(f) Federal Share.--
``(1) In general.--The Federal share of the costs of
activities carried out using a grant made under this section
shall be 50 percent.
``(2) Non-federal share.--The non-Federal share may include
funds provided to a recipient under section 503, 504(b), or
505 of title 23.
``(g) Program Coordination.--
``(1) Coordination.--The Secretary shall--
``(A) coordinate the research, education, training, and
technology transfer activities that grant recipients carry
out under this section; and
``(B) establish a clearinghouse for dissemination of the
results of the research.
``(2) Annual review and evaluation.--At least annually the
Secretary shall review and evaluate programs carried out by
grant recipients.
``(3) Funding limitation.--The Secretary shall use not more
than 1 percent of amounts made available from Government
sources to carry out this subsection.
``(h) Limitation on Availability of Funds.--Funds made
available to carry out this section shall remain available
for obligation for 2 years after the last day of the fiscal
year for which the funds are made available.
``(i) Number and Amount of Grants.--For each of fiscal
years 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009, the Secretary shall
make a grant of $2,000,000 to each of 5 nonprofit
institutions of higher education to conduct bridge
transportation research.
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