H.R. 5310House115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

Municipal Infrastructure Savings and Transparency Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 8:55 PM UTC

The Municipal Infrastructure Savings and Transparency Act lets engineers on federally funded infrastructure projects pick construction materials based on how well they perform, rather than being tied to strict federal procurement rules. It requires clear performance specs in bidding documents and stops states or local governments from restricting material choices. The bill also sets up a task force to examine how material competition works and to suggest ways to remove barriers and encourage innovation.

Key Provisions

Allows state or local engineers working on projects funded by the Federal Highway Administration, Army Corps of Engineers, EPA, or USDA to choose construction materials based on performance needs rather than being limited by federal procurement rules.
Requires that requests for proposals clearly describe the performance requirements for materials, ensuring open competition among suppliers.
Prohibits states or localities from blocking engineers from using any material that meets those performance requirements.
Creates an interagency task force (Transportation, EPA, Army Civil Works, Agriculture) to study competition for materials in federally‑funded infrastructure projects and to recommend ways to remove barriers to innovative or new materials.
Mandates that the task force deliver a comprehensive report within one year, covering current procurement practices, identified barriers, and suggested federal actions to promote open, competitive bidding.

Legislative Activity

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6 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Research and Technology.

Research and Technology Subcommittee

May 22, 2018

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 15, 2018

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, Agriculture, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

March 15, 2018

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.

Highways and Transit Subcommittee

March 16, 2018

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee

March 16, 2018

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment.

Environment Subcommittee

March 16, 2018

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment.

Environment Subcommittee

May 22, 2018

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Research and Technology.

Research and Technology Subcommittee

May 22, 2018

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about H.R. 5310 on the floor

1 Republican

Rep. Jeff DuncanR-SC-3 · Apr 24, 2018

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to have my name removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 5310.

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued March 15, 2018

115th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 5310

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 15, 2018

Mr. Babin (for himself, Mr. Huizenga, Mr. Norman, Mr. Higgins of Louisiana, Mr. Weber of Texas, Mr. Duncan of South Carolina, Mr. Yoder, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Webster of Florida, Mr. Perry, Mr. Sanford, and Mr. Chabot) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, Agriculture, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To waive certain procurement provisions for a project that receives funds from certain Federal agencies.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Municipal Infrastructure Savings and Transparency Act.

Waiver of certain procurement requirements

(a)

In general

Notwithstanding Federal procurement requirements, an engineer, in accordance with State and local procurement requirements, for a public agency that receives funds from the Federal Highway Administration, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Environmental Protection Agency, or the Department of Agriculture shall have maximum flexibility to select appropriate construction materials that meet the performance requirements of the contract and that allows open and free competition among suppliers of construction materials.

(b)

Construction material

After the date of enactment of this Act, a State or local government may not prohibit or restrict any engineer referenced in subsection (a), from using a particular construction material. Before a procurement is made, a clear description of the performance requirements for construction materials shall be disclosed in the request for proposals.

(c)

No restriction

Nothing in this section shall limit the professional judgment of a project engineer to specify or select any acceptable material based on the performance requirements for a particular project.

Interagency task force

(a)

Establishment of task force

Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works and the Secretary of Agriculture shall establish an interagency task force.

(b)

Comprehensive report

Not later than 1 year after the establishment of the interagency task force under subsection (a), the task force shall issue a comprehensive report that includes the following for federally-funded infrastructure projects:

(1)

Reviews of competition for materials in infrastructure projects and how States are succeeding or failing in ensuring that the bidding process allows for innovative materials to be incorporated into new projects.

(2)

Identifies procurement practices at the State and local level that are an artificial barrier to competition for new and innovative materials.

(3)

Provides recommendations for eliminating any barriers identified in paragraph (2) and how the Federal Government can help ensure open competition and competitive bidding processes for all materials used in federally-funded infrastructure projects.

(4)

Reviews how States approve materials and make material recommendations at the local level via pre-approved lists.