HR5886-119

What This Bill Does

The Warrior Road Act ties highway planning and funding to defense readiness. Within one year, the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Secretary of War, must send Congress and every Member of Congress an electronic report listing highway improvement projects that would promote national defense and are designated as important to national defense under title 23. The list must include at least three of the highest priority projects in each State. The bill then requires the Secretary of Transportation, when awarding discretionary grants under title 23, to give priority to projects designated as important to national defense under section 210 and projects designated under section 311. It also makes eligibility for section 104 highway funds contingent on a State or metropolitan planning organization ensuring that it will give priority to those national-defense highway projects.

Who Benefits and How

Military logistics and readiness planners benefit because every State must have at least three priority defense-related highway projects identified. State highway projects designated as important to national defense benefit from priority in DOT discretionary grant awards. Metropolitan planning organizations with defense corridor projects benefit if their plans align with section 210 or section 311 designations. Members of Congress benefit from an electronic State-by-State project list for oversight and advocacy.

Who Bears the Burden and How

DOT highway program staff must compile the national-defense project report, consult with the Secretary of War, and incorporate priority rules into discretionary grant awards. The Secretary of War must help identify highway improvements that promote national defense. States and metropolitan planning organizations must prioritize designated defense projects to remain eligible for section 104 fund disbursement. Non-defense highway projects may face lower priority for discretionary grants and planning attention.

Key Provisions

• Requires a DOT report within one year listing highway improvement projects that promote national defense and are designated important to national defense.
• Requires the report to include at least three highest priority projects in each State and to be sent electronically to every Member of Congress.
• Requires DOT to prioritize section 210 and section 311 national-defense projects when awarding discretionary title 23 grants.
• Requires States and metropolitan planning organizations to prioritize designated national-defense projects to remain eligible for section 104 fund disbursement.