Researching Innovative Shipbuilding and Next-Generation Transit Infrastructure for Durable and Efficient Systems

Hillary J. Scholten

Democrat · MI · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

No cosponsors on record. Bills can pass without cosponsors — this often means the sponsor introduced the bill alone, either because it's a messaging bill, a chairman's mark, or simply early in the legislative cycle.

Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

2026-05-21

Source: Congress.gov

The Transportation Research Board would be required to study new ship hull designs and alternative building materials that could make water-based transportation systems more efficient and able to carry larger loads. This research could help improve how barges, ferries, and other waterborne vessels operate, potentially benefiting shipping companies, ports, and communities that rely on water transportation. The bill is currently under review by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 8998 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8998 To require the Transportation Research Board to evaluate innovative hull designs and the use of alternative material construction technologies to enhance operational fleet performance and payload capacity of waterborne transit systems. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 21, 2026 Ms. Scholten introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To require the Transportation Research Board to evaluate innovative hull designs and the use of alternative material construction technologies to enhance operational fleet performance and payload capacity of waterborne transit systems. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Researching Innovative Shipbuilding and Next-Generation Transit Infrastructure for Durable and Efficient Systems''. SEC. 2. INNOVATIVE HULL DESIGNS. The Transportation Research Board shall evaluate innovative hull designs, as well as the use of alternative material construction technologies, to include the use of carbon fiber, hybrids, and other composite fiber-reinforced polymers to enhance operational fleet performance and payload capacity of waterborne transit systems. <all>

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