Clear the ROADS Act

H.R. 3880, the Clear the ROADS Act, would add a new provision to title 23 of the United States Code requiring the Secretary of Transportation to withhold a portion of federal highway funds from states that do not make “reasonable efforts” to prevent certain individuals from knowingly and recklessly blocking or obstructing lawful vehicle transportation on Federal-aid highways in a way that endangers public safety or health. The act defines “roadway obstruction” and sets a 10 percent withholding of apportioned funds to each state (drawn from specific parts of existing federal highway funding) unless the Secretary certifies that the state has met the obstruction-prevention requirement. The Secretary would issue implementing regulations within 180 days of enactment, and withholding would begin on a date tied to the issuance of regulations or a state’s legislative session, with annual withholdings each October 1 thereafter until compliance is certified. Shortly, the bill creates a federal financial incentive for states to curb roadway obstructions by non-government workers or participants, aiming to reduce roadway blockages that threaten public safety during federally funded highway operations.