INTRODUCTION OF BRIDGE CORROSION PREVENTION AND REPAIR ACT Speaker: Congressman John Garamendi Publication: Congressional Record Date: 13 June 2022

  Mr. GARAMENDI. Madam Speaker, today I introduce the ``Bridge 
Corrosion Prevention and Repair Act,'' with Congressman Anthony G. 
Brown (D-MD). Our legislation is endorsed by the International Union of 
Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) and the Association for Materials 
Protection and Performance (formerly called the National Association of 
Corrosion Engineers and the Society for Protective Coatings).
  This legislation would require all federally funded bridge projects 
to use certified contractors for any corrosion control work and employ 
industry-recognized standards for corrosion mitigation and prevention. 
Specifically, my legislation would prompt State, county, and municipal 
transportation departments to employ qualified, trained corrosion 
control professionals who have completed federally registered 
apprenticeship programs.
  In July 2021, the House passed my ``Bridge Corrosion Prevention and 
Repair Act'' as Section 1116 from Chairman Peter A. DeFazio's (D-OR) 
``Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface 
Transportation (INVEST) in America Act,'' of which I was a cosponsor. 
While it was ultimately not included in the Infrastructure Investment 
and Jobs Act (Public Law 117-58), I plan to build upon Chairman 
DeFazio's' work on corrosion prevention policy and promoting 
apprenticeships.
  In the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 
(Public Law 117-81 ), I secured Section 813 (Office of Corrosion Policy 
and Oversight employee training requirements) directing the U.S. 
Department of Defense to make use of federally registered 
apprenticeship programs for training military personnel, civilian 
employees, and military construction contractors on anti-corrosion 
activities. Under my amendment to the FY2022 NOAA, the DOD's Office of 
Corrosion Policy and Oversight Employee Training Requirements is 
charged with coordinating this work.
  Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Congress and the Biden 
Administration are making the largest federal investment to modernize 
our nation's infrastructure since the Interstate Highway System was 
established in

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1956. America's corrosion professionals and union painters are ready, 
willing, and able to do the job.
  Madam Speaker, I urge all Members of the House to join me in 
cosponsoring the ``Bridge Corrosion Prevention and Repair Act.''