Recycled Plastic Asphalt Act
This bill directs the Department of Transportation to develop a research program to review and evaluate the use of recycled plastic modified asphalt mixtures and mixtures using additives derived from recycled plastics.
To require the Secretary of Transportation to develop a research 
  program to review and evaluate the use of recycled plastic modified 
                           asphalt mixtures.

    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 ``Recycled Plastic Asphalt Act''.

SEC. 2. RESEARCH AND EVALUATION OF RECYCLED PLASTIC MODIFIED ASPHALT.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Transportation shall develop a 
research program to review and evaluate the use of recycled plastic 
modified (referred to in this section as ``RPM'') asphalt mixtures and 
mixtures using additives derived from recycled plastics.
    (b) Research Program.--In carrying out subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall--
            (1) seek input and guidance from, and work in collaboration 
        with, the asphalt pavement and plastic industries, state 
        highway and transportation officials, state departments of 
        transportation, and representatives from academia with 
        expertise in recycling plastic modification;
            (2) evaluate the effects of RPM asphalt mixtures on long-
        term pavement performance, emissions, binder aging, plant and 
        construction operations, and re-recyclability;
            (3) use experimental sections at test tracks and 
        accelerated loading facilities to quickly gain an understanding 
        of long-term performance for RPM asphalt mixtures;
            (4) enter into cooperative agreements with institutions of 
        higher education and non-profit organizations for research and 
        technology deployment; and
            (5) conduct demonstrations and open houses on the 
        technologies incorporating RPM asphalt mixtures.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, and each year thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a report 
regarding the status of the research conducted under this section to 
the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives.
    (d) Funding.--From amounts authorized to carry out the highway 
research and development program under section 503 of title 23, United 
States Code, the Secretary shall use such funds as may be necessary to 
carry out this section.
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Recycled Plastic Asphalt Act
To require the Secretary of Transportation to develop a research program to review and evaluate the use of recycled plastic modified asphalt mixtures.
Recycled Plastic Asphalt Act
Rep. Burchett, Tim