Negating Neighborhood Noise Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 8717 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8717 To amend the National Highway System Designation Act of 1995 to permit the construction of certain noise barriers with funds from the Highway Trust Fund, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 7, 2026 Ms. Williams of Georgia (for herself, Mr. Himes, Ms. Norton, and Mr. Casten) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the National Highway System Designation Act of 1995 to permit the construction of certain noise barriers with funds from the Highway Trust Fund, and for other purposes. 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 ``Negating Neighborhood Noise Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. PERMITTING USE OF HIGHWAY TRUST FUND FOR CONSTRUCTION OF CERTAIN NOISE BARRIERS. Section 339(b) of the National Highway System Designation Act of 1995 (23 U.S.C. 109 note) is amended to read as follows: ``(1) General rule.--No funds made available out of the Highway Trust Fund may be used to construct a Type II noise barrier (as defined by section 772.5 of title 23, Code of Federal Regulations) pursuant to subsections (h) and (i) of section 109 of title 23, United States Code. ``(2) Exceptions.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to construction or preservation of a Type II noise barrier if such a barrier-- ``(A) was not part of a project approved by the Secretary before November 28, 1995; ``(B) is proposed along lands that were developed or were under substantial construction before approval of the acquisition of the rights-of-ways for, or construction of, the existing highway; o