,i #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #ceig ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,november #ba1 #bjac,ms4 ,edwards introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure ,a ,,bill ,to require public employees to perform the inspection of ,state and local surface transportation projects1 and related essential public functions1 to ensure public safety1 the cost-effective use of transportation funding1 and timely project delivery4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,safety1 ,efficiency1 and ,accountability in ,transportation ,projects ,through ,public ,inspection ,act of #bjac4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,public inspectors serve as the eyes1 ears1 and voice of the public on ,state and local surface transportation projects and help ensure that construction and seismic standards are met1 that projects meet safety requirements1 and that the materials used will stand the test of time4 7#b7 ,public inspectors on ,state and local surface transportation projects ensure that tax-paying motorists get what they pay for and public safety and the public interest are considered first and foremost4 7#c7 ,outsourcing public inspection functions on ,state and local surface transportation projects eliminates a representative of the public from the construction site and puts a private company in charge of inspecting the work of the private construction company1 creating multiple conflicts of interest4 7#d7 ,a private inspector's primary obligation and responsibility is not to the public1 but to the success and profitability of the inspector's company4 ,because the private construction company whose work they are inspecting on one project may be a business partner on a future project1 private inspectors are likely to feel pressure from the private contractor to take steps that ensure larger profits for both firms4 7#e7 ,these conflicts of interest may lead private inspectors to cut corners and overlook problems that threaten public safety1 increase costs1 and delay projects4 7#f7 ,across the ,united ,states1 transportation agencies have outsourced public inspection functions with disastrous results4 ,examples of the dangers of outsourcing include the following3 ,boston's ,big ,dig 7where a concrete slab from a tunnel ceiling fell and killed a woman71 the ,los ,angeles ,redline subway 7,hollywood ,boulevard collapsed71 and the ,connecticut ,i-#hd project 7hundreds of drains that lead nowhere74 7#g7 ,commuters and taxpayers are best served by requiring public inspection on ,state and local surface transportation projects to protect public safety1 use transportation revenues cost effectively1 and deliver projects on time4 #c4 ,public inspection ,public employees shall carry out the construction inspection functions for all surface transportation projects receiving ,federal funding4 #d4 ,definitions ,in this ,act1 the following definitions apply3 7#a7 ,construction inspection functions ,the term construction inspection functions means construction engineering1 contract administration1 quality control inspection1 materials testing1 and resident engineer and assistant resident engineer functions4 7#b7 ,public employee ,the term public employee means an employee of a ,federal1 ,state1 or local government4 7#c7 ,surface transportation project ,the term surface transportation project means a project receiving assistance under title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code1 a capital project 7as defined in section #ecjb of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code71 and any other project related to surface transportation that the ,secretary of ,transportation determines appropriate4