---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 6504"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "6504"
heading: "Incorporation of Department of Transportation research"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/6504"
units:
  - "Subtitle III — General and Intermodal Programs"
  - "Chapter 65 — Research Planning"
---

# §6504. Incorporation of Department of Transportation research

- (a) **Review.—** Not later than December 31, 2021, and not less frequently than once every 5 years thereafter, in concurrence with the applicable strategic plan under [section 6503](/usc/49/6503.md), the [Secretary](/usc/49/5102.md?p=11) of Transportation shall—
  - (1) conduct a review of research conducted by the [Department](/usc/49/6301.md?p=2) of Transportation; and
  - (2) to the maximum extent practicable and appropriate, identify modifications to laws, [regulations](/usc/49/5302.md?p=16), guidance, and other policy documents to incorporate any innovations resulting from the research described in [paragraph (1)](#a-1) that have the potential to improve the safety or efficiency of the [United States](/usc/49/5102.md?p=14) transportation system.
- (b) **Requirements.—** In conducting a review under [subsection (a)](#a), the [Secretary](/usc/49/5102.md?p=11) of Transportation shall—
  - (1) identify any innovative practices, materials, or technologies that have demonstrable benefits to the transportation system;
  - (2) determine whether the practices, materials, or technologies described in [paragraph (1)](#b-1) require any statutory or regulatory modifications for adoption; and
  - (3)
    - (A) if modifications are determined to be required under [paragraph (2)](#b-2), develop—
      - (i) a proposal for those modifications; and
      - (ii) a description of the manner in which any such regulatory modifications would be—
        - (I) incorporated into the Unified Regulatory Agenda; or
        - (II) adopted into existing [regulations](/usc/49/5302.md?p=16) as soon as practicable; or
    - (B) if modifications are determined not to be required under [paragraph (2)](#b-2), develop a description of the means by which the practices, materials, or technologies described in [paragraph (1)](#b-1) will otherwise be incorporated into [Department](/usc/49/6301.md?p=2) of Transportation or modal administration policy or guidance, including as part of the Technology Transfer Program of the Office of the Assistant [Secretary](/usc/49/5102.md?p=11) for Research and Technology.
- (c) **Report.—** On completion of each review under [subsection (a)](#a), the [Secretary](/usc/49/5102.md?p=11) of Transportation shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report describing, with respect to the period covered by the report—
  - (1) each new practice, material, or technology identified under [subsection (b)(1)](#b-1); and
  - (2) any statutory or regulatory modification for the adoption of such a practice, material, or technology that—
    - (A) is determined to be required under [subsection (b)(2)](#b-2); or
    - (B) was otherwise made during that period.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 117–58, div. B, title V, § 25016(a), Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 872.)