To amend title 23, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish national tunnel inspection standards for the proper safety inspection and evaluation of all highway tunnels, and for other purposes.

H.R. 409 would require the Department of Transportation to create the first set of national safety standards specifically for highway tunnels, ensuring they are inspected and evaluated consistently across the country. The bill would establish a formal certification program for tunnel inspectors and create a national inventory to track the condition of all tunnels on public roads. For citizens, this legislation aims to improve commuter safety and infrastructure reliability by providing dedicated federal funding for tunnel repairs and ensuring that potential structural issues are identified and addressed before they become hazards.