Values for America · Brief for congressional offices

To the office of U.S. Representative Abraham J. Hamadeh

Re: HR 10091 (119th Congress), Mueller-Keating Memorial Highway Act · Latest action (2026-08-13): Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
VFA SI Solution #261 · published 2026-08-15 · https://www.valuesforamerica.com/solutions/261
Office of record (Congress.gov): 1722 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC · (202) 225-4576

Memorial Highway Designation Cost Control and Consent Act

The measure, as described from the official record: To honor the public service of Officer Mueller and Sergeant Keating by naming a segment of the federal highway system after them.

The proposal

This Act authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to designate a specific segment of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways in the State of Missouri as the 'Mueller-Keating Memorial Highway.' The designation may be made only after the Secretary receives a formal request from the Governor of Missouri or a resolution from the Missouri General Assembly, ensuring respect for state sovereignty. The State of Missouri, or a private entity approved by the State, shall bear all costs of designing, erecting, and maintaining any signs identifying the memorial highway. No federal funds shall be used for these signs, and no state highway formula funds shall be reduced or withheld. The Secretary may accept private donations for sign construction, but only if such donations are made in compliance with federal ethics rules. The designation shall have no effect on federal-aid apportionments or any other federal highway program. If the State fails to maintain the signs or later requests removal, the Secretary may revoke the designation after providing notice and an opportunity for a hearing. The Secretary shall publish the designation in the Federal Register and submit a biennial report to Congress describing all actions taken under this Act. The authority to make new designations under this Act shall expire 10 years after the date of enactment, but any designation made before expiration shall remain in effect until the highway segment is decommissioned or the State requests revocation. This Act exercises Congress's enumerated power to regulate interstate commerce and to enact necessary and proper laws in support of the federal-aid highway system, while preserving state autonomy under the Tenth Amendment.

Operative provisions (VFA proposal)

funding source: Existing appropriations for the Office of the Secretary of Transportation, not to exceed $50,000 for administrative expenses.
funding amount: $0 in new federal funds; up to $50,000 from existing administrative accounts.
sunset years: 10 years
oversight body: Office of the Secretary of Transportation, with biennial reporting to Congress.
enforcement mechanism: Revocation of designation by the Secretary after notice and hearing if the State fails to maintain signs or requests removal; no penalty to highway funding.
effective date: Upon enactment

Constitutional basis

Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 (Commerce Clause)
Article I, Section 8, Clause 18 (Necessary and Proper Clause)
Amendment X (Reserved Powers to States)

Concerns with the measure as written:

Potential Tenth Amendment concern if states are compelled to erect and maintain signage without compensation or consent.
No clear enumerated power to directly mandate state signage, though Congress can attach conditions to federal-aid highway funds under the Commerce Clause.

Why both sides can back it (VFA’s assessment)

Honors Democratic priorities of commemorating public safety officers and investing in symbolic recognition of community heroes. Honors Republican priorities of limiting federal mandates, respecting state consent and fiscal restraint, and avoiding new spending or unfunded obligations.

Values for America is a nonpartisan, constitution-first SI think tank. This brief is informational. It is a policy proposal, not law, and it does not support or oppose any candidate or party. Full analysis and sources: https://www.valuesforamerica.com/solutions/261 · Methodology: https://www.valuesforamerica.com/methodology