The Constitution grants Congress the power to support interstate commerce or national defense through legislation.
Early infrastructure policy of the United States focused on internal improvements, a series of public works projects that constructed roads, canals, and other facilities to support interstate transportation.
The administrations of the department are empowered to regulate travel by sea, air, rail, and federal highways.
[4] Early transportation policy consisted of admiralty law set out by federal courts.
Congress began development of a codified federal transportation policy with the enactment of several Pacific Railroad Acts in the 1860s to support westward expansion.
[6] The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, which would later become NASA was formed in 1915 following the advent of powered air flight.
[7] Waste policy in the United States is governed by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.