This legislation amends Title 23 of the United States Code to require that public employees perform construction inspection functions for federally funded highway projects. This encompasses crucial tasks such as construction engineering, contract administration, on-site quality control inspection, and materials testing, ensuring direct governmental oversight of infrastructure quality and safety. An exception permits State or local transportation agencies to use temporary consultant contracts if they lack adequate existing or obtainable public staff. These temporary contracts are strictly limited to a maximum duration of 12 months from their award date. Agencies utilizing this exception must submit annual reports to the Secretary of Transportation, detailing the services provided by consultants and justifying the need, with these reports subsequently made public for transparency.