H.R. 8870

BUILD America 250 Act

Sponsor: Sam Graves

5 cosponsors
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Official summary

Written by the Congressional Research Service.

Building Unrivaled Infrastructure and Long-term Development for America's 250th Act or the BUILD America 250 Act

This bill authorizes federal surface transportation (highway, public transportation, and rail) programs and activities through FY2031. The bill also establishes or modifies Department of Transportation (DOT) programs and policies that are a part of the federal-aid highway, transit, highway safety, motor carrier, research, hazardous materials, and rail programs. 

For example, the bill authorizes appropriations through FY2031 out of the Highway Trust Fund for the federal-aid highway program, the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program, highway safety programs, and bridge programs. The bill also authorizes funding through FY2031 for Amtrak. Current authorization for these programs expires on September 30, 2026.

Among other provisions, the bill

  • establishes a Surface Transportation Accelerator Grant (STAG) discretionary program to fund surface transportation projects in rural, urban, local, and regional communities;
  • requires the Federal Highway Administration to impose a new annual electric vehicle (EV) registration fee, starting at $130 for a covered EV and $35 for a covered plug-in hybrid vehicle;
  • exempts automated driving system technology and equipment from vehicle width requirements;
  • establishes a consolidated state block grant program that allows DOT to allocate a lump sum to participating states to fund public transportation services in rural and urbanized areas;
  • allows state rail safety inspectors to conduct railroad bridge inspections; and
  • establishes a system for state, local, and tribal governments to report safety concerns about the condition of railroad bridges.

Text of the bill

Expand all

I Federal-Aid Highways

A Authorizations and Programs

B Improved Project Delivery and Environmental Streamlining

C Miscellaneous

II Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation

III Public Transportation

A Reforms

Sec. 3001. Purpose and declaration of policy

Section 5301 of title 49, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

Text this section adds to the law

5301. Purpose and declaration of policy

(a) General purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to foster the delivery of safe, high-quality transit services by public transportation providers to individuals, including individuals with disabilities, seniors, and individuals who depend on public transportation, including through Federal funding to public transportation systems.

(b) Declaration of policy. It is in the interest of the United States, including the economic interest of the United States, that authorities granted to the Secretary under this chapter facilitate—

(1) the safe transportation of passengers, workers, and property on public transportation systems;

(2) projects to develop and revitalize public transportation systems in a manner that—

(A) provides safe, efficient, and convenient public transportation at the lowest cost; and

(B) fosters cooperation of both public transportation companies and private companies engaged in public transportation;

(3) the development of intermodal connections between transit services and other transportation modes and systems to serve public transportation passengers efficiently and effectively;

(4) the research, development, demonstration, and deployment of projects dedicated to improving the delivery of safe and effective public transportation services;

(5) the development of the public transportation workforce;

(6) the maintenance of a state of good repair of public transportation infrastructure and vehicles;

(7) the adoption of innovative technology, concepts, and approaches to promote safety, capacity, and efficiency improvements for projects funded by a fixed guideway capital investment grant;

(8) economic development;

(9) the development and delivery of capital projects;

(10) cooperative and comprehensive planning that improves the performance of the transportation network; and

(11) technical assistance for recipients of assistance under this chapter to more effectively and efficiently provide public transportation service.

B Miscellaneous

C Reorganization and Consolidation of Chapter 53

IV Highway Safety

V Motor Carriers

A General Provisions

B Commercial Motor Vehicle Operators

C Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety

D Household Goods Shipping Consumer Protection Reform

E Safe Integration of Autonomous Commercial Motor Vehicles

VI Innovation

VII Freight and Multimodal Transportation Programs

A Freight Policy

B Multimodal Policy and Programs

VIII Miscellaneous

IX Sport Fishing and Recreational Boating Safety

X Railroads and Hazardous Materials

A Authorization of Appropriations and Grant Reforms

B Amtrak Reforms

C Passenger Rail Policy

D Rail Safety and Innovation

E Project Delivery

F Hazardous Materials Transportation