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. 3008. Formula grants for enhanced mobility of seniors and individuals with disabilities

(a) Transfer of section 3006(b) of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act. Section 3006(b) of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. 5310 note) is transferred to appear as section 5310(j) of title 49, United States Code.

(b) Amendments. Section 5310(j) of title 49, United States Code, as transferred by subsection (a), is amended—

(1) in the subsection heading by striking Pilot;

(2) by striking paragraph (1);

(3) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (6) as (1) through (5), respectively;

(4) in paragraph (1), as so redesignated—

(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) by striking eligible recipients and inserting recipients;

(B) in subparagraph (B) by striking and at the end;

(C) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D); and

(D) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following new subparagraph:

Text this section adds to the law

(C) projects that improve access to a facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs or an organization or a facility that provides services to veterans using funds provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs; and

(5) in paragraph (2), as so redesignated—

(A) by striking An eligible recipient and inserting A recipient; and

(B) by striking eligible project in each place it occurs and inserting capital project;

(6) by striking paragraph (3), as so redesignated, and inserting:

Text this section adds to the law

(3) Briefing. Annually during the period between October 1 and December 31, the Secretary shall brief the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate on projects carried out during the most recently completed fiscal year using grant funds issued under this subsection, including—

(A) an evaluation of the program under this subsection, including an evaluation of the specific performance measures identified by each recipient pursuant to paragraph (2)(D); and

(B) if applicable, a detailed description of each project, including any activities therein, carried out during such fiscal year using grant funds issued under this subsection.

(7) in paragraph (4), as so redesignated, by striking an eligible project in each place it occurs and inserting a capital project; and

(8) in paragraph (5), as so redesignated, by striking chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code and inserting this chapter.

(c) Additional amendments. Section 5310 of title 49, United States Code, is further amended—

(1) in subsection (b)(1)(A) by striking special; and

(2) in subsection (d)(3)(B)(ii) by striking highways program and all that follows through the period and inserting transportation program under section 203 of title 23..

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