H.R. 8870
BUILD America 250 Act
Sponsor: Sam Graves
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
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
(a) In general. Section 5318 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
(1) in subsection (a)—
(A) by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and;
(B) by striking facility for and inserting facility for—
(C) by striking testing and inserting (1) testing; and
(D) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(2) in the case that a bus model is equipped with an automated driving system (as defined in section 31132), testing for the competencies described under section 31140(b)(1)(B)(x).
(2) in subsection (d)—
(A) by striking 80 percent and inserting 60 percent; and
(B) by striking 20 percent and inserting 40 percent;
(3) in subsection (e)—
(A) in paragraph (1)—
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting described in this section after model; and
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking authorized under subsection (a) and inserting maintained under subsection (a) or authorized for testing pursuant to subsection (g); and
(B) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
(2) Bus test pass/fail standard
(A) In general. The Secretary shall—
(i) maintain the performance standards under paragraph (1)(B)(i) that includes—
(I) a bus model scoring system that results in a weighted, aggregate score that uses the testing categories under subsection (a); and
(II) consideration of the relative importance of each such testing category; and
(ii) establish a pass/fail standard that uses the aggregate score described in clause (i)(I).
(B) Limitation on use of funds
(i) New bus models. Amounts appropriated or otherwise made available under this chapter may be obligated or expended to acquire a new bus model only if such model has received a passing score under the standard established under subparagraph (A)(ii).
(ii) Rule of interpretation. Such a passing score shall not be interpreted by any person or entity as a warranty or guarantee that a new bus model meet any specific requirement of a purchaser.
(C) Scoring system. The Secretary shall collaborate with the bus testing facility maintained under subsection (a), bus manufacturers, and transit agencies to develop and update, as appropriate, the bus model scoring system described in subparagraph (A)(i)(I).
; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
(g) Advanced bus technologies and testing
(1) In general. The Secretary may, through the facility maintained under subsection (a), subcontract the testing of new bus models equipped with advanced bus technologies, including new bus models equipped with automated driving systems, for each of the testing categories and competencies listed under subsection (a) to a person or entity experienced in testing such new bus models, provided such person or entity is not a manufacturer of a new bus model equipped with such advanced bus technologies.
(2) Location of testing. The testing described in paragraph (1) may be conducted at a facility other than the facility maintained under subsection (a) if the Secretary has determined that the facility maintained under subsection (a)—
(A) is not equipped to test such new bus models;
(B) does not have the knowledge or expertise to properly and efficiently test such new bus models; or
(C) would, due to the additional testing of such new bus models, experience unreasonable delays in the testing of bus models that are not equipped with advanced bus technologies.
(3) Savings clause. In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary shall ensure that the testing of bus models without advanced bus technologies under this section is not adversely affected.
(b) Rulemaking. Not later than 36 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall update part 665 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, as necessary, to implement the amendments made by this section.
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