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
B Miscellaneous
(a) In general. Solely for purposes of administering part 655 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation), the Secretary may not consider a driver for a transportation network company or a taxicab service to be a covered individual, unless a recipient that is a contractee of such transportation network company or taxicab service fails to—
(1) make available to a customer for each ride more than 1 company providing transportation services, including by a transportation network company, a taxicab service, or a provider of public transportation; and
(2) provide a written or verbal explanation to the customer on the differences between the alcohol and controlled substances testing requirements, as applicable, for drivers of each company providing transportation services, including providers of public transportation, made available to the customer.
(b) Limitation on transportation services provided under special rule. A recipient of financial assistance under section 5307, 5308, 5309, or 5311 of title 49, United States Code, that enters into an agreement with a transportation network company or a taxicab service to provide transportation services described in subsection (a) shall ensure that such transportation services solely serve to supplement, not supplant, fixed route or route-based public transportation provided by the recipient.
(c) Definitions. In this section:
(1) Covered individual. The term covered individual means—
(A) an employee of a recipient receiving financial assistance described in section 5331(b) of title 49, United States Code; and
(B) a contractor of a recipient of financial assistance under section 5307, 5308, 5309, or 5311 of such title.
(2) Public transportation. The term public transportation has the meaning given such term in section 5302 of title 49, United States Code.
(3) Taxicab service. The term taxicab service has the meaning given the term in section 13102 of title 49, United States Code.
(4) Transportation network company. The term transportation network company means a corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, or other entity that uses a digital network to connect individuals to drivers for prearranged transportation services, as defined under applicable State or local law.
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