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

B Miscellaneous

Sec. 3113. GAO study on transit system rider safety

(a) In general. Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall initiate a study to assess the efforts of the Federal Transit Administration to improve rider safety on federally-funded public transit systems, including efforts to prevent assaults, harassment, and other security threats to passengers and transit employees.

(b) Considerations. In conducting the study required under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall assess the following matters related to transit system safety:

(1) National data trends and insights into the causes, risks, and consequences of transit-related assaults.

(2) The primary Federal funding sources used for transit system safety and security improvements.

(3) The effectiveness of common risk reduction strategies to improve safety, including—

(A) de-escalation training, trauma-informed responses, and passenger safety protocols;

(B) vehicle design standards, including bus driver workstation barriers;

(C) transit rider education and awareness campaigns;

(D) bus stop design standards;

(E) the deployment of law enforcement officers or transit ambassadors; and

(F) partnerships with mental health professionals.

(4) The extent to which there are barriers to the implementation of safety improvements and challenges transit operators face in improving safety, which may include—

(A) limitations on eligible use of Federal assistance;

(B) transit agency financial constraints, including as a result of changes in Federal, State, and local assistance;

(C) the effectiveness of risk mitigation strategies that transit agencies have adopted;

(D) procurement barriers; and

(E) coordination between Federal agencies, local agencies, social service providers and local law enforcement agencies.

(c) Consultation. In conducting the study required under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall consult with—

(1) State transportation officials;

(2) academic experts in transportation safety, criminology, and public health; and

(3) representatives of—

(A) transit operators, including, as applicable, transit police or contracted security of such operators;

(B) transit riders; and

(C) urban, rural, and Tribal transit agencies.

(d) Report to Congress. Not later than 1 year after the date of the initiation of the study described under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate a report on the results of the study conducted under subsection (a).

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