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
C Reorganization and Consolidation of Chapter 53
IV Highway Safety
(a) In general. Section 404 of title 23, United States Code, is amended—
(1) in subsection (a) by striking 2022 through 2026 and inserting 2027 through 2031;
(2) in subsection (b) by adding at the end the following:
(3) Reduce motor vehicle speeding in excess of the posted speed limit.
(3) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (i); and
(4) by inserting after subsection (e) the following:
(f) School bus safety campaign
(1) In general. The Secretary shall establish and implement a public safety messaging campaign that uses public safety media messages, posters, digital media messages, and other media messages distributed to States, State departments of motor vehicles, schools, and other public outlets to—
(A) highlight the importance of addressing the illegal passing of school buses; and
(B) educate students and the public regarding the safe loading and unloading of school buses.
(2) Consultation. In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consult with—
(A) representatives of the school bus industry from the public and private sectors;
(B) State highway safety offices; and
(C) any other stakeholder determined appropriate by the Secretary.
(3) Requirements. In producing and distributing the national public safety messaging campaign under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—
(A) include television advertising and advertising time on key national broadcasts with a wide audience as part of the campaign;
(B) include radio, social media, and edge service advertising as part of the campaign; and
(C) ensure that the campaign is not limited to digital downloads or regional distribution.
(4) Updates. The Secretary shall periodically update the materials used in the campaign under paragraph (1).
(5) Advertising. The Secretary may use, or authorize the use of, funds made available to carry out this section to pay for the development, production, and use of broadcast and print media advertising and internet-based outreach for the education campaign under paragraph (1).
(g) Car seat safety campaign
(1) In general. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the BUILD America 250 Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall carry out an education campaign on the dangers associated with noncompliant or counterfeit child restraint systems, including—
(A) information on car seats and booster seats that do not meet Federal safety standards under sections 571.213 and 571.213b of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulations; and
(B) methods for identifying and avoiding such systems.
(2) Advertising. The Secretary may use, or authorize the use of, funds made available to carry out this section to pay for the development, production, and use of broadcast, print, and digital advertising and outreach for the education campaign under paragraph (1).
(3) Coordination. In carrying out the education campaign under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall coordinate with—
(A) interested State and local governments;
(B) private industry; and
(C) other parties, as determined by the Secretary.
(h) Traffic safety enforcement center of excellence
(1) Establishment. Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the BUILD America 250 Act, the Secretary shall establish, in coordination with relevant Federal agencies, a Traffic Safety Enforcement Center of Excellence (referred to in this subsection as the Center).
(2) Purpose. The purpose of the Center shall be to provide technical assistance to State highway safety offices and law enforcement agencies on maximizing efficient and effective traffic safety enforcement of hazardous driving behaviors to reduce fatalities and injuries on public roads.
(3) Partnerships. In establishing the Center, the Secretary shall enter into appropriate partnerships with any institution of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) or public or private research entity.
(4) Duties. The duties of the Center shall include—
(A) providing State highway safety offices and law enforcement agencies with expertise, tools, and support relating to traffic safety enforcement;
(B) promoting evidence-based strategies and best practice protocols for enforcement against hazardous driving, including targeted, cost-effective drunk-driving patrols, alcohol- and drug-impaired driving, speeding, and distracted driving enforcement, and coordinated traffic safety campaigns proven to reduce roadway fatalities and injuries;
(C) assisting State highway safety offices and law enforcement agencies with—
(i) using real-time data systems to identify high-crash corridors and target enforcement resources in the most efficient manner, including by delivering standardized training;
(ii) assessing current enforcement practices and identifying gaps in enforcement; and
(iii) leveraging programs under section 402 by providing technical assistance on program development and outcome measurement tools;
(D) assessing and demonstrating new roadside technologies, data-driven deployment models, and enforcement strategies, and sharing the results of such assessments and demonstrations to increase adoption of effective tools; and
(E) collaborating with, and providing support on, traffic safety enforcement to all operating administrations of the Department.
(5) Funding. The Secretary shall obligate from funds made available to carry out this section for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 not more than $5,000,000 to establish the Center.
(b) Report on staffing needs. Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall report to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee of Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on staffing needs and the staffing plan for the Traffic Safety Enforcement Center of Excellence established under section 404(h) of title 23, United States Code (as added by this section), including a plan to appoint detailees from relevant modal operating administrations to support the staff of such Center of Excellence.
(c) Conforming amendment. Section 24110 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (23 U.S.C. 402 note) is amended by striking subsection (b).
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