H.R. 8870

BUILD America 250 Act

Sponsor: Sam Graves

5 cosponsors
Follow this bill

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

C Reorganization and Consolidation of Chapter 53

IV Highway Safety

Sec. 4008. Highway safety program effectiveness transportation rulemaking committee

(a) Establishment. Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a transportation rulemaking committee, and designate such committee pursuant to section 102(k) of title 49, United States Code, to—

(1) analyze the efficiency and effectiveness of the administration of highway safety grants under chapter 4 of title 23, United States Code; and

(2) recommend regulatory changes to promote a unified, data-driven approach to the reduction and elimination of traffic fatalities and serious injuries under part 1200 of title 23, Code of Federal Regulations.

(b) Membership. The transportation rulemaking committee established under subsection (a) shall consist of the following members appointed by the Secretary:

(1) Traffic safety industry professionals.

(2) Representatives from up to 4 State highway safety offices from different geographic regions.

(3) Roadway safety advocates, including—

(A) at least 1 representative of an anti-impaired driving advocacy organization;

(B) at least 1 representative of a general roadway safety advocacy organization;

(C) at least 1 representative of a nonmotorized safety advocacy organization; and

(D) at least 1 representative of a motorcyclist safety advocacy organization.

(4) At least 1 representative of a State law enforcement organization.

(5) At least 1 member of local government or a local government advocacy organization.

(c) Report. Not later than 1 year after the date on which the transportation rulemaking committee under subsection (a) is established, the transportation rulemaking committee shall submit to the Secretary a report detailing the findings and recommendations developed under subsection (a), including recommendations to—

(1) streamline review and approval procedures of State highway safety plans under subpart B of part 1200 of title 23, Code of Federal Regulations; and

(2) reduce the administrative resources necessary for compliance with grant requirements under subpart D of such part.

(d) Recommendations. Not later than 90 days after the date on which the Secretary receives the report under subsection (c), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate—

(1) a summary of the findings and recommendations under the report, including—

(A) if applicable, any dissenting positions on the findings and the rationale for each position; and

(B) any disagreements with the recommendations, including the rationale for each disagreement and the reasons for the disagreement; and

(2) for each recommendation—

(A) the Secretary intends to implement, a description of the implementation plan of the Secretary and timeline for implementation; and

(B) the Secretary does not intend to implement, an explanation as to why the Secretary does not intend to implement such recommendation.

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