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

C Reorganization and Consolidation of Chapter 53

IV Highway Safety

Sec. 4009. Establishment of roadway worker protection interagency working group

(a) Establishment. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish or designate an interagency working group to make recommendations regarding the protection of roadway workers.

(b) Membership. The interagency working group under subsection (a) shall be comprised of representatives from—

(1) the Federal Highway Administration;

(2) the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration;

(3) the Occupational Safety and Health Administration; and

(4) such other Federal agencies as the Secretary determines appropriate.

(c) Duties. The interagency working group under subsection (a) shall—

(1) review and analyze any limitations regarding data collection for fatal and non-fatal motor vehicle crashes in work zones; and

(2) provide recommendations to—

(A) address any limitations in data collection identified under paragraph (1);

(B) increase the use and effectiveness of work zone safety contingency funds;

(C) encourage local adoption of the Model Minimum Uniform Crash Criteria;

(D) improve local data sharing on work zone crashes with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; and

(E) update educational materials and public awareness campaigns to improve work zone safety.

(d) Consultation. In conducting the activities under subsection (c), the interagency working group shall consult with—

(1) State transportation officials;

(2) non-governmental entities, including—

(A) roadway contractors;

(B) roadway pavers;

(C) roadway engineers;

(D) representatives from labor organizations representing transportation workers; and

(E) traffic safety industry professionals; and

(3) any other stakeholders the Secretary determines appropriate.

(e) Report. Not later than 1 year after the date on which the interagency working group is established under subsection (a), the interagency working group shall submit to the Secretary a report on the recommendations of the working group based on the identification and analysis under subsection (c).

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

(1) a summary of the findings and recommendations under the report; 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.

(g) Termination. The interagency working group under subsection (a) shall terminate on the date that is 180 days after the date on which the Secretary receives the report under subsection (e).

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