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. Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall convene a transportation rulemaking committee, and designate such committee pursuant to section 102(k) of title 49, United States Code, to consider—
(1) whether pulsating light systems are compliant with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Number 108, contained in section 571.108 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations; and
(2) if there is sufficient evidence to demonstrate pulsating light systems reduce traffic crashes and associated deaths and injuries resulting from traffic crashes.
(b) Membership. The transportation rulemaking committee established under subsection (a) shall consist of members appointed by the Secretary, including—
(1) automotive industry professionals;
(2) experts in human distraction and attention;
(3) experts in vehicle technology safety;
(4) highway safety professionals; and
(5) other stakeholders the Secretary determines appropriate.
(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 a determination on if changes to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 are warranted and, if so determined, recommendations for such changes.
(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; 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.
(e) Pulsating light system defined. In this section, the term pulsating light system means a system for a high-mounted stop lamp in which—
(1) when the brake of the vehicle is applied, the lamp pulses rapidly not more than 4 times and for not more than 1.2 seconds, after which such lamp converts to a continuous light as a normal stop lamp until the time such brake is released; and
(2) the pulses described in paragraph (1) do not repeat upon a subsequent application of the brake of the vehicle for a lock-out period of at least 5 seconds after the release of the brake described in paragraph (1).
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