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. 4016. GAO study on highway safety data quality

(a) Study. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall conduct a study on the quality of highway safety data collected and utilized for programs administered by the Secretary under title 23, United States Code, including an evaluation of the accuracy and consistency of data reported to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (in this section referred to as the FARS).

(b) Considerations. In conducting the study required under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall review—

(1) highway safety data reporting requirements and timelines;

(2) State and local law enforcement agency compliance with FARS reporting requirements, including level of adoption of the most recent Model Minimum Uniform Crash Criteria guidelines;

(3) processes undertaken by States and local law enforcement agencies to collect and report data to FARS, including underride crash data and potential inconsistencies in identifying underride crashes;

(4) the oversight mechanisms of the Secretary for data collection and quality assurance of State-submitted safety data, including protocols for—

(A) evaluating the accuracy, completeness, uniformity, integration, and accessibility of highway safety data;

(B) identifying and correcting errors in State-submitted safety data; and

(C) verifying reported data on underride crashes, including underride crashes that involve a vulnerable road user;

(5) reliability, transparency, and accountability in the use of predictive analytics, telematics, and other data-driven tools used to collect highway safety data;

(6) data security measures and protections for personally identifiable information in highway safety data systems;

(7) adherence to information dissemination quality guidelines;

(8) the effects of data quality on the ability of the Secretary to assess State safety performance targets, including such targets linked to Federal funding; and

(9) the potential effects of FARS underride crash data quality on related National Highway Traffic Safety Administration activities.

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

(1) State departments of transportation;

(2) State highway safety offices;

(3) a non-profit scientific and educational organization focused on improving highway safety and reducing roadway deaths;

(4) representatives of roadway safety advocacy organizations, including representatives of motor carrier safety organizations;

(5) local law enforcement;

(6) the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; and

(7) any other relevant stakeholders, as determined by the Comptroller General.

(d) Report. Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 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 a report on the results of the study conducted under subsection (a) and any associated recommendations.

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