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

V Motor Carriers

A General Provisions

B Commercial Motor Vehicle Operators

Sec. 5108. Pre-trip vehicle inspection testing waiver

(a) In general. Notwithstanding the requirements of section 383.113(a)(1) of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, a State may waive the engine compartment pre-trip vehicle inspection skills testing requirement, set forth in section 383.113(a)(1)(i) of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, for a commercial driver’s license applicant seeking to operate a school bus or vehicle for use in public transportation only in—

(1) intrastate commerce; or

(2) interstate commerce—

(A) if the operation of such bus or vehicle occurs within a 150-air mile radius from the point of origination; and

(B) each State in which such operation occurs has elected to issue a waiver under this section to applicants seeking a commercial driver’s license by such State.

(b) Conditions. Prior to issuing a waiver described in subsection (a), a State shall ensure, at a minimum, that the following conditions are met:

(1) A State’s driver’s licensing agency shall document for recordkeeping purposes the names and commercial driver’s license numbers of operators issued a commercial driver’s license under the waiver.

(2) The commercial driver’s license credential shall conform to the requirements under subpart J of part 383 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation).

(3) When issuing a restricted commercial driver’s license with school bus or passenger endorsements pursuant to such waiver, a State shall—

(A) continue to comply with the applicable provisions set forth in section 383.73 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation); and

(B) place a school bus-only or transit bus-only restriction on the commercial driver’s license in accordance with section 383.153(a)(10)(ix) of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation).

(4) A State shall conduct the remaining pre-trip vehicle inspection components of the skills test for drivers subject to such waiver, as set forth in section 383.113(a)(1)(ii-ix) of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation).

(c) Data collection. For each calendar year through 2031 in which a State has issued the waiver described in subsection (a), the State shall provide a report to the Secretary containing—

(1) the number of operators who obtained commercial driver’s licenses under such waiver; and

(2) data relating to any safety incidents involving an operator issued a commercial driver’s license under such waiver.

(d) Definitions. In this section:

(1) Commercial driver’s license. The term commercial driver’s license has the meaning given such term in section 31301 of title 49, United States Code.

(2) Public transportation. The term public transportation has the meaning given such term in section 5302 of title 49, United States Code.

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