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

C Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety

D Household Goods Shipping Consumer Protection Reform

Sec. 5305. Household goods consumer protection working group

(a) Establishment. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a working group to develop findings and recommendations on the modernization of Federal consumer protection regulations relating to the interstate transportation of household goods by a motor carrier, including such transportation that is arranged by a broker of household goods.

(b) Membership. The working group shall be comprised of—

(1) individuals with expertise in consumer affairs;

(2) representatives of household goods motor carriers;

(3) representatives of household goods brokers;

(4) representatives of State moving and storage associations;

(5) representatives of consumer organizations;

(6) representatives from truck safety organizations; and

(7) other stakeholders the Secretary determines appropriate.

(c) Recommendations. The working group established under this section shall analyze and make recommendations regarding—

(1) the effect of technology and consumer purchasing habits in the sale and servicing of interstate shipments of household goods;

(2) the number, type, and elements of paperwork required of carriers and shippers in interstate transportation;

(3) the use of state-of-the-art education techniques and technologies, including the internet and artificial intelligence;

(4) the status of the implementation of the recommendations included in the report Recommendations to Improves Household Goods Consumer Education, issued pursuant to section 5503 of the FAST Act (Public Law 114–94); and

(5) the impact and frequency of name spoofing whereby a registered entity seeks to take advantage of consumers by registering under a name that is deceptively similar to an established registered entity.

(d) Report. Not later than 1 year after the date on which the working group is established under this section, the working group shall submit to the Secretary a report that includes a summary of the findings and recommendations developed under subsection (c).

(e) Recommendations. Not later than 18 months 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 and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate—

(1) a summary of the findings and recommendations of 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;

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

(C) a notification if the Secretary lacks the statutory authority to implement such recommendation.

(f) Termination. The working group shall terminate 1 year after the date on which the working group submits the report under subsection (d).

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