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
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
(a) In general. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a workforce development program to make grants for eligible projects to support the commercial motor vehicle workforce, including—
(1) strengthening employment opportunities for professional drivers, mechanics, and related occupations whose duties affect the safety and operation of commercial motor vehicles within the transportation industry; and
(2) training individuals to safely operate and maintain ADS-equipped commercial motor vehicles.
(b) Eligible projects. For purposes of the program established under subsection (a), an eligible project is a project—
(1) to train current commercial driver’s license holders on safe operation and maintenance of ADS-equipped commercial motor vehicles;
(2) to establish or improve a registered apprenticeship, internship, or scholarship program for individuals pursuing employment in the trucking workforce, including vehicle maintenance technicians, and interested in working with new and emerging technologies;
(3) to support targeted outreach and partnerships with the transportation industry, economic development organizations, workforce development boards, and labor organizations to support the commercial motor vehicle workforce;
(4) to support the current workforce in adapting to the impacts of new and emerging technologies on the transportation, transit, and logistics industries; and
(5) to otherwise enhance or expand the commercial motor vehicle workforce.
(c) Applications. An application for a grant made under the program established in subsection (a) may be submitted, in such form as the Secretary may specify, by—
(1) a State, local, territorial, or Tribal governmental agency;
(2) an institution of higher education or a postsecondary vocational institution;
(3) a labor organization representing commercial motor vehicle operators or mechanics and other maintenance user for commercial motor vehicles;
(4) a non-profit organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that is exempt from taxation under section 401(a) of such Code.
(d) Technical assistance. The Secretary may set aside up to 2 percent of the funds appropriated to carry out this section to provide technical assistance to eligible applicants for a grant under this section.
(e) Report. Not later than 1 year after the program is established under subsection (a), and annually thereafter, 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 a report on the administration of the program that includes—
(1) a summary of projects awarded grants under this section and the progress of each recipient towards fulfilling program expectations; and
(2) recommendations to Congress, governmental agencies, educational institutions, labor organizations representing transportation workers, the autonomous commercial motor vehicle industry, and other stakeholders to better support the commercial motor vehicle workforce.
(f) Authorization of appropriations. There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section—
(1) $27,500,000 for fiscal year 2027;
(2) $28,000,000 for fiscal year 2028;
(3) $28,600,000 for fiscal year 2029;
(4) $29,200,000 for fiscal year 2030; and
(5) $29,800,000 for fiscal year 2031.
(g) Definitions. In this section:
(1) Ads-equipped commercial motor vehicle. The term ADS-equipped commercial motor vehicle has the meaning given such term in section 31132 of title 49, United States Code.
(2) Institution of higher education. The term institution of higher education has the meaning given such term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
(3) Postsecondary vocational institution. The term postsecondary vocational institution has the meaning given such term in section 102(c) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002(c)).
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