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
VI Innovation
VII Freight and Multimodal Transportation Programs
A Freight Policy
B Multimodal Policy and Programs
(a) In general. Chapter 55 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 5501 the following:
5502. Transportation assistance for international games
(a) Definitions. In this section:
(1) Covered event
(A) In general. The term covered event means an event that—
(i) in the determination of the Secretary, is a multiday international sporting event, including—
(I) an Olympic, Paralympic, or Special Olympics event;
(II) a FIFA Women’s World Cup event; and
(III) a FIFA World Cup event;
(ii) is held at a site located in a State that has been selected by an internationally recognized governing body for the sporting event to hold such event; and
(iii) is not regularly held at such site.
(B) Treatment of multiple events. More than 1 event described in subparagraph (A), occurring in the same stadium, city, metropolitan planning area (as defined in section 5331), or metropolitan statistical area (as designated by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget), shall be treated as part of the same overall competition, sporting event, or grouping of competitions or sporting events and shall be considered to be 1 covered event.
(2) Eligible entity. The term eligible entity means—
(A) a State or local government entity or Indian Tribe hosting a covered event;
(B) a State or local government entity or Indian Tribe that—
(i) is supporting a covered event; and
(ii) has jurisdiction over an area that is located within a 100-mile radius of the location in which the applicable covered event is being held;
(C) a metropolitan planning organization (as such term is defined in section 5331) that serves an area that is under the jurisdiction of a State, Indian Tribe, or unit of local government described in subparagraph (A) or (B);
(D) an entity eligible to receive a grant under section 24911 that operates intercity passenger rail service within a 100-mile radius of the location in which the applicable covered event is being held; or
(E) the sponsor of an airport—
(i) receiving a grant under subchapter I of chapter 471; and
(ii) that is located within a 100-mile radius of the location in which the applicable covered event is being held.
(3) Eligible project. The term eligible project means—
(A) a transportation project that is eligible for assistance under any provision of this title or title 23 and that the applicant certifies—
(i) will assist with the movement of individuals and goods for the applicable covered event; or
(ii) will mitigate or prevent any adverse effects from the transportation changes resulting from a covered event; or
(B) a transportation planning activity that the applicant certifies will assist with the movement of individuals and goods for the applicable covered event.
(4) Indian Tribe. The term Indian Tribe has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
(5) Secretary. The term Secretary means the Secretary of Transportation.
(6) State. The term State has the meaning given such term in section 5302.
(b) Grants for transportation projects relating to international games
(1) In general. For each fiscal year in which appropriations are provided to carry out this section, the Secretary may make grants under this section to eligible entities to carry out an eligible project.
(2) Prohibition. A grant under this section may not be used by an eligible entity for any activities related to preparing or submitting a bid to be selected to host a covered event.
(3) Award requirements
(A) In general. Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall, with respect to a project funded by a grant under this section, apply—
(i) the requirements of title 23 to a highway, road, or bridge project;
(ii) the requirements of chapter 53 to a transit project; or
(iii) the requirements of section 22905 to a rail project.
(B) Requirements for airports. The requirements described under chapters 501 and 471 shall apply to any project carried out by an eligible entity described in subsection (a)(2)(E) with amounts made available under this section.
(4) Authorization of appropriations. There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section, to remain available until expended—
(A) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2027;
(B) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2028;
(C) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2029;
(D) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2030; and
(E) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2031.
(c) Transportation planning activities. The Secretary shall provide technical and planning assistance to recipients of a grant under this section, including—
(1) by assisting State or local governmental entities, metropolitan planning organizations, and Indian Tribes with the development of intermodal transportation plans relating to a covered event;
(2) by facilitating and incentivizing programs to temporarily pool and share, for the duration of a covered event, buses and related equipment among State and local governmental entities, Indian Tribes, and other governmental and nongovernmental entities;
(3) by expediting review and comment of any required submissions to the Secretary relating to a covered event;
(4) by assisting with the coordination of transportation planning efforts between governments and the private sector; and
(5) by providing any other technical or planning assistance the Secretary determines to be necessary.
(b) Clerical amendment. The analysis for chapter 55 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 5501 the following:
5502. Transportation assistance for international games.
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