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
Section 6702 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
(1) in subsection (a)—
(A) in paragraph (1)—
(i) in subparagraph (B) by striking 2014 through 2018; and and inserting 2019 through 2023;;
(ii) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D); and
(iii) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:
(C) any qualified opportunity zone, as such term is defined in section 1400Z–1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and
; and
(B) in paragraph (2)(F) by inserting or a lessee of a Federal surface transportation hub after transportation function;
(2) in subsection (a)(3)(G) by striking for the purpose of improving habitat for aquatic species and inserting that is eligible under section 176(d) of title 23 and;
(3) in subsection (b)(2) by inserting surface after impact and improve;
(4) in subsection (d)—
(A) in paragraph (4)—
(i) in subparagraph (C) by striking the project has demonstrated readiness; and and inserting construction of the project is reasonably expected to begin not later than 18 months after the date on which the grant recipient is selected;;
(ii) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (E); and
(iii) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following:
(D) the project sponsor includes documentation certifying such sponsor has notified a State department of transportation if the project is located on a State-owned or State-managed transportation facility; and
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (5) through (7) as paragraphs (6) through (8), respectively; and
(C) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:
(5) Limitation. In awarding grants under the program established in subsection (b), the Secretary shall select grant recipients based only on the selection criteria described in paragraphs (3) and (4).
(5) in subsection (e)—
(A) in paragraph (2) by striking , a historically disadvantaged community,; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
(4) Pre-award authority
(A) In general. The Secretary shall provide pre-award authority for eligible pre-award activities to permit expenses to be incurred by a recipient during the period beginning on the date on which the recipient is selected and ending on the date on which the grant agreement is signed.
(B) Eligible pre-award activities. The Secretary shall make publicly available in the notice of funding opportunity the eligible pre-award activities for an award under this section which shall be similar in nature to eligible pre-award activities granted to applicants under section 5309.
(6) in subsection (f)(2)—
(A) in the heading by striking Historically disadvantaged communities and areas and inserting Areas; and
(B) by striking historically disadvantaged communities or;
(7) in subsection (g)—
(A) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and
(B) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
(2) Treatment. Amounts provided under this subsection shall not be considered a guarantee of future selection of the applicable project under the program.
(8) in subsection (j) by striking fiscal years 2022 through 2026 and inserting fiscal years 2027 through 2031; and
(9) in subsection (k)(2) by striking Not later than and all that follows through shall and inserting Not less frequently than every 2 years, the Comptroller General of the United States shall.
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