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
VIII Miscellaneous
(a) Regulation of solid waste rail transfer facilities. Section 10908(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting a comma after (42 U.S.C. 6903(29)).
(b) Situations requiring immediate action to serve the public. Section 11123(f) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking section 24102(4) and inserting section 24102.
(c) Chapter 117 analysis. The analysis for chapter 117 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 11708 and inserting the following:
11708. Voluntary arbitration of certain rail rates and practices disputes.
(d) Miscellaneous motor carrier transportation exemptions. Section 13506(a)(14) of title 49, United State Code, is amended by striking section 13904(d) and inserting section 13904(f).
(e) Chapter 139 analysis. The analysis for chapter 139 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 13901 and inserting the following:
13901. Requirements for registration.
(f) Effective periods of registration. Section 13905(d)(2)(B)(iii) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking for failure.
(g) Security of motor carriers, motor private carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders. Section 13906 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
(1) in subsection (a)(1) by striking paragraph (3) of this subsection and inserting paragraph (4);
(2) in subsection (b)(7)(C) by striking to provider and inserting to provide; and
(3) in subsection (c)(2)(A)(ii) by striking in the case and inserting in a case in which.
(h) Unified carrier registration system plan and agreement. Section 14504a of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
(1) in subsection (b) by striking section 13903(b) and inserting section 13903(d); and
(2) in subsection (c)(2) by striking which and inserting for which.
(i) State participation. Section 20105(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
(1) by striking The Secretary concerned and inserting A Secretary concerned;
(2) by striking issued by the Secretary that and inserting issued by such Secretary; and
(3) by striking submits to the Secretary concerned and inserting submits to such Secretary.
(j) Employee protections. Section 20109 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
(1) in subsection (a)(1)(A) by striking of title 5 and inserting of title 5);
(2) in subsection (d)(2)(A)(i) by striking (d)(1) and inserting subsection (d)(1);
(3) in subsection (d)(2)(A)(iii) by striking in 42121. and inserting in section 42121.; and
(4) in subsection (d)(4) by striking 42121(b), and inserting 42121(b).
(k) Subtitle V analysis. The chapter analysis for subtitle V of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
(1) by striking the item relating to chapter 224 and inserting the following:
224.Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing22401.
(2) by striking the item relating to chapter 227 and inserting the following:
227.State Rail Plans22701.
(3) by striking the item relating to chapter 242 and inserting the following:
242.Project Delivery24201.
; and
(4) by striking the item relating to chapter 251 and inserting the following:
251.Passenger Rail Planning25101.
(l) Chapter 201 analysis. The analysis for chapter 201 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
(1) by striking the item relating to section 20106 and inserting the following:
20106. Preemption.
; and
(2) by striking the item relating to section 20165 and inserting the following:
20165. Limitations on non-Federal alcohol and drug testing.
(m) Enforcement report. Section 20120 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
(1) in subsection (a) by striking Beginning and all that follows through an annual report that and inserting The Secretary of Transportation shall submit an annual report to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate that—;
(2) in subsection (a)(4) by striking provide the information and inserting provides the information; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
(b) Public availability. The Secretary shall—
(1) make the report required to be submitted under subsection (a) publicly available; and
(2) publish such report on the website of the Department of Transportation not later than December 31 of each year.
(n) Implementation of positive train control systems. Section 20157 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
(1) in subsection (k) by striking Act and inserting subsection; and
(2) in subsection (l) by striking subject to (a)(1) and inserting subject to subsection (a)(1).
(o) Requirements for railroad freight cars placed into service in the United States. Section 20171(c)(3)(B) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking Railroad’s and inserting Railroads’.
(p) Nonapplication, exemption, and alternate hours of service regime. Section 21102(c)(4) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (D) as subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively.
(q) Capital grants for class II and class III railroads. Section 22301(e)(2) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking the subchapter and inserting subchapter.
(r) Authorization of appropriations. Section 22406 of title 49, United States Code, is amended in the section heading by striking appropriations. and inserting appropriations.
(s) Definitions. Section 22701 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking In this subchapter and inserting In this chapter.
(t) Content. Section 22705(a)(11) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking subchapter and inserting chapter.
(u) Chapter 229 analysis. The analysis for chapter 229 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to 22902 and inserting the following:
22902. Capital investment grants to support intercity passenger rail service.
(v) Capital investment grants to support intercity passenger rail service. Section 22902 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
(1) in subsection (c)(3)(A)(vii) by striking 5302(a)(1)(G) and inserting 5302(5);
(2) in subsection (d) by striking 22506 and inserting 22706;
(3) in subsection (e) by striking 22504(a)(5) and inserting 22705; and
(4) in subsection (k) by striking section 209(d) of that Act and inserting chapter 229.
(w) Chapter 243 analysis. The analysis for chapter 243 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 24316 and inserting the following:
24316. Plans to address needs of families of passengers involved in rail passenger accidents.
(x) Status and applicable laws. Section 24301(a)(1) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking 20102(2) and inserting 20102.
(y) Chapter 247 analysis. The analysis for chapter 247 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
(1) in the item relating to section 24702 by adding a period at the end; and
(2) by striking the item relating to section 24710 and inserting the following:
24710. Long-distance routes.
(z) State-supported routes operated by Amtrak. Section 24712(a)(7)(B)(i) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking 20901 note and inserting 24101 note.
(aa) Northeast Corridor Commission; Safety Committee. Section 24905 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
(1) in the section heading by striking Commission; safety committee and inserting Commission; and
(2) in subsection (c)(1)(D) by striking subparagraph (B); and inserting subparagraph (B); and.
(bb) Federal-State partnership for intercity passenger rail. Section 24911(e) of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
(1) in paragraph (3) by striking 24904(a) and inserting 24904(b); and
(2) in paragraph (4) by striking 24904(d) and inserting 24904(a)(3).
(cc) Definitions. Section 26105(1) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking contracts,, and inserting contracts,.
(dd) Rail police officers. Section 28101(c)(1) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking police office and inserting police officer.
(ee) Chapter 285 analysis. The analysis for chapter 285 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 28501 and inserting the following:
28501. Definitions.
(ff) Subtitle VI analysis. The analysis for subtitle VI of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to chapter 311 and inserting the following:
311.Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety31100.
(gg) Special exemptions. Section 30114(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking (a) Vehicles Used for Particular Purposes. The Secretary and inserting (a) Vehicles used for particular purposes.—The Secretary.
(hh) Release of motor vehicles and bonds. Section 30146(d) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking mispresentation and inserting misrepresentation.
(ii) Inspections, investigations, and records. Section 30166(e) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking distributor dealer, and inserting distributor, dealer,.
(jj) Criminal penalties. Section 30170 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
(1) in the section heading by striking Criminal Penalties and inserting Criminal penalties; and
(2) in subsection (a)(1) by striking section 1365(g)(3) and inserting section 1365(h)(3).
(kk) Powers and duties. Section 30182(b)(6) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking Department and inserting the Department.
(ll) Criminal penalties. Section 30307(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking section 30305(b)(6) and inserting section 30305(b)(11).
(mm) Employee protections. Section 31105(c) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking paragraph (1) and inserting subsection (b)(1).
(nn) Property-carrying unit limitation. Section 31112 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
(1) in subsection (c)(5) by striking relevant state and inserting relevant State; and
(2) by striking paragraph (4) of subsection (d).
(oo) Definitions. Paragraph (8) of section 31132 of title 49, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
(8) State—
(A) means a State of the United States and the District of Columbia; and
(B) in sections 31136, 31141, and 31142, includes a political subdivision of a State.
(pp) Requirement for registration and USDOT number. Section 31134 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
(1) in subsection (b) by striking (2)(A) during and inserting (2) during; and
(2) in subsection (c)(1) by striking sections and inserting section.
(qq) Electronic logging devices and brake maintenance regulations. Section 31137(a)(1) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking be equipped and inserting to be equipped.
(rr) Chapter 313 analysis. The analysis for chapter 313 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 31306a and inserting the following:
31306a. National clearinghouse for controlled substance and alcohol test results of commercial motor vehicle operators.
(ss) Disqualifications. Section 31310(d)(2) of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
(1) by striking paragraph (9) and inserting paragraph (12); and
(2) by striking 7102(9) and inserting 7102(12).
(tt) Requirements for qualifications, hours of service, safety, and equipment standards. Section 31502(e)(4) of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
(1) in subparagraph (A) by striking purposes of section and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting purposes of section 229(a)(4) of the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999 (49 U.S.C. 31136 note).; and
(2) in subparagraph (B) by striking under section 345(e)(6) and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting under section 229(e)(6) of the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999 (49 U.S.C. 31136 note)..
(uu) Consumer tire information and standards. Section 32304A of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
(1) in subsection (a)(2)(D) by striking program including, and inserting program, including;
(2) in subsection (b)(2)(A) by striking this Act and inserting the FAST Act (Public Law 114–94);
(3) in subsection (c)(2)(C) by striking this Act and inserting the FAST Act (Public Law 114–94) ; and
(4) in subsection (d)(3)(A) by striking this Act and inserting the FAST Act (Public Law 114–94).
(vv) Bumper standards. Section 32502(c)(3) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking section 30013(b) and inserting section 30113(b).
(ww) Credits. Section 32903(a)(2) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking paragraph (1) and inserting paragraph (1),.
(xx) Fuel economy information. Section 32908(g)(3) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking 32905(h) and inserting 32905(g).
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