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
IX Sport Fishing and Recreational Boating Safety
X Railroads and Hazardous Materials
A Authorization of Appropriations and Grant Reforms
(a) Northeast Corridor. There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for grants to Amtrak for activities associated with the Northeast Corridor the following amounts:
(1) For fiscal year 2027, $1,950,000,000.
(2) For fiscal year 2028, $2,010,000,000.
(3) For fiscal year 2029, $2,070,000,000.
(4) For fiscal year 2030, $2,131,667,000.
(5) For fiscal year 2031, $2,193,333,000.
(b) National Network. There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for grants to Amtrak for activities associated with the National Network the following amounts:
(1) For fiscal year 2027, $3,900,000,000.
(2) For fiscal year 2028, $4,020,000,000.
(3) For fiscal year 2029, $4,140,000,000.
(4) For fiscal year 2030, $4,263,333,000.
(5) For fiscal year 2031, $4,386,667,000.
(c) Oversight. The Secretary may withhold up to 1 percent from the amount appropriated for each fiscal year pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) for the costs of oversight of Amtrak.
(d) State-Supported Route Committee. The Secretary may withhold up to $6,000,000 from the amount appropriated for each fiscal year pursuant to subsection (b) for use by the State-Supported Route Committee established under section 24712(a) of title 49, United States Code.
(e) Northeast Corridor Commission. The Secretary may withhold up to $8,000,000 from the amount appropriated for each fiscal year pursuant to subsection (a) for use by the Northeast Corridor Commission established under section 24905(a) of title 49, United States Code.
(f) Accessibility upgrades
(1) In general. The Secretary shall withhold from the amount appropriated for each fiscal year pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) $100,000,000 for grants to assist Amtrak with capital projects to improve the accessibility of the national rail passenger transportation system by increasing the number of existing Amtrak facilities for which Amtrak has the primary or shared responsibility for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) that are compliant with the requirements of such Act and to carry out the action plan required under section 24315(b)(1)(D) of title 49, United States Code, until the Secretary determines Amtrak’s existing facilities are in compliance with such requirements.
(2) Savings provision. Nothing in paragraph (1) may be construed to prevent Amtrak from using additional funds appropriated pursuant to this section to carry out the activities authorized under such paragraph.
B Amtrak Reforms
C Passenger Rail Policy
D Rail Safety and Innovation
E Project Delivery
F Hazardous Materials Transportation