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
B Amtrak Reforms
(a) Practices and voluntary standards
(1) In general. Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall publish best practices and voluntary standards for the response to assault and harassment incidents during the operation of a passenger rail service.
(2) Consultation. In developing best practices and voluntary standards under paragraph (1), the Secretary may consult with the following organizations to inform such practices and standards:
(A) The Amtrak Police Department.
(B) Other rail police or security personnel.
(C) State and local law enforcement.
(D) State and local prosecutors.
(E) Labor organizations representing on-board and in station train crew personnel.
(F) Passenger rail operators.
(3) Contents. In developing the best practices and voluntary standards under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall address the following issues:
(A) Proper incident documentation and reporting techniques.
(B) Recommended de-escalation trainings for crew and law enforcement.
(C) Coordination between passenger rail operators and law enforcement.
(D) Responding to incidents of assault or harassment, including the removal of disruptive passengers.
(E) Strategies for preventing incidents of assault or harassment.
(b) Submission of response plans
(1) In general. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, each passenger rail transportation operator shall submit to the Secretary a plan to prevent and respond to incidents of assault and harassment.
(2) Contents. The plan under paragraph (1) shall include the following:
(A) The operator’s policy on assault or harassment incidents.
(B) The operator’s plan to provide notice to employees on how to report incidents with passengers to the operator, rail law enforcement, and local law enforcement.
(C) The operator’s plan to provide notice to employees on how to remove a passenger or personnel from the train or related area or facility who has committed a transportation assault as soon as practicable when appropriate.
(D) The operator’s plan to provide notice to passengers on how to report an assault or harassment incident.
(E) The operator’s plan to provide training to employees on how to respond and report assault or harassment incidents.
(F) The operator’s plan to limit or prohibit, to the extent practicable, future travel of an individual who interferes with passenger rail personnel and safety on the operator’s services.
(G) The operator’s plan to ensure an employee who is a victim or witness of a transportation assault may participate in the prosecution of a criminal offense of such assault without any adverse effect on the victim’s or witnesses’ employment status.
(H) A process and timeline for conducting an annual review and update of the plan.
(c) Passenger information. A passenger rail transportation operator shall display on the website of such operator and through the use of appropriate signage a written statement that informs passengers and personnel of the procedure for reporting an assault or harassment incident.
(d) Definitions. In this section:
(1) Passenger rail transportation. The term passenger rail transportation has the meaning given the terms intercity passenger rail transportation and commuter rail passenger transportation in section 24102 of title 49, United States Code.
(2) Interference with passenger rail personnel and safety. The term interference with passenger rail personnel and safety means—
(A) the physical or sexual assault of—
(i) any individual on a passenger train;
(ii) any individual in a passenger rail station; or
(iii) any member of a train crew, station staff, or rail police or security;
(B) threatening to physically or sexually assault any individual described in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of paragraph (1); and
(C) any action that poses an imminent threat to the safety of intercity passenger rail transportation, including the safety of any individual described in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of paragraph (1).
C Passenger Rail Policy
D Rail Safety and Innovation
E Project Delivery
F Hazardous Materials Transportation