H.R. 8870

BUILD America 250 Act

Sponsor: Sam Graves

5 cosponsors
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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

Expand all

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

Sec. 10206. Baby changing table requirements on Amtrak trains

(a) In general. Chapter 243 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 24313 the following:

Text this section adds to the law

24314. Baby changing tables

(a) Definitions. In this section:

(1) ADA-compliant restroom. With respect to intercity rail transportation, the term ADA-compliant restroom means a restroom that meets the requirements of section 242(a) of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12162(a)).

(2) Baby changing table. The term baby changing table means an elevated, freestanding structure generally designed to safely support and retain a child with a body weight of up to 50 pounds in a horizontal position for the purpose of allowing an individual to change a diaper, including pull-out or drop-down changing surfaces.

(3) Covered passenger rail train. The term covered passenger rail train—

(A) means a passenger rail train, owned and operated by Amtrak, that Amtrak purchased after the date of enactment of this section; and

(B) does not include any passenger rail train that Amtrak operates, but does not own.

(b) Baby changing table requirement. Each covered passenger rail train shall have a baby changing table in at least one restroom in each car, including in an ADA-compliant restroom.

(c) Signage. Each restroom described in subsection (b) shall clearly indicate the presence and location of a baby changing table with signage.

(b) Clerical amendment. The analysis for chapter 243 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 24313 the following:

Text this section adds to the law

24314. Baby changing tables.

C Passenger Rail Policy

D Rail Safety and Innovation

E Project Delivery

F Hazardous Materials Transportation