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. 10207. Report on Amtrak long-distance equipment maintenance costs

(a) In general. Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, Amtrak shall submit to the Secretary, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on the anticipated costs of maintaining, rehabilitating, refurbishing, and replacing the existing long-distance equipment of Amtrak to maintain the passenger capacity of its long-distance service.

(b) Content. In the report submitted under subsection (a), Amtrak shall include the following:

(1) A current inventory of long-distance equipment, including trainsets, baggage cars, dining cars, sleeper cars, and nonsleeper passenger cars.

(2) A determination of the minimum amount of equipment necessary to maintain the passenger capacity of the long-distance service of Amtrak.

(3) The anticipated cost of maintaining and refurbishing the amount of equipment determined necessary under paragraph (2) to keep such equipment in working order through fiscal year 2033.

(4) A description of—

(A) specific challenges that Amtrak may experience in maintaining the passenger capacity of the long-distance service of Amtrak, including challenges related to—

(i) the availability of maintenance facilities and qualified rehabilitation and repair personnel;

(ii) the availability of parts and materials for legacy equipment; and

(iii) other factors that may impede the maintaining of present levels of service and passenger capacity; and

(B) actions to address the challenges described in subparagraph (A).

(5) The potential for and effects of delays in the acquisition of new replacement equipment if such equipment is not acquired until after calendar year 2035.

(6) The effect of establishing new or restored long-distance routes on the cost and availability of existing and additional long-distance equipment.

C Passenger Rail Policy

D Rail Safety and Innovation

E Project Delivery

F Hazardous Materials Transportation