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. 10208. Inspector general review of Amtrak accounting and reporting practices

(a) In general. Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the inspector general of the Department shall review the accounting practices of Amtrak, with specific focus on the use and oversight of the cost accounting and financial accounting systems, including the Amtrak Performance Tracking (in this section referred to as APT) financial management system as required by section 203 of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (49 U.S.C. 24101 note), the core enterprise resource planning system of Amtrak, and related financial information technology modules.

(b) Scope. In carrying out the review described in subsection (a), the inspector general shall determine whether—

(1) Amtrak’s use of systems, applications, and products in data processing accurately tracks expenditures, revenues, and Federal funds;

(2) internal controls within such systems, applications, and products are sufficient to prevent accounting errors, manipulation, or misuse of funds;

(3) Amtrak’s systems, applications, and products in data processing and consolidated financial statements are in compliance with applicable Federal financial management standards and generally accepted accounting principles;

(4) Amtrak’s reporting practices accurately reflects route performance;

(5) increased adherence to generally accepted accounting principles for APT would improve cost transparency; and

(6) the Federal Railroad Administration’s use of systems, applications, and products for Amtrak oversight are in compliance with applicable Federal financial management standards and generally accepted accounting principles.

(c) Report to Congress. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the inspector general shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report containing—

(1) the findings made under this section;

(2) any evidence of noncompliance, mismanagement, or deficiencies in the use of systems, applications, and products in data processing; and

(3) recommendations for corrective action, if applicable.

C Passenger Rail Policy

D Rail Safety and Innovation

E Project Delivery

F Hazardous Materials Transportation