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

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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. 10213. GAO study on Amtrak service to privately owned rail cars

(a) Study. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall conduct an assessment of the policies, practices, and performance of Amtrak with respect to services to privately owned rail cars.

(b) Considerations. In conducting the assessment under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall—

(1) review how Amtrak identifies and calculates costs relating to the movement of privately owned rail cars, long-term parking of privately owned rail cars, and related services;

(2) review how Amtrak factors the costs described in paragraph (1) into pricing, policy, and program-related decisions of Amtrak;

(3) identify the net profits or losses of Amtrak for privately owned rail car services in each of fiscal years 2019 through 2026;

(4) review the access points, parking, and access to Amtrak routes that Amtrak makes available for the switching and usage of privately owned rail cars and determine the effects, if any, of the availability of such access points, parking, and access, and any reduction in such availability, on the financial and operating performance of Amtrak;

(5) identify any challenges and opportunities Amtrak is likely to experience if Amtrak implements a dynamic pricing model for privately owned rail car services;

(6) review the implementation by Amtrak of recommendations published by the Amtrak Office of Inspector General in the report titled Train Operations: Opportunities Exist to Improve Private Railcar Management and Business Practices (OIG–A–2019–003), published February 6, 2019;

(7) analyze whether—

(A) privately owned rail car services contribute to the ability of Amtrak to earn positive income from rail operations; and

(B) the pricing model used by Amtrak for such services reflects fair market value for owners and operators of privately owned rail cars; and

(8) include any other reviews, analyses, or information the Comptroller General determines appropriate.

(c) Consultation. In conducting the assessment under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall consult with relevant stakeholders, including Amtrak, rail carriers, and organizations representing employees and privately owned rail car owners and operators.

(d) Report. Not later than 1 year after initiating the assessment under subsection (a), the Comptroller 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 the findings of the assessment, and any recommendations of the Comptroller General relating the subject matter covered by the assessment.

(e) Rail carrier defined. In this section, the term rail carrier has the meaning given such term in section 10102 of title 49, United States Code.

C Passenger Rail Policy

D Rail Safety and Innovation

E Project Delivery

F Hazardous Materials Transportation