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
C Passenger Rail Policy
D Rail Safety and Innovation
(a) Report to Congress. Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration 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 that includes—
(1) the rate and causes of rail tank car pressure relief device failures in a derailment event including information and variables relating to each event, including—
(A) the number of tank cars involved in such derailment;
(B) whether or not the event included a fire;
(C) in the case of a fire, the temperature and duration of the fire;
(D) the length of the time of use before, and circumstances of, the failure of a pressure relief device; and
(E) with respect to each pressure relief device that failed—
(i) an assessment of the compatibility of the device with each commodity transported by a tank car involved in such derailment;
(ii) an assessment of the ability of the device to survive high heat conditions, including any thermal protection used on the device for such conditions; and
(iii) identification of the orientation of the device in each tank car, including whether the orientation is—
(I) above or below the vapor line; or
(II) in the liquid space;
(2) recommendations to prevent or reduce the incidence of rail tank car pressure relief device failures;
(3) the status of any recommendations issued by the National Transportation Safety Board, including any recommendations issued during the period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and ending on the date on which the Administrator initiates the report; and
(4) additional factors and issues identified by the Administrator upon consultation with entities described in subsection (b).
(b) Consultation required. In developing the report under subsection (a), the Administrator shall consult with—
(1) the Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration;
(2) rail employers;
(3) organizations representing rail employees;
(4) rail tank car builders, shippers, and owners; and
(5) organizations representing rail tank car builders, rail employers, shippers, and owners.
E Project Delivery
F Hazardous Materials Transportation