H.R. 8870

BUILD America 250 Act

Sponsor: Sam Graves

5 cosponsors
Follow this bill

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

C Passenger Rail Policy

D Rail Safety and Innovation

E Project Delivery

F Hazardous Materials Transportation

Sec. 10612. Requirements for safe transport of lithium-ion batteries

Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall—

(1) work with the United Nation Subcommittee of Experts on the Transportation of Dangerous Goods to revise the provisions for design tests in subsection 38.3 of the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria to develop an impact test for lithium-ion cells or batteries installed and transported in cargo transport units and transported under UN 3536 to allow improved ability to withstand forces experienced in transport accidents without going into thermal runaway;

(2) issue such regulations as are necessary to amend section 173.185 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations to—

(A) require lithium-ion cells or batteries (as defined in UN 3480) to be offered for commercial transport at a state of charge not exceeding 30 percent of the rated capacity of such cells or batteries (determined through the guidance and methodology under section 38.3.2.3 of the Manual of Tests and Criteria of the United Nations); and

(B) authorize the transportation of lithium-ion cells or batteries at a state of charge greater than 30 percent of the rated capacity of such cells or batteries only under conditions approved by the Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration in accordance with the requirements in subpart H of part 107 of title 49, Code of Regulations;

(3) issue such regulations as are necessary or promulgate final guidance on the safe transportation of damaged, defective, or recalled lithium-ion cells or batteries, and such regulations or guidance shall include guidance on the packaging, movement, and disposal of damaged, defective, or recalled lithium-ion cells or batteries; and

(4) every 5 years, review the regulations and guidelines under this section and update such regulations and guidelines, as appropriate, to account for other emerging batteries or cells that pose a risk of thermal runaway as a result from a fire during commercial transport.