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

Sec. 1309. Interagency bridge strike working group

(a) In general. Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish an interagency bridge strike working group—

(1) to coordinate between the Department and other agencies;

(2) to provide guidance and assistance to bridge owners on evaluating and reducing the risk of bridge collapse from a vessel collision; and

(3) to provide guidance to bridge owners on motorist warning systems.

(b) Membership. The interagency working group established under subsection (a) shall consist of representatives from—

(1) the Federal Highway Administration;

(2) the Coast Guard;

(3) the Army Corps of Engineers; and

(4) any other entities determined appropriate by the Secretary.

(c) Report. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the interagency working group established under subsection (a) shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report that includes—

(1) an analysis of current bridge vulnerabilities that risk leading to a bridge collapse from a vessel collision;

(2) recommendations for bridge owners to evaluate and reduce the risk of bridge collapse from a vessel collision;

(3) recommendations on any policy changes necessary to prevent the risk of bridge collapses due to vessel strikes; and

(4) any other information the working group determines appropriate.

(d) Termination of working group. The interagency working group established under subsection (a) shall terminate on the date that is 3 months after the date of submission of the report required under subsection (c).

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