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. 1318. Emergency relief working group

(a) Establishment. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall convene a working group to provide recommendations for supporting emergency relief efforts following natural disasters and assessing vulnerabilities in surface transportation assets.

(b) Membership. The working group shall be composed of representatives from—

(1) the Federal Highway Administration;

(2) the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration;

(3) the Federal Transit Administration;

(4) the Federal Emergency Management Agency;

(5) State departments of transportation;

(6) transit agencies; and

(7) any other stakeholders that the Secretary determines appropriate.

(c) Duties. The working group convened under this section shall analyze and make recommendations, as appropriate, regarding—

(1) the ability of a State or transit agency to assess vulnerabilities of surface transportation assets in response to natural disasters and severe weather events;

(2) best practices for a State or transit agency to facilitate projects to mitigate the risk of recurring damage or the cost of future repair from extreme weather, flooding, and other natural disasters;

(3) opportunities to expedite the timeline for eligible activities under section 125 of title 23, United States Code, or section 5324 of title 49, United States Code;

(4) opportunities within and potential revisions to section 390.23 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, to increase flexibility for commercial motor vehicle operators assisting in emergency relief efforts that achieve safety levels equivalent to or greater than existing Federal motor carrier safety regulations; and

(5) opportunities for coordination between the Department and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide emergency relief following natural disasters.

(d) Report. Not later than 1 year after the date on which the working group is established under this section, the working group shall submit to the Secretary a report that includes a summary of the findings and recommendations developed under subsection (c).

(e) Recommendations. Not later than 90 days after the date on which the Secretary receives the report under subsection (d), the Secretary 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—

(1) a summary of the findings and recommendations under the report; and

(2) for each recommendation—

(A) the Secretary intends to implement, a description of the plan and timeline for implementation; and

(B) the Secretary does not intend to implement, an explanation as to why the Secretary does not intend to implement such recommendation.

(f) Termination. The working group shall terminate on the date that is 180 days after the date on which the Secretary receives the report required under subsection (d).

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