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H.R. 8870: BUILD America 250 Act

119th Congress · introduced 2026-05-19 · Transportation and Public Works · Latest: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 62 - 2.

federal

What does this mean?

Official title

BUILD America 250 Act

Plain summary

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.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

BUILD America 250 Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Graves, Sam [R-MO-6] · 5 cosponsors

Money: CBO cost estimate: Estimated Effects of Selected Provisions of H.R. 8870, the BUILD America 250 Act (2026-07-09); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 8870, BUILD America 250 Act (2026-09-30) No linked contracts or vendors yet.

Words on this page, explained (2)
Appropriation
Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong119-hr8870 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong119 · updated 2026-11-03 by psicol fed-bills