T&I Committee releases BUILD America 250 Act
What happened?
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) and the Committee’s Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA) released a long-awaited bipartisan transportation reauthorization bill that invests in America’s roads, bridges, transit, rail transportation, and highway and motor carrier safety programs.
The BUILD America 250 Act, which invests $580 billion over five years, delivers on the asphalt pavement industry’s core priorities, including robust formula funding, meaningful work zone safety reforms, a long-overdue Highway Trust Fund adjustment, and pragmatic permitting reform.
What lawmakers are saying
“I believe the BUILD America 250 Act is the most important surface transportation bill since President Eisenhower built the Interstate Highway System. Like the America 250 celebration this year, this bill is not simply about honoring our past – it’s about moving forward and building upon the legacy of our nation’s infrastructure,” said Chairman Graves in a press release.
“You can’t have a big-league economy with little-league infrastructure,” said Ranking Member Larsen. “The BUILD America 250 Act makes key investments in the nation’s transportation – from restoring aging bridges and repairing crumbling roads to building out safe, accessible transit and bike infrastructure. A commitment to bipartisan lawmaking means finding compromise; while this bill does not include every priority, I am committed to building on the last bipartisan infrastructure law by creating good-paying transportation jobs, growing the economy and safely transporting people and goods across the country by road and rail. Thank you to Chairman Graves for his partnership. I look forward to marking up this bill soon.”
What NAPA is saying
“The BUILD America 250 Act is a major step forward for our nation and the asphalt pavement industry,” said NAPA President & CEO Audrey Copeland, PhD, PE. “The $580 billion primarily dedicated to core surface transportation is a landmark investment for the American people who rely on safe, reliable roads every day. This bill, with its enhanced work zone safety protections, is equally historic for the American workers who build our roads. The federal government has a critical role in our nation’s highway network, and this bill delivers the certainty our industry needs to keep innovating, investing, and building. Our roads depend on the skilled workforce, continuous innovation, and quality materials the asphalt pavement industry provides. With its novel electric vehicle user fee and streamlined permitting reforms, this legislation ensures we can continue delivering the infrastructure that keeps America and its economy moving. We urge Congress to pass this bill swiftly so President Trump can sign it into law.”
“The BUILD America 250 Act, with a $580 billion topline infrastructure investment and an array of meaningful policy reforms, reflects the deeply thoughtful work of House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves, Ranking Member Rick Larsen, their staffs, and the Committee members who worked tirelessly to introduce this bipartisan package,” said Nile Elam, NAPA Vice President of Government Affairs. “From protections for roadway workers to the first new Highway Trust Fund revenue stream in decades, this bill reflects the comprehensive, forward-thinking approach our infrastructure demands. We thank them for their work, and we will continue our collaboration with stakeholders to pass this bill out of the House as quickly and with as much bipartisan support as possible. With less than five months until current surface transportation programs expire, we must continue advancing this package and its companion bill in the Senate. As the BUILD America 250 Act moves through Congress, NAPA will continue highlighting the asphalt pavement industry’s priorities and partnering with policy stakeholders until it is passed by Congress and signed into law by President Trump.”
What’s in the bill?
The BUILD America 250 Act upholds historic investments in roads and highways while prioritizing formula funds and empowering state DOTs to direct the projects most important to their local needs.
The bill advances work zone safety policies that directly benefit the men and women in our industry who risk their lives daily at roadway work sites nationwide, including an interagency working group convening federal partners and industry stakeholders on data collection, driver education grant eligibility, work zone technology effectiveness, and leveraging existing federal programs.
For the first time in over three decades, the Highway Trust Fund would receive a new revenue stream through the establishment of right-sized user fees for electric and hybrid vehicles — correcting a longstanding inequity, as these vehicles have long used our roads while contributing little to nothing toward their upkeep.
What’s next?
Committee leaders plan to formally introduce the legislation soon and are expected to announce further plans for a legislative markup of the bill.
Where can I read the bill?
The bill text is below. A fact sheet and section-by-section summary prepared by the Committee are also available.
Link to the text of the BUILD America 250 Act
Link to a section-by-section summary of the BUILD America 250 Act
