House Unveils BUILD America 250 Act Ahead of Surface Transportation Reauthorization Deadline

Over the weekend, the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee released the text of the BUILD America 250 Act, a bipartisan five-year reauthorization proposal that would shape federal transportation policy through 2031. The legislation authorizes roughly $580 billion for highways, bridges, transit, rail, and safety programs while advancing several major policy reforms tied to project delivery, innovation, and Highway Trust Fund solvency.

The proposal reflects a shift toward core infrastructure investment and long-term fiscal sustainability. Committee leaders describe the bill as focused on moving people and freight more efficiently while reducing permitting delays and modernizing federal transportation programs.

One of the headline provisions is a historic increase in bridge funding. The legislation would dedicate more than $50 billion to bridge investment over five years - the largest federal bridge commitment ever included in a surface transportation reauthorization bill. The measure also continues formula funding for highways and transit while emphasizing state flexibility and streamlined project delivery.

The bill also addresses the increasingly urgent solvency challenges facing the Highway Trust Fund. For the first time in more than 30 years, lawmakers propose a new dedicated revenue source by establishing annual user fees for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. The proposal would impose a $130 annual fee on electric vehicles and a $35 fee on plug-in hybrids, with gradual increases beginning in 2029. Proponents argue the change is necessary because EV drivers do not contribute to the federal gasoline tax that traditionally finances highway infrastructure.

Beyond funding, the BUILD America 250 Act includes several significant policy reforms. The bill would establish the first federal framework for autonomous commercial motor vehicles, signaling growing congressional interest in creating national standards for automated freight operations. It also expands rail safety authorities, reforms passenger rail programs, and increases accountability requirements for Amtrak and other grant recipients.

The bill further emphasizes permitting reform and project efficiency. Committee Republicans in particular have highlighted provisions intended to reduce regulatory barriers and accelerate construction timelines. Those reforms are expected to become a central point of debate as the legislation moves through committee markup and eventual House consideration.

Some transit, biking, and accessibility programs remain part of the package, reflecting bipartisan negotiations between Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) and Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA). Democratic negotiators have pointed to continued support for multimodal transportation, passenger rail investments, and accessible infrastructure improvements as key priorities preserved in the final framework. However, the notable repeal of the Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program (ATIIP) has drawn criticism from trail and outdoor recreation stakeholders.

The release of the BUILD America 250 Act begins what is expected to be a high-stakes legislative process over the coming months. Surface transportation reauthorizations are traditionally among Congress’s largest bipartisan infrastructure efforts, and lawmakers face significant pressure to enact a bill before existing authorities at the end of the fiscal year. House T&I marked up the bill in committee at 10:00 am Thursday morning in the hopes of getting the bill to the House floor as soon as possible and shifting responsibility to the Senate to take up a bill before the midterm elections.

Stakeholders across transportation, construction, logistics, labor, transit, and emerging mobility sectors will now closely examine the legislation’s funding structure, policy reforms, and implementation timelines. With debate already emerging around EV fees, rail funding levels, and autonomous vehicle policy, the BUILD America 250 Act is likely to become one of the most consequential infrastructure debates since the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.