Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill Heads to House

A surface transportation reauthorization bill has been drafted by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to extend federal funding for another five years. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

On May 17, committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-Mo.) and Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) released the text of the BUILD America 250 Act. Its full name is the Building Unrivaled Infrastructure and Long-term Development for America’s 250th Act. According to a press release from the lawmakers, the proposal would provide what they described as the largest federal surface transportation investment ever made. They did not disclose the total dollar amount included in the draft.

BUILD America 250 Act covers rail, roads and safety

The measure includes passenger-rail investment and reform. It also covers rail-safety improvements and an extension of the Railway-Highway Grade Crossings Program from fiscal year 2027 through FY2031. Graves and Larsen said the bill also seeks to make transportation projects and programs more efficient, support innovation, improve roads and bridges, and establish the first federal framework for autonomous commercial motor vehicles.

The proposed legislation also addresses the Highway Trust Fund. In addition, committee leaders said it would add a new infrastructure revenue stream to the fund for the first time in more than 30 years. The bill would do so by requiring all highway users to contribute toward the use and improvement of the nation’s roads.

“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 Graves.

Committee plans next steps before authorization expires

In developing the BUILD America 250 Act, the committee held multiple hearings, gathered input, and reviewed a large number of stakeholder priorities. More than 11,000 individual policy requests were submitted during that process.

Committee leaders said they plan to formally introduce the bill soon. Separately, they plan to announce plans for a legislative markup. Their goal is to send the legislation to the president before the current surface transportation authorization expires on Sept. 30, 2026.

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