House Transportation Committee advances Build America 250 Act in bipartisan markup

The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure convened for a full markup of HR8870, the Build America 250 Act, as Chairman Graves opened the hearing by calling the bill “the most consequential piece of legislation this committee will work on in this Congress.” The markup included opening statements from the chair and ranking member, the designation of a manager’s amendment that incorporated more than 60 member-submitted changes, extended debate and dozens of amendment votes and postponed recorded votes under committee rule 6F.

The bill would reauthorize surface transportation programs for multiple years and, according to the chair’s remarks, direct the largest five‑year bridge investment in U.S. history (the chairman described “more than $50 billion over the five‑year authorization period” for bridge work). Sponsors framed the measure as bipartisan, emphasizing multi‑year certainty for states, permitting reforms intended to speed project delivery, first‑time frameworks for electric‑vehicle user contributions to the highway trust fund, and new language addressing autonomous commercial motor vehicles and rail safety reforms. Ranking Member Larson and other subcommittee chairs described funding formulas maintaining heavy use of formula distribution and stressed consolidations that aim to reduce duplication and improve accountability.

Committee members from across the country outlined local priorities and concerns. Those remarks ranged from support for expanded bridge and local formula funding to requests that the bill do more for transit and rail safety. Lawmakers from both parties described industry and district‑specific wins (from culverts and local bridge set‑asides to funding for ports and freight corridors). Several members warned about the long‑term structural challenges in the highway trust fund and discussed new revenue provisions directed at some alternative‑fuel vehicle owners.

Procedural action: Chairman Graves designated a manager’s amendment and asked unanimous consent to use an amendments roster and the committee’s electronic voting system. The committee proceeded through rounds of debate on dozens of amendments — including high‑profile offerings on rail safety, telematics deployment, material preferences, and user‑fee structure for alternative‑fuel vehicles — and recorded votes were grouped for sequential processing under committee rule 6F. Members repeatedly emphasized that the markup was intended to balance local needs with national priorities while keeping the bill within the negotiated topline.

What’s next: The committee moved dozens of amendments and postponed several recorded votes for series votes later in the day under committee rules. Sponsors said they would continue bargaining on outstanding items as the bill proceeds toward committee final action and then to the House floor. The committee’s work covered a wide range of transportation modes and policy choices — from permitting and project delivery reforms to questions about how to pay for long‑term trust‑fund solvency — that lawmakers said would shape the nation’s surface transportation for years.