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House Leaders Graves, Larsen Unveil 5-Year Highway Bill
Build America 250 Act Adds Autonomous Truck Framework
Key Takeaways:
- House transportation leaders released the BUILD America 250 Act on May 17, proposing the first federal framework for autonomous commercial motor vehicles.
- The bill would reauthorize surface transportation programs and provide more than $50 billion for bridges, which supporters called record federal investment.
- Committee leaders plan formal introduction and markup, aiming to send a reauthorization bill to the president before authority expires Sept. 30.
House transportation leaders released the text of a bipartisan, five-year highway policy bill May 17 that would invest in the nation’s roads and bridges and create the first federal framework for autonomous commercial motor vehicles.
The BUILD America 250 Act, co-sponsored by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-Mo.) and ranking member Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), would reauthorize federal surface transportation programs covering roads, bridges, transit, rail, highway safety and motor carrier safety.
The measure would provide more than $50 billion for bridges, which Graves described as the largest bridge investment in U.S. history. The committee said the bill focuses on existing surface transportation programs, passenger rail investments and reforms, rail safety, transportation project efficiency, innovation and highway and motor carrier safety.
Graves called the legislation “the most important surface transportation bill since President Eisenhower built the Interstate Highway System,” citing bridge funding, electric vehicle user fees, regulatory changes and greater flexibility for states.
“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,” Graves said.
Build America 250 Act Bill Text
Larsen said the proposal reflects a bipartisan compromise, while noting that it does not include every priority sought by lawmakers.
“You can’t have a big-league economy with little-league infrastructure,” Larsen said. “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.”
Rep. David Rouzer (R-N.C.), chairman of the Highways and Transit Subcommittee, said the bill reflects input gathered from members of Congress and infrastructure stakeholders.
“Our nation’s infrastructure is the silent engine of American productivity, and it cannot afford to sit idle,” Rouzer said.
The committee said it spent 18 months holding hearings and reviewing more than 11,000 policy requests while developing the legislation.
The bill also seeks to strengthen the Highway Trust Fund by ensuring highway users contribute to road maintenance and improvements, according to committee leaders. Graves said the measure would require electric vehicle owners to begin paying toward the use of the nation’s roads.
The bill’s autonomous truck provision drew support from Kodiak AI, which said the legislation would replace a state-by-state regulatory approach with one federal standard.
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“Kodiak AI applauds Chair Graves and ranking member Larsen for the introduction of the historic, bipartisan BUILD America 250 Act,” Don Burnette, founder and CEO of Kodiak AI, said in a statement. “The bill would achieve a significant milestone: the creation of a comprehensive federal regulatory framework for autonomous trucks that would bring further regulatory certainty for the autonomous trucking industry and ensure the United States remains the global leader in autonomous vehicle technology.”
The bill would also set safety rules for the rollout of autonomous trucks.
“By replacing today’s patchwork of state regulations with a single federal standard, the BUILD America 250 Act would ensure Americans benefit from the safety and economic advantages that autonomous driving technology delivers,” Burnette said. “The bill would also set strong safety standards, affirming the U.S. Department of Transportation has the tools it needs to oversee the scaled rollout of autonomous trucks, while supporting American innovation and investing in the transportation workforce.”
Committee leaders said they plan to formally introduce the bill soon and announce markup plans later. Their goal is to send a surface transportation reauthorization bill to the president before the current authorization expires Sept. 30.
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