House Transportation and Infrastructure leaders introduce Build America 250 Act to boost bridges, add Highway Trust Fund revenue

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves and Ranking Member Rick Larson opened the committee with an outline of a proposed surface-transportation reauthorization, the Build America 250 Act, saying it would fund bridges, transit, rail and road safety across the country.

Chairman Sam Graves said the bill is a top committee priority this Congress and framed it as a chance to “shape the future of our transportation system and the economy.” He said the measure would provide “the largest investment ever in America’s bridges.”

Graves also described the proposal as a response to a funding shortfall, saying the legislation would address “the growing gap between our nation’s infrastructure needs and our available resources by injecting the Highway Trust Fund with the first new revenue stream in 3 decades.” That claim was made as part of his opening statement; committee members did not provide supporting budget documents in the recorded remarks.

The chairman said the bill would give states “the flexibility that they need to prioritize the projects that work best for them” and include policies designed to help projects be completed on schedule. He emphasized a multimodal approach, saying the bill would offer “safe, reliable transportation options that fit their everyday needs, from efficient roads and bridal, to rail and transit, to important multimodal infrastructure for all roadway users.”

Graves closed by calling the bill a bipartisan effort that would “strengthen our infrastructure, create good paying jobs, and build for America’s future.” Aside from the opening introductions, the transcript contains only the chairman’s prepared remarks; no formal motions, votes, or follow-up directions were recorded in the provided segments.

The committee’s next procedural steps, a staff report, or any formal referrals were not specified in the provided transcript.