The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved its surface transportation bill early Friday after dismissing Democratic amendments on electric vehicle fees, environmental reviews and the restoration of climate programs that the bill proposes to repeal.
The “BUILD America 250 Act,” from Chair Sam Graves (R-Mo.) and ranking member Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), advanced 62-2. It sets up a clash with the Senate later this year over the EV fees, a railway safety proposal and other contentious provisions.
Graves and Larsen touted the bill’s proposed funding increases for bridge construction and repairs, as well as the new fees on lower-emission vehicles — the first new revenue for the Highway Trust Fund since the early 1990s.
Members lauded proposed boosts for highways and transit, as well as provisions that would ease environmental reviews for certain infrastructure projects, update a wildlife crossing program and study fire risks associated with lithium-ion batteries.
