The House’s new surface transportation bill would make major investments in federal infrastructure while streamlining the permitting process for some projects and rolling back some Biden-era environmental initiatives.
The “BUILD America 250 Act,” expected to be marked up by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Thursday, represents a bipartisan effort to address some of the nation’s most pressing transportation needs under a relatively restrained top line.
Chair Sam Graves (R-Mo.) and ranking member Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) crafted a $580 billion proposal that quickly drew praise from a number of transportation and construction industry groups — but also derision from environmental advocates who are incensed about ways in which the bill could undermine efforts to slash emissions from the country’s highest-polluting sector.
The five-year bill includes new fees on electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids to help shore up the Highway Trust Fund. It would also eliminate authorizations for some Biden-era climate- and equity-focused initiatives.
