Lawmakers Want To Make Roads Great (And Safe) Again

An incoming bill seeks to be among the largest federal surface infrastructure investments in American history, according to the lawmakers behind it.

The lead Republican and Democrat on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure drafted a 5-year authorization bill that aims to invest billions of dollars into “America’s roads, bridges, transit, rail transportation, and highway and motor carrier safety programs,” according to the committee’s Sunday press release.

The bipartisan bill was named the “Building Unrivaled Infrastructure and Long-term Development for America’s 250thAct,” or “BUILD America 250 Act,” for short, in reference to the forthcoming 250th anniversary of the United States. Republican Committee Chair Sam Graves and Democratic Ranking Member Rick Larsen are set to introduce the bill together. Graves called it “the most important surface transportation bill since President Eisenhower built the Interstate Highway System.”

“I’m extremely proud of the historic level of investment in America’s bridges – at more than $50 billion, it’s the largest such investment in our history. And the BUILD America 250 Act ensures that electric vehicle owners begin paying their fair share for the use of our roads,” Graves added, according to the release. “The bill also makes smart and targeted reforms to our surface transportation programs, focuses on strengthening our core infrastructure system, drives innovation, bolsters safety, ensures states have the flexibility they need, and cuts red tape to get projects built faster.”

The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) — the largest manufacturing trade association in the U.S. — quickly endorsed the bill.