Should Congress pass the five-year BUILD America 250 highway and transit bill?
The federal highway, transit, and rail programs authorized by the 2021 infrastructure law expire September 30. The House's five-year replacement — the BUILD America 250 Act (H.R. 8870), reported from committee 62-2 in May at a topline committee summaries put near $580 billion — would set national surface transportation policy into the 2030s. It awaits a tax-committee piece on Highway Trust Fund financing before a floor vote, the Senate has not released its own bill, and the pending stopgap would extend current programs only to December 11. Supporters and critics disagree over its balance between highways and transit, rail, and clean-transportation programs. Where do you stand?
Weigh in
The case for
A U.S. Chamber-led coalition of more than 400 state and local chambers, plus state transportation departments and construction and transit groups, argues the bill gives states five years of funding certainty, preserves formula-based funding, streamlines project permitting, and sustains millions of jobs — while lapses and short extensions delay projects and raise costs.
Source: U.S. Chamber of Commerce →The case against
Transportation-reform advocates argue the bill repeats the 2021 law's mistakes: it favors highway expansion while cutting transit, rail, and EV-charging programs, and does nothing to fix a Highway Trust Fund kept solvent by general-fund bailouts because the gas tax hasn't changed since 1993. They say Congress should prioritize repair, safety, and emissions instead of locking in the status quo for five more years.
Source: Transportation for America →My Democracy doesn’t take a side — you choose your position below, and your message carries it. Sources represent one organization on each side; they don’t reflect My Democracy’s position.
This campaign is about this bill
H.R. 8870: BUILD America 250 ActWhat it does
Building Unrivaled Infrastructure and Long-term Development for America's 250th Act or the BUILD America 250 ActThis bill authorizes federal surface transportation (highway, public transportation, and rail) programs and activities through FY2031. The bill also establishes or modifies Department of Transportation (DOT) programs and policies that are a part of the federal-aid highway, transit, highway safety, motor carrier, research, hazardous materials, and rail programs. For example, the bill authorizes appropriations through FY2031 out of the Highway Trust Fund for the federal-
Latest action: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 62 - 2. (May 22, 2026)
10 more to reach 10
Take Action
What’s your position?
Both sides are laid out above. Your message will carry your position — My Democracy doesn’t take a side.