May 18, 2026
Chicago – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee released a new transportation reauthorization bill for committee review. It will take time to fully analyze the 1,005-page Build America 250 Bill, but ELPC is initially disappointed by the proposal.
Statement by Kevin Brubaker
Deputy Director, Environmental Law & Policy Center
“At a time when gas prices are skyrocketing and there is a desperate need for a more affordable and efficient transportation system, this new bill would be a wrong turn for America. This legislation imposes new fees on electric-vehicle and plug-in hybrid drivers, guts affordable walking and biking, and undercuts our booming passenger rail system.
“The only new revenue source offered is a punitive fee on EV and hybrid drivers. This $130 registration fee for EVs and $35 for plug-in hybrids that will rise annually is nothing more than a punitive bait-and-switch for these road users. The proposed fee will not even begin to address the shortfall in the Highway Trust Fund. Further, it mandates that states enact new legislation to collect these fees or face federal penalties. Congress should do its job and address the trust fund and not punish EV drivers.
“Even though transportation is the leading source of climate change pollution, the bill text does not use the words “emission” and “climate.” Even worse, they eliminated programs designed to address climate change pollution, including the Carbon Reduction Program, the Healthy Streets program, and the Congestion Relief program.”