Congress is moving toward the first federal rules for self-driving big rigs, pairing new training money for human workers with a requirement that any remote backup help sits on U.S. soil. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee folded an autonomous commercial-vehicle framework into the broader five-year BUILD America 250 Act this month, beginning to answer a question looming over truck drivers and their towns: who is responsible for keeping the roads safe as pilot projects grow into everyday operations? Committee Clears New Transportation Bill The committee approved H.R. 8870, the BUILD America 250 Act, in a 62-2 vote and sent it on to the full House for potential consideration, according to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The measure wraps the first nationwide framework for autonomous commercial motor vehicles into a sweeping surface-transportation package and directs the Department of Transportation to set federal safety standards before driverless trucks operate across state lines. Remote Helpers Must Sit In The U.S. The bill would require "all remote assistants, driverless operations dispatchers, and remote drivers to be physically located within the United States or any territory of the United States," language aimed at preventing companies from outsourcing real-time intervention work overseas, according to the BUILD America 250 Act bill text. Lawmakers have repeatedly flagged the risk of offshored remote assistance during hearings on autonomous trucking operations. Training Grants For Drivers And Technicians The legislation authorizes a commercial motor-vehicle workforce development grant program that includes $27.5 million for fiscal year 2027, with larger amounts in subsequent years, to train licensed drivers and vehicle maintenance technicians on automated driving systems, according to the BUILD America 250 Act bill text. States, colleges, labor organizations, and nonprofits would be eligible to apply, and the program can support apprenticeships, internships, and outreach partnerships to prepare workers for the technology.