Senior Reporter
Rep. Jim Renacci Introduces Legislation to Fix Trust Fund
Rep. Jim Renacci (R-Ohio) led a bipartisan group of lawmakers in introducing a bill April 16 that would index gas and diesel user fees to inflation, the latest effort in Congress to boost a depleting federal highway account.
The legislation, if enacted, would help raise about $27.5 billion and provide funding for infrastructure projects around the country for nearly two years, according to his office.
The bill also would establish a bipartisan, bicameral transportation commission charged with identifying a way to come up with a sustainable funding source for the Highway Trust Fund. Congress would be required to enact the commission’s recommendations, or any other funding mechanism that achieves at least three years of funding for the trust fund by Dec. 31, 2016.
Joining Renacci as the bill’s primary sponsors are Reps. Reid Ribble (R-Wis.), Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.) and Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.). There are 14 other co-sponsors. It is not clear, however, if the legislation would be taken up by the Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over the trust fund.
In a joint statement, the primary sponsors said: “We refuse to pass on the liability of our deteriorating roads and bridges to our children and grandchildren. The longer we wait to fix our crumbling infrastructure, the more it will cost in the long run. We need to act now to fix the broken system. The users of our roads, workers, and state and local governments need the certainty that adequate and timely transportation program reauthorizations and funding provide.”
Several industry groups are backing the measure, including American Trucking Associations.
“Congress should avoid passing short-term extensions that are, today, putting people out of work and forcing states to cancel or delay critical projects necessary to save lives and address system maintenance and congestion needs. We are grateful for the leadership of Reps. Renacci, Ribble and Lipinski on this very serious issue and hope all members of Congress will follow their example by supporting a long-term fix to the crisis facing the Highway Trust Fund," Dave Osiecki, ATA executive vice president, said in a statement.
With highway funding authority set to expire May 31, lawmakers are expected to consider a plan, either short term or long term, before that deadline to ensure states continue to receive federal funds. The trust fund relies primarily on fuel taxes, and Congress has not raised taxes on gasoline and diesel since 1993. The tax on gas is 18.4 cents per gallon, and the diesel tax is 24.4 cents per gallon.
