[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 58 (Wednesday, May 7, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E861]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          SUPPORTING MORE EQUITABLE HIGHWAY FUNDING PROPOSALS

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                        HON. WILLIAM L. JENKINS

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 7, 1997

  Mr. JENKINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring the attention of the 
Congress to an issue of inequity facing my home State, the State of 
Tennessee. This inequity is the current funding formula of the Federal 
highway trust fund.
  As most of you know, there are a number of States in the Union which 
are called donor States. These States pay into the highway trust fund 
through various taxes, but receive less money than they remit to the 
Federal Government. For example, based on the most recent Federal 
Highway Administration figures, the State of Tennessee receives 
approximately 82 cents for every $1 contributed to the fund.
  However, there are a number of States which receive well over $1.50 
for each $1 they remit to the trust fund. This is unfair. Tennessee's 
transportation needs, in many cases, are just as critical as those 
States which receive a disproportionate lion's share of the trust fund 
proceeds.
  There are a number of proposals seeking to reach a more equitable 
solution to this funding disparity, and I urge all Members of this 
body, especially those of us in the donor States, to support reasonable 
changes in the funding formula to ensure that each State's 
transportation needs receive adequate funding.

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