[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12448]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        THE INTRODUCTION OF THE HIGHWAY TRUST FUND FAIRNESS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOHN LEWIS

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 13, 2009

  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the 
Highway Trust Fund Fairness Act of 2009. I urge all of my colleagues to 
support this common-sense legislation.
  This year, Congress is tasked with the much larger mission of 
reauthorizing the country's surface transportation programs to meet the 
needs of a constantly-evolving highway and transit system. Later this 
year, we will have to really look at ways to make the Highway Trust 
Fund more solvent, but in the meantime, we can make smaller changes 
that would help ease the burden.
  The Highway Trust Fund Fairness Act does just that. It allows the 
Highway Trust Fund to be treated like other federal trust funds by 
allowing refunds and credits through the General Fund. The bill will 
also allow the Highway Trust Fund to accrue interest on its balance. 
These are very basic, common-sense changes that will save money in the 
long-run.
  In 1962, President John F. Kennedy created National Transportation 
Week. He recognized that transportation was fast becoming one of the 
most sensitive and important issues facing our nation. It affects every 
person, every day. How do you get to and from school and work safely 
and efficiently every day? How do you visit family, friends, and loved 
ones?
  When I was first elected to Congress, I served on what was then the 
Public Works and Transportation Committee. It is now the Transportation 
and Infrastructure Committee chaired by my good friend and colleague 
Mr. Oberstar. I went on to eventually serve on the Ways and Means 
Committee where I chair the Oversight Subcommittee. Although we don't 
work directly on transportation issues in this Committee, we do have 
the opportunity to deal with how our nation's infrastructure is funded.
  The Highway Trust Fund was established in 1956 to provide a dedicated 
source of federal support for highways and transit programs across the 
country. Unfortunately, the Highway Trust Fund's balance continues to 
diminish every year. First and foremost, the Highway Trust Fund is 
financed primarily through fuel taxes. Combined with high gas prices 
last year and greener living, people are driving less. This means there 
is less money going into the Trust Fund. Second, the projects funded 
out of the Trust Fund are more costly. Consequently fewer initiatives 
can be funded from the Trust Fund.
  As you can see, Madam Speaker, since National Transportation Week was 
first created, our Nation's transportation and infrastructure has 
become much more complex--as has our economy. Jobs are created where 
there is good connectivity--roads, trains, bridges, public transit, 
walkable, bikable streets and communities. Before we tackle these 
larger issues, we can start with the basics. I urge all of my 
colleagues to support this very simple legislation.

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