I 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 3638 

To establish a Road Usage Fee Pilot Program to study mileage-based fee 

systems, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

DECEMBER 3, 2013 

Mr. BLUMENAUER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on 

Transportation and Infrastructure and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To establish a Road Usage Fee Pilot Program to study 

mileage-based fee systems, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Road Usage Fee Pilot 

5 Program Act of 2013’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds the following: 


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1 (1) The 2009 report of the National Surface 

2 Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commis3 sion recommends a transition away from the fuel tax 

4 to a more stable funding source, noting that a mile5 age-based fee system is the consensus choice for pol6 icy leaders. 

7 (2) The 2008 report of the National Surface 

8 Transportation and Revenue Study Commission rec9 ommends further study of the implementation of 

10 mileage-based fee systems at the State level and of 

11 their compatibility with a national revenue system, 

12 noting that in the long run, a mileage-based fee sys13 tem seems the most likely and appropriate method 

14 to be implemented. 

15 (3) According to the Congressional Budget Of16 fice, the revenue raised from the gas tax since its 

17 last increase in 1992 has lost over one-third of its 

18 purchasing power due to increasing fuel efficiency, 

19 changing transportation patterns, and inflation. 

20 (4) By 2030, the corporate average fuel econ21 omy standards will have reduced Highway Trust 

22 Fund receipts by more than 20 percent. 

23 (5) The fuel tax revenue mechanism results in 

24 some industries paying more than their commensu25 rate road use. 


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1 (6) Since 1990, while gas tax revenues have 

2 consistently decreased, the number of vehicle miles 

3 traveled nationally has consistently increased. 

4 SEC. 3. ROAD USAGE FEE PILOT PROGRAM. 

5 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of the Treas6 ury (in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall es7 tablish a competitive grant program to be known as the 

8 Road Usage Fee Pilot Program (in this Act referred to 

9 as the ‘‘Program’’) to make grants to eligible entities to— 

10 (1) conduct pilot studies of methods for record11 ing and reporting the number of miles traveled by 

12 particular vehicles; 

13 (2) conduct pilot studies of payment, enforce14 ment, and privacy protection methods for mileage15 based fee systems; and 

16 (3) implement mileage-based fee systems in ju17 risdictions that have adopted a plan for such sys18 tems. 

19 (b) APPLICATION REQUIRED.—To be eligible for a 

20 grant under the Program, an eligible entity shall submit 

21 to the Secretary an application at such time, in such form, 

22 and containing such information and assurances as the 

23 Secretary may require. 

24 (c) SELECTION OF PILOT STUDIES.—In awarding 

25 grants under the Program, the Secretary shall select pilot 


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1 studies that, in combination, explore means to address the 

2 following concerns: 

3 (1) Protection of personal privacy. 

4 (2) Ease of public compliance. 

5 (3) Level of public acceptance. 

6 (4) Geographic and income equity. 

7 (5) Integration with State and local transpor8 tation revenue mechanisms. 

9 (6) Administrative issues. 

10 (7) Cost. 

11 (8) Enforcement issues. 

12 (9) Potential for fraud or evasion. 

13 (10) Feasibility of implementation. 

14 (d) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under the Pro15 gram, the Secretary shall give priority to pilot studies 

16 that— 

17 (1) serve as a model for broad implementation 

18 of a mileage-based fee system; 

19 (2) address concerns of rural and urban user 

20 equity; 

21 (3) involve multistate projects; 

22 (4) have a high volume of enrolled vehicles; 

23 (5) integrate with State and local revenue sys24 tems; 


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1 (6) integrate with local demand management 

2 plans; 

3 (7) are likely to lead to implementation of mile4 age-based fee systems, dependent on the results of 

5 the program; 

6 (8) integrate with other intelligent transpor7 tation system technologies; and 

8 (9) test the proposed revenue collection system 

9 by collecting and distributing revenue. 

10 (e) REQUIRED MINIMUM FUNDS FOR PLANNING OR11 GANIZATIONS.—In awarding grants under the Program, 

12 the Secretary shall ensure that not less than 10 percent 

13 of funds available under the Program in a fiscal year are 

14 reserved for pilot studies carried out in conjunction with 

15 metropolitan planning organizations or regional transpor16 tation planning organizations. 

17 (f) COST SHARING.—An eligible entity that receives 

18 a grant under this Act shall provide funds, from non-Fed19 eral sources, in an amount equal to 20 percent of the 

20 amount of grant funds provided to the entity to carry out 

21 the activities supported by the grant. 

22 SEC. 4. WORKING GROUPS. 

23 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary, in consulta24 tion with the Secretary of Transportation, shall establish 

25 the following working groups: 


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1 (1) A technology and privacy working group 

2 that shall— 

3 (A) evaluate the technology platforms and 

4 standards used in the Program; 

5 (B) develop national technology standards 

6 and make recommendations to provide consist7 ency in transportation data laws; and 

8 (C) balance the effectiveness of revenue 

9 systems with user privacy. 

10 (2) A transportation system and equity working 

11 group that shall evaluate the costs of collection and 

12 administration of methods studied in the Program 

13 and the success of such methods in achieving rural 

14 and urban user equity. 

15 (3) An environmental working group that shall 

16 evaluate the potential of the methods studied in the 

17 Program to manage demand and to reduce the emis18 sion of greenhouse gases. 

19 (b) MEMBERSHIP.—Each of the working groups es20 tablished under subsection (a) shall be comprised of at 

21 least 1 member with relevant subject-matter experience in 

22 the private sector and at least 1 member with relevant 

23 subject-matter experience in the public sector. 


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1 SEC. 5. REPORTS. 

2 (a) INTERIM REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after 

3 the date of the first disbursement of funds under a grant 

4 under the Program, the Secretary shall submit to Con5 gress an interim report describing the progress of the Pro6 gram, the progress of the working groups established 

7 under section 4(a), and any data or results from the Pro8 gram. 

9 (b) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 4 years after the 

10 date of the first disbursement of funds under a grant 

11 under the Program, the Secretary shall submit to Con12 gress a final report containing data and results from the 

13 Program, an analysis of the feasibility of each method 

14 studied to be used as a mileage-based fee system, and the 

15 evaluations done by the working groups established under 

16 section 4(a). 

17 SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS. 

18 In this Act: 

19 (1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti20 ty’’ means one or more of the following: 

21 (A) A State government or political sub22 division thereof. 

23 (B) A local government or political subdivi24 sion thereof. 

25 (C) A metropolitan planning organization. 


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1 (D) A regional transportation planning or2 ganization. 

3 (E) A tribal organization. 

4 (2) METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZA5 TION.—The term ‘‘metropolitan planning organiza6 tion’’ has the meaning given that term in section 

7 134(b) of title 23, United States Code. 

8 (3) REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNING OR9 GANIZATION.—The term ‘‘regional transportation 

10 planning organization’’ has the meaning given that 

11 term in section 134(b) of title 23, United States 

12 Code. 

13 SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

14 (a) GRANT PROGRAM.—There is authorized to be ap15 propriated $30,000,000 to carry out section 3, to remain 

16 available until expended. 

17 (b) WORKING GROUP AND REPORT.—There is au18 thorized to be appropriated $2,500,000 to carry out sec19 tion 4 and $2,500,000 to carry out section 5, to remain 

20 available until expended. 

Æ 


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