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 pe-
riod to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for con-
sideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the com-
mittee concerned 
A BILL 
To establish a Road Usage Fee Pilot Program to study 
mileage-based fee systems, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Road Usage Fee Pilot 
Program Act of 2013’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
02:49 Dec 04, 2013
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3638.IH
H3638
PWALKER on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(1) The 2009 report of the National Surface 
Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commis-
sion recommends a transition away from the fuel tax 
to a more stable funding source, noting that a mile-
age-based fee system is the consensus choice for pol-
icy leaders. 
(2) The 2008 report of the National Surface 
Transportation and Revenue Study Commission rec-
ommends further study of the implementation of 
mileage-based fee systems at the State level and of 
their compatibility with a national revenue system, 
noting that in the long run, a mileage-based fee sys-
tem seems the most likely and appropriate method 
to be implemented. 
(3) According to the Congressional Budget Of-
fice, the revenue raised from the gas tax since its 
last increase in 1992 has lost over one-third of its 
purchasing power due to increasing fuel efficiency, 
changing transportation patterns, and inflation. 
(4) By 2030, the corporate average fuel econ-
omy standards will have reduced Highway Trust 
Fund receipts by more than 20 percent. 
(5) The fuel tax revenue mechanism results in 
some industries paying more than their commensu-
rate road use. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
02:49 Dec 04, 2013
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3638.IH
H3638
PWALKER on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(6) Since 1990, while gas tax revenues have 
consistently decreased, the number of vehicle miles 
traveled nationally has consistently increased. 
SEC. 3. ROAD USAGE FEE PILOT PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of the Treas-
ury (in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall es-
tablish a competitive grant program to be known as the 
Road Usage Fee Pilot Program (in this Act referred to 
as the ‘‘Program’’) to make grants to eligible entities to— 
(1) conduct pilot studies of methods for record-
ing and reporting the number of miles traveled by 
particular vehicles; 
(2) conduct pilot studies of payment, enforce-
ment, and privacy protection methods for mileage- 
based fee systems; and 
(3) implement mileage-based fee systems in ju-
risdictions that have adopted a plan for such sys-
tems. 
(b) APPLICATION REQUIRED.—To be eligible for a 
grant under the Program, an eligible entity shall submit 
to the Secretary an application at such time, in such form, 
and containing such information and assurances as the 
Secretary may require. 
(c) SELECTION OF PILOT STUDIES.—In awarding 
grants under the Program, the Secretary shall select pilot 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
02:49 Dec 04, 2013
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3638.IH
H3638
PWALKER on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
studies that, in combination, explore means to address the 
following concerns: 
(1) Protection of personal privacy. 
(2) Ease of public compliance. 
(3) Level of public acceptance. 
(4) Geographic and income equity. 
(5) Integration with State and local transpor-
tation revenue mechanisms. 
(6) Administrative issues. 
(7) Cost. 
(8) Enforcement issues. 
(9) Potential for fraud or evasion. 
(10) Feasibility of implementation. 
(d) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under the Pro-
gram, the Secretary shall give priority to pilot studies 
that— 
(1) serve as a model for broad implementation 
of a mileage-based fee system; 
(2) address concerns of rural and urban user 
equity; 
(3) involve multistate projects; 
(4) have a high volume of enrolled vehicles; 
(5) integrate with State and local revenue sys-
tems; 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
02:49 Dec 04, 2013
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3638.IH
H3638
PWALKER on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(6) integrate with local demand management 
plans; 
(7) are likely to lead to implementation of mile-
age-based fee systems, dependent on the results of 
the program; 
(8) integrate with other intelligent transpor-
tation system technologies; and 
(9) test the proposed revenue collection system 
by collecting and distributing revenue. 
(e) REQUIRED MINIMUM FUNDS FOR PLANNING OR-
GANIZATIONS.—In awarding grants under the Program, 
the Secretary shall ensure that not less than 10 percent 
of funds available under the Program in a fiscal year are 
reserved for pilot studies carried out in conjunction with 
metropolitan planning organizations or regional transpor-
tation planning organizations. 
(f) COST SHARING.—An eligible entity that receives 
a grant under this Act shall provide funds, from non-Fed-
eral sources, in an amount equal to 20 percent of the 
amount of grant funds provided to the entity to carry out 
the activities supported by the grant. 
SEC. 4. WORKING GROUPS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary, in consulta-
tion with the Secretary of Transportation, shall establish 
the following working groups: 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
02:49 Dec 04, 2013
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3638.IH
H3638
PWALKER on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(1) A technology and privacy working group 
that shall— 
(A) evaluate the technology platforms and 
standards used in the Program; 
(B) develop national technology standards 
and make recommendations to provide consist-
ency in transportation data laws; and 
(C) balance the effectiveness of revenue 
systems with user privacy. 
(2) A transportation system and equity working 
group that shall evaluate the costs of collection and 
administration of methods studied in the Program 
and the success of such methods in achieving rural 
and urban user equity. 
(3) An environmental working group that shall 
evaluate the potential of the methods studied in the 
Program to manage demand and to reduce the emis-
sion of greenhouse gases. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—Each of the working groups es-
tablished under subsection (a) shall be comprised of at 
least 1 member with relevant subject-matter experience in 
the private sector and at least 1 member with relevant 
subject-matter experience in the public sector. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
02:49 Dec 04, 2013
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3638.IH
H3638
PWALKER on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
SEC. 5. REPORTS. 
(a) INTERIM REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after 
the date of the first disbursement of funds under a grant 
under the Program, the Secretary shall submit to Con-
gress an interim report describing the progress of the Pro-
gram, the progress of the working groups established 
under section 4(a), and any data or results from the Pro-
gram. 
(b) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 4 years after the 
date of the first disbursement of funds under a grant 
under the Program, the Secretary shall submit to Con-
gress a final report containing data and results from the 
Program, an analysis of the feasibility of each method 
studied to be used as a mileage-based fee system, and the 
evaluations done by the working groups established under 
section 4(a). 
SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti-
ty’’ means one or more of the following: 
(A) A State government or political sub-
division thereof. 
(B) A local government or political subdivi-
sion thereof. 
(C) A metropolitan planning organization. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
02:49 Dec 04, 2013
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3638.IH
H3638
PWALKER on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(D) A regional transportation planning or-
ganization. 
(E) A tribal organization. 
(2) 
METROPOLITAN
PLANNING
ORGANIZA-
TION.—The term ‘‘metropolitan planning organiza-
tion’’ has the meaning given that term in section 
134(b) of title 23, United States Code. 
(3) REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNING OR-
GANIZATION.—The term ‘‘regional transportation 
planning organization’’ has the meaning given that 
term in section 134(b) of title 23, United States 
Code. 
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) GRANT PROGRAM.—There is authorized to be ap-
propriated $30,000,000 to carry out section 3, to remain 
available until expended. 
(b) WORKING GROUP AND REPORT.—There is au-
thorized to be appropriated $2,500,000 to carry out sec-
tion 4 and $2,500,000 to carry out section 5, to remain 
available until expended. 
Æ 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
02:49 Dec 04, 2013
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H3638.IH
H3638
PWALKER on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with BILLS