A resolution affirming the importance of the long-term solvency of the Highway Trust Fund.

Bill: 116-sres-288
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Braun, Mike [R-IN]
Introduced: 2019-07-29
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Government trust funds

Roads and highways

Transportation programs funding

User charges and fees
Latest action: action_date: 2019-07-29
text: Referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (text: CR S5147-5148)

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-07-29
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>This resolution expresses the sense of the Senate that (1) the Highway Trust Fund should achieve long-term solvency through user fees, and (2) any spending on federal highway programs during the next reauthorization period that exceeds current fund revenues and balances should be fully offset.</p>

tv_txt: III 116th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 288 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 29, 2019 Mr. Braun submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works RESOLUTION Affirming the importance of the long-term solvency of the Highway Trust Fund.

Whereas, in July 2019, the public debt of the United States was more than $22,000,000,000,000, increasing each year by a Federal budget deficit of nearly $1,000,000,000,000; Whereas the Federal Government is facing shortfalls in several Federal trust funds, including the Highway Trust Fund, which is expected to reach insolvency in July 2021; Whereas the infrastructure of the United States needs substantial investment in order to continue supporting the growing economy of the United States; Whereas, according to a report published in 2015 by the Federal Highway Administration, 20 percent of the Federal-aid highways in the United States were in poor condition; Whereas short-term extensions providing funding to the Highway Trust Fund do not provide the certainty needed by States and local governments to enter into long-term roadbuilding contracts; and Whereas short-term extensions providing funding to the Highway Trust Fund, based solely on deficit spending, exacerbate the problem described in the preceding whereas clause and only serve to postpone solving the problem: Now, therefore, be it

That it is the sense of the Senate that— (1) the Highway Trust Fund should achieve long-term solvency through user fees; and (2) any spending on Federal highway programs during the next reauthorization period that exceeds current Highway Trust Fund revenues and balances should be fully offset.