Highway Formula Fairness Act

Bill: 117-s-706
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced: 2021-03-11
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Air quality

Government trust funds

Regional and metropolitan planning

Roads and highways

Transportation programs funding

Transportation safety and security
Latest action: action_date: 2021-03-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-03-11
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Highway Formula Fairness Act</strong></p> <p>This bill modifies the formula that the Department of Transportation uses to apportion federal highway funds among the states for the national highway performance program, the surface transportation block grant program, the highway safety improvement program, the congestion mitigation and air quality improvement program, the national highway freight program, and metropolitan transportation planning.</p>

tv_txt: II 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 706 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 11, 2021 Mr. Cruz (for himself, Mr. Cornyn , and Mr. Burr ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works A BILL To modify a provision relating to adjustments of certain State apportionments for Federal highway programs, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Highway Formula Fairness Act . 2. Adjustments to certain State apportionment amounts Section 104 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following: (c) Calculation of amounts (1) State share For fiscal year 2022 and each fiscal year thereafter, the amount for each State of combined apportionments for the national highway performance program under section 119, the surface transportation block grant program under section 133, the highway safety improvement program under section 148, the congestion mitigation and air quality improvement program under section 149, the national highway freight program under section 167, and to carry out section 134 shall be determined as follows: (A) Initial amount The initial amount for each State shall be determined by multiplying the total amount available for apportionment by the share for each State, which shall be equal to the proportion that— (i) the amount of apportionments that the State received for fiscal year 2012; bears to (ii) the amount of those apportionments received by all States for that fiscal year. (B) Adjustments to amounts (i) In general The initial amounts resulting from the calculation under subparagraph (A) shall be adjusted to ensure that, for each State, the amount of combined apportionments for the programs shall not be less than an amount equal to— (I) 95 percent of the applicable percentage; multiplied by (II) the total amount of funds available for apportionment. (ii) Applicable percentage For purposes of this subparagraph, the applicable percentage shall be an amount, expressed as a percentage, equal to the quotient of— (I) the estimated tax payments attributable to highway users in the State that were paid into the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account) for the most recent fiscal year for which data are available; divided by (II) the estimated total tax payments attributable to users in all States that were paid into the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account) for that fiscal year. (2) State apportionment On October 1 of each fiscal year described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall apportion the sum authorized to be appropriated for expenditure on the national highway performance program under section 119, the surface transportation block grant program under section 133, the highway safety improvement program under section 148, the congestion mitigation and air quality improvement program under section 149, the national highway freight program under section 167, and to carry out section 134 in accordance with paragraph (1). .