Rep. Massie’s Novel, Common Sense Bill: Use all the Billions the Feds Collect For Roads and Highways … On Roads and Highways [+video]
At a recent House Rules committee hearing, one of my colleagues from New York declared that the potholes in her district are so bad, “you can lose your car in them.” Kentuckians and Americans from all over the country agree. It is long past time that something was done to address the deplorable state of the highways and infrastructure in this country.
That is why I recently introduced the “Developing Roadway Infrastructure for a Vibrant Economy Act.” The DRIVE Act (H.R. 1461) would ensure that money in the Highway Trust Fund is actually spent on highways. Common sense would lead most people to believe that the gas tax revenue that funds the Highway Trust Fund should be spent specifically on highways, roads and bridges. However, when it comes to the operations of Congress and the federal government, common sense is uncommon.
Many Americans are unaware that gas tax revenue is regularly diverted from the federal Highway Trust Fund for such things as bike paths, sidewalks, mass transit and other purely local projects. This must end. Inflation and vehicle fuel efficiency have drained the fund so that it no longer generates enough revenue to pay for all the improvements necessary to ensure that our highways and bridges are safe and adequately maintained.
Each year, approximately $9 billion in the Highway Trust Fund goes to the Mass Transit Account, which funds local public transportation projects, including subways, light rail, buses and streetcars. Current federal law also allows the money in this trust fund to go toward sidewalks and bike paths. While I recognize the value of sidewalks and buses, taxing gasoline and routing that money through Washington is not the way to fund these inherently local projects.
Congress continually attempts to solve the problem with temporary “patches.” For example, in July 2014, Congress transferred $10 billion in tax revenue from the General Fund to the Highway Trust Fund to keep it solvent. Just last month, we again voted to temporarily patch the Trust Fund. This “patch” only lasts 60 days, though, ensuring that in two months, Congress will again be forced to deal with a manufactured emergency. As with most of these so-called emergencies that we regularly face in Congress, this one could be avoided if members would get their priorities straight and realize the urgency of a long-term solution for our deteriorating roads and bridges. (Read more from “Rep. Massie’s Novel, Common Sense Bill: Use all the Billions the Feds Collect For Roads and Highways … On Roads and Highways” HERE)
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