PRINTER'S NO. 852
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
159
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY LONGIETTI, HARKINS, KIRKLAND, KOTIK, V. BROWN,
DONATUCCI, READSHAW, KAVULICH, McNEILL, HARHAI, D. COSTA,
COHEN AND GIBBONS, MARCH 6, 2015
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, MARCH 6, 2015
A RESOLUTION
Memorializing the Congress of the United States to return orphan
transportation earmarks to the states.
WHEREAS, Congress has specifically earmarked highway and mass
transit funds for special projects and transportation-related
exhibits and research since the 1982 highway reauthorization
bill; and
WHEREAS, While certain districts benefit from congressionally
directed highway projects and improvements, orphan earmark funds
impede projects in other districts and reduce Federal gas tax
revenue received by the states; and
WHEREAS, Earmarked funding often remains unspent after
project completion; and
WHEREAS, Earmarked funding may be directed toward nonviable
projects; and
WHEREAS, In some cases earmarked funding, once secured,
cannot be directed toward existing projects having other funding
sources; and
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WHEREAS, Sponsors of orphan earmarks have no authority to
redistribute funds; and
WHEREAS, An estimated $13 billion, nearly 1 in 3 highway
dollars earmarked since 1991, has been set aside, remaining
unspent; and
WHEREAS, Federal funding to the states has been reduced by an
estimated $7.5 billion due to orphan earmarks; and
WHEREAS, Transportation infrastructure projects addressing
structurally deficient highways and bridges in the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania remain unfunded; and
WHEREAS, Reduced Federal transportation funding to the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has amounted to $392 million;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania memorialize the Congress of the
United States to return orphan transportation earmarks to the
states; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
the presiding officers of each house of Congress and to the
members of Congress from Pennsylvania.
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