PRINTER'S NO. 4122
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
941
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY TOPPER, BROWN, CIRESI, SCHLEGEL CULVER, ECKER,
GLEIM, HENNESSEY, LEE, MALAGARI, MILLARD, MIZGORSKI, MOUL,
PICKETT, POLINCHOCK, PYLE, READSHAW, SAYLOR, SCHMITT,
STRUZZI, TOEPEL, WARREN, WHEELAND AND ZIMMERMAN,
JULY 13, 2020
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, JULY 13, 2020
A RESOLUTION
Urging the Congress of the United States to allocate additional
sources of funding to the Federal Highway Trust Fund.
WHEREAS, As part of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956,
championed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Federal
Highway Trust Fund was created to fund the nation's interstate
highway system; and
WHEREAS, The Federal Highway Trust Fund predominantly
receives its revenue from Federal excise taxes on motor fuels,
which are currently at a rate of 18.4¢ per gallon on gasoline
and 24.4¢ per gallon on diesel; and
WHEREAS, The current trend across the United States is toward
continued decline in motor fuel tax revenues, resulting in part
from the advent of alternative fuels and more fuel-efficient
vehicles; and
WHEREAS, Like most states, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
has been required to find innovative ways to offset the decrease
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in revenues generated from motor fuel taxes by increasing
various other taxes to fund its critical infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, The Federal Government's inaction to address this
issue exacerbates the problem with which many states are
grappling, which is having to make the unfortunate decision of
allocating state-generated motor fuel tax revenue to fund the
Federal interstate highway system even though many state and
local roads should be receiving those funds; and
WHEREAS, The Commonwealth has not been immune to the Federal
Government's inaction to assist states with funding their
critical infrastructure, as illustrated by the Pennsylvania
Department of Transportation having to drastically alter its
long-term funding plan for rural planning organizations and
metropolitan planning organizations to remedy the poor condition
of Pennsylvania's portion of the interstate highway system; and
WHEREAS, The Commonwealth recognizes dedicating sufficient
funding to infrastructure is an extremely worthwhile investment
since a state will receive a return on that investment every
time a citizen travels on the state's roads; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the Congress of the United
States to allocate additional sources of funding to the Federal
Highway Trust Fund to ensure that the transportation
infrastructure in our nation is sustainable for future
generations; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
the presiding officers of each house of Congress and each member
of the Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation.
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