HJ0047 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0047 LRB097 13885 HEP 58457 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Federal-Aid Highway Program provides formula grants that assist in the planning and development of an integrated, interconnected transportation system by enabling state transportation agencies to construct and rehabilitate the national highway system; and

WHEREAS, The Highway Trust Fund is the source of funds for the Federal-Aid Highway Program; the Highway Trust Fund is funded mostly through the 18.4 cent-per-gallon federal tax on gasoline sales; the federal government spends roughly $50 billion a year on transportation projects through the Highway Trust Fund; and

WHEREAS, Federal law requires that funds paid into the Highway Trust Fund be returned to the states for various highway program areas in accordance with legislatively established formulas; each state is guaranteed a return of at least 92% of its highway user percentage attributions to the Highway Account of the Highway Trust Fund; and

WHEREAS, Higher prices at the pump and a weak economy have caused gasoline sales to drop; the U.S. Congressional Budget Office projects the trust fund could run dry by the summer or fall of 2012 because it has spent more money than it has taken in; and

WHEREAS, Previous funding levels and processes of federal aid to state highway systems were traditionally set for a period of 6 years, which allowed for a predictable amount to be budgeted for transportation projects; and

WHEREAS, Current proposals in Congress have proposed changes to funding formulas, causing uncertainty in planning; and

WHEREAS, It is critical to provide adequate and predictable funding levels to ensure safe and well-maintained roads and bridges; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we urge Congress to ensure that the Highway Trust Fund is fully funded and to restore traditional 6-year funding levels; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation; the Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation; the majority and minority leaders of the United States Senate, the Speaker and minority leader of the United States House of Representatives, to each member of the Illinois congressional delegation, and to President Obama.