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1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The Federal-Aid Highway Program provides formula
3grants that assist in the planning and development of an
4integrated, interconnected transportation system by enabling
5state transportation agencies to construct and rehabilitate
6the national highway system; and
 
7    WHEREAS, The Highway Trust Fund is the source of funds for
8the Federal-Aid Highway Program; the Highway Trust Fund is
9funded mostly through the 18.4 cent-per-gallon federal tax on
10gasoline sales; the federal government spends roughly $50
11billion a year on transportation projects through the Highway
12Trust Fund; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Federal law requires that funds paid into the
14Highway Trust Fund be returned to the states for various
15highway program areas in accordance with legislatively
16established formulas; each state is guaranteed a return of at
17least 92% of its highway user percentage attributions to the
18Highway Account of the Highway Trust Fund; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Higher prices at the pump and a weak economy have
20caused gasoline sales to drop; the U.S. Congressional Budget
21Office projects the trust fund could run dry by the summer or
22fall of 2012 because it has spent more money than it has taken

 

 

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1in; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Previous funding levels and processes of federal
3aid to state highway systems were traditionally set for a
4period of 6 years, which allowed for a predictable amount to be
5budgeted for transportation projects; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Current proposals in Congress have proposed
7changes to funding formulas, causing uncertainty in planning;
8and
 
9    WHEREAS, It is critical to provide adequate and predictable
10funding levels to ensure safe and well-maintained roads and
11bridges; therefore, be it
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
13NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
14SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we urge Congress to ensure that
15the Highway Trust Fund is fully funded and to restore
16traditional 6-year funding levels; and be it further
 
17    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
18delivered to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of
19Transportation; the Secretary of the Illinois Department of
20Transportation; the majority and minority leaders of the United
21States Senate, the Speaker and minority leader of the United

 

 

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1States House of Representatives, to each member of the Illinois
2congressional delegation, and to President Obama.