Balance the Highway Trust Fund Act
Senate Bill Would Cap Highway Spending to Match Gas Tax Revenue Starting 2027
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- This bill would change how the federal government pays for roads, bridges, and public transit. It requires that the amount of money spent on these projects each year cannot be more than the amount of money the government actually collects from gas taxes and other transportation fees.
- State and local governments would be most affected by this change. Currently, Congress often spends more on transportation than it collects in taxes, using extra money from the general budget to fill the gap. Under this plan, if tax collections go down, states would receive less federal money for their construction projects.
- The goal of the policy is to make the Highway Trust Fund 'self-sustaining' so it doesn't rely on outside bailouts. This ensures the government only commits to projects it can afford with the money specifically set aside for transportation.
- If passed, these new spending limits would take effect on October 1, 2027. This would give the Department of Transportation and state agencies time to adjust their long-term plans for highway and bus system improvements.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Life & Work
Many construction and transit workers are union members who depend on federally funded highway and transit projects for their jobs. If federal spending is capped at actual gas tax revenue — which has been falling short of authorized spending levels for years — there would be fewer projects and fewer jobs in road building, bridge repair, and public transit construction.
Disabilities
Milestones
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
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Sen. Mike Lee proposes legislation to rein-in runaway federal spending on transportation
Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the 'Balance the Highway Trust Fund Act' to ensure federal highway and transit spending does not exceed annual gas tax revenues. The bill seeks to eliminate the 'highway deficit' by prohibiting obligations from exceeding estimated receipts.
Lee introduces bill balancing highway budgets
Senator Mike Lee's new legislation, the Balance the Highway Trust Fund Act, would cap federal transportation spending at the level of actual tax revenue collected. Lee argues the fund has become a 'money pit' and needs to return to its original purpose of supporting crucial roadways.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Balance the Highway Trust Fund Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.