Larsen Votes to Restore Highway Trust Fund, Protect Transportation Dollars and Jobs for Washington State
For Immediate Release
Contact: Amanda Mahnke
(202) 225-2605
July 23, 2008
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) voted today to ensure that the Highway Trust Fund – the primary source of federal funding for highways and bridges – has the funding needed to maintain our infrastructure and help keep our economy moving. The Highway Trust Fund Restoration Act (H.R. 6532) passed the House today by a vote of 387-37.
“Restoring the Highway Trust Fund is critical for our state,” said Larsen. “This legislative fix will protect Washington state from losing 34 percent of our federal highway funding, approximately $207 million in the next fiscal year alone. If Congress fails to act, Washington state could lose over 7,000 jobs, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.”
Congress’ major surface transportation bill (SAFETEA-LU) passed in 2005 authorized billions of dollars for federal-aid highways and bridges, paid for by the Highway Trust Fund. Unfortunately, Highway Trust Fund revenues from the federal gas tax have fallen behind the amount predicted when SAFETEA-LU became law. Today’s bill restores $8.017 billion to the Highway Trust Fund that was transferred from the Highway Trust Fund to the General Fund in 1998.
