Since being elected to Congress, I have always worked hard to ensure that Florida gets its fair share of Federal transportation dollars. I understand how critical it is for our area to have the transportation infrastructure necessary to continue the expansion of the South Florida economy.

Transportation funds reduce traffic congestion, increase communications and facilitate commerce. As a member of Congress, I have obtained millions of dollars for our community’s transportation needs.

Federal transportation laws are enacted every 5 to 6 years to provide authority for new federal programs or to modify existing programs. Before I was elected to office, Congress passed, and President George H.W. Bush signed into law, the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) of 1991.

As you may know, on each gallon of gas purchased, a federal tax is collected and deposited into the Federal Highway Trust fund. These funds are then distributed back to the States through complex funding formulas for highway and infrastructure improvement projects. The Minimum Guarantee provision provides funding to States based on equity considerations. These included specific shares of overall program funds and a minimum return on contributions to the Highway Account of the Highway Trust Fund. “Scope” refers to the number of programs that fall under the minimum guarantee.

Under ISTEA, the minimum guarantee was 90% but covered only about 85% of programs (scope) in the transportation bill. This meant that Florida only received in effect, about 79 cents back for each dollar it sent to the Federal Highway Trust Fund.

When the transportation bill came up for reauthorization in 1998, with the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), I worked with my colleagues to improve Florida’s rate of return. The minimum guarantee was raised to 90.5% of about 92% of programs (scope) in the transportation bill. This meant Florida received about 86 cents back for each dollar it sent to the Federal Highway Trust Fund. Florida, on average, received $1.2 billion per year in federal transportation funding under TEA-21.

I worked hard to further improve Florida’s position in the new transportation authorization bill and build upon the progress made in TEA-21. On August 10, 2005, President Bush signed into law the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). Under the new SAFETEA-LU, Florida will receive a rate-of-return of 90.5% in FY 2005 and 2006; 91.5% in FY 2007; and 92% in FY 2008 and FY 2009. Accordingly, Florida will now receive about 87 cents back for each dollar it sends to the Federal Highway Trust Fund. SAFETEA-LU provides our State with an increase of about $2.3 billion in funding over TEA-21 levels. As you can see, we continue to make progress in Congress on behalf of Florida’s transportation needs.

This law will bring additional federal funds for South Florida’s transportation needs. Florida is a rapidly growing state and needs to retain more of its resources to continue to build its transportation infrastructure. Additionally, millions of new jobs will be created and sustained by the infrastructure funding increases in SAFETEA-LU. I have witnessed how important transportation dollars are to the economic health of our community and will continue to fight for our transportation needs in the United States House of Representatives.

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