Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA) today urged his House colleagues to take swift action to replenish the federal Highway Trust Fund when they return to work Tuesday, warning that Virginia and other states could be forced to scale back road, bridge, and transit projects unless Congress acts.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has notified all states that restrictions will be placed on their federal highway funds starting August 1^st because the Highway Trust Fund is bordering on insolvency. President Obama issued a strong warning Tuesday at a press conference held at the Key Bridge in Arlington.

“The urgency for Congress to address the shortfall in the Highway Trust Fund grows with each passing day. Road, bridge, and eventually mass transit improvements in every state are at risk of grinding to a halt in a matter of weeks in the heart of the summer construction season unless we act responsibly to address this challenge,” Connolly said.

Compounding the problem is the fact that the legislation authorizing the nation’s transportation policy– known as MAP-21, expires at the end of September. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx said recently, "This may be the most dire moment the American transportation system has faced in decades."

The Highway Trust Fund is financed through the federal gas tax, which is currently 18.3 cents per gallon, but that surcharge has not been adjusted since 1993 and the tax has lost nearly 40% of its purchasing power. In recent years, Congress has had to transfer money from the General Fund to keep the Trust Fund solvent. The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates Trust Fund expenses will exceed revenue starting in August.  The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates the Trust Fund needs an infusion of $6.6 billion to meet its obligations through December. 

In the Commonwealth of Virginia, nearly every mode of transportation will be negatively affected by this Trust Fund shortfall. More than half of the next year’s road and transit projects are to be funded with federal dollars. Virginia Department of Transportation officials have said that without these federal funds:

·         149 bridge replacements would be put on hold,

·         175 aging buses and train cars would not be replaced,

·         44 smaller transit systems would not be able to maintain service,

·         350 other projects would grind to a halt.

·         More than 43,000 jobs could be lost in Virginia and across the nation.

“The Federal Government historically has been an equal partner in funding our nation’s infrastructure, but that level of investment has eroded over time. The House recently approved a transportation appropriations bill that provides less funding for highway and transit construction than last year and far less than what is necessary

to build a 21^st Century transportation network,” Connolly said. “Roads and bridges are crumbling in the Commonwealth and in every other state. Our transportation network serves as the backbone of our economy, and it’s only a matter of time before that decay begins to negatively affect our communities and their economic competitiveness.”

Connolly recently cosponsored legislation with Rep. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland to close an offshore corporate tax loophole to replenish the Trust Fund. Connolly has consistently advocated for Congress to approve a long-term, sustainable source of funding for the nation’s infrastructure, saying state DOTs need more certainty as they make long-range plans and place orders for equipment and materials.

Connolly said House and Senate leaders should immediately begin to negotiate a bipartisan compromise to shore up the Trust Fund when Members return from this week’s Fourth of July District Work Period.

“We’ve delayed this important debate for too long already. It’s time we cut through the political gridlock here and start improving traffic back home,” Connolly said.