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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), the Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure participated in an EPW hearing this week on addressing the long-term solvency of the Highway Trust Fund. Senator Cramer began by discussing current funding mechanisms, their impact on middle and lower income Americans and how that would differ from proposed funding changes, and the importance of keeping a transportation infrastructure package targeted to its original purpose.
“There is no tax more regressive than the gas tax itself,” said Senator Cramer. “The idea that a user fee for electric vehicles is going to be worse for lower income people than the gas tax, I’d be hard pressed to see that. … We’re building roads and bridges, and we can’t do it with less money. We’re trying to find a way to get more money in an equitable fashion. I want to make sure we keep the main thing the main thing when we’re talking about transportation infrastructure.”
Senator Cramer then pressed Douglas Shinkle, Transportation Program Director for the National Conference of State Legislators, about the White House’s transportation proposal which provides funding to states through a discretionary grant program rather than the current funding formula which ensures smaller states with expansive road systems like North Dakota receive sufficient resources.
“In the White House’s roll out last week, they talked about changing the formula,” said Senator Cramer. “Mr. Shinkle, I’d like to know what states might feel about a different type of program.”
“States are pretty comfortable with the existing formulas that are in place,” said Director Shinkle. “Anything that would deviate from [the existing funding formula] and reduce the flexibility for states is something they might be skeptical of.”
Senator Cramer concluded his remarks by calling on Congress to pursue a bold transportation infrastructure package.
“I’m keeping my mind open because I think there is a lot of opportunity. I think we ought to go big, I really do. I want to aim high. This is a moment and an opportunity,” said Senator Cramer.
