Resolution to Restore Transportation to the States Exposed

The Resolution to Restore Transportation to the States was adopted by ALEC's Commerce, Insurance and Economic Development Task Force and approved by the ALEC Board of Directors on January 15, 2012.

ALEC Bill Text

Summary

This Resolution empowers the state of [insert state] to manage gas tax dollars without federal government interference.

Model Resolution

WHEREAS, the United States Department of Transportation was established by an act of Congress on October 15, 1966, and the department’s first official day of operation was April 1, 1967; and

WHEREAS, the mission of the department is to “Serve the United States by ensuring a fast, safe, efficient, accessible and convenient transportation system that meets our vital national interests and enhances the quality of life of the American people, today and into the future.”; and

WHEREAS, the main mission of the department has largely been fulfilled by the completion of the federal interstate highway system; and

WHEREAS, state and local governments are faced with difficult decisions regarding local transportation needs on a continuing and ever-increasing basis; and

WHEREAS, the federal motor fuel taxes charged to the citizens of [insert state] are needlessly sent to the federal government before being returned to the state government; and

WHEREAS, federal restrictions, mandates and spending requirements prevent the citizens of [insert state] from setting their own transportation priorities; and

THEREFORE, BE IT JOINTLY RESOLVED by the Assembly and Senate of the state of [insert state] that this body urges making funds collected under the federal gas tax immediately available to individual states to fund their transportation needs; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this body urges federal government to cease the collection of motor fuel taxes in [insert state] so that the state can collect and distribute the taxes without delay caused by federal collection and disbursement; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be delivered to the Commissioner of the United States Department of Transportation and to the congressional delegation of the state of [insert state.]