NE Missouri News

The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, under the leadership of Chairman Sam Graves (MO-06), has approved a budget reconciliation proposal aimed at securing the border, supporting President Trump's national security agenda, and modernizing the United States' air traffic control system. The committee's plan involves offsetting these investments by cutting funding for programs associated with the Green New Deal, implementing charges for electric vehicles (EVs) using highways similar to other vehicles, and adopting other deficit reduction strategies. This proposal is set to be forwarded to the House Budget Committee and aims to reduce the deficit by over $10 billion.

"The Committee took decisive action in support of the President’s America First agenda," stated Chairman Sam Graves. "My proposal cuts wasteful Green New Deal spending and ensures that electric vehicles finally start paying for the maintenance of our roads and bridges. We also approved historic investments in the United States Coast Guard to strengthen our national and border security, and we took equally important strides towards finally modernizing the nation’s outdated air traffic control system."

The proposal includes measures to decrease federal spending by rescinding unobligated funds and eliminating seven Green New Deal-style programs established under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). These programs encompass Neighborhood Access and Equity Grants, Environmental Review Implementation Funds, Low-Carbon Transportation Materials Grants under the Federal Highway Administration, among others.

A key aspect of this initiative is ensuring that electric vehicles contribute financially to road maintenance akin to other highway users. The Highway Trust Fund (HTF) relies on user fees; however, since EVs do not consume gasoline, they currently do not pay these fees. This discrepancy has contributed to a growing shortfall in funds necessary for road repairs nationwide.

Additional investments are proposed for the U.S. Coast Guard to bolster national security efforts and secure maritime borders. The enhanced resources aim to prevent illegal immigration and drug trafficking while safeguarding national economic interests in regions like the Arctic against competitors such as China and Russia.

Furthermore, there is an emphasis on improving safety within America's air traffic control (ATC) system by replacing outdated technology, modernizing operations, and enhancing air traffic controller recruitment following recent aviation incidents. These improvements align with priorities set by both President Trump and DOT Secretary Duffy.

Further details from yesterday's committee markup session are available online.