Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and John Cornyn (R-TX) have introduced a bipartisan bill to modernize the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) and ensure fairer distribution of funds.
The Highway Formula Fairness Act reorganizes the system so that states receive a more balanced share of funding for highway construction and maintenance projects, based on the amount they contribute to the Highway Trust Fund.
"Arizona is one of the fastest-growing states in the country, but we've been shortchanged for decades when it comes to federal funding for the highways, roads, and bridges we rely on every day," said Sen. Kelly in a press release. "Arizona drivers send their tax dollars to Washington, and we should be getting our fair share back to build safer roads and keep our economy moving."
Sen. Gallego added, "Arizona is one of the fastest-growing states in the country, but since the formula used to allocate federal highway funding hasn't been updated in over twenty years, Arizonans don't get their fair share of assistance." "Arizonans pay into the system, and they deserve to see that investment come back home."
Sen. Gallego emphasized that the legislative effort "would finally update those outdated formulas so fast-growing states like ours have the resources we need to maintain our roads, repair our bridges, and keep our communities moving."
In May, Representative Greg Stanton (D-AZ) introduced a similar bill -- the Highway Formula Fairness Act -- which recalibrates the HTF system to allow ten-year census data to be considered when determining how to award Highway Trust Fund money while also requiring the Secretary of Transportation to conduct a study assessing data and methods of apportionment.
Whichever system ultimately becomes law, the populations of Arizona and Texas are growing rapidly, yet the current HTF system provides little highway funding that both states urgently need.
