US Congress House Bill 2716 (Prior Session Legislation)

---

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 52-0)
Status: Introduced on June 10 2015 - 25% progression, died in committee
Action: 2015-06-11 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
Pending: House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [PDF]

Transportation Empowerment Act This bill prescribes a limitation on funding of transportation programs and projects for FY2016-FY2020. Appropriations out of the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) (other than the Mass Transit Account) are authorized for FY2016-FY2020, subject to a certain limitation, for specified core programs under the federal-aid highway program, including: emergency relief for highways and roads, the federal lands transportation program, and Federal Highway Administration administrative expenses. A state may transfer and use excess federal-aid highway funds for any surface transportation project (including mass transit and rail). Certain limits are placed on federal assistance to states for highway bridge replacement and rehabilitation to bridges on the federal-aid highway system. Beginning with FY2015, a highway construction or improvement project shall not be considered a federal project: unless and until a state expends federal funds for the construction portion of the project, solely by reason of the state expenditure of federal funds before the construction phase of the project (including for any environmental document or design work), or upon state reimbursement to the federal government of the federal costs of such projects. The Internal Revenue Code is amended to make amounts in the HTF available for expenditure for core highway programs through FY2022. The Department of the Treasury shall pay from the HTF into the Treasury general fund amounts equivalent to the floor stocks refunds made before July 1, 2022, as well as into the Airport and Airway Trust Fund amounts equivalent to certain aviation fuel taxes received before October 1, 2022. A motor fuel tax rate schedule is prescribed for the financing of core highway programs. Treasury authority to make certain transfers to the Mass Transit Account shall be terminated at the end of FY2016, at which time Treasury shall transfer all amounts from the Mass Transit Account to the Highway Account. The national highway performance program is revised to repeal program requirements for specified National Highway System transportation improvement projects, including environmental mitigation projects. The surface transportation program is revised to eliminate from eligibility for program assistance: carpool projects, fringe and corridor parking facilities and programs, including electric vehicle and natural gas vehicle infrastructure, and bicycle transportation and pedestrian walkways projects; transportation alternatives; and environmental mitigation projects, including environmental restoration and pollution abatement projects. Also repealed are: the obligation of a state to use a portion of program funds for replacement or rehabilitation of off-system bridges, metropolitan transportation planning requirements for federal-aid highways, and the authorization of federal assistance to states for historic bridges. Certain requirements of the highway safety improvement program are revised or repealed, eliminating eligibility for projects for pedestrian or bicyclist safety or safety of persons with disabilities. The congestion mitigation and air quality improvement program and the transportation alternatives program are repealed. Appropriations out of the HTF (other than the Mass Transit Account) are authorized for FY2016-FY2020 for the highway research and development program. Treasury shall allocate to the states for surface transportation projects (including mass transit and rail) any excess highway tax receipts appropriated to the HTF in FY2016-FY2019. Excise taxes on gasoline, diesel fuel or kerosene, and diesel-water fuel emulsion are reduced. Credits or refunds are required for certain floor stocks taxes on liquids imposed before October 1, 2020. This Act shall become effective only if the Office of Management and Budget certifies that it is deficit neutral.

Transportation Empowerment Act

Rep. Ron DeSantis [R-FL]	Rep. Tom Graves [R-GA]	Rep. Matt Salmon [R-AZ]	Rep. Marlin Stutzman [R-IN]
Rep. David Jolly [R-FL]	Rep. Ken Buck [R-CO]	Rep. Bill Flores [R-TX]	Rep. Justin Amash [R-MI]
Rep. Lamar Smith [R-TX]	Rep. Robert Pittenger [R-NC]	Rep. Raul Labrador [R-ID]	Rep. Richard Hudson [R-NC]
Rep. Jeb Hensarling [R-TX]	Rep. Jim Jordan [R-OH]	Rep. Doug Collins [R-GA]	Rep. Trent Franks [R-AZ]
Rep. Barry Loudermilk [R-GA]	Rep. Walter Jones [R-NC]	Rep. Austin Scott [R-GA]	Rep. Kenny Marchant [R-TX]
Rep. Michael McCaul [R-TX]	Rep. Andy Harris [R-MD]	Rep. Gary Palmer [R-AL]	Rep. Trey Gowdy [R-SC]
Rep. Curt Clawson [R-FL]	Rep. Randy Weber [R-TX]	Rep. Mo Brooks [R-AL]	Rep. Blake Farenthold [R-TX]
Rep. Paul Gosar [R-AZ]	Rep. Jason Chaffetz [R-UT]	Rep. Scott DesJarlais [R-TN]	Rep. Jody Hice [R-GA]
Rep. Pete Olson [R-TX]	Rep. Bill Huizenga [R-MI]	Rep. John Ratcliffe [R-TX]	Rep. Michael Burgess [R-TX]
Rep. Mike Bishop [R-MI]	Rep. David Schweikert [R-AZ]	Rep. Luke Messer [R-IN]	Rep. Doug LaMalfa [R-CA]
Rep. John Culberson [R-TX]	Rep. Jim Bridenstine [R-OK]	Rep. Roger Williams [R-TX]	Rep. Billy Long [R-MO]
Rep. Steven Palazzo [R-MS]	Rep. Daniel Webster [R-FL]	Rep. Kevin Yoder [R-KS]	Rep. Sam Johnson [R-TX]
Rep. Mick Mulvaney [R-SC]	Rep. Doug Lamborn [R-CO]	Rep. Mark Meadows [R-NC]	Rep. Jeff Miller [R-FL]

Date	Chamber	Action
2015-06-11	House	Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
2015-06-10	House	Referred to House Rules
2015-06-10	House	Referred to House Budget
2015-06-10	House	Referred to House Ways and Means
2015-06-10	House	Referred to House Transportation and Infrastructure
2015-06-10	House	Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, the Budget, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
2015-06-10	House	Introduced in House

SB1541 (Related) 2015-06-10 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/2716/all-info
Text	https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr2716/BILLS-114hr2716ih.pdf