Sen. Beach Calls On Congress To Amend Gas Tax

ALPHARETTA, GA — State Senator Brandon Beach has said he will sponsor a resolution urging the United States Congress to amend the federal Highway Trust Fund allocation process.

The resolution calls on Congress to allow states to retain 10 cents of the 18.4 cents per gallon of motor fuel tax collected. The 10 cents collected will only be available to use for capital infrastructure projects, such as the construction of new roads.

“For more than 20 years, the federal gas tax allocation rate has not changed while Georgia’s infrastructure needs and transportation methods have,” said Beach, a Republican from Alpharetta.

Since alternative fuel vehicles are growing in popularity, Beach added it's vital that elected officials "act as careful stewards of the funds that we do collect." Giving states the right to keep the 10 cents per gallon to fund projects emphasizes local control and allows for "improved and more efficient roadways throughout our state," the state senator added.

The Highway Trust Fund was created by the United States Congress in 1956 to assist with the financing of the interstate highway system. Currently, the funds received through the motor fuel tax are deposited into the Highway Trust Fund to finance infrastructure improvement projects across the country.

This resolution would urge the United States Congress to take action and change the allocation process to grant states more autonomy in how those funds may be spent at the state level.

Image via Georgia Senate