The Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, chaired by U.S. Rep. Tom Petri (R-WI), will hold a hearing next week on the current financial status of the Highway Trust Fund and its impact on Federal surface transportation programs.

Federal highway, transit and highway safety programs are user-fee funded, primarily through Federal excise taxes levied on motor fuels, but also through taxes on various highway-related products such as tires and heavy trucks. These revenues are deposited into the Highway Trust Fund and may be used only for eligible surface transportation projects and activities.

One of the Committee’s priorities this Congress is developing a reauthorization of the current surface transportation law (MAP-21), which expires September 30, 2014.

The hearing, entitled “How the Financial Status of the Highway Trust Fund Impacts Surface Transportation Programs,” is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 23, 2013 in 2167 Rayburn House Office Building.

Witnesses:

• Honorable Polly Trottenberg, under secretary, policy, U.S. Department of Transportation.

• Kim P. Cawley, unit chief, natural and physical resources cost estimates unit, Congressional Budget Office.

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