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

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

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 projects and activities.

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

Among those testifying will be Polly Trottenberg, under secretary for policy, U.S. Department of Transportation, and Kim P. Cawley, unit chief, natural and physical resources cost estimates unit, Congressional Budget Office.

More information about the hearing, including testimony, additional background information, and link to a live webcast, will be posted here as it becomes available. 

Washington Editor Oliver Patton will be attending the hearing and will have a full write-up here on Truckinginfo.com.