Press Releases

A growing list of transportation and labor stakeholders are supporting key proposals in the Committee’s budget reconciliation measure that combines critical investments to support President Trump’s border and national security agenda and improve America’s air traffic control system, with cuts in wasteful spending and other deficit reducing provisions that will provide a net reduction of more than $10 billion to the nation’s deficit.

The proposal, which the Committee is scheduled to mark up at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, provides investments to bolster the U.S. Coast Guard’s missions to stop the flow of illegal drugs and migrants into the country and protect our national security, and to replace the nation’s air traffic control technology.  These investments will be more than offset by the elimination of funding for several Green New Deal style programs, a requirement that electric vehicles (EVs) begin paying for their use of the highway system just like other highway users, and other deficit reduction measures.

More than 130 stakeholder organizations have written letters or released statements of support.

Highway Trust Fund User Fees

Numerous stakeholders have expressed support for assessing a registration fee on electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrids to ensure that these vehicles pay their share in Highway Trust Fund user fees – just as other motorists do – for the maintenance and improvement of the nation’s roads. 

For example, a coalition of 31 transportation and labor stakeholder groups signed a letter stating, “…improvements to vehicle efficiency and the influx of hybrid and electric vehicles have resulted in a system where all users of the system are not treated fairly. Instead, some users pay for the maintenance of the system, while other users pay less or nothing at all…. The undersigned organizations urge you to include a fee on electric and hybrid vehicles in the committee’s upcoming reconciliation measure and dedicate the revenues solely to the HTF.”

Another letter from a coalition of 26 agriculture transportation stakeholders states, “The undersigned organizations, representing the American agriculture industry, urge Congress to act and ensure that these vehicles contribute an amount comparable to what gasoline and diesel vehicles pay to the Highway Trust Fund (HTF), with all revenues dedicated to the HTF.”

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce sent a letter in support of the Committee’s consideration of the proposed EV, hybrid, and universal user fees: “Your committee’s consideration of new user fees – including an ‘electric vehicle (EV) fee’ on EVs and hybrids, and a ‘universal fee’ on all passenger vehicles – helps provide options for long-term solvency of the HTF, and importantly greater certainty on our ability to fund our Nation’s transportation infrastructure. Following the reconciliation process, this debate must continue as part of the surface transportation and infrastructure reauthorization.”

Additional letters of support for the surface transportation provisions are posted here.

Air Traffic Control Investments

A broad coalition of 56 aviation industry and labor stakeholders – the Modern Skies Coalition – wrote in support of the investments in air traffic control modernization: “The Modern Skies Coalition strongly endorses the Air Traffic Control modernization proposal from the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to fund critical investments in the air traffic control system’s technology, infrastructure and workforce, ensuring the United States remains the gold standard of aviation safety.”

Numerous additional letters of support for the air traffic control provisions are posted here.

Coast Guard Investments

This letter from the “the largest legislative coalition in the history of the U.S. maritime industry” – the American Maritime Partnership – notes the coalition’s support for the investments in the U.S. Coast Guard: “American maritime is dedicated to keeping our U.S. waters secure, and the Coast Guard is a key partner in that effort.  Your support for increased funding for the Coast Guard in this reconciliation process is deeply appreciated.”

A letter from the Shipbuilders Council of America and the American Waterways Operators states, “On behalf of the Shipbuilders Council of America and the American Waterways Operators, we write this letter in support of the generational investment proposed for the Coast Guard that your committee included in the Budget Reconciliation package. Your commitment to ensuring the readiness, safety, and modernization of our maritime service is both deeply appreciated and critically important.”

Read more about the Committee’s proposal here.