Call to Congress: ARTBA Leads Effort to Urge Congress to Enact Federal EV Fee

ARTBA and 25 other national associations and labor unions called on Congress to pass a national electric vehicle (EV) user fee and dedicate the resources to the Highway Trust Fund in a Feb. 26 letter:

Dear Members of Congress:

Investing in the nation’s infrastructure provides far-reaching economic benefits. Recent congressional support for roads, bridges and public transportation systems has helped deliver much-needed projects to every congressional district across the country. These improvements have enhanced safety, mobility and efficiency nationwide.

These outcomes are made possible by the continuity and predictability of funding supported by a healthy Highway Trust Fund (HTF). At present, HTF revenues are generated primarily through user fees on the sale of gas and diesel fuels, along with transfers from the General Fund to make up for insufficient revenues.

However, 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. At the same time, user fee revenue has not met system needs.

The undersigned organizations call on Congress to pass a fee on electric vehicles comparable to what gas and diesel vehicles pay and dedicate the revenues solely to the HTF. While this solution would only partly enhance HTF revenues, it would help ensure all users of the system are paying for its upkeep.

Further, we ask Congress to oppose any measures that would strip existing revenue from the HTF. Proposals to reduce or eliminate revenue sources into the HTF would only exacerbate the challenge of paying for the scheduled 2026 reauthorization of surface transportation programs.

We are grateful for the support Congress has provided for the nation’s surface transportation infrastructure network and look forward to working with you to ensure users of the system equitably pay for their maintenance and expansion.

Sincerely,

American Road & Transportation Builders Association
Associated General Contractors of America
American Society of Civil Engineers
International Union of Operating Engineers
American Public Transportation Association
Associated Equipment Distributors
American Concrete Pavement Association
American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association
Association of Equipment Manufacturers
Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association
American Concrete Pipe Association
American Institute of Steel Construction
National Steel Bridge Alliance
American Traffic Safety Services Association
National Ready Mixed Concrete Association
National Asphalt Pavement Association
Portland Cement Association
American Subcontractors Association
Design-Build Institute of America
Association of American Railroads
National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association
Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute
American Council of Engineering Companies
Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA)
Laborers International Union of North America
National Utility Contractors Association