“National Multimodal and Sustainable Freight Infrastructure
Act” would provide roughly $8 billion annually, dedicated to
goods movement infrastructure
On June 22, 2017 Congressman Alan Lowenthal (D-CA) introduced
the “National Multimodal and Sustainable Freight Infrastructure Act.”
This bipartisan legislation would create a sustained, dedicated revenue
source to strengthen America’s economic competitiveness by
investing in the rebuilding of crumbling U.S. freight infrastructure.
According to Congressman Lowenthal’s
office, H.R. 3001 would raise around $8
billion a year through implementation of
a national one percent waybill fee on the
cost of transporting goods. Funding would
be collected in a Freight Transportation
Infrastructure Trust Fund, and annual collections
would be divided evenly between
two programs: a formula program that
provides funds to each state, and a competitive
grant program available to local,
regional and state governments. According
to the Congressman, funding would
be dedicated to freight-related infrastructure
projects throughout the nation, with a
focus on multimodal projects and projects
that rebuild aging infrastructure while relieving
bottlenecks in the freight transportation
system.
“Goods movement is the backbone of our economy. In order to maintain the standing of
the United States as a global economic leader, we must invest in expanding the capacity,
reliability, and efficiency of our nation’s goods movement system and freight infrastructure,”
Congressman Lowenthal said in a press release. “And yet, that infrastructure
is crumbling around us. We must take action to rebuild it and strengthen it, all in a way
that also addresses the negative impacts of goods movement on our communities.”
During the 114th Congress, Representative Lowenthal introduced the “Economy in Motion Act,”
which is largely similar to “National Multimodal and Sustainable Freight Infrastructure Act.”
The freight policy and programming achievements made under the FAST Act advanced principles
that were included in “Economy in Motion,” necessitating revisions to the original bill.
Eleven co-sponsors joined Congressman Lowenthal in his introduction of “The National
Multimodal and Sustainable Freight Infrastructure Act,” including Representatives Nanette
Barragan (D-CA), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Matt Cartwright (D-PA), Judy Chu
(D-CA), Robin Kelly (D-IL), Mark Meadows (R-NC), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Grace Napolitano
(D-C), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), and Mark Takano (D-CA).
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