SR0428 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0428 LRB093 21314 HSS 47600 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Federal Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21 or T-21) provided approximately $218 billion for highway and transit programs and was to expire October 1, 2003, before Congress extended the Act until February 29, 2004; and

WHEREAS, Current legislation before the United States Congress proposes to again extend TEA-21 for several more months; and

WHEREAS, Illinois has traditionally been a "donor state" of highway and transit programs, receiving approximately $.92 back from every $1.00 sent to Washington, D.C., in the form of gas tax user fees; and

WHEREAS, Additional extensions of TEA-21 will continue to require Illinois to pay an excessive and a disproportionate amount of tax dollars to the federal highway system than is received by Illinois for our highways and mass transit needs; and

WHEREAS, TEA-21 empowers local decision makers to develop innovative solutions and new transportation options; and

WHEREAS, TEA-21 legislation will affect traffic congestion and commute times for drivers and transit riders alike; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois road program is currently headed in an adverse direction with a current year diversion of $380 million and this diversion means a loss of construction jobs which places a roadblock to a rebounding economy; and

WHEREAS, Federal highways generate more than $64 billion in economic growth nationally each year; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois members of the 108th Congress are capable of the leadership necessary to pass new TEA-21 legislation that treats Illinois fairly and provides a more proportionate return of Illinois citizens' tax dollars; and

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois would be able to utilize funds from new TEA-21 legislation to promote economic development and maximize construction projects that will create good-paying jobs; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the United States Congress and the President of the United States to pass bipartisan TEA-21 legislation to create new programs for transportation that fairly distribute funding for highway development amongst the states; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to each member of the Illinois Congressional delegation, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, and the President of the United States.