Richard Shelby: “As chairman of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, I want to briefly state my views on the Warner amendment.…”

“As chairman of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, I want to briefly state my views on the Warner amendment. Let me first make it clear that I represent a donor State. From 1992 to 1995, Alabama only received about 78 cents back for every dollar it sent to Washington in gasoline taxes. Other States, like Massachusetts for example, received about $2 rac{1}{2} back for every dollar paid in gas taxes. The formula for distributing highway funds is not equitable in my opinion. I think it would be very difficult for any Member to argue that wealthier States should receive more than double in Federal highway funds than they paid in, while poorer States only receive a fraction of their contributions. I want to work to help correct that formula, but that is something that will be addressed later this year when the Federal highway program is reauthorized. My goal in the supplemental appropriations bill was not to try to tackle the donor versus donee issue. Rather, my goal was to simply increase Federal funding for highways to address current and pressing needs and to ensure that all States would come out a winner. We did that.”