2004-023-RES EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR HR 2208 THE HIGHWAY FUNDING EQUITY ACT OF 2003, PENDING BEFORE UNITED STATES CONGRESS

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RESOLUTION NO. 2004-023 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, PARIS, TEXAS, EXPRESSING SUPPORT FORH.R. 2208, THE HIGHWAY FUNDING EQillTY ACT OF 2003, PENDING BEFORE THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS, TO PROVIDE A MORE EQillT ABLE SHARE OF FEDERAL HIGHWAY FUNDS TO THE STATE OF TEXAS; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, federal legislation authorizing the highway program expires February 29, 2004; and, WHEREAS, since the inception of the federal highway program in 1956, Texas has given more than $5 billion to other states in the program, as one of the "donor" states which sends in more revenue than it receives in return from the Federal Highway Administration; and, WHEREAS, despite strong past efforts by former Senators Bentsen and Gramm to rectify this inequity, Texas most recently has received about 88 cents on the dollar in rate of return numbers; and, WHEREAS, the effort to upgrade Texas's return this year is led by Majority Leader Tom DeLay who has filed H.R. 2208, the Highway Funding Equity Act of2003, ensuring a 95% return on trust fund contributions; and, WHEREAS, if Texas would have enjoyed this 95 % return since the enactment of this last highway bill (1998), our state would have received nearly $1.2 billion more to invest in our highway program; and, WHEREAS, our dependence on the federal-aid portion of our program has grown significantly, especially in light of the fact 2003 is the first year since 1991 that the state legislature has provided a meaningful increase in state highway funds; and, WHEREAS, we are grateful to the members of the Texas delegation who have supported H.R. 2208 and are hopeful that 100 percent of the delegation will be co-sponsors; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, PARIS, TEXAS: Section 1. That the findings set out in the preamble to this resolution are hereby in all things approved.