NATSO Applauds "Investing in America: A Penny for Progress" -- Legislation That Would Boost Highway Funding

ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 22, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NATSO President and CEO Lisa Mullings issued the following statement following Congressman DeFazio's (D-Ore.) introduction of "Investing in America: A Penny for Progress." This legislation authorizes the U.S. Department of Treasury to issue 30-year Invest in America Bonds annually through 2030. The bonds will generate nearly $500 billion in additional revenues for the Highway Trust Fund that must be put toward authorized highway and transportation projects.

"On behalf of the truckstop and travel plaza industry, I applaud Congressman DeFazio for his leadership in putting forth a sound proposal that will boost desperately needed revenues into the Highway Trust Fund and generate nearly $500 billion in additional revenues for authorized highway and transportation projects.

This proposal will stop us from losing ground on the motor fuels tax, which hasn't been increased since 1993, while providing real growth and real money for the Highway Trust Fund.

This measure will ensure that we can continue to prioritize direct federal spending on the nation's infrastructure. Positive solutions like this avoid the need for inefficient and counter-productive revenue-raising mechanisms such as tolling or commercializing rest areas, which harm highway users, interstate-based businesses and the local communities in which they operate.

The motor fuels tax remains the most equitable and efficient method of collecting infrastructure revenues, with nearly 99 percent of all funds collected put toward the Highway Trust Fund.

I commend Congressman DeFazio and his staff for their diligence and hard work in developing an efficient, sustainable solution for addressing the nation's infrastructure funding needs that ensures sufficient funds to support a vibrant and healthy infrastructure network into the future."

NATSO is the professional association of America's travel plaza and truckstop industry. Founded in 1960, NATSO represents the industry on legislative and regulatory matters; serves as the official source of information on the diverse travel plaza and truckstop industry; provides education to its members; conducts an annual convention and trade show; and supports efforts to generally improve the business climate in which its members operate.

CONTACT: Tiffany Wlazlowski Neuman
Phone: (703) 739-8578
E-mail: twlazlowski@natso.com

SOURCE NATSO, Inc.