HR 3486 · 113th Congress 2013–2015, ended

Transportation Empowerment Act

Introduced Nov 14, 2013 Originated House Sponsor Tom Graves R-GA

Latest action · Nov 15, 2013 Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.

Progress

Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.

IntroducedNov 14, 2013
Passed HouseNot reached
Passed SenateNot reached
To the PresidentNot reached
Became lawNot reached

Summary

Transportation Empowerment Act - Declares the purposes of the Act, including returning maximum discretionary authority and fiscal responsibility to the states for all elements of the national surface transportation systems (excluding the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways).

Prescribes a limitation on funding of transportation programs and projects carried out under this Act.

Authorizes appropriations out of the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) (other than the Mass Transit Account) for FY2015-FY2019 for specified core programs under the federal-aid highway program, including: (1) metropolitan transportation planning, (2) emergency relief for highways and roads, (3) the federal lands transportation program, and (4) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) administrative expenses.

Authorizes a state to transfer and use excess federal-aid highway funds for any surface transportation project (including mass transit and rail).

Limits federal assistance to states for highway bridge replacement and rehabilitation to bridges on the federal-aid highway system. Repeals the authorization of federal assistance to states for historic bridges.

Repeals the transportation alternatives program.

Declares that, beginning with FY2014, a highway construction or improvement project shall not be considered a federal project: (1) unless and until a state expends federal funds for the construction portion of such project, (2) solely by reason of the state expenditure of federal funds before the construction phase of the project (including for any environmental document or design work), or (3) upon state reimbursement to the federal government of the federal costs of such projects.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make amounts in the HTF available for expenditure for core highway programs through FY2020.

Requires the Secretary of Treasury to transfer from the HTF amounts equivalent to motorboat and aviation fuel taxes collected before October 1, 2022, to: (1) the Land and Water Conservation Fund, (2) the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, and (3) the Airport and Airway Trust Fund.

Requires the Secretary to pay from the HTF into the general fund of the Treasury amounts equivalent to the floor stocks refunds made before July 1, 2023.

Prescribes a motor fuel tax rate schedule for financing of core highway programs.

Terminates, on September 30, 2014, the authority of the Secretary to make certain transfers to the Mass Transit Account. Directs the Secretary, on October 1, 2014, to transfer all amounts in the Mass Transit Account to the Highway Account.

Authorizes appropriations out of the HTF (other than the Mass Transit Account) for FY2015-FY2019 for the highway research and development program.

Directs the Secretary to allocate to the states for surface transportation projects (including mass transit and rail) any excess highway tax receipts appropriated to the HTF in FY2016-FY2019.

Reduces the excise taxes imposed on: (1) gasoline from 18.3 cents to 3.7 cents, (2) diesel fuel or kerosene from 24.3 cents to 5.0 cents, and (3) diesel-water fuel emulsion from 19.7 cents to 4.1 cents. Requires credits or refunds of certain floor stocks taxes on liquids imposed before October 1, 2019.

Declares that this Act shall become effective only if the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) certifies that it is deficit neutral.

Cosponsors 55

Members who signed on, in the order they did. Signatures ran from Nov 14, 2013 to Nov 20, 2014; 20 are original cosponsors, there from the day it was introduced.

Seat	Cosponsor		Signed on
R-MI	Bill Huizenga	Original	Nov 14, 2013
R-MO	Billy Long	Original	Nov 14, 2013
R-AZ	David Schweikert	Original	Nov 14, 2013
R-TX	Jeb Hensarling	Original	Nov 14, 2013
R-SC	Jeff Duncan	Original	Nov 14, 2013
I-MI	Justin Amash	Original	Nov 14, 2013
R-TX	Kevin Brady	Original	Nov 14, 2013
R-TX	Louie Gohmert	Original	Nov 14, 2013
R-GA	Lynn A. Westmoreland	Original	Nov 14, 2013
R-IN	Marlin A. Stutzman	Original	Nov 14, 2013
R-SC	Mick Mulvaney	Original	Nov 14, 2013
R-GA	Paul C. Broun	Original	Nov 14, 2013
R-GA	Phil Gingrey	Original	Nov 14, 2013
R-TX	Randy K. Weber, Sr.	Original	Nov 14, 2013
R-GA	Rob Woodall	Original	Nov 14, 2013
R-FL	Ron DeSantis	Original	Nov 14, 2013
R-KS	Tim Huelskamp	Original	Nov 14, 2013
R-IN	Todd Rokita	Original	Nov 14, 2013
R-AZ	Trent Franks	Original	Nov 14, 2013
R-NC	Walter B. Jones	Original	Nov 14, 2013
R-OK	Jim Bridenstine		Nov 15, 2013
R-MN	Michele Bachmann		Nov 19, 2013
R-NC	Robert Pittenger		Nov 19, 2013
R-TX	Michael C. Burgess		Nov 21, 2013
R-CA	Tom McClintock		Dec 3, 2013
R-TX	John Abney Culberson		Dec 4, 2013
R-OK	James Lankford		Dec 9, 2013
R-FL	Jeff Miller		Dec 9, 2013
R-ID	Raul R. Labrador		Dec 9, 2013
R-LA	Steve Scalise		Dec 9, 2013
R-TX	Steve Stockman		Jan 9, 2014
R-PA	Joseph R. Pitts		Jan 16, 2014
R-NC	George Holding		Jan 17, 2014
R-NC	Richard Hudson		Jan 27, 2014
R-FL	Thomas J. Rooney		Jan 27, 2014
R-SC	Trey Gowdy		Jan 27, 2014
R-CO	Mike Coffman		Jan 29, 2014
R-MI	Kerry L. Bentivolio		Feb 3, 2014
R-OH	Jim Jordan		Feb 25, 2014
R-TX	Kenny Marchant		Jun 10, 2014
R-TX	Blake Farenthold		Jun 19, 2014
R-GA	Doug Collins		Jun 25, 2014
R-AZ	Matt Salmon		Jul 11, 2014
R-WI	Reid J. Ribble		Jul 11, 2014
R-FL	Steve Southerland II		Jul 11, 2014
R-FL	Curt Clawson		Jul 15, 2014
R-IN	Luke Messer		Jul 15, 2014
R-FL	Ted S. Yoho		Jul 17, 2014
R-OH	Brad R. Wenstrup		Jul 24, 2014
R-FL	John L. Mica		Aug 1, 2014
R-MI	Tim Walberg		Aug 1, 2014
R-FL	Richard B. Nugent		Sep 10, 2014
R-FL	Mario Diaz-Balart		Sep 18, 2014
R-TX	Pete Sessions		Sep 18, 2014
R-CO	Doug Lamborn		Nov 20, 2014

Withdrew 1 Mark Meadows R-NC Jul 25, 2014

Committees 3

Where it was sent and what each committee and subcommittee did with it, in order.

Chamber	Committee	What it did
House	Transportation and Infrastructure Committee	Referred Nov 14, 2013
	Highways and Transit Subcommittee	Referred Nov 15, 2013
House	Ways and Means Committee	Referred Nov 14, 2013
House	Budget Committee	Referred Nov 14, 2013

Actions 3

Everything that happened, newest first.

Nov 15, 2013Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
Nov 14, 2013Introduced in House
Nov 14, 2013Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Research

What has been written about this bill: committee reports, cost estimates, the sponsor’s authority statement, printed hearings and the Congressional Research Service’s work.

Constitutional authority

[Pages H7252-H7253] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] By Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio: H.R. 3542. Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant to the following: According to Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 of the Constitution: The Congress shall have power to enact this legislation to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes. ADDITIONAL SPONSORS Under clause 7 of rule XII, sponsors were added to public bills and resolutions as follows: H.R. 120: Ms. Edwards. H.R. 259: Mr. Kingston. H.R. 270: Mr. Ellison and Mr. Honda. H.R. 274: Mr. Keating. H.R. 351: Mr. McKeon. H.R. 543: Mr. Bishop of New York. H.R. 647: Mr. Mulvaney, Mr. Austin Scott of Georgia, Mr. Collins of Georgia, and Ms. Jackson Lee. H.R. 669: Mrs. Christensen. H.R. 676: Ms. McCollum. H.R. 685: Mr. Vela, Mr. Messer, Mr. Duncan of Tennessee, and Mrs. McMorris Rodgers. H.R. 713: Mr. Gibbs, Mrs. Wagner, Mr. LaMalfa, and Mr. Honda. H.R. 715: Mr. McNerney and Mr. Perlmutter. H.R. 809: Mr. Fincher. H.R. 919: Mr. Ryan of Ohio. H.R. 997: Mr. Latham and Mrs. Miller of Michigan. H.R. 1020: Ms. Foxx. H.R. 1024: Mr. Barrow of Georgia. H.R. 1124: Mrs. Beatty. H.R. 1179: Mr. Cohen and Mrs. Christensen. H.R. 1199: Mr. Garcia. H.R. 1209: Mr. Gibbs, Mr. Graves of Georgia, Mr. Pittenger, Mr. Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico, Mr. King of New York, and Ms. Fudge. H.R. 1248: Mr. Bachus. H.R. 1310: Mr. Lamborn. H.R. 1339: Mr. Lipinski and Mrs. Capito. H.R. 1428: Mr. Price of North Carolina. H.R. 1429: Mr. Bishop of New York. H.R. 1449: Mr. Ross, Mr. Diaz-Balart, Mrs. Lummis, and Mr. Southerland. H.R. 1461: Mr. Hunter and Mr. Nugent. H.R. 1518: Mr. Rodney Davis of Illinois, Mr. Crenshaw, and Mr. Bilirakis. H.R. 1563: Ms. Frankel of Florida, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, and Mr. Graves of Missouri. H.R. 1601: Mr. Cartwright. H.R. 1616: Mr. Gibson. H.R. 1666: Ms. Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico, Mr. Lipinski, and Ms. Eshoo. H.R. 1717: Mr. David Scott of Georgia and Ms. Kuster. H.R. 1726: Ms. Frankel of Florida. H.R. 1761: Mr. Roe of Tennessee. H.R. 1779: Mr. Peterson. H.R. 1830: Ms. Esty. H.R. 1851: Ms. Kuster and Mr. Horsford. H.R. 1852: Mr. Ross, Mr. Diaz-Balart, Mrs. Lummis, Mr. Labrador, and Ms. Brownley of California. H.R. 1869: Mr. Wittman. H.R. 1878: Ms. Frankel of Florida. H.R. 1920: Mr. Rigell. H.R. 1985: Mr. Goodlatte. H.R. 1992: Mr. Kinzinger of Illinois and Mr. Sires. H.R. 2027: Mr. Cassidy. H.R. 2028: Mr. Tierney. H.R. 2144: Mr. Duncan of South Carolina. H.R. 2305: Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania. H.R. 2385: Mrs. Wagner. H.R. 2446: Mrs. Wagner. H.R. 2553: Ms. Moore, Ms. Schwartz, Ms. Titus, and Mr. George Miller of California. H.R. 2560: Mr. Rangel. H.R. 2607: Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney of New York, Mr. Israel, and Mr. Pocan. H.R. 2619: Mr. Lowenthal. H.R. 2663: Mr. Ross. H.R. 2697: Mr. Bishop of New York, Ms. Kuster, and Mr. Johnson of Georgia. H.R. 2703: Mr. Doyle. H.R. 2725: Mr. Tiberi, Mr. Stutzman, and Ms. Wasserman Schultz. H.R. 2785: Mr. Renacci. H.R. 2791: Mr. Gibson and Mr. Huizenga of Michigan. H.R. 2818: Mr. Grijalva. H.R. 2945: Mr. Roskam. H.R. 3040: Mr. Gene Green of Texas. H.R. 3105: Mr. Goodlatte and Mr. Cotton. H.R. 3111: Mr. Johnson of Ohio. H.R. 3121: Mr. Renacci. H.R. 3125: Mr. Butterfield, Mr. Braley of Iowa, Mr. Danny K. Davis of Illinois, Mr. Clay, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Rodney Davis of Illinois, and Mr. Loebsack. H.R. 3135: Ms. McCollum. H.R. 3143: Mr. Israel. H.R. 3163: Mr. Moran. H.R. 3169: Mr. Burgess. H.R. 3189: Mr. Poe of Texas. H.R. 3206: Ms. Frankel of Florida. H.R. 3211: Mr. Fitzpatrick. H.R. 3240: Mr. Foster. H.R. 3297: Ms. Schakowsky. H.R. 3299: Mr. Ribble, Mr. Harris, Mr. Bentivolio, Mr. Boustany, and Mr. Roskam. H.R. 3303: Mr. Bilirakis. H.R. 3308: Mr. Pittenger. H.R. 3309: Mr. Johnson of Ohio and Mr. Larsen of Washington. H.R. 3322: Mr. Rangel. H.R. 3327: Mrs. Bustos. H.R. 3333: Mr. Pet[...]

The sponsor’s statement, as printed in the page H7253.

CRS reports 3

Congressional Research Service work that CRS links to this bill or the law it became, newest first.

Cite it 3

Products on other subjects that cite it, usually among other measures.

Product	Title	Kind	Published
R44811	Surface Transportation Devolution: Shifting Responsibility to States and Localities	Report	May 15, 2025
RL30304	The Federal Excise Tax on Motor Fuels and the Highway Trust Fund: Current Law and Legislative History Archived	Report	Feb 22, 2016
R42966	Public Transportation Program and Funding Issues Archived	Report	Sep 26, 2014

Related bills 1

Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.

Bill	Title	Relationship	Latest action
S 1702	Transportation Empowerment Act	Related bill	Nov 14, 2013

Titles 2

Every title it has carried, official and short, at each stage.

Official Title as Introduced: To empower States with authority for most taxing and spending for highway programs and mass transit programs, and for other purposes.
Short Titles as Introduced: Transportation Empowerment Act

Subjects

Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Transportation and Public Works.

Text 1

Each version as it was printed, newest first.

Nov 14, 2013Introduced in House

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Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov; cost estimates are the Congressional Budget Office's, and the hearings are the printed hearings GovInfo publishes, which can appear months after the hearing.