WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Mike Enzi and John Barrasso, both R-Wyo., supported a third way to add money to the national highway trust fund without increasing the national debt. The senators were disappointed the Senate defeated their alternative and supported a plan that increases the national debt.          

“At some point Congress has to stop spending billions of dollars of our children’s and grandchildren’s money. Highway funding is essential but Congress is at a point when we need to get creative and frugal with spending, not irresponsible. This bill spends money we don’t have when there were clear alternatives to fund highways without digging the country deeper into debt,” said Enzi.

“The Senate had an opportunity to pass a clean, reliable and responsible highway trust fund fix.  It failed.  Adding $7 billion to the deficit is not the responsible way forward. I supported the Vitter amendment to protect Wyoming taxpayers and to ensure our states can continue to execute their transportation plans,” said Barrasso.

The Senate passed H.R. 3357, by a vote of 79-17 Thursday. The bill would transfer $7 billion from the U.S. Treasury to meet an expected funding gap in the Highway Trust Fund. Enzi and Barrasso voted against the bill after supporting several attempts to improve the bill failed. Enzi and Barrasso supported an amendment offered by Senator David Vitter, R-La., that would make up the Highway Trust Fund shortfall with previously appropriated stimulus funds, instead of further deficit spending. The amendment was defeated by a vote of 42-55. Enzi and Barrasso also supported efforts by Senator Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., and Senator John Ensign, R-Nev., to offset the cost of all or parts of the legislation by using unobligated stimulus funds but those efforts failed.              

The legislation also included unlimited funds for the Unemployment Trust Fund as well as increased loan guarantees under the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund and Government National Mortgage Association.             

The Highway Trust Fund provides money to states for interstate travel and mass transit. The trust fund revenue is generated from excise taxes on fuel, truck taxes and heavy vehicle use. This is the second year the Highway Trust Fund ran out of money and Congress stepped in to make up the difference with money from the Treasury.