WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced legislation to rein in runaway spending and balance bloated transportation budgets that have grown past their original purpose. The Balance the Highway Trust Fund Act ensures that federal highway and transit spending does not exceed estimated revenues flowing into the Highway Trust Fund.

"Runaway highway spending has turned a 'temporary tax' into a money pit for federal dollars," said Senator Mike Lee. "The Highway Trust Fund was created to support our nation's crucial roadways, but is consistently rerouted to unnecessary and inefficient programs. This bill will eliminate the highway deficit to keep our roads functioning within their budget and without the waste."

The Balance the Highway Trust Fund Act:

• Prohibits the Department of Transportation's obligations for Federal-aid highways and highway safety construction programs from exceeding the gas tax proceeds for that year, as estimated by the Secretary of the Treasury.
• Limits annual obligations from the Mass Transit Account to not exceed net mass transit receipts for each fiscal year.

Read the full bill text here.