Senator Cramer discusses the structural funding shortfall of the Highway Trust Fund and proposes solutions to ensure its long-term solvency, emphasizing the need for a sustainable 'user pays' system.
Propose and support reforms to ensure the long-term solvency of the Highway Trust Fund through a sustainable 'user pays' funding system.
Occurrences
Evidence
In a March 26, 2026 op-ed, Senator Kevin Cramer highlighted the structural funding shortfall of the Highway Trust Fund, emphasizing the need to adhere to the 'user pays' principle. He proposed that all highway vehicles, including electric vehicles (EVs), should contribute to the fund. Cramer suggested implementing a federal registration fee for EVs, noting that 39 states have already adopted such fees. He also mentioned considering broader policy solutions, such as supplementing or replacing the gas tax with an annual registration fee based on vehicle weight.
On July 23, 2025, Senator Cramer chaired a Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee hearing focused on the development of the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill. The hearing discussed bipartisan bills aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the Federal Aid-highway program, including increasing state flexibility in fund allocation and streamlining asset management reporting requirements.
Cramer wrote that the Highway Trust Fund should stay true to the 'user pays' principle, argued that EVs should contribute through a federal registration fee, and said a weight-based annual fee could supplement or replace the gas tax to stabilize the fund.
On May 13, 2025, Sen. Cramer introduced S.1733 to amend title 23 and increase transferability of federal-aid highway funds from 50 percent to 75 percent, explicitly aiming to give states more flexibility over highway funding.
The Senate EPW hearing on surface transportation reauthorization occurred on July 16, 2025, and Cramer’s office stated he questioned witnesses about the highway system’s user-pays model and solutions to increase Highway Trust Fund revenue, including ensuring all drivers contribute fairly.
How do we stay true to “user pays” and ensure the long-term solvency of the Highway Trust Fund?
Raises state transferability cap to 75%, giving state DOTs more flexibility to direct federal highway formula funds.
Assessments
Evidence shows Senator Cramer actively advanced the promise while in office: he authored op-eds advocating a user-pays approach (federal EV registration fees, weight-based annual fees), chaired/subcommittee hearings on surface transportation reauthorization discussing user-pays and HTF revenue, and introduced S.1733 to increase state transferability of federal highway funds. However, there is no evidence a comprehensive, statutory ‘user pays’ solvency system for the Highway Trust Fund was enacted; his actions were proposals, advocacy, hearings, and a narrower bill improving fund flexibility rather than delivering the promised nationwide funding reform. Therefore the claim receives partial credit for substantial effort and proposals during the term but not full delivery.
Cramer has materially supported and promoted user-pays Highway Trust Fund reforms during his Senate term, including public advocacy for EV registration fees and weight-based fees, questioning witnesses on Highway Trust Fund revenue, and chairing relevant transportation reauthorization work. However, the evidence does not show that a sustainable user-pays funding system was enacted or that long-term Highway Trust Fund solvency was achieved. His S.1733 addressed highway funding flexibility, not the promised solvency mechanism itself, so this is best credited as partial progress with a serious effort rather than full delivery.
Senator Kevin Cramer proposed and supported various reforms related to the Highway Trust Fund, such as advocating for sustainable 'user pays' mechanisms (including EV fees and weight-based fees) and chairing relevant hearings. However, available evidence shows advocacy and leadership but does not confirm that substantive, comprehensive reforms ensuring long-term solvency and enacting a new 'user pays' system were fully delivered. Legislative or executive enactment of such reforms is not substantiated.