Secretary Duffy Hosts Transportation Roundtable, Testifies Before House Transportation Committee
Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy testified July 16 before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, marking the Secretary’s first appearance before the panel and kicking off several days of Congressional and DOT conversations about Surface Transportation Reauthorization.
Secretary Duffy hosted a surface transportation “kick off” event at U.S. Department of Transportation July 17 as the Trump Administration outlines its transportation policy priorities. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee also held a hearing July 16 to gather stakeholder perspectives on “constructing surface transportation law.”
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 expires in September 2026, and the House T&I Committee aims to hold a reauthorization markup later this year.
On July 17, Transportation Secretary Duffy and federal transportation officials met with state departments of transportation and road builders before announcing the Administration’s “four pillars” for the next surface transportation bill at a press event. Those four pillars include: enhancing safety, accelerating project delivery, increasing opportunity and partnering with states. U.S. DOT announced a Request for Information to collect industry stakeholder input in coming weeks, and NATSO will submit its reauthorization priorities.
During the July 16 hearing, House T&I Committee Chairman Sam Graves said the House T&I Committee must refocus on core infrastructure, cutting red tape, accelerating project delivery, providing states flexibility to address their priorities and shoring up the bankrupt Highway Trust Fund. Questions from Members of Congress spanned the transportation spectrum, including air, rail and highways. Of importance to NATSO members, topics included highway funding, permitting processes, safety, CAFE standards and truck parking.
Chairman Graves underscored the need to maintain the “user pays” principle and offer solutions for putting the Highway Trust Fund on a more sustainable fiscal path.
NATSO advocates for long-term sustainable highway funding solutions that do not harm off-way fuel retailers. NATSO opposes commercializing rest areas or tolling existing Interstate Highways.
NATSO supports funding mechanisms that adhere to seven principles adopted by its Board of Directors. View those principles here.
Many ideas for increasing revenues into the Highway Trust Fund are expected to emerge in the coming months. Congress is expected to revisit a $250 annual registration fee on electric vehicles and a $100 annual fee for hybrid vehicles to ensure that all vehicles pay their fair share into the Highway Trust Fund. The House passed EV and hybrid vehicle registration fees in its budget reconciliation. However, those fees were not ultimately in the OBBB signed into law July 4.
In recent years Highway Trust Fund shortfalls have been covered by a transfer of general funds.
Chairman Graves said in a recent editorial published in The Washington Times that “there’s broad agreement that the gas tax is no longer a sufficient source of funding for the HTF.”
During the hearing, Congressman Crawford (R- Ark.) and Congressman Babin (R-Texas) each asked questions concerning DOT’s efforts to expand commercial truck parking. Rep. Crawford asked Secretary Duffy if DOT would explore redirecting funds from the National Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure (NEVI) grant program toward truck parking. Secretary Duffy said the agency would continue to focus on the highest needs areas around the country as it issues truck parking grants. U.S. DOT in June 2025 announced $275 million in grant funding to expand parking. This includes $180 million for Florida to add 917 new truck parking spaces along the I-4 corridor in Volusia, Seminole, and Osceola Counties.
Responding to a question from Congressman Webster (R-Fla.) about whether a federal infrastructure bank that leverages private investment could supplement existing highway funding, Secretary Duffy said there is a role for private capital and he would like to see more American private capital where it is appropriate.
Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-California) said the prior Administration “had an electric vehicle mandate that looks like a backdoor method for CAFE standards.” Responding to LaMalfa’s question as to steps the agency is taking to revise that standard, Secretary Duffy said the Administration aims to revise the standard by summer 2026. “Congress didn’t intend for EV to part of fuel economy rules,” Secretary Duffy said. “It was trying to drive an outcome by the American consumer and the consumer should always have the right to choose.”
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