Transportation Funding Interfering with Real Estate

Congress tried to pull a fast one using monies from Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac to pay for infrastructure....
December 3, 2015  Dear Mr. Forrest: Thank you for your letter about using housing guarantee fees to pay for transportation.  I share your concerns on this issue. As you know, the federal gas tax has been set at 18.4 cents per gallon since 1993.  Unfortunately, this has not kept up with our growing transportation needs.  This year, Congress needed to reauthorize our nation's surface transportation programs.  In order to pay for this year's bill and avoid raising taxes, the U.S. Senate used money raised by guarantee fees, tools used by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to protect against losses from bad loans.   Please know that I oppose using these guarantee fees to pay for transportation.  I support bipartisan, common-sense solutions to repair and maintain our crumbling roads and bridges and our struggling transit systems.  Thankfully, the final version of H.R. 22, the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act of 2015, does not include housing guarantee fees to pay for the bill.  This bill passed the House by a vote of 359-65 on December 3, 2015.  Again, I appreciate having the benefit of your views on this important matter.  On my website, you can learn more about issues and sign up for my e-newsletter.
	Sincerely, John Lewis Member of Congress