Bill Summary
The "RTP Full Funding Act of 2025" is a proposed legislation aimed at ensuring full funding for the Recreational Trails Program (RTP), which is established under section 206 of title 23 of the United States Code. This program is crucial for the development and maintenance of trail infrastructure that serves a wide range of outdoor recreational activities, including hiking, biking, and off-road vehicle use.
Key findings of the legislation highlight the importance of the RTP, noting that it supports millions of users and contributes significantly to national priorities such as transportation, economic development, and public health. Currently, the RTP receives about $84 million annually, but this amount does not reflect the total taxes collected from nonhighway recreation fuel, which amounts to approximately $281 million. The legislation calls for a more equitable distribution of these funds back to the states to support the RTP.
Additionally, it mandates that the Federal Highway Administration provide Congress with accurate estimates of nonhighway fuel tax collections to ensure proper funding. The RTP should be funded through the Transportation Alternatives Program without impacting other federal highway programs, thereby enhancing the support for recreational trails across the country.
Possible Impacts
The "RTP Full Funding Act of 2025" as described in the provided legislation could affect people in several ways. Here are three examples:
1. **Increased Access to Recreational Activities**: With the funding allocated to the recreational trails program, more trails could be developed and maintained. This would provide greater access for individuals and families seeking outdoor recreational activities such as hiking, biking, and horseback riding. As a result, people would likely have more opportunities to engage in healthy outdoor activities, leading to enhanced physical fitness and mental well-being.
2. **Economic Benefits for Local Communities**: The act emphasizes the contribution of the recreational trails program to economic development. Communities that invest in trail infrastructure may see an increase in tourism as outdoor enthusiasts travel to explore the trails. Local businesses, such as restaurants, hotels, and outdoor equipment shops, could benefit from this influx of visitors, potentially leading to job creation and increased revenue for the community.
3. **Fairness in Funding Allocation**: The legislation aims to ensure that the federal taxes collected from nonhighway recreation (such as fuel taxes from off-road vehicles) are returned to states for the recreational trails program. By promoting this user-pay-user-benefit model, the act could lead to a more equitable distribution of funds, ensuring that those who contribute to the funding through their recreational activities receive the benefits. This could also foster a sense of community among trail users and encourage more people to participate in outdoor activities, knowing that their contributions are being utilized for the development of recreational spaces.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 811 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 811
To express findings relating to the recreational trails program, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 27, 2025
Ms. Klobuchar (for herself, Mr. Risch, Mr. Welch, Mr. Budd, Mr. Curtis,
and Mr. Tillis) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To express findings relating to the recreational trails program, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``RTP Full Funding Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) the recreational trails program under section 206 of
title 23, United States Code--
(A) funds development and maintenance of valuable
trail infrastructure across the United States;
(B) benefits millions of diverse trail users,
including users who participate in hiking, bicycling,
in-line skating, equestrian use, cross-country skiing,
snowmobiling, off-road motorcycling, all-terrain
vehicle riding, 4-wheel off-highway vehicle driving,
and other off-road motorized vehicle use;
(C)(i) embraces the user-pay-user-benefit model of
the Highway Trust Fund;
(ii) is funded by a Federal tax on fuel used for
nonhighway recreation;
(iii) is funded on an annual basis of approximately
$84,000,000; and
(iv) does not receive the amounts collected from
the average annual fuel tax, $281,000,000, that are
paid into the Highway Trust Fund by nonhighway
recreation vehicles;
(D) contributes significantly to national
transportation, economic development, health, public
land access and enjoyment, and other national
priorities; and
(E) should be funded at a level commensurate with
tax contributions from nonhighway vehicle recreation;
(2) to ensure that Federal taxes collected from nonhighway
recreation are appropriately returned to the States for the
recreational trails program described in paragraph (1), an
accurate estimate of the total amount of nonhighway fuel taxes
collected--
(A) is necessary; and
(B) should be provided to Congress by the Federal
Highway Administration at least 1 year before the date
on which funding for Federal-aid highways, highway
safety programs, and transit programs is anticipated to
expire; and
(3) the recreational trails program under section 206 of
title 23, United States Code, should be carried out through
funding made available under section 133(h) of that title
(commonly known as the ``Transportation Alternatives program'')
without affecting other Federal highway programs.
<all>