The undersigned organizations write to express our strong support for preserving the longstanding, state-administered, federally supported, formula-based federal transportation program that has efficiently delivered safety and mobility projects and programs. Currently, state departments of transportation (state DOTs) direct about 85 percent of federal highway formula dollars, with local governments directing 15 percent of the formula dollars. We believe this funding balance must be the baseline in the next surface transportation bill, since state-owned roadways and bridges carry about 70 and 90 percent of nationwide traffic, respectively. Local governments are indispensable partners, and we acknowledge that they are seeking to increase their portion of federal formula funding in the next bill. However, the need for more federal funding is equally true for state DOTs—especially in light of a recent increase in construction costs. As the backbone of the Federal-aid Highway Program, state DOTs are required by law to plan at a systemwide level, coordinate across modes and jurisdictions, and provide transportation-specific technical and financial expertise that results in tangible project benefits each day. When hurricanes, floods, wildfires, or supply-chain disruptions occur, it is the state DOTs that mobilize quickly to support local governments, restore connectivity, and keep people and goods moving.