WASHINGTON -- The chairman of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee wants federal lawmakers to move forward on a proposal to tax American cars, buses and trucks for every mile they travel.

Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minn., believes Congress should forego any kind of pilot testing and instead move forward quickly on a vehicle-miles-traveled system.

According to one wire service, Oberstar supports having the legislation ready for the highway and public transportation reauthorization bill he plans to bring to the House floor this month.

"Why do we need a pilot program? Why don't we just phase this in?" he said during a House hearing. "It's going to be done, it's something we have to do. Why not just move it ahead?"

Oberstars comments were aimed at testimony from Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., who supports creation of pilot programs in every state as a first step toward implementation of nationwide mileage-based taxes. Oregon pilot tested such a system two years ago (see June 15, 2006 Bus & Motorcoach News).

Blumenauer, who once served on Oberstars committee, said expanded testing could bolster public awareness and ease a transition to a mileage tax framework.

But Oberstar appears to want to move more quickly. "There have been many suggestions it will take five or 10 years," the lawmaker said. "I think it can be done in far less than that, maybe two years."

Earlier this year, a mileage-tax system received backing from a Congressional blue-ribbon panel created in the last highway authorization. The National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission called for the system to become the dominant funding mechanism for road construction and maintenance by 2020.

The White House, however, has voiced opposition to the idea.