[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 9 (Friday, February 4, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 4, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                       SEISMIC RETROFIT--S. 1789

  Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, today the Environment and Public Works 
Committee reported S. 1789, a seismic retrofit bill introduced by 
Senator Boxer. I want to commend Senator Boxer for her determination in 
bringing this issue to the attention of the Senate. She has made 
tremendous efforts to relieve the suffering of the earthquake victims 
in California and this bill will help mitigate future losses to life 
and property.
  The legislation permits States to use their Federal aid highway 
bridge replacement and rehabilitation program funds for the seismic 
retrofit of bridges. Current transportation law, the Intermodal Surface 
Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 [ISTEA], allows States to use 
their Federal aid highway funds for the seismic-retrofit of bridges. 
However, after the passage of ISTEA, the Federal Highway Administration 
determined that States cannot use bridge funds for seismic retrofit 
unless a bridge is structurally deficient or functionally obsolete.
  As the recent earthquake in California has illustrated, there are 
many bridges in need of seismic retrofit that may not be otherwise 
deficient. S. 1789 will give States the ability to use their annual 
bridge apportionments for the seismic retrofit of any bridge--which 
clarifies the intent of ISTEA. The bill will not change the amount of 
money States receive in any of ISTEA's funding categories and I ask 
unanimous consent that a letter of support from the Department of 
Transportation be included in the Record following my remarks.
  There being no objection, the letter was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

         U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of the 
           Secretary of Transportation,
                                 Washington, DC, January 26, 1994.
     Hon. Max Baucus,
     Chairman, Committee on Environment and Public Works,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: The Department of Transportation would 
     like to submit the following comments in support of S. 1789, 
     a bill to permit the use of funds under the Highway Bridge 
     Replacement and Rehabilitation Program (HBRRP) for seismic 
     retrofit of bridges.
       S. 1789 would enable California, as well as other States, 
     to use HBRRP funds on non-deficient bridges to meet critical 
     seismic retrofit needs. S. 1789 would not alter HBRRP 
     apportionments.
       The Department supports S. 1789. We will be happy to work 
     with the Committee on this legislation. The Office of 
     Management and Budget has advised that, from the standpoint 
     of the Administration's program there is no objection to the 
     submission to Congress of the Department's views on this 
     legislation.
       Thank you for the opportunity to comment on S. 1789.
           Sincerely,
                                                Stephen H. Kaplan,
     General Counsel.

                          ____________________