[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 58 (Thursday, May 12, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 12, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
        IN SUPPORT OF NATIONAL HIGH- WAY SYSTEM DESIGNATION BILL

                                 ______


                      HON. JAMES A. TRAFICANT, JR.

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 12, 1994

  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, earlier today the House Public Works and 
Transportation Subcommittee marked up and approved H.R. 4385, 
legislation to designate the National Highway System. I want to thank 
and commend Chairman Rahall for the excellent job he and his staff have 
done in crafting this bill.
  Designating the National Highway System will allow Congress and DOT--
for the first time--to set priorities on where to spend Federal dollars 
on highway projects. Designation of the National Highway System will 
also ensure that necessary infrastructure improvements are made on key 
commercial arteries.
  It's no secret that our ability to compete and win the global economy 
will depend on our willingness to invest in our infrastructure. This 
bill is an important step in the right direction, and I applaud 
Chairman Rahall for his vision and persistence.
  I'd also like to point out that the bill includes an important 
provision I authored that was included in the ISTEA Technical 
Corrections bill. The provision, which is of extreme importance to the 
State of Ohio, directs the Secretary of Transportation to review the 
Federal and State commercial motor vehicle weight limitations 
applicable to Federal-air highways in the State of Ohio.
  If the Secretary determines, on the basis of his review, that it is 
in the public interest, the Secretary shall waive application of the 
vehicle weight limitations established under ISTEA in the State of Ohio 
for such period as the Secretary determines may be necessary to permit 
a reasonable period of depreciation for short-wheel-base vehicles 
purchased before October 1, 1991.
  The measure would also provide a moratorium on the withholding of any 
Federal highway money to the State of Ohio until the Secretary makes a 
determination on whether or not to grant Ohio a waiver.
  Following the enactment of ISTEA in October 1, 1991, Ohio was 
required to adopt the motor vehicle weight limitations of the Federal 
Bridge Formula by October 1, 1992, or face losing its apportionment of 
Federal highway funds. The Ohio Department of Transportation and the 
Ohio Legislature has issued temporary permits to those trucking 
companies with equipment not in compliance with the new weight 
limitations.
  According to the Ohio Trucking Association, 10,000 trucks in Ohio are 
affected by the new weight limitations. Under the Federal Bridge 
Formula, many Ohio trucking companies will have to underload their 
vehicles--damaging their profits in an industry that already has a 
narrow profit margin of about 2 percent. The trucking companies 
affected made decisions--prior to enactment of ISTEA--to purchase 
equipment based on what Ohio law was at the time of the purchase.
  Since Ohio has been forced to adopt the Federal Bridge Formula, 
companies that purchased legal equipment now find that much of their 
equipment no longer meets State standards. It is only fair that these 
companies be allowed a reasonable period of time to depreciate this 
equipment, before being forced to purchase new equipment or make 
alterations on their existing vehicle fleet.
  A number of Ohio trucking companies not only ordered equipment prior 
to the implementation of the law, they also signed contracts to move a 
specific amount of freight at a given price. If a waiver is not 
granted, these companies will no longer be able to move that freight 
for the contracted price. The bottom line is, if a reasonable phase-in 
period is not granted, numerous trucking companies in Ohio will be 
driven out of business.
  Approval of this measure will save jobs and ensure that trucking 
companies are not unfairly penalized, and I commend Chairman Rahall for 
including it in H.R. 4385.
  I certainly hope and expect that next week the full committee will 
approve the bill, and within a few weeks the bill will be approved by 
the House and sent to the other body.
  In addition to Chairman Rahall, I'd also like to thank and commend 
the distinguished Chair of the full committee, Mr. Mineta, as well as 
the hard-working ranking member of the subcommittee, my esteemed 
colleague from Wisconsin, Mr. Petri. Finally, I'd like to thank and 
commend the ranking member of the full committee, Mr. Shuster. This 
bill was crafted with bipartisan cooperation, and I am pleased that, as 
usual, the committee has been able to work together to craft a bill 
that will truly help every region of the country.

                          ____________________