[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 68 (Thursday, May 26, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 26, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
            NATIONAL HIGHWAY SYSTEM DESIGNATION ACT OF 1994

                                 ______


                               speech of

                             HON. TOM LEWIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 25, 1994

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill H.R. 4385) to 
     amend title 23, United States Code, to designate the National 
     Highway System, and for other purposes:
  Mr. LEWIS of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 
4385, the National Highway System Designation Act of 1994. Let me take 
this opportunity to thank the chairman and ranking member of the 
Surface Transportation Subcommittee, Chairman Rahall and Congressman 
Petri, as well as the chairman and ranking minority member of the 
Public Works Committee, Chairman Mineta and Congressman Shuster for 
their diligence and hard work on behalf of this bill. I wish to point 
out that through their leadership this bill has been brought before the 
House a full year earlier than mandated by the 1991 Intermodal Surface 
Transportation Efficiency Act [ISTEA].
  This bill serves three important purposes. First it designates 
159,000 miles of roadway into the National Highway System [NHS]. 
Second, it makes a number of technical and perfecting amendments to the 
1991 ISTEA. One of those amendments will enhance the operation of the 
Tri-County Commuter Rail Authority [Tri-Rail] in south Florida. I would 
like to thank the members of the committee for the authorization for 
capital improvements for Tri-Rail.
  Finally, the bill authorizes 283 projects for roads and other 
transportation projects throughout the country. Two of those projects 
are of vital importance to south Florda; the widening of State Road 7/
U.S. 441 and the Port of Palm Beach Road relocations.
  State Road 7/U.S. 441 will provide a safe evacuation route in case of 
a hurricane in south Florda. Given the experience of Hurricane Andrew, 
it is my belief that an additional safe north-south hurricane 
evacuation route will be vital to the safety of the south Florida 
population should another major hurricane devastate the area.
  As the Port of Palm Beach looks toward the future and prepares for 
increased activity, plays an important role in authorizing local road 
improvements. This will facilitate the flow of port-related traffic and 
will relieve additional congestion that will otherwise result from 
increased tonnage moving through the port. The committee has shown 
great foresight in authorizing this project, as well the State Road 7 
project. I wish to once again thank them and give my wholehearted 
support for passage of H.R. 4385.

                          ____________________