[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 43 (Wednesday, March 8, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E551]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


       BAN WASTEFUL SPENDING ON METRIC CONVERSION OF OUR HIGHWAYS

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                             HON. BOB STUMP

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 8, 1995
  Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation which will 
prohibit the use of Federal funds to require States to construct or 
modify highway signs using metric measurement.
  In 1977, the Federal Highway Administration [FHA] attempted to 
convert all road signs to solely metric measurement. The plan was 
scrapped because 98 percent of the public comments received by the 
agency opposed the idea. However, some FHA bureaucrats are not getting 
the message. They believe that a section of the 1988 Omnibus Trade and 
Competitiveness Act which required Government agencies to use the 
metric system in procurement, contracts, and grants to enhance our 
international competitiveness gives them the authority to demand all 
U.S. highway signs be in metric. In 1993, the FHA again published a 
mandatory metric transition plan in the Federal Record. Again, the vast 
majority of public responses received were negative. Exactly how metric 
highway signs in the United States will aid us in overseas markets 
eludes me.
  Clearly, there is widespread public opposition to a heavy handed 
Government attempt to impose the use of metric measurement on our 
highways. We cannot afford to waste money on such nonsense. Not only 
would the American people be made to suffer with the inconvenience 
brought about by changing to a system currently unknown to many of 
them, but would be forced to pick up the enormous price tag. Think of 
it--in addition to highway signs, such items as road maps, manuals, 
speedometers, odometers, and machinery would have to be changed and 
workers would need to be retrained.
  Let me make it clear that I do not oppose the voluntary use of the 
metric system. Those who wish to use metric measurement or stand to 
benefit from it, can and should use it. What I do strongly oppose is 
the Government's unwarranted and costly imposition of metric on our 
highways. The American people do not want it and stand to gain nothing 
from it.
  As we are fighting to cut Federal spending and get the budget deficit 
under control, converting our highway signs to metric measurement is an 
inexcusable waste of tax dollars.


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