[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 120 (Monday, July 24, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H7539-H7540]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   THE OVERALL TRANSPORTATION BUDGET

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Fox] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. FOX of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise to address an important 
issue on which we started the dialog tonight. Mr. Speaker, that 
involves the overall transportation budget. No matter what part of the 
country you are from, Mr. Speaker, it seems to me it is very important 
we look at an integrated system and not only make sure we improve our 
roadways in this country, but also make sure we improve mass transit. 
That is why tonight I support the Foglietta-Fox amendment, which would 
have increased $135 million for an operating subsidy.
  Our mass transit system is the logical other half of our 
transportation network here in this country. While we need to improve 
roadways in certain areas and build new ones in still others, for those 
in areas that are suburban, urban, and rural, that depend on buses, 
trains, and subways to either be created or to be operated, we need to 
make sure we properly fund those kinds of programs.
                              {time}  2215

  It gives us the proper balance for our transportation system. 
Furthermore, it reduces gridlock and pollution, increases mobility. 
Many of our citizens across this country, Mr. Speaker, do not drive or 
do not have a vehicle at their disposal and therefore can take 
advantage of van pooling, transit systems, whether they are jitneys or 
buses, trains or subways.

[[Page H7540]]

  The high-speed rail and the light rail are very important parts of 
our economy. They provide jobs, and they very much help make sure that 
transit works.
  I will be working with our Commuter Caucus, people like the gentleman 
from Pennsylvania [Mr. Foglietta], people like the gentlewoman from New 
York [Ms. Molinari], the gentleman from Virginia [Mr. Wolf], and others 
across this country and all parts of the U.S. House that represent all 
50 States to make sure we have within our Commuter Caucus and for that 
matter those who are not yet Members and will become Members to be 
involved in this important quest.
  I know that in my own district, where we have excellent train 
systems, we also have excellent bus systems, we need to have two new 
systems that the county commissioners have been working with me on, the 
State representatives and Senators, local businesspeople, and citizens 
across Montgomery County, PA. That is, to have a Schuylkill Valley 
Metro and a Cross-County Metro. The Cross-County Metro would go through 
4 counties, Bucks, Chester, Montgomery, and Delaware countries outside 
Philadelphia and which strengthen the southeast Pennsylvania corridor 
not only for business but for students to get to school, for the 
seniors to go to senior centers, for people to shop, increase commerce 
and would be an excellent system and one that is really the way we 
should go for the 21st century. Hopefully the Cross-County Metro will 
be a reality not only in Pennsylvania but in other parts of the 
country.
  We are also looking to a Schuylkill Valley Metro which would build a 
major highway in our county, and that is the 422 bypass.
  I look forward to working on both sides of the aisle, the House and 
the Senate, Mr. Speaker, to make sure mass transit works along with the 
road system and to make sure we move this country forward on the rails, 
on trains, in subways and, yes, in cars.
  I thank the Speaker and the colleagues tonight who have listened to 
our debate and hopefully will be part of our Commuter Caucus to make 
sure America keeps moving forward.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Gutknecht). Under a previous order of 
the House, the gentlewoman from Ohio [Ms. Kaptur] is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  [Ms. KAPTUR addressed the House. Her remarks will appear hereafter in 
the Extensions of Remarks.]


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