[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 134 (Thursday, August 10, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12211-S12212]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


   FISCAL YEAR 1996 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION APPROPRIATIONS BILL

  Mr. PRESSLER. Mr. President, as Chairman of the Senate Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation, I wish to discuss several 
provisions included in the Fiscal Year 1995 Department of 
Transportation Appropriations bill of significant importance to the 
Committee. A number of the authorizing provisions in this bill are 
within the jurisdiction of our Committee which is the proper forum for 
their consideration.
  Mr. President, I raised jurisdictional concerns with the Chairman of 
the Appropriations Committee last week prior to the Transportation 
Subcommittee's markup of this legislation. I understand other members 
of my Committee also raised similar concerns and objections. In fact, 
the very afternoon this legislation was marked up by the Subcommittee, 
the Commerce Committee's Aviation Subcommittee held a three and one-
half hour hearing on the issue of reform of the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA) and the Air Traffic Control (ATC) System.
  Several of the authorizing provisions in H.R. 2002 which I objected 
to related to FAA and ATC reform. Other objectional provisions related 
to matters such as airport funding which my Committee is also 
considering. As shown by the lengthy debate relating to the Roth 
amendment to strike several provisions in the legislation dealing with 
FAA procurement and personnel reform, these are very complex issues 
which require the careful and thoughtful consideration that my 
Committee has been undertaking.
  The importance of the FAA and ATC reform debate is very significant. 
The safety of the air traveling public is at stake. Also, the 
efficiency of our air transportation system, which is the envy of the 
world, should not be put at risk by hasty actions of the Congress. For 
these reasons, the steady and careful pace which my Committee has taken 
in developing legislative solutions to adequately address these 
problems is appropriate.
  The Subcommittee Chairman on Aviation, Senator McCain, and other 
members of the committee plan to introduce comprehensive reform 
legislation to safeguard the traveling public 

[[Page S 12212]]
and improve the FAA and its activities. In fact, Senator McCain worked 
nonstop to try to bring a bill for the Committee's consideration during 
our mark up session of today, August 10. Unfortunately, negotiations 
with the Administration and the FAA to develop bipartisan legislation 
which the Administration could endorse was not achievable prior to 
today's session. However, our Committee continues to work diligently 
with Administration officials to craft this legislation.
  Therefore, I am pleased the managers of the bill agreed to postpone 
the effective date on the FAA procurement and personnel reforms 
included in the bill until April 1, 1996. This will give the Senate 
necessary time to achieve a consensus on how best to proceed in this 
most important area.
  Mr. President, I would also like to clarify for the record another 
matter regarding action by the Commerce Committee that was brought up 
during the Senate's consideration on this bill.
  During the short debate earlier today regarding my amendment to fund 
the Local Rail Freight Assistance (LRFA) program and the Section 511 
loan guarantee program, the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee 
argued against my amendment, opposing it because the Commerce Committee 
has not reported a bill to the Senate to authorize funding for LRFA. I 
want to explain to my colleagues why this bill, which we approved on 
July 20th, has not been filed since. I did not have an opportunity to 
rebut the opposition prior to the vote.
  On July 20th, the Commerce Committee approved a measure to 
reauthorize Amtrak and to permanently authorize LRFA. This approved 
bill has been available to the public since the Committee's approval. 
The Committee's authorization levels for Amtrak and LRFA have been 
readily available. To date, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has 
not provided a budget estimate to our Committee which must be included 
in the report. It is my understanding CBO has been inundated with 
scoring requests because of the on-going work on the appropriations 
bills.
  Again, the Committee approved the measure three weeks ago today. The 
report is ready to go as soon as we receive this information from CBO.
  I should reiterate that the LRFA reauthorization included in a bill 
that also reauthorizes Amtrak. A great deal of funding was provided for 
Amtrak in this appropriations bill, even though the bill has not been 
reported. Further, the 511 program is permanently authorized, but no 
funding was allocated.


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