[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 139 (Friday, September 8, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H8709-H8710]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




APPOINTMENT OF CONFEREES ON H.R. 2002, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND 
               RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1996

  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the 
Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 2002) making appropriations for the 
Department of Transportation and related agencies for the fiscal year 
ending September 30, 1996, and for other purposes, with Senate 
amendments thereto, disagree to the Senate amendments and agree to the 
conference asked by the Senate.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
          motion to instruct conferees offered by mr. coleman

  Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I offer a motion to instruct.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the motion.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Mr. Coleman moves that in resolving the differences between 
     the House and Senate, the managers on the part of the House 
     at the conferees on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses 
     on the bill, H.R. 2002, be instructed to provide funding for 
     the Federal-Aid Highways Program at a level which is as close 
     as possible to the level in the House-passed bill.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Texas [Mr. Coleman] and 
the gentleman from Virginia [Mr. Wolf] will each be recognized for 30 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Coleman].
  Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  My motion to instruct conferees is very straightforward. It simply 
instructs the House conferees to agree to provide funding for the 
Federal aid highways program at a level that is as close as possible to 
the $18 billion provided in the House-passed bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the motions offered by the 
gentleman from Texas. As the gentleman already pointed out, the House 
bill provides $18 billion for the Federal air highway program, an 
increase of $840 million over the previous fiscal year. Under this, 
most States get more than they did in the past.
                              {time}  1230

  The Senate alternatively has elected to reduce highway spending to 
$17 billion, $1 billion below the House level and $160 million below 
last year's level. The Federal-Aid Highway Program consists of several 
programs designed to aid in the construction, rehabilitation, traffic 
management, and safety of our Nation's highways.
  These programs also assist in the improvement of other modes of 
transportation, so it is my hope that the committee conference can 
agree to provide the funding for the Federal-Aid Highway Program at a 
level which is as close as possible to the level of the House-passed 
bill, realizing the competing needs of the Coast Guard and others.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the motion offered by the gentleman 
from Texas. As the gentleman has already pointed out, the House bill 
provides $18 billion for the Federal-Aid 

[[Page H 8710]]
Highway Program, an increase of $840 million over the previous fiscal 
year.
  The Senate, alternatively, has elected to reduce highway spending to 
$17 billion, $1 billion below the House level, and $160 million below 
last year's level.
  The Federal-Aid Highway Program consists of several programs designed 
to aid in the construction, rehabilitation, traffic management, and 
safety of our Nation's highways. These programs also assist in the 
improvement of other modes of transportation. Infrastructure spending 
on highways is critical to the efficient movement of goods and people 
in the United States and has direct effects on the national economy and 
interstate commerce. In fact, every billion dollars spent on the 
highway system results in improvements in pavements and bridge 
conditions and reduced congestion. For example, $1 billion could fund 
2,500 lane miles of pavement improvements, 375 lane miles of increased 
capacity, and 190 bridge improvements. Highway spending also means 
jobs: For a billion dollars, as many as 50,000 jobs can be supported.
  It is my hope that the conference committee can agree to provide 
funding for the Federal-Aid Highway Program at a level which is as 
close as possible to the level in the House-passed bill, recognizing 
the competing demands of the Coast Guard, the Federal Aviation 
Administration, and other safety programs of the Department of 
Transportation.
  I support the gentleman's motion and urge that the motion be agreed 
to.
  Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. WOLF. I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin.
  Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the fact that the gentleman is 
accepting this motion. I think it is the right thing to do.
  Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. WOLF. I yield to the gentleman from Texas.
  (Mr. COLEMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, my motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 
2002, the fiscal year 1996 Department of Transportation Appropriations 
Act is very straightforward. My motion would simply instruct the House 
conferees to agree to provide funding for the Federal-Aid Highway 
Program at a level that is as close as possible to the $18 billion 
provided in the House-passed bill.
  Mr. Speaker, one of the most significant areas of difference in the 
House and Senate transportation appropriations bill is the funding 
level recommended for the Federal Highways Program. The House bill 
provides an obligation limitation for this purpose that is $1 billion 
more than the $17 billion level recommended by the Senate. In addition 
to providing a funding level for the Federal Highway Program that is 
less than the 1995 level, the Senate has also included $39.5 million in 
earmarked highway demonstration projects that benefit only a few, 
selected areas.
  Mr. Speaker, in Texas and in most other States, there is a huge 
backlog of roads, highways and bridges that are in desperate need of 
repair and rehabilitation. In 1993, the Federal Highway Administration 
estimated that the annual cost to maintain and improve highway 
conditions was $59 billion. The House bill squarely recognizes these 
needs and addresses them by providing the highest ever funding level 
for the Federal Highway Program, and by providing these funds in a 
manner such that every State will benefit.
  As with the other appropriations bills, the House made some very 
difficult choices in allocating fiscal year 1996 funding for 
transportation programs that in total is $1 billion less than 1995 
appropriations. However, in making those choices, the House determined 
that investing in our Nation's infrastructure should be of the utmost 
importance, even in austere budgetary times. Such an investment will 
enhance highway safety, ease congestion, create jobs, and increase our 
Nation's productivity. For these reasons, I believe that we should 
insist on making highway infrastructure spending a priority for the 
conferees on this bill. I urge the adoption of this motion.
                             general leave

  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks, 
and that I may include tabular and extraneous material, on this 
legislation.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Barrett of Nebraska). Is there objection 
to the request of the gentleman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the previous question is 
ordered on the motion to instruct.
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion to instruct 
conferees offered by the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Coleman].
  The motion was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the Chair appoints the 
following conferees: Messrs. Wolf, DeLay, Regula, Rogers, Lightfoot, 
Packard, Callahan, Dickey, Livingston, Sabo, Durbin, Coleman, 
Foglietta, and Obey.
  There was no objection.
  

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