[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 192 (Tuesday, December 5, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S18034-S18035]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY SYSTEM DESIGNATION ACT OF 1995

 Mr. JOHNSTON. Mr. President, on November 28, 1995, President 
Clinton 

[[Page S 18035]]
signed into law the National Highway System Designation Act of 1995 
which will make a number of desperately needed changes to our Nation's 
transportation infrastructure. I am pleased to have had the opportunity 
to work with my colleagues to pass this legislation. More importantly, 
I want to take special notice of a particular section of this law and 
the Louisiana citizens who did their civic duty in bringing a serious 
problem to the attention of their representatives in Washington.
  The National Highway System Designation Act contains numerous 
specific projects that will benefit society and commerce and, as with 
all of the legislation we concern ourselves with in the U.S. Senate, 
proves the worth of our democratic process. Included in this law is a 
provision which I think most clearly demonstrates how important our 
system of representative democracy is and, hopefully, will help to 
renew our sense of civic duty and alleviate the apathetic attitude 
toward government that is so common today.
  In one of the fastest growing areas in Louisiana, Ascension Parish, 
there is a section of State Highway 42 known commonly as ``Dead Man's 
Curve.'' Unfortunately, this name truly reflects the road's history. On 
this section of the two lane highway which curves drastically and 
cannot accommodate its growing traffic load, nearly 50 serious 
automobile accidents have occurred in the last 4 years. When the road 
becomes wet, as roads often do in south Louisiana, this poorly designed 
road becomes a death trap causing numerous multiple car sideswipes and 
head-on collisions. One particularly tragic accident last year took the 
lives of three young people and galvanized public support for the 
effort to make LA 42 safe.
  On August 20, 1994, in a head-on collision on this dangerous S-curve, 
Mandy Acosta age 18, her cousin Brett Leggette age 13, and his friend 
Brett Frederic also age 13 died. In one horrible accident two sisters 
had lost their teen-aged children. An extended family and an entire 
community were devastated.
  When the grieving period had run its course, these sisters decided 
that they would not simply stand by and watch history repeat itself, 
but would become involved to make sure that this road would not take 
more of our sons and daughters. Ms. Templet and Ms. Leggette organized 
the community through public marches and petition drives. They 
contacted Parish President Tommy Martinez who immediately mobilized his 
resources. Engineers Mr. Glenn Shaheen and Mr. Mark DeBossier were 
called in to find out what needed to be done. Mr. David Young 
coordinated their message and worked with the Louisiana congressional 
delegation to find the surest way to get the Government to fulfill its 
duty in protecting the lives of its citizens.
  Mr. President, the dedicated and passionate work of these two 
sisters, Parish President Martinez, and their community did make a 
difference. As a result of their involvement, the Federal Government 
has now dedicated itself to finding the best way to fix Dead Man's 
Curve. I am pleased that the National Highway System Designation Act of 
1995 includes $250,000 for this problem. I am most pleased, however, 
that Congress and the President have proven that our system works and 
that civic duty has not lost its meaning.

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