[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 36 (Friday, March 15, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S2210]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    THE BI-STATE DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

  Mr. KYL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of House Joint Resolution 78, 
just received from the House.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A joint resolution (H.J. Res. 78) to grant the consent of 
     the Congress to certain additional powers conferred upon the 
     Bi-State Development Agency by the States of Missouri and 
     Illinois.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the joint resolution?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the joint 
resolution.
  Ms. MOSELEY-BRAUN. Mr. President, the joint resolution before us 
today confers additional authority upon the Bi-State Development 
Agency, a compact created by the States of Illinois and Missouri. The 
Bi-State Agency operates a mass transit system in the St. Louis 
metropolitan area, which includes Belleville and other areas of 
southwestern Illinois.
  In 1950, Congress approved a joint request from the State of Illinois 
and Missouri to create this Bi-State authority to operate an interstate 
bus system. The Bi-State Development Agency has expanded, and now 
operates a successful light rail system, known as the MetroLink.
  The original compact, however, that was approved by Congress in 1950, 
did not empower the Bi-State Development Agency to appoint or employ a 
security force, or to enact rules and regulations governing fare 
evasion and other misconduct on the light rail system. As a result, 
MetroLink passengers currently pay fares through a barrier-free, self-
service, proof-of-payment system. this system, while successful, needs 
an enforcement policy and mechanism to ensure compliance.
  The States of Illinois and Missouri have acted to confer such 
authority upon the Bi-State Development Agency. As you know, Mr. 
President, the Constitution requires that we then approve this request, 
and that is exactly the purpose of the joint resolution before us 
today. The House of Representatives approved this joint resolution 
yesterday without objection.
  Because these two States have asked us, and because local, State, and 
Federal officials from these States support this joint resolution, I 
would urge all of my colleagues to vote in favor of its passage.
  Mr. KYL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the joint 
resolution be deemed read the third time, passed, the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to 
the joint resolution appear at the appropriate place in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  So the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 78) was deemed read the third time 
and passed.
  The preamble was agreed to.

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