[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 99 (Monday, July 8, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1215]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E1215]]


 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 
                                  1997

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. JACK QUINN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 27, 1996

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3675) making 
     appropriations for the Department of Transportation and 
     related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
     1997, and for other purposes:

  Mr. QUINN. Mr. Chairman, I rise to express my congratulations to 
Chairman Livingston, Subcommittee Chairman Wolf, and the entire 
Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation for the tremendous job 
they have done on this legislation. I do however, wish to express two 
concerns that I have in the hope that they may be resolved as this 
process moves forward.
  First, I would like to express my deep concern regarding a provision 
in the fiscal year 1997 transportation appropriations legislation that 
will undermine the implementation of an important consumer rights 
program. As written, this legislation weakens the American Automobile 
Labeling Act [AALA] which is administered by the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA].
  The AALA was enacted in 1994 and simply requires new motor vehicles 
to contain a label providing basic information regarding domestic and 
foreign content.
  The purpose of the act is to give consumers vital information about 
the origin of motor vehicles and parts and for thousands of consumers. 
This information plays an important role in their decisions on which 
automobile to purchase. The act enables consumers who wish to buy 
American to do so, knowing that the information displayed on 
automobiles regarding domestic content is accurate and reliable.
  This helps to promote American jobs in the assembly of vehicles and 
in the production of auto parts.
  Under this program, suppliers are required to provide information 
about the origin of the equipment they supply. In order to comply with 
the labeling provisions, the vehicle maker must know about the origin 
of each part or item of equipment used during assembly.
  The act requires NHTSA to implement the program to ensure compliance, 
including a procedure to verify the accuracy of labeling information.
  To that end, NHTSA has requested $500,000 in funding to conduct 
audits related to the enforcement of the requirements of the act. 
Without these audits, this program will not fulfill its important 
objectives as mandated by Congress.
  Unfortunately, the fiscal year 1997 transportation spending bill 
denies NHTSA's request for resources needed to properly enforce the 
AALA program. Unless this modest funding request is granted, the intent 
of the AALA program will be severely weakened at the expense of 
consumers.
  As this legislation moves through the legislative process, I strongly 
urge Congress to reverse this action and take into account the 
important goals embodied in the AALA vehicle labeling requirements.


                             amtrak funding

  Second, while I realize that Congress is addressing many difficult 
budget challenges, I would like to express my strong support of Amtrak. 
I believe that a safe, convenient, and effective National Passenger 
Rail System is not a luxury, but a basic component of our economy and 
society. The United States should not become the only major industrial 
country in the world without this service.
  Amtrak plays a vital role in the national economy and it offers a 
viable alternative to congested highways and air travel.
  I rise today to voice my disappointment with the Amtrak funding 
levels included in this legislation. These funding levels will make it 
impossible for Amtrak to operate its current system. Funding Amtrak at 
the levels in this legislation will force Amtrak to discontinue a 
number of routes and curtail infrastructure investment.
  The House authorizing Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 
of which I am a member, has passed legislation that will move Amtrak 
toward privatization on a set schedule, with appropriate funding 
levels, to give the railroad the best chance to survive as a private 
entity. I believe deviating from that schedule by appropriating funds 
lower than what the authorizing schedule calls for would be devastating 
to Amtrak.
  If we allow the funding levels to remain at this level, Amtrak will 
go from the promise of succeeding in privatization to extinction.
  I believe Amtrak deserves a fighting chance at survival and this 
Congress should continue to fund the National Rail Passenger System 
until it reaches it's projected privatization date in the year 2002.
  Once again, I commend Mr. Livingston, Mr. Wolf, and the 
Appropriations Committee on the excellent work they have done with this 
legislation. I look forward to working with them to make the necessary 
adjustments to these two small problems to make this great bill even 
better.

                          ____________________