[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 23 (Thursday, February 27, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E343]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




[[Page E343]]



 H.R. 860. THE SURFACE TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 
                                  1997

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CONSTANCE A. MORELLA

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 27, 1997

  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing the Surface 
Transportation Research and Development Act of 1997 with Congressman 
George Brown, the ranking member of the Science Committee. The 
legislation authorizes appropriations to the Department of 
Transportation to carryout surface transportation research and 
development programs for the next 6 years.
  During the 102nd Congress, the Science Committee worked in a 
bipartisan fashion to lay the ground-work for most current surface 
transportation research, development, and technology transfer programs 
by drafting the research section of the Intermodal Surface 
Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991, commonly referred to as ISTEA. 
Today, the legislation that I am introducing will serve simply as a 
starting point as we begin the reauthorization process for these 
important programs.
  To accommodate our future transportation infrastructure needs and 
minimize congestion, we need to continue the research and development 
work that was authorized in 1991 by the Science Committee through 
ISTEA. These programs seek to develop and deploy new technologies and 
innovative solutions that improve our current infrastructure's 
performance and capacity. Research and development is our best chance 
to address our burgeoning transportation needs in a cost effective and 
environmentally responsible manner.

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