[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 27 (Wednesday, March 5, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S1988]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. JEFFORDS:
  S. 401. A bill to improve the control of outdoor advertising in areas 
adjacent to the Interstate System, the National Highway System, and 
certain other federally assisted highways, and for other purposes; to 
the Committee on Finance.


                   the scenic highway protection act

 Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, today I introduce the Scenic 
Highway Protection Act, legislation that will control billboard blight 
and put a stop to the policies that have actually encouraged billboard 
construction and destroyed rural vistas across America. Every year 
hundreds of miles of rural scenery disappear, millions of taxpayer 
dollars are spent, and thousands of trees on public lands are 
unnecessarily cut. Why? Because billboards continue to proliferate 
along our Nation's highways.
  During debate on the National Highway System Act in 1995, billboard 
proponents pushed an amendment that would have forced States and 
localities to allow billboards on Federal aid highways. Fortunately, 
this proposal was defeated. My legislation attempts to give States the 
necessary tools to regulate and end the growth of billboards and 
protects the strict billboard controls enacted in Vermont and many 
other States.
  In the coming months, Congress will consider reauthorization of the 
Nation's transportation law, the Intermodal Surface Transportation and 
Efficiency Act. Proponents of billboard proliferation will most likely 
try again to override State billboard control laws. This time, we are 
prepared to enact legislation that will reduce and control billboards 
nationwide. My legislation will send a signal to billboard owners that 
America is ready to end uncontrolled billboard blight.
  The language in my bill will place a permanent freeze on the number 
of new billboards placed along Federal aid highways. for a new 
billboard to go up, an old one must come down. The legislation will 
also prohibit billboards in unzoned areas, eliminating the ability to 
randomly place billboards in rural America. My bill will end the 
practice of cutting trees on public lands for the sole purpose of 
better billboard visibility and reinstate the requirement that Federal 
and State funds be used to remove billboards when communities decide 
the sign violates local zoning laws. Finally, the legislation will 
place a 15-percent gross revenue tax on all billboards, ending the free 
ride for billboards. The money will be used to remove billboards in our 
Nation's most scenic areas.
  This legislation will move the 1965 Highway Beautification Act closer 
to its original intent of preserving the public's investment in our 
highways by protecting scenic areas and natural resources. Let us end 
the taxpayer subsidized proliferation of billboards.
                                 ______