[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 63 (Wednesday, May 14, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H2649-H2650]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
STEP 21 HAS SUPPORT FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND METROPOLITAN PLANNING
ORGANIZATIONS
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the
gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Buyer] is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the remarks of the gentlewoman
from the District of Columbia [Ms. Norton], and her comments.
Mr. Speaker, the topic I would like to talk about today is on STEP
21. The main point is specifically that local governments and the
metropolitan planning organizations do in fact support STEP 21.
I want to give a special recognition and thank the gentleman from
Texas [Mr. DeLay] and the gentleman from California [Mr. Condit] for
their work on STEP 21. The continuous and bitter battle over
transportation funding has caused a great amount of misinformation to
be spread all around.
Those who endorse the status quo, whether they are against the
flexibility to the States or enjoy the funding inequities of the
formula, they have tried to mislead Congress and others into believing
that local government and the MPOs, the metropolitan planning
organizations, are opposed to STEP 21.
I have letters of support here that I will place into the Record from
those who support STEP 21, the first being in particular the mayor,
Mayor Goldsmith of Indianapolis. His quote is, ``. . . as the mayor of
one of the Nation's largest cities, I enthusiastically support the STEP
21 proposal.''
The Association of Indiana Counties say that STEP 21's features will
give the ability for them to make ``. . . funding choices that make
sense for our counties, not the one-size-fits-all approach of current
law.''
The Evansville Urban Transportation Study, which represents the MPO
for southern Indiana: ``The STEP 21 legislation continues to support
strong planning through the continuation of support for metropolitan
planning organizations.''
Mayor Heath of Lafayette, Indiana: ``It is important for you to know
that the State of Indiana, in partnership with its local governments,
supports the STEP 21 effort.''
The Indiana Metropolitan Council: ``The Indiana MPO Council
represents the 12 urbanized areas of the State of Indiana. This letter
extends the MPO Council's support of STEP 21 legislation.''
Obviously, Mr. Speaker, the statements that local governments and
MPOs are opposed to STEP 21 is false. As a matter of fact, it is an
outright lie for those who endorse such a statement. I urge all of my
colleagues to look past the misinformation being spread around.
STEP 21 preserves all of the current law's local planning authority.
Indiana is just one example of a State where the governments, the
organizations, and residents are well-informed and understand that STEP
21 maintains the role of local governments and MPO's in making the
transportation decisions that affect their communities.
One of my continuing priorities as a Member of Congress is to pull in
the reins of a massive Federal Government to ensure that decision
making be returned to the States and local governments. I abhor the
Washington-knows-best mentality where the massive Federal Government
has control over the decisions that should be made at the local and
State levels.
I would not be here this afternoon endorsing the STEP 21 bill if it
removed the decision making of our State and local governments. STEP 21
not only brings fairness and equity to the funding distribution
formula, it allows the local governments and the MPO's to have control
over the decision making process of their own local communities. STEP
21 should pass this House, and it is a worthy cause to bring
flexibility to the States, fairness in the equity funding formula. I
again salute the gentleman from Texas [Tom DeLay] and the gentleman
from California [Mr. Condit].
City of Indianapolis,
Indianapolis, IN, April 18, 1997.
Hon. Dan Coats,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
Hon. Richard G. Lugar,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
Dear Senators Coats and Lugar: As the debate moves forward
on the reauthorization of federal transportation programs
this year, much is being said about the impact on local
governments of the Streamlined Transportation Efficiency
Program for the 21st Century, or STEP 21 proposal. It is
important for you to know that as the mayor of one of our
nation's largest cities, I enthusiastically support the STEP
21 proposal.
STEP 21 preserves all of the current law's local planning
authority as well as all current funding guarantees for urban
areas. In as much as STEP 21 would direct more funding to
states like Indiana, urban areas like Indianapolis will be
guaranteed more funding for our much needed transportation
infrastructure projects. An added bonus of STEP 21's
streamlining and flexibility features will be the ability for
us to make funding choices that make sense for our community,
not the one size fits all approach of current law.
I appreciate your efforts in working toward passage of the
STEP 21 program, which finally directs a fair share of
transportation funds to our state and its communities.
Sincerely,
Stephen Goldsmith,
Mayor.
[[Page H2650]]
____
Association of
Indiana Counties, Inc.,
Indianapolis, IN, April 23, 1997.
Hon. Steve Buyer,
U.S. House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Congressman Buyer: As the debate moves forward on the
reauthorization of federal transportation programs this year,
much is being said about the impact on local governments of
the Streamlined Transportation Efficiency Program for the
21st Century, or STEP 21 proposal. It is important for you to
know that as an association of county officials, the
Association of Indiana Counties enthusiastically supports the
STEP 21 proposal.
STEP 21 preserves all of the current law's local planning
authority and funding guarantees. In as much as STEP 21 would
direct more funding to states like Indiana, local governments
will be in line for more funding for our much needed road,
street and bridge projects. An added bonus of STEP 21's
streamlining and flexibility features will be the ability for
us to make funding choices that make sense for our counties,
not the one size fits all approach of current law.
I appreciate your efforts in working toward passage of the
STEP 21 program, finally directing a fair share of
transportation funds to our state and its cities, towns and
counties.
Sincerely,
Beth O'Laughlin,
Executive Director.
____
Evansville Urban
Transportation Study,
Evansville, IN, April 25, 1997.
Representative Steve Buyer,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Representative Buyer: The Evansville Urban
Transportation Study (EUTS) represents the Metropolitan
Planning Organization (MPO) for southern Indiana. This letter
extends the EUTS Policy Committee's support of the STEP 21
legislation, Streamlined Transportation Efficiency Program
for the 21st Century, which is being considered by Congress.
The STEP 21 legislation continues to support strong
planning through the continuation of support for metropolitan
planning organizations. Additionally, STEP 21 will guarantee
state and local governments a minimum return of 95 cents on
the dollar (rather than the 82 cents Indiana now receives).
STEP 21 provides funding formula guarantees to urban areas of
200,000 plus population, and continued agreement with the
Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) will allow STEP
21 to benefit the urban areas of less than 200,000 in
population. It is important that large and small urban areas
continue to be represented through the MPO process.
The EUTS Policy Committee strongly supports the return of
more federal funds to local and state uses. STEP 21 provides
the people of Indiana with an opportunity to continue their
participation in a cooperative planning process and to
receive back, in the form of transportation infrastructure, a
higher return of the dollars sent to Washington, DC.
Please support the STEP 21 program. The additional revenue
would assist Indiana and other donor states in meeting the
many challenges it faces in addressing future economic,
social and infrastructure needs. I respectfully appreciate
your support.
Sincerely,
Rose M. Zigenfus,
Executive Director.
____
City of Lafayette,
Office of the Mayor,
Lafayette, IN, April 24, 1997.
Hon. Ed Pease,
Cannon House Office Building,
Washington, DC.
Dear Representative Pease, In this year's reauthorization
of federal transportation programs I want you to know of my
support for getting a fair share of federal highway funds for
Indiana. I believe that the STEP 21 (Streamlined
Transportation Efficiency Program for the 21st Century)
program is the way to accomplish that goal.
It is important for you to know that the State of Indiana,
in partnership with its local governments, support the STEP
21 effort. I appreciate your efforts on behalf of the STEP 21
program which will bring a fairer share of our highway taxes
back to Indiana communities.
Sincerely,
Dave Heath,
Mayor.
____
MPO Council
July 16, 1996.
Congressman Peter J. Visclosky,
Cannon House Office Bldg.,
Washington, DC.
Dear Congressman Visclosky: The Indiana Metropolitan
Planning Organization (MPO) Council represents the twelve
urbanized areas of the state of Indiana. This letter extends
the MPO Council's support of the STEP 21 legislation
(Streamlined Transportation Efficiency Program for the 21st
Century) which is currently being drafted by a consortium of
states nationwide, and considered by Congress.
The STEP 21 legislation continues to support strong
planning through the continuation of support for metropolitan
planning organizations. Additionally, STEP 21 will guarantee
state and local governments a minimum return of 95 cents on
the dollar (rather than the 82 cents Indiana now receives).
STEP 21 provides funding formula guarantees to urban areas of
200,000 plus population. The MPO Council also represents
urban areas of under 200,000 in population. It is important
that large and small urban areas continue to be represented
through the MPO process.
The Indiana MPO Council strongly supports the return of
more federal funds to local and state uses. STEP 21, as
described in this letter, provides the people of Indiana with
an opportunity to continue their participation in a
cooperative planning process and to receive back (in the form
of better highways) a higher return of the dollars sent to
Washington D.C.
Please support the STEP 21 program as described. The
additional revenue would assist Indiana in meeting the many
challenges it faces in addressing future economic, social and
infrastructure needs. We respectfully appreciate your
support.
____________________