[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.

                          ____________________