[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 70 (Friday, May 23, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1054]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               SURFACE TRANSPORTATION SAFETY ACT OF 1997

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN D. DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 22, 1997

  Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, today the distinguished ranking member of 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Mr. Oberstar, and I 
are introducing, at the request of the President, the Surface 
Transportation Safety Act of 1997. This legislation, which complements 
the national Economic Crossroads Transportation Efficiency Act of 1997, 
is designed to improve safety in a variety of transportation areas. In 
some cases, the provisions make important improvements in existing 
safety programs. In other cases, new approaches are taken. Other 
provisions make technical changes to reduce paperwork burdens on 
industries and Government. Introducing this bill by request, I do not 
necessarily endorse each provision, but I believe that this 
comprehensive bill is a serious effort to save lives in the 
transportation field. I would encourage the appropriate committees of 
the House to give these provisions the attention they deserve.
  As is the case in any comprehensive bill, the provisions fall into a 
variety of committee jurisdictions. Various committees may wish to move 
certain sections or titles separately as they see fit to expedite 
consideration. As I briefly describe the provisions of the bill, I will 
also indicate the committees of jurisdiction for each provision, based 
upon consultations with the Office of the Parliamentarian.
  As a second part of NEXTEA, the bill begins with title IX, which 
makes a number of amendments to our traffic safety laws. Perhaps the 
most important change is found in section 9001, dealing with primary 
safety belt use. The provision, within the jurisdiction of the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, would transfer certain 
highway funds to occupant protection programs in any State which failed 
to enact a law requiring the use of safety belts. The connection 
between traffic safety and seat belt use is clear and convincing. No 
other engineering feat can match the safety provided by seat belts. The 
Department of Transportation estimates that over 75,000 lives were 
saved by safety belts between 1982 and 1995.
  A study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 1995 
found that in States with a primary enforcement law, seat belt use 
increased by about 15 percent. This increase translates to a 5.9-
percent decline in fatalities. For example, in California and 
Louisiana, States that recently upgraded their laws to provide for 
primary enforcement, safety belt use increased by 13 and 17 percentage 
points respectively.
  Sections 9002 through 9005, within the jurisdiction of the Commerce 
Committee, would make a variety of minor changes to various auto safety 
laws. One of the provisions would allow an expansion of a program to 
allow manufacturers to seek waivers of various safety standards to 
adopt more innovative safety approaches that would provide greater 
safety protection.
  Section 9006, primarily within the jurisdiction of the Commerce 
Committee, with jurisdiction also in the Judiciary Committee, seeks to 
improve standardization in State titling requirements to alert 
consumers when they are buying severely damaged vehicles. Many damaged 
vehicles are rebuilt for sale, but they continue to pose a serious 
safety risk.
  Title X of the bill would reauthorize hazardous materials programs 
within the jurisdiction of the Transportation and Infrastructure 
Committee.
  Title XI of the bill, within the jurisdiction of the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Commerce, would 
upgrade programs to prevent excavator damage to underground utilities, 
such as natural gas pipelines. In the past decade, 98 people have lost 
their lives and 425 others were injured from accidents to pipelines 
caused by excavation. The bill would seek to reduce these accidents by 
enhancing one-call programs at the State level. One-call programs 
provide excavators a simple and effective way of avoiding pipelines.
  Title XII, would clarify and reallocate responsibilities for ensuring 
food transportation safety among the Departments of Health and Human 
Services, Transportation and Agriculture. The provision, within the 
jurisdiction of the Committee on Commerce and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure, seeks to improve food safety by 
giving a primary role to the Department of Health and Human Services.
  Title XIII, within the jurisdiction of the Judiciary Committee, would 
create criminal sanctions for violent attacks against railroads similar 
to the sanctions against attacks against airlines. Unfortunately, we 
have seen increased terrorist attacks against railroads, such as the 
attacks on Amtrak passenger trains near Santa Fe in 1996, near Hyder, 
AZ in 1995, near Opa-Locka, FL in 1993, and at Newport News, VA in 
1992. The new provisions would make these intentional attacks on trains 
a Federal crime subject to penalties associated with attacks on 
airlines.
  Title XIV, within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure, would amend certain rail and mass transportation 
programs to require certain safety considerations to be made in grants.
  In summary, Mr. Speaker, this bill represents a comprehensive 
approach to transportation safety that will undoubtedly save many lives 
and prevent tragic injuries. The provisions deserve careful 
consideration by this Congress.

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