[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 107 (Friday, July 25, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1529-E1530]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 
                                  1998

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. ROBERT A. WEYGAND

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 24, 1997

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2169) making 
     appropriations for the Department of Transportation and 
     related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
     1998, and for other purposes:

  Mr. WEYGAND. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the 
transportation appropriations bill. First, I thank Chairman Wolf and 
Ranking Member Sabo for their excellent work and dedication to the 
transportation needs of our country and my State.
  I would like to address an issue important to my State. In Rhode 
Island we are in the process of rebuilding our economy. Restructuring 
our transportation system is critical to the success of that 
rebuilding. The funding provided in this bill will help Rhode Island in 
developing a world-class transportation system that includes rail, 
road, and air transportation.
  I would like to mention one project that will have a positive impact 
on my State and New England. The project is the re development of 
Quonset Point/Davisville, a 3,000-acre former naval facility in North 
Kingstown, RI, into a major industrial center in the Northeast.

[[Page E1530]]

  The Quonset Point/Davisville project is of utmost importance to the 
economic development of my State and the region. The development of 
Quonset Point has broad-based support from business leaders, government 
officials, and the voters of Rhode Island.
  Completion of the Rhode Island Rail Development project is a crucial 
component to providing adequate freight access to Quonset Point/
Davisville. The funding provided in this bill along with a recently 
passed State bond agreement will go a long way to making sure that 
Rhode Island and New England will have adequate access to rail.
  Again, I thank Chairman Wolf and Ranking Member Sabo for their work 
in producing a bipartisan bill.

                          ____________________