[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 118 (Tuesday, September 9, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9018-S9019]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. KERREY:
  S. 1155. A bill to amend title 23, United States Code, to make safety 
a priority of the Federal-aid highway program; to the Committee on 
Environment and Public Works.


                    the highway safety priority act

  Mr. KERREY. Mr. President, there is a national health epidemic in 
America that does not receive the attention it deserves. This epidemic 
is responsible for the loss of 1.2 million pre-retirement years of life 
a year; more than is lost to cancer or heart disease. It is the leading 
cause of death for Americans between the ages of 15 and 24. Last year, 
more than 41,900 Americans died from this epidemic and more than 3 
million suffered serious injury. In Nebraska alone, the epidemic 
claimed 293 lives in 1996 up from 254 the year before. The only good 
news has been that in Nebraska, during the first 6 months of this year, 
the death rate has slowed slightly. Most tragic, is the fact that this 
epidemic is almost 100 percent preventable.
  This epidemic I am talking about is death and injuries related to 
driving. While America has made significant progress in reducing 
traffic accident rates, deaths, and injuries have trended upward in the 
1990's.
  Traffic accidents impose extraordinary costs on our health care 
system. About $14 billion a year in health care costs are attributable 
to traffic accidents. Taxpayers bear $11.4 billion of that cost. In 
terms of lost productivity, property damage and health care costs, 
these accidents extracted $150 billion out of the economy for the last 
year that statistics are available.
  The most important point is that traffic accidents are almost 
completely preventable. The smallest actions of a driver can make the 
difference between life and death. One lapse in judgment, one moment of 
inattention can end in tragedy. As drivers, too often, we take for 
granted the immense power and responsibility we possess when behind the 
wheel. As public officials we need to be constantly attentive to the 
need to make our transportation system safer.
  The Congress is working on legislation to reauthorize the Nation's 
basic highway law. It is one of the most important bills the Senate 
will consider. I strongly believe that we should use this opportunity 
to commit ourselves to enhancing safety on America's highways and 
byways. In that spirit, I introduce the Highway Safety Priority Act.
  This legislation systematically makes clear that safety is a priority 
in highway construction and maintenance programs. It sends a strong 
message to Federal, State, and local transportation planners that they 
should focus on enhancing safety.
  I encourage my colleagues to study and support the Highway Safety 
Priority Act which I introduce today.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1155

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Highway Safety Priority 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. SAFETY OF FEDERAL-AID HIGHWAYS.

       (a) Approval of 3R Projects on National Highway System.--
     Section 106(b)(1) of title 23, United States Code, is amended 
     by inserting before the period at the end the following: 
     ``and includes the use of full-width lanes and shoulders''.
       (b) Standards.--Section 109 of title 23, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following:
       ``(3) Safety.--To the maximum extent practicable, a design 
     described in paragraph (1) shall include the use of full-
     width lanes and shoulders to enhance highway and bridge 
     safety.''; and
       (2) in subsection (p), by adding at the end the following: 
     ``The laws (including regulations, directives, and standards) 
     shall ensure appropriate roadside safety improvements, lane 
     and shoulder widening, alignment and sight distance 
     improvements, and conspicuous traffic control devices and 
     pavement markings.''.
       (c) Certification Acceptance.--Section 117(b) of title 23, 
     United States Code, is amended by inserting before the period 
     at the end the following: ``, including standards that 
     preserve and enhance the safety and mobility of highway 
     users''.
       (d) Set Aside for 4R Projects.--Section 118(c)(2)(B) of 
     title 23, United States Code, is amended by inserting before 
     the period at the end the following: ``and that improves 
     safety while reducing congestion''.
       (e) Metropolitian Planning.--Section 134 of title 23, 
     United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in the first sentence of subsection (a), by inserting 
     ``safety and'' after ``maximize'';
       (2) in subsection (f)--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``safely and'' after 
     ``more'';
       (B) by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (16) as 
     paragraphs (5) through (17), respectively;
       (C) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
       ``(4) The need to prevent accidents involving rail and road 
     users, including bicyclists, pedestrians, and motor vehicles, 
     and to reduce the frequency and severity of such 
     accidents.'';
       (D) in paragraph (12) (as redesignated by subparagraph 
     (B)), by inserting ``safe and'' after ``enhance the''; and
       (E) in paragraph (14) (as redesignated by subparagraph 
     (B)), by inserting ``safety,'' after ``economic,''; and
       (3) in subsection (g)(2)(C)--
       (A) in clause (i), by inserting ``and safety'' after 
     ``operational''; and
       (B) in clause (ii), by inserting ``safety and'' after 
     ``maximize the''.

[[Page S9019]]

                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. CRAIG:
  S. 1157. A bill disapproving the cancellations transmitted by the 
President on August 11, 1997, regarding Public Law 105-34; to the 
Committee on Finance, pursuant to the order of for 7 days of session 
pursuant to section 1023 of Public Law 93-344.


                        DISAPPROVAL LEGISLATION

  Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I am introducing today a bill to disapprove 
the President's line-item veto of a provision providing tax relief when 
an agricultural production facility is sold to a farmer cooperative--a 
veto that has produced a cry of outrage from Idaho's farm families.
  I am disappointed that the President vetoed this provision of the Tax 
Relief Act of 1997. This provision had strong bipartisan support in 
both the Senate and the House. This type of tax relief deserves to be 
debated on the merits and enacted into law.
  Because of the large number of ultimate beneficiaries involved in 
this kind of tax provision, it is my opinion that this item was 
erroneously identified as a candidate for a line-item veto.
  In Idaho, for example, in a single co-op, there are 1,130 family farm 
members who have been interested in this kind of tax law change for a 
long time.
  Changes in agricultural policy over recent years are intended to make 
American agriculture more market based. Prior changes in tax laws 
raised hurdles for agriculture at a time when world markets were 
becoming more competitive. Current tax law allows some advantages to 
corporations and other entities that are denied to farmer cooperatives.
  To allow family farmers in Idaho and across America to remain 
productive and effective in this changing environment, our tax laws 
need further revision. The provision the President vetoed would have 
helped, by allowing farmer cooperatives, by expanding their operations 
and compete more fully and fairly.
  I do not believe the President vetoed this provision without 
reservations. The White House has said publicly that the issue of 
ensuring the competitive ability of farmer cooperatives should be 
addressed. The administration had technical objections which, I 
believe, we should be able to work out.
  It is my hope, and it is fully my intention in introducing this bill 
today, that Members of Congress, from both sides of the aisle, and the 
administration can now sit down and work out the details of similar 
legislation and produce a win-win solution--one that helps farm 
families and addresses technical concerns expressed by the 
administration.
  I also want to address some important procedural matters.
  I am optimistic that, ultimately, legislation providing relief to 
farmer cooperatives and making any necessary and reasonable technical 
changes, will move on a track totally separate from this bill. That is 
my hope and intent.
  But we are constrained by procedure and timing in the introduction of 
this bill. Introduction of this bill, in this form, no later than 
today, is the only way to keep all procedural options open to the 
Congress.
  The Line Item Veto Act prescribes the precise form and content of 
this type of bill. Therefore, this bill refers to one other vetoed item 
besides the farmer cooperative item I have addressed. It is my 
understanding that persons supporting that item already are working out 
its consideration on a separate track.
  I hope and expect that the same will be true of the farmer 
cooperative item many in this body have supported. I stand ready to 
work with my colleagues and the administration on any reasonable, 
technical changes needed to enact such needed tax relief into law.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be printed in 
the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1157

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled, That 
     Congress disapproves of cancellations 97-1 and 97-2 as 
     transmitted by the President in a special message on August 
     11, 1997, regarding Public Law 105-34.

                          ____________________