[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]]
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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.
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