[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 123 (Tuesday, September 16, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H7354]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           ISTEA LEGISLATION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Fox] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  (Mr. FOX asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. FOX of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, dear colleagues, I come to the 
House floor tonight because we have legislation which is coming up next 
week which is very important, the ISTEA legislation. The shorthand for 
that is the transportation bill.
  What is very important about the ISTEA legislation is this is the 
legislation long awaited which will give each American community and 
our States the kind of transportation and privilege that we need. Each 
State and each community has great schools, great health care 
institutions, and have great employers and great employees. But if they 
cannot get around, how will they contribute to the quality of life?
  So I am hoping that my colleagues will support the Shuster bill, H.R. 
2400. That ISTEA legislation will provide the following: The road 
construction that is needed across the country; the road repairs that 
are needed in each community; the bike paths that are needed to help 
the environment, give recreational opportunities; and the public 
transit assistance. By that I mean trains, buses, subways, any kind of 
high-tech, new technology transit, any ways of getting people around 
that may be more easily done in urban and suburban areas, that will cut 
down on the gridlock and reduce the amount of cars that are too much on 
the roadway. This would actually not only help people get around faster 
but do so more economically and preserve the environment.
  My position on the Shuster bill is that this is a great piece of 
legislation that is going to help in a bipartisan way every single 
district, every single State. It is pro-environment. It is pro-jobs. It 
is pro-quality-of-life. The Shuster bill is consistent and supports a 
balanced budget.
  The Nation's driving and traveling public need H.R. 2400. This bill 
is one that is going to set the standard, not only for making sure we 
have the roads and repair them and making sure we have the public 
transit, but also adds very important new safety guidelines which will 
help all of our Americans.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, the Nation's Governors support this 
legislation. This bill is one that is not only fiscally responsible but 
it is helpful to our environment, and will make sure that the driving 
public has safe roads now and into the future.
  So I urge my colleagues to cosponsor the bill, to certainly vote for 
the bill, and meet with constituent groups back home so they are aware 
that we are looking out for them and making sure that their quality of 
life is improved and their neighborhoods and communities have the 
advantage of improved roadways and improved public transit.

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