[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 144 (Thursday, October 23, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11160-S11161]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       BREAUX AMENDMENT NO. 1516

  (Ordered to lie on the table.)
  Mr. BREAUX submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to 
the bill, S. 1173, supra; as follows:

       On page 414, strike line 18 and insert the following: 
     App.).''.

     SEC. 2103A. COOPERATIVE RESEARCH ON INTELLIGENT 
                   TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS BY THE LOUISIANA STATE 
                   UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER NEUROSCIENCE CENTER 
                   OF EXCELLENCE, THE GEORGE WASHINGTON 
                   UNIVERSITY/VIRGINIA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, AND THE 
                   NATIONAL CENTER FOR ADVANCED TRANSPORTATION 
                   TECHNOLOGIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Crash analysis.--The term ``crash analysis'' means 
     advanced testing and crash simulations that address 
     deficiencies in the use of available airbag technology, 
     including--
       (A) crash pulse measurement by airbag triggering sensors;
       (B) the development of a smart algorithm to dictate 
     appropriate deployment conditions to minimize potential 
     injuries;
       (C) a characterization of injuries of the full range of 
     occupants, vehicle classes, and impact scenarios;
       (D) the development of a model to identify preventive 
     measures of neural damage;
       (E) the development of a combination of car-to-car, car-to-
     barrier, and sled tests using advanced computer simulation to 
     thoroughly analyze current problems; and
       (F) the conducting of full-scale car-to-car tests of speeds 
     up to 70 miles per hour with--
       (i) offsets in the 20 to 100 percent range; and
       (ii) impact angles with a range between 0 and 90 degrees; 
     and
       (G) the use of a programmable sled test that is capable of 
     reproducing a variety of crash pulses from repeatable crash 
     tests with active restraint systems that use different 
     anthropomorphic test dummy sizes, typed to gender and 
     percentile.
       (2) Post-crash research.--The term ``post-crash research'' 
     means research that addresses post-crash injury control, 
     including--
       (A) an automatic crash notification system that sends a 
     message to emergency medical service personnel to alert the 
     personnel to severe crashes, including severe crashes that 
     require immediate medical attention;
       (B) the development of advanced sensors that are capable of 
     identifying and locating crash victims in need of time-
     critical emergency care; and
       (C) the development of post-crash pharmaceutical strategies 
     for acute neuroprotection and the promotion of repair and 
     regeneration of neural cells to allow victims of crashes to 
     lead productive lives.
       (3) Pre-crash analysis.--The term ``pre-crash analysis'' 
     means the use of driver and vehicle technologies that are 
     designed to ensure that any intelligent systems that are 
     subsequently developed and implemented will be effective when 
     used by all drivers of automobiles (including identifying 
     preventive measures of neurological damages, including 
     redesigning seat-passenger and driver compartments to prevent 
     or limit damage to the eye, inner ear, head, peripheral 
     nerves, and the spinal cord).
       (b) Grant Agreement.--As part of the comprehensive program 
     described in section 524 of title 23, United States Code, as 
     added by section 2103 of this Act, the Secretary shall offer 
     to enter into a grant agreement with the appropriate 
     officials of the George Washington University/Virginia 
     Research Institute, the Louisiana State University Medical 
     Center Neuroscience Center of Excellence, and the National 
     Center for Advanced Transportation Technologies at the 
     University of Idaho to carry out an innovative research 
     project (as that term is used in section 524(b)(4) of title 
     23, United States Code) to--
       (1) accelerate the deployment of technology to improve 
     motor vehicle safety systems;
       (2) accelerate the deployment of smart air bags (as that 
     term is defined by the Secretary); and
       (3) develop medical technologies to prevent and minimize 
     head and spinal cord injuries.
       (c) Research Emphasis.--The research conducted pursuant to 
     the grant agreement referred to in subsection (b) shall 
     emphasize pre-crash analysis, crash analysis, and post-crash 
     research that takes into consideration the effects of humans, 
     motor vehicles, and the environment.
       (d) Funding.--
       (1) In general.--Of the funds made available under section 
     524(f) of title 23, United States Code, to carry out this 
     section, the Secretary shall use--
       (A) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 1998; and
       (B) $12,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1999 through 2003.
       (2) Availability of funds.--Notwithstanding section 
     524(f)(2) of title 23, United States Code, the funds made 
     available for use under paragraph (1) shall remain available 
     until expended. For purposes of section 524(b)(4)(B) of title 
     23, United States Code, the research project under this 
     section shall be considered to be an innovative research 
     project.
                                 ______
                                 

                    KERREY AMENDMENTS NOS. 1517-1521

  (Ordered to lie on the table.)
  Mr. KERREY submitted five amendments intended to be proposed by him 
to the bill, S. 1173, supra; as follows:

                           Amendment No. 1517

       Strike ``and ``(14)'' on lines 13 and 14 of page 386, and 
     insert in lieu thereof the following new language:
       ``(14) to enhance safety where rails meet roads by 
     preventing collisions at railroad grade crossings;
       ``(15) to encourage the use of intelligent transportation 
     systems to promote the achievement of national transportation 
     safety goals; and
       ``(16)''.
                                                                    ____


                           Amendment No. 1518

       On page 398 line 11, insert after the word ``States'' the 
     following new language: ``and at railroad grade crossings''.
                                                                    ____


                           Amendment No. 1519

       Strike ``and ``(5)'' on lines 12 and 13 of page 372 and 
     insert in lieu thereof the following new language:
       ``(5) the development of cost-effective and innovative 
     techniques to separate automobile and pedestrian traffic from 
     railroad traffic and to eliminate railroad crossings at 
     grade; and
       ``(6)''.
                                                                    ____


                           Amendment No. 1520

       At the appropriate place in the bill add the following new 
     language:

     SECTION   . SHORT TITLE.

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

     SEC.   . RURAL 2-LANE HIGHWAY SAFETY PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code, 
     is amended by adding at the end the following:

     ``Sec. 162. RURAL 2-LANE HIGHWAY SAFETY PROGRAM

       ``(a) Establishment.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a 2-lane 
     rural highway safety program (referred to in this section as 
     the `program') to ensure the systematic reconstruction of 
     rural 2-lane arterial and collector highways of substantial 
     length that are not on the National Highway System.
       ``(2) Principles.--Reconstruction under the program shall 
     be carried out in accordance with state-of-the-art principles 
     of--
       ``(A) safe alignment and cross-section design;
       ``(B) safe roadside conditions;
       ``(C) safety appurtenances;
       ``(D) durable and safe pavement design (especially long-
     term skid resistance);
       ``(E) grade crossing safety; and
       ``(F) traffic engineering.
       ``(3) Cooperation with states and private sector.--The 
     Secretary shall carry out the program in cooperation with 
     State highway departments and private sector experts in 
     highway safety design, including experts in highway safety 
     policy.
       ``(b) Apportionment.--For each fiscal year, the Secretary 
     shall apportion--
       ``(1) 50 percent of the amount made available under 
     subsection (e) to the States in the ratio that--
       ``(A) the number of miles in the State of rural 2-lane 
     arterial and collector surface roads that are not on the 
     National Highway System; bears to
       ``(B) the number of miles in all States of rural 2-lane 
     arterial and collector surface roads that are not on the 
     National Highway System; and
       ``(2) 50 percent of the amount made available under 
     subsection (e) to the States in the ratio that--
       ``(A) the percentage of the population of the State that 
     resides in rural areas; bears to
       ``(B) the percentage of the population of all States that 
     resides in rural areas.
       ``(c) Selection of Projects.--
       ``(1) In general.--The States shall select projects to 
     receive funding under the program based on--
       ``(A) criteria established in cooperation with the 
     Secretary and other persons that give priority to highways 
     associated with persistently high rates of fatal and non-
     fatal injuries due to accidents; and
       ``(B) to the maximum extent practicable, value engineering 
     and life-cycle cost analysis.
       ``(2) Compatibility with management systems.--To the extent 
     that a State selects projects in accordance with a 
     functioning safety, pavement, bridge, or work zone management 
     system, projects selected under the program shall be 
     compatible with each management system.
       ``(3) Statewide transportation planning.--The selection of 
     projects by a State under the program shall be carried out in 
     a manner consistent with the statewide transportation 
     planning of the State under section 135.

[[Page S11161]]

       ``(d) Report to Congress.--
       ``(1) In general.--Not later than December 31, 2003, the 
     Secretary shall submit a report to Congress on the results of 
     the program.
       ``(2) Contents.--The report shall include--
       ``(A) detailed travel and accident data by class of vehicle 
     and roadway; and
       ``(B) an evaluation of the extent to which specific safety 
     design features and accident countermeasures have resulted in 
     lower accident rates, including reduced severity of injuries.
       ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are 
     authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
     $150,000,000 for fiscal year 1998, $125,000,000 for fiscal 
     year 1999, $125,000,000 for fiscal year 2000, $100,000,000 
     for fiscal year 2001, $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2002, and 
     $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2003.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 1 of 
     title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
     the following:

``162. Rural 2-lane highway safety program.''.

                           Amendment No. 1521

       At the appropriate place in the bill add the following new 
     language:

     SECTION   . SHORT TITLE.

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

     SEC.   . 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) Metropolitan 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 ``safety 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''.

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