[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 156 (Saturday, November 8, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S12194]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     SHORT TERM EXTENSION OF ISTEA

 Mr. REID. Mr. President, I served on the Committee on 
Environment and Public Works when the original ISTEA bill was written. 
I believe ISTEA has been one of the most important, innovative pieces 
of legislation ever to pass the United States Congress. Our stated goal 
was to turn over more spending power and authority to the states and 
localities while maintaining a strong national transportation system.
  In the last 6 years we have made great progress and, when we are 
finally able to pass a bill, I feel confident that ISTEA II will carry 
us further in the same direction. Until we get to that point, the 
Congress must must pass a short-term measure that ensures that the 
state programs remain stable while we are finishing work on the 
reauthorization.
  ISTEA made the states partners with the federal government in 
building and maintaining a strong transportation system. Leaving them 
in the lurch now would be no way to treat a partner. I believe the 
Congress needs to pass a short-term extension to ISTEA to ensure 
continuity in the state programs and to live up to our obligation to 
the American people to provide a world-class transportation system.
  I am delighted that the Senate passed this short term extension by 
unanimous consent last night, putting aside regional differences over 
formula funding. I am hopeful that the House will respond quickly and 
that we will be able to go home knowing that we have done the right 
thing for the states and the American people.
  Senator Bond, the primary author of this approach, takes care of our 
short term needs and he deserves our praise for developing it and 
selling it to all of his colleagues while under tremendous time 
pressures. State programs will continue, but we keep the pressure 
on ourselves to get the 6 year reauthorization done.

  Several of my colleagues have came to the Floor last night to explain 
how the bill works and I will not repeat their effort. However, I do 
want to offer high praise to Senator Chafee, Senator Bond, Senator 
Baucus, and Senator Warner for developing a measure that will work and 
has the support of the Senate.
  Additionally, I would like to offer thanks to key members of their 
staff for their hard work and late hours, not only this week but 
throughout the year, Kathy Ruffalo of Senator Baucus' staff, Dan 
Corbett of Mr. Chafee's staff, and Ann Loomis of Senator Warner's staff 
have put in tremendous hours of hard work this year developing a 6 year 
reauthorization of ISTEA, a bill that passed the Committee on 
Environment and Public Works unanimously.
  Additionally, Tracy Henke of Senator Bond's staff did top notch work 
in putting together the Senate's short term extension bill and I am 
grateful for her efforts.
  In particular I want to thank the Chairman and Ranking Member for 
accommodating my request to include the Federal Lands Highway Programs 
in the bill. For states, such as mine, that have vast holdings of 
public lands, the Federal Lands Highways Programs are a vital part of 
our transportation network.
  There are three programs that make up the Federal Lands Highway 
Program:
  Public Lands Highway Program for roads and maintenance on federal 
lands. Eighty-seven percent of Nevada is federally-owned;
  Indian Reservation Roads Program for roads and maintenance on Indian 
reservations; and
  Parkways and Park Highways Program that funds roads and maintenance 
within National Parks.
  These programs serve as a transportation lifeline for the vast rural, 
federally-owned areas that blanket the Western United States. The 
federal government has a duty and obligation to build and maintain 
roads on federal lands. It would be unreasonable for the federal 
government to ignore the needs of citizens living in these areas.
  If the goal of today's action is to keep the state highway programs 
running until we complete work on the reauthorization of ISTEA, then it 
is critical that the Federal Lands Highway Program be included.
  Nevada has become the most urbanized state in the Union; a higher 
percentage of our population lives in urban areas than in any other 
state. Coupled with the dramatic growth Nevada is experiencing, it is 
difficult for the rural areas to get the attention they need and 
deserve without these programs. They are an absolutely essential piece 
of Nevada's state program.
  Again, I thank my colleagues for recognizing the unique needs of 
Nevada and other vast public lands states and for including funding for 
the Federal Lands Highway Programs in this bill.
  We still have a long ways to go in reaching a short-term compromise 
with the House, but after the Senate's actions last night, I am 
confident that we will get there.

                          ____________________