[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 23 (Monday, March 9, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1565-S1567]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        INTERMODAL SURFACE TRANSPORTATION EFFICIENCY ACT OF 1997

  The Senate continued with the consideration of the bill.


                Amendment No. 1931 to Amendment No. 1676

   (Purpose: To reauthorize the mass transit programs of the Federal 
                  Government, and for other purposes)

  Mr. D'AMATO. Madam President, I send an amendment to the desk and ask 
for its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from New York [Mr. D'Amato] proposes an 
     amendment numbered 1931 to amendment No. 1676.

  Mr. D'AMATO. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
reading of the amendment be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  (The text of the amendment is printed in today's Record under 
``Amendments Submitted.'')
  Mr. D'AMATO. Madam President, I rise today to offer an amendment 
which will reauthorize the mass transit program under ISTEA.
  First of all, I thank my colleagues for the many months of 
negotiations and hard work necessary to produce this breakthrough 
agreement which has resulted in the amendment that we have offered.
  What I intend to do is just briefly give an outline and, hopefully, 
with the concurrence of the majority leader and other Members, we will 
take this matter up for fuller discussion and consideration tomorrow 
morning. But let me first thank the ranking member on the Banking 
Committee for his support during this very difficult time. Senator 
Sarbanes has been steadfast in his support and in his approach to 
working out a balanced transit package.
  Let me also thank the chairman of the Budget Committee, Senator 
Domenici, for without him and his ability to see that the levels of 
increase can be accommodated in the budget, we would have no 
opportunity of going forward.
  Then, of course, there is my friend and colleague, the senior Senator 
from New York, Senator Moynihan, and his steadfastness in helping to 
achieve this balance.
  In total, our amendment will authorize $41.3 billion for mass transit 
over the next 3 years. That represents a 30-percent increase from the 
$31.5 billion authorized in the 1991 ISTEA bill. Our amendment provides 
for funding levels that are $12.6 billion over the administration's 
NEXTEA proposal.
  The amendment will also provide $5 billion more than the Banking 
Committee bill reported out by a 17-to-1 margin last September. We have 
been able to achieve this increase thanks to a bipartisan coalition of 
24 Senators, including our present Presiding Officer. I thank the 
Senator from Texas for her graciousness and for her support, because I 
think it is a recognition of the growing needs of mass transit.
  Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the 
Record a letter to the majority and minority leaders which was signed 
by this bipartisan coalition requesting an increase in mass transit 
funding.
  There being no objection, the letter was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                                  U.S. Senate,

                                Washington, DC, February 24, 1998.
     Hon. Trent Lott,
     Russell Senate Office Building,
     Washington, DC

     Hon. Tom Daschle,
     Hart Senate Office Building,
     Washington, DC
       Dear Senator Lott and Senator Daschle: We write to express 
     our support for mass transit funding adequate to meet the 
     nation's growing public transportation needs. While we wish 
     to honor the 1997 Balanced Budget Act, we are convinced that 
     the nation's mass transit needs are not being addressed. As 
     strong supporters of investment in mass transit, we want to 
     underscore our view that any additional surface 
     transportation spending agreed to in the Budget Resolution or 
     subsequently in ISTEA must reflect the historic balance 
     between transit and highways.
       Mass transit provides an indispensable service to 
     communities all across the country--in major metropolitan 
     areas, small cities and suburbs, and rural regions. It 
     fosters economic development, offers mobility for working 
     Americans, reduces congestion and improves air quality. 
     Moreover, mass transit supports the transportation needs of 
     our nation's elderly, persons with disabilities, transit-
     dependent populations and the economically disadvantaged. 
     Millions of Americans use mass transit every day. As demand 
     for more and better transit service soars, we in Congress 
     must help all regions of the country meet those needs.
       We are committed to assuring that any efforts to increase 
     federal investments in transportation apply equitably to both 
     mass transit and highway programs. Transit must receive its 
     fair share under any transportation funding proposal under 
     consideration. Maintaining the program balance so carefully 
     crafted in ISTEA will ensure that adequate resources are 
     available to address the nation's surface transportation 
     needs into the next century.
       We look forward to working with you to advance a balanced 
     transportation investment policy that meets our nation's 
     transit and highway needs.
           Sincerely,
         Alfonse D'Amato, Ted Kennedy, Paul Wellstone, Jack Reed, 
           Richard H. Bryan, Daniel Moynihan, Chuck Robb, Chris 
           Dodd, Paul Sarbanes, Dick Durbin, Arlen Specter, Robert 
           G. Torricelli, Rick Santorum, Harry Reid, Barbara 
           Boxer, John F. Kerry, Frank R. Lautenberg, Barbara A. 
           Mikulski, Joseph Lieberman, Carol Moseley-Braun, Robert 
           F. Bennett, Ron Wyden, and Mary Landrieu.

  Mr. D'AMATO. Madam President, these additional funds will benefit 
transit operators of all sizes in both urban and rural areas, and in 
order to meet the new demands for bus and rail systems across the 
Nation, half the increase--$2.5 billion--will be spent only on new 
starts. The rural transit program will enjoy a $354 million increase 
over the amount authorized in the 1991 ISTEA bill.
  Over the last 15 years, transit funding has remained relatively flat 
while highway funding has soared. In 1982, the Federal Government spent 
$4 billion on mass transit and $9 billion on highways. In 1998, the 
Government will spend $4.8 billion on transit while spending has grown 
to $23 billion.
  Meanwhile, the demands for transit funding have grown exponentially. 
Communities in high-growth cities are facing problems of traffic 
congestion and poor air quality while older transit cities, such as New 
York and Chicago, need additional funds to maintain and improve transit 
service. With this increase in mass transit funding, we can now address 
many of these needs.
  More than 80 million Americans, almost one-third of the U.S. 
population, cannot drive or do not have access to a car. For these 
people, mass transit is usually the only means of transportation 
available. The Nation's 32 million senior citizens and 24 million 
people with disabilities require reliable, safe public transportation 
service to maintain their independence.
  According to the Federal Transit Administration's annual report, U.S. 
businesses would lose $15 billion a year because of highway traffic 
congestion if all U.S. transit commuters drove to work instead. More 
than half of all transit trips are work trips, and people who use 
transit come from every income level and demographic background.
  Federal transit programs benefit communities of all sizes across the 
Nation. Today, rural transit carries riders more than a billion miles 
every year. Rural areas have a higher percentage of elderly and 
disabled populations who are increasingly dependent on mass transit for 
basic transportation needs.
  Madam President, in closing, I thank the chairman of the Environment 
and Public Works Committee, Senator Chafee.
  Mr. Sarbanes has been a steadfast ally in these negotiations.
  And, once again, without the cooperation of my Budget Committee

[[Page S1566]]

chairman, Senator Domenici, and the ranking member, Senator Lautenberg, 
we never would have come to this point.
  I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record a proposed 
summary of the amendment, for those Senators and staffs who wish to 
review the amendment.
  There being no objection, the summary was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

   Summary of D'Amato-Sarbanes Amendment Federal Transit Act of 1997

     Section 1. Short Title and Table of Contents
     Section 2. Authorizations
       The bill authorizes a total of $41.3 billion for federal 
     transit programs over the 6 year period from FY 1998 to 2003. 
     This represents a $9.8 billion increase (31%) over ISTEA 
     authorizations of $31.5 billion.
       $36.3 billion of $41.3 billion total was authorized in the 
     Banking Committee bill. S. 1271, while $5 billion comes from 
     the ``Transportation Equity Act'' negotiated with Sen. 
     Domenici et al.
     Section 3. Capital Projects and Small Area Flexibility
       Expands definition of capital to include preventive 
     maintenance, leasing, intelligent transportation systems, 
     deployment of new technology and joint development 
     activities.
       Allows small urbanized areas (50,000 to 200,000 population) 
     to use their funds for operating or capital, as rural areas 
     now do.
     Section 4. Metropolitan Planning
       Modifies current planning requirements similar to the 
     Senate highway bill recently reported by the EPW Committee, 
     and makes other changes.
     Section 5. Metropolitan Planning Organizations
       Requires MPOs in transportation management areas designated 
     after 1991 to include a representative of transit users.
     Section 6. Farebox Revenues
       Allows proceeds from farebox revenue bonds to be used as 
     the local share for financing capital projects.
     Section 7. Clean Fuels Program
       Creates a new Clean Fuels formula grant program to assist 
     transit systems in purchasing low emissions vehicles and 
     related equipment. Participation is voluntary and the federal 
     share is 80%. Funds are provided separately for large and 
     small areas, with a cap on what any one recipient can 
     receive. Eligible technologies may include compressed natural 
     gas, hybrid electric, biodiesel and other clean technologies.
     Section 8. Capital Investment Grant and Loans
       Extends current 40/40/20 split between Discretionary grants 
     for New Starts, Bus and Fixed Guideway Modernization 
     projects.
     Section 9. Transit Supportive Land Use
       Adds benefits of transit-oriented land use to the factors 
     to be considered by the Secretary in reviewing New Starts 
     projects.
     Section 10. New Starts
       Limits the amount of New Starts funding that can be used 
     for other than final design and construction to 8 percent.
     Section 11. Joint Partnership for Deployment of Innovation
       Permits FTA to join with a consortia of public and private 
     organizations to undertake research and deploy new transit 
     technology.
     Section 12. Workplace Safety
       Provides additional funding to the National Mass Transit 
     Institute to provide workplace safety training to public 
     transit employees.
     Section 13. University Transportation Centers
       Restores current law regarding University Transportation 
     Centers, repeals change by Senate Highway bill reported by 
     EPW Committee.
     Section 14. Job Access Grants
       Authorizes $100 million per year for a new ``Job Access 
     Grants'' program to assist welfare recipients and other low-
     income individuals get to and from jobs.
     Section 15. Grant Requirements
       Conforms transit grant requirements to match those under 
     the Federal highway program.
     Section 16. HHS and Public Transit Service
       Requires coordination of Human Service Agency 
     transportation providers and public transit systems to 
     improve efficiency.
     Section 17. Proceeds from the Sale of Transit Assets
       Permits a transit recipient to sell an asset purchased with 
     federal funds and retain the proceeds as long as the proceeds 
     are used for mass transit purposes.
     Section 18. Operating Assistance for Small Transit Systems in 
         Large Urbanized Areas
       Requires large urban areas to consider the impact of any 
     operating aid reductions on the smaller transit operators 
     within the same urban area.
     Section 19. Appointment of Appropriations for Fixed Guideway 
         Modernization
       Adopts the modified formula for this program as recommended 
     by APTA. Maintains the existing distribution for the first 
     $760 million, and allocates an increasing share of program 
     growth to newer rail systems.
     Section 20. Urbanized Area Formula Study
       Requires the Secretary to study the current urbanized area 
     formula to determine whether changes are needed to reflect 
     the fact that some small urban areas under 200,000 population 
     carry more passengers per mile or hour than larger systems 
     over 200,000 population.

  Ms. COLLINS addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maine is recognized.
  Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, I rise today in support of S. 1173, the 
highway reauthorization legislation currently pending before the 
Senate. Passage of this ISTEA legislation will be very beneficial to 
the people of my State and to Maine's economy.
  Before beginning my remarks tonight, I commend the distinguished 
managers of this comprehensive legislation, Senator John Chafee and 
Senator Max Baucus. They have worked diligently to produce a broad, 
bipartisan consensus for this complicated 6-year reauthorization bill. 
I commend them for their efforts today, and I look forward to working 
with them as this legislation continues to move through the Senate, be 
passed by the House, be reconciled in conference and ultimately to be 
signed into law by the President.
  The State of Maine has 1.2 million people. They are spread out across 
roughly 34,000 square miles. Our State has, by far, the lowest 
population density in all of New England. Consequently, continuing to 
improve and upgrade our roads, our highways, our bridges is essential 
to Maine's future prosperity.
  Studies have shown that roughly 80 percent of all economic 
development occurs within 10 miles on either side of our interstate 
highway. Thus, the expansion and improvement of our transportation 
system are vital to increasing job opportunities for all the citizens 
of our State.
  From Maine's perspective, the 1998 ISTEA legislation builds upon the 
successes of the 1991 law and will continue to provide Maine with 
needed funding to build, repair, and maintain our surface 
transportation system into the 21st century.
  Madam President, Maine, like other northeastern States, is facing an 
aging transportation infrastructure. It requires maintenance, 
rehabilitation, and in some cases outright replacement. S. 1173, as 
amended, would provide Maine with vitally needed funds for 
transportation. It would provide a much-needed boost in the funding 
that would go to my State.
  Under the 1991 ISTEA law, Maine received approximately $118 million 
in annual highway funding. With the adoption of the amendment worked 
out by the Senator from Rhode Island last week, which I strongly 
supported, this legislation will now authorize $144 million in 
transportation spending for Maine annually.
  This, Madam President, is good news for our State. It represents a 22 
percent increase over the average of the State under the 1991 law. 
Clearly, this increase will be very beneficial for the people of Maine. 
The ability of the economy of Maine to grow and offer new and exciting 
job opportunities to its people is directly related to the quality and 
the availability of our transportation system. In addition, the higher 
funding levels should enable the State to pursue some very high-
priority transportation projects over the next 6 years.
  For example, Madam President, as a native of Aroostook County, I have 
long been a strong supporter of a four-lane, limited-access highway 
project in Aroostook County. We need such a highway--all the way from 
Houlton to Fort Kent--and I am committed to doing everything possible 
to assist in this vital effort. The higher funding levels authorized by 
this legislation should enable the State of Maine to continue moving 
this vitally important project forward by completing the next stage, 
the environmental studies.
  Another important transportation project for Maine will be the 
efforts to improve our roads and highways that cross the State in an 
east-west direction. There is also considerable interest in the State 
in undertaking studies to look at constructing an east-west highway to 
improve trade and opportunity throughout the State.
  In recent years, the prospect of an east-west highway has been 
getting more and more attention, and the increased highway funding 
contained in

[[Page S1567]]

the legislation before us today will assist the State in exploring this 
exciting new opportunity. Madam President, the ISTEA legislation will 
also help the State of Maine with other important priorities, such as 
replacing aging bridges, developing our cargo ports, and improving 
critical economic corridors throughout the entire State.
  These suggest a few of the very important transportation projects 
that the State of Maine can and should consider moving forward with 
just as soon as this Congress completes action on the long-term surface 
transportation reauthorization.
  Madam President, the ISTEA legislation will help Maine and its people 
maintain and develop a transportation system that will meet the 
challenges of the future. Again, I commend the distinguished managers 
of this bill for all of their hard work, and I am very pleased to 
support their efforts in passing this much needed and vitally important 
legislation.
  I thank you, Madam President, and I yield the floor.
  Mr. D'AMATO. Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. D'AMATO. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________