[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 26 (Thursday, March 12, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1815-S1816]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
THE INTERMODAL SURFACE TRANSPORTATION EFFICIENCY ACT
Mr. KERREY. Mr. President, I would like to commend my Democrat and
Republican colleagues for their hard work in creating a transportation
bill that will reduce traffic congestion, make our roads safer, and
protect the U.S. environment. ISTEA, the Intermodal Surface
Transportation Efficiency Act, is one of the most important items on
the legislative agenda of the 105th Congress.
The American people deserve nothing less than a world-class
transportation system that will facilitate economic growth and improve
transportation safety. This bill achieves that goal in a fair manner
and guarantees that America's transportation infrastructure will be
vital well into the next century.
[[Page S1816]]
ISTEA is an investment in people and in communities. The Nation's
transportation systems move $6 trillion worth of goods every year.
Behind every one of the products that makes up that $6 trillion stands
a hard-working person pursuing the American dream. ISTEA will create
jobs and add to the productive capacity of our workers and the economy
by enabling businesses to market their products quickly and
efficiently. The American people have challenged us to provide
infrastructure that can meet the transportation needs of one of the
strongest economies of the world. With this bill, we are meeting their
challenge by providing them the sources necessary to create and
maintain the transportation infrastructure that will keep America
strong.
One of my top transportation priorities has been improving safety on
America's roads and highways. Mr. President, 41,000 Americans are
killed every year in traffic accidents. We can reduce this horrifying
number by concentrating our resources on high-risk roads and dangerous
intersections. We know, for example, that rural two-lane roads account
for more than half of all traffic and nearly three-quarters of traffic
fatalities. Better engineering and planning can reduce the accidents
that repeatedly occur on these dangerous roads.
I introduced several amendments to address this very serious problem.
The first amendment systematically makes safety a priority
consideration in highway construction and maintenance programs. This
language sends a strong message to Federal, State, and local
transportation planners that they need to focus on enhancing safety.
The second amendment establishes a two-lane highway safety program to
begin systematic reconstruction of rural two-lane arterial highways
that are not a part of the National Highway System.
Mr. President, I intend to speak at greater length on this when the
opportunity comes to offer this amendment. It has not yet been
accepted. I understand that it can be controversial because of the need
to shift money from one area to another. Given the numbers of traffic
fatalities on these roads, there are literally lives hanging in the
balance. We have created a strong Interstate and National Highway
System. It is now time to take the next step in completing this by
improving the dangerous two-lane arterial roads that carry traffic to
the National Highways and Interstate Highway Systems.
In addition, I authored two amendments to address the very serious
problem of accidents at railway crossings. I am pleased to report the
Senate accepted both of these amendments. These provisions focus
attention on reducing accidents by making highway rail-crossing
improvement projects eligible for funds through the Intelligent
Transportation Systems Program and the Innovative Bridge Research
Program.
In 1996 alone, there were 4,257 highway-rail crossing collisions that
resulted in 488 deaths and over 1,600 injuries. These incidents are
mostly preventable if adequate safety precautions are taken. As the
volume of rail traffic continues to increase, dedicating funds to these
dangerous crossings will help ensure the number of accidents is
reduced. The Senate took a strong step towards reducing these
collisions by accepting these amendments, and I strongly encourage the
House to place a similar emphasis on highway-rail crossing safety when
they consider ISTEA in the coming weeks.
Mr. President, I also appreciate very much the strong vote given on
this floor to extending the ethanol credit. But mostly I applaud the
leadership of Republicans and Democrats who understand the importance
of ISTEA to the American economy and the American environment and to
those hard-working Americans who are pursuing the American dream.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record
an article from the Omaha World-Herald dated February 26, 1998.
There being no objection, the article was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
[From the Omaha World-Herald, Feb. 26, 1998]
Congress Must Unlock Roads Funds
[By Rose White]
Have you ever been in a financial situation in which
``robbing Peter to pay Paul'' was the only way to get through
the crisis? One of Nebraska's largest agencies is currently
in this situation, and it's an agency from which we all
benefit--the State Department of Roads.
As a result of Congress' failure to reauthorize a multi-
year federal highway bill known as the Intermodal Surface
Transportation Efficiency Act, repairs on dilapidated
bridges, safety improvements on high-risk roads and major
construction projects are being forced to wait in limbo. The
Nebraska Department of Roads has had to borrow from the state
reserve fund to provide temporary relief.
What's truly unfortunate about this situation is that the
money we need for this year's construction season is sitting
in an account waiting for congressional leaders to approve
reauthorization of the ISTEA. Without its passage, the
Nebraska Department of Roads will be powerless in executing
many of its long-range plans for roadway improvements.
The temporary extension of the highway funding bill is due
to expire on March 31, leaving little time for legislators to
agree on a spending formula which will ensure its passage.
How will failure to pass this legislation affect motorists
in Nebraska? It already has disrupted Nebraska's ability to
plan, solicit project bids and approve contracts.
Uncertainties about funding may cost hundreds of Nebraska
workers their jobs.
With Nebraska's short road construction season, it's
imperative that funding be designated now or projects will
have to wait until next year where they will overlap with
1999's plans. Such overlapping will likely increase traffic
congestion, put motorists at a greater safety risk and create
shortages in manpower for construction crews.
Failure to pass this bill has also placed many safety
programs in jeopardy. Programs benefiting infants through
senior adults will be lost because Nebraska will lose
$600,000 in grant funds tied to this bill. Law enforcement
agencies will not receive 150 in-car video cameras and will
lose funding for 4,200 man-hours of traffic enforcement in
hazardous locations. Child safety seat loaner programs will
have 400 fewer units to lend.
* * * * *
AAA Nebraska is urging Congress to act quickly on the
reauthorization of the Intermodal Surface Transportation
Efficiency Act, including the passage of the Byrd-Gramm
Amendment which will increase roadway investments about 2
percent if budget surpluses are realized this year.
A Senate speech by Nebraska Sen. Bob Kerrey is quoted in
the Feb. 5 Congressional Record: ``For me, ISTEA legislation
is one of the most important things with which this Congress
deals. It creates immediate jobs, employs people in my state,
but much more importantly, it adds to the productive capacity
out in the future.''
AAA encourages Senator Kerrey to continue to fight for
passage of this important legislation and urges our other
congressional leaders representing us in Washington to do the
same. Nebraska is counting on it.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Virginia.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, parliamentary inquiry as to the next order
of business. My understanding is we go to the bill at 10:30, at which
time the McCain amendment is the pending business without debate?
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator is correct.
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