[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 36 (Thursday, March 26, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H1625-H1626]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               ISTEA BILL

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fox) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. FOX of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak about a very 
important topic to my colleagues tonight, and that deals with the very 
important transportation bill.
  The fact is that this new transportation bill is one that has been 
worked out on both sides of the aisle. It is paid for out of 
Transportation Trust Fund money. It is paid for each time the motorists 
go to pay for their gasoline. Those funds are being used and generated 
back to protect the public.
  This transportation bill is a good one. It means jobs across America. 
It means improved road safety. It means new and improved public transit 
systems. It means improved air quality because more people are riding 
on the trains, subways, and buses. This ISTEA bill is a bipartisan 
piece of legislation.
  The gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster), the chairman, and the 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), the ranking member, have 
worked over time with their staffs to make sure it is a positive piece 
of legislation in the fact it is fair to all States in its allocation 
and support of our Nation's governors, along with hundreds of other 
public service organizations.
  We have reduced waste in this Congress. In the 104th Congress, we 
reduced spending by at least $53 billion. We continue reducing waste in 
the government by our own reexamination through the Results Caucus 
through our sunset procedures.
  We have several bills, Mr. Speaker. As I am sure my colleagues are 
aware, we have bills that will make sure that

[[Page H1626]]

our legislation for each agency we are going through with a fine-tooth 
comb to make sure that where agencies are duplicating what others are 
doing, whether it be State government or private sector, we are going 
to downsize, we are going to privatize, we are going to consolidate or 
eliminate.
  So we have done the job, working with Citizens Against Government 
Waste, to reduce those kinds of expenditures that previous Congresses 
may have approved, but this Congress does not approve. But 
transportation, that is an investment for our children, for our 
families, for the public.
  Many people do not own cars so they rely on public transit. Much of 
this bill deals with public transit and how to make sure those who do 
not drive and cannot afford a car can still go to work and still go to 
the doctor and still do the necessities of life.
  I look forward to bipartisan support not only in the House, but in 
the Senate, so a bipartisan bill can be passed and sent to the 
President for signature.

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