[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 100 (Thursday, July 23, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S8923]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. McCAIN:
  S. 2349. A bill to authorize appropriations for the hazardous 
materials transportation program, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.


     HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TRANSPORTATION REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 1998

 Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, today I am introducing the 
Hazardous Materials Transportation Reauthorization Act of 1998. This 
legislation is identical to the reauthorizing provisions approved by 
the Senate earlier this year under Subtitle B of Title III of S. 1173, 
the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1998.
  Mr. President, the Commerce Committee spent considerable time and 
effort developing and debating the safety provisions that were 
incorporated into the ISTEA reauthorization bill, ultimately entitled 
the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century--TEA--21 (P.L. 105-
178). Once in conference with our House counterparts, we were faced 
with many difficult decisions and compromises. The one area that we did 
not reach agreement regarded the provisions associated with the 
Hazardous Materials Transportation programs administered by the 
Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) of the Department 
of Transportation.
  Since the House had not acted to reauthorize this program in its 
version of ISTEA reauthorizing legislation, we found ourselves unable 
to reach agreement on including it in the conference report. Therefore, 
the Senate must again take action to reauthorize the Hazardous 
Materials Transportation Act.
  Mr. President, I want to stress that this bill I am introducing today 
is identical to the hazardous materials reauthorization the Senate 
passed earlier this year. The legislation proposing reauthorizes 
funding for programs that ensure the safe transportation of hazardous 
materials. It also includes a number of provisions requested by the 
Administration that are intended to strengthen and improve the 
hazardous materials transportation program. And again Mr. President, I 
will reiterate, this bill is identical to the proposal passed by the 
Senate on March 12, 1998.
  Mr. President, it is very important for the Congress to complete its 
work and reauthorize all of our nation's critical transportation safety 
programs. Therefore, I will be seeking to move this legislation through 
the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee in the very near 
future.
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