[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 28 (Tuesday, March 14, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H956]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            CONGRESSIONAL RURAL CAUCUS/RURAL TRANSPORTATION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Deal of Georgia). Under a previous order 
of the House, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, tonight I rise, along with my colleagues before 
me, to promote the kick-off of the Congressional Rural Caucus. I am 
proud to be a member of this caucus, which will work to better 
represent the interests of rural America by raising awareness of the 
needs of communities in these areas.
  Mr. Speaker, my district, the 18th Congressional District of Ohio, is 
mostly rural, made up of people who proudly support the coal and steel 
industries, agriculture, and various other manufacturing industries. A 
native of the Ohio Valley, I have represented this district for a 
number of years, both as a State Representative and a State Senator, 
and now in Congress. I am well aware of the needs of the people who 
live there.
  Tonight previously Members heard from colleagues who talked about 
education in rural America. We also heard about telecommunications. 
Tonight I want to focus on transit, but there are a lot of other needs 
today. There is housing.
  We were visited by Bruce Veldt from the Ohio Department of 
Development who was talking to us about rural housing initiatives. We 
have had many people who are concentrating on the things that are 
important, and they are coming from the State of Ohio. They are 
communicating more. But I think this kick-off of our Congressional 
Rural Caucus is something that is going to be able to work across all 
50 States to help rural America.
  Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, too often rural communities have been an 
afterthought in Federal policy discussions and program development. The 
establishment of the bipartisan Congressional Rural Caucus, which 
currently has 112 members, will help to ensure that the interests of 
rural America are properly represented in Federal policy and 
legislation.
  One area that undoubtedly exhibits the need for better representation 
of rural America is the transportation arena. Rural areas are often 
left out of negotiations when State transportation planning is being 
planned, with most of the decision-making power being left to the State 
and metropolitan officials, who have a place at the table.
  In June of 1998, when Congress passed the landmark Transportation 
Equity Act for the 21st century, better known as TEA-21, it marked the 
beginning of a new era in rural transportation. In addition to 
providing more Federal funds to help improve the infrastructure and 
services in rural America, the new law reinforces the intermodal 
philosophy and takes an important first step in strengthening the role 
local officials wield in the decision-making process and planning 
process.
  As a member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, I 
was privileged to have served on the TEA-21 conference committee. I am 
proud to have fought for the language which increased the presence of 
local rural officials in the transportation and planning process. This 
is good for rural America and it is good for transportation.
  However, challenges abound in rural areas. The needs still greatly 
outpace Federal, State, and local resources. I would like to just give 
a few examples.
  One in every 14 households in rural America is without a vehicle, 
despite being the most prevalent mode of transportation. Nearly 38 
percent of county roads are inadequate for current travel, and nearly 
half of major rural bridges are structurally deficient.
  This is significant, as 81 percent or 3.1 million miles of the 
Nation's public highway system exist in rural America.
  While still an important mode of transportation, inner city bus 
service has almost completely disappeared off the face of rural 
America. In 1965, 23,000 communities were linked together with daily 
bus service. As we start the new century, that number has dwindled to a 
mere 4,500, from 23,000 down to 4,500. Those are communities with rural 
routes. Too often the rural routes are the ones that are eliminated.
  This decline has implications, not only for passenger service, but 
also for essential freight services, as intercity buses often provide 
the only daily package express service in remote rural communities.
  Public transit is becoming a vital source of transportation in rural 
areas, especially as disabled and elderly populations rise. Yet, 38 
percent of rural residents live in an area without any form of public 
transportation. This can be directly linked to the fact that less than 
10 percent of Federal spending for public transportation goes to rural 
communities.
  Air service is often seen as an essential factor in attracting and 
retaining businesses in rural communities, but the high cost of 
subsidizing service limits its availability. On this, the eve of the 
day when Congress is scheduled to take up the Aviation Investment and 
Reform Act, or known as AIR-21, the conference report, a bill which 
will reauthorize and increase funding for Federal aviation programs, as 
well as provide improved passenger service to rural areas, on this eve, 
I wish to thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) and the 
rest of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure who, on a 
bipartisan basis, have recognized the needs of rural America when it 
comes to aviation.
  TEA-21 does help ensure rural elected officials and communities are 
represented in the planning process, which is best described as the 
gateway for accessing Federal transportation funds. This will help 
States develop comprehensive plans that use our limited resources most 
wisely, as well as contribute to the economic and social growth of 
rural areas.
  Even with the new TEA-21 provisions, however, rural elected officials 
are still on an uneven playing field with urban and state officials. 
That is why members of groups like the National Association of 
Counties, National League of Cities, National Association of 
Development Organizations and the American Public Works Association 
continue to advocate federal legislation that closes the equity gap in 
planning and programming.

  In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, transportation is an essential component 
of addressing the needs of rural America. It not only connects people 
to jobs, health care and family in a way that enhances one's quality of 
life, but it also serves as the lifeline of the rural and national 
economies. I look forward to serving with the other members of the 
Congressional Rural Caucus and to bettering the lives of those we 
serve.
  I just want to pay tribute to the rural caucus, who is going to 
absolutely make life better across rural America by their bipartisan 
effort.




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