[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 63 (Friday, May 19, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H3416-H3417]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 4475, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 
             AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2001

  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I 
call up House Resolution 505 and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 505

       Resolved, That at any time after the adoption of this 
     resolution the Speaker may, pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule 
     XVIII, declare the House resolved into the Committee of the 
     Whole House on the state of the Union for consideration of 
     the bill (H.R. 4475) making appropriations for the Department 
     of Transportation and related agencies for the fiscal year 
     ending September 30, 2001, and for other purposes. The first 
     reading of the bill shall be dispensed with. All points of 
     order against consideration of the bill are waived. General 
     debate shall be confined to the bill and shall not exceed one 
     hour equally divided and controlled by the chairman and 
     ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations. 
     After general debate the bill shall be considered for 
     amendment under the five-minute rule. The amendments printed 
     in the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this 
     resolution shall be considered as adopted in the House and in 
     the Committee of the Whole. Points of order against 
     provisions in the bill, as amended, for failure to comply 
     with clause 2 of rule XXI are waived except as follows: 
     beginning with ``Provided further'' on page 8, line 17, 
     through line 20; beginning with ``Provided further'' on page 
     13, line 24, through page 14, line 8; ``Notwithstanding any 
     other provision of law,'' on page 20, line 18; 
     ``Notwithstanding any other provision of law,'' on page 26, 
     line 15; ``Notwithstanding any other provision of law,'' on 
     page 27, lines 15 and 16; ``Notwithstanding any other 
     provision of law,'' on page 33, line 24; beginning with 
     ``Provided'' on page 36, line 15, through line 20; page 51, 
     line 13, through page 52, line 18. Where points of order are 
     waived against part of a paragraph, points of order against a 
     provision in another part of such paragraph may be made only 
     against such provision and not against the entire paragraph. 
     During consideration of the bill for further amendment, the 
     Chairman of the Committee of the Whole may accord priority in 
     recognition on the basis of whether the Member offering an 
     amendment has caused it to be printed in the portion of the 
     Congressional Record designated for that purpose in clause 8 
     of rule XVIII. Amendments so printed shall be considered as 
     read. The Chairman of the Committee of the Whole may: (1) 
     postpone until a time during further consideration in the 
     Committee of the Whole a request for a recorded vote on any 
     amendment; and (2) reduce to five minutes the minimum time 
     for electronic voting on any postponed question that follows 
     another electronic vote without intervening business, 
     provided that the minimum time for electronic voting on the 
     first in any series of questions shall be 15 minutes. At the 
     conclusion of consideration of the bill for amendment the 
     Committee shall rise and report the bill, as amended, to the 
     House with such amendments as may have been adopted. The 
     previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill 
     and amendments thereto to final passage without intervening 
     motion except one motion to recommit with or without 
     instructions.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from New York (Mr. Reynolds) 
is recognized for 1 hour.
  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield 
the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Hall), pending 
which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration 
of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.
  (Mr. REYNOLDS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks, and include extraneous material.)
  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 505 is an open rule 
providing for consideration of H.R. 4475, the Department of 
Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for fiscal year 
2001. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the 
bill and provides for 1 hour of general debate to be equally divided 
between the chairman and the ranking minority member of the Committee 
on Appropriations. The rule further provides that amendments printed in 
the Committee on Rules report accompanying this resolution shall be 
considered as adopted.
  In addition, the rule waives clause 2 of rule XXI prohibiting 
unauthorized or legislative provisions in an appropriations bill 
against provisions in the bill, as amended, except as otherwise 
specified in the rule. Additionally, the rule authorizes the Chair to 
accord priority in recognition to Members who have preprinted their 
amendments in the Congressional Record. The rule also allows the 
Chairman of the Committee of the Whole to postpone votes during 
consideration of the bill and to reduce votes to 5 minutes on a 
postponed question if the vote follows a 15-minute vote. Finally, the 
rule provides one motion to recommit, with or without instructions.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4475 continues the Republican Congress' focus on 
safety for all modes of transportation. Whether cross-town or cross-
country, by car, train or plane, ensuring the safety and efficiency of 
our transportation networks is one of the Federal Government's highest 
responsibilities. The underlying bill is the product of the Committee 
on Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation's extensive hearings 
and careful consideration of each section of the Department of 
Transportation and related agencies.
  The bill seeks to improve and enhance the safety and capacity of the 
aviation system and highway and rail networks. It makes runway 
prevention systems and devices eligible for airport improvement funds 
and directs the FAA to grant such requests for discretionary funding 
the highest priority.
  Additionally, the bill provides nearly $700 million for airline 
regulation and certification activities, an increase of over $28 
million from the fiscal year 2000 enacted levels. The bill also 
includes $28 million to address effects of hazardous weather on 
aviation, an increase of over 44 percent. To further advances made to 
aircraft safety technology, the bill includes an increase of over $14 
million from fiscal year 2000 levels.

                              {time}  0915

  Additionally, the bill provides a $72 million increase for motor 
carrier safety grants, consistent with truck safety reforms enacted as 
part of the Motor Carrier Safety Act of 1999, and increases investment 
to critical highway safety research and development of smart vehicle 
technologies.
  The bill meets the funding obligations for the highway and aviation 
accounts as prescribed by the recent TEA-21 and AIR-21 reauthorization 
bills. These programs are critical to improvements and modernization of 
our roadways and our airways, providing desperately needed funds across 
the Nation.

[[Page H3417]]

  Additionally, I am pleased that the underlying bill makes available 
$2 million in continuing appropriations for the Rochester Genesee 
Regional Transportation Authority bus terminal project. This type of 
project reinforces our commitment to safe and adequate public 
transportation.
  Mr. Speaker, safety should remain the Federal Government's highest 
responsibility in the transportation area, and, clearly, this bill 
addresses those needs and concerns.
  In conclusion, I would like to commend the gentleman from Florida 
(Mr. Young), chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, and the 
gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey), the ranking member, for bringing 
this measure before the House today.
  I would also like to commend the chairman of the Subcommittee on 
Transportation, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf), and the ranking 
member, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Sabo), for their hard work 
and leadership on this measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this completely fair and 
open rule and the underlying measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Reynolds) for yielding me the time. This is an open rule. It will allow 
for the bill that makes appropriations for the Department of 
Transportation and related agencies.
  As my colleague from New York has explained, this rule provides for 
one hour of general debate, to be equally divided and controlled by the 
chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on 
Appropriations. Under this rule, amendments will be allowed under the 
5-minute rule, which is the normal amending process in the House. All 
Members on both sides of the aisle will have their chance, their 
opportunity, to offer amendments which are germane and which follow the 
rules for appropriation bills.
  This bill funds construction of highways and airport facilities and 
transit systems. It supports Amtrak, Federal rail programs, the air 
traffic control system, and transportation safety and research for all 
modes.
  It is no exaggeration to say that the transportation appropriation 
bill keeps the country moving. I am very pleased with the generous 
amounts of funding for public transit provided in this bill. This 
demonstrates the commitment of the Federal Government to provide 
transportation options for all Americans, including those in the urban 
core.
  I am also pleased with the bill's support for the Centennial of 
Flight Commission. This is a national commission assisting the 
country's celebration of the centennial of the Wright Brothers' first 
flight, an anniversary which will take place in the year 2003.
  I want to commend the chairman of the subcommittee, the gentleman 
from Virginia (Mr. Wolf) and ranking minority member, the gentleman 
from Minnesota (Mr. Sabo), for their work in crafting this bill and 
bringing it to the floor. The bill was approved by the Committee on 
Appropriations by a voice vote and it has support on both sides of the 
aisle.
  Finally, I draw to the attention of my colleagues that this is the 
last transportation appropriation bill under the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Wolf) as chairman of the Subcommittee on Transportation 
of the Committee on Appropriations. The gentleman will be stepping down 
from the position in the next Congress. He has been an outstanding 
chairman, who led his committee in a bipartisan fashion. During his 
tenure, he has successfully guided it through dramatic changes in our 
Federal transportation laws. The gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf) has 
balanced his role as chairman of the subcommittee with his other roles 
as a protector of his Virginia constituents and as fighter for 
humanitarian rights around the world. It is a difficult balancing act, 
but he has carried it off with grace and ability.
  Mr. Speaker, this rule is an open rule, and it was adopted by a voice 
vote of the Committee on Rules. I support the rule and the bill. I urge 
its adoption.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, I 
yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on 
the resolution.
  The previous question was ordered.
  The resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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