[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.
____________________