[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 93 (Friday, June 29, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S7203]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire:
  S. 1150. A bill to waive tolls on the Interstate System during peak 
holiday travel periods; to the Committee on Environment and Public 
Works.
  Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the 
Interstate Highway System Toll-Free Holiday Act.
  As we move into this Fourth of July holiday to celebrate our nation's 
225th birthday, many will do so in true American fashion by loading up 
the kids and the dog in the family car and heading out for a fun 
holiday vacation. Unfortunately, many of those family trips will 
quickly turn into frustration. Just as you get on the road and begin 
that family outing, you are greeted by a screeching halt, faced with 
what seems to be an endless line that is not moving. Soon, the kids 
will grow restless and angry. You've just reached the end of the line 
of the first toll booth and the delay and frustration begins. Of 
course, when you do finally make it to the booth, they take your money. 
Every holiday, no exception. I want to help make those holiday driving 
vacations more enjoyable by removing that toll booth frustration. My 
legislation will provide the much deserved relief from all of that 
holiday grief.
  The Interstate Highway System Toll-Free Holiday Act provides that no 
tolls will be collected and no vehicles will be stopped at toll booths 
on the Interstate System during peak holiday travel periods. The exact 
duration of the toll waivers will be left to the States to determine, 
but will include, at a minimum, the entire 24 hour period of each legal 
Federal holiday. The bill will also authorize the Secretary of 
Transportation to reimburse the State, at the State's request, for lost 
toll revenues out of the Highway Trust Fund, which is funded by the tax 
that we all pay when we purchase gas for our cars. I want to keep the 
State highway funds whole, and, at the same time, provide relief to all 
those who simply want a hassle-free holiday trip.
  There are currently some 2,200 miles of toll facilities on the 42,800 
mile Interstate System. On peak holiday travel days, traffic increases 
up to 50 percent over a typical weekday. In New Hampshire last year, 
the I-95 Hampton toll booth had a 10 percent average increase in 
traffic over the four-day Fourth of July weekend compared to the 
previous weekend. That is equivalent to an additional 8,000 vehicles 
passing through this one toll booth every day. That increase in volume 
at the toll sites is not only an inconvenience in time and money, but 
also adds to safety concerns and, because vehicle emissions are higher 
when idling, air quality suffers. I am pleased that this bill will 
alleviate the headaches and problems associated with increased toll 
booth traffic on holidays.
  This is just one of what will be a series of bills that I will be 
introducing, as the Ranking Member of the Environment and Public Works 
Committee, to address transportation needs in New Hampshire and across 
the Nation, as we prepare for the reauthorization of the next major 
comprehensive highway bill in 2003.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1150

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Interstate Highway System 
     Toll-Free Holiday Act''.

     SEC. 2. WAIVER OF TOLLS ON THE INTERSTATE SYSTEM DURING PEAK 
                   HOLIDAY TRAVEL PERIODS.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section, the terms ``Interstate 
     System'', ``public authority'', ``Secretary'', ``State'', and 
     ``State transportation department'' have the meanings given 
     the terms in section 101(a) of title 23, United States Code.
       (b) Waiver.--
       (1) In general.--No tolls shall be collected, and no 
     vehicle shall be required to stop at a toll booth, for any 
     toll highway, bridge, or tunnel on the Interstate System 
     during any peak holiday travel period determined under 
     paragraph (2).
       (2) Peak holiday travel periods.--For the purposes of 
     paragraph (1), the State transportation department or the 
     public authority having jurisdiction over the toll highway, 
     bridge, or tunnel shall determine the number and duration of 
     peak holiday travel periods, which shall include, at a 
     minimum, the 24-hour period of each legal public holiday 
     specified in section 6103(a) of title 5, United States Code.
       (c) Federal Reimbursement.--
       (1) In general.--For each fiscal year, upon request by a 
     State or public authority and approval by the Secretary, the 
     Secretary shall reimburse the State or public authority for 
     the amount of toll revenue not collected by reason of 
     subsection (b).
       (2) Requests for reimbursement.--On or before September 30 
     of a fiscal year, each State or public authority that desires 
     a refund described in paragraph (1) shall submit to the 
     Secretary a request for reimbursement, based on actual 
     traffic data, for the amount of toll revenue not collected by 
     reason of subsection (b) during the fiscal year.
       (3) Use of reimbursed funds.--A request for reimbursement 
     under paragraph (2) shall include a certification by the 
     State or public authority that the amount of the 
     reimbursement will be used only for debt service or for 
     operation and maintenance of the toll facility, including 
     reconstruction, resurfacing, restoration, and rehabilitation.
       (4) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated from the Highway Trust Fund (other than 
     the Mass Transit Account) such sums as are necessary to carry 
     out this subsection.
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