[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 122 (Wednesday, September 19, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S9491]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  TREASURY AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2002--Continued


                           Amendment No. 1576

  Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the pending 
amendment be set aside and that I be permitted to send an amendment to 
the desk and have it considered.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from New Mexico [Mr. Bingaman], for himself and 
     Mr. Domenici, proposes an amendment numbered 1576.

  Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of 
the amendment be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment is as follows:

    (Purpose: To authorize State, regional, or local transportation 
 authorities that receive Federal Transit Administration assistance or 
   grants, to purchase heavy-duty transit buses through the General 
                        Services Administration)

       After section 642, insert the following:
       Sec. 643. (a) State, regional, or local transportation 
     authorities that are recipients of Federal Transit 
     Administration assistance or grants may purchase heavy-duty 
     transit buses through the General Service Administration.
       (b) The Administrator of General Services shall notify the 
     appropriate congressional committees if the administrative 
     costs incurred by the General Service Administration in 
     implementing this section are in excess of fees provided to 
     the General Service Administration under provisions of 
     existing contracts for the purchase of heavy-duty transit 
     buses.

  Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, this is an amendment I am offering on 
behalf of myself and Senator Domenici. It authorizes State and local 
transit authorities that receive Federal transit assistance to purchase 
transit buses through the GSA list. That is the General Services 
Administration list.
  Currently only the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority has 
the option to purchase buses through the General Services 
Administration. The amendment would open up that option to other public 
transit agencies around the country that also receive Federal transit 
assistance, as the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority does.
  The General Services Administration currently offers three heavy-duty 
transit buses on its schedule. GSA selected the three as a result of 
competitive solicitations, and the companies had to bid attractive 
terms and prices in order to win those 5-year contracts and get on that 
list for the General Services Administration.
  Allowing other public transit agencies the option to purchase these 
buses from GSA would result in substantial cost and time savings for 
these agencies. This would, of course, be especially valuable to some 
of our smaller communities around the country.
  The new authority is limited only to transit buses and options 
offered by the General Services Administration. So the resulting demand 
will be limited only to transit agencies that want the specific bus 
that GSA offers. This does not require anyone to buy anything. This 
does provide an option that they can use for purchasing if they desire 
to do so.
  However, in the next 12 to 18 months, GSA plans to broaden the 
program to a multiple award schedule with a larger variety of vehicles 
and optional equipment choices, which of course will benefit everyone.
  We understand GSA is concerned that it may not be able today to 
adequately implement this new option. Consequently, the amendment 
directs GSA to notify the committee of jurisdiction if it finds that 
the program is resulting in unanticipated costs or impacts. We try in 
the language to give GSA the opportunity to do that if they determine 
that that is required.
  This is a meritorious amendment. It is one I would very much like to 
see adopted as part of this legislation. I urge my colleagues to 
support it.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there further debate on the amendment?
  If not, the question is on agreeing to amendment No. 1576.
  The amendment (No. 1576) was agreed to.
  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. CARPER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. CARPER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to address the 
Senate for 5 minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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