[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 130 (Monday, September 22, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1847]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INSUFFICIENT FUNDING IN THE FY 2004 TRANSPORTATION APPROPRIATIONS BILL

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. NICK J. RAHALL II

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 22, 2003

  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the Fiscal Year 2004 
Transportation appropriations bill.
  I voted for the Transportation appropriations bill because there are 
many worthwhile and appropriate provisions in the bill such as highway 
funding, funding for the Airport Improvement Program, and restored 
funding for the Transportation Enhancements Program. Our economy and 
lifestyles are dependent upon our integrated transportation network, 
and my vote reflects my support for our infrastructure.
  However, I voted for the bill with many misgivings. This bill grossly 
underfunds passenger rail in this country. As a long-time supporter of 
passenger rail in this country, I say that Amtrak has never been given 
adequate support by the U.S. Congress. Instead, it has frequently been 
made a convenient scapegoat for those eager to say that they support 
reducing federal spending, but who do not hesitate to fund other 
transportation modes. For many individuals from my Congressional 
district in Southern West Virginia, and for those in other areas, 
Amtrak serves as the primary source of travel even just for routine 
visits to the doctor's office or the Veterans Administration. Amtrak 
President David Gunn said he needs $1.8 billion in 2004 to continue to 
carry out his reforms, which have been very successful to this point. I 
think we ought to give him the money to do his job.
  Similarly, the bill underfunds the Essential Air Services Program. I 
realize $63 million is no small amount, but it represents a dramatic 
cut to air travel in rural areas. As we recognized at the time of 
deregulation, and as we should recognize right now, we need to ensure 
that rural airports can continue to operate. Small communities in over 
35 states rely on this federal funding for much-needed air service and 
jobs.
  Furthermore, were it not for the efforts of Transportation 
Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member John Olver, my friend Tom 
Petri, who is Chairman of the Highways and Transit Subcommittee to the 
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and several others as well 
as myself, the funding for the Transportation Enhancements program 
would not have been preserved as authorized. When we on the Public 
Works Committee, the precursor to the Transportation and Infrastructure 
Committee, authorized this valuable program with the enactment of the 
Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act in 1991, we heard the 
requests of the American people for a transportation bill that 
reflected lifestyle interests over and above the construction of the 
highways. In addition to a sufficient roads network, the American 
people want opportunities to preserve and visit historic, 
archaeological, cultural, and scenic treasures. As my good friend, Jim 
Oberstar, the respected Ranking Member of the Transportation and 
Infrastructure Committee, can no doubt attest, Americans also want to 
pursue recreational activities such as bike trails as alternatives to 
increasingly sedentary lifestyles.
  Attempting to alter programs through the appropriations process such 
as the Transportation Enhancements, or the National Scenic Byways 
program, encroaches upon the jurisdiction of the Transportation and 
Infrastructure Committee. This raises an additional point of concern. 
Mr. Speaker, the Transportation Equity Act of the 21st Century (TEA-21) 
will expire at the end of this month with no successor bill in place. 
This key surface transportation bill provides authorization and 
appropriations to address measurable needs in our infrastructure, but 
Congress has yet to even embark on a meaningful bill due to unresolved 
funding issues. This leaves the appropriators with no current, updated 
authorization language upon which to rely when crafting the 
transportation appropriations.
  The United States Department of Transportation says we need to 
provide $375 billion in federal funding just to maintain our surface 
transportation system in its current condition, which the American 
Society of Civil Engineers recently described as ``substandard.'' 
Congress should not oppose investment in our infrastructure to ensure 
our future. We know what needs to be done, yet we are being delinquent 
in our responsibility to the American people by not doing it.
  Congress should enact a surface transportation bill as quickly as 
possible.

                          ____________________