[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 131 (Tuesday, September 23, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11858-S11859]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. McCAIN (for himself and Mr. Hollings):
  S. 1646. A bill to provide a 5-month extension of highway safety 
programs funded out of the Highway Trust Fund pending enactment of a 
law reauthorizing the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century; 
to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, today, I am joined by Senator Hollings in 
introducing legislation to provide a short-term extension of the safety 
programs administered by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
Administration (FMCSA), the National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration (NHTSA), and the boating safety program administered by 
the Coast Guard. It is our expectation that this measure will be joined 
with broader legislation to extend the highway and transit programs for 
five months.
  I take pride in the fact that the Senate Commerce Committee completed 
work last June on a 6-year reauthorization of the safety programs under 
its jurisdiction. The bipartisan bill is designed to meet the level of 
commitment to safety needed to achieve aggressive goals for reducing 
accidents and fatalities on the nation's roadways. This short-term 
extension is consistent with our Committee's longer-term 
reauthorization proposal. It is also consistent with the President's 
budget request for fiscal year 2004 and with the appropriations bill 
for fiscal year 2004 that has been reported by the Senate 
Appropriations Committee.
  We look forward to working with our colleagues to approve the 
extension to ensure the continuity of these important safety programs.
  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. 1646

       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 ``Transportation Safety 
     Program Extension Act of 2003''.

     SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY PROGRAM.

       (a) Administrative Expenses.--There shall be available from 
     the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account) 
     for the Secretary of Transportation for administration of 
     motor carrier safety programs, motor carrier safety research, 
     and border enforcement activities, including the border 
     enforcement program authorized under section 350 of the 
     Department of Transportation and Related Agencies 
     Appropriations Act, 2002, $119,125,000 for the period 
     beginning on October 1, 2003, and ending on February 29, 
     2004, to carry out the functions and operations of the 
     Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration of which 
     $19,583,000 shall be available for the construction of State 
     border safety inspection facilities at the border between the 
     United States and Mexico and at the border between the United 
     States and Canada and of which $4,583,000 shall be used for 
     regulatory development.
       (b) Motor Carrier Safety Account.--Funds made available 
     under subsection (a) shall be administered in the account 
     established in the Treasury entitled ``Motor Carrier Safety 
     69-8055-0-7-401''.
       (c) Maintenance of Expenditures.--The Secretary of 
     Transportation may make a grant under section 31107 of title 
     49, United States Code, to a State from funds made available 
     under subsection (a) only if the State agrees that the total 
     expenditure of amounts of the State and political 
     subdivisions of the State, exclusive of United States 
     Government amounts, will be maintained at a level at least 
     equal to the average level of that expenditure by the State 
     and political subdivisions of the State for the last 2 fiscal 
     years before October 1, 2003.
       (d) Contract Authority.--Funds made available under 
     subsection (a) shall be available for obligation in the same 
     manner as if such funds were apportioned under chapter 1 of 
     title 23, United States Code.

     SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

       (a) Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program.--Section 
     31104(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:
       ``(7) Not more than $77,125,000 for the period beginning on 
     October 1, 2003, and ending on February 29, 2004.''.
       (b) Information Systems.--Section 31107(a) of title 49, 
     United States Code, is amended--
       (1) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon in paragraph 
     (2);
       (2) by striking ``2002.'' in paragraph (3) and inserting 
     ``2002;'';

[[Page S11859]]

       (3) by striking ``2003.'' in paragraph (4) and inserting 
     ``2003; and''; and
       (4) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(5) $8,333,000 for the period beginning on October 1, 
     2003, and ending on February 29, 2004.''
       (c) Maintenance of Expenditures.--The Secretary of 
     Transportation may make a grant to a State from funds made 
     available under section 31104(a)(7) of title 49, United 
     States Code, only if the State agrees that the total 
     expenditure of amounts of the State and political 
     subdivisions of the State, exclusive of United States 
     Government amounts, will be maintained at a level at least 
     equal to the average level of that expenditure by the State 
     and political subdivisions of the State for the last 2 fiscal 
     years before October 1, 2003.

     SEC. 4. EXTENSION OF HIGHWAY SAFETY PROGRAMS.

       (a) Chapter 4 Highway Safety Programs.--Section 2009(a)(1) 
     of the Transportation Equity Act of the 21st Century (112 
     Stat. 337) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``and''; and
       (2) by striking ``2003.'' and inserting ``2003, and 
     $68,640,000 for the period beginning on October 1, 2003, and 
     ending on February 29, 2004.''.
       (b) Highway Safety Research and Development.--Section 
     2009(a)(2) of that Act (112 Stat. 337) is amended by striking 
     ``2003.'' and inserting ``2003, and $29,952,000 for the 
     period beginning on October 1, 2003, and ending on February 
     29, 2004.''.
       (c) Occupant Protection Incentive Grants.--Section 
     2009(a)(3) of that Act (112 Stat. 337) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``and''; and
       (2) by striking ``2003.'' and inserting ``2003, and 
     $8,320,000 for the period beginning on October 1, 2003, and 
     ending on February 29, 2004.''.
       (d) Incentive Grants for Alcohol-impaired Driving Counter-
     measures.--
       (1) Extension of program.--Section 410 of title 23, United 
     States Code, is amended--
       (A) by striking ``6'' in subsection (a)(3) and inserting 
     ``7''; and
       (B) by striking ``fifth and sixth'' in subsection (a)(4)(C) 
     and inserting ``fifth, sixth, and seventh''.
       (2) Authorization of appropriations.--Section 2009(a)(4) of 
     the Transportation Equity Act of the 21st Century (112 Stat. 
     337) is amended--
       (A) by striking ``and'' the last place it appears; and
       (B) by striking ``2003.'' and inserting ``2003, and 
     $16,640,000 for the period beginning on October 1, 2003, and 
     ending on February 29, 2004.''.
       (e) National Driver Register.--Section 2009(a)(6) of that 
     Act (112 Stat. 338) is amended by striking ``2003.'' and 
     inserting ``2003, and $1,498,000 for the period beginning on 
     October 1, 2003, and ending on February 29, 2004.''.
       (f) Allocations.--Section 2009(b) of that Act (112 Stat. 
     338) is amended by striking ``2003,'' each place it appears 
     and inserting ``2004,''.
       (g) Applicability of Title 23.--Section 2009(c) of that Act 
     (112 Stat. 338) is amended by striking ``2003'' and inserting 
     ``2004''.

     SEC. 5. EXTENSION OF SPORT FISHING AND BOATING SAFETY 
                   PROGRAM.

       Section 13106 of title 46, United States Code, is amended 
     by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:
       ``(c) Boating Safety Funds.--
       ``(1) In general.--Of the amount transferred to the 
     Secretary of Homeland Security under paragraph (4) of section 
     4(b) of the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act (16 
     U.S.C. 777c(b)), $2,083,333 is available to the Secretary for 
     payment of expenses of the Coast Guard for personnel and 
     activities directly related to coordinating and carrying out 
     the national recreational boating safety program under this 
     title, of which $833,333 shall be available to the Secretary 
     only to ensure compliance with chapter 43 of this title.
       ``(2) Use of funds.--No funds available to the Secretary of 
     Homeland Security under this sub-section may be used--
       ``(A) to replace funding traditionally provided through 
     general appropriations; or
       ``(B) for any purposes except a purpose authorized by this 
     section.
       ``(3) Availability of funds.--Amounts made available by 
     this subsection shall remain available until expended.
       ``(4) Accounting.--The Secretary shall publish annually in 
     the Federal Register a detailed accounting of the projects, 
     programs, and activities funded under this subsection.''.

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