[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 17 (Wednesday, February 11, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H465-H473]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              SURFACE TRANSPORTATION EXTENSION ACT OF 2004

  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 3783) to provide an extension of highway, highway 
safety, motor carrier safety, transit, and other programs funded out of 
the Highway Trust Fund pending enactment of a law reauthorizing the 
Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 3783

       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 ``Surface Transportation 
     Extension Act of 2004''.

     SEC. 2. ADVANCES.

       (a) In General.--Section 2(a) of the Surface Transportation 
     Extension Act of 2003 (23 U.S.C. 104 note; 117 Stat. 1110) is 
     amended by inserting ``and the Surface Transportation 
     Extension Act of 2004'' after ``as amended by this Act''.
       (b) Programmatic Distributions.--
       (1) Administration of funds.--Section 2(b)(3) of such Act 
     (117 Stat. 1110) is amended by striking ``the amendment made 
     under subsection (d)'' and inserting ``section 1101(c) of the 
     Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century''.
       (2) Special rules for minimum guarantee.--Section 2(b)(4) 
     of such Act is amended by striking ``$1,166,666,667'' and 
     inserting $2,100,000,000.
       (3) Extension of off-system bridge setaside.--Section 
     144(g)(3) of title 23, United States Code, is amended by 
     striking ``February 29'' inserting ``June 30''.
       (c) Authorization of Contract Authority.--Section 
     1101(c)(1) of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st 
     Century (117 Stat. 1111) is amended by striking 
     ``$13,483,458,333 for the period of October 1, 2003, through 
     February 29, 2004'' and inserting ``$24,270,225,000 for the 
     period of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004''.
       (d) Limitation on Obligations.--Section 2(e) of the Surface 
     Transportation Extension Act of 2003 (117 Stat. 1111) is 
     amended to read as follows:
       ``(e) Limitation on Obligations.--
       ``(1) Distribution of obligation authority.--Subject to 
     paragraph (2), for the period of October 1, 2003, through 
     June 30, 2004, the Secretary shall distribute the obligation 
     limitation made available for Federal-aid highways and 
     highway safety construction programs under the heading 
     `(LIMITATION ON OBLIGATIONS)' under the heading `FEDERAL-AID 
     HIGHWAYS' in the Transportation, Treasury, and Independent 
     Agencies Appropriations Act, 2004 (division F of Public Law 
     108-199) in accordance with section 110 of such Act; except 
     that the amount of obligation limitation to be distributed 
     for such period for each program, project, and activity 
     specified in sections 110(a)(1), 110(a)(2), 110(a)(4), 
     110(a)(5), and 110(g) of such Act shall equal the greater 
     of--
       ``(A) the funding authorized for such program, project, or 
     activity in this Act and the Surface Transportation Extension 
     Act of 2004 (including any amendments made by this Act and 
     such Act); or
       ``(B) \9/12\ of the funding provided for or limitation set 
     on such program, project, or activity in the Transportation, 
     Treasury, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2004.
       ``(2) Limitation on total amount of authority 
     distributed.--The total amount of obligation limitation 
     distributed under paragraph (1) for the period of October 1, 
     2003, through June 30, 2004, shall not exceed 
     $25,232,250,000; except that this limitation shall not apply 
     to $479,000,000 in obligations for minimum guarantee for such 
     period.
       ``(3) Time period for obligations of funds.--A State shall 
     not obligate after June 30, 2004, any funds for any Federal-
     aid highway program project made available by this Act and 
     the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2004 (including 
     any amendments made by this Act and such Act), until the date 
     of enactment of a law reauthorizing the Federal-aid highway 
     program.
       ``(4) Treatment of obligations.--Any obligation of 
     obligation authority distributed under this subsection shall 
     be considered to be an obligation for Federal-aid highways 
     and highway safety construction programs for fiscal year 2004 
     for the purposes of the matter under the heading `(LIMITATION 
     ON OBLIGATIONS)' under the heading `FEDERAL-AID HIGHWAYS' in 
     the Transportation, Treasury, and Independent Agencies 
     Appropriations Act, 2004.''.

     SEC. 3. TRANSFERS OF UNOBLIGATED APPORTIONMENTS.

       Section 3 of the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 
     2003 (117 Stat. 1112-1113) is amended by adding at the end 
     the following:
       ``(e) Prohibition of Transfers.--Notwithstanding any other 
     provision of this section, no funds may be transferred after 
     February 29, 2004, by a State under subsection (a)--
       ``(1) from amounts apportioned to the State for the 
     congestion mitigation and air quality improvement program; 
     and
       ``(2) from amounts apportioned to the State for the surface 
     transportation program and that are subject to any of 
     paragraphs (1), (2), and (3)(A)(i) of section 133(d) of title 
     23, United States Code.''.

     SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.

       Section 4(a) of the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 
     2003 (117 Stat. 1113) is amended by striking ``$187,500,000'' 
     and inserting ``$337,500,000''.

     SEC. 5. OTHER FEDERAL-AID HIGHWAY PROGRAMS.

       (a) Authorization of Appropriations Under Title I of 
     TEA21.--
       (1) Federal lands highways.--
       (A) Indian reservation roads.--Section 1101(a)(8)(A) of the 
     Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (112 Stat. 
     112; 117 Stat. 1113) is amended--
       (i) in the first sentence by striking ``$114,583,333 for 
     the period of October 1, 2003, through February 29, 2004'' 
     and inserting ``$206,250,000 for the period of October 1, 
     2003, through June 30, 2004''; and
       (ii) in the second sentence by striking ``$5,416,667'' and 
     inserting ``$9,750,000''.
       (B) Public lands highways.--Section 1101(a)(8)(B) of such 
     Act (112 Stat. 112; 117 Stat. 1113) is amended by striking 
     ``$102,500,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, through 
     February 29, 2004'' and inserting ``$184,500,000 for the 
     period of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004''.
       (C) Park roads and parkways.--Section 1101(a)(8)(C) of such 
     Act (112 Stat. 112; 117 Stat. 1113) is amended by striking 
     ``$68,750,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, through 
     February 29, 2004'' and inserting ``$123,750,000 for the 
     period of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004'' .
       (D) Refuge roads.--Section 1101(a)(8)(D) of such Act (112 
     Stat. 112; 117 Stat. 1113) is amended by striking 
     ``$8,333,333 for the period of October 1, 2003, through 
     February 29, 2004'' and inserting ``$15,000,000 for the 
     period of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004''.
       (2) National corridor planning and development and 
     coordinated border infrastructure programs.--Section 
     1101(a)(9) of such Act (112 Stat. 112; 117 Stat. 1114) is 
     amended by striking ``$58,333,333 for the period of October 
     1, 2003, through February 29, 2004'' and inserting 
     ``$105,000,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, through 
     June 30, 2004''.
       (3) Construction of ferry boats and ferry terminal 
     facilities.--
       (A) In general.--Section 1101(a)(10) of such Act (112 Stat. 
     113; 117 Stat. 1114) is amended by striking ``$15,833,333 for 
     the period of October 1, 2003, through February 29, 2004'' 
     and inserting ``$28,500,000 for the period of October 1, 
     2003, through June 30, 2004''.
       (B) Set aside for alaska, new jersey, and washington.--
     Section 5(a)(3)(B) of the Surface Transportation Extension 
     Act of 2003 (117 Stat. 1114) is amended--
       (i) in clause (i) by striking ``$4,166,667'' and inserting 
     ``$7,500,000'';
       (ii) in clause (ii) by striking ``$2,083,333'' and 
     inserting ``$3,750,000''; and
       (iii) in clause (iii) by striking ``$2,083,333'' and 
     inserting ``$3,750,000''.
       (4) National scenic byways program.--Section 1101(a)(11) of 
     the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (112 Stat. 
     113; 117 Stat. 1114) is amended by striking ``$11,458,333 for 
     the period of October 1, 2003, through February 29, 2004'' 
     and inserting ``$20,625,000 for the period of October 1, 
     2003, through June 30, 2004'' .
       (5) Value pricing pilot program.--Section 1101(a)(12) of 
     such Act (112 Stat. 113; 117 Stat. 1114) is amended by 
     striking ``$4,583,333 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through February 29, 2004'' and inserting ``$8,250,000 for 
     the period of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004''.

[[Page H466]]

       (6) Highway use tax evasion projects.--Section 1101(a)(14) 
     of such Act (112 Stat. 113; 117 Stat. 1114) is amended by 
     striking ``$2,083,333 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through February 29, 2004'' and inserting ``$3,750,000 for 
     the period of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004''.
       (7) Commonwealth of puerto rico highway program.--Section 
     1101(a)(15) of such Act (112 Stat. 113; 117 Stat. 1114) is 
     amended by striking ``$45,833,333 for the period of October 
     1, 2003, through February 29, 2004'' and inserting 
     ``$82,500,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, through June 
     30, 2004''.
       (8) Safety grants.--Section 1212(i)(1)(D) of such Act (23 
     U.S.C. 402 note; 112 Stat. 196; 112 Stat. 840; 117 Stat. 
     1114) is amended by striking ``$208,333 for the period of 
     October 1, 2003, through February 29, 2004'' and inserting 
     ``$375,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, through June 
     30, 2004''.
       (9) Transportation and community and system preservation 
     pilot program.--Section 1221(e)(1) of such Act (23 U.S.C. 101 
     note; 112 Stat. 223; 117 Stat. 1114) is amended by striking 
     ``$10,416,667 for the period of October 1, 2003, through 
     February 29, 2004'' and inserting ``$18,750,000 for the 
     period of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004''.
       (10) Transportation infrastructure finance and 
     innovation.--Section 188 of title 23, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (A) by striking subsection (a)(1)(F) and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(F) $105,000,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through June 30, 2004.'';
       (B) in subsection (a)(2) by striking ``$833,333 for the 
     period of October 1, 2003, through February 29, 2004'' and 
     inserting ``$1,500,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through June 30, 2004''; and
       (C) in the item relating to fiscal year 2004 in table 
     contained in subsection (c) by striking ``$1,083,333,333'' 
     and inserting ``$1,950,000,000''.
       (b) Authorization of Appropriations Under Title V of 
     TEA21.--
       (1) Surface transportation research.--Section 5001(a)(1) of 
     the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (112 Stat. 
     419; 117 Stat. 1115) is amended by striking ``$43,750,000 for 
     the period of October 1, 2003, through February 29, 2004'' 
     and inserting ``$78,750,000 for the period of October 1, 
     2003, through June 30, 2004''.
       (2) Technology deployment program.--Section 5001(a)(2) of 
     such Act (112 Stat. 419; 117 Stat. 1115) is amended by 
     striking ``$22,916,667 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through February 29, 2004'' and inserting ``$41,250,000 for 
     the period of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004''.
       (3) Training and education.--Section 5001(a)(3) of such Act 
     (112 Stat. 420; 117 Stat. 1115) is amended by striking 
     ``$8,750,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, through 
     February 29, 2004'' and inserting ``$15,750,000 for the 
     period of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004''.
       (4) Bureau of transportation statistics.--Section 
     5001(a)(4) of such Act (112 Stat. 420; 117 Stat. 1115) is 
     amended by striking ``$12,916,667 for the period of October 
     1, 2003, through February 29, 2004'' and inserting 
     ``$23,250,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, through June 
     30, 2004''.
       (5) ITS standards, research, operational tests, and 
     development.--Section 5001(a)(5) of such Act (112 Stat. 420; 
     117 Stat. 1115) is amended by striking ``$47,916,667 for the 
     period of October 1, 2003, through February 29, 2004'' and 
     inserting ``$86,250,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through June 30, 2004''.
       (6) ITS deployment.--Section 5001(a)(6) of such Act (112 
     Stat. 420; 117 Stat. 1116) is amended by striking 
     ``$51,666,667 for the period of October 1, 2003, through 
     February 29, 2004'' and inserting ``$93,000,000 for the 
     period of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004''.
       (7) University transportation research.--Section 5001(a)(7) 
     of such Act (112 Stat. 420; 117 Stat. 1116) is amended by 
     striking ``$11,250,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through February 29, 2004'' and inserting ``$20,250,000 for 
     the period of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004''.
       (c) Metropolitan Planning.--Section 5(c)(1) of the Surface 
     Transportation Extension Act of 2003 (117 Stat. 1116) is 
     amended by striking ``$100,000,000 for the period of October 
     1, 2003, through February 29, 2004'' and inserting 
     ``$180,000,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, through 
     June 30, 2004''.
       (d) Territories.--Section 1101(d)(1) of the Transportation 
     Equity Act for the 21st Century (117 Stat. 1116) is amended 
     by striking ``$15,166,667 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through February 29, 2004'' and inserting ``$27,300,000 for 
     the period of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004''.
       (e) Alaska Highway.--Section 1101(e)(1) of such Act (117 
     Stat. 1116) is amended by striking ``$7,833,333 for the 
     period of October 1, 2003, through February 29, 2004'' and 
     inserting ``$14,100,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through June 30, 2004''.
       (f) Operation Lifesaver.--Section 1101(f)(1) of such Act 
     (117 Stat. 1117) is amended by striking ``$208,333 for the 
     period of October 1, 2003, through February 29, 2004'' and 
     inserting ``$375,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through June 30, 2004''.
       (g) Bridge Discretionary.--Section 1101(g)(1) of such Act 
     (117 Stat. 1117) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``$41,666,667'' and inserting 
     ``$75,000,000''; and
       (2) by striking ``February 29'' and inserting ``June 30''.
       (h) Interstate Maintenance.--Section 1101(h)(1) of such Act 
     (117 Stat. 1117) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``$41,666,667'' and inserting 
     ``$75,000,000''; and
       (2) by striking ``February 29'' and inserting ``June 30''.
       (i) Recreational Trails Administrative Costs.--Section 
     1101(i)(1) of such Act (117 Stat. 1117) is amended by 
     striking ``$312,500 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through February 29, 2004'' and inserting ``$562,500 for the 
     period of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004''.
       (j) Railway-Highway Crossing Hazard Elimination in High 
     Speed Rail Corridors.--Section 1101(j)(1) of such Act (117 
     Stat. 1118) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``$2,187,500'' and inserting 
     ``$3,937,500'';
       (2) by striking ``$104,167'' and inserting ``$187,500''; 
     and
       (3) by striking ``February 29'' each place it appears and 
     inserting ``June 30''.
       (k) Nondiscrimination.--Section 1101(k) of such Act (117 
     Stat. 1118) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1) by striking ``$4,166,667 for the 
     period of October 1, 2003, through February 29, 2004'' and 
     inserting ``$7,500,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through June 30, 2004''; and
       (2) in paragraph (2) by striking ``$4,166,667 for the 
     period of October 1, 2003, through February 29, 2004'' and 
     inserting ``$7,500,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through June 30, 2004''.
       (l) Administration of Funds.--Section 5(l) of the Surface 
     Transportation Extension Act of 2003 (117 Stat. 1118) is 
     amended--
       (1) by inserting ``and section 5 of the Surface 
     Transportation Extension Act of 2004'' after ``this section'' 
     the first place it appears; and
       (2) by inserting ``or the amendment made by section 5(a)(1) 
     of such Act'' before the period at the end.
       (m) Reduction of Allocated Programs.--Section 5(m) of such 
     Act (117 Stat. 1119) is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``and section 5 of the Surface 
     Transportation Extension Act of 2004'' after ``but for this 
     section'';
       (2) by striking ``both'';
       (3) by striking ``and by this section'' and inserting ``, 
     by this section, and by section 5 of such Act''; and
       (4) by inserting ``and by section 5 of such Act'' before 
     the period at the end.
       (n) Program Category Reconciliation.--Section 5(n) of such 
     Act (117 Stat. 1119) is amended by inserting ``and section 5 
     of the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2004'' after 
     ``this section''.

     SEC. 6. EXTENSION OF HIGHWAY SAFETY PROGRAMS.

       (a) Chapter 1 Highway Safety Programs.--
       (1) Seat belt safety incentive grants.--Section 157(g)(1) 
     of title 23, United States Code, is amended by striking 
     ``$46,666,667 for the period of October 1, 2003, through 
     February 29, 2004'' and inserting ``$84,000,000 for the 
     period of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004''.
       (2) Prevention of intoxicated driver incentive grants.--
     Section 163(e)(1) of such title is amended by striking 
     ``$50,000,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, through 
     February 29, 2004'' and inserting ``$90,000,000 for the 
     period of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004''.
       (b) Chapter 4 Highway Safety Programs.--Section 2009(a)(1) 
     of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (112 
     Stat. 337; 117 Stat. 1119) is amended by striking ``, and 
     $68,750,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, through 
     February 29, 2004'' and inserting ``, and $123,019,875 for 
     the period of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004''.
       (c) Highway Safety Research and Development.--Section 
     2009(a)(2) of such Act (112 Stat. 337; 117 Stat. 1119) is 
     amended by striking ``$30,000,000 for the period of October 
     1, 2003, through February 29, 2004'' and inserting 
     ``$53,681,400 for the period of October 1, 2003, through June 
     30, 2004''.
       (d) Occupant Protection Incentive Grants.--Section 
     2009(a)(3) of such Act (112 Stat. 337; 117 Stat. 1120) is 
     amended by striking ``$8,333,333 for the period of October 1, 
     2003, through February 29, 2004'' and inserting ``$14,911,500 
     for the period of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004''.
       (e) Alcohol-Impaired Driving Countermeasures Incentive 
     Grants.--Section 2009(a)(4) of such Act (112 Stat. 337; 117 
     Stat. 1120) is amended by striking ``$16,666,667 for the 
     period of October 1, 2003, through February 29, 2004'' and 
     inserting ``$29,823,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through June 30, 2004''.
       (f) National Driver Register.--Section 2009(a)(6) of such 
     Act (112 Stat. 338; 117 Stat. 1120) is amended by striking 
     ``$833,333 for the period of October 1, 2003, through 
     February 29, 2004'' and inserting ``$2,684,070 for the period 
     of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004''.

     SEC. 7. EXTENSION OF MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY PROGRAM.

       (a) Administrative Expenses.--Section 7(a)(1) of the 
     Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2003 (117 Stat. 1120) 
     is amended by striking ``$71,487,500 for the period of 
     October 1, 2003, through February 29, 2004'' and inserting 
     ``$131,811,967 for the period October 1, 2003 through June 
     30, 2004''.
       (b) Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program.--Section 
     31104(a)(7) of title 49, United States Code, is amended to 
     read as follows:
       ``(7) Not more than $126,519,126 for the period of October 
     1, 2003, through June 30, 2004.''.

[[Page H467]]

       (c) Information Systems and Commercial Driver's License 
     Grants.--
       (1) Authorization of appropriation.--Section 31107(a)(5) of 
     such title is amended to read as follows:
       ``(5) $14,972,678 for the period of October 1, 2003 through 
     June 30, 2004.''.
       (2) Emergency cdl grants.--Section 7(c) of the Surface 
     Transportation Extension Act of 2003 (117 Stat. 1121) is 
     amended--
       (A) by striking ``February 29,'' and inserting ``June 
     30,''; and
       (B) by striking ``$416,667'' and inserting ``$748,634''.
       (d) Crash Causation Study.--Section 7(d) of such Act is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking ``$416,667'' and inserting ``$748,634''; 
     and
       (2) by striking ``February 29'' and inserting ``June 30''.

     SEC. 8. EXTENSION OF FEDERAL TRANSIT PROGRAMS.

       (a) Allocating Amounts.--Section 5309(m) of title 49, 
     United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1) by striking ``February 29'' and 
     inserting ``June 30'';
       (2) in paragraph (2)(B)(iii)--
       (A) by striking ``february 29'' in the clause heading and 
     inserting ``june 30'';
       (B) by striking ``$4,333,333'' and inserting 
     ``$7,753,980'';
       (C) by striking ``February 29'' and inserting ``June 30'';
       (3) in paragraph (3)(B) by striking ``(and $1,250,000 shall 
     be available for the period October 1, 2003, through February 
     29, 2004)'' and inserting ``(and $2,236,725 shall be 
     available for the period October 1, 2003, through June 30, 
     2004)''; and
       (4) in paragraph (3)(C) by striking ``(and $20,833,334 
     shall be available for the period October 1, 2003, through 
     February 29, 2004)'' and inserting ``(and $37,278,750 shall 
     be available for the period October 1, 2003, through June 30, 
     2004)''.
       (b) Apportionment of Appropriations for Fixed Guideway 
     Modernization.--The heading for paragraph (1) of section 8(b) 
     of the Surface Transportation Extension of 2003 (117 Stat. 
     1121) is amended by striking ``february 29'' and inserting 
     ``june 30''.
       (c) Formula Grants Authorizations.--Section 5338(a) of 
     title 49, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in the heading to paragraph (2) by striking ``february 
     29'' and inserting ``june 30''; and
       (2) in paragraph (2)(A) by striking clause (vi) and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(vi) $2,289,809,940 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through June 30, 2004.'';
       (3) in paragraph (2)(B) by striking clause (vi) and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(vi) $572,452,485 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through June 30, 2004.''; and
       (4) in paragraph (2)(C) by striking ``February 29'' and 
     inserting ``June 30''.
       (d) Allocation of Formula Grant Funds for October 1, 2003, 
     Through June 30, 2004.--Section 8(d) of the Surface 
     Transportation Extension of 2003 (117 Stat. 1122) is 
     amended--
       (1) in the subsection heading by striking ``February 29'' 
     and inserting ``June 30'';
       (2) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by striking 
     ``February 29'' and inserting ``June 30'';
       (3) in paragraph (1) by striking ``$2,020,813'' and 
     inserting ``$3,616,001'';
       (4) in paragraph (1) by striking ``$20,833,334'' and 
     inserting ``$37,278,750''.
       (e) Capital Program Authorizations.--Section 5338(b) of 
     title 49, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in the heading to paragraph (2) by striking ``february 
     29'' and inserting ``june 30'';
       (2) in paragraph (2)(A) by striking clause (vi) and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(vi) $1,871,393,250 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through June 30, 2004.''; and
       (3) in paragraph (2)(B) by striking clause (vi) and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(vi) $467,848,313 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through June 30, 2004.''.
       (f) Planning Authorizations and Allocations.--Section 
     5338(c) of such title is amended--
       (1) in the heading to paragraph (2) by striking ``february 
     29'' and inserting ``june 30'';
       (2) in paragraph (2)(A) by striking clause (vi) and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(vi) $43,690,695 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through June 30, 2004.''; and
       (3) in paragraph (2)(B) by striking clause (vi) and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(vi) $10,736,280 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through June 30, 2004.''.
       (g) Research Authorizations.--Section 5338(d) of such title 
     is amended--
       (1) in the heading to paragraph (2) by striking ``february 
     29'' and inserting ``june 30'';
       (2) in paragraph (2)(A) by striking clause (vi) and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(vi) $31,463,265 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through June 30, 2004.'';
       (3) in paragraph (2)(B) by striking clause (vi) and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(vi) $8,052,210 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through June 30, 2004.''; and
       (4) in paragraph (2)(C) by striking ``February 29'' and 
     inserting ``June 30''.
       (h) Allocation of Research Funds for October 1, 2003, 
     Through February 29, 2004.--Section 8(h) of the Surface 
     Transportation Extension Act of 2003 (117 Stat. 1123)--
       (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by striking 
     ``February 29'' and inserting ``June 30'';
       (2) in paragraph (1) by striking ``$2,187,500'' and 
     inserting ``$3,914,269'';
       (3) in paragraph (2) by striking ``$3,437,500'' and 
     inserting ``$6,150,994'';
       (4) in paragraph (3)--
       (A) by striking ``$1,666,667'' and inserting 
     ``$2,982,300''; and
       (B) by striking ``$416,667'' and inserting ``$745,575''.
       (i) University Transportation Research Authorizations.--
     Section 5338(e) of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in the heading to paragraph (2) by striking ``february 
     29'' and inserting ``june 30'';
       (2) in paragraph (2)(A) by striking ``$2,020,833 for the 
     period of October 1, 2003, through February 29, 2004'' and 
     inserting ``$3,578,760 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through June 30, 2004''; and
       (3) in paragraph (2)(B) by striking ``$505,833 for the 
     period of October 1, 2003, through February 29, 2004'' and 
     inserting ``$894,690 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through June 30, 2004'' ; and
       (4) in each of clauses (i) and (iii) of paragraph (2)(C) by 
     striking ``February 29'' and inserting ``June 30''.
       (j) Allocation of University Transportation Research 
     Funds.--
       (1) In general.--Section 8(j)(1) of the Surface 
     Transportation Extension Act of 2003 (117 Stat. 1124) is 
     amended--
       (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) by striking 
     ``February 29'' and inserting ``June 30'';
       (B) in subparagraph (A) by striking ``$833,333'' and 
     inserting ``$1,491,150''; and
       (C) in subparagraph (B) by striking ``$833,333'' and 
     inserting ``1,491,150''.
       (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 3015(d)(2) of the 
     Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (112 Stat. 
     857) is amended by striking ``February 29'' and inserting 
     ``June 30''.
       (k) Administration Authorizations.--Section 5338(f) of 
     title 49, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in the heading to paragraph (2) by striking ``february 
     29'' and inserting ``june 30'';
       (2) in paragraph (2)(A) by striking clause (vi) and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(vi) $45,032,730 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through June 30, 2004.''; and
       (3) in paragraph (2)(B) by striking clause (vi) and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(vi) $11,258,183 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through June 30, 2004.''.
       (l) Job Access and Reverse Commute Program.--Section 
     3037(l) of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century 
     (49 U.S.C. 5309 note; 112 Stat. 391-392; 117 Stat. 1124) is 
     amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1)(A) by striking clause (vi) and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(vi) $74,557,500 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through June 30, 2004.'';
       (2) in paragraph (1)(B) by striking clause (vi) and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(vi) $18,639,375 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through June 30, 2004.''; and
       (3) in paragraph (2) by striking ``February 29, 2004, 
     $4,166,667'' and inserting ``June 30, 2004, $7,455,750 shall 
     be used for such projects''.
       (m) Rural Transportation Accessibility Incentive Program.--
     Section 3038(g) of such Act (49 U.S.C. 5310 note; 112 Stat. 
     393; 117 Stat. 1125) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1) by striking subparagraph (F) and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(F) $3,914,269 for the period of October 1, 2003, through 
     June 30, 2004.''; and
       (2) in paragraph (2) by striking ``(and $708,333 shall be 
     available for the period of October 1, 2003, through February 
     29, 2004)'' and inserting ``(and $1,267,478 shall be 
     available for the period of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 
     2004)''.
       (n) Urbanized Area Formula Grants.--Section 5307(b) of 
     title 49, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in the heading to paragraph (2) by striking ``february 
     29'' and inserting ``june 30''; and
       (2) in paragraph (2)(A) by striking ``February 29'' and 
     inserting ``June 30''.
       (o) Obligation Ceiling.--Section 3040(6) of the 
     Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (112 Stat. 
     394; 117 Stat. 1125) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(6) $5,449,407,675 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through June 30, 2004.''.
       (p) Fuel Cell Bus and Bus Facilities Program.--Section 
     3015(b) of such Act (112 Stat. 361; 117 Stat. 1125) is 
     amended by striking ``February 29, 2004, $2,020,833)'' and 
     inserting ``June 30, 2004, $3,616,039)''.
       (q) Advanced Technology Pilot Project.--Section 3015(c)(2) 
     of such Act (49 U.S.C. 322 note; 112 Stat. 361; 117 Stat. 
     1125) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``February 29'' and inserting ``June 30''; 
     and
       (2) by striking ``and $2,083,333'' and inserting ``and 
     $3,727,875 ''.
       (r) Projects for New Fixed Guideway Systems and Extensions 
     to Existing Systems.--Subsections (a), (b), and (c)(1) of 
     section 3030 of such Act (112 Stat. 373-381; 117 Stat. 1125) 
     are each amended by striking ``February 29'' and inserting 
     ``June 30''.
       (s) New Jersey Urban Core Project.--Subparagraphs (A), (B), 
     and (C) of section 3031(a)(3) of the Intermodal Surface 
     Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (105 Stat. 2122; 112 
     Stat. 379) are each amended by striking ``February 29'' and 
     inserting ``June 30''.
       (t) Treatment of Funds.--Section 8(t) of the Surface 
     Transportation Extension Act of 2003 (23 U.S.C. 101 note; 117 
     Stat. 1126) is amended by inserting ``and by section 8 of the 
     Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2004'' before ``shall 
     be treated''.
       (u) Local Share.--Section 3011(a) of the Transportation 
     Equity Act for the 21st Century (112 Stat. 357) is amended by 
     inserting

[[Page H468]]

     ``and for the period of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 
     2004'' after ``2003''.

     SEC. 9. SPORT FISHING AND BOATING SAFETY.

       (a) Funding for National Outreach and Communications 
     Program.--Section 4(c)(6)of the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish 
     Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 777c(c)(6)) is amended to read as 
     follows:
       ``(6) $7,500,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, through 
     June 30, 2004;''.
       (b) Clean Vessel Act Funding.--Section 4(b)(4) of such Act 
     (16 U.S.C. 777c(b)(4)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(4) First 9 months of fiscal year 2004.--For the period 
     of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004, of the balance of 
     each annual appropriation remaining after making the 
     distribution under subsection (a), an amount equal to 
     $61,500,000 , reduced by 82 percent of the amount 
     appropriated for that fiscal year from the Boat Safety 
     Account of the Aquatic Resources Trust Fund established by 
     section 9504 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to carry 
     out the purposes of section 13106(a) of title 46, United 
     States Code, shall be used as follows:
       ``(A) $7,500,000 shall be available to the Secretary of the 
     Interior for 3 fiscal years for obligation for qualified 
     projects under section 5604(c) of the Clean Vessel Act of 
     1992 (33 U.S.C. 1322 note).
       ``(B) $6,000,000 shall be available to the Secretary of the 
     Interior for 3 fiscal years for obligation for qualified 
     projects under section 7404(d) of the Sportfishing and 
     Boating Safety Act of 1998 (16 U.S.C. 777g-1(d)).
       ``(C) The balance remaining after the application of 
     subparagraphs (A) and (B) shall be transferred to the 
     Secretary of Transportation and shall be expended for State 
     recreational boating safety programs under section 13106 of 
     title 46, United States Code.''.
       (c) Boat Safety Funds.--Section 13106(c) of title 46, 
     United States Code, is amended--
       (1) by striking ``$2,083,333'' and inserting 
     ``$3,750,000''; and
       (2) by striking ``$833,333'' and inserting ``$1,500,000''.

     SEC. 10. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF TRUST FUNDS 
                   FOR OBLIGATIONS UNDER TEA-21.

       (a) Highway Trust Fund.--
       (1) In general.--Paragraph (1) of section 9503(c) of the 
     Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended--
       (A) in the matter before subparagraph (A), by striking 
     ``March 1, 2004'' and inserting ``July 1, 2004'',
       (B) by striking ``or'' at the end of subparagraph (E),
       (C) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (F) 
     and inserting ``, or'',
       (D) by inserting after subparagraph (F), the following new 
     subparagraph:
       ``(G) authorized to be paid out of the Highway Trust Fund 
     under the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2004.'', 
     and
       (E) in the matter after subparagraph (G), as added by this 
     paragraph, by striking ``Surface Transportation Extension Act 
     of 2003'' and inserting ``Surface Transportation Extension 
     Act of 2004''.
       (2) Mass transit account.--Paragraph (3) of section 9503(e) 
     of such Code is amended--
       (A) in the matter before subparagraph (A), by striking 
     ``March 1, 2004'' and inserting ``July 1, 2004'',
       (B) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``or'' at the end of 
     such subparagraph,
       (C) in subparagraph (D), by inserting ``or'' at the end of 
     such subparagraph,
       (D) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following new 
     subparagraph:
       ``(E) the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2004,'', 
     and
       (E) in the matter after subparagraph (E), as added by this 
     paragraph, by striking ``Surface Transportation Extension Act 
     of 2003'' and inserting ``Surface Transportation Extension 
     Act of 2004''.
       (3) Exception to limitation on transfers.--Subparagraph (B) 
     of section 9503(b)(5) of such Code is amended by striking 
     ``March 1, 2004'' and inserting ``July 1, 2004''.
       (b) Aquatic Resources Trust Fund.--
       (1) Sport fish restoration account.--Paragraph (2) of 
     section 9504(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is 
     amended by striking ``Surface Transportation Extension Act of 
     2003'' each place it appears and inserting ``Surface 
     Transportation Extension Act of 2004''.
       (2) Boat safety account.--Subsection (c) of section 9504 of 
     such Code is amended--
       (A) by striking ``March 1, 2004'' and inserting ``July 1, 
     2004'', and
       (B) by striking ``Surface Transportation Extension Act of 
     2003'' and inserting ``Surface Transportation Extension Act 
     of 2004''.
       (3) Exception to limitation on transfers.--Paragraph (2) of 
     section 9504(d) of such Code is amended by striking ``March 
     1, 2004'' and inserting ``July 1, 2004''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (d) Temporary Rule Regarding Adjustments.--During the 
     period beginning on the date of the enactment of the Surface 
     Transportation Extension Act of 2003 and ending on June 30, 
     2004, for purposes of making any estimate under section 
     9503(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 of receipts of 
     the Highway Trust Fund, the Secretary of the Treasury shall 
     treat--
       (1) each expiring provision of paragraphs (1) through (4) 
     of section 9503(b) of such Code which is related to 
     appropriations or transfers to such Fund to have been 
     extended through the end of the 24-month period referred to 
     in section 9503(d)(1)(B) of such Code, and
       (2) with respect to each tax imposed under the sections 
     referred to in section 9503(b)(1) of such Code, the rate of 
     such tax during the 24-month period referred to in section 
     9503(d)(1)(B) of such Code to be the same as the rate of such 
     tax as in effect on the date of the enactment of the Surface 
     Transportation Extension Act of 2003.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Alaska (Mr. Young) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young).
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mr. YOUNG of Alaska asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3783, the legislation now 
under consideration by the House, will continue for an additional 4 
months the highway construction, highway safety, transit, motor 
carrier, and surface transportation research programs. These programs 
will be continued under current-law program structure and conditions.
  This bill is necessary in order to give the House Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure and our colleagues in the Senate time 
to complete a multi-year surface transportation bill.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3783 provides for over $31 billion in new funding 
authority, which reflects 9 months' work or nine-twelfths of the budget 
authority and associated outlays in the year 2004 budget resolution 
that Congress passed last year.
  As my colleagues may know, Mr. Speaker, I have introduced H.R. 3550 
with the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), the Transportation 
Equity Act: A Legacy For Users, or TEA-LU. TEA-LU will begin to meet 
the needs and begin to improve our aging and deteriorating 
transportation infrastructure.
  TEA-LU will address and resolve the funding inequity issue between 
the donor and donee States, create new jobs, and stimulate the economy. 
Unfortunately, the overall funding for transportation has not been 
resolved entirely; and, therefore, we must pass this 4-month extension.
  Even though TEA-LU has been introduced, there are many issues 
remaining for this House to resolve. As I mentioned earlier, 
identifying the appropriate resources to support funding levels over 
the next 6 years is the primary challenge. If TEA-LU is reduced to the 
level of the Senate bill, many worthy projects and programs will be 
reduced or quite possibly eliminated from the bill.
  In the interim, this 4-month extension is a must-pass bill. If we do 
not pass this bill and send it to the President before February 29, 
four Department of Transportation agencies will close their doors and 
furlough their employees: the Federal Highway Administration, the 
Federal Transit Administration, National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration, and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
  If we do not pass this extension, new highway projects will be 
shelved, States will not be reimbursed the Federal share of the 
projects, safety grants will not be provided to the States, transit 
construction will be halted, and Federal enforcement of our motor 
carrier safety regulations on the highways and at the borders will 
suffer.
  It is crucial that H.R. 3783 be passed by both the House and the 
Senate and delivered to the Senate before February 29. Our economy 
cannot withstand the shutdown of the national surface transportation 
programs.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3783, the Surface 
Transportation Extension Act of 2004.
  This bill would extend surface transportation funding for an 
additional 4 months, from March 2004 through June 2004. TEA-21 expired 
on September 30, 2003. Current funds are flowing because we passed a 5-
month extension last year. The Surface Transportation Extension Act of 
2003 extended our highway and transit programs through February 29. 
That is only a short 2 weeks away. That is why we need to once again 
pass another extension to avoid

[[Page H469]]

disruption of Federal surface transportation programs. If we do not 
pass an extension by February 29, current law would essentially cut off 
highway and transit funding as of March 1. That would result in 
devastating impacts to every single State in the Union.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3783 would extend the current programs and 
authorize a total of $32 billion in continued funding through June 
2004. This bill would authorize $26.4 billion for highway programs, 
$5.4 billion for transit programs, and $499 million for motor carrier 
safety and highway safety programs. We need to pass this bill because 
it will keep our Nation moving.

                              {time}  1515

  However, I believe the real debate today is not just about the need 
for this extension, because we all know we need to pass it and sign it 
into law. The real debate today is about the need to pass a multi-year 
authorization bill at a robust funding level that will adequately 
address our surface transportation needs. The real debate today is why 
the administration is shortsighted and shortchanging the great American 
middle class.
  Last year, the administration's $247 billion SAFETEA proposal was too 
little too late. Even with the revised funding level of $256 billion, 
it is still too little and too late. Most recent figures showed the 
U.S. unemployment rate is at 5.6 percent. Millions of Americans are 
still unemployed. They are struggling to put food on their kitchen 
tables. With our sluggish national economy and millions of Americans 
out of work, we need something much more than the administration's 
SAFETEA proposal.
  What this Nation needs is a robust public works funding package, and 
SAFETEA just is not it. What we need is H.R. 3550, the Transportation 
Equity Act, A Legacy for Users. Under the leadership of the gentleman 
from Alaska (Mr. Young), the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri), and 
the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), this proposal on the House 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure would authorize $375 
billion over 6 years.
  Some have criticized that our proposed surface transportation funding 
will bust the budget and worsen the Federal deficit. Let us be clear 
about this, nothing could be further from the truth.
  Ronald Wilson Reagan knew that fact. In 1982, he said that the 
highway program will not increase the Federal deficit because the 
Highway Trust Fund is off budget and because it is funded through user 
fees. It is a pay-as-you-go system that is deficit neutral.
  In addition, I believe, just as Ronald Wilson Reagan believed when he 
asked Congress to raise the highway user fee by five cents, that 
highway user fees are simply good tax policy.
  Let us pass the extension now because we need to do it. But, most 
importantly, let us pass a robust multi-year transportation funding 
bill because we ought to do it. Just as George Herbert Walker Bush said 
when he signed ISTEA into law back in December of 1991, this bill 
really is about one thing. It is all about jobs, jobs, jobs.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume 
to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri), the chairman of the 
Subcommittee on Highways, Transit and Pipelines of the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure.
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the bill H.R. 3783, the 
Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2004.
  Although a lot of work has been done on the reauthorization bill, 
there are challenges remaining, including identifying the needed 
resources to support funding levels over the next 6 years and 
addressing the concerns of donor States who want to get a better return 
on their contribution to the Highway Trust Fund.
  This short-term extension is a must-pass bill and so, frankly, is the 
six-year reauthorization at some point. This is not, as some try to 
characterize it, pork. This is needed investment in our Nation's 
productive infrastructure.
  If we fail to invest in our Nation's productive infrastructure, we 
will become less competitive as an economy, we will have a less 
productive economy, higher prices in the stores, less safe driving on 
our highways. It is estimated that one out of three deaths on our 
highways, some 40,000 a year, could be prevented if we had well-
maintained, well-designed, modern transportation infrastructure.
  This is an investment which, if we fail to make, we are going to pay 
anyway. The fact is we are not going to save any money by 
underinvesting in our transportation infrastructure as a country. We 
will pay in terms of blowing gas out of people's tailpipes, in terms of 
delay, in terms of inefficiencies in our economy or we can invest and 
have something to show for it: a first-rate transportation system 
linking our country together, making us competitive as an economy.
  Today, we worry a lot in America about the growing economic 
competition we face from across the Pacific in China. Let me tell you 
what China is doing. They are taking a leaf out of our book. Back 60 
years ago, Dwight Eisenhower, who knew something about war and about 
competitiveness and about our country, he stood back, put a cap as best 
he could on defense spending and pulled the lid full speed ahead on 
investing in our productive domestic transportation infrastructure. We 
built the interstate highway system.
  What did the Soviet Union do? No roads to speak of. They relied on 
their railroads. Forty years later, who had the better investment 
strategy? We had something to save for. We were more competitive as a 
country, and they collapsed.
  What is happening today in the world? We are talking and debating 
about whether we are going to maintain our commitment to a first-rate 
infrastructure, grow it to accommodate growth in our economy, grow it 
to accommodate on the public sector side the tremendous investment the 
private sector has made in communication and computer technology, to 
manage data, which at the end of the day squeeze inventory out of the 
system, go to just-in-time delivery, wonderful things that make us much 
more productive. But if the goods cannot be moved efficiently, none of 
that pays off the way it otherwise can.
  What is China planning to do today? They are planning over the next 
15 years to replicate our interstate transportation system, four-lane 
highways linking that continent. They are planning on doing in 15 years 
what it took us 60 years to do. If we fail to meet this challenge, 
where will we be? What will we have to show for all this supposed 
savings that we make as a country by underinvesting in our 
infrastructure? We will leave our children and our grandchildren 
disarmed in the face of that challenge.
  So I ask my colleagues to put aside the rhetoric, recognize that 
there are different kinds of spending in this world. Everyone says 
their spending is investment. This is real investment. You have got 
something to show for it. We will leave a legacy to our children and 
our grandchildren that we can be proud of and that they can benefit 
from. This is must-pass legislation, and we are going to have to pay 
for it if we are going to want to get something for it.
  I urge my colleagues to support the passage of the continuing 
resolution before us today. It is vitally important that this bill be 
passed by both the House and the Senate and delivered to the President 
before February 29. Our economy cannot withstand the shutdown of the 
national surface transportation programs, and it cannot withstand a 
kind of gnawing away and erosion of our commitment in this area 
otherwise, either. If we do that, we will regret it in years to come.
  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I want to compliment the gentleman from 
Wisconsin (Mr. Petri) on those excellent remarks of his.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from the District 
of Columbia (Ms. Norton).
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Lipinski) for yielding me time.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the three gentlemen who have preceded me 
in speaking, because what they have done is herculean. They have worked 
together in a bipartisan manner to try to get a bill for this House. I 
thought they were being wonderfully ambitious to try to get it this 
month; and I think

[[Page H470]]

this House should be very grateful to them because they are having to 
contend with something that is very, very difficult.
  There are three different figures here, Mr. Speaker. Our committee 
wants $375 billion, the Senate has come forward with $318 billion, and 
the administration has come forward with $256 billion. And these three 
gentlemen are trying to find some way to thread this needle and get us 
all through it. I want to thank them for it.
  I do want to say that you would think that this was taxpayers' money. 
When you think about these different figures, the average person would 
not believe that this money is in trust to be spent on exactly what we 
are here on the floor getting an extension for, on mass transportation, 
on roads, on infrastructure. What we have got is a seminal decision 
waiting for us.
  The best case for going full way with the House bill, of course, is 
the failure of the recovery to generate any jobs. We cannot go on this 
way without having to pay a price for it.
  The difference in the figures bothers me. The gentleman from the 
other body, Mr. Inhofe, has indicated that if the full figure that our 
committee wants is not forthcoming, and I am here using his words, 
cutting the costs would cause more problems than it would solve because 
the committee's allocation of funds among the States would be in 
jeopardy.
  This money does not go flinging all around. It goes to States 
desperately in need of it now, particularly given the huge funding 
problems the States are having across the board. He is talking about a 
figure that is less than our figure of $318 million, that the problem 
would go to the formula itself. So everybody would look to get a lot 
less money than they need if we cannot agree upon a formula that in 
fact uses the trust fund for what people paid at the pump to have it 
used for.
  We would not be in this situation if we had passed the $50 billion 
bill where we came forward last year with $50 billion paid for bill, 
ready to go, projects in every Members' districts ready to go, sitting 
on the table, cannot go for lack of funds. That bill never made it to 
the floor. What jobs are flowing are flowing only anemically, left over 
from the old transportation bills.
  I do not have any doubt that this bill will pass. I have come to the 
floor to speak about the bill that the gentlemen have been working on, 
a bill we must have, a bill that is adequately funded, a bill that will 
use the Highway Trust Fund for the purposes we have collected those 
funds for.
  We must go forward, not backwards. If you need a reason besides the 
state of your own economy and your own State, think about drugs, think 
about jobs and the failure of our economy to recover.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman 
from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette).
  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of our committee 
for yielding me time.
  I support this extension; and I recognize that, by supporting this 
extension, by the time this extension expires under the able leadership 
of the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), the ranking member, the 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar) and the gentleman from Illinois 
(Mr. Lipinski) and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri), we will 
have a bill produced in the House that will be worthy of our support.
  There is a great American in Cleveland, Ohio, today speaking in 
support of the highway bill. It is the Secretary of the Department of 
Transportation, the former chairman of our committee, Norm Mineta, who 
I have nothing but respect for.
  The problem is, he is supporting the wrong bill. He is supporting a 
bill that proposes to spend over 6 years about $258 billion that does 
not come close to meeting the needs of America's infrastructure.
  The chairman and I were in our Republican conference today, and the 
transportation bill was the subject of some discussion. I have to tell 
you that if you are looking, not to be partisan, but if you are looking 
for Republican principles when it comes to highway spending, you can go 
to Abraham Lincoln, you can go to Dwight Eisenhower, you can go to 
Richard Nixon, you can go to Ronald Reagan, you can go to George H.W. 
Bush. All of those presidents recognized that you need to have a strong 
infrastructure in this country, you need to have a strong 
infrastructure bill, that the return on infrastructure spending is 
about six to one back to the government, produces hundreds of 
thousands, millions of jobs over the six-year life of the bill; and 
this President should have a bill, too.
  I hope that those who are sort of trying to do transportation on the 
cheap and maybe have the ear of the President at the moment recognize 
that if you want to draw a line in the sand on spending, this is the 
wrong beach to draw that line on. If we are going to stay competitive 
with our folks around the world in Asia and in Europe, we need to make 
this serious investment in our Nation's infrastructure.
  I just had, at the invitation of the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. 
Young), the opportunity to be in Iraq. There is some discussion in this 
Chamber about whether or not we should have approved $18 billion for 
the reconstruction of Iraq. I happen to think it was money well spent. 
But I will say that if we can spend money building roads in Baghdad, 
and Tikrit and Um Qasr, we should be able to spend money in this 
country building roads in Anchorage and up in Duluth and in Portland 
and in Chicago and in Washington, D.C., and in Cleveland, Ohio.
  So I hope that when this bill comes to the floor it is closer to the 
$375 billion than it is the $258 billion that our good friend and 
former chairman, Secretary Mineta, is talking about in Cleveland, Ohio, 
today.
  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), the ranking member of the full 
committee.

                              {time}  1530

  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding the 
time and for his excellent management of the bill and the splendid work 
the gentleman from Illinois has invested over these many months on the 
bill, and our chairman of the full committee, the gentleman from 
Alaska, who has spearheaded the drive for the right policy for America. 
The gentleman from Ohio said a moment ago this is an investment in 
America; it is an investment in jobs at home.
  The gentleman from Wisconsin talked about China's investment in 
highways. That is just a pittance of what China is investing: $200 
billion to double the capacity of their existing waterway ports; $100 
billion to modernize their airports, build six new airports, modernize 
35 existing airports, build regional airports, to move goods and people 
more efficiently and effectively and to compete in the globalized 
marketplace.
  Japan, 10 years ago, launched a $1 trillion infrastructure investment 
program to upgrade the Shinkansen high-speed rail that carries 256 
million passengers a year at speeds of nearly 200 miles an hour; 
upgrade their ports; build a new airport in the ocean as they have 
already done, extend that; and improve their existing international 
airport in Tokyo. Why are they doing that? Because they want to compete 
in the global marketplace more effectively, more efficiently; and every 
investment they make is a disadvantage to us if we do not keep up, if 
we do not make our infrastructure investments at home to keep America 
productive.
  Time is running out. I said that 7 years ago. I was on this floor 
saying time is running out on us. We need to extend this bill, but we 
need to pass this bill. This was then BESTEA in 1997, and we did, we 
extended; but we did get a bill passed.
  So last fall we were here for the expiration of TEA-21; and I said in 
this well on this floor, I am afraid we will be back here on this floor 
once again pleading for another extension of time to keep 
transportation programs from once again expiring. I do not want to be 
back on this floor saying again what I said 6 years ago, time is 
running out, end of quote; but here we are, once again, not because we 
cannot get a bill accomplished in this committee.
  I want it said on the record. We have had a very, how shall I say, 
competitive negotiation in committee, competing ideas, competing 
thoughts, competing policies; but we have worked them out. We have the 
major policy

[[Page H471]]

issues agreed upon largely, a few things yet to be done; and we will 
get those done in the historic bipartisan spirit of this committee and 
practice of this committee.
  What we cannot get done is the funding side. We cannot do that alone. 
We need the executive branch to participate with us. We need the 
Committee on Ways and Means to participate, and they will if they are 
released. Free the Committee on Ways and Means. Let them go ahead. I 
think the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas) will agree with us 
that we need a robust bill.
  What we cannot have is a reverse option. We started off with $375 
billion. Do I hear $350 billion? Do I hear 325? Do I hear 318? Do I 
hear 311? Do I hear 300? Auctions are supposed to go the other way. We 
are going in the wrong way, not for lack of effort by our chairman, by 
members of the committee on both sides.
  The gentleman from Alaska (Chairman Young) has stuck his neck out and 
said it time and again. He has led the way. He has told the White House 
what we need to do. He has told his Republican conference what we need 
to do. He has told every user group in America what we need to do. He 
sent us out on the road as missionaries advocating for a robust bill; 
and nowhere that I have been, nowhere the gentleman from Wisconsin 
(Chairman Petri) has been, nowhere that the gentleman from Illinois 
(Ranking Member Lipinski) has been, nowhere the gentleman from Alaska 
(Chairman Young) has been has anyone said we should not do five cents 
for America.
  This investment in the highway trust fund is the best investment 
America makes. We have an anti-deficiency provision in the highway 
trust fund law that says you cannot run a deficit and never have in the 
nearly 50 years of the highway trust fund, never have, never will; and 
the users of the system understand that. That is why they are willing 
to pay the five cents.
  Yesterday, OPEC announced that they are going to cut back on 
production of oil to drive the price of fuel up so that they can 
continue to generate profits in the face of an eroding American dollar. 
We are going to sit here and let them do that and say, oh, we cannot 
burden the American public with five cents? Thirty-six dollars per 
capita in America to get a better highway system, to get a better 
investment in transit.
  If we were to pass this bill at $375 billion now and the President 
sign it into law in the next 2 months, we would have 475,000 people in 
the construction trades working in America by Labor Day, $60 billion of 
economic activity, putting America back to work. How can that be wrong? 
How can that be partisan? It is the best investment we can make in 
America. Get this country moving again, create the jobs. We did it 
under TEA-21, created 1.3 million jobs in construction trades. No one 
was sitting on the benches of America. Today we have 800,000 
construction workers out of a job and can put half of them to work in 
the next four months if we pass our bill, our committee bill, and leave 
a legacy for the chairman, leave a legacy for America. That is what we 
have got to do, do the right thing for America, not sit around here and 
fritter away our future and be subject to globalization.
  We have seen textiles move offshore. We have seen leather goods move 
offshore. We have seen steel production move offshore. We now even have 
call centers moving offshore. We are bringing people from India into 
universities, community colleges in Indiana, Ohio, Iowa to train them 
with speech therapists in a Midwest accent so they can go back to India 
and run call centers. That is actually happening.
  Well, one thing they cannot build in China is the Alameda Corridor. 
They cannot build CREATE in Tokyo for Illinois, for Chicago. They 
cannot build Anchorage roadways in Taiwan. You build them in America. 
You create those jobs in America, right here. This is an American 
program. This is an investment for the future of this country. Why are 
we quibbling around with five cents? Get over it.
  We could have 200 Democrats voting for that bill if we could get it 
on the House floor, and how can that be a liability for the President 
if we all stand together and do the right thing for America?
  Right now, we are going to kick the can down the road a little bit 
and hope the people come to their senses, do the $375 billion bill so 
we do not have to be here another 3 months saying, well, sorry, we 
could not do it, folks; sorry, America, we could not put you back to 
work; sorry, we cannot do the right thing for this country, we will 
wait till next year.
  Well, if that is what it comes to, we will wait till next year; but I 
want to do the right thing, want to do it now. We are going to join in 
partnership to get there. We have got to make the right investments. We 
have got to do the right thing. For the time being, the right thing is 
to pass this extension.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I want to thank my good friend from Minnesota on his eloquent 
presentation. I want to thank the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri), 
the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski), and the committee members 
and the staffs who have worked so hard on this legislation and the 
parent legislation.
  There is not much I can add to what the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. 
Oberstar) has said. Everybody knows where I am standing on this 
legislation; and by the way, the number 375 is not an artificial 
number. It is the number that came from the administration, what is 
needed to improve and maintain the existing highway system, when the 
interstate highway system becomes 50 years old, or will be 50 years old 
3 years from now; and that is an old system.
  This is the legislation that can solve the economic woes of this 
country, not just because of jobs but because transportation provides 
the resources for the prescription drugs, for Medicare, for education, 
for Social Security. All those things thrive on our economy, and our 
economy cannot provide the basis for those systems without 
transportation.
  Truck traffic alone will increase 90 percent over what it is now in 
the next 15 years. Car traffic, the mileage being used will increase a 
huge amount over the next 15 years. The most expensive thing we can do 
today is not the five cents, not the two cents, not even using the 
funds out of the general fund for the trust fund, but to do nothing. To 
do nothing is the most expensive cost to the American people. The most 
expensive cost to the American people is to do nothing.
  I can assure my good friends that I am working and my colleagues are 
working, and we are going to try to achieve the goal we seek; but I 
will not support a bill that goes so far below the needs. My 
administration is wrong in this, and I have told them that. I think 
most of my colleagues have read my letter to the President. They are 
dead wrong. Because if we do not do this, the legacy we leave behind 
will, in fact, I think be a legacy of incompetency.
  I do not want to wear that label. The gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. 
Oberstar) and myself and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski) and 
the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri) and the staffs and everybody, 
we are trying to do something that is right for this great Nation, a 
legacy for users, a need, jobs for America. That is the parent bill, 
H.R. 3550; and I hope we continue this discussion but reach a solution 
in the very near future.
  The legislation we are addressing today is mandatory because if we do 
not do it, not only will the agency be shut down, but the States will 
not issue contracts for the upcoming building session; and so I urge 
full support for this legislation.
  I will ask for a vote. I want my colleagues all to know that, because 
I think it is important we are on the record of where we stand as a 
body about building for the future of our great Nation in 
transportation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, could the Chair inform me how much time I 
have left.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Isakson). The gentleman from Illinois 
(Mr. Lipinski) has 4 minutes remaining. The gentleman from Alaska (Mr. 
Young) has 7\1/2\ minutes remaining.
  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer).
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to join with my colleagues

[[Page H472]]

today on what is the most important economic, environmental, and public 
safety issue that we will be facing.
  I for one was a little bit startled when we had the President refer 
to this transportation bill as an entitlement program. With all due 
respect, this is not an entitlement, except to the point that I think, 
as referenced by our committee chair, the American public is entitled 
to have infrastructure investment.
  I find it striking that we can have conservative icons like Grover 
Norquist, Paul Weyrich, we have the Chamber of Commerce, along with 
environmentalists, with unions, with development interests, with 
Realtors, all coming together with one of the broadest coalitions we 
have seen. All understand that this transportation funding is a user 
fee. To keep pace with inflation is an important national goal that was 
endorsed by no less a conservative icon than President Reagan. We are 
attempting to move forward in this fashion. It does not have to be this 
hard.
  I would hope that our membership across the aisles will support our 
leadership on this committee who have taken a principled and strong 
stand to fund needs, as the gentleman from Alaska (Chairman Young) 
mentioned, that were identified by a study from the administration 
itself. It is not a hard sell to the American public. Eighty percent of 
the public feels that our highway and transit network are important to 
our economy. Sixty-nine percent of the public support increasing our 
Federal transportation investment, even if it means raising the gas 
tax.
  TEA-21 has provided money for roads, for bridges, for virtually every 
metropolitan area. It has helped with air quality. It has helped with 
transportation enhancements, transit freight movement, bicycles. 
Communities large and small have used all of these provisions. Now is 
the time for all of us to step forward.
  I am sorry we are not debating the 6-year reauthorization, but I hope 
that we will be using the next 4 months to actually do our job of 
legislating and passing a bipartisan bill that funds these needs, 
balances transportation, places a premium on environmental protection, 
and maintains local flexibility and control of decisionmaking.

                              {time}  1545

  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute 25 seconds to the 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings).
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Surface 
Transportation Extension Act of 2004. Although we have made progress on 
the full reauthorization bill, we still have miles to go before we 
finish. However, I believe passing the full reauthorization as close as 
possible to the $375 billion figure supported by many Members of this 
body will be one of our most significant accomplishments of this 
Congress.
  The challenges we are working to meet through passage of this bill 
are very significant to the people of our Nation, especially during 
these difficult economic times. These challenges are central to the 
lives of working families like those in my district as well as those 
around the country.
  Transportation is about more than concrete, asphalt and steel. It is 
about people and about providing them with the opportunity to lead 
safer, healthier and more fulfilling lives.
  The much-needed investment in our steadily deteriorating 
infrastructure would provide a proverbial shot in the arm for the 
economy, while helping to improve America's prosperity and quality of 
life. Our country's economic strength, our ability to improve 
productivity, and our capacity to create jobs are all dependent upon 
expanded investment in transportation infrastructure. The 6-year 
reauthorization will have a lasting impact on all three of these areas.
  This extension will provide funding for 4 months. In those 4 months, 
we have a lot of work to do. I hope the Bush administration will see 
the wisdom of passing a full 6-year reauthorization at a number far 
above the proposed $256 billion figure. So far, they have missed the 
mark.
  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 35 seconds to the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).
  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise 
and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the 
temporary extension of the Transportation legislation for $375 billion 
and to say that these types of transportation projects actually create 
jobs.
  However, I go on record to say several things.
  First, this is an engine that makes a difference for the 21st 
century. I hope we can work with local communities and our local 
agencies, like the Texas Department of Transportation to insure that 
they do more to enlist the input of citizens to make sure these 
projects are neighborhood friendly and supported.
  In addition, we really must address the crisis of drunk driving on 
our freeways. Houston has recently had several deaths due to drunk 
driving. I hope to work with the chairman and the ranking member and 
the ranking member of the subcommittee to ensure that we have safe 
highways and freeways by addressing the question in the final bill. We 
should have full funding and an extension of the surface highway and 
transportation bill because it equates to jobs for America.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this 
bill, H.R. 3783, the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2004. This 
four-month extension of the ``Transportation Equity Act for the 21st 
Century (TEA-21; PL 105-178)'' that was set to expire in 18 days is a 
very important legislative measure to the safety of our highways.
  Under H.R. 3783, $224 million will be awarded for the National 
Highway Traffic Safety Administration for various grant programs. 
Similarly, $255 million will go to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
Administration for grants to enforce safety regulations and inspections 
along the Mexican border.
  If this bill is not extended by February 29, 2004, the consequences 
will be grave for the safety of our motorists as well as for the 
construction workers who await the beginning of contracts of 
employment. This 4-month extension of TEA-21 will preserve the basic 
structure of our Federal surface transportation programs, which have 
proven to be extremely beneficial for our citizens' mobility and our 
national economy over the last 6 years.
  The guaranteed funding, the program structure, and the balanced 
approach to transportation planning found in TEA-21 amount to positive 
growth and increased safety for the country. Transit has experienced 
the highest percentage of ridership growth among all modes of surface 
transportation, growing over 28 percent between 1993 and 2001. 
Therefore, I look forward to this legislation's preservation of the 
structure and programs of TEA-21 for the next 4 months.
  The transportation needs of this Nation are significant, as more and 
more communities find themselves confronting the problems of traffic 
congestion and delay. According to the Texas Transportation Institute, 
in the year 2000, Americans in 75 urban areas spent 3.6 billion hours 
stuck in traffic, with an estimated cost to the Nation of $67.5 billion 
in lost time and wasted fuel. As these figures show, congestion has a 
real economic cost to this Nation, in addition to the psychological and 
social costs of spending hours each day sitting in traffic.
  With respect to highway safety, we need these funds to address the 
horrible problem of drunk driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration grant programs will ensure that new drivers get the 
safety education that is so critical when the risk is so high. In 
Houston during the year 2000, there were a total of 48,025 motor 
vehicle accidents. There were 219 fatal accidents and 243 killed in 
accidents. Also in that year, there were 33,370 accidents that caused 
injuries and 60,105 were injured.

  Furthermore, on January 27, 2004, three fatal accidents occurred in 
Houston.
  First, a pickup truck ran into a parked 18-wheeler when it tried 
ducking into a service land to get ahead of another car. The passenger 
died in the crash and the driver was listed in poor condition.
  Another accident at Jones Road and FM1960 in Houston occurred when a 
man's car jumped the curb, hit a car then rear-ended a big rig. 
Authorities said the driver was speeding when the accident happened 
near the parking lot of a Krogers grocery store.
  Moreover, a 15-year-old Pasadena girl was killed in a drunk driving 
accident. In that instance, police said that the driver of the car she 
was in lost control and flipped over in southeast Houston. The driver 
was arrested for DUI and manslaughter charges are pending.
  Therefore, for reasons related to the safety of our drivers, the 
safety of the narrow roads and to the availability of jobs, among other 
reasons, I urge my colleagues to pass H.R. 3738.

[[Page H473]]

  Mr. Speaker, for the above reasons, I support this legislation, and I 
urge my colleagues to join me.
  Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call on the President and 
House Leadership to come together with Chairman Young and Ranking 
Member Oberstar and complete a robust and comprehensive transportation 
bill that addresses the economic needs of our country. A little less 
than five months ago, I, along with a majority of the House, voted for 
an extension. I did so reluctantly then, and will do so again today. 
But, we cannot continue down this path of short-term extensions.
  Short-term extensions shortchange our economy, leaving state and 
local governments in a difficult situation when planning and assessing 
highway and transit projects. In fact, these short-term extensions 
result in an estimated $2.1 billion in project delays and the loss of 
more than 90,000 jobs. As I said last time, we cannot continue to 
operate the government through continuing resolution. To do so not only 
puts our infrastructure in jeopardy, but the well being of our nation. 
I would hope that those opposing Chairman Young and Ranking Member 
Oberstar's efforts realize that they are hindering our economy at a 
time when we need to get things moving again.
  Mr. Speaker, nearly 3 million private-sector jobs have been lost 
since January 2001. We should be doing everything in our power to help 
get this economy back on track. A good robust transportation policy is 
a good place to start. For every $1 billion invested in federal highway 
and transit spending, 47,000 jobs are created. These are good paying 
jobs. Jobs that provide money to families to put food on the table and 
clothe their children.
  Yet, the President remarked a robust bill is somehow an entitlement 
program. It seems to me that he should take a second look at the bill 
that was proposed and reconsider his position. 1.7 million jobs would 
be a good start in trying to make up for the losses we have experienced 
in the last 3 years.
  In Michigan, a good robust transportation bill would help our state 
begin an economic recovery due to the heavy loss of manufacturing jobs. 
It also would ensure that Michigan receives its fair share of 
transportation dollars. Michigan and other states need action on this 
bill soon. To prolong this process after this extension will have 
undesirable consequences on our economy.
  I support my Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman and Ranking 
Member in their goals for our nation. They understand the investment we 
can put into our great nation through a robust bill. I stand by ready 
to help in any way I can.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, this extension is an important 
piece of legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Isakson). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) that the House suspend 
the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3783.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

                          ____________________