[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.
____________________