[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 56 (Wednesday, April 28, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H2412-H2419]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SURFACE TRANSPORTATION EXTENSION ACT OF 2004, PART II
Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 4219) 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. 4219
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, Part II''.
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;
118 Stat. 478) is amended by striking ``and the Surface
Transportation Extension Act of 2004'' and inserting ``, the
Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2004, and the Surface
Transportation Extension Act of 2004, Part II''.
(b) Programmatic Distributions.--
(1) Special rules for minimum guarantee.--Section 2(b)(4)
of such Act is amended by striking ``$1,633,333,333'' and
inserting ``$2,100,000,000''.
(2) Extension of off-system bridge setaside.--Section
144(g)(3) of title 23, United States Code, is amended by
striking ``April 30'' inserting ``June 30''.
(c) Authorization of Contract Authority.--Section
1101(c)(1) of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st
Century (117 Stat. 1111; 118 Stat. 478) is amended by
striking ``$18,876,841,666 for the period of October 1, 2003,
through April 30, 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; 118
Stat. 478) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) by striking
``April 30'' and inserting ``June 30'';
(B) in subparagraph (A) by inserting after ``of 2004'' the
following: ``and the Surface Transportation Extension Act of
2004, Part II''; and
(C) in subparagraph (B) by striking ``\7/12\'' and
inserting ``\9/12\'';
(2) in paragraph (2)--
(A) by striking ``April 30'' and inserting ``June 30'';
(B) by striking ``$19,741,750,000'' and inserting
``$25,382,250,000''; and
(C) by striking ``$372,750,000'' and inserting
``$479,250,000''; and
(3) in paragraph (3) by striking ``April 30'' and inserting
``June 30''.
SEC. 3. ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.
Section 4(a) of the Surface Transportation Extension Act of
2003 (117 Stat. 1113; 118 Stat. 479) is amended by striking
``$262,500,000'' and inserting ``$337,500,000''.
SEC. 4. OTHER FEDERAL-AID HIGHWAY PROGRAMS.
(a) Authorization of Appropriations Under Title I of TEA-
21.--
(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; 118 Stat. 479) is amended--
(i) in the first sentence by striking ``$160,416,667 for
the period of October 1, 2003, through April 30, 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 ``$7,583,333'' and
inserting ``$9,750,000''.
(B) Public lands highways.--Section 1101(a)(8)(B) of such
Act (112 Stat. 112; 117 Stat. 1113; 118 Stat. 480) is amended
by striking ``$143,500,000 for the period of October 1, 2003,
through April 30, 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; 118 Stat. 480) is amended
by striking ``$96,250,000 for the period of October 1, 2003,
through April 30, 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; 118 Stat. 480) is amended by
striking ``$11,666,667 for the period of October 1, 2003,
through April 30, 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; 118
Stat. 480) is amended by striking ``$81,666,667 for the
period of October 1, 2003, through April 30, 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; 118 Stat. 480) is amended by striking
``$22,166,667 for the period of October 1, 2003, through
April 30, 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; 118 Stat. 480) is amended--
(i) in clause (i) by striking ``$5,833,333'' and inserting
``$7,500,000'';
(ii) in clause (ii) by striking ``$2,916,667'' and
inserting ``$3,750,000''; and
(iii) in clause (iii) by striking ``$2,916,667'' 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;
[[Page H2413]]
117 Stat. 1114; 118 Stat. 480) is amended by striking
``$16,041,666 for the period of October 1, 2003, through
April 30, 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; 118 Stat. 480) is
amended by striking ``$6,416,667 for the period of October 1,
2003, through April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``$8,250,000 for
the period of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004''.
(6) Highway use tax evasion projects.--Section 1101(a)(14)
of such Act (112 Stat. 113; 117 Stat. 1114; 118 Stat. 480) is
amended by striking ``$2,916,667 for the period of October 1,
2003, through April 30, 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; 118
Stat. 481) is amended by striking ``$64,166,667 for the
period of October 1, 2003, through April 30, 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; 118 Stat. 481) is amended by striking ``$291,667 for
the period of October 1, 2003, through April 30, 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; 118 Stat. 481) is
amended by striking ``$14,583,333 for the period of October
1, 2003, through April 30, 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 ``$1,166,667 for the
period of October 1, 2003, through April 30, 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 the table
contained in subsection (c) by striking ``$1,516,666,667''
and inserting ``$1,950,000,000''.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations Under Title V of TEA-
21.--
(1) Surface transportation research.--Section 5001(a)(1) of
the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (112 Stat.
419; 117 Stat. 1115; 118 Stat. 481) is amended by striking
``$61,250,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, through
April 30, 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; 118 Stat. 481) is
amended by striking ``$32,083,334 for the period of October
1, 2003, through April 30, 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; 118 Stat. 481) is amended by
striking ``$12,250,000 for the period of October 1, 2003,
through April 30, 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; 118
Stat. 481) is amended by striking ``$18,083,333 for the
period of October 1, 2003, through April 30, 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; 118 Stat. 481) is amended by striking
``$67,083,334 for the period of October 1, 2003, through
April 30, 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; 118 Stat. 482) is amended by
striking ``$72,333,334 for the period of October 1, 2003,
through April 30, 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; 118 Stat. 482) is
amended by striking ``$15,750,000 for the period of October
1, 2003, through April 30, 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; 118
Stat. 482) is amended by striking ``$140,000,000 for the
period of October 1, 2003, through April 30, 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; 118 Stat.
482) is amended by striking ``$21,233,333 for the period of
October 1, 2003, through April 30, 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; 118 Stat. 482) is amended by striking
``$10,966,666 for the period of October 1, 2003, through
April 30, 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; 118 Stat. 482) is amended by striking
``$291,667 for the period of October 1, 2003, through April
30, 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; 118 Stat. 482) is amended--
(1) by striking ``$58,333,333'' and inserting
``$75,000,000''; and
(2) by striking ``April 30'' and inserting ``June 30''.
(h) Interstate Maintenance.--Section 1101(h)(1) of such Act
(117 Stat. 1117; 118 Stat. 482) is amended--
(1) by striking ``$58,333,333'' and inserting
``$75,000,000''; and
(2) by striking ``April 30'' and inserting ``June 30''.
(i) Recreational Trails Administrative Costs.--Section
1101(i)(1) of such Act (117 Stat. 1117; 118 Stat. 482) is
amended by striking ``$437,500 for the period of October 1,
2003, through April 30, 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; 118 Stat. 482) is amended--
(1) by striking ``$3,062,500'' and inserting
``$3,937,500'';
(2) by striking ``$145,833'' and inserting ``$187,500'';
and
(3) by striking ``April 30'' each place it appears and
inserting ``June 30''.
(k) Nondiscrimination.--Section 1101(k) of such Act (117
Stat. 1118; 118 Stat. 482) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1) by striking ``$5,833,333 for the
period of October 1, 2003, through April 30, 2004'' and
inserting ``$7,500,000 for the period of October 1, 2003,
through June 30, 2004''; and
(2) in paragraph (2) by striking ``$5,833,333 for the
period of October 1, 2003, through April 30, 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; 118
Stat. 483) is amended--
(1) by striking ``and section 5 of the Surface
Transportation Extension Act of 2004'' and inserting ``,
section 5 of the Surface Transportation Extension Act of
2004, and section 4 of the Surface Transportation Extension
Act of 2004, Part II''; and
(2) by striking ``or the amendment made by section 4(a)(1)
of such Act'' and inserting ``, the amendment made by section
5(a)(1) of the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2004,
or the amendment made by section 4(a)(1) of the Surface
Transportation Extension Act, Part II''.
(m) Reduction of Allocated Programs.--Section 5(m) of such
Act (117 Stat. 1119; 118 Stat. 483) is amended--
(1) by striking ``and section 5 of the Surface
Transportation Extension Act of 2004'' and inserting ``,
section 5 of the Surface Transportation Extension Act of
2004, and section 4 of the Surface Transportation Extension
Act of 2004, Part II'';
(2) by striking ``and by section 5 of such Act'' and
inserting ``, by section 5 of the Surface Transportation
Extension Act of 2004, and by section 4 of the Surface
Transportation Extension Act of 2004, Part II''; and
(3) by striking ``and by section 5 of such Act'' and
inserting ``, by section 5 of the Surface Transportation
Extension Act of 2004, and by section 4 of the Surface
Transportation Extension Act of 2004, Part II''.
(n) Program Category Reconciliation.--Section 5(n) of such
Act (117 Stat. 1119; 118 Stat. 483) is amended by striking
``and section 5 of the Surface Transportation Extension Act
of 2004'' and inserting ``, section 5 of the Surface
Transportation Extension Act of 2004, and section 4 of the
Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2004, Part II''.
SEC. 5. EXTENSION OF HIGHWAY SAFETY PROGRAMS.
(a) Seat Belt Safety Incentive Grants.--Section 157(g)(1)
of title 23, United States Code, is amended by striking
``$65,333,333 for the period of October 1, 2003, through
April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``$84,000,000 for the period
of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004''.
(b) Prevention of Intoxicated Driver Incentive Grants.--
Section 163(e)(1) of such title is amended by striking
``$70,000,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, through
April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``$90,000,000 for the period
of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004''.
SEC. 6. 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) $7,499,999 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--
(1) in the paragraph heading by striking ``7 months'' and
inserting ``9 months'';
(2) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) by striking
``$47,833,333'' and inserting ``$61,499,999'';
(3) in subparagraph (A) by striking ``$5,833,333'' and
inserting ``$7,499,999''; and
(4) in subparagraph (B) by striking ``$4,666,667'' and
inserting ``$6,000,001''.
(c) Boat Safety Funds.--Section 13106(c) of title 46,
United States Code, is amended--
[[Page H2414]]
(1) by striking ``$2,916,667'' and inserting
``$3,750,001''; and
(2) by striking ``$1,166,667'' and inserting
``$1,500,001''.
SEC. 7. EXTENSION OF FEDERAL TRANSIT PROGRAMS.
(a) Allocating Amounts.--Section 5309(m) of title 49,
United States Code, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30,
2004'';
(B) in subparagraph (A) by striking ``, except for the
period beginning on October 1, 2003, and ending on April 30,
2004, during which $699,642,775 will be available'' and
inserting ``, except for the period beginning on October 1,
2003, and ending on June 30, 2004, during which $899,540,711
will be available'';
(C) in subparagraph (B) by striking ``, except for the
period beginning on October 1, 2003, and ending on April 30,
2004, during which $767,657,109 will be available'' and
inserting ``, except for the period beginning on October 1,
2003, and ending on June 30, 2004, during which $986,987,712
will be available''; and
(D) in subparagraph (C) by striking ``, except for the
period beginning on October 1, 2003 and ending on April 30,
2004, during which $352,110,220 will be available'' and
inserting ``, except for the period beginning on October 1,
2003, and ending on June 30, 2004, during which $452,713,140
will be available;
(2) by amending paragraph (2)(B)(iii) to read as follows:
``(iii) October 1, 2003 through june 30, 2004.--Of the
amounts made available under paragraph (1)(B), $7,753,980
shall be available for the period beginning on October 1,
2003, and ending on June 30, 2004, for capital projects
described in clause (i).'';
(3) in paragraph (3)(B)--
(A) by striking ``$1,750,000'' and inserting
``$2,236,725''; and
(B) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30,
2004''; and
(4) in paragraph (3)(C)--
(A) by striking ``$28,994,583'' and inserting
``$37,278,750''; and
(B) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30,
2004''.
(b) Apportionment of Appropriations for Fixed Guideway
Modernization.--Section 8(b)(1) of the Surface Transportation
Extension Act of 2003 (49 U.S.C. 5337 note) is amended by
striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30, 2004''.
(c) Formula Grants Authorizations.--Section 5338(a) of
title 49, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in the heading to paragraph (2) by striking ``april 30,
2004'' and inserting ``june 30, 2004'';
(2) in paragraph (2)(A)(vi)--
(A) by striking ``$1,780,963,287'' and inserting
``$2,289,809,940''; and
(B) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30,
2004'';
(3) in paragraph (2)(B)(vi)--
(A) by striking ``$445,240,822'' and inserting
``$572,452,485''; and
(B) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30,
2004''; and
(4) in paragraph (2)(C) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and
inserting ``June 30, 2004''.
(d) Formula Grant Funds.--Section 8(d) of the Surface
Transportation Extension Act of 2003 (117 Stat. 1122) is
amended to read as follows:
``(d) Allocation of Formula Grant Funds for October 1,
2003, Through June 30, 2004.--Of the aggregate of amounts
made available by or appropriated under section 5338(a)(2) of
title 49, United States Code, for the period of October 1,
2003, through June 30, 2004--
``(1) $3,616,001 shall be available to the Alaska Railroad
for improvements to its passenger operations under section
5307 of such title;
``(2) $37,278,750 shall be available for bus and bus
facilities grants under section 5309 of such title;
``(3) $67,588,463 shall be available to provide
transportation services to elderly individuals and
individuals with disabilities under section 5310 of such
title;
``(4) $179,391,044 shall be available to provide financial
assistance for other than urbanized areas under section 5311
of such title;
``(5) $5,181,748 shall be available to provide financial
assistance in accordance with section 3038(g) of the
Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century; and
``(6) $2,569,206,421 shall be available to provide
financial assistance for urbanized areas under section 5307
of such title.''.
(e) Capital Program Authorizations.--Section 5338(b)(2) of
title 49, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in the heading by striking ``april 30, 2004'' and
inserting ``june 30, 2004'';
(2) in subparagraph (A)(vi)--
(A) by striking ``$1,819,410,104'' and inserting
``$1,871,393,250''; and
(B) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30,
2004''; and
(3) in subparagraph (B)(vi)--
(A) by striking ``$363,882,021'' and inserting
``$467,848,313''; and
(B) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30,
2004''.
(f) Planning Authorizations and Allocations.--Section
5338(c)(2) of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in the heading by striking ``april 30, 2004'' and
inserting ``june 30, 2004'';
(2) in subparagraph (A)(vi)--
(A) by striking ``$33,981,652'' and inserting
``$43,690,695''; and
(B) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30,
2004''; and
(3) in subparagraph (B)(vi)--
(A) by striking ``$8,350,440'' and inserting
``$10,736,280''; and
(B) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30,
2004''.
(g) Research Authorizations.--Section 5338(d)(2) of title
49, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in the heading by striking ``april 30, 2004'' and
inserting ``june 30, 2004'';
(2) in subparagraph (A)(vi)--
(A) by striking ``$24,471,428'' and inserting
``$31,463,265''; and
(B) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30,
2004'';
(3) in subparagraph (B)(vi)--
(A) by striking ``$6,262,830'' and inserting
``$8,052,210''; and
(B) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30,
2004''; and
(4) in subparagraph (C) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and
inserting ``June 30, 2004''.
(h) Research Funds.--Section 8(h) of the Surface
Transportation Extension Act of 2003 (118 Stat. 486) is
amended to read as follows:
``(h) Allocation of Research Funds for October 1, 2003,
Through June 30, 2004.--Of the funds made available by or
appropriated under section 5338(d)(2) of title 49, United
States Code, for the period of October 1, 2003, through June
30, 2004--
``(1) not less than $3,914,269 shall be available for
providing rural transportation assistance under section
5311(b)(2) of such title;
``(2) not less than $6,150,994 shall be available for
carrying out transit cooperative research programs under
section 5313(a) of such title;
``(3) not less than $2,982,300 shall be available to carry
out programs under the National Transit Institute under
section 5315 of such title, including not more than $745,575
to carry out section 5315(a)(16) of such title; and
``(4) any amounts not made available under paragraphs (1)
through (3) shall be available for carrying out national
planning and research programs under sections 5311(b)(2),
5312, 5313(a), 5314, and 5322 of such title.''.
(i) University Transportation Research Authorizations.--
Section 5338(e)(2) of title 49, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) in the heading by striking ``april 30, 2004'' and
inserting ``june 30, 2004'';
(2) in subparagraph (A)--
(A) by striking ``$2,783,480'' and inserting
``$3,578,760''; and
(B) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30,
2004'';
(3) in subparagraph (B)--
(A) by striking ``$695,870'' and inserting ``$894,690'';
and
(B) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30,
2004''; and
(4) in subparagraph (C) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' each
place it appears and inserting ``June 30, 2004''.
(j) University Transportation Research Funds.--
(1) In general.--Section 8(j) of the Surface Transportation
Extension Act of 2003 (118 Stat. 487) is amended to read as
follows:
``(j) Allocation of University Transportation Research
Funds.--
``(1) In general.--Of the amounts made available under
section 5338(e)(2)(A) of title 49, United States Code, for
the period October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004--
``(A) $1,491,150 shall be available for the center
identified in section 5505(j)(4)(A) of such title; and
``(B) $1,491,150 shall be available for the center
identified in section 5505(j)(4)(F) of such title.
``(2) Training and curriculum development.--Notwithstanding
section 5338(e)(2) of title 49, United States Code, any
amounts made available under such section for the period
October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004, that remain after
distribution under paragraph (1), shall be available for the
purposes specified in section 3015(d) of the Transportation
Equity Act for the 21st Century (112 Stat. 857).''.
(2) Conforming amendment.--Section 3015(d)(2) of the
Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (49 U.S.C.
5338 note; 112 Stat. 857; 118 Stat. 487) is amended by
striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30, 2004''.
(k) Administration Authorizations.--Section 5338(f)(2) of
title 49, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in the heading by striking ``april 30, 2004'' and
inserting ``june 30, 2004'';
(2) in subparagraph (A)(vi)--
(A) by striking ``$35,025,457'' and inserting
``$45,032,730''; and
(B) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30,
2004''; and
(3) in subparagraph (B)(vi)--
(A) by striking ``$8,756,364'' and inserting
``$11,258,183''; and
(B) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30,
2004''.
(l) Job Access and Reverse Commute Program.--Section
3037(l) of the Federal Transit Act of 1998 (49 U.S.C. 5309
note) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)(A)(vi)--
(A) by striking ``$57,989,167'' and inserting
``$74,557,500''; and
(B) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30,
2004'';
(2) in paragraph (1)(B)(vi)--
(A) by striking ``$14,497,292'' and inserting
``$18,639,375''; and
(B) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30,
2004'';
(3) in paragraph (2) by striking ``April 30, 2004,
$5,798,917'' and inserting ``June 30, 2004, $7,455,750''; and
[[Page H2415]]
(4) in paragraph (4) by striking ``$11,597,833'' and
inserting ``$14,911,500''.
(m) Rural Transportation Accessibility Incentive Program.--
Section 3038(g) of the Federal Transit Act of 1998 (49 U.S.C.
5310 note; 118 Stat. 488) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)(F)--
(A) by striking ``$3,044,431'' and inserting
``$3,914,268''; and
(B) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30,
2004''; and
(2) in paragraph (2)--
(A) by striking ``$985,816'' and inserting ``$1,267,478'';
and
(B) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30,
2004''.
(n) Urbanized Area Formula Grants.--Section 5307(b)(2) of
title 49, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in the heading by striking ``april 30, 2004'' and
inserting ``june 30, 2004''; and
(2) in subparagraph (A) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and
inserting ``June 30, 2004'';
(o) Obligation Ceiling.--Section 3040(6) of the Federal
Transit Act of 1998 (112 Stat. 394; 118 Stat. 488) is
amended--
(1) by striking ``$4,238,428,192'' and inserting
``$5,449,407,675''; and
(2) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30,
2004''.
(p) Fuel Cell Bus and Bus Facilities Program.--Section
3015(b) of the Federal Transit Act of 1998 (112 Stat. 361;
118 Stat. 489) is amended--
(1) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30,
2004''; and
(2) by striking ``$2,812,475'' and inserting
``$3,616,039''.
(q) Advanced Technology Pilot Project.--Section 3015(c)(2)
of the Federal Transit Act of 1998 (49 U.S.C. 322 note; 118
Stat. 489) is amended--
(1) by striking ``April 30, 2004,'' and inserting ``June
30, 2004''; and
(2) by striking ``$2,812,475'' and inserting
``$3,727,876''.
(r) Projects for New Fixed Guideway Systems and Extensions
to Existing Systems.--Section 3030 of the Transportation
Equity Act for the 21st Century (112 Stat. 373; 118 Stat.
489) is amended by striking ``April 30, 2004'' each place it
appears and inserting ``June 30, 2004''.
(s) New Jersey Urban Core Project.--Section 3031(a)(3) of
the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991
(105 Stat. 2122; 112 Stat. 379; 118 Stat. 489) is amended by
striking ``April 30, 2004'' each place it appears and
inserting ``June 30, 2004''.
(t) Treatment of Funds.--Section 8(t) of the Surface
Transportation Extension Act of 2003 (23 U.S.C. 101 note; 118
Stat. 489) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1) by striking ``and by section 9 of the
Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2004'' and inserting
``, by section 9 of the Surface Transportation Extension Act
of 2004, and by section 7 of the Surface Transportation
Extension Act of 2004, Part II''; and
(2) in paragraph (2) by striking ``\7/12\'' and inserting
``\9/12\''.
(u) Local Share.--Section 3011(a) of the Federal Transit
Act of 1998 (49 U.S.C. 5307 note; 118 Stat. 489) is amended
by striking ``April 30'' and inserting ``June 30''.
SEC. 8. NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION
PROGRAMS.
(a) Chapter 4 Highway Safety Programs.--Section 2009(a)(1)
of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (112
Stat. 337; 117 Stat. 1119; 118 Stat. 489) is amended by
striking ``, and $96,250,000 for the period of October 1,
2003, through April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``, and
$123,019,875 for the period of October 1, 2003, through June
30, 2004''.
(b) Highway Safety Research and Development.--Section
2009(a)(2) of such Act (112 Stat. 337; 117 Stat. 1119; 118
Stat. 489) is amended by striking ``$42,000,000 for the
period of October 1, 2003, through April 30, 2004'' and
inserting ``$53,681,400 for the period of October 1, 2003,
through June 30, 2004''.
(c) Occupant Protection Incentive Grants-.--Section
2009(a)(3) of such Act (112 Stat. 337; 117 Stat. 1120; 118
Stat. 489) is amended by striking ``$11,666,700 for the
period of October 1, 2003, through April 30, 2004'' and
inserting ``$14,911,500 for the period of October 1, 2003,
through June 30, 2004''.
(d) Alcohol-Impaired Driving Countermeasures Incentive
Grants.--Section 2009(a)(4) of such Act (112 Stat. 337; 117
Stat. 1120; 118 Stat. 489) is amended by striking
``$23,333,300 for the period of October 1, 2003, through
April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``$29,823,000 for the period
of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004''.
(e) National Driver Register.--Section 2009(a)(6) of such
Act (112 Stat. 338; 117 Stat. 1120; 118 Stat. 490) is amended
by striking ``$2,100,000 for the period of October 1, 2003,
through April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``$2,684,070 for the
period of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004''.
SEC. 9. FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM.
(a) Administrative Expenses.--Section 7(a)(1) of the
Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2003 (117 Stat. 1120;
118 Stat. 490) is amended by striking ``$102,467,000 for the
period October 1, 2003 through April 30, 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.''.
(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)(2) of the Surface
Transportation Extension Act of 2003 (117 Stat. 1121) is
amended--
(A) by striking ``April 30,'' and inserting ``June 30,'';
and
(B) by striking ``$582,000'' and inserting ``$748,634''.
(d) Crash Causation Study.--Section 7(d) of such Act is
amended--
(1) by striking ``$582,000'' and inserting ``$748,634'';
and
(2) by striking ``April 30'' and inserting ``June 30''.
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
``May 1, 2004'' and inserting ``July 1, 2004'',
(B) by striking ``or'' at the end of subparagraph (F),
(C) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (G)
and inserting ``, or'',
(D) by inserting after subparagraph (G), the following new
subparagraph:
``(H) authorized to be paid out of the Highway Trust Fund
under the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2004, Part
II.'', and
(E) in the matter after subparagraph (H), as added by this
paragraph, by striking ``Surface Transportation Extension Act
of 2004'' and inserting ``Surface Transportation Extension
Act of 2004, Part II''.
(2) Mass transit account.--Paragraph (3) of section 9503(e)
of such Code is amended--
(A) in the matter before subparagraph (A), by striking
``May 1, 2004'' and inserting ``July 1, 2004'',
(B) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``or'' at the end of
such subparagraph,
(C) in subparagraph (E), by inserting ``or'' at the end of
such subparagraph,
(D) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following new
subparagraph:
``(F) the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2004,
Part II'', and
(E) in the matter after subparagraph (F), as added by this
paragraph, by striking ``Surface Transportation Extension Act
of 2004'' and inserting ``Surface Transportation Extension
Act of 2004, Part II''.
(3) Exception to limitation on transfers.--Subparagraph (B)
of section 9503(b)(5) of such Code is amended by striking
``May 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
2004'' each place it appears and inserting ``Surface
Transportation Extension Act of 2004, Part II''.
(2) Boat safety account.--Subsection (c) of section 9504 of
such Code is amended--
(A) by striking ``May 1, 2004'' and inserting ``July 1,
2004'', and
(B) by striking ``Surface Transportation Extension Act of
2004'' and inserting ``Surface Transportation Extension Act
of 2004, Part II''.
(3) Exception to limitation on transfers.--Paragraph (2) of
section 9504(d) of such Code is amended by striking ``May 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
Wisconsin (Mr. Petri) and the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri).
Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
The legislation now before us will continue for an additional 2
months the highway construction, highway safety, transit, motor carrier
and surface transportation research programs. These programs will be
continued under current law program structures and conditions.
[[Page H2416]]
This bill is necessary in order to give the House Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure and our colleagues in the Senate time
to conference our two versions of the multiyear surface transportation
bill.
H.R. 4219 provides over $31 billion in new funding authority, which
reflects 9 months' worth, or nine-twelfths of the budget authority and
associated outlays in the 2004 budget resolution that Congress passed
earlier this year.
As the House knows, we recently passed by 357 votes H.R. 3550, the
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy For Users. This bill will help the
country maintain and begin to improve our aging and deteriorating
transportation infrastructure.
Although H.R. 3550 is funded at a much lower level than it was
originally introduced, $275 billion in guaranteed funding instead of
the $375 billion the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
supported, it is a balanced and good bill that will help stimulate and
support the economy, decrease congestion and make our highways safer.
Until H.R. 3550 can be conferenced with the Senate-passed bill, this
2-month extension through June 30 is a must-pass bill. If we do not
pass this bill and send it to the President before Friday of this week,
four Department of Transportation agencies will close their doors and
furlough their employees: the Federal Highway Administration, Federal
Transit Administration, the 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 projects,
safety grants will not be provided to States, transit construction will
be halted, and Federal enforcement of motor carrier safety regulations
on the highways and at our borders will suffer.
It is crucial that H.R. 4219 be passed by both the House and Senate
and delivered to the President by April 30, if not before. Our economy
cannot withstand the shutdown of the national surface transportation
programs.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 10 minutes.
Mr. Speaker, once again time has run out on our effort to reauthorize
the core mobility program of America, our Federal highway public
transit and transportation safety programs. The Transportation Equity
Act for the 21st Century expired 7 months ago, on September 30, 2003.
On September 24, in consideration of that bill, I said, ``I'm afraid
we'll 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 in 1997, time is running out.''
Well, here we are. In the words of an icon of the other party, here
we go again. We passed the 5-month extension bill last fall carrying
programs through February 29, kind of a mystical date. It appears once
every 4 years. So here we are mystically appearing once again, pleading
for another short-term extension through the end of June. Who is going
to give me odds we are going to be back here in June saying, please,
another extension of time so we do not shut down our transportation
programs.
{time} 1030
Why? Because, for the first time in my nearly 30 years as a member of
this committee, as a member, and another 11 years as a member of the
staff of that committee, ideology, not good public bipartisan
transportation policy, is driving this process.
Despite the fact that we overwhelmingly in both this body and the
other body passed 6-year highway transit reauthorization bills weeks
ago, there has been no motion to go to conference, no appointment of
conferees, no meeting of staff, except for one. Why? Frankly, because
the leadership of this body has allowed the Congress to be treated like
a parliamentary institution, an extension of the executive; one that
works at the direction of, in our government, the President, a
President who strongly opposes increased investment at the level that
his own Department of Transportation said we need to make. So we have
become swept up, pawns in the political agenda, of some operatives over
there at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Now, step back from that for a moment. This committee, working in the
bipartisan tradition, long-standing, and under the able and
distinguished stewardship of the chairman of the full committee, the
gentleman from Alaska (Chairman Young); the chairman of the
Subcommittee on Highways, Transit and Pipelines (Mr. Petri); the
ranking member, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski); and myself
left politics at the door.
Oh, we had differences on how these programs should be crafted, but
we worked through them. We spent hours working shoulder to shoulder
crafting appropriate language to meet what from different viewpoints we
saw, and, in most cases, the same viewpoints, are necessary actions to
take for the good of mobility and productivity in America.
Last November, 73 members of our committee introduced a bill to
authorize $375 billion for highway transit transportation safety
programs over the next 6 years. We did not pull that number out of thin
air. It was prepared by the Department of Transportation at the
direction of the committee in TEA-21 to design the pathway to what we
need to do in the 6 years following on TEA-21, that number, $375
billion, to stem the tide of crippling congestion that chokes America's
seaports, major transportation arteries, our center cities, our
suburbs, and even our rural areas. But that bill is still in committee.
We did have a voice vote reported out and put aside with common
agreement because the leadership of this body made it clear to the
leadership of our committee that a bill at $375 billion would never see
the light of day on the House floor.
Okay, let us go along with this. Let us get another number we can
agree on. So we cut the bill $100 billion. On April 2, we considered
that bill. We passed it overwhelmingly, by 357 to 65. You pass
constitutional amendments by votes like that. Now that vote, that
bipartisan overwhelming vote is being cast aside, saying, sorry, we
cannot do that.
The other body passed a bill at $318 billion. Their vote was 76 to
21. Well, that is a vote that also could pass a constitutional
amendment. These are not just squeaker votes, like some we have had in
this body.
So you would think with such overwhelming bipartisan support that
there would be a committee of conference at work to resolve the
differences between the two bills. No motion has been made to go to
conference; no appointment of conferees; Members have not met with each
other. In fact, in 25 days since the House passed its bill, the
respective staffs have met only once, and the Republican staff in the
other body told our combined staff that their leadership would not
allow them to meet on anything substantive. Well, that does not make
any sense either.
Then we read in the papers about meetings of House and Senate
Republicans and the White House to determine the most critical issue in
this bill, the dollar amount. Now, that is a little strange. We have
stood shoulder to shoulder, meeting to meeting, kneecap to kneecap,
Members and staff, for months. Not just an occasional meeting. Our
staff worked over weekends. Members met morning, afternoon and evening,
Democrats and Republicans, to craft something we thought was in the
best interests of the country. And we are not invited to 1600
Pennsylvania Avenue, or wherever they meet, to fashion the key issue in
this legislation?
I do not understand it. That does not make any sense. That is not the
pathway to progress for America.
If we passed the $375 billion bill, which we could do by the end of
May, we would have 475,000 new jobs in the workplace by Labor Day. We
would have $80 billion of total economic activity in the workplace. We
would have a surging national economy. George Bush would be on his way
to reelection.
I say to people I have never worked so hard to elect a Republican
President in my life. But they do not want it. So here we are.
Their bill, their idea of progress for America, is $256 billion. That
is flat-line budgeting over the next 6 years; not an additional dollar
in real dollars, when you take into account inflation,
[[Page H2417]]
and not one additional job in the marketplace. And we know that. That
is why we reported out a bill, or attempted to report out a bill, at
$375 billion. Both sides know this.
So here we are, caught in the swirl and swirling around of political
ideology. Maybe we ought to have the Presidential election next
Tuesday, get it over, out of our bloodstream, and then we can go on and
pass real policy for America. I say that somewhat facetiously, but this
election-year jitters that has its hand gripped around the throat of
the most important policy initiative, transportation, that improves
productivity, mobility of America, keeps us competitive in the world
marketplace, is choking off our ability to compete and our ability to
move ahead, to create jobs in America and do what is right for this
country.
Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio
(Mr. LaTourette).
Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the distinguished
ranking member of the full committee for his remarks and his
observations. I would agree with most of them. I have had the pleasure
of serving with the gentleman from Minnesota for 10 years now, and his
institutional knowledge, not only about transportation issues but all
issues that come before this body, is second to none; and I have
nothing but the greatest respect for him.
I do have to tell him, however, that the distinguished subcommittee
chair indicates that Ronald Reagan actually said ``There you go
again,'' not ``Here we go again.'' But other than that, it was exactly
right and on point.
Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. LaTOURETTE. I yield to the gentleman from Minnesota.
Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to depersonalize it. I did
say ``paraphrase.''
Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, I thank the
gentleman.
Mr. Speaker, this is an embarrassing time for members of the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure because a bill that is
supposed to improve traffic is now stuck in traffic. In Ohio, where I
am from, we always joke about the fact that our State flower is the
orange barrel or the orange cone. We do not have that going on in Ohio
now, but construction projects all across the country are stuck in
traffic.
The gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar) and the gentleman from
Wisconsin (Mr. Petri) have correctly stated all the statistics and
figures about why this is an important bill to keep America moving, why
it is important for jobs.
The last time we did this extension I talked about that AASHTO came
up with an estimate that if we had done our work and if this bill
signed into law before the last bill, TEA-21, expired on September 30,
we would have 90,000 jobs in the economy already, we would have $2
billion of investment, and every extension that we have to come to the
floor and ask for continues that.
This committee did its job. This committee adopted the Department of
Transportation numbers indicating that we need $375 billion of highway
investment over the next 6 years to keep America moving.
Now, I know that the leader of this House, the Speaker of the House,
the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hastert), is committed to getting this
bill done; and I hope and pray, I read in the newspaper there is going
to be a meeting tomorrow, I would hope that the wisdom descends upon
all those participating in this meeting and we get this bill done, we
get Americans to work, we build roads and that the orange cone State
flower of Ohio blooms again in May.
Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 5 minutes.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the distinguished gentleman from Ohio.
Would there were more like him on both sides of the aisle, a fountain
of reasonableness, a center of constructive thought, a Member who
really cares about the direction of the Nation and about the programs
under the jurisdiction of our committee.
Let me also concur with the gentleman from Ohio about the intentions
of our Speaker. He has vigorously advocated with the executive branch
for a robust bill and has told me, as well as others, that he was not
making progress; that there was a determination to stay away from the 5
cent increase in the highway user fee, and that was going to affect the
funding level of the successor transportation bill.
The gentleman from Alaska (Chairman Young), to his everlasting
credit, has proven to be a vigorous, forceful leader for the programs
of our committee. He has taken the message of our $375 billion bill to
the House Republican Conference, to the White House, to the Office of
Management and Budget, to the contractor community, and has vigorously
advocated for a full, vigorous funding of our transportation programs.
We are not there for no lack of effort by our committee leadership,
goodness knows.
The gentleman from Wisconsin (Chairman Petri), Mr. Speaker, has
traveled the Nation to points of great congestion, of great
transportation need, to advocate the case for a vigorous, robust
transportation bill. I have done the same. We have worked side by side
to try to advance this cause that we know is the right thing to do;
and, regrettably, we are stymied by ideology.
When the Congress established the Highway Trust Fund in 1956 as the
mechanism with which to launch the interstate highway program, it
crafted out of extensive deliberation a funding mechanism, the highway
user fee. It was set at 4 cents in 1956. The next year, 1957, President
Eisenhower, who was the stimulus for the interstate highway program,
said move it ahead, get going. He signed the bill and agreed to that
additional 1 cent increase, because he knew, as Congress knew and the
Bureau of Public Roads, as it was called in those days, now the Federal
Highway Administration, knew, that it would take more than the amount
that the 4 cents was yielding to build the interstate.
They did the right thing. They saw. They had a vision of where
America needed to go, because at the rate of fatalities on the Nation's
highways in 1956, it was projected we would be killing 110,000 people a
year on America's highways if we did not move ahead with a four-lane,
divided access, controlled superhighway system that would link America
coast to coast and border to border, theoretically traveling the Nation
without hitting a stoplight, although that is not, in practice,
possible any more.
But it was the right thing. And it was a Republican President who had
the vision and the courage to stand up and say we need to invest in a
pay-as-you-go system, although that was not called such at the time.
Subsequent increases in the highway user fee have been signed into
law by President Nixon, President Reagan, and President Bush One.
{time} 1045
Why not this one?
There is, I will not say no, there is minimal opposition to the
highway user fee. And when we have an opportunity, as the gentleman
from Wisconsin (Chairman Petri) knows, as we have sat with editorial
boards, we spell it out, we spell it out to the traveling public, they
understand it, they get it. There is accountability in the Highway
Trust Fund, in the highway user fee. People know they pay at the pump
and they drive away on the road, and it improves their driving
experience.
This is the most effective, sensible, sustainable mechanism in the
Federal Government, apart from the Social Security Trust Fund, maybe it
is even better than the Social Security Trust Fund, to invest in
America. Why is there opposition to it? This has nothing to do with the
budget deficit. We cannot spend more money than is available in the
Highway Trust Fund because there is an anti-deficiency provision in the
basic law that says you cannot run a deficit, and it never has and it
never will. So get off it.
When we introduced this bill a year and a half ago, the price of
gasoline was $1.35. It is $1.95 now, at least here in the Washington
area; it is a little bit less in other parts of the country. Where has
all that money gone from the price increase at the pump? It has gone
overseas, nearly all of it. We are importing better than 50 percent of
our fuel, and not a penny of that increase has gone to build new roads
or new
[[Page H2418]]
bridges or buy new buses or light rail systems. That is all going to
line the pockets of the oil billionaires and Sheikhs overseas.
But the 5-cent increase will be invested right here at home, right
here in the good of America, right here in jobs. We have talked about
the flights of jobs from America overseas. The job that cannot be
built, that cannot be created in China, in Taiwan, in Korea, in Japan,
in Thailand is the job of building a road in front of our homes. That
job stays here in America.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr.
Blumenauer).
Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman's courtesy in
permitting me to speak on this bill. I appreciate his eloquence and the
leadership that we have had from our committee.
The gentleman from Alaska (Chairman Young), the gentleman from
Minnesota (Ranking Member Oberstar), the gentleman from Wisconsin
(Chairman Petri), and the gentleman from Illinois (Ranking Member
Lipinski) have worked hard to keep faith with this body, to deliver a
transportation bill that is right sized for America's needs.
In that effort, they have kept faith with the broadest coalition we
have seen in the history of infrastructure development. We have
everybody from the Chamber of Commerce to the Sierra Club, the
bicyclists, to the people who put down asphalt, to the women who are
frankly the single most aggressive, articulate, and I think
intimidating spokespeople, the Women's Garden Club of America, all are
arrayed behind the principle that this country should invest in the
infrastructure that we need for today and for tomorrow.
Our committee has responded under the leadership of the gentlemen I
just mentioned. We have worked with the other body. It is not what
America needs, but it is in keeping with the realities that we can get
through this Congress. It is a concession to the administration,
although what we will settle for is far less than what we know America
needs. We have scaled down. The administration to this point is saying
that unless there is a 10 percent cut in real transportation spending
over the next 6 years, they will not let it pass.
That is unconscionable. We have an opportunity to draw upon money
that Americans have invested in trust funds. We have an opportunity to
generate more tax dollars by this strategic investment. We have an
opportunity not just to keep faith with our colleagues and with this
broad coalition; we have an opportunity to keep faith with the American
public. We have bridges that are crumbling. We have economic
opportunities in our cities. We have a chance to take this coalition
that is alive and well in every State, every region, every city to
bring it together with local and private resources that will turn the
economy around. It will make our communities more livable, it will make
our families safer, healthier, and more economically secure.
We have reached the point, if we cannot, with this extension, reach
agreement for this minimally-sized package that the House and the
Senate is working on, then I think we ought to just admit the wheels
have fallen off, extend it for another 8 months until we get past the
election. Then, maybe, we can act like grownups and give Americans the
transportation bill they deserve.
Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I wish I was standing here on the floor today urging passage of a
conference report meeting our Nation's transportation needs. Instead, I
urge my colleagues to support a further 2-month extension of the
existing program so that conferees can be appointed and we can work
with the Senate toward the end of meeting our Nation's transportation
needs. This is what we need to do under the circumstances, and do it
promptly.
Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to revise and extend
my remarks.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4219. While I support this
extension, I am very concerned that we are here to punt on our
legislative duties, like we have done all too many times. The
transportation reauthorization expired last fall, but Congress has
refused to more past partisan wrangling and political rhetoric so that
we can achieve true compromise.
The White House has already cost our Nation 1.8 million jobs by
threatening to veto any bill that does not cut transportation spending
below the amount Congress authorized nearly a decade ago. I support an
extension, but it is critical that Congress get the full six-year
surface transportation authorization bill enacted into law to bolster
our economy and create good-paying jobs.
While people in Wall Street talk of recovery, working families
everywhere are still seeing their jobs being sent overseas. While the
White House economic policy advisors argue for shipping jobs overseas,
working families everywhere are relying on charity, food stamps, and
more than one part-time job just to keep a roof over their head and
clothes on their back. Our economy is suffering from a huge jobs
deficit. Since the beginning of the Bush Administration, 2.6 million
private sector jobs have been lost. 8.4 million people are looking for
work, and 4.7 million people are working part-time for economic
reasons.
We need to create jobs, and every month that the transportation
reauthorization is delayed is costing jobs for construction workers,
truckers, steelworkers, electricians, and the millions of Americans
that in one way or another benefit from the reauthorization. The
average length of unemployment is the worst in 20 years, and two
million people have been unemployed for at least six months. If
Republicans and the White House indeed have no economic plan other than
outsourcing our prosperity to China and India, they should pass a full
six-year reauthorization.
We need a full reauthorization of transportation funding for the sake
of California and the Nation. Jobs are at stake, and In-and-Out Burger
cannot alone hire the hundreds of thousands of Californians out of work
because of our Administration's misguided economic policies.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4219, but also
encourage our Republican Congressional leaders and White House to come
up with a job creation strategy that creates jobs in the United States,
not Shanghai.
Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on February 11, 2004, I supported
H.R. 3783, legislation to provide an extension of the transportation
programs funded out of the Highway Trust Fund pending enactment of a
reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century
(TEA-21). I will also support H.R. 4219 today, but I am extremely
frustrated with this process.
Here Americans are again, more than two months later, still waiting
to see how many crumbs this Administration is willing to throw to our
Nation's transportation infrastructure. The fact that Congress must
approve another temporary extension of the Highway Trust Fund programs
shows the lack of concern in the White House for America's
transportation.
I support H.R. 3550, the Transportation Equity Act, a Legacy for
Users, the product of the hard and tireless work of two well respected
members of the House, Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Don
Young and Ranking Member Jim Oberstar. I supported H.R. 3550 at the
full authorized level of $375 billion through 2009. Chairman Young did
pull that out of the air. That number came from the non-partisan career
staff at the U.S. Department of Transportation. $375 billion requires
indexing the gas tax for inflation, an idea I have supported since my
days in the Texas State Legislature. I support that proposal only if
every cent we pay at the pump to the Federal government goes to
transportation. That is current law.
While the Administration refuses to accept non-partisan analysis, we
are willing to accept the Senate's $318 billion level, $57 billion less
than is necessary for a mobility improvement. Even this bi-partisan
legislation is opposed by narrow ideological interests in the White
House and House leadership who are blind to the number-one local issue
in Houston, Texas--mobility.
To satisfy ultra-conservative groups that do not believe in Federal
taxes of any kind, the Administration is willing to watch our highways
and bridges crumble and rust. The Administration should be more
concerned about putting Americans back to work. Each billion spent on
infrastructure creates 47,500 American jobs, with 3.5 million jobs to
be generated and sustained through 2009 under H.R. 3550, including over
200,000 jobs in Texas.
Since roads are not built for free, rational people support a level
of Federal tax necessary to pay for national defense, Medicare,
Medicaid, Social Security, and transportation infrastructure. The
Administration does not grasp this, and here are some consequences for
my constituents.
Residents in my community lose an average of 37 hours and 60 gallons
of gas each year in congested traffic. That is $2.1 billion, every
year, in productivity and fuel, and congestion has been getting worse.
These figures are
[[Page H2419]]
from Texas A&M's Texas Transportation Institute's 2003 Urban Mobility
Report. Texas mobility is also impacted severely by the fact that 10
cents of every dollar we pay in gasoline taxes goes to other States. I
strongly believe that Texas deserves at least 95 percent of Texas gas
tax revenue for Texas transportation projects and have cosponsored
legislation, H.R. 2208, to that effect.
But as we saw during the House vote on the Isakson amendment to H.R.
3550, it is hard to increase our slice of the pie to a fair level
unless the pie is big enough to pay for the Nation's needs. Inadequate
transportation investment means lost hours spent in traffic, lost job
opportunities, and lost lives from unsafe road conditions. I call on
the Administration to allow conferees to fully fund H.R. 3550 at the
bipartisan level of $375 billion.
Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, no one in Seattle doubts the city will be
rocked by another earthquake one day. We've faced large magnitude
quakes in the past and we fear a large magnitude quake in the future.
So, I rise to express my outrage that the Administration and
Republican leadership refuse to pass a comprehensive highway bill that
includes critical planning money for the Alaskan Way Viaduct. There is
not a moment to lose in planning and replacing the roadway. A large
magnitude quake could topple the double-decked highway, just as we saw
with tragic consequences in Oakland, California.
Quit playing politics with peoples' lives. Safety must not be held
hostage by the Administration and Republican leaders. Pass a real
highway bill now, while there is time, while the Alaskan Way Viaduct is
still standing.
Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Miller of Florida). The question is on
the motion offered by the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri) that the
House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4219.
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. OBERSTAR. 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.
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