[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 88 (Wednesday, June 23, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H4778-H4785]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SURFACE TRANSPORTATION EXTENSION ACT OF 2004, PART III
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 4635) 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.
[[Page H4779]]
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 4635
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 III''.
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; 118 Stat. 627) is amended by striking ``and
the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2004, Part II''
and inserting ``the Surface Transportation Extension Act of
2004, Part II, and the Surface Transportation Extension Act
of 2004, Part III''.
(b) Programmatic Distributions.--
(1) Special rules for minimum guarantee.--Section 2(b)(4)
of such Act is amended by striking ``$2,100,000,000'' and
inserting ``$2,333,333,333''.
(2) Extension of off-system bridge setaside.--Section
144(g)(3) of title 23, United States Code, is amended by
striking ``June 30'' inserting ``July 31''.
(c) Authorization of Contract Authority.--Section
1101(c)(1) of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st
Century (117 Stat. 1111; 118 Stat. 478; 118 Stat. 627) is
amended by striking ``$24,270,225,000 for the period of
October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004'' and inserting
``$26,998,288,667 for the period of October 1, 2003, through
July 31, 2004''.
(d) Limitation on Obligations.--Section 2(e) of the Surface
Transportation Extension Act of 2003 (117 Stat. 1111; 118
Stat. 478; 118 Stat. 627) is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) of paragraph
(1) by striking ``June 30'' and inserting ``July 31'';
(2) in paragraph (1)(A)--
(A) by striking ``of 2004 and'' and inserting ``of 2004,'';
(B) by inserting after ``Part II'' the following: ``, and
the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2004, Part III'';
and
(C) by striking ``and such Act'' and inserting `` and such
Acts'';
(3) in paragraph (1)(B) by striking ``\9/12\'' and
inserting ``\10/12\'';
(4) in paragraph (2)--
(A) by striking ``June 30'' and inserting ``July 31'';
(B) by striking ``$25,382,250,000'' and inserting
``$28,202,500,000''; and
(C) by striking ``$479,250,000'' and inserting
``$532,500,000''; and
(5) in paragraph (3) by striking ``June 30'' and inserting
``July 31''.
SEC. 3. ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.
Section 4(a) of the Surface Transportation Extension Act of
2003 (117 Stat. 1113; 118 Stat. 479; 118 Stat. 628) is
amended by striking ``$337,500,000'' and inserting
``$343,628,000''.
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; 118 Stat. 628) is
amended--
(i) in the first sentence by striking ``$206,250,000 for
the period of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004'' and
inserting ``$229,166,667 for the period of October 1, 2003,
through July 31, 2004''; and
(ii) in the second sentence by striking ``$9,750,000'' and
inserting ``$10,833,333''.
(B) Public lands highways.--Section 1101(a)(8)(B) of such
Act (112 Stat. 112; 117 Stat. 1113; 118 Stat. 480; 118 Stat.
628) is amended by striking ``$184,500,000 for the period of
October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004'' and inserting
``$205,000,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, through
July 31, 2004''.
(C) Park roads and parkways.--Section 1101(a)(8)(C) of such
Act (112 Stat. 112; 117 Stat. 1113; 118 Stat. 480; 118 Stat.
628) is amended by striking ``$123,750,000 for the period of
October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004'' and inserting
``$137,500,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, through
July 31, 2004'' .
(D) Refuge roads.--Section 1101(a)(8)(D) of such Act (112
Stat. 112; 117 Stat. 1113; 118 Stat. 480; 118 Stat. 628) is
amended by striking ``$15,000,000 for the period of October
1, 2003, through June 30, 2004'' and inserting ``$16,666,667
for the period of October 1, 2003, through July 31, 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; 118 Stat. 628) is amended by striking
``$105,000,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, through
June 30, 2004'' and inserting ``$116,666,667 for the period
of October 1, 2003, through July 31, 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; 118 Stat. 628) is amended
by striking ``$28,500,000 for the period of October 1, 2003,
through June 30, 2004'' and inserting ``$31,666,667 for the
period of October 1, 2003, through July 31, 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; 118 Stat. 628) is
amended--
(i) in clause (i) by striking ``$7,500,000'' and inserting
``$8,333,333'';
(ii) in clause (ii) by striking ``$3,750,000'' and
inserting ``$4,166,667''; and
(iii) in clause (iii) by striking ``$3,750,000'' and
inserting ``$4,166,667''.
(4) National scenic byways program.--Section 1101(a)(11) of
the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (112 Stat.
113; 117 Stat. 1114; 118 Stat. 480; 118 Stat. 629) is amended
by striking ``$20,625,000 for the period of October 1, 2003,
through June 30, 2004'' and inserting ``$22,916,667 for the
period of October 1, 2003, through July 31, 2004'' .
(5) Value pricing pilot program.--Section 1101(a)(12) of
such Act (112 Stat. 113; 117 Stat. 1114; 118 Stat. 480; 118
Stat. 629) is amended by striking ``$8,250,000 for the period
of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004'' and inserting
``$9,166,667 for the period of October 1, 2003, through July
31, 2004''.
(6) Highway use tax evasion projects.--Section 1101(a)(14)
of such Act (112 Stat. 113; 117 Stat. 1114; 118 Stat. 480;
118 Stat. 629) is amended by striking ``$3,750,000 for the
period of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004'' and
inserting ``$4,166,667 for the period of October 1, 2003,
through July 31, 2004''.
(7) Commonwealth of puerto rico highway program.--Section
1101(a)(15) of such Act (112 Stat. 113; 117 Stat. 1114; 118
Stat. 481; 118 Stat. 629) is amended by striking
``$82,500,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, through June
30, 2004'' and inserting ``$91,666,667 for the period of
October 1, 2003, through July 31, 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; 118 Stat. 629) is amended by striking
``$375,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, through June
30, 2004'' and inserting ``$416,667 for the period of October
1, 2003, through July 31, 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; 118 Stat.
629) is amended by striking ``$18,750,000 for the period of
October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004'' and inserting
``$20,833,333 for the period of October 1, 2003, through July
31, 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) $116,666,667 for the period of October 1, 2003,
through July 31, 2004.'';
(B) in subsection (a)(2) by striking ``$1,500,000 for the
period of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004'' and
inserting ``$1,666,667 for the period of October 1, 2003,
through July 31, 2004''; and
(C) in the item relating to fiscal year 2004 in the table
contained in subsection (c) by striking ``$1,950,000,000''
and inserting ``$2,166,666,667''.
(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; 118 Stat. 630) is amended
by striking ``$78,750,000 for the period of October 1, 2003,
through June 30, 2004'' and inserting ``$87,500,000 for the
period of October 1, 2003, through July 31, 2004''.
(2) Technology deployment program.--Section 5001(a)(2) of
such Act (112 Stat. 419; 117 Stat. 1115; 118 Stat. 481; 118
Stat. 630) is amended by striking ``$41,250,000 for the
period of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004'' and
inserting ``$45,833,333 for the period of October 1, 2003,
through July 31, 2004''.
(3) Training and education.--Section 5001(a)(3) of such Act
(112 Stat. 420; 117 Stat. 1115; 118 Stat. 481; 118 Stat. 630)
is amended by striking ``$15,750,000 for the period of
October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004'' and inserting
``$17,500,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, through July
31, 2004''.
(4) Bureau of transportation statistics.--Section
5001(a)(4) of such Act (112 Stat. 420; 117 Stat. 1115; 118
Stat. 481; 118 Stat. 630) is amended by striking
``$23,250,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, through June
30, 2004'' and inserting ``$25,833,333 for the period of
October 1, 2003, through July 31, 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; 118 Stat. 630) is amended by
striking ``$86,250,000 for the period of October 1, 2003,
through June 30, 2004'' and inserting ``$95,833,333 for the
period of October 1, 2003, through July 31, 2004''.
(6) ITS deployment.--Section 5001(a)(6) of such Act (112
Stat. 420; 117 Stat. 1116; 118 Stat. 482; 118 Stat. 630) is
amended by striking ``$93,000,000 for the period of October
1, 2003, through June 30, 2004'' and inserting ``$103,333,333
for the period of October 1, 2003, through July 31, 2004''.
(7) University transportation research.--Section 5001(a)(7)
of such Act (112 Stat. 420; 117 Stat. 1116; 118 Stat. 482;
118 Stat. 630) is amended by striking ``$20,250,000 for the
period of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004'' and
inserting ``$22,500,000 for the period of October 1, 2003,
through July 31, 2004''.
(c) Metropolitan Planning.--Section 5(c)(1) of the Surface
Transportation Extension Act of 2003 (117 Stat. 1116; 118
Stat. 482; 118 Stat. 630) is amended by striking
``$180,000,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, through
June 30, 2004'' and inserting ``$200,000,000 for the period
of October 1, 2003, through July 31, 2004''.
[[Page H4780]]
(d) Territories.--Section 1101(d)(1) of the Transportation
Equity Act for the 21st Century (117 Stat. 1116; 118 Stat.
482; 118 Stat. 630) is amended by striking ``$27,300,000 for
the period of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004'' and
inserting ``$30,333,333 for the period of October 1, 2003,
through July 31, 2004''.
(e) Alaska Highway.--Section 1101(e)(1) of such Act (117
Stat. 1116; 118 Stat. 482; 118 Stat. 630) is amended by
striking ``$14,100,000 for the period of October 1, 2003,
through June 30, 2004'' and inserting ``$15,666,667 for the
period of October 1, 2003, through July 31, 2004''.
(f) Operation Lifesaver.--Section 1101(f)(1) of such Act
(117 Stat. 1117; 118 Stat. 482; 118 Stat. 631) is amended by
striking ``$375,000 for the period of October 1, 2003,
through June 30, 2004'' and inserting ``$416,667 for the
period of October 1, 2003, through July 31, 2004''.
(g) Bridge Discretionary.--Section 1101(g)(1) of such Act
(117 Stat. 1117; 118 Stat. 482; 118 Stat. 631) is amended--
(1) by striking ``$75,000,000'' and inserting
``$83,333,333''; and
(2) by striking ``June 30'' and inserting ``July 31''.
(h) Interstate Maintenance.--Section 1101(h)(1) of such Act
(117 Stat. 1117; 118 Stat. 482; 118 Stat. 631) is amended--
(1) by striking ``$75,000,000'' and inserting
``$83,333,333''; and
(2) by striking ``June 30'' and inserting ``July 31''.
(i) Recreational Trails Administrative Costs.--Section
1101(i)(1) of such Act (117 Stat. 1117; 118 Stat. 482; 118
Stat. 631) is amended by striking ``$562,500 for the period
of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004'' and inserting
``$625,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, through July
31, 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; 118 Stat. 631) is amended--
(1) by striking ``$3,937,500'' and inserting
``$4,375,000'';
(2) by striking ``$187,500'' and inserting ``$208,833'';
and
(3) by striking ``June 30'' each place it appears and
inserting ``July 31''.
(k) Nondiscrimination.--Section 1101(k) of such Act (117
Stat. 1118; 118 Stat. 482; 118 Stat. 631) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1) by striking ``$7,500,000 for the
period of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004'' and
inserting ``$8,333,333 for the period of October 1, 2003,
through July 31, 2004''; and
(2) in paragraph (2) by striking ``$7,500,000 for the
period of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004'' and
inserting ``$8,333,333 for the period of October 1, 2003,
through July 31, 2004''.
(l) Administration of Funds.--Section 5(l) of the Surface
Transportation Extension Act of 2003 (117 Stat. 1118; 118
Stat. 483; 118 Stat. 631) is amended--
(1) by striking ``and section 4 of the Surface
Transportation Extension Act of 2004, Part II'' and inserting
``section 4 of the Surface Transportation Extension Act of
2004, Part II, and section 4 of the Surface Transportation
Extension Act of 2004, Part III'';
(2) by striking ``or the amendment made by section 4(a)(1)
of the Surface Transportation Extension Act, Part II'' and
inserting ``the amendment made by section 4(a)(1) of the
Surface Transportation Extension Act, Part II, or the the
amendment made by section 4(a)(1) of the Surface
Transportation Extension Act, Part III''.
(m) Reduction of Allocated Programs.--Section 5(m) of such
Act (117 Stat. 1119; 118 Stat. 483; 118 Stat. 632) is
amended--
(1) by striking ``and section 4 of the Surface
Transportation Extension Act of 2004, Part II'' and inserting
``section 4 of the Surface Transportation Extension Act of
2004, Part II, and section 4 of the Surface Transportation
Extension Act of 2004, Part III'';
(2) by striking the second comma following ``by this
section'' the second place it appears; and
(3) by striking ``and by section 4 of the Surface
Transportation Extension Act of 2004, Part II'' each place it
appears and inserting ``by section 4 of the Surface
Transportation Extension Act of 2004, Part II, and by section
4 of the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2004, Part
III''.
(n) Program Category Reconciliation.--Section 5(n) of such
Act (117 Stat. 1119; 118 Stat. 483; 118 Stat. 632) is amended
by striking ``and section 4 of the Surface Transportation
Extension Act of 2004, Part II'' and inserting ``section 4 of
the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2004, Part II,
and section 4 of the Surface Transportation Extension Act of
2004, Part III''.
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
``$84,000,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, through June
30, 2004'' and inserting ``$93,333,333 for the period of
October 1, 2003, through July 31, 2004''.
(b) Prevention of Intoxicated Driver Incentive Grants.--
Section 163(e)(1) of such title is amended by striking
``$90,000,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, through June
30, 2004'' and inserting ``$100,000,000 for the period of
October 1, 2003, through July 31, 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) $8,333,332 for the period of October 1, 2003, through
July 31, 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 ``9 months'' and
inserting ``10 months'';
(2) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)--
(A) by striking ``April 30'' and inserting ``July 31''; and
(B) by striking ``$61,499,999'' and inserting
``$68,333,332'';
(3) in subparagraph (A) by striking ``$7,499,999'' and
inserting ``$8,333,332''; and
(4) in subparagraph (B) by striking ``$6,000,001'' and
inserting ``$6,666,668''.
(c) Boat Safety Funds.--Section 13106(c) of title 46,
United States Code, is amended--
(1) by striking ``$3,750,001'' and inserting
``$4,166,668''; and
(2) by striking ``$1,500,001'' and inserting
``$1,666,668''.
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 ``June 30, 2004'' each place it appears and
inserting ``July 31, 2004'';
(B) in subparagraph (A) by striking ``$899,540,711'' and
inserting ``$999,489,679'';
(C) in subparagraph (B) by striking ``$986,987,712'' and
inserting ``$1,096,653,013''; and
(D) in subparagraph (C) by striking ``$452,713,140'' and
inserting ``$503,014,600'';
(2) by striking paragraph (2)(B)(iii) and inserting the
following:
``(iii) October 1, 2003 through July 31, 2004.--Of the
amounts made available under paragraph (1)(B), $8,615,533
shall be available for the period beginning on October 1,
2003, and ending on July 31, 2004, for capital projects
described in clause (i).'';
(3) in paragraph (3)(B)--
(A) by striking ``$2,236,725'' and inserting
``$2,485,250''; and
(B) by striking ``June 30, 2004'' and inserting ``July 31,
2004''; and
(4) in paragraph (3)(C)--
(A) by striking ``$37,278,750'' and inserting
``$41,420,833''; and
(B) by striking ``June 30, 2004'' and inserting ``July 31,
2004''.
(b) Apportionment of Appropriations for Fixed Guideway
Modernization.--The heading for section 8(b)(1) of the
Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2003 (49 U.S.C. 5337
note) is amended by striking ``june 30, 2004'' and inserting
``july 31, 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 ``June 30,
2004'' and inserting ``July 31, 2004'';
(2) in paragraph (2)(A)(vi)--
(A) by striking ``$2,289,809,940'' and inserting
``$2,544,233,267''; and
(B) by striking ``June 30, 2004'' and inserting ``July 31,
2004'';
(3) in paragraph (2)(B)(vi)--
(A) by striking ``$572,452,485'' and inserting
``$636,058,317''; and
(B) by striking ``June 30, 2004'' and inserting ``July 31,
2004''; and
(4) in paragraph (2)(C) by striking ``June 30, 2004'' and
inserting ``July 31, 2004''.
(d) Formula Grant Funds.--Section 8(d) of the Surface
Transportation Extension Act of 2003 (118 Stat. 633) is
amended to read as follows:
``(d) Allocation of Formula Grant Funds for October 1,
2003, Through July 31, 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 July 31, 2004--
``(1) $4,017,779 shall be available to the Alaska Railroad
for improvements to its passenger operations under section
5307 of such title;
``(2) $41,420,833 shall be available for bus and bus
facilities grants under section 5309 of such title;
``(3) $75,098,291 shall be available to provide
transportation services to elderly individuals and
individuals with disabilities under section 5310 of such
title;
``(4) $199,323,382 shall be available to provide financial
assistance for other than urbanized areas under section 5311
of such title;
``(5) $5,757,496 shall be available to provide financial
assistance in accordance with section 3038(g) of the
Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century; and
``(6) $2,854,673,803 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 ``June 30, 2004'' and
inserting ``July 31, 2004'';
(2) in subparagraph (A)(vi)--
(A) by striking ``$1,871,393,250'' and inserting
``$2,079,325,834''; and
(B) by striking ``June 30, 2004'' and inserting ``July 31,
2004''; and
(3) in subparagraph (B)(vi)--
(A) by striking ``$467,848,313'' and inserting
``$519,831,458''; and
(B) by striking ``June 30, 2004'' and inserting ``July 31,
2004''.
(f) Planning Authorizations and Allocations.--Section
5338(c)(2) of such title is amended--
(1) in the heading by striking ``June 30, 2004'' and
inserting ``July 31, 2004'';
[[Page H4781]]
(2) in subparagraph (A)(vi)--
(A) by striking ``$43,690,695'' and inserting
``$48,545,217''; and
(B) by striking ``June 30, 2004'' and inserting ``July 31,
2004''; and
(3) in subparagraph (B)(vi)--
(A) by striking ``$10,736,280'' and inserting
``$11,929,200''; and
(B) by striking ``June 30, 2004'' and inserting ``July 31,
2004''.
(g) Research Authorizations.--Section 5338(d)(2) of such
title is amended--
(1) in the heading by striking ``June 30, 2004'' and
inserting ``July 31, 2004'';
(2) in subparagraph (A)(vi)--
(A) by striking ``$31,463,265'' and inserting
``$34,959,183''; and
(B) by striking ``June 30, 2004'' and inserting ``July 31,
2004'';
(3) in subparagraph (B)(vi)--
(A) by striking ``$8,052,210'' and inserting
``$8,946,900''; and
(B) by striking ``June 30, 2004'' and inserting ``July 31,
2004''; and
(4) in subparagraph (C) by striking ``June 30, 2004'' and
inserting ``July 31, 2004''.
(h) Research Funds.--Section 8(h) of the Surface
Transportation Extension Act of 2003 (118 Stat. 635) is
amended to read as follows:
``(h) Allocation of Research Funds for October 1, 2003,
Through July 31, 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 July
31, 2004--
``(1) not less than $4,349,188 shall be available for
providing rural transportation assistance under section
5311(b)(2) of such title;
``(2) not less than $6,834,438 shall be available for
carrying out transit cooperative research programs under
section 5313(a) of such title;
``(3) not less than $3,313,667 shall be available to carry
out programs under the National Transit Institute under
section 5315 of such title, including not more than $828,416
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 ``June 30, 2004'' and
inserting ``July 31, 2004'';
(2) in subparagraph (A)--
(A) by striking ``$3,578,760'' and inserting
``$3,976,400''; and
(B) by striking ``June 30, 2004'' and inserting ``July 31,
2004'';
(3) in subparagraph (B)--
(A) by striking ``$894,690'' and inserting ``$994,100'';
and
(B) by striking ``June 30, 2004'' and inserting ``July 31,
2004''; and
(4) in subparagraph (C) by striking ``June 30, 2004'' each
place it appears and inserting ``July 31, 2004''.
(j) University Transportation Research Funds.--
(1) In general.--Section 8(j) of the Surface Transportation
Extension Act of 2003 (118 Stat. 635) 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 July 31, 2004--
``(A) $1,656,833 shall be available for the center
identified in section 5505(j)(4)(A) of such title; and
``(B) $1,656,833 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 July 31, 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; 118 Stat. 636) is
amended by striking ``June 30, 2004'' and inserting ``July
31, 2004''.
(k) Administration Authorizations.--Section 5338(f)(2) of
title 49, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in the heading by striking ``June 30, 2004'' and
inserting ``July 31, 2004'';
(2) in subparagraph (A)(vi)--
(A) by striking ``$45,032,730'' and inserting
``$50,036,366''; and
(B) by striking ``June 30, 2004'' and inserting ``July 31,
2004''; and
(3) in subparagraph (B)(vi)--
(A) by striking ``$11,258,183'' and inserting
``$12,509,093''; and
(B) by striking ``June 30, 2004'' and inserting ``July 31,
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) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)(A)(vi)--
(A) by striking ``$74,557,500'' and inserting
``$82,841,667''; and
(B) by striking ``June 30, 2004'' and inserting ``July 31,
2004'';
(2) in paragraph (1)(B)(vi)--
(A) by striking ``$18,639,375'' and inserting
``$20,710,416''; and
(B) by striking ``June 30, 2004'' and inserting ``July 31,
2004'';
(3) in paragraph (2) by striking ``June 30, 2004,
$7,455,750'' and inserting ``July 31, 2004, $8,284,166''; and
(4) in paragraph (4) by striking ``$14,911,500'' and
inserting ``$16,568,333''.
(m) Rural Transportation Accessibility Incentive Program.--
Section 3038(g) of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st
Century (49 U.S.C. 5310 note) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)(F)--
(A) by striking ``$3,914,268'' and inserting
``$4,349,188''; and
(B) by striking ``June 30, 2004'' and inserting ``July 31,
2004''; and
(2) in paragraph (2)--
(A) by striking ``$1,267,478'' and inserting
``$1,408,308''; and
(B) by striking ``June 30, 2004'' and inserting ``July 31,
2004''.
(n) Urbanized Area Formula Grants.--Section 5307(b)(2) of
title 49, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in the heading by striking ``June 30, 2004'' and
inserting ``July 31, 2004''; and
(2) in subparagraph (A) by striking ``June 30, 2004'' and
inserting ``July 31, 2004'';
(o) Obligation Ceiling.--Section 3040(6) of the
Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (112 Stat.
394; 118 Stat. 637) is amended--
(1) by striking ``$5,449,407,675'' and inserting
``$6,054,897,417''; and
(2) by striking ``June 30, 2004'' and inserting ``July 31,
2004''.
(p) Fuel Cell Bus and Bus Facilities Program.--Section
3015(b) of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century
(112 Stat. 361; 118 Stat. 637) is amended--
(1) by striking ``June 30, 2004'' and inserting ``July 31,
2004''; and
(2) by striking ``$3,616,039'' and inserting
``$4,017,821''.
(q) Advanced Technology Pilot Project.--Section 3015(c)(2)
of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (49
U.S.C. 322 note; 118 Stat. 637) is amended--
(1) by striking ``June 30, 2004'' and inserting ``July 31,
2004,''; and
(2) by striking ``$3,727,876'' and inserting
``$4,142,083''.
(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.
637) is amended by striking ``June 30, 2004'' each place it
appears and inserting ``July 31, 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; 117 Stat. 1126; 118 Stat.
489; 118 Stat. 637) is amended by striking ``June 30, 2004''
each place it appears and inserting ``July 31, 2004''.
(t) Treatment of Funds.--Section 8(t) of the Surface
Transportation Extension Act of 2003 (23 U.S.C. 101 note; 118
Stat. 637) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1) by striking ``and by section 7 of the
Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2004, Part II'' and
inserting ``, by section 7 of the Surface Transportation
Extension Act of 2004, Part II, and by section 7 of the
Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2004, Part III''; and
(2) in paragraph (2) by striking ``\9/12\'' and inserting
``\10/12\''.
(u) Local Share.--Section 3011(a) of the Transportation
Equity Act for the 21st Century (49 U.S.C. 5307 note; 118
Stat. 637) is amended by striking ``June 30'' and inserting
``July 31''.
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; 118 Stat. 637) is
amended by striking ``, and $123,019,875 for the period of
October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004'' and inserting ``,
and $136,688,750 for the period of October 1, 2003, through
July 31, 2004''.
(b) Highway Safety Research and Development.--Section
2009(a)(2) of such Act (112 Stat. 337; 117 Stat. 1119; 118
Stat. 489; 118 Stat. 637) is amended by striking
``$53,681,400 for the period of October 1, 2003, through June
30, 2004'' and inserting ``$59,646,000 for the period of
October 1, 2003, through July 31, 2004''.
(c) Occupant Protection Incentive Grants-.--Section
2009(a)(3) of such Act (112 Stat. 337; 117 Stat. 1120; 118
Stat. 489; 118 Stat. 638) is amended by striking
``$14,911,500 for the period of October 1, 2003, through June
30, 2004'' and inserting ``$16,568,333 for the period of
October 1, 2003, through July 31, 2004''.
(d) Alcohol-Impaired Driving Countermeasures Incentive
Grants.--Section 2009(a)(4) of such Act (112 Stat. 337; 117
Stat. 1120; 118 Stat. 489; 118 Stat. 638) is amended by
striking ``$29,823,000 for the period of October 1, 2003,
through June 30, 2004'' and inserting ``$33,136,667 for the
period of October 1, 2003, through July 31, 2004''.
(e) National Driver Register.--Section 2009(a)(6) of such
Act (112 Stat. 338; 117 Stat. 1120; 118 Stat. 638) is amended
by striking ``$2,684,070 for the period of October 1, 2003,
through June 30, 2004'' and inserting ``$2,982,300 for the
period of October 1, 2003, through July 31, 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; 118 Stat. 638) is amended by striking
``$131,811,967 for the period October 1, 2003
[[Page H4782]]
through June 30, 2004'' and inserting ``$146,725,000 for the
period October 1, 2003, through July 31, 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 $140,833,333 for the period of October
1, 2003, through July 31, 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) $16,666,667 for the period of October 1, 2003,
through July 31, 2004.''.
(2) Emergency cdl grants.--Section 7(c)(2) of the Surface
Transportation Extension Act of 2003 (117 Stat. 1121; 118
Stat. 490; 118 Stat. 638) is amended--
(A) by striking ``June 30,'' and inserting ``July 31,'';
and
(B) by striking ``$748,634'' and inserting ``$833,333''.
(d) Crash Causation Study.--Section 7(d) of such Act (117
Stat. 1121; 118 Stat. 490; 118 Stat. 638) is amended--
(1) by striking ``$748,634'' and inserting ``$833,333'';
and
(2) by striking ``June 30'' and inserting ``July 31''.
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
``July 1, 2004'' and inserting ``August 1, 2004'',
(B) by striking ``or'' at the end of subparagraph (G),
(C) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (H)
and inserting ``, or'',
(D) by inserting after subparagraph (H), the following new
subparagraph:
``(I) authorized to be paid out of the Highway Trust Fund
under the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2004, Part
III.'', and
(E) in the matter after subparagraph (I), as added by this
paragraph, by striking ``Surface Transportation Extension Act
of 2004, Part II'' and inserting ``Surface Transportation
Extension Act of 2004, Part III''.
(2) Mass transit account.--Paragraph (3) of section 9503(e)
of such Code is amended--
(A) in the matter before subparagraph (A), by striking
``July 1, 2004'' and inserting ``August 1, 2004'',
(B) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``or'' at the end of
such subparagraph,
(C) in subparagraph (F), by inserting ``, or'' at the end
of such subparagraph,
(D) by inserting after subparagraph (F) the following new
subparagraph:
``(G) the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2004,
Part III,'', and
(E) in the matter after subparagraph (G), as added by this
paragraph, by striking ``Surface Transportation Extension Act
of 2004, Part II'' and inserting ``Surface Transportation
Extension Act of 2004, Part III''.
(3) Exception to limitation on transfers.--Subparagraph (B)
of section 9503(b)(5) of such Code is amended by striking
``July 1, 2004'' and inserting ``August 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, Part II'' each place it appears and inserting ``Surface
Transportation Extension Act of 2004, Part III''.
(2) Boat safety account.--Subsection (c) of section 9504 of
such Code is amended--
(A) by striking ``July 1, 2004'' and inserting ``August 1,
2004'', and
(B) by striking ``Surface Transportation Extension Act of
2004, Part II'' and inserting ``Surface Transportation
Extension Act of 2004, Part III''.
(3) Exception to limitation on transfers.--Paragraph (2) of
section 9504(d) of such Code is amended by striking ``July 1,
2004'' and inserting ``August 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 July 31,
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 Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar) 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, the purpose of the H.R. 4635, the
Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2004 Part III is the
continuation of the highway construction and highway safety transit,
motor carrier, and surface transportation research programs for an
additional 10 months beyond the end of fiscal year 2003.
This is the fourth extension of the Transportation Equity Act of the
21st Century, which expired on September 30, 2003. In September 2003,
we extended these programs for 5 months until February 29, 2004. Since
then, we have passed two subsequent 2-month extensions, STEA 2004,
parts 1 and 2, and are now facing the expiration of the current
extension on June 30.
This extension will continue highway transit and highway safety
programs for one more month until July 31, 2004. It is the hope of the
conferees that H.R. 3550, the 6-year service transportation
reauthorization bill, that we will complete conference before the
extension expires.
H.R. 4635 authorizes almost $27 billion in contract authority to the
States to continue the core Federal aid highway program.
This bill also authorizes $6 billion to continued grants to transit
agencies around the country and other programs of the Federal Transit
Administration.
It authorizes $306 million for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration for State grants to enforce safety regulation on our
Nation's highways and to continue safety inspections at our border with
Mexico.
And, finally, the bill authorizes $249 million to the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration for highway safety grants,
occupant protection grants, and impaired driving countermeasure grants.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, the late Ronald Reagan was fond of saying, ``Here we go
again.'' This is the third act of a play that does not have a number of
acts pinned to it yet. In fact, we are setting a record today. This
will be the longest extension of a transportation bill while working
out a conference in recent memory, at least in the last decade or so.
Now, that is not any fault of anyone in this body. Certainly not of
the chairman. If the chairman had his way, we would have had this bill
done 6 months to be at the $375 billion level. We will be building
highways right now and bridges and transit systems. We would be
investing in America. We would be on our way to having 475,000 new jobs
in the marketplace by Labor Day and $80 billion of economic activity in
the marketplace. We would have America back to work again if only the
White House would have listened to our chairman.
And I must say, Mr. Speaker, I have the greatest admiration for our
chairman for standing up to this administration saying what he thinks
is right. I remember in days when we had a Democratic administration we
were add odds with them. It was not pleasant, but one had to stand up
for what our committee position is and what we believe is the right
thing to do and we did it. And the gentleman from Alaska (Chairman
Young) has done so. And his wisdom has been rejected.
We should have had this conference all done and completed with. It is
all over one issue, how much are we willing to invest in America in our
transportation and mobility, in reducing congestion, improving
productivity, moving America forward, reducing the cost of logistics in
this country, that is what we ought to be doing, instead of dragging
our feet over this issue of fiscal conservatism, some imagined effect
upon the deficit.
The Federal aid highway program and transit program has no effect on
our deficit unless you engage in some fanciful financing, some of which
is included in the bill that is the only bill that is now in
conference.
We can resolve all of that. The Federal highway trust fund is derived
from the revenues collected at the pump which traveling America pays.
They
[[Page H4783]]
expect to get the return as they drive away from the pump in the form
of improved roads and transit systems and bridges and safety. And we
have performed. We have done that through the Surface Transportation
Assistance Act of 1982 and 1987 and ISTEA in 1991, TEA-21 in 1998 and
we are prepared to do that with TEA-LU.
The investment for the next 6 years is at a level that the Department
of Transportation, not this committee, selected, the one that they
studied as directed by TEA-21 to assess pavement condition, congestion,
bridge conditions, safety needs and investment requirements for the
future, and they came back with this figure of $375 billion.
We took them at their word. We held hearings on it. We traveled
around the country. We went to congested areas of great need in America
by holding public meetings, committee hearings. We validated that
figure. We reported it out of our committee. With 74, 75 members, that
does not get anymore bipartisan than that.
And I have said it many times, how can it be a political detriment to
the President if the Democrats in the House, Democrats in the Senate
all stand side by side with the Republicans and vote for this bill, a
robust investment in the needs of America, in transportation, in
mobility, in reducing the cost of logistics. If we all stand shoulder
to shoulder, that is not a partisan issue. That is not a slur on the
President.
{time} 1145
There is no way he could be criticized for signing such a bill, and
we are prepared to say this is the right thing to do. We have said it.
So let us get on with this.
Now, there are discussions, back door, called it in one meeting kind
of a Kabuki dance, wearing a mask, putting on a uniform and doing this
dance, and we are supposed to understand what is happening behind the
dance. On our side, we are not participants in that dance. We do not
know what that number is going to come out of that dance, but so far
the numbers are not good.
We did the right thing in this Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure. We agreed to scale back the 375, bring a smaller dollar
amount to the House floor, with a wink from the leadership that if we
bring this bill through the House, go to conference, that number will
go up from the House figure. Nominally 275, actually 284, it will get
up there to $300 billion, maybe even beyond; and I give the Speaker
enormous credit because he understands what we need to do for America,
for our mobility, to reduce congestion, create jobs. He understands
that. He has argued. He has been an advocate at the White House. He has
been turned down.
So now we are at that point in conference, and the wink is like the
Cheshire cat's smile, fading. So we are going to go along with this Act
III of a multi-act play extension and trust in the enormous fortitude
of our chairman, the advocate of what is right, as he has done right
along, and advance the cause of transportation in America; but it is
not going to be below the House number, I tell my colleagues that.
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 that wrote this bill.
Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I thank my chairman for the time, and I
assure my senior minority leader on the committee that it is often
darkest before the dawn, and I think there will be a dawn before long
for transportation in America. I certainly hope so. One way or another,
we will meet our Nation's needs.
I rise in support of this bill to extend to July 30 current highway
transit and highway safety programs. We have done it several times in
the past. We are bringing this bill to the floor today in order to
ensure that these programs continue to function and that funds be made
available to the States while House and Senate conferees proceed with
negotiations on a long-term bill.
Mr. Speaker, it is important we have a multiyear bill that provides
adequate and needed resources to invest in our Nation's transportation
systems. In preparation for this reauthorization effort, I and many of
my colleagues on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, as
has been pointed out, traveled to meetings with Governors, mayors,
local officials all across our country. Each of them showed us the
pressing transportation needs that their cities and States have in
order to improve safety, reduce congestion, and provide for a first-
class transportation network that is essential for economic growth and
opportunity.
There are many demands being placed upon us as we seek to reauthorize
TEA-21. Donor States want to see improvement in their rate of return on
Federal highway dollars. Members from States with trade corridors want
to see adequate investment to construct needed roads like I-69, I-49
and Ports-to-Planes, to name only a few.
Cities and States that need to complete massive projects, such as the
multibillion dollar viaduct project in Seattle or the rail
consolidation project in Chicago, find themselves overwhelmed by their
financial costs and are seeking Federal help, and almost every Member
of this body has approached the committee regarding pressing
transportation projects that are crucial in their district.
All of these are legitimate goals, but we must have the resources if
we are, in fact, to respond.
As we continue negotiations to resolve these and other questions, I
urge the approval of this extension so that needed funds can continue
to flow to the States and so work on critical transportation projects
can move forward.
Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I would like to inquire of the Chair how
much time remains on both sides.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Ose). The gentleman from Minnesota (Mr.
Oberstar) has 13 minutes remaining. The gentleman from Alaska (Mr.
Young) has 15\1/2\ minutes remaining.
Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman
from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer).
Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman's courtesy,
and I appreciate his leadership.
We have another extension, another opportunity to do it right for
America. We need to send signals to the vast team that builds,
maintains, and repairs our infrastructure, to say nothing of the
American people who own it and who use it and who depend upon it every
day.
The bill in question goes far beyond bridges, bikes, and buses. It
includes historic preservation, key environmental and economic
revitalization for cities large and small, for suburbs and rural areas.
I hope that our conference committee will reject the White House
insistence on somehow using this bill to atone for their budget
problems and the sea of red ink that we are faced with with the
deficit.
The $318 billion that was the bill funding level from the other body
is a start to keep faith with the American public's needs and
aspirations. I would hope that our conference committee, in the course
of this next month, will hold strong, to set the level for what America
needs, the bill that was so effectively championed by our committee
chairman and ranking member. The $375 billion, after all, was not
plucked out of the air. This was the figure that the administration's
own Department of Transportation set as the needed level.
There is, I suppose, an opportunity for some sort of mechanism of a
reopener. It may well be that we reach a point where these demands
between the White House and what America needs and what various
constituencies within this House require, that maybe we just decide
that we kick the can down the road until after the election. But this
is one area that we cannot afford to fail.
We are not just talking about the next 6 years of reauthorization. We
are talking about a funding level, if we are not careful, that will
establish a floor for the next generation where we will be playing
catch-up.
I appreciate the leadership of the chairman, of the ranking member,
and the conference committee. I wish them well, and I hope that when we
come back next that we will have the bill that America deserves.
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
[[Page H4784]]
I thank the gentleman for his comments and especially the gentleman
from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar) for his comments. I can assure him there
will not be any less out of this conference than we passed in the
House, and I am praying that there will be more.
It is ironic that when we meet with the other side of the aisle, I
know I am not supposed to mention that, I want their number, and we are
suggesting that maybe their number is correct, but I am faced with a
very difficult task now of bringing a third party into this agreement;
and I am not giving up on this legislation. I think it is vitally
important for the Nation.
I think if we stand together shoulder to shoulder that we will
eventually prevail. If we do not, it will be a terrible disservice to
this Nation as far as our transportation, not wants, but needs; and I
want to stress that.
I believe, Mr. Speaker, that when I first came out 3 years ago for
$375 billion I was correct then. I am more correct now, and I will be
more correct in the future. It is a number that we need to solve this
very serious problem. We all know, and anybody on this floor that has
constituents knows, that the one issue we all share in common is not
the necessary fear of terrorism. That is very serious in itself, but it
is the constant problem of moving oneself, be it their children or
himself or herself, to and from the home, to school or to work, and to
receive goods on time, and we have to understand that; and the public
is crying out, let us solve this problem, and they are willing to pay
for it.
I have lost that battle now, but in the House bill my colleagues are
well aware we have a reopening clause, and I am going to continue the
pursue, and I am confident that the public finally will raise up and
say let us fix it. This extension gives us some time. I am hoping we
will not have to ask for another, but let us fix the problem of this
transportation challenge we have in this Nation. Let us do it quicker
than later.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Oregon (Mr. DeFazio).
Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for the time.
Well, as the chairman said, he is almost always correct, and he was
certainly correct with the number of $375 billion. It was confirmed by
our own Federal Department of Transportation.
This is an essential investment. This is an investment. There are a
lot of things we do around here where we are spending money. We do not
see a real product, but in this case it is an investment in the future
of our country. As the chairman said, it has to do with our economic
competitiveness.
We are concerned about the economy and the need to put people back to
work and competitiveness in our businesses. This is about just-in-time
delivery. We cannot have just-in-time delivery when we have to divert a
truck for 2 or 300 miles because of a failing weight-limited bridge, as
exists all over the country; and a number of bridges are in that
condition on Interstate 5 in my State.
It is about livability. It is about dealing with congestion,
management, movement of people; and it is also about jobs, and that is
a very important part of this debate that we cannot leave out.
The difference between the number being asked at the White House and
the number put forward by the chairman, supported by, I believe, every
other member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
figures out to about 1 million jobs a year over 6 years. For every
billion dollars we invest in the infrastructure of this country,
transportation infrastructure, it yields about 47,000 jobs, direct
construction jobs, small business suppliers, and spillover effects into
our communities.
So the difference in the number, and I hope they are listening down
at the White House, is 1 million jobs a year over 6 years. Now, why can
we not get there? A lot of people do not seem to know about the Highway
Trust Fund. We have a very robust Highway Trust Fund and a substantial
balance. We can spend down some of that balance. We can capture the
ethanol money that is being used to subsidize that product of dubious
value. We could look at bonding. We could do all of this without
increasing taxes. We could get to a much higher number, even a number
higher than that in the United States Senate; but minimally, I would
hope that that is where we can end up in these negotiations.
It has been 9 months, 9 months that we have been acting under
temporary legislation that does not allow us to fully address the needs
of this country and increase the investment in our infrastructure. Nine
months is too long. Let us not let it go beyond this one more temporary
extension. Let us get a robust bill this summer before Congress leaves
for its August recess.
I thank the gentleman for yielding the time.
Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, can I inquire of my chairman whether he
has any other speakers.
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Not at this time; I do not believe I will.
Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I will make a few remarks and close and yield back, and I thank the
gentlemen from Oregon for their remarks. I appreciate their support all
along, and I appreciate the leadership, once again I want to say, I
cannot say it often enough, of our chairman who has stood up against
remarkable odds.
The term that we use in this committee, ``investment,'' is the way to
describe what our committee is all about. This is a committee about
building America, whether it is our inland waterways, our coastal
ports, our inland ports, our St. Louis seaway, our passenger rail
system, transit ways, bus ways, our airports, airways, Corps of
Engineer works, the water and sewer system needs of America, Economic
Development Administration creating jobs. The Tennessee Valley
Authority comes under the jurisdiction of our committee.
{time} 1200
Airport, airways, safety of air traffic control system, everything
this committee does is involved in building America, investing in our
productivity, investing in logistics, the cost of moving people and
goods. Because of those investments, we have improved the marketplace
in America.
In 1987, the cost of logistics, moving people and goods, was 17
percent of our gross domestic product. In 1987. Last year, the cost of
logistics was under 10 percent. That is a $700 billion gain in
productivity in logistics, moving people and goods in the American
economy, society and marketplace. That is a huge productivity gain. The
stock market does not make that kind of gain. But we do, with the
investments that we make in this committee that stimulate the national
economy.
Now, when we talk about investment in surface transportation, think
of the Romans and the Appian Way, the classic roadway built that is
still there 2,000 years later. If we do not continue to improve,
continue to invest, continue to tend to the needs of transportation,
our roadways are not going to last for 2,000 years. They will not even
last for 25 or 30 years. Airport runways are supposed to last for 25
years, and then suddenly they begin to deteriorate. That is why we have
to continue to invest in the Airport Improvement Program, to keep
America flying, keep our economy moving. And the same with our surface
transportation needs.
We have the key to doing it in the $375 billion. And when that bill
was introduced in the House last year, the price of gasoline was $1.34
a gallon. Now, it is, in some places, as much as $2.24 a gallon. And
where is that 70, 80 cents going? It is not staying in America. It is
going overseas. Going to OPEC. We are not getting the benefit from it,
except that you can power your automobile. But if we had passed our
bill with the 5 cent increase in the user fee, we would be making those
investments right now. We would have people working improving our
roadways, reducing congestion. We can do it.
Every 5-minute delay experienced by United Parcel Service costs $40
million nationwide. Multiply that cost over and you get to the $68
billion cost of congestion in just the 75 major metropolitan area in
the country. That is why we need to do this legislation. That is why we
need this bill passed and why we need the Chairman's leadership in the
conference.
[[Page H4785]]
I want to stand for the reopener, I want to stand for the more robust
investment we passed in the House, and I want to see this 30-day
extension, this record-breaking extension passed.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I was listening to the gentleman speak on the issue about the needs
for a user fee, and he is absolutely right. Again, I hope the American
public will speak out, because every day that it goes up higher, I
believe last year it was $2.55 for the premium gas, it is now $2.25 for
regular, none of that goes into the highway construction. It goes
overseas. Unless people like supporting those countries who are not
friendly to us, those countries that take our dollars and use them for
terrorism purposes, maybe unknowingly, I hope the American public will
wake up and say enough is enough. If we have to spend this on fuel,
then let us spend it in America.
So I compliment the gentleman for his comments and the concept that
we will continue to talk about, which are the needs. Again, I want to
stress, not the ``wants,'' contrary to what you may read, but the
``needs.'' So I do compliment the gentleman.
Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Surface
Transportation Extension Act before us today. I realize another
extension is needed to keep the process moving forward. But I think we
need to stop voting on extensions and solve the greater issue of
passing a 6-year transportation reauthorization bill with enough
funding behind it to put people back to work all across America.
The transportation infrastructure is critical to America for several
reasons. First, our entire interstate highway system was created by
President Eisenhower as a national security safety measure and that
remains a priority today. Second, Americans rely on roads, bridges and
tunnels to live their lives each and every day. We use them to get to
and from work, to travel on vacation, and to visit friends and family.
Third, and most important today, building and maintaining our
transportation infrastructure means creating jobs all across America--
over 2 million jobs that cannot be outsourced. Jobs to the cities,
counties, towns and states throughout this nation that are vitally
needed.
The construction industry is a key pillar to any economic recovery
providing the much needed stimulus for thousands of related industry
jobs. Unlike other important issues, transportation requires long-term
planning and investments to keep the nation moving efficiently and
safely. Short term extensions interrupt that planning. Two-year funding
commitments threaten to destroy plans. This nation needs Congress to
act now, to pass the bi-partisan compromise of a $318 billion funding
level for a six-year bill. Anything less will only short change the
nation and keep Americans out of work.
Pushing for a conference report that provides the bill America needs
should not be about partisan politics. As a former county executive, I
understand what transportation funding means to people outside of the
beltway. A six year $318 billion transportation reauthorization bill is
supported by local leaders nationwide. It has been endorsed by the
National Association of Counties, National League of Cities, United
Conference of Mayors, American Public Works Association, Association of
Metropolitan Planning Organizations, National Association of County
Engineers, National Association of Development Organizations, and the
National Association of Regional Councils.
Finally, it is important to remember that a large price tag on
transportation reauthorization does not mean adding to the deficit.
This bill is funded through the Highway Trust Fund and any measures not
fully offset in the Senate version can be addressed in conference. If
Members--both Democrat and Republican, both House and Senate--are
serious about jump starting the economy for working Americans and
putting Americans back to work we must enact the six year $318 billion
reauthorization now.
I urge leadership on both sides of the aisle in both chambers to set
the politics aside and do what is right for America. Let's bring this
conference report to the floor immediately. Let's pass it and send it
to the President.
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my
time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Simmons). 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. 4635.
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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