[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 8 (Tuesday, February 1, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S745]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. LAUTENBERG:
  S. 237. A bill to amend title 23, United States Code, to ensure that 
certain states remain eligible for Federal highway funds; to the 
Committee on Environment and Public Works.
  Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I rise to introduce a bill to correct 
a serious problem in Federal law which prevents States like New Jersey 
from receiving vital Federal highway funds under certain conditions.
  On September 22, 2004, former New Jersey Governor James McGreevey 
issued an Executive Order that prohibited the State from entering into 
certain contracts. Governor McGreevey took this step to ensure fairness 
and transparency in the contracting process, and under current Federal 
laws, our State is being punished for it.
  Bush administration officials interpreted Federal law as prohibiting 
this type of action by New Jersey and consequently withheld 
authorization of Federal funding for highway projects in our State, 
putting some $250 million in highway projects at risk.
  I worked with Department of Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta in 
an attempt to resolve this problem quickly. Ultimately, Acting Governor 
Richard Codey reluctantly suspended the part of the Executive Order 
causing the problem. But since that's not really a permanent solution, 
I am introducing this legislation today.
  New Jersey's transportation infrastructure is vital to millions of 
travelers and the entire East Coast economy. It is estimated that some 
70 billion vehicle miles are traveled in New Jersey each year, but only 
6 million drivers are licensed in our State. In addition, projected 
increases in port traffic will put 80 percent more trucks on the roads 
in the next 15 years, which will exacerbate congestion and continue to 
tax our infrastructure.
  In short, I believe that New Jersey's good intentions should not cost 
our State the Federal highway funding we need so desperately.
  I thank my colleague and friend Senator Corzine for co-sponsoring 
this legislation, and I look forward to working with my colleagues in 
getting it enacted.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 237

       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 ``Pay to Play Reform 
     Protection Act''.

     SEC. 2. PAY TO PLAY REFORM.

       Section 112 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:
       ``(h) Construction.--Nothing in this section prohibits a 
     State from enacting a law or issuing an order that limits the 
     amount of money an individual who is doing business with a 
     State agency for a Federal-aid highway project may contribute 
     to a political campaign.''.
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