[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 125 (Friday, September 29, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1961]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       SAFETEA-LU AMENDMENTS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. DON YOUNG

                               of alaska

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 29, 2006

  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I insert in the Record a letter 
from me to Speaker Hastert regarding H.R. 5689, making technical 
corrections to SAFETEA-LU

         House of Representatives, Committee on Transportation and 
           Infrastructure,
                               Washington, DC, September 29, 2006.
     Hon. Dennis J. Hastert,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Speaker: On June 28, 2006 the House passed H.R. 
     5689, making technical corrections to the Safe, Accountable, 
     Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for 
     Users (SAFETEA: LU). Yesterday, I introduced a bill that 
     revises H.R. 5689 to incorporate changes that the Senate has 
     asked us to include (H.R. 6233). These changes are necessary 
     to ensure that all policies, programs and projects embodied 
     in last year's long-term highway, transit, and highway safety 
     authorization bill are implemented as intended by the 
     Congress.
       On September 14, 2006 the House passed H. Res. 1000, 
     instituting a new standing order of the House with regard to 
     earmarks in authorization, appropriations, and tax measures. 
     H. Res. 1000 provides that, in order to consider a bill, the 
     committee of jurisdiction must list all earmarks included in 
     the bill and committee report along with the names of Members 
     requesting the earmarks.
       The bi-partisan bill that I introduced yesterday has not 
     been reported by the Committee, so there is no report or list 
     of earmarks. In reading the standing order, I concluded that 
     the requirement that a list appear with this bill does not 
     apply because the point of order described in section 1(c) of 
     H. Res. 1000 does not lie against a bill considered under 
     suspension of the rules. I intend to move to suspend the 
     rules of the House to pass H.R. 6233.
       This bill does not increase the amount of funding that is 
     designated for projects in SAFETEA: LU. There are changes to 
     the descriptions of projects that are currently in SAFETEA: 
     LU and there are some projects to replace projects in 
     SAFETEA: LU that cannot be executed or implemented. In this 
     correction bill, however, the total amount of funding 
     designated for projects is identical to the amount that was 
     designated in SAFETEA: LU.
       Where this bill does provide funding (which is offset by a 
     rescission of contract authority), the legislative sections 
     providing such funding do not meet the earmarking definition, 
     because no entity is named as the intended recipient of the 
     funds. Where this bill does designate specific entities, or 
     amend underlying project designations in SAFETEA: LU, it does 
     not provide new funding. In addition this bill provides for 
     no new outlays. In fact, the Congressional Budget Office has 
     scored the bill as reducing contract authority by $4 million 
     over five years.
       Thank you for your consideration of this matter.
           Sincerely,
                                                        Don Young,
     Chairman

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