[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 97 (Friday, June 25, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1212]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     H.R. 5604, THE ``SURFACE TRANSPORTATION SAVINGS ACT OF 2010''

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. THOMAS S. P. PERRIELLO

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 25, 2010

  Mr. PERRIELLO. Madam Speaker, today I am joined by my colleague, the 
gentleman from Michigan, Mr. Schauer, to introduce the ``Surface 
Transportation Savings Act of 2010.'' This bill will reduce the 
Nation's deficit by $106.8 million by rescinding contract authority 
made available to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 
(NHTSA) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) that the agencies 
cannot use in fiscal year (FY) 2010.
  At this time of rising budget deficits and reduced revenues caused by 
the worst economic recession since the Great Depression, it is 
imperative that we take every step we can to efficiently and 
effectively manage taxpayer dollars. By eliminating funds that these 
agencies cannot use, this legislation will take steps--small as they 
may appear--toward reducing the Federal budget deficit, which reached 
$1.4 trillion in FY 2009.
  Eliminating excess funding that agencies cannot use is a common sense 
and practical step toward improving the nation's fiscal foundation 
while efforts to repair our ailing economy continue to take place 
across the nation.
  NHTSA's safety belt performance grants program received $124.5 
million in FY 2010 to carry out this important incentive grant program. 
NHTSA has informed us that only three states are expected to qualify to 
receive an incentive grant under this program this year. Therefore, 
NHTSA requires no more than $28.5 million in FY 2010 to carry out the 
authorized activities of this program. Since NHTSA does not have the 
ability to redistribute the unallocated funds in FY 2010, H.R. 5604 
would rescind $81.0 million of contract authority from this program.
  The Surface Transportation Savings Act also rescinds $8.5 million of 
contract authority from NHTSA's administrative expenses, National 
Driver Register and research and development programs. This excess 
contract authority was made available under the extension of current 
surface transportation programs passed as part of the Hiring Incentives 
to Restore Employment Act (HIRE Act). Because the amounts provided for 
these programs is greater than the funding levels provided by the 
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies 
Appropriations Act, 2010, NHTSA cannot use these fund in FY 2010.
  Specifically, H.R. 5604 would rescind $6.4 million of contract 
authority authorized for NHTSA's administrative expenses; $1.8 million 
of contract authority authorized for NHTSA's highway safety research 
and development program; and $78,000 of amounts authorized for NHTSA to 
carry out the National Driver Register.
  Finally, H.R. 5604 rescinds $17.4 million of contract authority from 
FTA's formula and bus grant programs. The HIRE Act provides $8.361 
billion in FY 2010 to carry out FTA's formula and bus grant programs. 
This funding level is $17.4 million greater than the funding level 
provided by the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and 
Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010, and thus FTA cannot use 
these funds.
  Madam Speaker, reducing the nation's growing budget deficit is 
crucial to our long-term financial health and economic prosperity. In 
these difficult economic times, we must look particularly hard for each 
and every opportunity to address the deficits and debt we are leaving 
for future generations. The legislation Mr. Schauer and I are 
introducing today is a common sense step in that direction.

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