[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Pages 10926-10929]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 
                            2001--Continued


               Amendments Nos. 3441, 3443, 3445, En Bloc

  Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I call up the following amendments and ask 
for their immediate adoption. They have cleared on both sides: No. 3441 
on behalf of Senator McCain, Nos. 3443 and 3445 on behalf of Senator 
Torricelli.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Alabama [Mr. Shelby], proposes amendments 
     numbered 3443, and 3445.

  The amendments are as follows:


                           amendment no. 3441

    (Purpose: To require a cap on the total amount of Federal funds 
               invested in Boston's ``Big Dig'' project)

       At the appropriate place insert the following:

     SEC.  . CAP AGREEMENT FOR BOSTON ``BIG DIG''.

       No funds appropriated by this Act may be used by the 
     Department of Transportation to cover the administrative 
     costs (including salaries and expenses of officers and 
     employees of the Department) to authorize project approvals 
     or advance construction authority for the Central Artery/
     Third Harbor Tunnel project in Boston, Massachusetts, until 
     the Secretary of Transportation and the State of 
     Massachusetts have entered into a written agreement that 
     limits the total Federal contribution to the project to not 
     more than $8.549 billion.
                                  ____



                           AMENDMENT NO. 3443

  (Purpose: To express the sense of the Senate that Congress and the 
 President should immediately take steps to address the growing safety 
 hazard associated with the lack of adequate parking space for trucks 
                       along Interstate highways)

       At the appropriate place in title III, insert the 
     following:

     SEC. 3__. PARKING SPACE FOR TRUCKS.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) in 1998, there were 5,374 truck-related highway 
     fatalities and 4,935 trucks involved in fatal crashes;
       (2) a Special Investigation Report published by the 
     National Transportation Safety Board in May 2000 found that 
     research conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety 
     Administration suggests that truck driver fatigue is a 
     contributing factor in as many as 30 to 40 percent of all 
     heavy truck accidents;
       (3) a 1995 Transportation Safety Board Study found that the 
     availability of parking for truck drivers can have a direct 
     impact on the incidence of fatigue-related accidents;
       (4) a 1996 study by the Federal Highway Administration 
     found that there is a nationwide shortfall of 28,400 truck 
     parking spaces in public rest areas, a number expected to 
     reach 39,000 by 2005;
       (5) a 1999 survey conducted by the Owner-Operator 
     Independent Drivers Association found that over 90 percent of 
     its members have difficulty finding parking spaces in rest 
     areas at least once a week; and
       (6) because of overcrowding at rest areas, truckers are 
     increasingly forced to park on the entrance and exit ramps of 
     highways, in shopping center parking lots, at shipper 
     locations, and on the shoulders of roadways, thereby 
     increasing the risk of serious accidents.
       (b) Sense of the Senate.--It is the sense of the Senate 
     that Congress and the President should take immediate steps 
     to address the lack of safe available commercial vehicle 
     parking along Interstate highways for truck drivers.
                                  ____



                           AMENDMENT NO. 3445

   (Purpose: Relating to a study of adverse effects of idling train 
                                engines)

       At the appropriate place in the bill, insert the following:

     SEC. __. STUDY OF ADVERSE EFFECTS OF IDLING TRAIN ENGINES.

       (a) Study Required.--The Secretary of Transportation shall 
     provide under section 150303 of title 36, United States Code, 
     for the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a study on 
     noise impacts of railroad operations, including idling train 
     engines on the quality of life of nearby communities, the 
     quality of the environment (including consideration of air 
     pollution), and safety, and to submit a report on the study 
     to the Secretary. The report shall include recommendations 
     for mitigation to combat rail noise, standards for 
     determining when noise mitigation is required, needed changes 
     in Federal law to give Federal, State, and local governments 
     flexibility in combating railroad noise, and possible funding 
     mechanisms for financing mitigation projects.
       (b) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall 
     transmit to Congress the report of the National Academy of 
     Sciences on the results of the study under subsection (a).

  Mr. SHELBY. Those amendments have been cleared on both sides. I urge 
the adoption of the amendments.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there be no further debate, the question is 
on agreeing to the amendments.
  The amendments (Nos. 3441, 3443, 3445) were agreed to en bloc.


                           Amendment No. 3441

  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, my amendment is very simple and straight 
forward. It prevents Department of Transportation officials from 
authorizing project approvals or advance construction authority for the 
Central Artery/Third Harbor Tunnel project in

[[Page 10927]]

Boston, Massachusetts, until the Secretary and the State have entered 
into a written agreement capping the federal contribution to the 
project.
  Mr. President, last month I chaired a four-hour hearing in the Senate 
Commerce Committee on the Boston Central Artery/Tunnel project--the 
biggest, most costly public works project in U.S. history--and commonly 
referred to as ``the Big Dig.'' This project has suffered from gross 
mismanagement and what appears to have been a complete lack of critical 
federal oversight. It has experienced billions of dollars in cost 
overruns.
  The Central/Artery Tunnel project was originally estimated to cost 
$2.5 billion in 1985. Today it is estimated to cost U.S. taxpayers a 
staggering $13.6 billion.
  During the Committee's hearing, there was a lengthy exchange between 
myself, Senator Kerry, Secretary Slater, and DOT-Inspector General Ken 
Mead concerning the federal obligation to this project. I argued then, 
as I do now, that there is no cap on the federal obligation. Senator 
Kerry argued there is. And Secretary Slater said we were both right!
  Let me read a few lines from the May 3rd hearing transcript:

       The Chairman: Mr. Secretary, is there a cap on the Federal 
     share of the project costs?
       Secretary Slater: Mr. Chairman, there is a cap. It is true 
     though, as you noted, and as Senator Kerry noted, that it is 
     not in the statute or necessarily in writing.

  I ask my colleagues, if it isn't in statute or in writing, then where 
is it? The answer is, of course, that it doesn't currently exist.
  Mr. President, it is not my intent to stop the Boston project. The 
project should be completed as quickly and as fiscally responsibly as 
possible.
  The purpose of my amendment is to direct the Secretary and the State 
of Massachusetts to do what the Secretary said he would do at the May 
3rd hearing--to execute a written agreement capping the federal 
obligation of the project at the level announced by the Department--
that is, no more than $8.549 billion.
  It has been six weeks since the Secretary indicated the Department 
was working on an agreement to cap the funding. DOT officials informed 
my office again today that an agreement is in the works and I am to be 
assured it will include the $8.549 billion cap. Given this, I can think 
of no reason why not to support my amendment to spur their actions to 
execute the agreement sooner rather than later.
  The House-passed DOT Appropriations bill includes a provision that 
would effectively halt the project for fiscal year 2001. My amendment 
would not do that. It just ensures that the promised written agreement 
is executed once and for all and that the American taxpayers are not on 
the hook of having any more gas tax dollars shifted away from other 
important highway infrastructure projects.
  Again, there is no cap on the Federal funding share for the project. 
In my view, a federal cap would help ensure the project managers reign 
in their run-away costs and project overruns because they will not be 
able to expect the rest of the nation's highway dollars to be funneled 
into their project.
  This amendment is fair, it is based on what the Secretary of DOT has 
promised, and it is what is already in the works. Let's help encourage 
the timely resolution of this important matter so that the needed 
continuation of construction of the Central Artery/Tunnel project is 
not further impeded.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I don't oppose Senator McCain's 
amendment. It reflects the current broad understanding about the status 
of the Central Artery/Tunnel project in Boston.
  The Big Dig project has suffered from serious cost overruns and there 
is no disagreement about who will pay for those costs. The Chairman of 
the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, the governor of Massachusetts, 
the leaders of the State legislature, the Secretary of the U.S. 
Department of Transportation, the Inspector General of the Department, 
the Massachusetts Congressional delegation, and Senator McCain all 
agree that the total federal contribution remains as it was--$8.549 
billion. It is the responsibility of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
to cover any increased costs.
  The state has developed a plan to do just that, and it is a good 
plan. The state legislature and Governor Cellucci have worked 
effectively to prepare a realistic plan to pay for the increased costs 
of the Big Dig, without asking for additional federal assistance, and 
without shortchanging important transportation projects throughout the 
rest of the state. The plan is currently being reviewed by the Federal 
Highway Administration and is likely to be approved very soon.
  It is also important to appreciate all that is involved in this 
project, and all that it will do for Boston and the region. Work of 
this magnitude and duration has never before been attempted in the 
heart of an urban area. Unlike any other major highway project, the 
Central Artery/Tunnel Project is designed to maintain traffic capacity 
and access to residents and businesses. Using new and innovative 
technology, it has kept the city open for business throughout the 
construction.
  The Big Dig is replacing the current six lane elevated roadway with 
eight to ten underground lanes. The project will create 150 acres of 
new parks and open space, including 27 acres where the existing 
elevated highway now stands.
  This is an urgently needed project. Today, the Central Artery carries 
190,000 vehicles a day with bumper-to-bumper traffic and stop-and-go 
congestion for six to eight hours every day. If nothing were done, the 
elevated highway would suffer through bumper-to-bumper conditions for 
15 to 16 hours a day by the year 2000.
  The new underground expressway will be able to carry 245,000 vehicles 
a day with minimal delays. The elimination of hours of congested 
traffic will reduce Boston carbon monoxide levels by 12 percent 
citywide. Without such improvements in its transportation, Boston would 
not be able to continue to grow as the center of economic activity for 
the state and the region.
  Work on this important project is progressing effectively again. I 
look forward to its conclusion so that the city, state, and region can 
benefit from the needed improvements this project will bring.


    Amendments Nos. 3432, As Modified; 3436, As Modified; 3438, As 
         Modified; 3447, As Modified; 3451, 3452, 3453, En Bloc

  Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I send to the desk on behalf of myself and 
Senator Lautenberg, a package of amendments and ask for their immediate 
consideration: No. 3432, as modified, by Senator Domenici; No. 3436, as 
modified, for Senator Reed; No. 3438, as modified, for Senator Kohl; 
No. 3447, as modified, for Senator Dodd; an amendment, No. 3451, for 
Senator Cochran on Star Landing Road; an amendment, No. 3452, for 
Senator Baucus and Senator Burns on highway projects on Federal land; 
an amendment No. 3453, for Senator Nickles of a technical nature.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Alabama [Mr. Shelby] proposes amendments 
     numbered 3432, as modified, 3436, as modified, 3438, as 
     modified, 3447, as modified, 3451, 3452, and 3453, en bloc.

  The amendments are as follows:


                    amendment no. 3432, as modified

       Page 16, under the heading ``facilities and equipment 
     (airport and airway trust fund)'' after ``under this head;'' 
     add ``and to make grants to carry out the Small Community Air 
     Service Development Pilot program under Sec. 41743 in title 
     49, U.S.C.;''
       Page 17, after the last proviso under the heading 
     ``facilities and equipment (airport and airway trust fund)'' 
     and before the heading ``research, engineering, and 
     development (airport and airway trust fund)'' add ``Provided 
     further, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, not 
     more than $20,000,000 of funds made available under this 
     heading in fiscal year 2001 may be obligated for grants under 
     the Small Community Air Service Development Pilot Program 
     under section 41743 of title 49, U.S.C. subject to the normal 
     reprogramming guidelines.''
                                  ____



                     amendment no. 3436,as modified

       At the appropriate place in the substituted original text, 
     insert the following;
       Sec.   . Within the funds made available in this Act, 
     $10,000,000 shall be for the costs associated with 
     construction of a third track on the Northeast Corridor 
     between

[[Page 10928]]

     Davisville and Central Falls, Rhode Island, with sufficient 
     clearance to accommodate double stack freight cars, to be 
     matched by the State of Rhode Island or its designee on a 
     dollar-for-dollar basis and to remain available until 
     expended; $2,000,000 shall be for a joint United States-
     Canada commission to study the feasibility of connecting the 
     rail system in Alaska to the North American continental rail 
     system; $400,000 shall be allocated for passenger rail 
     corridor planning activities to fund the preparation of a 
     strategic plan for development of the Gulf Coast High Speed 
     Rail Corridor; and $250,000 shall be available to the city of 
     Traverse City, Michigan comprehensive transportation plan.
                                  ____



                    AMENDMENT NO. 3438, AS MODIFIED

(Purpose: To state the sense of the Senate regarding funding for Coast 
 Guard acquisitions and for Coast Guard operations during fiscal year 
                                 2001)

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:
       Sec. __. (a) Findings.--The Senate makes the following 
     findings:
       (1) The United States Coast Guard in 1999 saved 
     approximately 3,800 lives in providing the essential service 
     of maritime safety.
       (2) The United States Coast Guard in 1999 prevented 111,689 
     pounds of cocaine and 28,872 pounds of marijuana from 
     entering the United States in providing the essential service 
     of maritime security.
       (3) The United States Coast Guard in 1999 boarded more than 
     14,000 fishing vessels to check for compliance with safety 
     and environmental laws in providing the essential service of 
     the protection of natural resources.
       (4) The United States Coast Guard in 1999 ensured the safe 
     passage of nearly 1,000,000 commercial vessel transits 
     through congested harbors with vessel traffic services in 
     providing the essential service of maritime mobility.
       (5) The United States Coast Guard in 1999 sent 
     international training teams to help more than 50 countries 
     develop their maritime services in providing the essential 
     service national defense.
       (6) Each year, the United States Coast Guard ensures the 
     safe passage of more than 200,000,000 tons of cargo cross the 
     Great Lakes including iron ore, coal, and limestone. Shipping 
     on the Great Lakes faces a unique challenge because the 
     shipping season begins and ends in ice anywhere from 3 to 15 
     feet thick. The ice-breaking vessel MACKINAW has allowed 
     commerce to continue under these conditions. However, the 
     productive life of the MACKINAW will end in 2006.
       (7) Without adequate funding, the United States Coast Guard 
     would have to radically reduce the level of service it 
     provides to the American public.
       (8) The allocation to the Committee on Appropriations of 
     the Senate of funds available for the Department of 
     Transportation and related agencies for fiscal year 2001 was 
     $1,600,000,000 less than the allocation to the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives of funds 
     available for that purpose for that fiscal year. The lower 
     allocation compelled the Subcommittee on Transportation of 
     the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate to recommend 
     reductions from the funding requested in the President budget 
     on funds available for the Coast Guard, particularly amounts 
     available for acquisitions, that may not have been imposed 
     had a larger allocation been made or had the President's 
     budget not included $212 million in new user fees on the 
     maritime community. The difference between the amount of 
     funds requested by the Coast Guard for the AC & I account and 
     the amount made available by the Committee on Appropriations 
     of the Senate for those acquisitions conflicts with the high 
     priority afforded by the Senate to AC & I procurements, which 
     are of critical national importance to commerce, navigation, 
     and safety.
       (9) Due to shortfalls in funds available for fiscal year 
     2000 and unexpected increases in personnel benefits and fuel 
     costs on the 2000 operating expenses account, the Commandant 
     of the Coast Guard has announced reductions in critical 
     operations of the Coast Guard by as much as 30 percent in 
     some areas of the United States. If left unaddressed, these 
     shortfalls may compromise the service provided by the Coast 
     Guard to the public in all areas, including drug interdiction 
     and migrant interdiction, aid to navigation, and fisheries 
     management.
       (b) Sense of Senate.--It is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) the committee of conference on the bill H.R. 4425 of 
     the 106th Congress, making appropriations for military 
     construction, family housing, and base realignment and 
     closure for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year 
     ending September 30, 2001, or any other appropriate committee 
     of conference of the second session of the 106th Congress, 
     should approve supplemental funding for the Coast Guard for 
     fiscal year 2000 as soon as is practicable; and
       (2) upon adoption of this bill by the Senate, the conferees 
     of the Senate to the committee of conference on the bill H.R. 
     4475 of the 106th Congress, making appropriations for the 
     Department of Transportation and related agencies for the 
     fiscal year ending September 30, 2001, provided there is 
     sufficient budget authority, should--
       (A) recede from their disagreement to the proposal of the 
     conferees of the House of Representatives to the committee of 
     conference on the bill H.R. 4475 with respect to funding for 
     AC & I;
       (B) provide adequate funds for operations of the Coast 
     Guard in fiscal year 2001, including activities relating to 
     drug and migrant interdiction and fisheries enforcement; and
       (C) provide sufficient funds for the Coast Guard in fiscal 
     year 2001 to correct the 30 percent reduction in funds for 
     operations of the Coast Guard in fiscal year 2000.
                                  ____



                    AMENDMENT NO. 3447, as modified

 (Purpose: To provide that new starts funding shall be available for a 
project to re-electrify the rail line between Danbury, Connecticut and 
                         Norwalk, Connecticut)

       On page 39 of the substituted original text, between lines 
     18 and 19, insert the following: ``Danbury-Norwalk Rail Line 
     Re-Electrification Project''.
                                  ____



                           amendment no. 3451

(Purpose: To make available funds previously appropriated for the Star 
               Landing Road project in DeSoto County, MS)

       At the appropriate place in bill add the following new 
     section:
       Sec.   . For the purpose of constructing an underpass to 
     improve access and enhance highway/rail safety and economic 
     development along Star Landing Road in DeSoto, County, 
     Mississippi, the State of Mississippi may use funds 
     previously allocated to it under the transportation 
     enhancements program, if available.
                                  ____



                           amendment no. 3452

       Section 1214 of Public Law No. 105-178, as amended, if 
     further amended by adding a new subsection to read as 
     follows:
       (s) Notwithstanding sections 117(c) and (d) of title 23, 
     United States Code, for project number 1646 in section 1602 
     of Public Law No. 105-178:
       (1) The non-Federal share of the project may be funded by 
     Federal funds from an agency or agencies not part of the 
     United States Department of Transportation; and
       (2) The Secretary shall not delegate responsibility for 
     carrying out the project to a State.
                                  ____



                           amendment no. 3453

       In lieu of section 343 on p. 76, insert a new section 343 
     as follows:

     SEC. 343. CONVEYANCE OF AIRPORT PROPERTY TO AN INSTITUTION OF 
                   HIGHER EDUCATION IN OKLAHOMA.

       (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law, including the Surplus Property Act of 1944 (58 Stat. 
     765, chapter 479; 50 U.S.C. App. 1622 et seq.), the Secretary 
     of Transportation (or the appropriate Federal officer) may 
     waive, without charge, any of the terms contained in any deed 
     of conveyance described in subsection (b) that restrict the 
     use of any land described in such a deed that, as of the date 
     of enactment of this Act, is not being used for the operation 
     of an airport or for air traffic. A waiver made under the 
     preceding sentence shall be deemed to be consistent with the 
     requirements of section 47153 of title 49, United States 
     Code.
       (b) Deed of Conveyance.--A deed of conveyance referred to 
     in subsection (a) is a deed of conveyance issued by the 
     United States before the date of enactment of this Act for 
     the conveyance of lands to a public institution of higher 
     education in Oklahoma.
       (c) Use of Lands Subject to Waiver.--
       (1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law, the lands subject to a waiver under subsection (a) shall 
     not be subject to any term, condition, reservation, or 
     restriction that would otherwise apply to that land as a 
     result of the conveyance of that land by the United States to 
     the institution of higher education.
       (2) Use of lands.--An institution of higher education that 
     is issued a waiver under subsection (a) may use revenues 
     derived from the use, operation, or disposal of that land 
     only for weather-related and educational purposes that 
     include benefits for aviation.
       (d) Grants.--
       (1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law, if an institution of higher education that is subject to 
     a waiver under subsection (a) received financial assistance 
     in the form of a grant from the Federal Aviation 
     Administration or a predecessor agency before the date of 
     enactment of this Act, then the Secretary of Transportation 
     may waive the repayment of the outstanding amount of any 
     grant that the institution of higher education would 
     otherwise be required to pay.
       (2) Eligibility to receive subsequent grants.--Nothing in 
     paragraph (1) shall affect the eligibility of an institution 
     of higher education that is subject to that paragraph from 
     receiving grants from the Secretary of Transportation under 
     chapter 471 of title 49, United States Code, or under any 
     other provision of law relating to financial assistance 
     provided through the Federal Aviation Administration.

  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, this amendment is to provide $20 million 
to

[[Page 10929]]

support rural air service to the Department of Transportation and 
Related Agencies Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2001.
  The Wendell H. Ford Aviation and Investment Reform Act of the 21st 
Century (AIR-21) included in Section 203 a provision to provide grants 
to attract and subsidize improved air carrier service to airports 
currently receiving inadequate service. The provision authorizes $20 
million for grants of up to $500,000 to communities or community 
consortia which meet certain criteria for participation in the program.
  My amendment would provide discretionary authority to the Secretary 
of Transportation to implement this pilot program utilizing not more 
than $20 million in FY 2001 for this purpose.
  Mr. President, I want to emphasize how important this program is to 
my home State of New Mexico, particularly southeastern New Mexico where 
I have worked for years to bring rural air service to that part of the 
state. The communities of Roswell, Hobbs, Carlsbad, and Artesia have 
formed a consortium in anticipation of applying for federal funds under 
this program. The consortium has raised $200,000 in local funding and 
$200,000 in state funds, and can demonstrate that existing air service 
in that part of the state is insufficent and is accompanied by 
unreasonably higher fares. The southeastern New Mexico consortium is 
precisely the sort of applicant this grant program is intended to 
benefit. A similar consortium is being put together in northern New 
Mexico.
  I urge my colleagues to support this amendment to provide badly 
needed air service to rural areas in the country.
  Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, first I want to thank my colleague, 
Senator Domenici, for his work on this amendment, and Chairman Shelby 
and Senator Lautenberg for adding this important funding to the 
Transportation Appropriations Bill. Our amendment provides funding for 
a new program to help rural communities with inadequate or uneconomical 
commercial air service to attract new air carriers or to improve their 
existing service.
  Mr. President, for a number of years, as I traveled around New 
Mexico, I heard from many of our community and business leaders about 
the importance of commercial air service to support economic 
development and attract new employers to rural parts of my state. To 
help address this problem, last year I worked with the Commerce 
Committee, and especially Senators Rockefeller and Dorgan, to authorize 
a new program to help rural communities to improve their commercial air 
service. The authorization for this new program was included in the 
Wendell Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century, 
which Congress passed and the President signed earlier this year.
  At the same time, the New Mexico State Legislature, lead by Senators 
Altamirano, Ingle, Jennings, Kidd, and Leavell, established a $500,000 
state program to provide matching funds to communities that wanted to 
improve their commercial air service. Almost immediately, agreements 
were signed and new air service was made available to Taos and Los 
Alamos--cities that previously had no commercial air service. More 
recently, agreements have been signed with a consortium of cities in 
Southeastern New Mexico, including Roswell, Carlsbad, Hobbs and Lea and 
Eddy Counties. These are exactly the kinds of communities this program 
we are funding today is designed to help.
  Mr. President, I am pleased the committee has found a way to fund 
this important program for rural communities. I want to work with the 
committee as the bill goes to conference to ensure that this funding is 
retained. I again thank Chairman Shelby and Senator Lautenberg for 
their help.
 Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I come to the floor to urge 
the passage of the Domenici, Bingaman and Burns amendment to the 
Department of Transportation Appropriations Act, Senate Amendment 3432. 
This amendment appropriates $20 million for grants supporting the Small 
Community Air Service Development Pilot program, properly targeting 
necessary funding to needy small airports.
  When I became Ranking Member of the Aviation Subcommittee, I was 
determined to make support of small airports a priority. This March, I 
helped craft the Wendell H. Ford Aviation and Reform Act of the 21st 
Century (FAIR-21), the Federal Aviation Administration and the Airport 
Improvement Program bill authorizing $40 billion for aviation funding, 
the largest increase in aviation funding ever. This included 
significant new funding for rural airports. In 1998, I had authored the 
Air Service Restoration Act, directing the Department of Transportation 
to make new priorities and incentives supporting the development of 
airports in small communities, which was incorporated into FAIR-21. The 
Domenici-Bingaman-Burns amendment builds on these efforts and makes the 
proposed funding a reality.
  The Domenici-Bingaman-Burns
amendment provides the funding small airports need. Small airports are 
an essential part of our aviation infrastructure. Without improvements 
to our small airports, we will stymy the economic growth of less 
developed areas. We know transportation is vital to economic 
development and that improving air transportation needs more 
Congressional attention. Senator Domenici sponsored this amendment with 
Senators Burns and Bingaman and made it a priority and possible. But I 
would like to especially note the work of my good friend and respected 
colleague, Senator Bingaman, who deserves tremendous credit for his 
assiduous efforts to make sure this funding is available. I 
wholeheartedly endorse this amendment and urge its adoption as part of 
the Department of Transportation Appropriation Act.
  Mr. SHELBY. These amendments have been cleared on both sides of the 
aisle.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there be no further debate, the question is 
on agreeing to the amendments.
  The amendments (Nos. 3432, as modified; 3436, as modified; 3438, as 
modified; 3447, as modified, 3451, 3452, and 3453,) were agreed to, en 
bloc.
  Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.
  Mr. REID. I move to lay that motion on the table.
  The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
  Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, this completes the amendments that the 
managers can clear from the list of amendments. The remaining 
amendments on the list either have rule XVI points of order that lie 
against them or the managers have been unable to clear. For all intents 
and purposes, we are done. I intend to urge third reading and final 
passage in short order.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Nevada.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, we have a unanimous consent agreement we 
would like to enter in the near future. We are waiting to hear from one 
Senator prior to doing that. It is my understanding Senator Byrd is on 
the floor. He has some remarks he wishes to make while we are waiting 
for clearance from the other Senator.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from West Virginia.

                          ____________________