[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 17]
[House]
[Pages 23669-23670]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



    WAIVING POINTS OF ORDER AGAINST CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 2299, 
 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 
                                  2002

  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I 
call up House Resolution 299 and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 299

       Resolved, That upon adoption of this resolution it shall be 
     in order to consider the conference report to accompany the 
     bill (H.R. 2299) making appropriations for the Department of 
     Transportation and related agencies for the fiscal year 
     ending September 30, 2002, and for other purposes. All points 
     of order against the conference report and against its 
     consideration are waived. The conference report shall be 
     considered as read.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from New York (Mr. Reynolds) 
is recognized for 1 hour.
  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, for purposes of debate only, I yield the 
customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Hall), pending 
which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration 
of the resolution, all time is yielded for the purpose of debate only.
  Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 299 is a standard rule providing for 
consideration of the conference report to accompany H.R. 2299, the 
Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 
2002.
  The rule waives all points of order against the conference report and 
against its consideration.
  Additionally, the rule provides that the conference report shall be 
considered as read.
  Mr. Speaker, the Committee on Appropriations has once again produced 
bipartisan legislation that meets the Nation's transportation 
priorities. Ensuring the safety and efficiency of our transportation 
networks is one of the Federal Government's highest responsibilities.
  This conference report represents a sound commitment to our Nation's 
transportation infrastructure by devoting funds to critical programs 
such as air traffic control modernization, airport improvement grants, 
motor carrier safety, and increasing the investments in highway safety 
research.
  The bill enhances the safety and capacity of the aviation system and 
the highway and rail networks.
  The bill provides a total of nearly $59.6 billion, a 2.5 percent 
increase, in total budgetary resources for our Nation's infrastructure 
and transportation safety, including the Federal Aviation 
Administration, transit program spending, the United States Coast 
Guard, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
  The Federal Aviation Administration will receive a 4.5 percent 
increase in funds, $292 million of which is for aviation security, 
including bomb detection systems and compliance test activities. It 
makes available $3.3 billion for the airport improvement program, an 
increase of $100 million over the current fiscal year. This money 
includes $20 million to support the expansion of service at smaller 
airports.
  This bill, much like last year's, continues to improve and enhance 
motor carrier safety and operations by providing $335 million. Of this 
total, about $140 million is devoted to facilities and operations 
necessary to open the U.S.-Mexican border for commercial motor vehicle 
traffic. Not only will this allow for the free flow of trade between 
the United States and Mexico, but it instills a modest system of safety 
checks to maintain the integrity of our American borders.
  Another significant piece of the transportation appropriations 
funding is for the drug interdiction activities carried out by the 
United States Coast Guard. The bill includes $636 million for the Coast 
Guard's capital needs and $320 million that is available to initiate 
the Deepwater program, which will fight the scourge of illicit drugs, 
provide support for offshore research and rescue, and work to protect 
Americans and American shores.
  Moreover, the bill meets the funding obligation limitations in the 
transportation legislation known as TEA-21, the Transportation Equity 
Act for the

[[Page 23670]]

21st century. These programs are critical to improvements and 
modernization of our roadways and our airways, providing desperately-
needed funds across the Nation.
  In addition, the bill provides $521 million for Amtrak's capital 
needs. This funding will cover capital expenses and preventative 
maintenance. The bill sustains the Federal commitment to continue its 
partnership with Amtrak to help it reach its goal of self-sufficiency 
by December of 2002.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a responsible conference report that tackles our 
Nation's most pressing transportation needs. In the midst of the 
holiday travel season and in light of the recent attacks on our Nation, 
this Congress can take pride in the fact that the underlying 
legislation represents an increase in the safety measures and resources 
in every area of our transportation system.
  With airline security stabilization legislation already signed into 
law, this conference report expands on the new measures and provides 
the necessary resources to carry out much-needed safety initiatives.
  Now more than ever, safety should remain the Federal Government's 
highest responsibility in the transportation area. Clearly, whether by 
land, by sea or by air, this bill addresses those needs and concerns, 
while maintaining the fiscal discipline that has been the hallmark of 
this Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, as I conclude I would like to commend the chairman of 
the Committee on Appropriations, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Young), and the ranking member, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. 
Obey), for their tenacious work on this measure.
  I would also like to extend praise to the gentleman from Kentucky 
(Mr. Rogers), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Transportation of the 
Committee on Appropriations, and the ranking member, the gentleman from 
Minnesota (Mr. Sabo).
  I also urge my colleagues to support this straightforward, 
noncontroversial rule, as well as the underlying legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this rule allows for the consideration of the conference 
report on H.R. 2299. This is a bill that funds the Department of 
Transportation, the National Transportation Safety Board, and related 
agencies. The rule waives all points of order against the conference 
report.
  Since the terrorist attacks against the United States on September 
11, our Nation's transportation systems have been under great scrutiny. 
In particular, Federal oversight of aviation has been in the spotlight. 
However, the transportation agencies which monitor our railroads, 
highways, and waterways have also been challenged to find solutions to 
the terrorist threat.
  The bill funds the newly created Transportation Security 
Administration, which will be responsible for security operations 
involving all modes of transportation. This is the Federal agency that 
will oversee the hiring and training and supervising of the airport 
passenger and baggage screeners.
  The bill also funds aviation security in the Federal Aviation 
Administration, which includes bomb detection systems. The conference 
report contains compromise language intended to ensure the safety of 
Mexican trucks traveling on U.S. highways.
  I am also pleased that the conference report provides $1 million 
towards the construction of the Interstate 70-75 interchange in 
Montgomery County, Ohio. This will help cover unforeseen increased 
costs of the project, which is an important priority for the community 
and the State.
  This will be the ninth of the regular appropriation bills to complete 
the conference process. We are now 2 months into the fiscal year and we 
still have 4 more to go.
  I would urge my colleagues to approve the rule and the underlying 
bill and let us get this bill to the President to sign.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I 
move the previous question on the resolution.
  The previous question was ordered.
  The resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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