[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 21]
[House]
[Pages 29572-29575]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  STATUS REPORT ON CURRENT SPENDING LEVELS OF ON-BUDGET SPENDING AND 
   REVENUES FOR FY 2004 AND THE 5-YEAR PERIOD FY 2004 THROUGH FY 2008

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Nussle) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. NUSSLE. Mr. Speaker, I am transmitting a status report on the 
current levels of on-budget spending and revenues for fiscal year 2004 
and for the 5-year period of fiscal years 2004 through 2008. This 
report is necessary to facilitate the application of sections 302 and 
311 of the Congressional Budget Act and section 501 of the conference 
report on the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2004 
(H. Con. Res. 95). This status report is current through November 14, 
2003.
  The term ``current level'' refers to the amounts of spending and 
revenues estimated for each fiscal year based on laws enacted or 
awaiting the President's signature.
  The first table compares the current levels of total budget 
authority, outlays, and revenues with the aggregate levels set forth by 
H. Con. Res. 95. This comparison is needed to enforce section 311(a) of 
the Budget Act, which creates a point of order against measures that 
would breach the budget resolution's aggregate levels. The table does 
not show budget authority and outlays for fiscal years 2004 through 
2008, because appropriations for those years have not yet been 
considered.
  The second table compares the current levels of budget authority and 
outlays for discretionary action by each authorizing committee with the 
``section 302(a)'' allocations made under H. Con. Res. 95 for fiscal 
year 2004 and fiscal years 2004 through 2008. ``Discretionary action'' 
refers to legislation enacted after the adoption of the budget 
resolution. A separate allocation for the Medicare program, as 
established under section 401(a)(3) of the budget resolution, is shown 
for fiscal year 2004 and fiscal years 2004 through 2013. This 
comparison is needed to enforce section 302(f) of the Budget Act, which 
creates a point of order against measures that would breach the section 
302(a) discretionary action allocation of new budget authority for the 
committee that reported the measure. It is also needed to implement 
section 311(b), which exempts committees that comply with their 
allocations from the point of order under section 311(a).
  The third table compares the current levels of discretionary 
appropriations for fiscal year 2004 with the ``section 302(b)'' 
suballocations of discretionary budget authority and outlays among 
Appropriations subcommittees. This table also compares the current 
level of total discretionary appropriations with the section 302(a) 
allocation for the Appropriations Committee. These comparisons are 
needed to enforce section 302(f) of the Budget Act because the point of 
order under that section equally applies to measures that would breach 
either the section 302(a) allocation or the applicable section 302(b) 
suballocation.
  The last table gives the current level for 2005 of accounts 
identified for advance appropriations under section 501 of H. Con. Res. 
95. This list is needed to enforce section 501 of the budget 
resolution, which creates a point of order against appropriation bills 
that contain advance appropriations that are: (i) not identified in the 
statement of managers or (ii) would cause the aggregate amount of such 
appropriations to exceed the level specified in the resolution.

  REPORT TO THE SPEAKER FROM THE COMMITTEE ON THE BUDGET--STATUS OF THE
    FISCAL YEAR 2004 CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET ADOPTED IN H. CON. RES. 95,
           REFLECTING ACTION COMPLETED AS OF NOVEMBER 14, 2003
               [On-budget amounts, in millions of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Fiscal
                                                Fiscal year  years 2004-
                                                    2004         2008
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appropriate Level:
  Budget Authority............................    1,880,555          (1)
  Outlays.....................................    1,903,502          (1)
  Revenues....................................    1,325,452    8,168,933
Current Level:
  Budget Authority............................    1,861,384          (1)
  Outlays.....................................    1,883,370          (1)
  Revenues....................................    1,330,943    8,376,570
Current Level over (+)/under (-) Appropriate
 Level:
  Budget Authority............................      -19,171          (1)
  Outlays.....................................      -20,132          (1)
  Revenues....................................        5,491      207,637
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Not applicable because annual appropriations Acts for fiscal years
  2005 through 2008 will not be considered until future sessions of
  Congress.

                            Budget Authority

       Enactment of measurers providing new budget authority for 
     FY 2004 in excess of $19,171,000,000 (if not already included 
     in the current level estimate) would cause FY 2004 budget 
     authority to exceed the appropriate level set by H. Con. Res. 
     95.


                                Outlays

       Enactment of measures providing new outlays for FY 2004 in 
     excess of $20,132,000,000 (if not already included in the 
     current level estimate) would cause FY 2004 outlays to exceed 
     the appropriate level set by H. Con. Res. 95.


                                Revenues

       Enactment of measures that would result in revenue 
     reduction for FY 2004 in excess of $5,491,000,000 (if not 
     already included in the current level estimate) would cause 
     revenues to fall below the appropriate level set by H. Con. 
     Res. 95.
       Enactment of measures resulting in revenue reduction for 
     the period FY 2004 through 2008 in excess of $207,637,000,000 
     (if not already included in the current level estimate) would 
     cause revenues to fall below the appropriate levels set by H. 
     Con. Res. 95.

   DIRECT SPENDING LEGISLATION--COMPARISON OF CURRENT LEVEL WITH AUTHORIZING COMMITTEE 302(a) ALLOCATIONS FOR DISCRETIONARY ACTION, REFLECTING ACTION
                                                            COMPLETED AS OF NOVEMBER 14, 2003
                                                         [Fiscal years, in millions of dollars]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        2004                             2004-2008 total                       2004-2013 total
            House Committee            -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                BA              Outlays               BA              Outlays               BA              Outlays
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Agriculture:
    Allocation........................                  0                  0                  0                  0                (1)                (1)
    Current Level.....................                  0                  0                  0                  0                (1)                (1)

[[Page 29573]]

 
    Difference........................                  0                  0                  0                  0                (1)                (1)
Armed Services:
    Allocation........................                 70                 34                 70                 70                (1)                (1)
    Current Level.....................              3,823                365             15,173             12,760                (1)                (1)
    Difference........................              3,753                331             15,103             12,690                (1)                (1)
Education and the Workforce:
    Allocation........................                 39                 47                201                245                (1)                (1)
    Current Level.....................                  9                  8                  9                  9                (1)                (1)
    Difference........................                -30                -39               -192               -236                (1)                (1)
Energy and Commerce:
    Allocation........................               -170               -170                439                439                (1)                (1)
    Current Level.....................              1,502                263                951              1,067                (1)                (1)
    Difference........................              1,672                433                512                628                (1)                (1)
Financial Services:
    Allocation........................                  0                375                  0              1,250                (1)                (1)
    Current Level.....................                 -1                 -1                 -2                 -2                (1)                (1)
    Difference........................                 -1               -376                 -2             -1,252                (1)                (1)
Government Reform:
    Allocation........................                 -1                  0                 -3                 -1                (1)                (1)
    Current Level.....................                  2                  2                 24                 24                (1)                (1)
    Difference........................                  3                  2                 27                 25                (1)                (1)
House Administration:
    Allocation........................                  0                  0                  0                  0                (1)                (1)
    Current Level.....................                  1                  1                  3                  3                (1)                (1)
    Difference........................                  1                  1                  3                  3                (1)                (1)
International Relations:
    Allocation........................                  0                  0                  0                  0                (1)                (1)
    Current Level.....................                  0                  0                  0                  0                (1)                (1)
    Difference........................                  0                  0                  0                  0                (1)                (1)
Judiciary:
    Allocation........................                 19                 19                 95                 95                (1)                (1)
    Current Level.....................                  0                  0                  0                  0                (1)                (1)
    Difference........................                -19                -19                -95                -95                (1)                (1)
Resources:
    Allocation........................                 24                 24                522                342                (1)                (1)
    Current Level.....................                  0                  0                  0                  0                (1)                (1)
    Difference........................                -24                -24               -522               -342                (1)                (1)
Science:
    Allocation........................                  0                  0                  0                  0                (1)                (1)
    Current Level.....................                  0                  0                  0                  0                (1)                (1)
    Difference........................                  0                  0                  0                  0                (1)                (1)
Small Business:
    Allocation........................                  0                  0                  0                  0                (1)                (1)
    Current Level.....................                  0                  0                  0                  0                (1)                (1)
    Difference........................                  0                  0                  0                  0                (1)                (1)
Transportation and Infrastructure:
    Allocation........................              9,256                  0             41,134                  0                (1)                (1)
    Current Level.....................              6,406                  0              6,406                  0                (1)                (1)
    Difference........................             -2,850                  0            -34,728                  0                (1)                (1)
Veterans' Affairs:
    Allocation........................
    Current Level.....................                  0                  0              (\1\)              (\1\)                  0                  0
    Difference........................                  0                  0              (\1\)              (\1\)                  0                  0
    Current Level.....................                  0                  0                  0                  0                (1)                (1)
    Difference........................                  0                  0                  0                  0                (1)                (1)
Ways and Means:
    Allocation........................             20,626             20,054             24,079             23,876                (1)                (1)
    Current Level.....................             17,979             17,960             22,810             22,850                (1)                (1)
    Difference........................             -2,647             -2,094             -1,269             -1,026                (1)                (1)
Medicare:
    Allocation........................                  0                  0                (1)                (1)                  0                  0
    Current Level.....................                  0                  0                (1)                (1)                  0                  0
    Difference........................                  0                  0                (1)                (1)                  0                  0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Not applicable.


    DISCRETIONARY APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2004--COMPARISON OF CURRENT LEVEL WITH APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE 302(a) ALLOCATION AND APPROPRIATIONS
                                                           SUBCOMMITTEE 302(b) SUBALLOCATIONS
                                                                [In millions of dollars]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        302(b) suballocations as of July 22,     Current level reflecting action     Current level minus  suballocations
                                               2003 (H. Rpt. 108-228)           completed as of November 14, 2003  -------------------------------------
      Appropriations Subcommittee      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                BA                 OT                 BA                 OT                 BA                 OT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Agriculture, Rural Development........             17,005             17,686             17,990             18,045                985                359
Commerce, Justice, State..............             37,914             41,009             37,490             40,070               -424               -939
National Defense......................            368,662            389,221            368,183            388,642               -479               -579
District of Columbia..................                466                464                509                514                 43                 50
Energy & Water Development............             27,080             27,211             25,846             26,086             -1,234             -1,125
Foreign Operations....................             17,120             20,185             16,227             19,980               -893               -205
Homeland Security.....................             29,411             30,506             29,411             30,110                  0               -396
Interior..............................             19,627             19,400             19,657             19,424                 30                 24
Labor, HHS & Education................            138,036            134,766            134,313            133,893             -3,723               -873
Legislative Branch....................              3,512              3,662              3,548              3,620                 36                -42
Military Construction.................              9,196             10,282              9,316             10,247                120                -35
Transportation-Treasury...............             27,502             71,360             28,230             70,337                728             -1,023
VA-HUD-Independent Agencies...........             90,034             95,590             87,163             92,502             -2,871             -3,088
                                       -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total (Section 302(a) Allocation).....            785,565            861,342            777,883            853,470             -7,682             -7,872
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 29574]]

Statement of FY2005 advance appropriations under section 501 of H. Con. 
      Res. 95 reflecting action completed as of November 14, 2003

                        [In millions of dollars]

                                                       Budget authority
Appropriate Level................................................23,158
                                                               ==========
_______________________________________________________________________

Current Level:
  Homeland Security Subcommittee: Bioshield\1\....................2,528
  Interior Subcommittee: Elk Hills.................................. 36
  Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Subcommittee:
    Employment and Training Administration..........................  0
    Education for the Disadvantaged.................................  0
    School Improvement..............................................  0
    Safe Schools....................................................  0
    Children and Family Services (head start).......................  0
    Special Education...............................................  0
    Vocational and Adult Education..................................  0
  Treasury, General Government Subcommittee: Payment to Postal 
    Service.........................................................  0
  Veterans, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee: Section 8 
    Renewals........................................................  0
                                                             __________
                                                             
      Total.......................................................2,564
                                                               ==========
_______________________________________________________________________

Current Level over (+)/under (-) Appropriate Level..............-20,594

\1\This advance appropriation was not on the list of accounts 
identified for advance appropriations included in the joint explanatory 
statement of the committee of conference in the conference report to 
accompany H. Con. Res. 95. Still, since the provision has been enacted, 
it is included as part of the current level for advance appropriations.

                                                    U.S. Congress,


                                  Congressional Budget Office,

                                Washington, DC, November 18, 2003.
     Hon. Jim Nussle,
     Chairman, Committee on the Budget, House of Representatives, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: The enclosed report shows the effects of 
     Congressional action on the fiscal year 2004 budget and is 
     current through November 14, 2003. This report is submitted 
     under section 308(b) and in aid of section 311 of the 
     Congressional Budget Act, as amended.
       The estimates of budget authority, outlays, and revenues 
     are consistent with the technical and economic assumptions of 
     H. Con. Res. 95, the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for 
     Fiscal Year 2004. The budget resolution figures incorporate 
     revisions submitted by the Committee on the Budget to the 
     House to reflect funding for the Emergency Wartime 
     Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2003, and the Jobs and 
     Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003. These revisions 
     are authorized by sections 421 and 507 of H. Con. Res. 95, 
     respectively.
       Since my last letter, dated October 16, 2003, the Congress 
     has cleared and the President has signed the following acts 
     that changed budget authority, outlays, or revenues for 2004:
       The Second Continuing Resolution, 2004 (Public Law 108-
     104);
       The Third Continuing Resolution, 2004 (Public Law 108-107);
       The Interior Appropriations Act, 2004 (Public Law 108-108); 
     and
       The Military Family Tax Relief Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-
     121).
       In addition, the Congress has cleared the following 
     legislation for the President's signature:
       The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 
     (H.R. 1588);
       The Military Construction Appropriations Act, 2004 (H.R. 
     2559);
       The District of Columbia Military Retirement Equity Act of 
     2003 (H.R. 3054);
       An act to re-authorize certain school lunch and child 
     nutrition programs (H.R. 3232); and
       An act to amend Title XXI of the Social Security Act (H.R. 
     3288).
           Sincerely,
                                              Douglas Holtz-Eakin,
                                                         Director.
       Enclosure.

                       FISCAL YEAR 2004 HOUSE CURRENT LEVEL REPORT AS OF NOVEMBER 14, 2003
                                            [In millions of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Budget authority       Outlays          Revenues
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enacted in previous sessions:
    Revenues..............................................                 0                 0         1,466,370
    Permanents and other spending legislation.............         1,085,217         1,058,045                 0
    Appropriation legislation.............................                 0           345,754                 0
    Offsetting receipts...................................          -366,436          -366,436                 0
                                                           -----------------------------------------------------
      Total, enacted in previous sessions:................           718,781         1,037,363         1,466,370
                                                           =====================================================
Enacted this session (excluding emergencies \1\):
    Authorizing Legislation:
        American 5-Cent Coin Design Continuity Act of 2003                -1                -1                 0
         (P.L. 108-15)....................................
        Unemployment Compensation Amendments of 2003 (P.L.             4,730             4,730               145
         108-26)..........................................
        Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of              13,312            13,312          -135,370
         2003 (P.L. 108-27)...............................
        Welfare Reform Extension Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-40)                99               108                 0
        Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act ( (P.L. 108-61).                 0                 0               -10
        Smithsonian Facilities Authorization Act (P.L. 108-                1                 1                 0
         72)..............................................
        An act to amend Title XXI of the Social Security               1,325               100                 0
         Act (P.L. 108-74)................................
        Chile Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act                      0                 0                -5
         (P.L. 108-77)....................................
        Singapore Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act                  0                 0               -55
         (P.L. 108-78)....................................
        First Continuing Resolution, 2004 (P.L. 108-84)...            -2,222                 1                -2
        Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2003 (P.L.             6,405                 0                 0
         108-88)..........................................
        An act to extend the Temporary Assistance for                     15               -36               -33
         Needy Families block grant program (P.L. 108-89).
        An act to amend chapter 84 of title 5 of the                       1                 1                 0
         United States Code (P.L. 108-92).................
        An act to amend the Immigration and Nationality                    0                 0                 2
         Act (P.L. 108-99)................................
        Second Continuing Resolution, 2004 (P.L. 108-104).                 1                 0                 0
        Military Family Tax Relief Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-               -595              -595              -169
         121).............................................
                                                           -----------------------------------------------------
          Total, authorizing legislation:.................            23,071            17,621          -135,431
                                                           =====================================================
    Appropriations Acts:
        Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act,               215            27,349                 0
         2003 (P.L. 108-11)...............................
        Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2004 (P.L.              3,548             2,949                 0
         108-83)..........................................
        Defense Appropriations Act (P.L. 108-87)..........           368,694           251,486                 0
        Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2004 (P.L.              30,216            18,192                 0
         108-90)..........................................
        Interior Appropriations Act, 2004 (P.L. 108-108)..            19,673            13,202                 0
                                                           -----------------------------------------------------
          Total, appropriations acts:.....................           422,346           313,178                 0
    Continuing Resolution Authority: Third Continuing                325,871           174,311                -1
     Resolution, 2004 (P.L. 108-107)......................
                                                           -----------------------------------------------------
      Total, enacted this session.........................           771,288           505,110          -135,432
                                                           =====================================================
Cleared, pending signature:
    National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year                 4,418               960                 4
     2004 (H.R. 1588).....................................
    Military Construction Appropriations Act, 2004 (H.R.               9,316             2,567                 0
     2559)................................................
    District of Columbia Military Retirement Equity Act of                 1                 1                 1
     2003 (H.R. 3054).....................................
    An act to re-authorize certain school lunch and child                  7                 7                 0
     nutrition programs (H.R. 3232).......................
    An act to amend Title XXI of the Social Security Act                   0                 9                 0
     (H.R. 3288)..........................................
                                                           -----------------------------------------------------
      Total, cleared, pending signature:..................            13,742             3,544                 5
                                                           -----------------------------------------------------
Entitlements and mandatories: Difference between enacted             357,573           337,353                 0
 levels and budget resolution estimates for appropriated
 entitlements and other mandatory programs................
Total Current Level\1\,\2\................................         1,861,384         1,883,370         1,330,943
Total Budget Resolution...................................         1,880,555         1,903,502         1,325,452
    Current Level Over Budget Resolution..................                 0                 0             5,491
    Current Level Under Budget Resolution.................            19,171            20,132                 0
Memorandum:
    Revenues, 2004-2008:
        House Current Level...............................                 0                 0         8,376,570

[[Page 29575]]

 
        House Budget Resolution...........................                 0                 0         8,168,933
        Current Level Over Budget Resolution..............                 0                 0           207,637
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Per section 502 of H. Con. Res. 95, the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2004, provisions
  designated as emergency requirements are exempt from enforcement of the budget resolution. As a result, the
  current level excludes the following items: outlays of $262 million from funds provided in the Emergency
  Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-69); budget authority of -$9 million and
  outlays of $573 million from funds provided in the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2004 (P.L. 108-83);
  budget authority of $87,547 million and outlays of $37,103 million provided in the Emergency Supplemental
  Appropriations Act for Defense and for the Reconstruction of Iraq and Afghanistan, 2004 (P.L. 108-106); and
  budget authority of $400 million and outlays of $67 million provided in the Interior Appropriations Act, 2004
  (P.L. 108-108).
\2\For purposes of enforcing section 311 of the Congressional Budget Act in the House, the budget resolution
  does not include Social Security administrative expenses. As a result, the current level excludes budget
  authority of $3,812 million and outlays of $3,819 million for these items.
 
Notes.--P.L.=Public Law.
 
Source: Congressional Budget Office.

 THE INTRODUCTION OF THE GOODS MOVEMENT PROJECTS OF NATIONAL ECONOMIC 
                        SIGNIFICANCE (H.R. 3398)

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald) is recognized for 
5 minutes.
  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I want to bring to the attention 
of this Congress, legislation that I recently introduced.
  The Goods Movement Projects of National Economic Significance is 
legislation that addresses some of our nation's most pressing 
transportation and economic needs.


                          this is the problem

  How freight moves through our communities is an important issue with 
far reaching implications. Goods movement is the driving force of our 
nation's economy. This is a state issue, a Federal issue and it is an 
issue that directly affects the communities in which we live.
  According to the Federal Highway Administration, $7.4 trillion in 
goods were moved on the nation's highway system in 1998, directly 
employing 10 million people.
  In 2000, $706 billion in international merchandise trade flowed 
through U.S. Seaports and $646 billion was handled by our Railroads.
  The volume of goods is projected to grow nationally by 67 percent 
over the next two decades.
  This tremendous growth in international trade will continue to place 
an increasingly heavy burden on our nation's seaports, trade corridors, 
highways and rail lines.
  Traffic congestion, delays, accidents, and freight transportation 
costs have increased as a result.
  On a human level--our citizens are spending more and more time stuck 
in traffic instead of at home with their families.


                          this is the history

  Over the past 30 years our population has grown, our international 
trade has increased and our congestion has worsened.
  For example, in 1970, trade was 12 percent of U.S. gross domestic 
product (GDP). Today, it is over 25 percent.
  Since 1970 the population of the U.S. has grown by 40 percent. At the 
same time, the number of registered vehicles has increased by 100 
percent while our road capacity has increased by only 6 percent.
  By the year 2020, shipment of containerized cargo moving in and out 
of the United States will increase by more than 350 percent.
  By the year 2020, total domestic tonnage of freight carried by all 
U.S. freight systems will increase by at least 67 percent and 
international trade will increase by nearly 100 percent.
  The transportation reauthorization bill is the perfect opportunity 
for us to address these pressing transportation infrastructure needs.
  TEA-21 began to address Goods Movement issues with the creation of 
the Borders and Corridors Program.
  But we need to take it further during this reauthorization bill.
  Back in 1998 when the Borders and Corridors program was created in 
TEA-21, the intent was to create a discretionary program that provided 
federal funding for transportation projects and initiatives that 
supported, enhanced and helped the movement of goods and economic 
development through the gateway and trade corridors in this country.
  The program provided $140 million a year. During the first 3 years 
the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) received over $2 billion in 
grant requests per year.
  After the third year, the entire Borders and Corridors program had 
been earmarked.
  Aside from the fact that the authorized amount of $140 million per 
year was far too low to meet our Nation's infrastructure needs, the 
earmarking of this program has proved problematic.
  It has prevented communities and regions from developing 
comprehensive programs and plans that addresses goods movement issues 
of our transportation infrastructure.
  We must have a dedicated source of funding to ensure that goods 
movement and projects of economic significance can be built and that 
these projects contribute to the overall efficiency of the national 
transportation infrastructure.
  As we continue the dialog of reauthorizing the transportation bill, 
the Goods Movement Projects of National Economic Significance needs to 
be a part of that conversation.


                        THIS IS WHAT WE MUST DO

  Goods Movement Projects of National Economic Significance will do the 
following:
  It will provide $3 billion per year to a Goods Movement Program.
  Given the history of the Borders and Corridors Program we can safely 
assume that our transportation infrastructure can use at a minimum, $3 
billion a year, or $18 billion for the life of the 6-year 
reauthorization bill.
  This legislation separates the Borders and Corridors Program and 
creates one strong Corridor and Gateway Program.
  Corridor projects represented 95 percent of the project requests for 
the Borders and Corridors program.
  My legislation focuses our resources on projects and initiatives that 
promote the safe, secure and efficient mobility of goods and on the 
immediate and long-term needs of our transportation infrastructure.
  This legislation combines and enhances elements of two highly 
successful transportation programs. This program uses the criteria from 
the Corridors program and combines it with the fiscal responsibility of 
the full funding grant agreement of the transit New Start Program.
  Specifically, this program provides $1\1/2\ billion a year, $9 
billion over the life of the reauthorization bill for local 
communities, states and the Federal Government to plan and build Goods 
Movement projects.
  These projects will ultimately enhance local, regional, and state 
economies, and ultimately the national economy.
  Finally, $1\1/2\ billion a year or $9 billion over the life of the 
reauthorization bill will be dedicated to funding projects of National 
Economic Significance.
  Throughout the country there are national bottlenecks that congest 
our communities and slow our national economy down.
  As we all know from experience--if there is a bottleneck on the 
highway, traffic several miles away can be affected.
  If the type of gridlock that I just described happens and goes 
unchecked, it will affect an entire region, and the entire country, and 
ultimately our economy and the livability of our communities.
  These are projects located throughout the country that are ready to 
go major investments in the national transportation infrastructure.
  By funding these projects we will be stimulating the national economy 
while investing in the long-term health of our national transportation 
infrastructure.
  This legislation, like the entire transportation reauthorization bill 
is an economic stimulus package. For every billion dollars invested in 
public transportation infrastructure 47,000 jobs are created.
  I ask my colleagues to strongly support this legislation as part of 
the transportation reauthorization bill.
  Join me and support The Goods Movement Projects of National Economic 
Significance.

                          ____________________