[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 23474]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     NORMAN Y. MINETA RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS IMPROVEMENT ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. DON YOUNG

                               of alaska

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 6, 2004

  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following two letters 
for the Record.

     The Hon. Don Young,
     Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 
         House of Representatives, Rayburn House Office Building, 
         Washington, DC
       Dear Chairman Young: I am writing with regard to H.R. 5163, 
     the Norman Y. Mineta Research and Special Programs 
     Reorganization Act, which was ordered reported by the 
     Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on September 
     29, 2004. As you know, the Energy and Commerce Committee 
     received a named additional referral upon introduction.
       I understand that you will include an amendment when the 
     bill goes to the floor. The intent of new section 4(b) is to 
     clarify that nothing in H.R. 5163 alters the jurisdiction of 
     the Committee on Energy and Commerce over the National 
     Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Specifically, 
     section (b)(1) and (2) states that nothing in this Act shall 
     grant any authority to the Research and Innovative Technology 
     Administration over research and other programs, activities, 
     standards, or regulations administered by the Secretary 
     through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 
     but does not include those provisions within the jurisdiction 
     of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
       Accordingly I will waive the Committee's consideration of 
     this legislation. By agreeing to waive its consideration of 
     the bill, however, the Energy and Commerce Committee does not 
     waive its jurisdiction over H.R. 5163. In addition, the 
     Energy and Commerce Committee reserves its right to seek 
     conferees on any provisions of the bill that are within its 
     jurisdiction during any House-Senate conference that may be 
     convened on this legislation. I ask for your commitment to 
     support any request by the Energy and Commerce Committee for 
     conferees on H.R. 5163 or similar legislation.
       I request that you include this letter and your response in 
     the Congressional Record during consideration of the 
     legislation on the House floor. Thank you for your attention 
     to these matters.
           Sincerely,
                                                       Joe Barton,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                       Committee on Transportation


                                           and Infrastructure,

                                  Washington, DC, October 6, 2004.
     Hon. Joe Barton,
     Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce, Rayburn Building, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter of October 6, 
     2004 regarding H.R. 5163, the Norman Y. Mineta Research and 
     Special Programs Reorganization Act, and for your willingness 
     to waive consideration of provisions in the bill that fall 
     within your Committee's jurisdiction under House Rules.
       I agree that your waiving consideration of these provisions 
     of H.R. 5163 does not waive your Committee's jurisdiction 
     over the bill. I also acknowledge your right to seek 
     conferees on any provisions that are under your Committee's 
     jurisdiction during any House-Senate conference on H.R. 5163 
     or similar legislation, and will support your request for 
     conferees on such provisions.
       As you request, your letter and this response will be 
     included in the Congressional Record.
       Thank you for your cooperation in moving this legislation 
     to the House Floor.
           Sincerely,
                                                        Don Young,
     Chairman.

                          ____________________