[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 6]
[House]
[Pages 7896-7903]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         SURFACE TRANSPORTATION EXTENSION ACT OF 2004, PART II

  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 4219) to provide an extension of highway, highway safety, motor 
carrier safety, transit, and other programs funded out of the Highway 
Trust Fund pending enactment of a law reauthorizing the Transportation 
Equity Act for the 21st Century.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4219

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Surface Transportation 
     Extension Act of 2004, Part II''.

     SEC. 2. ADVANCES.

       (a) In General.--Section 2(a) of the Surface Transportation 
     Extension Act of 2003 (23 U.S.C. 104 note; 117 Stat. 1110; 
     118 Stat. 478) is amended by striking ``and the Surface 
     Transportation Extension Act of 2004'' and inserting ``, the 
     Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2004, and the Surface 
     Transportation Extension Act of 2004, Part II''.
       (b) Programmatic Distributions.--
       (1) Special rules for minimum guarantee.--Section 2(b)(4) 
     of such Act is amended by striking ``$1,633,333,333'' and 
     inserting ``$2,100,000,000''.
       (2) Extension of off-system bridge setaside.--Section 
     144(g)(3) of title 23, United States Code, is amended by 
     striking ``April 30'' inserting ``June 30''.
       (c) Authorization of Contract Authority.--Section 
     1101(c)(1) of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st 
     Century (117 Stat. 1111; 118 Stat. 478) is amended by 
     striking ``$18,876,841,666 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``$24,270,225,000 for 
     the period of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004''.
       (d) Limitation on Obligations.--Section 2(e) of the Surface 
     Transportation Extension Act of 2003 (117 Stat. 1111; 118 
     Stat. 478) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1)--
       (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) by striking 
     ``April 30'' and inserting ``June 30'';
       (B) in subparagraph (A) by inserting after ``of 2004'' the 
     following: ``and the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 
     2004, Part II''; and
       (C) in subparagraph (B) by striking ``\7/12\'' and 
     inserting ``\9/12\'';
       (2) in paragraph (2)--
       (A) by striking ``April 30'' and inserting ``June 30'';
       (B) by striking ``$19,741,750,000'' and inserting 
     ``$25,382,250,000''; and
       (C) by striking ``$372,750,000'' and inserting 
     ``$479,250,000''; and
       (3) in paragraph (3) by striking ``April 30'' and inserting 
     ``June 30''.

     SEC. 3. ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.

       Section 4(a) of the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 
     2003 (117 Stat. 1113; 118 Stat. 479) is amended by striking 
     ``$262,500,000'' and inserting ``$337,500,000''.

     SEC. 4. OTHER FEDERAL-AID HIGHWAY PROGRAMS.

       (a) Authorization of Appropriations Under Title I of TEA-
     21.--
       (1) Federal lands highways.--
       (A) Indian reservation roads.--Section 1101(a)(8)(A) of the 
     Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (112 Stat. 
     112; 117 Stat. 1113; 118 Stat. 479) is amended--
       (i) in the first sentence by striking ``$160,416,667 for 
     the period of October 1, 2003, through April 30, 2004'' and 
     inserting ``$206,250,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through June 30, 2004''; and
       (ii) in the second sentence by striking ``$7,583,333'' and 
     inserting ``$9,750,000''.
       (B) Public lands highways.--Section 1101(a)(8)(B) of such 
     Act (112 Stat. 112; 117 Stat. 1113; 118 Stat. 480) is amended 
     by striking ``$143,500,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``$184,500,000 for the 
     period of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004''.
       (C) Park roads and parkways.--Section 1101(a)(8)(C) of such 
     Act (112 Stat. 112; 117 Stat. 1113; 118 Stat. 480) is amended 
     by striking ``$96,250,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``$123,750,000 for the 
     period of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004'' .
       (D) Refuge roads.--Section 1101(a)(8)(D) of such Act (112 
     Stat. 112; 117 Stat. 1113; 118 Stat. 480) is amended by 
     striking ``$11,666,667 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``$15,000,000 for the 
     period of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004''.
       (2) National corridor planning and development and 
     coordinated border infrastructure programs.--Section 
     1101(a)(9) of such Act (112 Stat. 112; 117 Stat. 1114; 118 
     Stat. 480) is amended by striking ``$81,666,667 for the 
     period of October 1, 2003, through April 30, 2004'' and 
     inserting ``$105,000,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through June 30, 2004''.
       (3) Construction of ferry boats and ferry terminal 
     facilities.--
       (A) In general.--Section 1101(a)(10) of such Act (112 Stat. 
     113; 117 Stat. 1114; 118 Stat. 480) is amended by striking 
     ``$22,166,667 for the period of October 1, 2003, through 
     April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``$28,500,000 for the period 
     of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004''.
       (B) Set aside for alaska, new jersey, and washington.--
     Section 5(a)(3)(B) of the Surface Transportation Extension 
     Act of 2003 (117 Stat. 1114; 118 Stat. 480) is amended--
       (i) in clause (i) by striking ``$5,833,333'' and inserting 
     ``$7,500,000'';
       (ii) in clause (ii) by striking ``$2,916,667'' and 
     inserting ``$3,750,000''; and
       (iii) in clause (iii) by striking ``$2,916,667'' and 
     inserting ``$3,750,000''.
       (4) National scenic byways program.--Section 1101(a)(11) of 
     the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (112 Stat. 
     113; 117 Stat. 1114; 118 Stat. 480) is amended by striking 
     ``$16,041,666 for the period of October 1, 2003, through 
     April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``$20,625,000 for the period 
     of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004'' .
       (5) Value pricing pilot program.--Section 1101(a)(12) of 
     such Act (112 Stat. 113; 117 Stat. 1114; 118 Stat. 480) is 
     amended by striking ``$6,416,667 for the period of October 1, 
     2003, through April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``$8,250,000 for 
     the period of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004''.
       (6) Highway use tax evasion projects.--Section 1101(a)(14) 
     of such Act (112 Stat. 113; 117 Stat. 1114; 118 Stat. 480) is 
     amended by striking ``$2,916,667 for the period of October 1, 
     2003, through April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``$3,750,000 for 
     the period of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004''.
       (7) Commonwealth of puerto rico highway program.--Section 
     1101(a)(15) of such

[[Page 7897]]

     Act (112 Stat. 113; 117 Stat. 1114; 118 Stat. 481) is amended 
     by striking ``$64,166,667 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``$82,500,000 for the 
     period of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004''.
       (8) Safety grants.--Section 1212(i)(1)(D) of such Act (23 
     U.S.C. 402 note; 112 Stat. 196; 112 Stat. 840; 117 Stat. 
     1114; 118 Stat. 481) is amended by striking ``$291,667 for 
     the period of October 1, 2003, through April 30, 2004'' and 
     inserting ``$375,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through June 30, 2004''.
       (9) Transportation and community and system preservation 
     pilot program.--Section 1221(e)(1) of such Act (23 U.S.C. 101 
     note; 112 Stat. 223; 117 Stat. 1114; 118 Stat. 481) is 
     amended by striking ``$14,583,333 for the period of October 
     1, 2003, through April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``$18,750,000 
     for the period of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004''.
       (10) Transportation infrastructure finance and 
     innovation.--Section 188 of title 23, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (A) by striking subsection (a)(1)(F) and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(F) $105,000,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through June 30, 2004.'';
       (B) in subsection (a)(2) by striking ``$1,166,667 for the 
     period of October 1, 2003, through April 30, 2004'' and 
     inserting ``$1,500,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through June 30, 2004''; and
       (C) in the item relating to fiscal year 2004 in the table 
     contained in subsection (c) by striking ``$1,516,666,667'' 
     and inserting ``$1,950,000,000''.
       (b) Authorization of Appropriations Under Title V of TEA-
     21.--
       (1) Surface transportation research.--Section 5001(a)(1) of 
     the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (112 Stat. 
     419; 117 Stat. 1115; 118 Stat. 481) is amended by striking 
     ``$61,250,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, through 
     April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``$78,750,000 for the period 
     of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004''.
       (2) Technology deployment program.--Section 5001(a)(2) of 
     such Act (112 Stat. 419; 117 Stat. 1115; 118 Stat. 481) is 
     amended by striking ``$32,083,334 for the period of October 
     1, 2003, through April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``$41,250,000 
     for the period of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004''.
       (3) Training and education.--Section 5001(a)(3) of such Act 
     (112 Stat. 420; 117 Stat. 1115; 118 Stat. 481) is amended by 
     striking ``$12,250,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``$15,750,000 for the 
     period of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004''.
       (4) Bureau of transportation statistics.--Section 
     5001(a)(4) of such Act (112 Stat. 420; 117 Stat. 1115; 118 
     Stat. 481) is amended by striking ``$18,083,333 for the 
     period of October 1, 2003, through April 30, 2004'' and 
     inserting ``$23,250,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through June 30, 2004''.
       (5) ITS standards, research, operational tests, and 
     development.--Section 5001(a)(5) of such Act (112 Stat. 420; 
     117 Stat. 1115; 118 Stat. 481) is amended by striking 
     ``$67,083,334 for the period of October 1, 2003, through 
     April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``$86,250,000 for the period 
     of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004''.
       (6) ITS deployment.--Section 5001(a)(6) of such Act (112 
     Stat. 420; 117 Stat. 1116; 118 Stat. 482) is amended by 
     striking ``$72,333,334 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``$93,000,000 for the 
     period of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004''.
       (7) University transportation research.--Section 5001(a)(7) 
     of such Act (112 Stat. 420; 117 Stat. 1116; 118 Stat. 482) is 
     amended by striking ``$15,750,000 for the period of October 
     1, 2003, through April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``$20,250,000 
     for the period of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004''.
       (c) Metropolitan Planning.--Section 5(c)(1) of the Surface 
     Transportation Extension Act of 2003 (117 Stat. 1116; 118 
     Stat. 482) is amended by striking ``$140,000,000 for the 
     period of October 1, 2003, through April 30, 2004'' and 
     inserting ``$180,000,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through June 30, 2004''.
       (d) Territories.--Section 1101(d)(1) of the Transportation 
     Equity Act for the 21st Century (117 Stat. 1116; 118 Stat. 
     482) is amended by striking ``$21,233,333 for the period of 
     October 1, 2003, through April 30, 2004'' and inserting 
     ``$27,300,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, through June 
     30, 2004''.
       (e) Alaska Highway.--Section 1101(e)(1) of such Act (117 
     Stat. 1116; 118 Stat. 482) is amended by striking 
     ``$10,966,666 for the period of October 1, 2003, through 
     April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``$14,100,000 for the period 
     of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004''.
       (f) Operation Lifesaver.--Section 1101(f)(1) of such Act 
     (117 Stat. 1117; 118 Stat. 482) is amended by striking 
     ``$291,667 for the period of October 1, 2003, through April 
     30, 2004'' and inserting ``$375,000 for the period of October 
     1, 2003, through June 30, 2004''.
       (g) Bridge Discretionary.--Section 1101(g)(1) of such Act 
     (117 Stat. 1117; 118 Stat. 482) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``$58,333,333'' and inserting 
     ``$75,000,000''; and
       (2) by striking ``April 30'' and inserting ``June 30''.
       (h) Interstate Maintenance.--Section 1101(h)(1) of such Act 
     (117 Stat. 1117; 118 Stat. 482) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``$58,333,333'' and inserting 
     ``$75,000,000''; and
       (2) by striking ``April 30'' and inserting ``June 30''.
       (i) Recreational Trails Administrative Costs.--Section 
     1101(i)(1) of such Act (117 Stat. 1117; 118 Stat. 482) is 
     amended by striking ``$437,500 for the period of October 1, 
     2003, through April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``$562,500 for 
     the period of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004''.
       (j) Railway-Highway Crossing Hazard Elimination in High 
     Speed Rail Corridors.--Section 1101(j)(1) of such Act (117 
     Stat. 1118; 118 Stat. 482) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``$3,062,500'' and inserting 
     ``$3,937,500'';
       (2) by striking ``$145,833'' and inserting ``$187,500''; 
     and
       (3) by striking ``April 30'' each place it appears and 
     inserting ``June 30''.
       (k) Nondiscrimination.--Section 1101(k) of such Act (117 
     Stat. 1118; 118 Stat. 482) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1) by striking ``$5,833,333 for the 
     period of October 1, 2003, through April 30, 2004'' and 
     inserting ``$7,500,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through June 30, 2004''; and
       (2) in paragraph (2) by striking ``$5,833,333 for the 
     period of October 1, 2003, through April 30, 2004'' and 
     inserting ``$7,500,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through June 30, 2004''.
       (l) Administration of Funds.--Section 5(l) of the Surface 
     Transportation Extension Act of 2003 (117 Stat. 1118; 118 
     Stat. 483) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``and section 5 of the Surface 
     Transportation Extension Act of 2004'' and inserting ``, 
     section 5 of the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 
     2004, and section 4 of the Surface Transportation Extension 
     Act of 2004, Part II''; and
       (2) by striking ``or the amendment made by section 4(a)(1) 
     of such Act'' and inserting ``, the amendment made by section 
     5(a)(1) of the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2004, 
     or the amendment made by section 4(a)(1) of the Surface 
     Transportation Extension Act, Part II''.
       (m) Reduction of Allocated Programs.--Section 5(m) of such 
     Act (117 Stat. 1119; 118 Stat. 483) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``and section 5 of the Surface 
     Transportation Extension Act of 2004'' and inserting ``, 
     section 5 of the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 
     2004, and section 4 of the Surface Transportation Extension 
     Act of 2004, Part II'';
       (2) by striking ``and by section 5 of such Act'' and 
     inserting ``, by section 5 of the Surface Transportation 
     Extension Act of 2004, and by section 4 of the Surface 
     Transportation Extension Act of 2004, Part II''; and
       (3) by striking ``and by section 5 of such Act'' and 
     inserting ``, by section 5 of the Surface Transportation 
     Extension Act of 2004, and by section 4 of the Surface 
     Transportation Extension Act of 2004, Part II''.
       (n) Program Category Reconciliation.--Section 5(n) of such 
     Act (117 Stat. 1119; 118 Stat. 483) is amended by striking 
     ``and section 5 of the Surface Transportation Extension Act 
     of 2004'' and inserting ``, section 5 of the Surface 
     Transportation Extension Act of 2004, and section 4 of the 
     Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2004, Part II''.

     SEC. 5. EXTENSION OF HIGHWAY SAFETY PROGRAMS.

       (a) Seat Belt Safety Incentive Grants.--Section 157(g)(1) 
     of title 23, United States Code, is amended by striking 
     ``$65,333,333 for the period of October 1, 2003, through 
     April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``$84,000,000 for the period 
     of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004''.
       (b) Prevention of Intoxicated Driver Incentive Grants.--
     Section 163(e)(1) of such title is amended by striking 
     ``$70,000,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, through 
     April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``$90,000,000 for the period 
     of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004''.

     SEC. 6. SPORT FISHING AND BOATING SAFETY.

       (a) Funding for National Outreach and Communications 
     Program.--Section 4(c)(6) of the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish 
     Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 777c(c)(6)) is amended to read as 
     follows:
       ``(6) $7,499,999 for the period of October 1, 2003, through 
     June 30, 2004;''.
       (b) Clean Vessel Act Funding.--Section 4(b)(4) of such Act 
     (16 U.S.C. 777c(b)(4)) is amended--
       (1) in the paragraph heading by striking ``7 months'' and 
     inserting ``9 months'';
       (2) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) by striking 
     ``$47,833,333'' and inserting ``$61,499,999'';
       (3) in subparagraph (A) by striking ``$5,833,333'' and 
     inserting ``$7,499,999''; and
       (4) in subparagraph (B) by striking ``$4,666,667'' and 
     inserting ``$6,000,001''.
       (c) Boat Safety Funds.--Section 13106(c) of title 46, 
     United States Code, is amended--
       (1) by striking ``$2,916,667'' and inserting 
     ``$3,750,001''; and
       (2) by striking ``$1,166,667'' and inserting 
     ``$1,500,001''.

     SEC. 7. EXTENSION OF FEDERAL TRANSIT PROGRAMS.

       (a) Allocating Amounts.--Section 5309(m) of title 49, 
     United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1)--
       (A) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30, 
     2004'';

[[Page 7898]]

       (B) in subparagraph (A) by striking ``, except for the 
     period beginning on October 1, 2003, and ending on April 30, 
     2004, during which $699,642,775 will be available'' and 
     inserting ``, except for the period beginning on October 1, 
     2003, and ending on June 30, 2004, during which $899,540,711 
     will be available'';
       (C) in subparagraph (B) by striking ``, except for the 
     period beginning on October 1, 2003, and ending on April 30, 
     2004, during which $767,657,109 will be available'' and 
     inserting ``, except for the period beginning on October 1, 
     2003, and ending on June 30, 2004, during which $986,987,712 
     will be available''; and
       (D) in subparagraph (C) by striking ``, except for the 
     period beginning on October 1, 2003 and ending on April 30, 
     2004, during which $352,110,220 will be available'' and 
     inserting ``, except for the period beginning on October 1, 
     2003, and ending on June 30, 2004, during which $452,713,140 
     will be available;
       (2) by amending paragraph (2)(B)(iii) to read as follows:
       ``(iii) October 1, 2003 through june 30, 2004.--Of the 
     amounts made available under paragraph (1)(B), $7,753,980 
     shall be available for the period beginning on October 1, 
     2003, and ending on June 30, 2004, for capital projects 
     described in clause (i).'';
       (3) in paragraph (3)(B)--
       (A) by striking ``$1,750,000'' and inserting 
     ``$2,236,725''; and
       (B) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30, 
     2004''; and
       (4) in paragraph (3)(C)--
       (A) by striking ``$28,994,583'' and inserting 
     ``$37,278,750''; and
       (B) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30, 
     2004''.
       (b) Apportionment of Appropriations for Fixed Guideway 
     Modernization.--Section 8(b)(1) of the Surface Transportation 
     Extension Act of 2003 (49 U.S.C. 5337 note) is amended by 
     striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30, 2004''.
       (c) Formula Grants Authorizations.--Section 5338(a) of 
     title 49, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in the heading to paragraph (2) by striking ``april 30, 
     2004'' and inserting ``june 30, 2004'';
       (2) in paragraph (2)(A)(vi)--
       (A) by striking ``$1,780,963,287'' and inserting 
     ``$2,289,809,940''; and
       (B) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30, 
     2004'';
       (3) in paragraph (2)(B)(vi)--
       (A) by striking ``$445,240,822'' and inserting 
     ``$572,452,485''; and
       (B) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30, 
     2004''; and
       (4) in paragraph (2)(C) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and 
     inserting ``June 30, 2004''.
       (d) Formula Grant Funds.--Section 8(d) of the Surface 
     Transportation Extension Act of 2003 (117 Stat. 1122) is 
     amended to read as follows:
       ``(d) Allocation of Formula Grant Funds for October 1, 
     2003, Through June 30, 2004.--Of the aggregate of amounts 
     made available by or appropriated under section 5338(a)(2) of 
     title 49, United States Code, for the period of October 1, 
     2003, through June 30, 2004--
       ``(1) $3,616,001 shall be available to the Alaska Railroad 
     for improvements to its passenger operations under section 
     5307 of such title;
       ``(2) $37,278,750 shall be available for bus and bus 
     facilities grants under section 5309 of such title;
       ``(3) $67,588,463 shall be available to provide 
     transportation services to elderly individuals and 
     individuals with disabilities under section 5310 of such 
     title;
       ``(4) $179,391,044 shall be available to provide financial 
     assistance for other than urbanized areas under section 5311 
     of such title;
       ``(5) $5,181,748 shall be available to provide financial 
     assistance in accordance with section 3038(g) of the 
     Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century; and
       ``(6) $2,569,206,421 shall be available to provide 
     financial assistance for urbanized areas under section 5307 
     of such title.''.
       (e) Capital Program Authorizations.--Section 5338(b)(2) of 
     title 49, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in the heading by striking ``april 30, 2004'' and 
     inserting ``june 30, 2004'';
       (2) in subparagraph (A)(vi)--
       (A) by striking ``$1,819,410,104'' and inserting 
     ``$1,871,393,250''; and
       (B) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30, 
     2004''; and
       (3) in subparagraph (B)(vi)--
       (A) by striking ``$363,882,021'' and inserting 
     ``$467,848,313''; and
       (B) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30, 
     2004''.
       (f) Planning Authorizations and Allocations.--Section 
     5338(c)(2) of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in the heading by striking ``april 30, 2004'' and 
     inserting ``june 30, 2004'';
       (2) in subparagraph (A)(vi)--
       (A) by striking ``$33,981,652'' and inserting 
     ``$43,690,695''; and
       (B) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30, 
     2004''; and
       (3) in subparagraph (B)(vi)--
       (A) by striking ``$8,350,440'' and inserting 
     ``$10,736,280''; and
       (B) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30, 
     2004''.
       (g) Research Authorizations.--Section 5338(d)(2) of title 
     49, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in the heading by striking ``april 30, 2004'' and 
     inserting ``june 30, 2004'';
       (2) in subparagraph (A)(vi)--
       (A) by striking ``$24,471,428'' and inserting 
     ``$31,463,265''; and
       (B) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30, 
     2004'';
       (3) in subparagraph (B)(vi)--
       (A) by striking ``$6,262,830'' and inserting 
     ``$8,052,210''; and
       (B) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30, 
     2004''; and
       (4) in subparagraph (C) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and 
     inserting ``June 30, 2004''.
       (h) Research Funds.--Section 8(h) of the Surface 
     Transportation Extension Act of 2003 (118 Stat. 486) is 
     amended to read as follows:
       ``(h) Allocation of Research Funds for October 1, 2003, 
     Through June 30, 2004.--Of the funds made available by or 
     appropriated under section 5338(d)(2) of title 49, United 
     States Code, for the period of October 1, 2003, through June 
     30, 2004--
       ``(1) not less than $3,914,269 shall be available for 
     providing rural transportation assistance under section 
     5311(b)(2) of such title;
       ``(2) not less than $6,150,994 shall be available for 
     carrying out transit cooperative research programs under 
     section 5313(a) of such title;
       ``(3) not less than $2,982,300 shall be available to carry 
     out programs under the National Transit Institute under 
     section 5315 of such title, including not more than $745,575 
     to carry out section 5315(a)(16) of such title; and
       ``(4) any amounts not made available under paragraphs (1) 
     through (3) shall be available for carrying out national 
     planning and research programs under sections 5311(b)(2), 
     5312, 5313(a), 5314, and 5322 of such title.''.
       (i) University Transportation Research Authorizations.--
     Section 5338(e)(2) of title 49, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) in the heading by striking ``april 30, 2004'' and 
     inserting ``june 30, 2004'';
       (2) in subparagraph (A)--
       (A) by striking ``$2,783,480'' and inserting 
     ``$3,578,760''; and
       (B) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30, 
     2004'';
       (3) in subparagraph (B)--
       (A) by striking ``$695,870'' and inserting ``$894,690''; 
     and
       (B) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30, 
     2004''; and
       (4) in subparagraph (C) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' each 
     place it appears and inserting ``June 30, 2004''.
       (j) University Transportation Research Funds.--
       (1) In general.--Section 8(j) of the Surface Transportation 
     Extension Act of 2003 (118 Stat. 487) is amended to read as 
     follows:
       ``(j) Allocation of University Transportation Research 
     Funds.--
       ``(1) In general.--Of the amounts made available under 
     section 5338(e)(2)(A) of title 49, United States Code, for 
     the period October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004--
       ``(A) $1,491,150 shall be available for the center 
     identified in section 5505(j)(4)(A) of such title; and
       ``(B) $1,491,150 shall be available for the center 
     identified in section 5505(j)(4)(F) of such title.
       ``(2) Training and curriculum development.--Notwithstanding 
     section 5338(e)(2) of title 49, United States Code, any 
     amounts made available under such section for the period 
     October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004, that remain after 
     distribution under paragraph (1), shall be available for the 
     purposes specified in section 3015(d) of the Transportation 
     Equity Act for the 21st Century (112 Stat. 857).''.
       (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 3015(d)(2) of the 
     Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (49 U.S.C. 
     5338 note; 112 Stat. 857; 118 Stat. 487) is amended by 
     striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30, 2004''.
       (k) Administration Authorizations.--Section 5338(f)(2) of 
     title 49, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in the heading by striking ``april 30, 2004'' and 
     inserting ``june 30, 2004'';
       (2) in subparagraph (A)(vi)--
       (A) by striking ``$35,025,457'' and inserting 
     ``$45,032,730''; and
       (B) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30, 
     2004''; and
       (3) in subparagraph (B)(vi)--
       (A) by striking ``$8,756,364'' and inserting 
     ``$11,258,183''; and
       (B) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30, 
     2004''.
       (l) Job Access and Reverse Commute Program.--Section 
     3037(l) of the Federal Transit Act of 1998 (49 U.S.C. 5309 
     note) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1)(A)(vi)--
       (A) by striking ``$57,989,167'' and inserting 
     ``$74,557,500''; and
       (B) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30, 
     2004'';
       (2) in paragraph (1)(B)(vi)--
       (A) by striking ``$14,497,292'' and inserting 
     ``$18,639,375''; and
       (B) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30, 
     2004'';
       (3) in paragraph (2) by striking ``April 30, 2004, 
     $5,798,917'' and inserting ``June 30, 2004, $7,455,750''; and
       (4) in paragraph (4) by striking ``$11,597,833'' and 
     inserting ``$14,911,500''.

[[Page 7899]]

       (m) Rural Transportation Accessibility Incentive Program.--
     Section 3038(g) of the Federal Transit Act of 1998 (49 U.S.C. 
     5310 note; 118 Stat. 488) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1)(F)--
       (A) by striking ``$3,044,431'' and inserting 
     ``$3,914,268''; and
       (B) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30, 
     2004''; and
       (2) in paragraph (2)--
       (A) by striking ``$985,816'' and inserting ``$1,267,478''; 
     and
       (B) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30, 
     2004''.
       (n) Urbanized Area Formula Grants.--Section 5307(b)(2) of 
     title 49, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in the heading by striking ``april 30, 2004'' and 
     inserting ``june 30, 2004''; and
       (2) in subparagraph (A) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and 
     inserting ``June 30, 2004'';
       (o) Obligation Ceiling.--Section 3040(6) of the Federal 
     Transit Act of 1998 (112 Stat. 394; 118 Stat. 488) is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking ``$4,238,428,192'' and inserting 
     ``$5,449,407,675''; and
       (2) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30, 
     2004''.
       (p) Fuel Cell Bus and Bus Facilities Program.--Section 
     3015(b) of the Federal Transit Act of 1998 (112 Stat. 361; 
     118 Stat. 489) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``June 30, 
     2004''; and
       (2) by striking ``$2,812,475'' and inserting 
     ``$3,616,039''.
       (q) Advanced Technology Pilot Project.--Section 3015(c)(2) 
     of the Federal Transit Act of 1998 (49 U.S.C. 322 note; 118 
     Stat. 489) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``April 30, 2004,'' and inserting ``June 
     30, 2004''; and
       (2) by striking ``$2,812,475'' and inserting 
     ``$3,727,876''.
       (r) Projects for New Fixed Guideway Systems and Extensions 
     to Existing Systems.--Section 3030 of the Transportation 
     Equity Act for the 21st Century (112 Stat. 373; 118 Stat. 
     489) is amended by striking ``April 30, 2004'' each place it 
     appears and inserting ``June 30, 2004''.
       (s) New Jersey Urban Core Project.--Section 3031(a)(3) of 
     the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 
     (105 Stat. 2122; 112 Stat. 379; 118 Stat. 489) is amended by 
     striking ``April 30, 2004'' each place it appears and 
     inserting ``June 30, 2004''.
       (t) Treatment of Funds.--Section 8(t) of the Surface 
     Transportation Extension Act of 2003 (23 U.S.C. 101 note; 118 
     Stat. 489) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1) by striking ``and by section 9 of the 
     Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2004'' and inserting 
     ``, by section 9 of the Surface Transportation Extension Act 
     of 2004, and by section 7 of the Surface Transportation 
     Extension Act of 2004, Part II''; and
       (2) in paragraph (2) by striking ``\7/12\'' and inserting 
     ``\9/12\''.
       (u) Local Share.--Section 3011(a) of the Federal Transit 
     Act of 1998 (49 U.S.C. 5307 note; 118 Stat. 489) is amended 
     by striking ``April 30'' and inserting ``June 30''.

     SEC. 8. NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION 
                   PROGRAMS.

       (a) Chapter 4 Highway Safety Programs.--Section 2009(a)(1) 
     of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (112 
     Stat. 337; 117 Stat. 1119; 118 Stat. 489) is amended by 
     striking ``, and $96,250,000 for the period of October 1, 
     2003, through April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``, and 
     $123,019,875 for the period of October 1, 2003, through June 
     30, 2004''.
       (b) Highway Safety Research and Development.--Section 
     2009(a)(2) of such Act (112 Stat. 337; 117 Stat. 1119; 118 
     Stat. 489) is amended by striking ``$42,000,000 for the 
     period of October 1, 2003, through April 30, 2004'' and 
     inserting ``$53,681,400 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through June 30, 2004''.
       (c) Occupant Protection Incentive Grants-.--Section 
     2009(a)(3) of such Act (112 Stat. 337; 117 Stat. 1120; 118 
     Stat. 489) is amended by striking ``$11,666,700 for the 
     period of October 1, 2003, through April 30, 2004'' and 
     inserting ``$14,911,500 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through June 30, 2004''.
       (d) Alcohol-Impaired Driving Countermeasures Incentive 
     Grants.--Section 2009(a)(4) of such Act (112 Stat. 337; 117 
     Stat. 1120; 118 Stat. 489) is amended by striking 
     ``$23,333,300 for the period of October 1, 2003, through 
     April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``$29,823,000 for the period 
     of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004''.
       (e) National Driver Register.--Section 2009(a)(6) of such 
     Act (112 Stat. 338; 117 Stat. 1120; 118 Stat. 490) is amended 
     by striking ``$2,100,000 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through April 30, 2004'' and inserting ``$2,684,070 for the 
     period of October 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004''.

     SEC. 9. FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM.

       (a) Administrative Expenses.--Section 7(a)(1) of the 
     Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2003 (117 Stat. 1120; 
     118 Stat. 490) is amended by striking ``$102,467,000 for the 
     period October 1, 2003 through April 30, 2004'', and 
     inserting ``$131,811,967 for the period October 1, 2003, 
     through June 30, 2004''.
       (b) Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program.--Section 
     31104(a)(7) of title 49, United States Code, is amended to 
     read as follows:
       ``(7) Not more than $126,519,126 for the period of October 
     1, 2003, through June 30, 2004.''.
       (c) Information Systems and Commercial Driver's License 
     Grants.--
       (1) Authorization of appropriation.--Section 31107(a)(5) of 
     such title is amended to read as follows:
       ``(5) $14,972,678 for the period of October 1, 2003, 
     through June 30, 2004.''.
       (2) Emergency cdl grants.--Section 7(c)(2) of the Surface 
     Transportation Extension Act of 2003 (117 Stat. 1121) is 
     amended--
       (A) by striking ``April 30,'' and inserting ``June 30,''; 
     and
       (B) by striking ``$582,000'' and inserting ``$748,634''.
       (d) Crash Causation Study.--Section 7(d) of such Act is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking ``$582,000'' and inserting ``$748,634''; 
     and
       (2) by striking ``April 30'' and inserting ``June 30''.

     SEC. 10. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF TRUST FUNDS 
                   FOR OBLIGATIONS UNDER TEA-21.

       (a) Highway Trust Fund.--
       (1) In general.--Paragraph (1) of section 9503(c) of the 
     Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended--
       (A) in the matter before subparagraph (A), by striking 
     ``May 1, 2004'' and inserting ``July 1, 2004'',
       (B) by striking ``or'' at the end of subparagraph (F),
       (C) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (G) 
     and inserting ``, or'',
       (D) by inserting after subparagraph (G), the following new 
     subparagraph:
       ``(H) authorized to be paid out of the Highway Trust Fund 
     under the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2004, Part 
     II.'', and
       (E) in the matter after subparagraph (H), as added by this 
     paragraph, by striking ``Surface Transportation Extension Act 
     of 2004'' and inserting ``Surface Transportation Extension 
     Act of 2004, Part II''.
       (2) Mass transit account.--Paragraph (3) of section 9503(e) 
     of such Code is amended--
       (A) in the matter before subparagraph (A), by striking 
     ``May 1, 2004'' and inserting ``July 1, 2004'',
       (B) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``or'' at the end of 
     such subparagraph,
       (C) in subparagraph (E), by inserting ``or'' at the end of 
     such subparagraph,
       (D) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following new 
     subparagraph:
       ``(F) the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2004, 
     Part II'', and
       (E) in the matter after subparagraph (F), as added by this 
     paragraph, by striking ``Surface Transportation Extension Act 
     of 2004'' and inserting ``Surface Transportation Extension 
     Act of 2004, Part II''.
       (3) Exception to limitation on transfers.--Subparagraph (B) 
     of section 9503(b)(5) of such Code is amended by striking 
     ``May 1, 2004'' and inserting ``July 1, 2004''.
       (b) Aquatic Resources Trust Fund.--
       (1) Sport fish restoration account.--Paragraph (2) of 
     section 9504(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is 
     amended by striking ``Surface Transportation Extension Act of 
     2004'' each place it appears and inserting ``Surface 
     Transportation Extension Act of 2004, Part II''.
       (2) Boat safety account.--Subsection (c) of section 9504 of 
     such Code is amended--
       (A) by striking ``May 1, 2004'' and inserting ``July 1, 
     2004'', and
       (B) by striking ``Surface Transportation Extension Act of 
     2004'' and inserting ``Surface Transportation Extension Act 
     of 2004, Part II''.
       (3) Exception to limitation on transfers.--Paragraph (2) of 
     section 9504(d) of such Code is amended by striking ``May 1, 
     2004'' and inserting ``July 1, 2004''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (d) Temporary Rule Regarding Adjustments.--During the 
     period beginning on the date of the enactment of the Surface 
     Transportation Extension Act of 2003 and ending on June 30, 
     2004, for purposes of making any estimate under section 
     9503(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 of receipts of 
     the Highway Trust Fund, the Secretary of the Treasury shall 
     treat--
       (1) each expiring provision of paragraphs (1) through (4) 
     of section 9503(b) of such Code which is related to 
     appropriations or transfers to such Fund to have been 
     extended through the end of the 24-month period referred to 
     in section 9503(d)(1)(B) of such Code, and
       (2) with respect to each tax imposed under the sections 
     referred to in section 9503(b)(1) of such Code, the rate of 
     such tax during the 24-month period referred to in section 
     9503(d)(1)(B) of such Code to be the same as the rate of such 
     tax as in effect on the date of the enactment of the Surface 
     Transportation Extension Act of 2003.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Wisconsin (Mr. Petri) and the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri).
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

[[Page 7900]]

  The legislation now before us will continue for an additional 2 
months the highway construction, highway safety, transit, motor carrier 
and surface transportation research programs. These programs will be 
continued under current law program structures and conditions.
  This bill is necessary in order to give the House Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure and our colleagues in the Senate time 
to conference our two versions of the multiyear surface transportation 
bill.
  H.R. 4219 provides over $31 billion in new funding authority, which 
reflects 9 months' worth, or nine-twelfths of the budget authority and 
associated outlays in the 2004 budget resolution that Congress passed 
earlier this year.
  As the House knows, we recently passed by 357 votes H.R. 3550, the 
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy For Users. This bill will help the 
country maintain and begin to improve our aging and deteriorating 
transportation infrastructure.
  Although H.R. 3550 is funded at a much lower level than it was 
originally introduced, $275 billion in guaranteed funding instead of 
the $375 billion the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
supported, it is a balanced and good bill that will help stimulate and 
support the economy, decrease congestion and make our highways safer.
  Until H.R. 3550 can be conferenced with the Senate-passed bill, this 
2-month extension through June 30 is a must-pass bill. If we do not 
pass this bill and send it to the President before Friday of this week, 
four Department of Transportation agencies will close their doors and 
furlough their employees: the Federal Highway Administration, Federal 
Transit Administration, the National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
  If we do not pass this extension, new highway projects will be 
shelved, States will not be reimbursed the Federal share of projects, 
safety grants will not be provided to States, transit construction will 
be halted, and Federal enforcement of motor carrier safety regulations 
on the highways and at our borders will suffer.
  It is crucial that H.R. 4219 be passed by both the House and Senate 
and delivered to the President by April 30, if not before. Our economy 
cannot withstand the shutdown of the national surface transportation 
programs.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 10 minutes.
  Mr. Speaker, once again time has run out on our effort to reauthorize 
the core mobility program of America, our Federal highway public 
transit and transportation safety programs. The Transportation Equity 
Act for the 21st Century expired 7 months ago, on September 30, 2003. 
On September 24, in consideration of that bill, I said, ``I'm afraid 
we'll be back here on this floor once again pleading for another 
extension of time to keep transportation programs from once again 
expiring. I do not want to be back on this floor saying again what I 
said 6 years ago in 1997, time is running out.''
  Well, here we are. In the words of an icon of the other party, here 
we go again. We passed the 5-month extension bill last fall carrying 
programs through February 29, kind of a mystical date. It appears once 
every 4 years. So here we are mystically appearing once again, pleading 
for another short-term extension through the end of June. Who is going 
to give me odds we are going to be back here in June saying, please, 
another extension of time so we do not shut down our transportation 
programs.

                              {time}  1030

  Why? Because, for the first time in my nearly 30 years as a member of 
this committee, as a member, and another 11 years as a member of the 
staff of that committee, ideology, not good public bipartisan 
transportation policy, is driving this process.
  Despite the fact that we overwhelmingly in both this body and the 
other body passed 6-year highway transit reauthorization bills weeks 
ago, there has been no motion to go to conference, no appointment of 
conferees, no meeting of staff, except for one. Why? Frankly, because 
the leadership of this body has allowed the Congress to be treated like 
a parliamentary institution, an extension of the executive; one that 
works at the direction of, in our government, the President, a 
President who strongly opposes increased investment at the level that 
his own Department of Transportation said we need to make. So we have 
become swept up, pawns in the political agenda, of some operatives over 
there at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
  Now, step back from that for a moment. This committee, working in the 
bipartisan tradition, long-standing, and under the able and 
distinguished stewardship of the chairman of the full committee, the 
gentleman from Alaska (Chairman Young); the chairman of the 
Subcommittee on Highways, Transit and Pipelines (Mr. Petri); the 
ranking member, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski); and myself 
left politics at the door.
  Oh, we had differences on how these programs should be crafted, but 
we worked through them. We spent hours working shoulder to shoulder 
crafting appropriate language to meet what from different viewpoints we 
saw, and, in most cases, the same viewpoints, are necessary actions to 
take for the good of mobility and productivity in America.
  Last November, 73 members of our committee introduced a bill to 
authorize $375 billion for highway transit transportation safety 
programs over the next 6 years. We did not pull that number out of thin 
air. It was prepared by the Department of Transportation at the 
direction of the committee in TEA-21 to design the pathway to what we 
need to do in the 6 years following on TEA-21, that number, $375 
billion, to stem the tide of crippling congestion that chokes America's 
seaports, major transportation arteries, our center cities, our 
suburbs, and even our rural areas. But that bill is still in committee.
  We did have a voice vote reported out and put aside with common 
agreement because the leadership of this body made it clear to the 
leadership of our committee that a bill at $375 billion would never see 
the light of day on the House floor.
  Okay, let us go along with this. Let us get another number we can 
agree on. So we cut the bill $100 billion. On April 2, we considered 
that bill. We passed it overwhelmingly, by 357 to 65. You pass 
constitutional amendments by votes like that. Now that vote, that 
bipartisan overwhelming vote is being cast aside, saying, sorry, we 
cannot do that.
  The other body passed a bill at $318 billion. Their vote was 76 to 
21. Well, that is a vote that also could pass a constitutional 
amendment. These are not just squeaker votes, like some we have had in 
this body.
  So you would think with such overwhelming bipartisan support that 
there would be a committee of conference at work to resolve the 
differences between the two bills. No motion has been made to go to 
conference; no appointment of conferees; Members have not met with each 
other. In fact, in 25 days since the House passed its bill, the 
respective staffs have met only once, and the Republican staff in the 
other body told our combined staff that their leadership would not 
allow them to meet on anything substantive. Well, that does not make 
any sense either.
  Then we read in the papers about meetings of House and Senate 
Republicans and the White House to determine the most critical issue in 
this bill, the dollar amount. Now, that is a little strange. We have 
stood shoulder to shoulder, meeting to meeting, kneecap to kneecap, 
Members and staff, for months. Not just an occasional meeting. Our 
staff worked over weekends. Members met morning, afternoon and evening, 
Democrats and Republicans, to craft something we thought was in the 
best interests of the country. And we are not invited to 1600 
Pennsylvania Avenue, or wherever they meet, to fashion the key issue in 
this legislation?
  I do not understand it. That does not make any sense. That is not the 
pathway to progress for America.

[[Page 7901]]

  If we passed the $375 billion bill, which we could do by the end of 
May, we would have 475,000 new jobs in the workplace by Labor Day. We 
would have $80 billion of total economic activity in the workplace. We 
would have a surging national economy. George Bush would be on his way 
to reelection.
  I say to people I have never worked so hard to elect a Republican 
President in my life. But they do not want it. So here we are.
  Their bill, their idea of progress for America, is $256 billion. That 
is flat-line budgeting over the next 6 years; not an additional dollar 
in real dollars, when you take into account inflation, and not one 
additional job in the marketplace. And we know that. That is why we 
reported out a bill, or attempted to report out a bill, at $375 
billion. Both sides know this.
  So here we are, caught in the swirl and swirling around of political 
ideology. Maybe we ought to have the Presidential election next 
Tuesday, get it over, out of our bloodstream, and then we can go on and 
pass real policy for America. I say that somewhat facetiously, but this 
election-year jitters that has its hand gripped around the throat of 
the most important policy initiative, transportation, that improves 
productivity, mobility of America, keeps us competitive in the world 
marketplace, is choking off our ability to compete and our ability to 
move ahead, to create jobs in America and do what is right for this 
country.
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio 
(Mr. LaTourette).
  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the distinguished 
ranking member of the full committee for his remarks and his 
observations. I would agree with most of them. I have had the pleasure 
of serving with the gentleman from Minnesota for 10 years now, and his 
institutional knowledge, not only about transportation issues but all 
issues that come before this body, is second to none; and I have 
nothing but the greatest respect for him.
  I do have to tell him, however, that the distinguished subcommittee 
chair indicates that Ronald Reagan actually said ``There you go 
again,'' not ``Here we go again.'' But other than that, it was exactly 
right and on point.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. LaTOURETTE. I yield to the gentleman from Minnesota.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to depersonalize it. I did 
say ``paraphrase.''
  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, I thank the 
gentleman.
  Mr. Speaker, this is an embarrassing time for members of the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure because a bill that is 
supposed to improve traffic is now stuck in traffic. In Ohio, where I 
am from, we always joke about the fact that our State flower is the 
orange barrel or the orange cone. We do not have that going on in Ohio 
now, but construction projects all across the country are stuck in 
traffic.
  The gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar) and the gentleman from 
Wisconsin (Mr. Petri) have correctly stated all the statistics and 
figures about why this is an important bill to keep America moving, why 
it is important for jobs.
  The last time we did this extension I talked about that AASHTO came 
up with an estimate that if we had done our work and if this bill 
signed into law before the last bill, TEA-21, expired on September 30, 
we would have 90,000 jobs in the economy already, we would have $2 
billion of investment, and every extension that we have to come to the 
floor and ask for continues that.
  This committee did its job. This committee adopted the Department of 
Transportation numbers indicating that we need $375 billion of highway 
investment over the next 6 years to keep America moving.
  Now, I know that the leader of this House, the Speaker of the House, 
the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hastert), is committed to getting this 
bill done; and I hope and pray, I read in the newspaper there is going 
to be a meeting tomorrow, I would hope that the wisdom descends upon 
all those participating in this meeting and we get this bill done, we 
get Americans to work, we build roads and that the orange cone State 
flower of Ohio blooms again in May.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 5 minutes.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the distinguished gentleman from Ohio. 
Would there were more like him on both sides of the aisle, a fountain 
of reasonableness, a center of constructive thought, a Member who 
really cares about the direction of the Nation and about the programs 
under the jurisdiction of our committee.
  Let me also concur with the gentleman from Ohio about the intentions 
of our Speaker. He has vigorously advocated with the executive branch 
for a robust bill and has told me, as well as others, that he was not 
making progress; that there was a determination to stay away from the 5 
cent increase in the highway user fee, and that was going to affect the 
funding level of the successor transportation bill.
  The gentleman from Alaska (Chairman Young), to his everlasting 
credit, has proven to be a vigorous, forceful leader for the programs 
of our committee. He has taken the message of our $375 billion bill to 
the House Republican Conference, to the White House, to the Office of 
Management and Budget, to the contractor community, and has vigorously 
advocated for a full, vigorous funding of our transportation programs. 
We are not there for no lack of effort by our committee leadership, 
goodness knows.
  The gentleman from Wisconsin (Chairman Petri), Mr. Speaker, has 
traveled the Nation to points of great congestion, of great 
transportation need, to advocate the case for a vigorous, robust 
transportation bill. I have done the same. We have worked side by side 
to try to advance this cause that we know is the right thing to do; 
and, regrettably, we are stymied by ideology.
  When the Congress established the Highway Trust Fund in 1956 as the 
mechanism with which to launch the interstate highway program, it 
crafted out of extensive deliberation a funding mechanism, the highway 
user fee. It was set at 4 cents in 1956. The next year, 1957, President 
Eisenhower, who was the stimulus for the interstate highway program, 
said move it ahead, get going. He signed the bill and agreed to that 
additional 1 cent increase, because he knew, as Congress knew and the 
Bureau of Public Roads, as it was called in those days, now the Federal 
Highway Administration, knew, that it would take more than the amount 
that the 4 cents was yielding to build the interstate.
  They did the right thing. They saw. They had a vision of where 
America needed to go, because at the rate of fatalities on the Nation's 
highways in 1956, it was projected we would be killing 110,000 people a 
year on America's highways if we did not move ahead with a four-lane, 
divided access, controlled superhighway system that would link America 
coast to coast and border to border, theoretically traveling the Nation 
without hitting a stoplight, although that is not, in practice, 
possible any more.
  But it was the right thing. And it was a Republican President who had 
the vision and the courage to stand up and say we need to invest in a 
pay-as-you-go system, although that was not called such at the time.
  Subsequent increases in the highway user fee have been signed into 
law by President Nixon, President Reagan, and President Bush One.

                              {time}  1045

  Why not this one?
  There is, I will not say no, there is minimal opposition to the 
highway user fee. And when we have an opportunity, as the gentleman 
from Wisconsin (Chairman Petri) knows, as we have sat with editorial 
boards, we spell it out, we spell it out to the traveling public, they 
understand it, they get it. There is accountability in the Highway 
Trust Fund, in the highway user fee. People know they pay at the pump 
and they drive away on the road, and it improves their driving 
experience.

[[Page 7902]]

  This is the most effective, sensible, sustainable mechanism in the 
Federal Government, apart from the Social Security Trust Fund, maybe it 
is even better than the Social Security Trust Fund, to invest in 
America. Why is there opposition to it? This has nothing to do with the 
budget deficit. We cannot spend more money than is available in the 
Highway Trust Fund because there is an anti-deficiency provision in the 
basic law that says you cannot run a deficit, and it never has and it 
never will. So get off it.
  When we introduced this bill a year and a half ago, the price of 
gasoline was $1.35. It is $1.95 now, at least here in the Washington 
area; it is a little bit less in other parts of the country. Where has 
all that money gone from the price increase at the pump? It has gone 
overseas, nearly all of it. We are importing better than 50 percent of 
our fuel, and not a penny of that increase has gone to build new roads 
or new bridges or buy new buses or light rail systems. That is all 
going to line the pockets of the oil billionaires and Sheikhs overseas.
  But the 5-cent increase will be invested right here at home, right 
here in the good of America, right here in jobs. We have talked about 
the flights of jobs from America overseas. The job that cannot be 
built, that cannot be created in China, in Taiwan, in Korea, in Japan, 
in Thailand is the job of building a road in front of our homes. That 
job stays here in America.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. 
Blumenauer).
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman's courtesy in 
permitting me to speak on this bill. I appreciate his eloquence and the 
leadership that we have had from our committee.
  The gentleman from Alaska (Chairman Young), the gentleman from 
Minnesota (Ranking Member Oberstar), the gentleman from Wisconsin 
(Chairman Petri), and the gentleman from Illinois (Ranking Member 
Lipinski) have worked hard to keep faith with this body, to deliver a 
transportation bill that is right sized for America's needs.
  In that effort, they have kept faith with the broadest coalition we 
have seen in the history of infrastructure development. We have 
everybody from the Chamber of Commerce to the Sierra Club, the 
bicyclists, to the people who put down asphalt, to the women who are 
frankly the single most aggressive, articulate, and I think 
intimidating spokespeople, the Women's Garden Club of America, all are 
arrayed behind the principle that this country should invest in the 
infrastructure that we need for today and for tomorrow.
  Our committee has responded under the leadership of the gentlemen I 
just mentioned. We have worked with the other body. It is not what 
America needs, but it is in keeping with the realities that we can get 
through this Congress. It is a concession to the administration, 
although what we will settle for is far less than what we know America 
needs. We have scaled down. The administration to this point is saying 
that unless there is a 10 percent cut in real transportation spending 
over the next 6 years, they will not let it pass.
  That is unconscionable. We have an opportunity to draw upon money 
that Americans have invested in trust funds. We have an opportunity to 
generate more tax dollars by this strategic investment. We have an 
opportunity not just to keep faith with our colleagues and with this 
broad coalition; we have an opportunity to keep faith with the American 
public. We have bridges that are crumbling. We have economic 
opportunities in our cities. We have a chance to take this coalition 
that is alive and well in every State, every region, every city to 
bring it together with local and private resources that will turn the 
economy around. It will make our communities more livable, it will make 
our families safer, healthier, and more economically secure.
  We have reached the point, if we cannot, with this extension, reach 
agreement for this minimally-sized package that the House and the 
Senate is working on, then I think we ought to just admit the wheels 
have fallen off, extend it for another 8 months until we get past the 
election. Then, maybe, we can act like grownups and give Americans the 
transportation bill they deserve.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I wish I was standing here on the floor today urging passage of a 
conference report meeting our Nation's transportation needs. Instead, I 
urge my colleagues to support a further 2-month extension of the 
existing program so that conferees can be appointed and we can work 
with the Senate toward the end of meeting our Nation's transportation 
needs. This is what we need to do under the circumstances, and do it 
promptly.
  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to revise and extend 
my remarks.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4219. While I support this 
extension, I am very concerned that we are here to punt on our 
legislative duties, like we have done all too many times. The 
transportation reauthorization expired last fall, but Congress has 
refused to more past partisan wrangling and political rhetoric so that 
we can achieve true compromise.
  The White House has already cost our Nation 1.8 million jobs by 
threatening to veto any bill that does not cut transportation spending 
below the amount Congress authorized nearly a decade ago. I support an 
extension, but it is critical that Congress get the full six-year 
surface transportation authorization bill enacted into law to bolster 
our economy and create good-paying jobs.
  While people in Wall Street talk of recovery, working families 
everywhere are still seeing their jobs being sent overseas. While the 
White House economic policy advisors argue for shipping jobs overseas, 
working families everywhere are relying on charity, food stamps, and 
more than one part-time job just to keep a roof over their head and 
clothes on their back. Our economy is suffering from a huge jobs 
deficit. Since the beginning of the Bush Administration, 2.6 million 
private sector jobs have been lost. 8.4 million people are looking for 
work, and 4.7 million people are working part-time for economic 
reasons.
  We need to create jobs, and every month that the transportation 
reauthorization is delayed is costing jobs for construction workers, 
truckers, steelworkers, electricians, and the millions of Americans 
that in one way or another benefit from the reauthorization. The 
average length of unemployment is the worst in 20 years, and two 
million people have been unemployed for at least six months. If 
Republicans and the White House indeed have no economic plan other than 
outsourcing our prosperity to China and India, they should pass a full 
six-year reauthorization.
  We need a full reauthorization of transportation funding for the sake 
of California and the Nation. Jobs are at stake, and In-and-Out Burger 
cannot alone hire the hundreds of thousands of Californians out of work 
because of our Administration's misguided economic policies.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4219, but also 
encourage our Republican Congressional leaders and White House to come 
up with a job creation strategy that creates jobs in the United States, 
not Shanghai.
  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on February 11, 2004, I supported 
H.R. 3783, legislation to provide an extension of the transportation 
programs funded out of the Highway Trust Fund pending enactment of a 
reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century 
(TEA-21). I will also support H.R. 4219 today, but I am extremely 
frustrated with this process.
  Here Americans are again, more than two months later, still waiting 
to see how many crumbs this Administration is willing to throw to our 
Nation's transportation infrastructure. The fact that Congress must 
approve another temporary extension of the Highway Trust Fund programs 
shows the lack of concern in the White House for America's 
transportation.
  I support H.R. 3550, the Transportation Equity Act, a Legacy for 
Users, the product of the hard and tireless work of two well respected 
members of the House, Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Don 
Young and Ranking Member Jim Oberstar. I supported H.R. 3550 at the 
full authorized level of $375 billion through 2009. Chairman Young did 
pull that out of the air. That number came from the non-partisan career 
staff at the U.S. Department of Transportation. $375 billion requires 
indexing the gas tax for inflation, an idea I have supported since my 
days in the

[[Page 7903]]

Texas State Legislature. I support that proposal only if every cent we 
pay at the pump to the Federal government goes to transportation. That 
is current law.
  While the Administration refuses to accept non-partisan analysis, we 
are willing to accept the Senate's $318 billion level, $57 billion less 
than is necessary for a mobility improvement. Even this bi-partisan 
legislation is opposed by narrow ideological interests in the White 
House and House leadership who are blind to the number-one local issue 
in Houston, Texas--mobility.
  To satisfy ultra-conservative groups that do not believe in Federal 
taxes of any kind, the Administration is willing to watch our highways 
and bridges crumble and rust. The Administration should be more 
concerned about putting Americans back to work. Each billion spent on 
infrastructure creates 47,500 American jobs, with 3.5 million jobs to 
be generated and sustained through 2009 under H.R. 3550, including over 
200,000 jobs in Texas.
  Since roads are not built for free, rational people support a level 
of Federal tax necessary to pay for national defense, Medicare, 
Medicaid, Social Security, and transportation infrastructure. The 
Administration does not grasp this, and here are some consequences for 
my constituents.
  Residents in my community lose an average of 37 hours and 60 gallons 
of gas each year in congested traffic. That is $2.1 billion, every 
year, in productivity and fuel, and congestion has been getting worse. 
These figures are from Texas A&M's Texas Transportation Institute's 
2003 Urban Mobility Report. Texas mobility is also impacted severely by 
the fact that 10 cents of every dollar we pay in gasoline taxes goes to 
other States. I strongly believe that Texas deserves at least 95 
percent of Texas gas tax revenue for Texas transportation projects and 
have cosponsored legislation, H.R. 2208, to that effect.
  But as we saw during the House vote on the Isakson amendment to H.R. 
3550, it is hard to increase our slice of the pie to a fair level 
unless the pie is big enough to pay for the Nation's needs. Inadequate 
transportation investment means lost hours spent in traffic, lost job 
opportunities, and lost lives from unsafe road conditions. I call on 
the Administration to allow conferees to fully fund H.R. 3550 at the 
bipartisan level of $375 billion.
  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, no one in Seattle doubts the city will be 
rocked by another earthquake one day. We've faced large magnitude 
quakes in the past and we fear a large magnitude quake in the future.
  So, I rise to express my outrage that the Administration and 
Republican leadership refuse to pass a comprehensive highway bill that 
includes critical planning money for the Alaskan Way Viaduct. There is 
not a moment to lose in planning and replacing the roadway. A large 
magnitude quake could topple the double-decked highway, just as we saw 
with tragic consequences in Oakland, California.
  Quit playing politics with peoples' lives. Safety must not be held 
hostage by the Administration and Republican leaders. Pass a real 
highway bill now, while there is time, while the Alaskan Way Viaduct is 
still standing.
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Miller of Florida). The question is on 
the motion offered by the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri) that the 
House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4219.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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