[House Report 105-313]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



105th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 1st Session                                                    105-313
_______________________________________________________________________


 
MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND RELATED 
 AGENCIES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1998, AND FOR OTHER 
                                PURPOSES

                                _______
                                

                October 7, 1997.--Ordered to be printed

_______________________________________________________________________


  Mr. Wolf, from the committee on conference, submitted the following

                           CONFERENCE REPORT

                        [To accompany H.R. 2169]

      The committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of 
the two Houses on the amendment of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 
2169) ``making appropriations for the Department of 
Transportation and related agencies for the fiscal year ending 
September 30, 1998, and for other purposes,'' having met, after 
full and free conference, have agreed to recommend and do 
recommend to their respective Houses as follows:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate, and agree to the same with an 
amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the matter stricken and inserted by said 
amendment, insert:

That the following sums are appropriated, out of any money in 
the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the Department of 
Transportation and related agencies for the fiscal year ending 
September 30, 1998, and for other purposes, namely:

                                TITLE I

                      DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

                        OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

                         Salaries and Expenses

    For necessary expenses of the Office of the Secretary, 
$61,000,000, of which not to exceed $40,000 shall be available 
as the Secretary may determine for allocation within the 
Department for official reception and representation expenses: 
Provided, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
there may be credited to this appropriation up to $1,000,000 in 
funds received in user fees: Provided further, That none of the 
funds appropriated in this Act or otherwise made available may 
be used to maintain custody of airline tariffs that are already 
available for public and departmental access at no cost; to 
secure them against detection, alteration, or tampering; and 
open to inspection by the Department.

                         Office of Civil Rights

    For necessary expenses of the Office of Civil Rights, 
$5,574,000.

           Transportation Planning, Research, and Development

    For necessary expenses for conducting transportation 
planning, research, systems development, and development 
activities, to remain available until expended, $4,400,000.

              Transportation Administrative Service Center

    Necessary expenses for operating costs and capital outlays 
of the Transportation Administrative Service Center, not to 
exceed $121,800,000, shall be paid from appropriations made 
available to the Department of Transportation: Provided, That 
such services shall be provided on a competitive basis to 
entities within the Department of Transportation: Provided 
further, That the above limitation on operating expenses shall 
not apply to non-DOT entities: Provided further, That no funds 
appropriated in this Act to an agency of the Department shall 
be transferred to the Transportation Administrative Service 
Center without the approval of the agency modal administrator: 
Provided further, That no assessments may be levied against any 
program, budget activity, subactivity or project funded by this 
Act unless notice of such assessments and the basis therefor 
are presented to the House and Senate Committees on 
Appropriations and are approved by such Committees.

                        Payments to Air Carriers


                 (rescission of contract authorization)


                    (airport and airway trust fund)


    Of the budgetary resources provided for ``Small Community 
Air Service'' by Public Law 101-508, for fiscal year 1998, 
$38,600,000 are rescinded.

               Minority Business Resource Center Program

    For the cost of direct loans, $1,500,000, as authorized by 
49 U.S.C. 332: Provided, That such costs, including the cost of 
modifying such loans, shall be as defined in section 502 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974: Provided further, That these 
funds are available to subsidize gross obligations for the 
principal amount of direct loans not to exceed $15,000,000. In 
addition, for administrative expenses to carry out the direct 
loan program, $400,000.

                       Minority Business Outreach

    For necessary expenses of Minority Business Resource Center 
outreach activities, $2,900,000, of which $2,635,000 shall 
remain available until September 30, 1999: Provided, That 
notwithstanding 49 U.S.C. 332, these funds may be used for 
business opportunities related to any mode of transportation.

                              COAST GUARD

                           Operating Expenses


                     (including transfer of funds)


    For necessary expenses for the operation and maintenance of 
the Coast Guard, not otherwise provided for; purchase of not to 
exceed five passenger motor vehicles for replacement only; 
payments pursuant to section 156 of Public Law 97-377, as 
amended (42 U.S.C. 402 note), and section 229(b) of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 429(b)); and recreation and welfare; 
$2,715,400,000, of which $300,000,000 shall be available for 
defense-related activities and $25,000,000 shall be derived 
from the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund: Provided, That the 
number of aircraft on hand at any one time shall not exceed two 
hundred and twelve, exclusive of aircraft and parts stored to 
meet future attrition: Provided further, That none of the funds 
appropriated in this or any other Act shall be available for 
pay or administrative expenses in connection with shipping 
commissioners in the United States: Provided further, That none 
of the funds provided in this Act shall be available for 
expenses incurred for yacht documentation under 46 U.S.C. 
12109, except to the extent fees are collected from yacht 
owners and credited to this appropriation: Provided further, 
That the Commandant shall reduce both military and civilian 
employment levels for the purpose of complying with Executive 
Order No. 12839: Provided further, That $34,300,000 of the 
funds provided under this heading for increased drug 
interdiction activities are not available for obligation until 
the Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy: (1) 
reviews the specific activities and associated costs and 
benefits proposed by the Coast Guard; (2) compares those 
activities to other drug interdiction efforts government-wide; 
and (3) certifies, in writing, to the House and Senate 
Committees on Appropriations that such expenditures represent 
the best investment relative to other options: Provided 
further, That should the Director, Office of National Drug 
Control Policy decline to make such certification, after 
notification in writing to the House and Senate Committees on 
Appropriations, the Director may transfer, at his discretion, 
up to $34,300,000 of funds provided herein for Coast Guard drug 
interdiction activities to any other entity of the Federal 
Government for drug interdiction activities: Provided further, 
That up to $615,000 in user fees collected pursuant to section 
1111 of Public Law 104-324 shall be credited to this 
appropriation as offsetting collections in fiscal year 1998.

              Acquisition, Construction, and Improvements

    For necessary expenses of acquisition, construction, 
renovation, and improvement of aids to navigation, shore 
facilities, vessels, and aircraft, including equipment related 
thereto, $397,850,000, of which $20,000,000 shall be derived 
from the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund; of which $212,100,000 
shall be available to acquire, repair, renovate or improve 
vessels, small boats and related equipment, to remain available 
until September 30, 2002; $25,800,000 shall be available to 
acquire new aircraft and increase aviation capability, to 
remain available until September 30, 2000; $44,650,000 shall be 
available for other equipment, to remain available until 
September 30, 2000; $68,300,000 shall be available for shore 
facilities and aids to navigation facilities, to remain 
available until September 30, 2000; and $47,000,000 shall be 
available for personnel compensation and benefits and related 
costs, to remain available until September 30, 1999: Provided, 
That funds received from the sale of HU-25 aircraft shall be 
credited to this appropriation for the purpose of acquiring new 
aircraft and increasing aviation capacity: Provided further, 
That the Commandant may dispose of surplus real property by 
sale or lease and the proceeds shall be credited to this 
appropriation, of which not more than $9,000,000 shall be 
credited as offsetting collections to this account, to be 
available for the purposes of this account: Provided further, 
That the amount herein appropriated from the General Fund shall 
be reduced by such amount: Provided further, That any proceeds 
from the sale or lease of Coast Guard surplus real property in 
excess of $9,000,000 shall be retained and remain available 
until expended, but shall not be available for obligation until 
October 1, 1998: Provided further, That the Secretary, acting 
through the Commandant, may enter into a long-term Use 
Agreement with the City of Unalaska for dedicated pier space on 
the municipal dock necessary to support Coast Guard 
enforcementvessels when such vessels call on the Port of Dutch Harbor, 
Alaska.

                Environmental Compliance and Restoration

    For necessary expenses to carry out the Coast Guard's 
environmental compliance and restoration functions under 
chapter 19 of title 14, United States Code, $21,000,000, to 
remain available until expended.

                         Alteration of Bridges

    For necessary expenses for alteration or removal of 
obstructive bridges, $17,000,000, to remain available until 
expended.

                              Retired Pay

    For retired pay, including the payment of obligations 
therefor otherwise chargeable to lapsed appropriations for this 
purpose, and payments under the Retired Serviceman's Family 
Protection and Survivor Benefits Plans, and for payments for 
medical care of retired personnel and their dependents under 
the Dependents Medical Care Act (10 U.S.C. ch. 55); 
$653,196,000.

                            Reserve Training


                     (including transfer of funds)


    For all necessary expenses of the Coast Guard Reserve, as 
authorized by law; maintenance and operation of facilities; and 
supplies, equipment, and services; $67,000,000: Provided, That 
no more than $20,000,000 of funds made available under this 
heading may be transferred to Coast Guard ``Operating 
expenses'' or otherwise made available to reimburse the Coast 
Guard for financial support of the Coast Guard Reserve.

              Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation

    For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, for 
applied scientific research, development, test, and evaluation; 
maintenance, rehabilitation, lease and operation of facilities 
and equipment, as authorized by law, $19,000,000, to remain 
available until expended, of which $3,500,000 shall be derived 
from the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund: Provided, That there 
may be credited to this appropriation funds received from State 
and local governments, other public authorities, private 
sources, and foreign countries, for expenses incurred for 
research, development, testing, and evaluation.

                              Boat Safety


                     (aquatic resources trust fund)


    For payment of necessary expenses incurred for recreational 
boating safety assistance under Public Law 92-75, as amended, 
$35,000,000, to be derived from the Boat Safety Account and to 
remain available until expended.

                    FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION

                               Operations

    For necessary expenses of the Federal Aviation 
Administration, not otherwise provided for, including 
operations and research activities related to commercial space 
transportation, administrative expenses for research and 
development, establishment of air navigation facilities and the 
operation (including leasing) and maintenance of aircraft, and 
carrying out the provisions of subchapter I of chapter 471 of 
title 49, United States Code, or other provisions of law 
authorizing the obligation of funds for similar programs of 
airport and airway development or improvement, lease or 
purchase of passenger motor vehicles for replacement only, in 
addition to amounts made available by Public Law 104-264, 
$5,301,934,000, of which $1,901,628,000 shall be derived from 
the Airport and Airway Trust Fund: Provided, That none of the 
funds in this Act shall be available for the Federal Aviation 
Administration to plan, finalize, or implement any regulation 
that would promulgate new aviation user fees not specifically 
authorized by law after the date of enactment of this Act: 
Provided further, That there may be credited to this 
appropriation funds received from States, counties, 
municipalities, foreign authorities, other public authorities, 
and private sources, for expenses incurred in the provision of 
agency services, including receipts for the maintenance and 
operation of air navigation facilities, and for issuance, 
renewal or modification of certificates, including airman, 
aircraft, and repair station certificates, or for tests related 
thereto, or for processing major repair or alteration forms: 
Provided further, That funds may be used to enter into a grant 
agreement with a nonprofit standard-setting organization to 
assist in the development of aviation safety standards: 
Provided further, That none of the funds in this Act shall be 
available for new applicants for the second career training 
program: Provided further, That none of the funds in this Act 
shall be available for paying premium pay under 5 U.S.C. 
5546(a) to any Federal Aviation Administration employee unless 
such employee actually performed work during the time 
corresponding to such premium pay: Provided further, That none 
of the funds in this Act may be obligated or expended to 
operate a manned auxiliary flight service station in the 
contiguous United States: Provided further, That none of the 
funds derived from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund may be 
used to support the operations and activities of the Associate 
Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation: Provided 
further, That up to $5,000 of funds appropriatedunder this 
heading may be used for activities under the Aircraft Purchase Loan 
Guarantee Program.

                        Facilities and Equipment


                    (airport and airway trust fund)


    For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, for 
acquisition, establishment, and improvement by contract or 
purchase, and hire of air navigation and experimental 
facilities and equipment as authorized under part A of subtitle 
VII of title 49, United States Code, including initial 
acquisition of necessary sites by lease or grant; engineering 
and service testing, including construction of test facilities 
and acquisition of necessary sites by lease or grant; and 
construction and furnishing of quarters and related 
accommodations for officers and employees of the Federal 
Aviation Administration stationed at remote localities where 
such accommodations are not available; and the purchase, lease, 
or transfer of aircraft from funds available under this head; 
to be derived from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, 
$1,875,477,000, of which $1,656,367,000 shall remain available 
until September 30, 2000, and of which $219,110,000 shall 
remain available until September 30, 1998: Provided, That there 
may be credited to this appropriation funds received from 
States, counties, municipalities, other public authorities, and 
private sources, for expenses incurred in the establishment and 
modernization of air navigation facilities.

                 Research, Engineering, and Development


                    (airport and airway trust fund)


    For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, for 
research, engineering, and development, as authorized under 
part A of subtitle VII of title 49, United States Code, 
including construction of experimental facilities and 
acquisition of necessary sites by lease or grant, $199,183,000, 
to be derived from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund and to 
remain available until September 30, 2000: Provided, That there 
may be credited to this appropriation funds received from 
States, counties, municipalities, other public authorities, and 
private sources, for expenses incurred for research, 
engineering, and development: Provided further, That none of 
the funds in this Act may be obligated or expended for the 
``Flight 2000'' Program.

                       Grants-in-Aid for Airports


                (liquidation of contract authorization)


                    (airport and airway trust fund)


    For liquidation of obligations incurred for grants-in-aid 
for airport planning and development, and for noise 
compatibility planning and programs as authorized under 
subchapter I of chapter 471 and subchapter I of chapter 475 of 
title 49, United States Code, and under other law authorizing 
such obligations, $1,600,000,000, to be derived from the 
Airport and Airway Trust Fund and to remain available until 
expended: Provided, That none of the funds in this Act shall be 
available for the planning or execution of programs the 
obligations for which are in excess of $1,700,000,000 in fiscal 
year 1998 for grants-in-aid for airport planning and 
development, and noise compatibility planning and programs, 
notwithstanding section 47117(h) of title 49, United States 
Code: Provided further, That discretionary funds available for 
noise planning and mitigation shall not exceed $200,000,000 and 
discretionary funds available for the military airport program 
shall not exceed $26,000,000.

                       Grants-in-Aid for Airports


                    (airport and airway trust fund)


                 (rescission of contract authorization)


    Of the unobligated balances authorized under 49 U.S.C. 
48103 as amended, $412,000,000 are rescinded.

                   Aviation Insurance Revolving Fund

    The Secretary of Transportation is hereby authorized to 
make such expenditures and investments, within the limits of 
funds available pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 44307, and in accordance 
with section 104 of the Government Corporation Control Act, as 
amended (31 U.S.C. 9104), as may be necessary in carrying out 
the program for aviationinsurance activities under chapter 443 
of title 49, United States Code.

                Aircraft Purchase Loan Guarantee Program

    Except as specifically provided elsewhere in this Act, none 
of the funds in this Act shall be available for activities 
under this heading during fiscal year 1998.

                     FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION

                Limitation on General Operating Expenses

    Necessary expenses for administration, operation, including 
motor carrier safety program operations, and research of the 
Federal Highway Administration not to exceed $552,266,000 shall 
be paid in accordance with law from appropriations made 
available by this Act to the Federal Highway Administration 
together with advances and reimbursements received by the 
Federal Highway Administration: Provided, That $241,708,000 of 
the amount provided herein shall remain available until 
September 30, 2000.

                 Appalachian Development Highway System

    For carrying out the provisions of section 1069(y) of 
Public Law 102-240, relating to construction of, and 
improvements to, corridors of the Appalachian Development 
Highway System, $300,000,000 to remain available until 
expended: Provided, That none of the funds provided under this 
heading shall be available for engineering, design, right-of-
way acquisition, or major construction of the Appalachian 
development highway system between I-81 in Virginia and the 
community of Wardensville, West Virginia.

                          Federal-Aid Highways


                      (limitation on obligations)


                          (highway trust fund)


    None of the funds in this Act shall be available for the 
implementation or execution of programs the obligations for 
which are in excess of $21,500,000,000 for Federal-aid highways 
and highway safety construction programs for fiscal year 1998.

                          Federal-Aid Highways


                (liquidation of contract authorization)


                          (highway trust fund)


    For carrying out the provisions of title 23, United States 
Code, that are attributable to Federal-aid highways, including 
the National Scenic and Recreational Highway as authorized by 
23 U.S.C. 148, not otherwise provided, including reimbursements 
for sums expended pursuant to the provisions of 23 U.S.C. 308, 
$20,800,000,000 or so much thereof as may be available in and 
derived from the Highway Trust Fund, to remain available until 
expended.

                      Right-of-Way Revolving Fund


                      (limitation on direct loans)


                          (highway trust fund)


    None of the funds under this head are available for 
obligations for right-of-way acquisition during fiscal year 
1998.

                      Motor Carrier Safety Grants


                (liquidation of contract authorization)


                          (highway trust fund)


    For payment of obligations incurred in carrying out 49 
U.S.C. 31102, $85,000,000, to be derived from the Highway Trust 
Fund and to remain available until expended: Provided, That 
none of the funds in this Act shall be available for the 
implementation or execution of programs the obligations for 
which are in excess of $84,825,000 for ``Motor Carrier Safety 
Grants''.

             NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION

                        Operations and Research

    For expenses necessary to discharge the functions of the 
Secretary with respect to traffic and highway safety under part 
C of subtitle VI of title 49, United States Code, and chapter 
301 of title 49, United States Code, $74,901,000, of which 
$40,674,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2000: 
Provided, That none of the funds appropriated by this Act may 
be obligated or expended to plan, finalize, or implement any 
rulemaking to add to section 575.104 of title 49 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations any requirement pertaining to a grading 
standard that is different from the three grading standards 
(treadwear, traction, and temperature resistance) already in 
effect.

                        Operations and Research


                          (highway trust fund)


    For expenses necessary to discharge the functions of the 
Secretary with respect to traffic and highway safety under 23 
U.S.C. 403 and section 2006 of the Intermodal Surface 
Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (Public Law 102-240), to 
be derived from the Highway Trust Fund, $72,061,000, of which 
$49,520,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2000.

                     Highway Traffic Safety Grants


                (liquidation of contract authorization)


                      (limitation on obligations)


                          (highway trust fund)


    For payment of obligations incurred carrying out the 
provisions of 23 U.S.C. 153, 402, 408, and 410, and chapter 303 
of title 49, United States Code, to remain available until 
expended, $186,000,000, to be derived from the Highway Trust 
Fund: Provided, That, notwithstanding subsection 2009(b) of the 
Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991, none 
of the funds in thisAct shall be available for the planning or 
execution of programs the total obligations for which, in fiscal year 
1998, are in excess of $186,500,000 for programs authorized under 23 
U.S.C. 402, 410, and chapter 303 of title 49, U.S.C., of which 
$149,700,000 shall be for ``State and community highway safety 
grants'', $2,300,000 shall be for the ``National Driver Register'', and 
$34,500,000 shall be for section 410 ``Alcohol-impaired driving 
counter-measures programs'': Provided further, That none of these funds 
shall be used for construction, rehabilitation or remodeling costs, or 
for office furnishings and fixtures for State, local, or private 
buildings or structures: Provided further, That not to exceed 
$5,268,000 of the funds made available for section 402 may be available 
for administering ``State and community highway safety grants'': 
Provided further, That not to exceed $150,000 of the funds made 
available for section 402 may be available for administering the 
highway safety grants authorized by section 1003(a)(7) of Public Law 
102-240: Provided further, That not to exceed $500,000 of the funds 
made available for section 410 ``Alcohol-impaired driving counter-
measures programs'' shall be available for technical assistance to the 
States.

                    FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION

                      Office of the Administrator

    For necessary expenses of the Federal Railroad 
Administration, not otherwise provided for, $20,290,000, of 
which $1,389,000 shall remain available until expended: 
Provided, That none of the funds in this Act shall be available 
for the planning or execution of a program making commitments 
to guarantee new loans under the Emergency Rail Services Act of 
1970, as amended, and no new commitments to guarantee loans 
under section 211(a) or 211(h) of the Regional Rail 
Reorganization Act of 1973, as amended, shall be made: Provided 
further, That, as part of the Washington Union Station 
transaction in which the Secretary assumed the first deed of 
trust on the property and, where the Union Station 
Redevelopment Corporation or any successor is obligated to make 
payments on such deed of trust on the Secretary's behalf, 
including payments on and after September 30, 1988, the 
Secretary is authorized to receive such payments directly from 
the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation, credit them to the 
appropriation charged for the first deed of trust, and make 
payments on the first deed of trust with those funds: Provided 
further, That such additional sums as may be necessary for 
payment on the first deed of trust may be advanced by the 
Administrator from unobligated balances available to the 
Federal Railroad Administration, to be reimbursed from payments 
received from the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation.

                            Railroad Safety

    For necessary expenses in connection with railroad safety, 
not otherwise provided for, $57,067,000, of which $5,511,000 
shall remain available until expended: Provided, That 
notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds appropriated 
under this heading are available for the reimbursement of out-
of-state travel and per diem costs incurred by employees of 
State governments directly supporting the Federal railroad 
safety program, including regulatory development and 
compliance-related activities.

                   Railroad Research and Development

    For necessary expenses for railroad research and 
development, $20,758,000, to remain available until expended.

                 Northeast Corridor Improvement Program

    For necessary expenses related to Northeast Corridor 
improvements authorized by title VII of the Railroad 
Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976, as amended 
(45 U.S.C. 851 et seq.) and 49 U.S.C. 24909, $250,000,000, to 
remain available until September 30, 2000, of which $12,000,000 
shall be for the Pennsylvania Station Redevelopment Project.

            Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Program

    The Secretary of Transportation is authorized to issue to 
the Secretary of the Treasury notes or other obligations 
pursuant to section 512 of the Railroad Revitalization and 
Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 (Public Law 94-210), as amended, 
in such amounts and at such times as may be necessary to pay 
any amounts required pursuant to the guarantee of the principal 
amount of obligations under sections 511 through 513 of such 
Act, such authority to exist as long as any such guaranteed 
obligation is outstanding: Provided, That no new loan guarantee 
commitments shall be made during fiscal year 1998.

                    Next Generation High-Speed Rail

    For necessary expenses for Next Generation High-Speed Rail 
studies, corridor planning, development, demonstration, and 
implementation, $20,395,000, to remain available until 
expended: Provided, That funds under this head may be made 
available for grants to States for high-speed rail corridor 
design, feasibility studies, environmental analyses, and track 
and signal improvements.

                     Alaska Railroad Rehabilitation

    To enable the Secretary of Transportation to make grants to 
the Alaska Railroad, $15,280,000 shall be forcapital 
rehabilitation and improvements benefiting its passenger operations.

                     Rhode Island Rail Development

    For the costs associated with construction of a third track 
on the Northeast Corridor between Davisville and Central Falls, 
Rhode Island, with sufficient clearance to accommodate double 
stack freight cars, $10,000,000, to be matched by the State of 
Rhode Island or its designee on a dollar for dollar basis and 
to remain available until expended: Provided, That as a 
condition of accepting such funds, the Providence and Worcester 
(P&W) Railroad shall enter into an agreement with the Secretary 
to reimburse Amtrak and/or the Federal Railroad Administration, 
on a dollar for dollar basis, up to the first $23,000,000 in 
damages resulting from the legal action initiated by the P&W 
Railroad under its existing contracts with Amtrak relating to 
the provision of vertical clearances between Davisville and 
Central Falls in excess of those required for present freight 
operations.

         Grants to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation

    To enable the Secretary of Transportation to make grants to 
the National Railroad Passenger Corporation authorized by 49 
U.S.C. 24104, $543,000,000, to remain available until expended, 
of which $344,000,000 shall be available for operating losses, 
and $199,000,000 shall be for capital improvements: Provided, 
That if Amtrak reform legislation as required by section 977(f) 
of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 is enacted into law prior to 
the distribution by the Secretary of any of the funds 
appropriated above for capital improvements, then the portion 
of this appropriation made available for capital improvements 
shall not be available for obligation and the Secretary shall 
not transfer any of the funds appropriated under this heading 
for capital improvements to Amtrak: Provided further, That in 
the event Amtrak reform legislation required by section 977(f) 
of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 is enacted into law after 
the distribution of some or all of the funds appropriated under 
this account for capital improvements are transferred by the 
Secretary to Amtrak, then the Secretary of the Treasury shall 
reduce the amount refunded to Amtrak under section 977 of the 
Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 by an amount equal to the funds 
distributed to Amtrak under this heading for capital 
improvements and the portion of this appropriation made 
available for capital improvements shall not be available for 
obligation and no additional funds appropriated under this 
heading shall be transferred by the Secretary to Amtrak for 
capital improvements: Provided further, That none of the funds 
provided for capital improvements may be transferred to 
operating losses to pay for debt service interest unless 
specifically authorized by law after the date of enactment of 
this Act: Provided further, That the incurring of any 
obligation or commitment by the Corporation for the purchase of 
capital improvements with funds appropriated herein which is 
prohibited by this Act shall be deemed a violation of 31 U.S.C. 
1341: Provided further, That funding under this head for 
capital improvements shall not be made available before July 1, 
1998: Provided further, That none of the funds herein 
appropriated shall be used for lease or purchase of passenger 
motor vehicles or for the hire of vehicle operators for any 
officer or employee, other than the president of the 
Corporation, excluding the lease of passenger motor vehicles 
for those officers or employees while in official travel 
status.

                     FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION

                        Administrative Expenses

    For necessary administrative expenses of the Federal 
Transit Administration's programs authorized by chapter 53 of 
title 49, United States Code, $45,738,000: Provided, That none 
of the funds in this Act shall be available for the execution 
of contracts under section 5327(c) of title 49, United States 
Code, in an aggregate amount that exceeds $15,000,000.

                             Formula Grants

    For necessary expenses to carry out 49 U.S.C. 5307, 
5310(a)(2), 5311, and 5336, to remain available until expended, 
$240,000,000: Provided, That no more than $2,500,000,000 of 
budget authority shall be available for these purposes: 
Provided further, That of the funds provided under this head 
for formula grants, no more than $150,000,000 may be used for 
operating assistance under 49 U.S.C. 5336(d): Provided further, 
That the limitation on operating assistance provided under this 
heading shall, for urbanized areas of less than 200,000 in 
population, be no less than seventy-five percent of the amount 
of operating assistance such areas are eligible to receive 
under Public Law 103-331: Provided further, That in the 
distribution of the limitation provided under this heading to 
urbanized areas that had a population under the 1990 census of 
1,000,000 or more, the Secretary shall direct each such area to 
give priority consideration to the impact of reductions in 
operating assistance on smaller transit authorities operating 
within the area and to consider the needs and resources of such 
transit authorities when the limitation is distributed among 
all transit authorities operating in the area.

                   University Transportation Centers

    For necessary expenses for university transportation 
centers as authorized by 49 U.S.C. 5317(b), to remain available 
until expended, $6,000,000.

                     Transit Planning and Research

    For necessary expenses for transit planning and research as 
authorized by 49 U.S.C. 5303, 5311, 5313, 5314, and 5315, to 
remain available until expended, $92,000,000, of which 
$39,500,000 shall be for activities under Metropolitan Planning 
(49 U.S.C. 5303); $4,500,000 for activities under Rural Transit 
Assistance (49 U.S.C. 5311(b)(2)); $8,250,000 for activities 
under State Planning and Research (49 U.S.C. 5313(b)); 
$36,750,000 for activities including National Planning and 
Research (49 U.S.C. 5314 and 5313(a)); and $3,000,000 for 
National Transit Institute (49 U.S.C. 5315).

                      Trust Fund Share of Expenses


                (liquidation of contract authorization)


                          (highway trust fund)


    For payment of obligations incurred in carrying out 49 
U.S.C. 5338(a), $2,210,000,000, to remain available until 
expended and to be derived from the Highway Trust Fund: 
Provided, That $2,210,000,000 shall be paid from the Mass 
Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund to the Federal 
Transit Administration's formula grants account.

                          Discretionary Grants


                      (limitation on obligations)


                          (highway trust fund)


    None of the funds in this Act shall be available for the 
implementation or execution of programs the obligations for 
which are in excess of $2,000,000,000 in fiscal year 1998 for 
grants under the contract authority in 49 U.S.C. 5338(b): 
Provided, That there shall be available for fixed guideway 
modernization, $800,000,000; there shall be available for the 
replacement, rehabilitation, and purchase of buses and related 
equipment and the construction of bus-related facilities, 
$400,000,000; and there shall be available for new fixed 
guideway systems $800,000,000, to be available as follows:
            $44,600,000 for the Atlanta-North Springs project;
            $1,000,000 for the Austin Capital metro project;
            $46,250,000 for the Boston Piers MOS-2 project;
            $1,000,000 for the Boston urban ring project;
            $5,000,000 for the Burlington-Essex, Vermont 
        commuter rail project;
            $2,000,000 for the Canton-Akron-Cleveland commuter 
        rail project;
            $1,500,000 for the Charleston monobeam rail 
        project;
            $1,000,000 for the Charlotte South corridor 
        transitway project;
            $500,000 for the Cincinnati Northeast/Northern 
        Kentucky rail line project;
            $5,000,000 for the Clark County, Nevada fixed 
        guideway project;
            $800,000 for the Cleveland Blue Line extension to 
        Highland Hills project;
            $700,000 for the Cleveland Berea Red Line extension 
        to Hopkins International Airport;
            $1,000,000 for the Cleveland Waterfront Line 
        extension project;
            $8,000,000 for the Dallas-Fort Worth RAILTRAN 
        project;
            $11,000,000 for the DART North Central light rail 
        extension project;
            $1,000,000 for the DeKalb County, Georgia light 
        rail project;
            $23,000,000 for the Denver Southwest Corridor 
        project;
            $20,000,000 for the New York East Side access 
        project;
            $8,000,000 for the Florida Tri-County commuter rail 
        project;
            $2,000,000 for the Galveston, Texas rail trolley 
        system project;
            $1,000,000 for the Houston Advanced Regional Bus 
        project;
            $51,100,000 for the Houston Regional Bus project;
            $1,250,000 for the Indianapolis Northeast corridor 
        project;
            $3,000,000 for the Jackson, Mississippi intermodal 
        corridor project;
            $61,500,000 for the Los Angeles MOS-3 project;
            $31,000,000 for MARC commuter rail improvements;
            $1,000,000 for the Memphis, Tennessee regional rail 
        project;
            $5,000,000 for the Metro-Dade Transit east-west 
        corridor project;
            $5,000,000 for the Miami-North 27th Avenue project;
            $1,000,000 for the Mission Valley East corridor 
        project;
            $500,000 for the Nassau Hub rail link EIS project;
            $60,000,000 for the New Jersey Hudson-Bergen LRT 
        project;
            $27,000,000 for the New Jersey Secaucus project;
            $6,000,000 for the New Orleans Canal Street 
        corridor project;
            $2,000,000 for the New Orleans Desire Streetcar 
        project;
            $12,000,000 for the North Carolina Research 
        Triangle Park project;
            $4,000,000 for the Northern Indiana South Shore 
        commuter rail project;
            $3,000,000 for the Oceanside-Escondido light rail 
        project;
            $1,600,000 for the Oklahoma City MAPS corridor 
        transit project;
            $2,000,000 for the Orange County transitway 
        project;
            $31,800,000 for the Orlando Lynx light rail 
        project;
            $500,000 for the Pennsylvania Strawberry Hill/
        Diamond Branch rail project;
            $4,000,000 for the Phoenix metropolitan area 
        transit project;
            $5,000,000 for the Pittsburgh airport busway 
        project;
            $63,400,000 for the Portland-Westside/Hillsboro 
        project;
            $2,000,000 for the Roaring Fork Valley rail 
        project;
            $20,300,000 for the Sacramento LRT project;
            $63,400,000 for the Salt Lake City South LRT 
        project;
            $4,000,000 for the Salt Lake City regional commuter 
        system project;
            $1,000,000 for the San Bernardino Metrolink 
        project;
            $1,500,000 for the San Diego Mid-Coast corridor 
        project;
            $29,900,000 for the San Francisco BART extension to 
        the airport project;
            $15,000,000 for the San Juan Tren Urbano;
            $21,400,000 for the San Jose Tasman LRT project;
            $18,000,000 for the Seattle-Tacoma light rail and 
        commuter rail projects;
            $30,000,000 for the St. Louis-St. Clair LRT 
        extension project;
            $2,500,000 for the St. George Ferry terminal 
        project;
            $500,000 for the Springfield-Branson, Missouri 
        commuter rail project;
            $1,000,000 for the Tampa Bay regional rail project;
            $2,000,000 for the Tidewater, Virginia rail 
        project;
            $1,000,000 for the Toledo, Ohio rail project;
            $12,000,000 for the Twin Cities transitways 
        projects;
            $2,000,000 for the Virginia Rail Express 
        Fredericksburg to Washington commuter rail project;
            $2,500,000 for the Whitehall ferry terminal 
        project; and
            $3,000,000 for the Wisconsin central commuter rail 
        project.

                       Mass Transit Capital Fund


                (liquidation of contract authorization)


                          (highway trust fund)


    For payment of obligations incurred in carrying out 49 
U.S.C. 5338(b) administered by the Federal Transit 
Administration, $2,350,000,000, to be derived from the Highway 
Trust Fund and to remain available until expended.

             Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

    For necessary expenses to carry out the provisions of 
section 14 of Public Law 96-184 and Public Law 101-551, 
$200,000,000, to remain available until expended.

             SAINT LAWRENCE SEAWAY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

    The Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation is hereby 
authorized to make such expenditures, within the limits of 
funds and borrowing authority available to the Corporation, and 
in accord with law, and to make such contracts and commitments 
without regard to fiscal year limitations as provided by 
section 104 of the Government Corporation Control Act, as 
amended, as may be necessary in carrying out the programs set 
forth in the Corporation's budget for the current fiscal year.

                       Operations and Maintenance


                    (harbor maintenance trust fund)


    For necessary expenses for operation and maintenance of 
those portions of the Saint Lawrence Seaway operated and 
maintained by the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development 
Corporation, including the Great Lakes Pilotage functions 
delegated by the Secretary of Transportation, $11,200,000, to 
be derived from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, pursuant to 
Public Law 99-662.

              RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION

                     Research and Special Programs

    For expenses necessary to discharge the functions of the 
Research and Special Programs Administration, $28,450,000, of 
which $574,000 shall be derived from the Pipeline Safety Fund, 
and of which $4,950,000 shall remain available until September 
30, 2000: Provided, That up to $1,200,000 in fees collected 
under 49 U.S.C. 5108(g) shall be deposited in the general fund 
of the Treasury as offsetting receipts: Provided further, That 
there may be credited to this appropriation, to be available 
until expended, funds received from States, counties, 
municipalities, other public authorities, and private sources 
for expenses incurred for training, for reports publication and 
dissemination, and for travel expenses incurred in performance 
of hazardous materials exemptions and approvals functions.

                            Pipeline Safety


                         (pipeline safety fund)


                    (oilspill liability trust fund)


    For expenses necessary to conduct the functions of the 
pipeline safety program, for grants-in-aid to carry outa 
pipeline safety program, as authorized by 49 U.S.C. 60107, and to 
discharge the pipeline program responsibilities of the Oil Pollution 
Act of 1990, $31,300,000, of which $3,300,000 shall be derived from the 
Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund and shall remain available until 
September 30, 2000; and of which $28,000,000 shall be derived from the 
Pipeline Safety Fund, of which $14,839,000 shall remain available until 
September 30, 2000: Provided, That in addition to amounts made 
available for the Pipeline Safety Fund, $1,100,000 shall be available 
for grants to States for the development and establishment of one-call 
notification systems and shall be derived from amounts previously 
collected under 49 U.S.C. 60301, and that an additional $365,000 in 
amounts previously collected under 49 U.S.C. 60301 is available to 
conduct general functions of the pipeline safety program.

                     Emergency Preparedness Grants


                     (emergency preparedness fund)


    For necessary expenses to carry out 49 U.S.C. 5127(c), 
$200,000, to be derived from the Emergency Preparedness Fund, 
to remain available until September 30, 2000: Provided, That 
none of the funds made available by 49 U.S.C. 5116(i) and 
5127(d) shall be made available for obligation by individuals 
other than the Secretary of Transportation, or his designee.

                      OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

                         Salaries and Expenses

    For necessary expenses of the Office of Inspector General 
to carry out the provisions of the Inspector General Act of 
1978, as amended, $42,000,000: Provided, That none of the funds 
under this heading shall be for the conduct of contract audits.

                      SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD

                         Salaries and Expenses

    For necessary expenses of the Surface Transportation Board, 
including services authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109, $13,853,000: 
Provided, That $2,000,000 in fees collected in fiscal year 1998 
by the Surface Transportation Board pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 9701 
shall be made available to this appropriation in fiscal year 
1998: Provided further, That any fees received in excess of 
$2,000,000 in fiscal year 1998 shall remain available until 
expended, but shall not be available for obligation until 
October 1, 1998.

                                TITLE II

                            RELATED AGENCIES

       ARCHITECTURAL AND TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS COMPLIANCE BOARD

                         Salaries and Expenses

    For expenses necessary for the Architectural and 
Transportation Barriers Compliance Board, as authorized by 
section 502 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, 
$3,640,000: Provided, That, notwithstanding any other provision 
of law, there may be credited to this appropriation funds 
received for publications and training expenses.

                  NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD

                         Salaries and Expenses

    For necessary expenses of the National Transportation 
Safety Board, including hire of passenger motor vehicles and 
aircraft; services as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109, but at rates 
for individuals not to exceed the per diem rate equivalent to 
the rate for a GS-18; uniforms, or allowances therefor, as 
authorized by law (5 U.S.C. 5901-5902) $48,371,000, of which 
not to exceed $2,000 may be used for official reception and 
representation expenses.

                             Emergency Fund

    For necessary expenses of the National Transportation 
Safety Board for accident investigations, including hire of 
passenger motor vehicles and aircraft; services as authorized 
by 5 U.S.C. 3109, but at rates for individuals not to exceed 
the per diem rate equivalent to the rate for a GS-18; uniforms, 
or allowances therefor, as authorized by law (5 U.S.C. 5901-
5902), $1,000,000, to remain available until expended.

                               TITLE III

                           GENERAL PROVISIONS


                     (including transfers of funds)


    Sec. 301. During the current fiscal year applicable 
appropriations to the Department of Transportation shall be 
available for maintenance and operation of aircraft; hire of 
passenger motor vehicles and aircraft; purchase of liability 
insurance for motor vehicles operating in foreign countries on 
official department business; and uniforms, or allowances 
therefor, as authorized by law (5 U.S.C. 5901-5902).
    Sec. 302. Such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 
1998 pay raises for programs funded in this Act shall be 
absorbed within the levels appropriated in this Act or previous 
appropriations Acts.
    Sec. 303. Funds appropriated under this Act for 
expenditures by the Federal Aviation Administration shall be 
available (1) except as otherwise authorized by title VIII of 
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
7701 et seq.) for expenses of primary and secondary schooling 
for dependents of Federal Aviation Administration personnel 
stationed outside the continental United States at costs for 
any given area not in excess of those of the Department of 
Defense for the same area, when it is determined by the 
Secretary that the schools, if any, available in the locality 
are unable to provide adequately for the education of such 
dependents, and (2) for transportation of said dependents 
between schools serving the area that they attend and their 
places of residence when the Secretary, under such regulations 
as may be prescribed, determines that such schools are not 
accessible by public means of transportation on a regular 
basis.
    Sec. 304. Appropriations contained in this Act for the 
Department of Transportation shall be available for services as 
authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109, but at rates for individuals not 
to exceed the per diem rate equivalent to the rate for an 
Executive Level IV.
    Sec. 305. None of the funds in this Act shall be available 
for salaries and expenses of more than one hundred seven 
political and Presidential appointees in the Department of 
Transportation: Provided, That none of the personnel covered by 
this provision may be assigned on temporary detail outside the 
Department of Transportation.
    Sec. 306. None of the funds in this Act shall be used for 
the planning or execution of any program to pay the expenses 
of, or otherwise compensate, non-Federal parties intervening in 
regulatory or adjudicatory proceedings funded in this Act.
    Sec. 307. None of the funds appropriated in this Act shall 
remain available for obligation beyond the current fiscal year, 
nor may any be transferred to other appropriations, unless 
expressly so provided herein.
    Sec. 308. The Secretary of Transportation may enter into 
grants, cooperative agreements, and other transactions with any 
person, agency, or instrumentality of the United States, any 
unit of State or local government, any educational institution, 
and any other entity in execution of the Technology 
Reinvestment Project authorized under the Defense Conversion, 
Reinvestment and Transition Assistance Act of 1992 and related 
legislation: Provided, That the authority provided in this 
section may be exercised without regard to section 3324 of 
title 31, United States Code.
    Sec. 309. The expenditure of any appropriation under this 
Act for any consulting service through procurement contract 
pursuant to section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, shall 
be limited to those contracts where such expenditures are a 
matter of public record and available for public inspection, 
except where otherwise provided under existing law, or under 
existing Executive Order issued pursuant to existing law.
    Sec. 310. (a) For fiscal year 1998 the Secretary of 
Transportation shall distribute the obligation limitation for 
Federal-aid highways by allocation in the ratio which sums 
authorized to be appropriated for Federal-aid highways that are 
apportioned or allocated to each State for such fiscal year 
bear to the total of the sums authorized to be appropriated for 
Federal-aid highways that are apportioned or allocated to all 
the States for such fiscal year.
    (b) During the period October 1 through December 31, 1997, 
no State shall obligate more than 25 per centum of the amount 
distributed to such State under subsection (a), and the total 
of all State obligations during such period shall not exceed 12 
per centum of the total amount distributed to all States under 
such subsection.
    (c) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), the Secretary 
shall--
            (1) provide all States with authority sufficient to 
        prevent lapses of sums authorized to be appropriated 
        for Federal-aid highways that have been apportioned to 
        a State;
            (2) after August 1, 1998, revise a distribution of 
        the funds made available under subsection (a) if a 
        State will not obligate the amount distributed during 
        that fiscal year and redistribute sufficient amounts to 
        those States able to obligate amounts in addition to 
        those previously distributed during that fiscal year 
        giving priority to those States having large 
        unobligated balances of funds apportioned under 
        sections 103(e)(4), 104, 144, and 160 of title 23, 
        United States Code, and under sections 1013(c) and 1015 
        of Public Law 102-240; and
            (3) not distribute amounts authorized for 
        administrative expenses and funded from the 
        administrative takedown authorized by section 104(a) of 
        title 23, United States Code, the Federal lands highway 
        program, the intelligent transportation systems 
        program, the Truman-Hobbs bridges funded under the 
        discretionary bridge program, and amounts made 
        available under sections 1040, 1047, 1064, 6001, 6005, 
        6006, 6023, and 6024 of Public Law 102-240, and 49 
        U.S.C. 5316, 5317, and 5338: Provided, That amounts 
        made available under section 6005 of Public Law 102-240 
        shall be subject to the obligation limitation for 
        Federal-aid highways and highway safety construction 
        programs under the head ``Federal-Aid Highways'' in 
        this Act.
    (d) During the period October 1 through December 31, 1997, 
the aggregate amount of obligations under section 157 of title 
23, United States Code, for projects covered under section 147 
of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1978, section 9 
of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1981, sections 131(b), 
131(j), and 404 of Public Law 97-424, sections 1061, 1103-1108, 
4008, 6023(b)(8), and 6023(b)(10) of Public Law 102-240, and 
for projects authorized by Public Law 99-500 and Public Law 
100-17, shall not exceed $277,431,840.
    (e) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, none of the 
funds in this Act shall be available for the distribution of 
bonus limitation under the federal-aid highways program.
    Sec. 311. The limitations on obligations for the programs 
of the Federal Transit Administration shall not apply to any 
authority under 49 U.S.C. 5338, previously made available for 
obligation, or to any other authority previously made available 
for obligation under the discretionary grants program.
    Sec. 312. None of the funds in this Act shall be used to 
implement section 404 of title 23, United States Code.
    Sec. 313. None of the funds in this Act shall be available 
to plan, finalize, or implement regulations that would 
establish a vessel traffic safety fairway less than five miles 
wide between the Santa Barbara Traffic Separation Scheme and 
the San Francisco Traffic Separation Scheme.
    Sec. 314. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
airports may transfer, without consideration, to the Federal 
Aviation Administration (FAA) instrument landing systems (along 
with associated approach lighting equipment and runway visual 
range equipment) which conform to FAA design and performance 
specifications, the purchase of which was assisted by a Federal 
airport-aid program, airport development aid program or airport 
improvement program grant. The FAA shall accept such equipment, 
which shall thereafter be operated and maintained by the FAA in 
accordance with agency criteria.
    Sec. 315. None of the funds in this Act shall be available 
to award a multiyear contract for production end items that (1) 
includes economic order quantity or long lead time material 
procurement in excess of $10,000,000 in any one year of the 
contract or (2) includes a cancellation charge greater than 
$10,000,000 which at the time of obligation has not been 
appropriated to the limits of the Government's liability or (3) 
includes a requirement that permits performance under the 
contract during the second and subsequent years of the contract 
without conditioning such performance upon the appropriation of 
funds: Provided, That this limitation does not apply to a 
contract in which the Federal Government incurs no financial 
liability from not buying additional systems, subsystems, or 
components beyond the basic contract requirements.
    Sec. 316. For the purposes of funds made available under 
the heading, Formula Grants, the term ``Capital Project'' 
includes a project for--
            (A)(i) acquisition, construction, supervision, or 
        inspection of a facility or equipment, including 
        inspection thereof, for use in mass transportation; and
            (ii) expenses incidental to the acquisition or 
        construction (including designing, engineering, 
        location survey, mapping, acquiring rights of way, 
        associated pre-revenue startup costs, and environmental 
        mitigation), payments for rail trackage rights, 
        Intelligent Transportation Systems, relocation 
        assistance, acquiring replacement housing sites, and 
        acquiring, constructing, relocating, and rehabilitating 
        replacement housing;
            (B) rehabilitating a bus;
            (C) remanufacturing a bus;
            (D) overhauling rail rolling stock;
            (E) preventive maintenance; and
            (F) financing the operating costs of equipment and 
        facilities used in mass transportation in urbanized 
        areas with a population of less than 200,000.
    Sec. 317. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and 
except for fixed guideway modernization projects, funds made 
available by this Act under ``Federal Transit Administration, 
Discretionary grants'' for projects specified in this Act or 
identified in reports accompanying this Act not obligated by 
September 30, 2000, shall be made available for other projects 
under 49 U.S.C. 5309.
    Sec. 318. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any 
funds appropriated before October 1, 1993, under any section of 
chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, that remain 
available for expenditure may be transferred to and 
administered under the most recent appropriation heading for 
any such section.
    Sec. 319. None of the funds in this Act may be used to 
compensate in excess of 350 technical staff years under the 
federally-funded research and development center contract 
between the Federal Aviation Administration and the Center for 
Advanced Aviation Systems Development during fiscal year 1998.
    Sec. 320. Funds provided in this Act for the Transportation 
Administrative Service Center (TASC) shall be reduced by 
$3,000,000, which limits fiscal year 1998 TASC obligational 
authority for elements of the Department of Transportation 
funded in this Act to no more than $118,800,000: Provided, That 
such reductions from the budget request shall be allocated by 
the Department of Transportation to each appropriations account 
in proportion to the amount included in each account for the 
Transportation Administrative Service Center.
    Sec. 321. Funds received by the Federal Highway 
Administration, Federal Transit Administration, and Federal 
Railroad Administration from States, counties, municipalities, 
other public authorities, and private sources for expenses 
incurred for training may be credited respectively to the 
Federal Highway Administration's ``Limitation on General 
Operating Expenses'' account, the Federal Transit 
Administration's ``Transit Planning and Research'' account, and 
to the Federal Railroad Administration's ``Railroad Safety'' 
account, except for State rail safety inspectors participating 
in training pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 20105.
    Sec. 322. None of the funds in this Act shall be available 
to prepare, propose, or promulgate any regulations pursuant to 
title V of the Motor Vehicle Information andCost Savings Act 
(49 U.S.C. 32901 et seq.) prescribing corporate average fuel economy 
standards for automobiles, as defined in such title, in any model year 
that differs from standards promulgated for such automobiles prior to 
enactment of this section.
    Sec. 323. None of the funds in this Act may be used for 
planning, engineering, design, or construction of a sixth 
runway at the Denver International Airport, Denver, Colorado: 
Provided, That this provision shall not apply in any case where 
the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration 
determines, in writing, that safety conditions warrant 
obligation of such funds: Provided further, That funds may be 
used for activities related to planning or analysis of airport 
noise issues related to the sixth runway project.
    Sec. 324. Notwithstanding 31 U.S.C. 3302, funds received by 
the Bureau of Transportation Statistics from the sale of data 
products, for necessary expenses incurred pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 
111 may be credited to the Federal-aid highways account for the 
purpose of reimbursing the Bureau for such expenses: Provided, 
That such funds shall not be subject to the obligation 
limitation for Federal-aid highways and highway safety 
construction.
    Sec. 325. None of the funds in this Act may be obligated or 
expended for employee training which: (a) does not meet 
identified needs for knowledge, skills and abilities bearing 
directly upon the performance of official duties; (b) contains 
elements likely to induce high levels of emotional response or 
psychological stress in some participants; (c) does not require 
prior employee notification of the content and methods to be 
used in the training and written end of course evaluations; (d) 
contains any methods or content associated with religious or 
quasi-religious belief systems or ``new age'' belief systems as 
defined in Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Notice N-
915.022, dated September 2, 1988; (e) is offensive to, or 
designed to change, participants' personal values or lifestyle 
outside the workplace; or (f) includes content related to human 
immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome 
(HIV/AIDS) other than that necessary to make employees more 
aware of the medical ramifications of HIV/AIDS and the 
workplace rights of HIV-positive employees.
    Sec. 326. None of the funds in this Act shall, in the 
absence of express authorization by Congress, be used directly 
or indirectly to pay for any personal service, advertisement, 
telegram, telephone, letter, printed or written matter, or 
other device, intended or designed to influence in any manner a 
Member of Congress, to favor or oppose, by vote or otherwise, 
any legislation or appropriation by Congress, whether before or 
after the introduction of any bill or resolution proposing such 
legislation or appropriation: Provided, That this shall not 
prevent officers or employees of the Department of 
Transportation or related agencies funded in this Act from 
communicating to Members of Congress on the request of any 
Member or to Congress, through the proper official channels, 
requests for legislation or appropriations which they deem 
necessary for the efficient conduct of the public business.
    Sec. 327. None of the funds in this Act may be used to 
support Federal Transit Administration's field operations and 
oversight of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority 
in any location other than from the Washington, D.C. 
metropolitan area.
    Sec. 328. Not to exceed $1,000,000 of the funds provided in 
this Act for the Department of Transportation shall be 
available for the necessary expenses of advisory committees.
    Sec. 329. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
Secretary may use funds appropriated under this Act, or any 
subsequent Act, to administer and implement the exemption 
provisions of 49 CFR 580.6 and to adopt or amend exemptions 
from the disclosure requirements of 49 CFR part 580 for any 
class or category of vehicles that the Secretary deems 
appropriate.
    Sec. 330. No funds other than those appropriated to the 
Surface Transportation Board or fees collected by the Board 
shall be used for conducting the activities of the Board.
    Sec. 331. (a) Compliance With Buy American Act.--None of 
the funds made available in this Act may be expended by an 
entity unless the entity agrees that in expending the funds the 
entity will comply with the Buy American Act (41 U.S.C. 10a-
10c).
    (b) Sense of Congress; Requirement Regarding Notice.--
            (1) Purchase of american-made equipment and 
        products.--In the case of any equipment or product that 
        may be authorized to be purchased with financial 
        assistance provided using funds made available in this 
        Act, it is the sense of the Congress that entities 
        receiving the assistance should, in expending the 
        assistance, purchase only American-made equipment and 
        products to the greatest extent practicable.
            (2) Notice to recipients of assistance.--In 
        providing financial assistance using funds made 
        available in this Act, the head of each Federal agency 
        shall provide to each recipient of the assistancea 
notice describing the statement made in paragraph (1) by the Congress.
    (c) Prohibition of Contracts With Persons Falsely Labeling 
Products as Made in America.--If it has been finally determined 
by a court or Federal agency that any person intentionally 
affixed a label bearing a ``Made in America'' inscription, or 
any inscription with the same meaning, to any product sold in 
or shipped to the United States that is not made in the United 
States, the person shall be ineligible to receive any contract 
or subcontract made with funds made available in this Act, 
pursuant to the debarment, suspension, and ineligibility 
procedures described in sections 9.400 through 9.409 of title 
48, Code of Federal Regulations.
    Sec. 332. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
receipts, in amounts determined by the Secretary, collected 
from users of fitness centers operated by or for the Department 
of Transportation shall be available to support the operation 
and maintenance of those facilities.
    Sec. 333. None of the funds made available in this Act may 
be used for improvements to the Miller Highway in New York 
City, New York.
    Sec. 334. None of the funds in this Act shall be available 
to implement or enforce regulations that would result in the 
withdrawal of a slot from an air carrier at O'Hare 
International Airport under section 93.223 of title 14 of the 
Code of Federal Regulations in excess of the total slots 
withdrawn from that air carrier as of October 31, 1993 if such 
additional slot is to be allocated to an air carrier or foreign 
air carrier under section 93.217 of title 14 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations.
    Sec. 335. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, of 
amounts made available under Federal Aviation Administration 
``Operations'', the FAA shall provide personnel at Dutch 
Harbor, Alaska to provide real-time weather and runway 
observation and other such functions to help ensure the safety 
of aviation operations.
    Sec. 336. Notwithstanding 49 U.S.C. 41742, no essential air 
service shall be provided to communities in the forty-eight 
contiguous States that are located fewer than seventy highway 
miles from the nearest large and medium hub airport, or that 
require a rate of subsidy per passenger in excess of $200 
unless such point is greater than two hundred and ten miles 
from the nearest large or medium hub airport.
    Sec. 337. (a) In General.--For purposes of the exception 
set forth in section 29(a)(2) of the International Air 
Transportation Competition Act of 1979 (Public Law 96-192; 94 
Stat. 48), the term ``passenger capacity of 56 passengers or 
less'' includes any aircraft, except aircraft exceeding gross 
aircraft weight of 300,000 pounds, reconfigured to accommodate 
56 or fewer passengers if the total number of passenger seats 
installed on the aircraft does not exceed 56.
    (b) Inclusion of Certain States in Exemption.--The first 
sentence of section 29(c) of the International Air 
Transportation Competition Act of 1979 (Public Law 96-192; 94 
Stat. 48 et seq.) is amended by inserting ``Kansas, Alabama, 
Mississippi,'' before ``and Texas''.
    (c) Safety Assurance.--The Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall monitor the safety of flight 
operations in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area and take 
such actions as may be necessary to ensure safe aviation 
operations. If the Administrator must restrict aviation 
operations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area to ensure safety, the 
Administrator shall notify the House and Senate Committees on 
Appropriations as soon as possible that an unsafe airspace 
management situation existed requiring the restrictions.
    Sec. 338. Rebates, refunds, incentive payments, minor fees 
and other funds received by the Department from travel 
management centers, charge card programs, the subleasing of 
building space, and miscellaneous sources are to be credited to 
appropriations of the Department and allocated to elements of 
the Department using fair and equitable criteria and such funds 
shall be available until December 31, 1998.
    Sec. 339. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
Department of the Navy is directed to transfer the USNS EDENTON 
(ATS-1), currently in Inactive Ship status, to the United 
States Coast Guard.
    Sec. 340. (a) Findings.--The Congress finds that--
            (1) Congress has the authority under article I, 
        section 8 of the Constitution to regulate the air 
        commerce of the United States;
            (2) section 47107 of title 49, United States Code, 
        prohibits the diversion of certain revenue generated by 
        a public airport as a condition of receiving a project 
        grant;
            (3) a grant recipient that uses airport revenues 
        for purposes that are not airport related in a manner 
        inconsistent with chapter 471 of title 49, United 
        States Code, illegally diverts airport revenues;
            (4) illegal diversion of airport revenues 
        undermines the interest of the United States in 
        promoting a strong national air transportation system;
            (5) the policy of the United States that airports 
        should be as self-sustaining as possible and that 
        revenues generated at airports should not be 
divertedfrom airport purposes was stated by Congress in 1982 and 
reaffirmed and strengthened in 1987, 1994, and 1996;
            (6) certain airports are constructed on lands that 
        may have belonged, at one time, to native Americans, 
        native Hawaiians, or Alaskan natives;
            (7) contrary to the prohibition against diverting 
        airport revenues from airport purposes under section 
        47107 of title 49, United States Code, certain payments 
        from airport revenues may have been made for the 
        betterment of native Americans, native Hawaiians, or 
        Alaskan natives based upon the claims related to lands 
        ceded to the United States;
            (8) Federal law prohibits diversions of airport 
        revenues obtained from any source whatsoever to occur 
        in the future whether related to claims for periods of 
        time prior to or after the date of enactment of this 
        Act; and
            (9) because of the special circumstances 
        surrounding such past diversions of airport revenues 
        for the betterment of native Americans, native 
        Hawaiians, or Alaskan natives, it is in the national 
        interest that amounts from airport revenues previously 
        received by any entity for the betterment of native 
        Americans, native Hawaiians, or Alaskan natives, as 
        specified in subsection (b) of this section, should not 
        be subject to repayment.
    (b) Termination of Repayment Responsibility.--
Notwithstanding the provisions of 47107 of title 49, United 
States Code, or any other provision of law, monies paid for 
claims related to ceded lands and diverted from airport 
revenues and received prior to April 1, 1996, by any entity for 
the betterment of native Americans, native Hawaiians, or 
Alaskan natives, shall not be subject to repayment.
    (c) Prohibition on Further Diversion.--There shall be no 
further payment of airport revenues for claims related to ceded 
lands, whether characterized as operating expenses, rent, or 
otherwise, and whether related to claims for periods of time 
prior to or after the date of enactment of this Act.
    (d) Clarification.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed 
to affect any existing federal statutes, enactments, or trust 
obligations created thereunder, or any statute of the several 
States that define the obligations of such States to native 
Hawaiians, native Americans, or Alaskan Natives in connection 
with ceded lands, except to make clear that airport revenues 
may not be used to satisfy such obligations.
    Sec. 341. Limitation on Funds Used To Enforce Regulations 
Regarding Animal Fats and Vegetable Oils.--None of the funds 
made available in this Act may be used by the Coast Guard to 
issue, implement, or enforce a regulation or to establish an 
interpretation or guideline under the Edible Oil Regulatory 
Reform Act (Public Law 104-55), or the amendments made by that 
Act, that does not recognize and provide for, with respect to 
fats, oils, and greases (as described in that Act, or the 
amendments made by that Act) differences in--
            (1) physical, chemical, biological, and other 
        relevant properties; and
            (2) environmental effects.
    Sec. 342. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, 
rule or regulation, the Secretary of Transportation is 
authorized to allow the issuer of any preferred stock 
heretofore sold to the Department to redeem or repurchase such 
stock upon the payment to the Department of an amount 
determined by the Secretary.
    Sec. 343. Subsection (d)(4) of 49 U.S.C. 31112 is amended 
by striking ``September 30, 1997'' and inserting ``February 28, 
1998''.
    Sec. 344. None of the funds in this Act shall be used to 
enforce against air carriers, conducting operations under part 
135 of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations 
(14 C.F.R. 135.1 et seq.) that are not scheduled operations (as 
defined in 14 C.F.R. 119.3), the requirement in section 
44936(f)(1) of title 49 that records be checked before hiring 
an individual as a pilot, until the FAA determines, in writing 
that it can furnish to such air carriers the requested records 
within 30 days, as required by section 44936(f)(5) of title 49. 
If the Administrator cannot make the determination, in writing, 
within 150 days after enactment of this Act, then the 
Administrator shall report to the Committees on Appropriations, 
the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, 
and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 
the reasons why the determination cannot be made.
    Sec. 345. Exemption Authority for Air Service To Slot-
Controlled Airports.--Section 41714 of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end thereof the following:
    ``(i) Expeditious Consideration of Certain Exemption 
Requests.--Within 120 days after receiving an application for 
an exemption under subsection (a)(2) to improve air service 
between a nonhub airport (as defined in section 41731(a)(4)) 
and a high density airport subject to the exemption authority 
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall grant or deny the 
exemption. The Secretaryshall notify the Senate Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the grant or denial within 14 
calendar days after the determination and state the reasons for the 
determination.''.
    Sec. 346. (a) As soon as practicable after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation, acting 
for the Department of Transportation, may take receipt of such 
equipment and sites of the Ground Wave Emergency Network 
(referred to in this section as ``GWEN'') as the Secretary of 
Transportation determines to be necessary for the establishment 
of a nationwide system to be known as the ``Nationwide 
Differential Global Positioning System'' (referred to in this 
section as ``NDGPS'').
    (b) As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of Transportation may establish the 
NDGPS. In establishing the NDGPS, the Secretary of 
Transportation may--
            (1) if feasible, reuse GWEN equipment and sites 
        transferred to the Department of Transportation under 
        subsection (a);
            (2) to the maximum extent practicable, use 
        contractor services to install the NDGPS;
            (3) modify the positioning system operated by the 
        Coast Guard at the time of the establishment of the 
        NDGPS to integrate the reference stations made 
        available pursuant to subsection (a);
            (4) in cooperation with the Secretary of Commerce, 
        ensure that the reference stations referred to in 
        paragraph (3) are compatible with, and integrated into, 
        the Continuously Operating Reference Station (commonly 
        referred to as ``CORS'') system of the National 
        Geodetic Survey of the Department of Commerce; and
            (5) in cooperation with the Secretary of Commerce, 
        investigate the use of the NDGPS reference stations for 
        the Global Positioning System Integrated Precipitable 
        Water Vapor System of the National Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Administration.
    (c) The Secretary of Transportation may--
            (1) manage and operate the NDGPS;
            (2) ensure that the service of the NDGPS is 
        provided without the assessment of any user fee; and
            (3) in cooperation with the Secretary of Defense, 
        ensure that the use of the NDGPS is denied to any enemy 
        of the United States.
    (d) In any case in which the Secretary of Transportation 
determines that contracting for the maintenance of 1 or more 
NDGPS reference stations is cost-effective, the Secretary of 
Transportation may enter into a contract to provide for that 
maintenance.
    (e) The Secretary of Transportation may--
            (1) in cooperation with appropriate representatives 
        of private industries and universities and officials of 
        State governments--
                    (A) investigate improvements (including 
                potential improvements) to the NDGPS;
                    (B) develop standards for the NDGPS; and
                    (C) sponsor the development of new 
                applications for the NDGPS; and
            (2) provide for the continual upgrading of the 
        NDGPS to improve performance and address the needs of--
                    (A) the Federal Government;
                    (B) State and local governments; and
                    (C) the general public.
    Sec. 347. The Secretary of Transportation is authorized to 
transfer funds appropriated to the Coast Guard in Public Law 
102-368 in order to pay rent assessments by the General 
Services Administration related to prior year space needs of 
the Department: Provided, That prior to any such transfer, 
notification shall be provided to the House and Senate 
Committees on Appropriations.
    Sec. 348. (a) Subsection (b) of section 642 of the Treasury 
and General Government Appropriations Act, 1998 is amended by 
inserting ``other than a Member of Congress,'' after ``Code,''.
    (b) Paragraph (1) of section 642(c) of such Act is amended 
by striking ``(1)(A) subject to subparagraph (B),'' and 
inserting ``(1)'' and by striking ``December 31, 1998'' and all 
that follows through the end and inserting ``December 31, 
1998;''.
    This Act may be cited as the ``Department of Transportation 
and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1998''.
    And the Senate agree to the same.

                                   Frank R. Wolf,
                                   Tom DeLay,
                                   Ralph Regula,
                                   Harold Rogers,
                                   Ron Packard,
                                   Sonny Callahan
                                   Todd Tiahrt,
                                   Robert B. Aderholt,
                                   Bob Livingston,
                                   Martin Olav Sabo,
                                   Thomas M. Foglietta,
                                   Esteban Edward Torres,
                                   John W. Olver,
                                   Ed Pastor,
                                   David R. Obey,
                                 Managers on the Part of the House.

                                   Richard C. Shelby,
                                   Pete V. Domenici,
                                   Arlen Specter,
                                   Christopher S. Bond,
                                   Slade Gorton,
                                   Robert F. Bennett,
                                   Lauch Faircloth,
                                   Ted Stevens,
                                   Frank R. Lautenberg,
                                   Robert C. Byrd,
                                   Barbara A. Mikulski,
                                   Harry Reid,
                                   Herb Kohl,
                                   Patty Murray,
                                   Daniel K. Inouye,
                                Managers on the Part of the Senate.
       JOINT EXPLANATORY STATEMENT OF THE COMMITTEE OF CONFERENCE

      The managers on the part of the House and the Senate at 
the conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on 
the amendment of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 2169) making 
appropriations for the Department of Transportation and related 
agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1998, and for 
other purposes, submit the following joint statement to the 
House of Representatives and the Senate in explanation of the 
effect of the action agreed upon by the managers and 
recommended in the accompanying conference report.
      The Senate deleted the entire House bill after the 
enacting clause and inserted the Senate bill. The conference 
agreement includes a revised bill.

                        CONGRESSIONAL DIRECTIVES

      The conferees agree that Executive Branch propensities 
cannot substitute for Congress' own statements concerning the 
best evidence of Congressional intentions; that is, the 
official reports of the Congress. Report language included by 
the House (House Report 105-188) or the Senate (Senate Report 
105-55 accompanying the companion measure S. 1048) that is not 
changed by the conference is approved by the committee of 
conference. The statement of the managers, while repeating some 
report language for emphasis, is not intended to negate the 
language referred to above unless expressly provided herein.

                     PROGRAM, PROJECT AND ACTIVITY

      During fiscal year 1998, for the purposes of the Balanced 
Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Public Law 
99-177), as amended, with respect to funds provided for the 
Department of Transportation and related agencies, the terms 
``program, project and activity'' shall mean any item for which 
a dollar amount is contained in an appropriations Act 
(including joint resolutions providing continuing 
appropriations) or accompanying reports of the House and Senate 
Committees on Appropriations, or accompanying conference 
reports and joint explanatory statements of the committee of 
conference. In addition, the reductions made pursuant to any 
sequestration order to funds appropriated for ``Federal 
Aviation Administration, Facilities and equipment'' and for 
``Coast Guard, Acquisition, construction, and improvements'' 
shall be applied equally to each ``budget item'' that is listed 
under said accounts in the budget justifications submitted to 
the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations as modified 
by subsequent appropriations Acts and accompanying committee 
reports, conference reports, or joint explanatory statements of 
the committee of conference. The conferees recognize that 
adjustments to the above allocations may be required due to 
changing program requirements or priorities. The conferees 
expect any such adjustment, if required, to be accomplished 
only through the normal reprogramming process.

                STAFFING INCREASES PROVIDED BY CONGRESS

      The conferees direct the Department of Transportation to 
fill expeditiously any positions added in this bill, without 
regard to agency-specific staffing targets which may have been 
previously established to meet the mandated government-wide 
staffing reductions. The conferees support the overall staffing 
reductions, and have made reductions in the bill which more 
than offset staffing increases provided for a small number of 
specific activities.

                 TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

                        Office of the Secretary

                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

      The conference agreement provides $61,000,000 for 
salaries and expenses of the office of the secretary, instead 
of $60,009,000 as proposed by the House and $66,703,000 as 
proposed by the Senate.
      The conference agreement deletes language proposed by the 
Senate that provides not to exceed $10,567,000 for rental of 
headquarters space, related services assessed by the General 
Services Administration, and for department-wide facility 
security enhancements. Sufficient funds are included within the 
appropriation to cover the office of the secretary's costs 
associated with the rental of headquarters space and related 
services assessed by the General Services Administration.
      The conference agreement deletes bill language proposed 
by the House that would limit to $606,000 funds made available 
to the office of acquisition and grants management, solely for 
department-wide grants management activities.
      The conference agreement includes the following changes 
to the budget request for this office:

  Reductions in staff:
    -5 Attorney advisors......................................  -400,000
    -2 Congressional liaison officers.........................  -150,000
    -2 Intergovernmental liaison officers.....................  -150,000
    -3 Office of public affairs...............................  -175,000
    -3 Office of administration...............................  -125,000
    -1 Office of intermodalism................................  -100,000
Office of the chief information officer.......................  -225,000
Fitness reviews of airlines, +3 FTE...........................  +180,000

                         OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS

      The conference agreement provides $5,574,000 for the 
office of civil rights, as proposed by both the House and 
Senate.

           TRANSPORTATION PLANNING, RESEARCH, AND DEVELOPMENT

      The conference agreement provides $4,400,000, as proposed 
by both the House and the Senate. Within the funds provided, 
$300,000 is included to conduct a national capital region 
congestion mitigation study and to hold a summit; $100,000 is 
included to develop with the Department of Agriculture, the 
private sector and the transportation industry a comprehensive 
strategy to distribute excess food and commodities from fields 
and warehouses to food banks and other public and non-profit 
organizations that assist the poor; and sufficient funds are 
included for transportation planning assistance for the 2002 
Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and for a multimodal 
transportation study for Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico.

              TRANSPORTATION ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE CENTER

      The conference agreement includes a limitation on 
activities financed through the transportation administrative 
service center at $121,800,000, as proposed by the House. 
Language is included in the conference agreement that 
stipulates that the limitation shall not apply to non-DOT 
entities and that services provided by the transportation 
administrative service center to entities within the department 
shall be provided on a competitive basis. In addition, the 
conference agreement includes two language provisions, as 
proposed by the House. The first provision limits activities 
transferred to the transportation administrative service center 
to only those approved by the agency modal administrator; the 
second limits special assessments or reimbursable agreements 
levied against any program, project, or activity funded in this 
Act to only those assessments or reimbursable agreements 
presented to and approved by the House and Senate Committees on 
Appropriations. The Senate bill contained no similar 
provisions.
      The conferees reiterate that the department shall submit 
with the department's Congressional budget submission an 
approved annual operating plan of the transportation 
administrative service center and quarterly reports for the 
Committees' review. Quarterly reports and approvals of the 
Secretary's management council shall also be provided to the 
Committees in a timely manner.
      The conferees direct the Office of Inspector General to 
undertake a study that evaluates the utility and cost 
effectiveness of the transportation administrative service 
center both to the individual modes and the department 
generally; whether the transportation administrative service 
center provides quality services responsive to customer needs 
at a competitive price; and whether the Federal Aviation 
Administration's franchise fund duplicates or reduces the cost 
effectiveness of a department-wide service center. The 
conferees direct that this report be provided to the House and 
Senate Committees on Appropriations not later than April 1, 
1998.

                        PAYMENTS TO AIR CARRIERS

                 (RESCISSION OF CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION)

                    (AIRPORT AND AIRWAY TRUST FUND)

      The conference agreement rescinds $38,600,000 in contract 
authority which was provided in previous authorizing Acts, as 
proposed by the Senate. The House bill contained no similar 
rescission.

               MINORITY BUSINESS RESOURCE CENTER PROGRAM

      The conference agreement includes a limitation on direct 
loans of $15,000,000 and provides subsidy and administrative 
costs totaling $1,900,000, as proposed by both the House and 
Senate.

                       MINORITY BUSINESS OUTREACH

      The conference agreement provides $2,900,000 for minority 
business outreach activities, as proposed by both the House and 
Senate.

                              Coast Guard

                           Operating Expenses

      The conference agreement provides $2,715,400,000 for 
Coast Guard operating expenses instead of $2,708,000,000 as 
proposed by the House and $2,435,400,000 as proposed by the 
Senate. In addition, the Senate-passed Department of Defense 
Appropriations Bill, 1998 included $300,000,000 for national 
security activities of the Coast Guard. The House bill included 
similar funding within the overall total provided in this bill.
      The agreement limits Coast Guard aircraft to 212, as 
proposed by the House, instead of 221 as proposed by the 
Senate.
      The agreement includes House provisions prohibiting the 
obligation of $34,300,000 budgeted for Coast Guard drug 
interdiction activities until the Director, Office of National 
Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) reviews such activities and 
provides a specific certification to the Congress regarding the 
merit of such activities. The bill also allows the Director, 
ONDCP to transfer all or part of these funds to other federal 
entities for other drug interdiction activities.
      The following table compares the House and Senate bills 
and the conference agreement for items in conference:


      Ballast water management program.--The conferees agree 
that, within the total amount provided, $1,995,000 is to 
implement the nationwide ballast water management program, as 
proposed by the House.
      Governor's Island caretaker status.--The conference 
agreement provides $6,000,000 for Coast Guard maintenance of 
Governor's Island in a ``caretaker'' status pending transfer to 
the General Services Administration. This is a reduction of 
$2,300,000 from the budget estimate. The Coast Guard has 
indicated that Governor's Island can be adequately maintained 
until such transfer during fiscal year 1998 at this funding 
level; however, if costs are higher than currently expected, 
the Coast Guard should advise the Congress as soon as possible. 
The conferees do not expect to support Coast Guard funding for 
caretaker expenses in fiscal year 1999, since such funding 
would be beyond the normal responsibility of federal agencies 
under existing regulations.
      Sand Island Bridge, Honolulu, HI.--The conferees direct 
the Coast Guard to conduct a study, using operating funds, to 
determine the eligibility of the Sand Island Bridge in Honolulu 
Harbor, Hawaii for funding under the ``Alteration of bridges'' 
program.

              Acquisition, Construction, and Improvements

      The conference agreement includes $397,850,000 for 
acquisition, construction, and improvements instead of 
$379,000,000 as proposed by the House and $412,300,000 as 
proposed by the Senate. The bill allocates funds by budget 
activity as follows:
      Vessels, small boats, and related equipment.--
$212,100,000 instead of $191,650,000 as proposed by the House 
and $214,700,000 as proposed by the Senate;
      Aircraft and related programs.--$25,800,000 instead of 
$33,900,000 as proposed by the House and $26,400,000 as 
proposed by the Senate;
      Other equipment.--$44,650,000 instead of $47,050,000 as 
proposed by the House and $51,200,000 as proposed by the 
Senate;
      Shore facilities and aids to navigation facilities.--
$68,300,000 instead of $59,400,000 as proposed by the House and 
$73,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      The bill also allows up to $9,000,000 in offsetting 
collections from asset sales to be credited to this 
appropriation during fiscal year 1998, as proposed in both 
bills, with technical language as proposed by the House and the 
Senate.
      The bill provides that the Secretary may enter into a 
long-term agreement with the City of Unalaska in Alaska for 
dedicated pier space on the municipal dock for Coast Guard 
vessels, as proposed by the Senate.
      A table showing the distribution of this appropriation by 
project as included in the fiscal year 1998 budget estimate, 
House bill, Senate bill, and the conference agreement follows:


      Group/Station New Orleans.--The conferees agree to direct 
that $3,000,000 of the funds provided for relocation of Group/
Station New Orleans is only to improve the condition of the 
waterway adjoining the relocation site, as proposed by the 
House.
      Ground wave emergency network (GWEN)/DGPS.--The 
conference agreement includes $2,400,000 to initiate the 
establishment of a nationwide differential global positioning 
system (DGPS) utilizing decommissioned United States Air Force 
ground wave emergency network (GWEN) sites and equipment. The 
Coast Guard and Federal Railroad Administration have 
successfully converted a demonstration GWEN site into a Coast 
Guard-operated precision DGPS. The funds provided to the Coast 
Guard shall be used for site, tower, and antenna acquisition, 
equipment, construction, and other hardware and software costs 
related to the expansion of the Coast Guard's current DGPS 
coverage to a ground-based nationwide system. These increased 
mapping and locator capabilities will have far-reaching 
applications in the areas of positive train control, 
intelligent transportation systems, search and rescue, fire 
fighting, precision farming, and other public safety missions.
      Hampton, Long Island seasonal search and rescue 
facility.--The conferees agree that the Department of Defense 
and the Coast Guard should sign a memorandum of agreement 
providing for a seasonal search and rescue capability operating 
out of the Air National Guard facility at the Francis S. 
Gabreski Airport in Hampton, Long Island for the period April 
15 to October 15, 1998. However, the conferees agree that this 
activity should result in no additional costs being borne by 
the Department of Defense or the Air National Guard, and is 
approved at this time for one year only.

                Environmental Compliance and restoration

      The conference agreement includes $21,000,000 for 
environmental compliance, as proposed by both the House and the 
Senate.

                         Alteration of Bridges

      The conference agreement includes $17,000,000 for the 
alteration of bridges program instead of $16,000,000 as 
proposed by the House and $26,000,000 as proposed by the 
Senate. The following table compares the conference agreement 
by project to the levels proposed by the House and Senate:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   Conference   
                  Bridge and location                        House bill        Senate bill         agreement    
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New Orleans, LA, Florida Avenue RR/HW Bridge...........         $7,000,000         $3,000,000         $7,000,000
Brunswick, GA, Sidney Lanier HW Bridge.................          9,000,000         18,000,000         10,000,000
Honolulu, HI, Sand Island Road Tunnel..................                  0          5,000,000                  0
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
      Total............................................         16,000,000         26,000,000         17,000,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                              Retired Pay

      The conference agreement includes $653,196,000 for Coast 
Guard retired pay as proposed by the Senate instead of 
$645,696,000 as proposed by the House. This is scored as a 
mandatory appropriation in the Congressional budget process.

                            reserve training

                     (including transfer of funds)

      The conference agreement includes $67,000,000 for reserve 
training as proposed by the House instead of $65,535,000 as 
proposed by the Senate. The conferees agree with the direction 
of the House that, of the increase provided, $1,000,000 is for 
additional recruiting activities. The conference agreement also 
includes a provision proposed by the House which limits to 
$20,000,000 the amount of this appropriation which may be 
transferred to Coast Guard ``Operating expenses'' or otherwise 
used to reimburse the active duty Coast Guard for its support 
of the reserves.

               research, development, test and evaluation

      The conference agreement includes $19,000,000 for Coast 
Guard research, development, test and evaluation as proposed by 
the House instead of $20,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. The 
conferees agree that the additional work proposed by the Senate 
to improve ballast water management practices can be 
accommodated within the $1,995,000 allocated in Coast Guard 
``Operating expenses'' for this activity.

                              boat safety

                     (aquatic resources trust fund)

      The conference agreement includes $35,000,000 for boat 
safety, as proposed by both the House and the Senate.

                    Federal Aviation Administration

                               operations

      The conference agreement includes $5,301,934,000 for 
operating expenses of the Federal Aviation Administration 
instead of $5,300,000,000 as proposed by the House and 
$5,325,900,000 as proposed by the Senate. The bill also 
provides that these funds are in addition to amounts made 
available as a mandatory appropriation of user fees in the 
Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 1996 
(Public Law 104-264). These mandatory appropriations are 
estimated to add $50,000,000 to the FAA's operating budget for 
fiscal year 1998, providing a total budgetary increase of 
$451,934,000 (9.2 percent) over fiscal year 1997. Of the total 
amount provided, $1,901,628,000 shall be derived from the 
airport and airway trust fund as proposed by the Senate instead 
of $1,880,000,000 as proposed by the House. The balance of this 
appropriation is drawn from the general fund.
      The bill includes a provision proposed by the House which 
prohibits funds from planning, finalizing, or implementing any 
regulation to impose new aviation user fees not specifically 
authorized by law after the date of enactment of this Act. Both 
the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations expressed 
very serious concerns this year with FAA's recent aviation user 
fee proposals on both technical and policy-related grounds. The 
recent bipartisan budget agreement authorizes aviation excise 
taxes for the foreseeable future which provide sufficient 
revenues to finance the FAA's activities without additional 
user fees. The significant increases in this bill for FAA's 
budget prove that Congress can provide adequately for the 
agency without augmenting appropriations with user fees.
      The conferees are aware of FAA's opinion that the agency 
has the legal authority to establish new user fees under the 
generic authority provided in the User Fee Statute, and do not 
wish to see FAA circumvent the legislative process and avoid 
the normal cost controls which apply to other federal agencies 
through the administrative implementation of new user fees. The 
conferees emphasize, however, that this provision does not 
prevent the FAA from implementing new user fees. It only 
provides that such fees must be specifically authorized by the 
Congress.
      The bill includes no limitation on the number of 
passenger motor vehicles which may be leased or purchased by 
the FAA, as proposed by the Senate. The House had proposed a 
limitation of four vehicles.
      The bill allocates up to $5,000 for activities of the 
``Aircraft purchase loan guarantee program'', as proposed by 
the Senate. The House bill contained no similar allocation.
      The following table compares the conference agreement to 
the levels proposed in the House and Senate bills by budget 
activity:



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total appropriation....................................    $5,350,000,000     $5,375,900,000     $5,351,934,000 
    (Appropriation in this bill).......................    (5,300,000,000)    (5,325,900,000)    (5,301,934,000)
    (Mandatory user fees)..............................       (50,000,000)       (50,000,000)       (50,000,000)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      Mid-America Aviation Resource Consortium (MARC).--The 
conference agreement includes $1,700,000, as requested in the 
budget, to continue the agency's commitment to the Mid-America 
Aviation Resource Consortium (MARC) in Minnesota. The conferees 
believe that MARC provides cost-effective services to the FAA's 
air traffic controller training program, and does not compete 
with training services provided by the Mike Monroney 
Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City.
      Leased telecommunications.--The conferees agree that the 
reduction of $5,000,000 in leased telecommunications is based 
on the concern cited in the Senate report.
      Cherry Capital Airport study.--The conferees agree with 
the direction of the House that the General Accounting Office 
should conduct a review of FAA's critical value studies on the 
Cherry Capital Airport in Michigan.
      WINGS.--The conferees direct that no funds may be used in 
fiscal year 1998 to develop the proposed new personnel and 
payroll system known as WINGS.
      Contract towers.--The conferees direct the FAA to study 
air traffic in New Bern and Hickory, North Carolina and 
Salisbury/Wicomico County Airport in Maryland and open contract 
towers at those airports in fiscal year 1998 if those studies 
show such airports: (a) meet existing benefit-cost criteria; or 
(b) are justified after consideration of cost-sharing 
agreements with non-federal parties. This modifies the Senate's 
proposal, which would have also directed establishment of a 
contract tower at these locations if the FAA projected that the 
airport might meet benefit-cost criteria within the next two 
years.
      Regulations on the operation of lighter than air 
vehicles.--The conferees recognize the increasing popularity of 
hot air ballooning as a spectator and aviation sport. 
Currently, hot air balloons, also known as lighter than air 
(LTA) vehicles, are restricted by 14 CFR 91.119, the federal 
aviation regulation on minimum safe altitude requirement which 
normally applies to fixed wing aircraft. Understanding the vast 
differences between LTA and fixed wing aircraft, the conferees 
question the feasibility of requiring pilots of hot air 
balloons to comply with 14 CFR 91.119. The FAA currently 
exempts helicopters from this provision, and usually waives 
this regulation for hot air balloon rallies. The conferees 
encourage the FAA to examine this safety concern for 
balloonists and report back to the House and Senate Committees 
on Appropriations on the feasibility of exempting hot air 
balloons from this provision.
      Electromagnetic hazards on commercial aircraft.--The 
conferees recognize the national need to examine the safety of 
commercial aircraft from electromagnetic interference. 
Currently, there is no independent organization that has the 
requisite resources such as aircraft, test facilities, and 
expertise that can function to provide science-based technical 
guidance for government and industry. The Department of 
Energy's Sandia National Laboratory and Army Test and 
Evaluation Command Directorate of Applied Technology Test and 
Simulation have the resources and ongoing programs that can 
provide science-based electromagnetic analysis and testing 
services for evaluation of aircraft safety issues due to the 
use of portable electric devices on board or other off-board 
electromagnetic sources such as high power radars and newer 
communication transmitters. The conferees encourage the FAA to 
examine the resources that exist within these organizations in 
order to begin addressing this issue.

                           General Provisions

      Wright Amendment.--The conferees have included the 
provision recommended by the Senate clarifying the meaning of 
section 29(a)(2) of the International Air Transportation 
Competition Act of 1979 regarding air transportation provided 
by commuter airlines operating aircraft with a passenger 
capacity of 56 passengers or less. The conferees do not adopt 
the Senate bill and report language relating to the Dallas City 
Council, and the discussions in the Senate report regarding 
regional jets. In addition, the conferees have added bill 
language including additional states to be covered under 
section 29(c) of the International Air Transportation 
Competition Act of 1979.
      The conferees are concerned about the safety of flight 
operations in U.S. airspace, and have included language 
directing the FAA Administrator to ensure that aviation 
operations in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area are, and 
will remain, safe. In addition, the language directs the FAA 
Administrator to notify the House and Senate Committees on 
Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of any restrictions on operations the 
Administrator directs to ensure safety. Further, the 
Administrator shall report to the House and Senate Committees 
on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation within 45 days of enactment of this 
Act outlining any additional equipment or air traffic control 
support necessary to enhance traffic flow, airspace management, 
and safety in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area.
      Upon a 25 percent increase in total flight operations 
from the levels existing as of the date of enactment of this 
Act at either Dallas Love Field or Dallas-Fort Worth 
International Airport, the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall initiate a review of air traffic 
management within the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and report to 
the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations and the 
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
within 180 days. This review shall include an analysis of 
congestion and delays in the metroplex airspace, the impact on 
Love Field or Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, and air 
traffic management constraints in the region. Upon a 50 percent 
increase in total flight operations from the levels existing on 
the date of enactment of this Act at either of the airports 
mentioned in this section, the Administrator shall report to 
the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations and the 
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
within 30 days describing what actions, if any, are recommended 
to ensure the efficient and safe operation of Dallas-Fort Worth 
metroplex airspace.

                        facilities and equipment

                    (airport and airway trust fund)

      The conference agreement provides $1,875,477,000 for 
facilities and equipment instead of $1,875,000,000 as proposed 
by the House and $1,889,004,883 as proposed by the Senate. The 
bill provides that funds for programs in budget activities one 
through four have an obligational availability of three years 
and funds for programs in budget activity five are available 
for two years, as proposed by the House and Senate. The total 
appropriation is derived from the airport and airway trust 
fund.
      The following table provides a breakdown of the House and 
Senate bills and the conference agreement by program:


      Funding responsibility for navigation and landing aids.--
The conferees agree with the direction of the House that the 
FAA should not move forward on any proposal to shift funding 
responsibility for navigation and landing aids from the FAA to 
other parties without specific Congressional authorization.
      Instrument landing systems--establishment.--The 
conference agreement provides $3,000,000 for installation of 
previously purchased instrument landing systems as requested in 
the budget and proposed by the House, instead of $23,000,000 as 
proposed by the Senate. The conferees agree not to direct these 
funds be allocated to specific locations.
      Assessments.--The conferees agree with the direction of 
the House that the FAA is to discontinue the practice of 
``assessing'' F&E projects for administrative costs unrelated 
to the specific F&E program.
      GPS wide area augmentation system.--The conferees agree 
to provide $152,830,000 for continued development of the GPS 
wide area augmentation system (WAAS), as proposed by the 
Senate, instead of $114,000,000 as proposed by the House. All 
funds are provided under budget activity one, as proposed by 
the House, reflecting the developmental nature of this program.
      The conferees are very concerned about the current status 
of this important program, and that comprehensive and timely 
planning--in concert with budget deliberations--is not being 
conducted. In the last three years, this program has witnessed 
changes in the prime contractor, the program manager, and the 
program sponsor. Significant new requirements have been 
announced by the FAA, the cost to complete has risen, and the 
schedule has slipped. And all this has occured in a program 
which has enjoyed the highest level of Congressional and 
Executive Branch support for funding--and which has been held 
up as an example of FAA's new acquisition management system.
      The conferees are concerned that this critical program 
not turn into another debacle like the advanced automation 
system. Therefore, the conferees direct:
            (a). That no more than 25 percent of fiscal year 
        1998 funds be obligated until the Secretary of 
        Transportation reports to the House and Senate 
        Committees on Appropriations regarding the status and 
        management of the program, including a funding profile 
        for all years of the program;
            (b). That no more than 70 percent of fiscal year 
        1998 funds be obligated until April 1, 1998, unless the 
        Appropriations Committees provide approval prior to 
        that date;
            (c). That the FAA administrator provide quarterly 
        reports to the Appropriations Committees on cost, 
        schedule, and technical performance status; and
            (d). That the Comptroller General report to the 
        Appropriations Committees on the status of the program, 
        not later than March 1, 1998.
      The conferees are uncertain of how FAA intends to provide 
satellite communications capability for this program, and the 
extent to which those costs are included in long range capital 
budget plans. Therefore, the conferees request the Secretary of 
Transportation to submit a report detailing the specific plans 
in this regard, including a detailed funding profile and 
schedule, by February 15, 1998.
      The conference agreement provides funding sufficient for 
this program to maintain its current schedule. As a result, the 
conferees have deleted funds proposed by the Senate for 
additional instrument landing systems and for tactical landing 
systems. However, the conferees advise the FAA that a 
reprogramming for these systems might be directed during fiscal 
year 1998 if the FAA is unable to meet the tests above ensuring 
timely obligation of fiscal year 1998 WAAS funding.
      Potomac metroplex.--The conference agreement provides 
$27,600,000 for construction of the Potomac metroplex, as 
proposed by the House, instead of $2,600,000 as proposed by the 
Senate. After many years of study, to the conferees' knowledge 
the FAA has not identified any aircraft noise-related issues 
attendant with the construction of this new facility. However, 
should the FAA determine in the future that adverse noise 
impacts might occur, the FAA is expected to advise the House 
and Senate Appropriations Committees in a timely manner.
      Terminal automation.--The conferees are alarmed to learn 
that the FAA has internally reported a shortfall in the funding 
needed to continue production of the DDM-2300 series monitors, 
which are key elements in the architecture of the STARS 
program. This could not only jeopardize the fixed price 
contract, but also halt U.S. production of these monitors. The 
conferees direct the FAA to report to the House and Senate 
Committees on Appropriations by December 15, 1997 explaining 
how the agency will locate the resources necessary to continue 
to monitor production during fiscal year 1998.
      Weather observing systems.--The conferees do not agree 
with the House's direction requiring a competitive procurement 
between AWOS and ASOS systems, but direct the FAA to perform a 
cost-capability tradeoff study to determine the appropriateness 
of procuring more AWOS units in fiscal year 1999. The 
conference agreement includes $10,000,000 as proposed by the 
Senate for the acquisition of additional ASOS systems.
      ARTCC building improvements.--The conferees agree that, 
of the funds provided for ``ARTCC building/plant 
improvements'', $12,100,000 is for relocation of the Honolulu 
center/radar approach control (CERAP), as proposed by the 
Senate. The House recommended no funding for this facility.
      Navigational and landing aids.--The conferees agree that, 
within funds provided for ``Navigational and landing aids'', 
the FAA should allocate $80,000 for an ODALS system at the 
airport in Cordova, Alaska, and sufficient funding to develop 
instrument approaches at the airport in Rutland, Vermont.
      Terminal automated radar display and information 
system.--The conferees encourage the FAA to give full 
consideration to installing a terminal automated radar display 
and information system (TARDIS) at Paine Field in Washington.
      Tucson International Airport tower study.--The conferees 
are concerned that the extension of the main runway at Tucson 
International Airport has altered the line of sight of air 
traffic controllers at this facility, and that the current 
placement of the control tower does not allow the controllers 
full visibility of the airfield. The conferees direct the FAA 
to conduct a study to determine if the air traffic control 
tower needs to be relocated to ensure the continued safety of 
flight operations at this airport.

                 Research, Engineering, and Development

                    (Airport and Airway Trust Fund)

      The conference agreement provides $199,183,000 for FAA 
research, engineering, and development instead of $185,000,000 
as proposed by the House and $214,250,000 as proposed by the 
Senate.
      The following table shows the distribution of funds in 
the House and Senate bills and the conference agreement:


      Runway incursion reduction.--The conferees agree that, 
within the funds available, the FAA should pursue, as a high 
priority, further development of the surface movement advisor 
and the demonstration of low-cost ASDE technology.
      Weather research.--The conferees provide $15,300,000 for 
weather research as proposed by the House instead of $8,982,000 
as proposed by the Senate. The FAA is directed not to reprogram 
any of these funds to activities outside the weather research 
program, as proposed by the House. Within the amount provided, 
the FAA is to allocate funds as follows:

Center for Wind, Ice and Fog, New Hampshire.............        $500,000
Project Socrates........................................       3,000,000
National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR).........      11,000,000

      ATC/AF human factors.--The conferees agree that, of the 
funds provided for ATC/AF human factors, $500,000 is available 
only for additional research into assessment, evaluation, and 
development of training methodologies related to the English 
language proficiency problem.
      Flight 2000.--The conference agreement includes bill 
language prohibiting funds in this Act from implementing the 
Flight 2000 demonstration program during fiscal year 1998. 
While the conferees agree that this program may ultimately 
prove to have merit, a great deal of financial and technical 
planning, and justification before the Congress, still needs to 
take place. The administration has not requested funds for this 
effort in fiscal year 1998, and the conferees agree with the 
House that funds should not be reprogrammed from other 
important FAA activities to begin such a large program midway 
through the year.
      Aging aircraft.--Of the $21,540,000 provided for ``Aging 
aircraft'', the conferees agree to the following allocations: 
$3,000,000 for direct support of the Aging Aircraft 
Nondestructive Inspection Validation Center; $1,000,000 for 
aging aircraft-related activities at the Center for Aviation 
Systems Reliability; $6,000,000 for the Airworthiness Assurance 
Center of Excellence; $1,500,000 to conduct research at the 
Center for Intelligent Aviation Technologies; and $4,400,000 to 
further engine titanium component inspection.
      Explosives and weapons detection.--The conferees agree 
that, of the funds provided for ``Explosives and weapons 
detection'', $1,250,000 is to continue to develop pulsed fast 
neutron transmission spectroscopy technology, as specified in 
the Senate report.
      Explosive detection systems.--Consistent with the 
administration's budget request for fiscal year 1998, the 
conferees have not provided fiscal year 1998 funding for the 
acquisition and deployment of explosive detection systems. 
Since submission of the administration's fiscal year 1998 
budget, the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations have 
repeatedly impressed upon the department that the Congress is 
open to a budget amendment on this issue. However, no amendment 
requesting funds for these systems has been submitted. The 
conferees reiterate a willingness to consider such funding in 
future appropriations action, should funding be requested. The 
conferees also note that acquisition of these systems is 
eligible for funding, under the airport improvement program. 
The conference agreement provides $1,700,000,000 for this 
program, which is a substantial increase over fiscal year 1997.

                       Grants-in-Aid for Airports

                (Liquidation of Contract Authorization)

                    (Airport and Airway Trust Fund)

      The conference agreement includes a liquidating cash 
appropriation of $1,600,000,000, as proposed by the House and 
the Senate.
      Obligation limitation.--The conferees agree to an 
obligation limitation of $1,700,000,000 for the ``Grants-in-aid 
for airports'' program, as proposed by both the House and the 
Senate. The conferees also agree to the provision in the Senate 
bill which limits funds for the military airport program and 
the noise planning and mitigation program in order to provide 
additional funds for capacity enhancements and safety projects. 
Without this provision, there would be an imbalance between the 
various components of this program, with safety, security, 
small hubs, true discretionary, and capacity-enhancement funds 
held at the fiscal year 1997 level while allowing huge 
increases in two particular programs: the military airport set-
aside and the noise-mitigation set-aside (increases of 252 
percent and 66 percent, respectively). While providing an 
overall increase of 16 percent, the conference agreement 
provides more consistent and fair increases for each of these 
categories, as follows:

                                                                 Percent
Noise mitigation.................................................. +39.4
Military airport program.......................................... +40.5
Capacity/safety/security/noise (CSSN)............................. +27.0
Remaining discretionary........................................... +27.0
      Priority consideration.--The conferees agree that the FAA 
should give priority consideration to grant applications for 
the projects listed in the House or Senate reports, or in this 
statement of the managers, in the categories of discretionary 
grants for which they are eligible. If projects cited in these 
reports which are eligible for fiscal year 1998 AIP funding are 
not funded with funds in the remaining discretionary category, 
the conferees expect that any projects funded within this 
discretionary category will be:
            (a). Projects for which FAA has issued letters of 
        intent (LOIs);
            (b). Projects that will produce significant 
        aviation safety improvements;
            (c). Projects otherwise necessary for 
        rehabilitation of airport infrastructure; or
            (d). Projects with a positive net present value, as 
        determined by a benefit-cost analysis, for those 
        projects exceeding $5,000,000 in capacity discretionary 
        funding.
      In addition to those airports listed in the House and 
Senate reports, the conferees agree to the following:
      Akron-Canton Regional Airport, North Canton, Ohio.--The 
conferees urge the FAA to give priority consideration to 
requests for discretionary funding for the extension of runway 
1-19.
      Rickenbacker International Airport, Columbus, Ohio.--The 
conferees are pleased to note the significant progress made in 
the transition of the former Rickenbacker Air Force Base to 
Rickenbacker International Airport and foreign trade zone 
number 138. The conferees encourage the FAA to give favorable 
consideration to grant applications within available 
discretionary programs that will support Rickenbacker's five 
year capital improvement plan to address essential 
infrastructure needs.
      Montgomery County Airport, PA.--The conferees agree that 
projects at this airport should receive priority consideration 
by the FAA, except the conferees agree that the safety concerns 
of residents adjacent to Wings Field should be addressed to 
their satisfaction before grant funding is considered or 
approved.
      Waynesboro, Airport, MS.--The conferees direct the FAA to 
give priority consideration to requests for discretionary 
funding to support continuation of the airport's improvement 
program, including earthwork and site preparation for a project 
to lengthen and widen a runway and construct a parallel taxiway 
and apron.
      Brewton Municipal Airport, AL.--The conferees urge the 
FAA to give priority consideration to needed safety 
improvements at this joint military/civilian use airport.
      Pueblo Airport, CO.--The conferees urge the FAA to give 
priority consideration to projects to improve and expand the 
Pueblo Airport in Colorado.
      Philadelphia International Airport, PA.--The conferees 
urge the FAA to give high priority to the installation of an 
instrument landing system and precision runway monitor at 
Philadelphia International Airport in line with support for 
timely completion of a new runway at this facility. The 
conferees note the consistent support for this new runway by 
both FAA and the Congress. The schedule for installation of 
navigational aids at Philadelphia by the FAA needs to coincide 
with completion of the new runway, now scheduled to occur in 
December 1999, to ensure the safe and efficient use of the 
runway under instrument weather conditions.
      Colorado Springs Airport, CO.--The conferees agree that 
the FAA should give priority consideration to rehabilitation of 
runway 17R/35L at Colorado Springs Airport instead of the 
projects cited in the Senate report.
      Moore County Airport, NC.--Enplanements at the Moore 
County Airport, which serves the resort area of Pinehurst, 
continue to increase and the airport is thus eager to embark on 
the first phase of its four stage expansion plan. The airport 
wishes to accelerate the requisite land acquisitions due to the 
rapid growth of the area and the resultant appreciation of 
local real estate values. The conferees urge the FAA to give 
priority consideration to requests for discretionary funding 
for these land purchases and for projects related to timely 
safety and security improvements at the Moore County Airport.
      Anchorage International Airport, AK.--The conferees have 
provided language in the Senate report urging FAA to issue a 
letter of intent to support planned improvements at Anchorage 
International Airport. Instead, the conferees urge FAA to give 
priority consideration for discretionary grants for surface 
improvements at the airport to support a new air cargo 
facility, to be developed with private funds, and for other 
improvements planned to meet expected growth in passenger 
traffic over the next twenty years.
      Isbell Field Municipal Airport, AL.--The conferees are 
pleased that, since 1993, the FAA has assisted the City of Fort 
Payne, Alabama in its efforts to acquire the requisite land to 
expand the Isbell Field Municipal Airport. The multiyear 
funding requested by the City of Fort Payne would expand Isbell 
Field and increase its capacity to meet the growing aviation 
needs of De Kalb County. The conferees recognize the need for 
land acquisition at this airport and urge the FAA to award 
discretionary grants for the expanded runway project consistent 
with existing evaluation criteria.
      Clover Field Airport, TX.--The conferees are pleased to 
note that, since 1989, the FAA has assisted local public 
sponsors in their efforts to acquire Clover Field Airport, a 
privately-owned, public use federal reliever airport near 
Houston Hobby Airport in Texas. The FAA has helped fund Clover 
Field's feasibility study, airport master plan, and 
environmental assessment. The conferees consider this to be a 
worthy project, recognizing that Clover Field has served the 
region for over fifty years, and noting that the FAA has also 
recognized its importance by choosing it as the site for the 
recently commissioned doppler weather radar system and by 
making it one of the few general aviation facilities with a GPS 
weather station. Therefore, if the public sponsors complete 
their due diligence in fiscal year 1998, the conferees 
encourage the FAA to provide the needed funding to them for the 
final acquisition of Clover Field Airport.
      San Diego International Airport, CA.--As a result of 
noise litigation, in 1993 the San Diego Unified Port District 
made a commitment to the community surrounding the San Diego 
International Airport to complete a school sound attenuation 
program. Of the five schools in the program, only one--Point 
Loma High School--remains to be sound attenuated. The conferees 
encourage FAA to give priority consideration to requests for 
discretionary funding to expedite and complete this program.
      Ogden-Hinckley International Airport, UT.--The conferees 
are concerned about the adequacy of security provided for the 
Ogden-Hinckley Airport, not just the immediate area around the 
terminal. While security fencing of the terminal area might 
address the security needs of the airport in its existing role, 
the fencing may be inadequate for the 2002 Winter Olympics or 
for anticipated growth. The conferees are concerned about the 
vulnerability to intrusion of the taxiways, hangers, tie-downs, 
the heli-pad, the deicing area, and other facilities outside 
the 650 feet of fencing immediately adjacent to the terminal. 
Accordingly, the conferees urge the administrator to give 
priority consideration to construction of fencing which meets 
section 107 security mandates around the entire perimeter of 
the airport, to include Olympics-related security needs. In 
evaluating security needs related to the Olympics, the 
administrator should confer with local and federal law 
enforcement agencies.
      Westmoreland County Airport, PA.--The conferees are aware 
of the need for funding for the second phase of the expansion 
of the terminal at the Westmoreland County Airport. This 
project, when completed, will include more efficient passenger 
and baggage handling systems, as well as new commercial space. 
The conferees urge the FAA to give this project priority 
consideration for available discretionary funds.
      Johnstown-Cambria County Municipal Airport, PA.--The 
conferees are aware of the need for funding of the terminal 
renovation project and for constructing a firefighting and snow 
removal equipment building at Johnstown-Cambria County 
Municipal Airport. The terminal has not been renovated since 
1966, and a bigger terminal would attract larger aircraft and 
more passengers. The conferees urge the FAA to give this 
project priority consideration for available discretionary 
funds.
      Instrument landing systems.--The conferees agree that the 
following AIP-eligible equipment should be given priority 
consideration for discretionary grants:
            Zanesville Airport, OH.--installation of localizer 
        and glideslope equipment;
            Hays Municipal Airport, KS.--instrument landing 
        system;
            Stanly County Airport, NC.--installation of 
        instrument landing system;
            Bessemer Airport, AL.--instrument landing system;
            Manistee Blacker Airport, MI.--instrument landing 
        system; and
            Stennis International Airport, MS.--instrument 
        landing system.
      Letters of intent.--The conferees encourage the FAA to 
consider signing a letter of intent (LOI) for major capacity 
enhancement projects at the following airports:
            New Orleans International, LA
            Philadelphia International, PA
            Atlanta Hartsfield International, GA
            Seattle-Tacoma International, WA
            Minneapolis-St. Paul International, MN
            Salt Lake City International, UT
      The conferees also direct the FAA to advise the House and 
Senate Committees on Appropriations thirty days prior to 
awarding any new LOI. This letter should detail any cost 
savings to the overall project expected to result from the 
proposed LOI and should list any other LOI applications pending 
before the FAA. The conferees note that the policy of prior 
written Congressional notification has been in effect for 
several years for LOIs totaling more than $10,000,000. However, 
greater attention needs to be paid to this requirement.
      Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, MN.--The 
Minneapolis-St. Paul airport serves as a major hub and a 
regional air service connector for the upper midwest states. 
Construction of the planned new 8,000 foot north-south runway, 
primarily for air carrier operations, is projected to increase 
the operational capacity of the airport by 25 percent. As such, 
this project, including land acquisition, would significantly 
enhance systemwide airport capacity and reduce congestion and 
delay for aircraft and passengers in a multistate area. The FAA 
expects that its environmental review of this new runway will 
be completed during the first quarter of calendar year 1998. 
The conferees encourage the FAA to consider signing a letter of 
intent of AIP discretionary funds to this project so this 
capacity-enhancement project can be constructed as soon as 
feasible.
      Salt Lake City International Airport, UT.--The Salt Lake 
City International Airport has embarked on a capacity 
enhancement development program designed to provide much-needed 
additional airport capacity for the future, as well as for the 
2002 Winter Olympic Games. During the past five years, 
passenger activity has grown 60 percent, making Salt Lake City 
the second fastest growing airport in the nation. The conferees 
encourage the FAA to consider signing a letter of intent for 
the development program at this important airport.

                       Grants-in-Aid for Airports

                    (Airport and Airway Trust Fund)

                 (Rescission of Contract Authorization)

      The conference agreement rescinds $412,000,000 in 
contract authority instead of $190,000,000 as proposed by the 
Senate. These funds are unavailable for obligation because they 
represent a portion of the amount of budget authority above the 
fiscal year 1997 obligation limitation. Therefore, this 
rescission will have no effect on ongoing airport construction 
programs.

                   aviation insurance revolving fund

      The conference agreement includes language authorizing 
the expenditure of funds for aviation insurance activities as 
proposed in the House and Senate bills. This legislative 
language has been carried in appropriations Acts for many 
years, and is expected to result in no budget authority or 
outlays during fiscal year 1998.

                aircraft purchase loan guarantee program

      The conference agreement includes the qualified 
limitation on funds for the ``Aircraft purchase loan guarantee 
program'' proposed by the Senate instead of the outright 
prohibition on funds proposed by the House. Funding of up to 
$5,000 for this program has been included under FAA 
``Operations''.

                 administrative services franchise fund

      The conference agreement deletes the prohibition on 
funding new activities under FAA's Administrative Services 
Franchise Fund during fiscal year 1998 proposed by the House. 
The conferees direct FAA to submit a report to the House and 
Senate Committees on Appropriations no later than March 1, 1998 
detailing any cost savings which have been achieved by the FAA 
from operation of the franchise fund.

                     Federal Highway Administration

                LIMITATION ON GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES

      The conference agreement limits general operating 
expenses of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to 
$552,266,000, instead of $510,313,000 as proposed by the House 
and $558,440,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      The conference agreement provides extended availability 
of $241,708,000 for contract programs of the Federal Highway 
Administration, instead of $202,226,000 as proposed by the 
House and $245,687,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      The recommended funding distribution by program and 
activity of the administrative expenses and research and 
development programs of the FHWA is as follows:

        Program/Activity                                Conference level
Administrative expenses.................................    $259,558,000
Motor carrier safety administrative expenses............      51,000,000
Contract programs:
    Research and technology:
        Highway research and development................      61,087,000
        Intelligent transportation systems..............     130,160,000
        Technology development..........................      13,311,000
        National advanced driving simulator.............      13,250,000
        Local technical assistance......................
        National Highway Institute......................
        Minority business enterprises...................      10,000,000
        International transportation....................         900,000
        Rehabilitation of TFHRC.........................       2,000,000
        Technical assistance to Russia..................
        GPS support.....................................       1,000,000
        R and T technical support.......................      10,000,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
            Total.......................................     552,266,000

      The highway research and development and intelligent 
transportation systems programs by activity are displayed 
below:

        Program/Activity                                Conference level
Highway research and development:
    Safety..............................................      $9,500,000
    Pavements...........................................      10,500,000
    Structures..........................................      15,256,000
    Environment.........................................       5,666,000
    Right-of-way........................................         365,000
    Policy..............................................       5,400,000
    Planning............................................       7,000,000
    Motor carrier.......................................       7,400,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
      Total.............................................      61,087,000
Intelligent transportation systems:
    Research and development............................      31,500,000
    Operational tests...................................      83,900,000
    Evaluations.........................................       7,000,000
    Program support.....................................       7,760,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
      Total.............................................     130,160,000

      Office of motor carriers.--The conferees have provided 
$51,000,000 for the office of motor carriers' administrative 
expenses within the FHWA's limitation on general operating 
expenses. The conference agreement includes the following 
adjustments to the budget request:

Operating expenses excluding rent.......................       -$245,000
Federal/industry training...............................      -1,220,000
Outreach................................................        -300,000

      Flexibility in the use of funds provided under the 
limitation on general operating expenses.--The conferees 
acknowledge that certain activities funded under the limitation 
on general operating expenses in prior years are not 
recommended for funding in fiscal year 1998. This treatment is 
consistent with the administration's fiscal year 1998 budget 
request, which assumed that these activities will be provided 
contract authority under legislation pending to reauthorize the 
federal-aid highway program. The conferees agree that if 
legislation is not enacted in fiscal year 1998 providing 
contract authority for these activities, the FHWA may, 
following notification to and approval of the House and Senate 
Committees on Appropriations, utilize funds provided within 
this limitation on general operating expenses for such 
activities.
      Highway research and development.--The conference 
agreement deletes the House's direction that up to $100,000 of 
the funds provided for highway research and development be 
allocated for the San Joaquin air quality study. Funds for the 
air quality study have been allocated within the funds provided 
for environment research and development.
      The conference agreement deletes the House's direction 
that funds for various highway research and development 
activities shall not be obligated until after FHWA has 
increased its cost sharing from non-federal sources. The FHWA 
is directed, however, to increase substantially its cost 
sharing arrangements with non-federal sources in fiscal year 
1998 and is directed to document those efforts and successes to 
the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations with its 
annual Congressional justifications.
      Safety.--The conference agreement includes $250,000 for 
pedestrian and bicycle safety and $250,000 to conduct a 
demonstration of technologies and practices to improve the 
driving performance of elderly drivers.
      Structures.--The conference agreement provides sufficient 
funds to pursue research into high performance materials and 
bridge systems. The conferees encourage FHWA to work with an 
academic and industry-led national consortium to demonstrate 
the applications of an all-composite bridge for civil 
engineering purposes.
      Environment.--The conference agreement includes funding 
for FHWA's participation in the assessment of methodologies 
needed for estimating emissions of particulate matter in the 
San Joaquin Valley of California. The conferees encourage the 
FHWA to continue its work with the National Center for Physical 
Acoustics to identify scientific issues which impede accurate 
noise prediction.
      Planning.--The conference agreement provides $7,000,000 
for planning research and development. The conferees encourage 
the FHWA to assess the Red River corridor transportation 
infrastructure of the five state area pursuant to the 
recommendations of the Northern Great Plains Rural Development 
Commission. The conference agreement does not include any 
funding for the sustainable transportation initiative.
      Motor carrier.--The conference agreement includes 
sufficient funds to conduct a study on the prevalence of sleep 
apnea in truck drivers and for an operational test and 
validation of technological aids to improve fatigue management 
among commercial truck drivers.
      Intelligent transportation systems (ITS).--Within the 
funds provided for operational tests, the conferees direct that 
funding shall be available for the following projects in the 
amounts specified below:

        Project                                         Conference level
Advanced transportation weather information system, University 
    of North Dakota...........................................  $775,000
Arizona National Center for Traffic and Logistics Management.. 1,000,000
Commercial vehicle operations, I-5, California................ 1,500,000
Cumberland Gap tunnel, Kentucky............................... 1,550,000
Dade County Expressway, Florida toll collection system........ 1,000,000
Franklin County, Massachusetts traveler information system....   875,000
Greater Milwaukee freeway traffic management system(MONITOR).. 5,500,000
Houston, Texas................................................ 1,500,000
I-90/I-94 rural ITS corridor, Wisconsin....................... 1,700,000
Inglewood, California.........................................   500,000
Louisiana interstates 55, 10, and 610, ITS systems............ 5,500,000
Market Street and Pennsylvania convention center passenger 
    information center........................................   325,000
Minnesota Guidestar........................................... 6,000,000
Nashville, Tennessee traffic guidance system..................   750,000
National capital region congestion mitigation................. 6,000,000
National Institute for Environmental Renewal.................. 1,000,000
I-90 connector, Rensselaer County, New York................... 1,250,000
I-275, St. Petersburg, Florida................................ 1,000,000
Syracuse, New York advanced transportation management system.. 1,000,000
Texas Transportation Institute................................ 1,000,000
Rt. 236/I-495, Northern Virginia, ITS systems.................   500,000
Bozeman, Montana, Western Transportation Institute............ 1,000,000
Southeast Michigan snow and ice management (SEMSIMS).......... 1,150,000
Utah intelligent transportation systems....................... 3,500,000
Kansas City, MO, intermodal common communications technology.. 1,000,000
Reno, NV, intelligent transportation systems.................. 1,875,000
Barboursville--Ona, WV, traffic management.................... 8,000,000
North Dakota State University advanced traffic analysis center   600,000
Sullivan County, NY, emergency weather system................. 1,000,000
Urban Transportation Safety Systems Center (Philadelphia).....   250,000
New York City toll plaza scanners............................. 1,100,000
Cleveland, OH, computer integrated transit maintenance 
    environment project....................................... 1,000,000
Santa Teresa, NM, intermodal technology demonstration project 
    \1\....................................................... 1,000,000
Operation Respond hazardous materials emergency response 
    software.................................................. 1,000,000
Washington State radio communication emergency call boxes.....   750,000
Washington statewide roadway weather information system....... 1,250,000
I-95 multi-state corridor coalition........................... 1,000,000
Colorado I-25 truck safety improvements....................... 9,000,000
Tuscaloosa, AL, traffic integration and flow control.......... 2,200,000
Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission ITS.......................... 6,000,000
Alaska cold weather ITS sensing............................... 1,000,000

\1\ To be provided to the ATR Institute.

      Should the reauthorization or the temporary extension of 
the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act limit the 
administrative draw down of the Federal Highway Administration 
in such a way as to limit resources available to fully fund the 
preceding ITS projects under the limitation on general 
operating expenses, the conferees direct the FHWA to fund these 
ITS projects at the levels specified from funds made available 
for ITS deployment and research and development in the 
temporary extension and the reauthorization of the Intermodal 
Surface Transportation Efficiency Act.
      International transportation.--The conferees encourage 
the FHWA to undertake a study on the potential for establishing 
a roadlink from Wrangell, Alaska to the Canadian border along a 
proposed Brandfield alignment.

                     highway-related safety grants

                          (highway trust fund)

                (liquidation of contract authorization)

      The conference agreement deletes an appropriation 
proposed by the Senate for liquidating cash for highway-related 
safety grants. The House bill contained no similar 
appropriation.

                 appalachian development highway system

      The conference agreement includes $300,000,000 for the 
Appalachian development highway system as proposed by the 
Senate. The House bill contained no similar appropriation.
      The conference agreement includes language that prohibits 
the expenditure of funds made available under this heading for 
engineering, design, right-of-way acquisition or major 
construction of the Appalachian development highway system 
between I-81 in Virginia and the community of Wardensville, 
West Virginia.

                          Federal-aid highways

                      (lIMITATION ON OBLIGATIONS)

                          (highway trust fund)

      The conference agreement limits obligations for the 
federal-aid highway program to $21,500,000,000 as proposed by 
the House instead of $21,800,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      The conference agreement deletes the Senate references of 
priority designations and set-asides within the Federal Highway 
Administration's discretionary grant programs.
      Emergency relief program.--In view of a recent Inspector 
General report questioning the use of over $100 million in 
highway emergency relief funds, the conferees are concerned 
about the FHWA's stewardship of the emergency relief program. 
The conferees expect FHWA to improve its program management by 
closely monitoring the expenditure of such funds and adhering 
to the program eligibility criteria. The conferees further 
require FHWA to provide a report explaining when emergency 
relief funds can be used to pay for ``betterments''. The report 
shall provide specific examples of the types of betterments 
FHWA would expect to be funded as a result of the environmental 
process. The conferees direct that the report be delivered to 
the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations not later 
than February 1, 1998.
      Central Artery/Third Harbor Tunnel project.--The 
conferees are concerned that the cost estimate for the Central 
Artery/Third Harbor tunnel (CA/THT) project in Boston, 
Massachusetts has increased to approximately $11 billion. As 
noted in the past, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts must 
recognize that any cost growth that occurs in this project 
through the point of its completion will detract from what the 
state can hope to accomplish in its transportation investments 
throughout the state for many years to come. The conferees will 
not support any additional special federal-aid highway funding 
for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for this project other 
than those funds that are apportioned to the state by formula 
as enacted by Congress. Therefore, cost increases in the 
project must either be covered by state funds or Massachusetts' 
formula federal-aid funding.
      Further, although the state is currently free to utilize 
its federal-aid formula funds to support the project, the 
conferees are concerned that (1) support of the project not 
adversely impact transportation investments throughout the 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts; and (2) the project be completed 
consistent with its current budget. The currently approved 
finance plan for the project commits the state to support a 
$400 million annual highway program in the remainder of the 
state. The conferees are aware that the finance plan must be 
approved at least annually and that the next update was due 
October 1, 1997. The Department is directed to submit periodic 
updates of the plan to the House and Senate Committees on 
Appropriations, the Inspector General, and the General 
Accounting Office for review. The conferees feel that it is 
essential that the finance plan continue to commit the state to 
a statewide highway program of at least $400 million per year.
      With the implementation of the Massachusetts Metropolitan 
Highway System legislation, the state has put in place 
mechanisms to help it secure the needed local funds to support 
both the short and long term needs of the project. That 
enabling legislation must be followed with specific actions to 
obtain the local funding. The next finance plan update must 
recognize the cost increase that occurred during the past year 
and it must ensure that the local funding sources are adequate 
to cover total project costs and cash flow needs that can not 
be met by reasonable expectations of federal-aid formula funds 
that will be available for obligation to the state.
      The conferees note that the project design is virtually 
complete and the majority of the construction contracts are 
already awarded. The very nature of this project, constructing 
underground in a dense urban environment, provides many 
opportunities for cost increases that must be vigorously 
guarded against. The finance plan sets out a very stringent 
target for controlling costs on construction contracts once 
they are awarded and underway. The Commonwealth of 
Massachusetts has acknowledged that these goals are tough but 
achievable. The conferees believe that the state must fully 
commit its energies to controlling all costs for the remainder 
of the project life with special emphasis on the cost of 
awarded contracts. This will require that the state 
appropriately utilize the best available contract management 
techniques and also make full use of the contractor value 
engineering provisions of their contracts.
      The conferees direct the state to continue to share 
project cost information with the Federal Highway 
Administration on at least a monthly basis and direct the 
Federal Highway Administration to evaluate trends that could 
warrant an update of the finance plan at a point sooner than 
its normal fiscal year anniversary, and to inform the House and 
Senate Committees on Appropriations of any variance of those 
trends from the preceding month.
      The conferees reiterate that should cost estimates to 
complete the project exceed the current $11 billion estimate, 
there may be no other choice in the future but to cap the 
federal financial participation in the program and/or limit the 
percentage of federal-aid funds that may be allocated to the 
project from the state's overall federal-aid apportionment.
      Federal lands.--The conferees encourage the FHWA central 
federal lands highways division to conduct a geographical 
engineering study to furnish data that will lead to the 
mitigation of a landslide affecting a major highway within the 
boundaries of Badlands National Park. The study should include 
survey, subsurface investigation and required instrumentation. 
The landslide in the area poses a significant threat to the 
safety of the traveling public and is a costly and continual 
maintenance burden.

                          FEDERAL-AID HIGHWAYS

                (LIQUIDATION OF CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION)

                          (HIGHWAY TRUST FUND)

      The conference agreement provides a liquidating cash 
appropriation of $20,800,000,000 for the federal-aid highways 
program as proposed by the House, instead of $20,850,000,000 as 
proposed by the Senate.

                      RIGHT-OF-WAY REVOLVING FUND

                      (LIMITATION ON DIRECT LOANS)

                          (HIGHWAY TRUST FUND)

      The conference agreement deletes an appropriation of 
$8,000,000 for the cost of direct loans from the right-of-way 
revolving fund as proposed by the Senate and includes a 
limitation prohibiting obligations for right-of-way acquisition 
during fiscal year 1998 as proposed by the House.

                      MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY GRANTS

                (LIQUIDATION OF CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION)

                          (HIGHWAY TRUST FUND)

      A total of $85,000,000 has been provided in liquidating 
cash for motor carrier safety grants as proposed by both the 
House and the Senate.

                      MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY GRANTS

                      (LIMITATION ON OBLIGATIONS)

                          (HIGHWAY TRUST FUND)

      The conference agreement provides $84,825,000 for motor 
carrier safety grants instead of $85,325,000 as proposed by the 
House and $84,300,000 as proposed by the Senate. This agreement 
allocates the funding in the following manner:

Basic grants to states..................................     $73,500,000
Border assistance.......................................       2,500,000
Priority initiatives....................................       2,000,000
Administrative costs....................................         825,000
Information systems and planning........................       6,000,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
      Total.............................................      84,825,000

      Basic grants to states.--The conferees have agreed to 
provide $73,500,000 for basic grants to states. Of this total, 
the Office of Motor Carriers has the flexibility to provide 
some of the total funding to states to improve data analysis, 
information systems, and program management necessary for the 
implementation of performance-based safety grants in fiscal 
year 1999, if requested.
      Border assistance.--The conference agreement provides 
$2,500,000 for border assistance, as proposed by the House. 
Funding has not been provided to the second tier states because 
Mexican commercial motor vehicles cannot operate beyond 
Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas until the year 2000.
      State training and administration.--The conferees provide 
$825,000 for state training and administration, and direct that 
no more than $100,000 from any motor carrier account be used to 
support the Challenge program in fiscal year 1998. Further, the 
conferees expect that this program will be entirely self-
supporting in fiscal year 1999.
      Information systems.--The conference agreement provides 
$6,000,000 for information systems and planning, which shall be 
allocated as follows: $2,000,000 for information systems and 
analysis; $3,000,000 for commercial vehicle information; and 
$1,000,000 for the driver program.

             National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

                        OPERATIONS AND RESEARCH

      The conference agreement provides $74,901,000 from the 
general fund for highway and traffic safety activities instead 
of $74,492,000 as proposed by the House and $74,760,000 as 
proposed by the Senate. Of the total, $40,674,000 shall remain 
available until September 30, 2000 as proposed by the House. 
The Senate bill contained no similar provision.
      The agreement includes a provision which prohibits NHTSA 
from obligating or expending funds to plan, finalize, or 
implement any rulemaking that would add requirements pertaining 
to tire grading standards that are different from those 
standards already in effect. This provision was contained in 
both the House and Senate bills.

                        OPERATIONS AND RESEARCH

                          (HIGHWAY TRUST FUND)

      The conference agreement provides $72,061,000 from the 
highway trust fund for operations and research activities 
instead of $72,415,000 as proposed by the House and $71,740,000 
as proposed by the Senate. Of the total, $49,520,000 shall 
remain available until September 30, 2000 as proposed by the 
House. The Senate bill contained no similar provision.
      The conference agreement for operations and research 
(general fund and highway trust fund combined) includes the 
following adjustments to the budget request:

Auto safety hotline........................................... -$236,000
Odometer fraud................................................   -75,000
School bus restraint..........................................  +700,000
Youth, drugs, and driving initiative..........................  -600,000
Enforcement and emergency services............................  -454,000
Head injury management........................................  +250,000
Accountwide adjustment........................................  -123,000

      Biomechanics.--Within the funds provided, the conferees 
direct NHTSA to provide $100,000 to develop a biofidelic child 
crash test dummy, as requested by the House.
      School bus restraint devices.--The conferees have 
provided $700,000 for a new pilot program for states to 
experiment with alternative safety restraint bar devices on 
school buses. NHTSA shall report back to the House and Senate 
Committees on Appropriations by December 31, 1997, on the 
implementation of this program and provide the Committees with 
an evaluation of these safety devices by August 1, 1998.
      Youth, drugs, and driving initiative.--The conferees have 
not funded the administration's youth, drugs, and driving 
initiative. No state has been willing to participate in this 
demonstration program because of serious constitutional, legal, 
and privacy issues raised by this program, and the enormous 
startup costs states would incur without federal assistance. 
This program is estimated to cost at least $16,000,000 during 
the next three years, and would detract from the amount of 
funding available for many other critical highway safety 
initiatives, such as alcohol-impaired driving, increasing seat 
belt usage, and reducing drug impaired driving. However, the 
conferees are concerned about the growing problem with youth 
and drugs, and have provided $1,400,000 to bolster training and 
education for law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges on 
detecting, arresting, and sanctioning youth alcohol and drug 
offenders. As part of this effort, NHTSA should consider 
developing model policies for youth enforcement, treatment and 
sentencing and then conducting a demonstration in 3 to 5 
jurisdictions using this model.

                     HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY GRANTS

                (LIQUIDATION OF CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION)

                          (HIGHWAY TRUST FUND)

      The conference agreement provides $186,000,000 to 
liquidate contract authorizations for highway traffic safety 
grants, as proposed by both the House and the Senate.

                     HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY GRANTS

                      (LIMITATION ON OBLIGATIONS)

                          (HIGHWAY TRUST FUND)

      The conference agreement limits obligations for highway 
traffic safety grants to $186,500,000 as proposed by the House 
instead of $187,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. The 
conferees provide $5,268,000 for administration of the grant 
program as proposed by the House instead of $4,948,000 as 
proposed by the Senate. The conference agreement prohibits the 
use of funds for construction, rehabilitation or remodeling 
costs, or for office furnishings and fixtures for state, local, 
or private buildings or structures, as proposed by both the 
House and the Senate. Further, the conference agreement limits 
funds for the administration of highway safety grants to 
$150,000, as proposed by both the House and the Senate. The 
bill includes separate obligation limitations with the 
following funding allocations:

State and community grants..............................    $149,700,000
Alcohol incentive grants................................      34,500,000
National driver register................................       2,300,000

      State and community grants.--The conferees have provided 
$149,700,000 for state and community grants, instead of 
$140,200,000 as proposed by the House and $150,700,000 as 
proposed by the Senate. Of this total, $9,000,000 shall be used 
to expedite the efforts of States to increase seat belt usage 
beyond the estimated amount that each State spent in this area 
in fiscal year 1997, as proposed by the Senate. The House had 
provided $9,000,000 for occupant protection incentive grants as 
a separate item, subject to authorization; but authorization 
did not occur prior to the beginning of fiscal year 1998. 
Combining this funding with state and community grants does not 
prejudice the occupant protection incentive grant program from 
receiving consideration for funding in future appropriation 
bills, if authorized. The conferees have not earmarked any new 
funding for performance-based plans, as proposed by the Senate, 
because forty-one states are already preparing these plans in 
fiscal year 1997 and all states will prepare such plans in 
fiscal year 1998.
      Alcohol incentive grants.--The conference agreement 
provides $34,500,000 for alcohol incentive grants instead of 
$35,000,000 as proposed by the House and $34,000,000 as 
proposed by the Senate. The conference agreement also includes 
bill language that limits to $500,000 the funds for alcohol-
impaired driving countermeasures programs that are made 
available for technical assistance to the states, as proposed 
by the House and the Senate.
      National driver register.--A total of $2,300,000 has been 
provided for the national driver register, as proposed by both 
the House and the Senate.

                    Federal Railroad Administration

                      OFFICE OF THE ADMINISTRATOR

      The conference agreement appropriates $20,290,000 for the 
Office of the Administrator instead of $19,434,000 as proposed 
by the House and $19,800,000 as proposed by the Senate. Of the 
total amount, $1,389,000 shall remain available until expended, 
as proposed by the House instead of $1,339,000 as proposed by 
the Senate.
      The conferees agree to the following adjustments to the 
budget request:

Limit growth in support services..............................  -$68,000
Reduction in information technology...........................  -140,000
Reduction in rent.............................................   -25,000
Reduction in Chief Counsel staffing...........................   -36,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________

      Net reduction to budget.................................  -269,000

      GSA rent.--The conference agreement deletes a prohibition 
on the use of funds for rental payments to the General Services 
Administration to pay for the expenses of headquarters 
employees outside the Nassif building after January 1, 1998, as 
proposed by the House. The Senate bill contained no similar 
provision. However, the conferees have reduced the 
appropriation for rent by $25,000, or the square foot cost 
differential between housing FRA employees in the Nassif 
building or locating these employees in offices outside of the 
building. The conferees remain concerned that an entire modal 
administration previously housed within the Nassif building is 
now located a significant distance away from the department's 
other daily operations and is no longer fully integrated within 
the department. The conferees would strongly prefer to see FRA 
relocated back to the Nassif building, but recognize that it is 
only slightly more costly to house these employees outside of 
the main headquarters building.
      Railroad relocation.--The conferees direct the FRA to 
continue, within available funds, consultative efforts to 
support the implementation of short term railroad operating and 
long term relocation solutions between railroads and local 
communities, including Metairie, Louisiana.

                            RAILROAD SAFETY

      The conferees have provided $57,067,000 for railroad 
safety as proposed by the Senate instead of $56,967,000 as 
proposed by the House. Of the total amount, $5,511,000 shall 
remain available until expended as proposed by the House 
instead of $5,400,000 as proposed by the Senate. The conference 
agreement includes the following adjustments to the budget 
request:

Reduction in technology systems...............................  -$77,000
Rail safety advisory committee................................  -100,000
Administrative reduction......................................   -98,000
Enhance grade crossing safety initiatives.....................  +275,000

      Grade crossing safety initiatives.--The conferees have 
provided $275,000 above the request for the office of safety 
personnel and programs to support new and additional highway/
rail grade crossing safety initiatives. FRA shall use this 
funding to perform interstate rail corridor and crossing safety 
evaluations; provide technical assistance to state 
transportation departments in identifying the most dangerous 
crossings; evaluate and disseminate best practices for crossing 
hazard mitigation; assess the effectiveness of crossing signal 
technologies; interface with the motor carrier industry through 
FHWA's office of motor carriers regarding safer commercial 
driving practices at highway/rail crossings; and, in accordance 
with new statutory requirements contained in the 1996 Federal 
Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act, work with affected 
localcommunities that are considering train whistle 
restrictions, to help develop effective supplementary safety measures.

                   RAILROAD RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

      The conference agreement provides $20,758,000 for 
railroad research and development instead of $21,038,000 as 
proposed by the House and $24,906,000 as proposed by the Senate 
and includes the following adjustments to the budget request:

Equipment related research....................................  -$50,000
Operation Lifesaver...........................................  +200,000
T-6 railcar...................................................  -500,000
Magnetic levitation...........................................  -500,000
Environmental issues..........................................  -100,000
Research and development facilities...........................   -80,000
TRB study.....................................................  +150,000

      1-800 emergency notification system.--The conferees have 
deleted funding provided by the Senate for expedited 
development of a computer-based emergency response system for 
notification of malfunctioning grade crossing signals and track 
obstacles, based on unobligated balances. FRA and two states 
are already working on the development of this system. The 
conferees expect that the agency's fiscal year 1999 budget 
submission will include a definitive schedule for completion of 
this project and a description of the process by which FRA will 
promote state investment in this approach to improving grade 
crossing safety.
      Positive train control.--In conjunction with FRA, eastern 
railroads are developing positive train control (PTC) capable 
of operating with present and future technologies to adapt to 
the various types of railroad infrastructure. As the first 
step, an interoperable locomotive platform is being developed. 
As the next step, a positive train separation (PTS) pilot will 
be run on the rail line between Manassas, Virginia through 
Hagerstown, Maryland to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to demonstrate 
the operation of locomotives over different types of PTC 
territory. This project, funded jointly by FRA and the 
railroads, was begun last year. The conferees direct FRA and 
the affected railroads to proceed under previously negotiated 
cost-sharing agreements with the second phase of the pilot 
project, which is intended to develop a PTS system that builds 
on existing infrastructure, is interoperable, and cost-
effective.

                 NORTHEAST CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM

      The conference agreement provides $250,000,000 for the 
Northeast corridor improvement program as proposed by the House 
instead of $273,450,000 as proposed by the Senate. Funding 
shall be available until September 30, 2000 as proposed by the 
House instead of September 30, 1999 as proposed by the Senate. 
Of this total, $12,000,000 shall be available for the 
Pennsylvania station redevelopment project solely for life and 
safety improvements.

            Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Program

      The conference agreement does not permit any new loan 
guarantee commitments to be made during fiscal year 1998 as 
proposed by both the House and the Senate.

                    NEXT GENERATION HIGH-SPEED RAIL

      The conference agreement provides $20,395,000 for the 
next generation high-speed rail program instead of $18,395,000 
as proposed by the House and $26,000,000 as proposed by the 
Senate. The following table summarizes the conference agreement 
by budget activity:

                                                        Conference level
Train control systems...................................      $3,750,000
Non-electric locomotives................................       9,300,000
    (ALPS)..............................................     (2,000,000)
    (Prototype locomotive)..............................     (4,800,000)
    (RTL-3).............................................     (2,500,000)
Grade crossings and innovative technologies:                   5,600,000
    (Sealed corridor)...................................     (2,000,000)
    (Mitigating hazards)................................     (2,500,000)
    (Low-cost HSR crossing).............................     (1,100,000)
Track & structures......................................       1,200,000
Planning technology.....................................................
Administration..........................................         545,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
      Total.............................................      20,395,000


      Prototype locomotives.--The conferees have provided 
$4,800,000 for prototype locomotives, which shall be available 
to FRA to: (1) continue its focus on high-speed fossil fuel 
research on flywheel turbine technology; (2) design, develop, 
and test different nonelectric locomotive concepts; and (3) 
evaluate technologies, which incorporate modern, recently 
developed locomotive car bodies that meet FRA's Tier II 
passenger rail car construction standards, other applicable 
federal safety regulations, and have the potential to operate 
at 150 miles per hour, yet be available for revenue 
demonstration at speeds of 125 miles per hour within a two to 
three year period.
      Planning technology.--Although the conferees are 
supportive of analytic and technical assistance to states for 
the development of high-speed rail programs, the conferees have 
deferred funding for planning technology pending 
reauthorization.

                     ALASKA RAILROAD REHABILITATION

      The conference agreement provides $15,280,000 for the 
Alaska Railroad instead of $17,000,000 as proposed by the 
Senate. The House bill contained no similar appropriation. 
Within the appropriation, $10,000,000 shall be available for 
track rehabilitation and $5,280,000 shall be for improvements 
to the Seward dock.
      Seward dock.--The conferees have reduced the amount for 
improvements to the Seward dock from $7,000,000 in the Senate 
bill to $5,280,000. Such reduction will result in increased 
local participation in the project, particularly by the city of 
Seward. Therefore, the conferees direct the department to 
provide funding for the dock improvements directly to the city 
to complete the intermodal improvements on behalf of the Alaska 
Railroad.

                     RHODE ISLAND RAIL DEVELOPMENT

      Total funding for the Rhode Island rail development 
project is $10,000,000 as proposed by both the House and the 
Senate. The conference agreement includes language that 
requires, as a condition of accepting such funds, the 
Providence and Worcester Railroad to reimburse Amtrak and/or 
the Federal Railroad Administration, on a dollar for dollar 
basis, up to the first $23,000,000 if damages occur in vertical 
clearances in excess of those required for present freight 
operations as proposed by the House. The Senate bill required 
reimbursement up to the first $13,000,000.

         GRANTS TO THE NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER CORPORATION

      The conference agreement provides $543,000,000 for grants 
to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) as 
proposed by the House instead of $344,000,000 as proposed by 
the Senate. Within the appropriation, $344,000,000 shall be 
available for operating subsidies and $199,000,000 for capital 
grants instead of $202,000,000 for operating losses, 
$81,000,000 for retirement payments, and $260,000,000 for 
capital grants as proposed by the House. The Senate bill 
contained $344,000,000 solely for Amtrak operations.
      The conference agreement deletes a number of language 
provisions included in either the House or Senate bills. These 
include: (1) deleting language proposed by the House that 
prohibits any of the funds appropriated for mandatory payments 
to be used for payments for Amtrak employees; (2) deleting 
language proposed by the House that prohibits obligation or 
expenditure of operating losses in excess of the amounts 
specified; (3) deleting language proposed by the House 
requiring the Federal Railroad Administration to submit 
quarterly reports on the financial status of Amtrak; and (4) 
deleting language proposed by the Senate that provides 
$641,000,000 for qualified expenses of Amtrak and non-Amtrak 
states, subject to the enactment of the Intercity Passenger 
Rail Fund, but withholding the amount until the enactment of a 
subsequent appropriations Act releasing such funds for 
obligation.
      The conference agreement retains bill language proposed 
by the House that prohibits the transfer of capital improvement 
funds to pay for debt service interest unless specifically 
authorized by law and deems as a violation of the Anti-
Deficiency Act the incurring of any obligation or commitment 
for the purchase of capital improvements prohibited in this 
appropriations Act. The Senate bill contained no similar 
provisions.
      The conference agreement also retains language that makes 
funds available for capital improvements on July 1, 1998, as 
proposed by the House. The Senate bill included no similar 
provision.
      The conference agreement includes language that requires 
the Secretary of Transportation to reduce the tax credit 
enacted under the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 by the amount 
appropriated for capital improvements, should Amtrak reforms be 
enacted. Neither the House nor the Senate bill contained a 
similar provision.
      Operating subsidies.--The conference agreement provides 
$344,000,000 for operating subsidies. Of this total, the 
conferees believe that the federal appropriation for railroad 
retirement payments should not be greater than $81,000,000. 
This figure has been calculated by identifying Amtrak's tax 
liabilities (including Amtrak employer Tier 2 taxes and 
supplemental taxes) and subtracting the Railroad Retirement 
Board's payments to Amtrak's beneficiaries. The conferees 
believe that Amtrak has been overstating its passenger rail 
service payments and understating its routine operating expense 
subsidy. However, providing $81,000,000 in federal 
appropriations for railroad retirement payments in no way 
affects the railroad's statutory obligations. Amtrak shall 
continue to be liable for all taxes that normally would be 
payable by the corporation as a railroad employer under the 
Railroad Retirement Act of 1974, the Railroad Unemployment 
Insurance Act, and the Railroad Retirement Tax Act.
      The conferees direct the department to include an 
estimate of Amtrak's total tax liability and its components in 
FRA's annual congressional justification, and a comprehensive 
listing of Amtrak's operating expenses that, by statute, are 
eligible for federal subsidy. In addition, Amtrak is directed 
to provide to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations 
a copy of the Railroad Retirement Board's annual letter to 
Amtrak, upon receipt, which identifies Amtrak's railroad 
retirement payments.
      Route closure and realignment report.--The conferees 
direct the General Accounting Office (GAO) to examine economic 
data for Amtrak's system and develop system-wide performance 
rankings of all routes currently in service based on short- and 
long-term economic loss. This report should consider all income 
and all costs, and perform a revenue-to-cost yield analysis of 
each Amtrak route. Also, the economic implications ofmulti-year 
capital requirements and declining federal operating subsidies should 
be examined. Amtrak shall provide GAO with this data within 30 days 
after the bill is enacted. If Amtrak reauthorization is enacted into 
law by December 31, 1997, GAO should include, as part of its review, 
any reforms that may impact on each route's viability. GAO should 
provide the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations with interim 
briefings on the issues and prepare a final report by May 15, 1998.

                     Federal Transit Administration

                        ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

      The conference agreement provides $45,738,000 as proposed 
by the House instead of $41,497,000 as proposed by the Senate. 
The conference agreement limits funds available for the 
execution of contracts under section 5327(c) of title 49, 
U.S.C. for project management oversight activities to 
$15,000,000 as proposed by both the House and Senate.

                             FORMULA GRANTS

      The conference agreement provides a total program level 
of $2,500,000,000 for transit formula grants, as proposed by 
the House instead of $2,400,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. 
Within this total, the conference agreement appropriates 
$240,000,000 from the general fund instead of $290,000,000 as 
proposed by the House and $190,000,000 as proposed by the 
Senate.
      The conference agreement limits to $150,000,000 funds 
available for operating assistance, instead of $200,000,000 as 
proposed by the House. The Senate bill contained no similar 
limitation on operating expenses. In addition, the conference 
agreement retains language proposed by the House that provides 
transit operating assistance to urbanized areas of less than 
200,000 in population at a level no less than seventy-five 
percent of the amount such areas were to receive under Public 
Law 103-331; and, that in the distribution of the limitation of 
operating assistance to urbanized areas that have a population 
of 1,000,000 or more, instructs the Secretary to direct each 
area to give priority consideration to the impact of reductions 
of operating assistance on smaller transit authorities 
operating within the area. The Senate bill contained no similar 
provisions.

                   UNIVERSITY TRANSPORTATION CENTERS

      The conference agreement appropriates $6,000,000 for 
university transportation centers as proposed by both the House 
and Senate.

                     TRANSIT PLANNING AND RESEARCH

      The conference agreement provides a total of $92,000,000 
for transit planning and research instead of $86,000,000 as 
proposed by the House and $77,250,000 as proposed by the 
Senate. Within the funds provided, $36,750,000 shall be 
available for national planning and research activities and 
other activities of the transit cooperative research program.
      The conference agreement deletes language proposed by the 
Senate that provides $500,000 to the Colorado Department of 
Transportation to study the metropolitan planning process and 
organization in the Denver metropolitan area. The House bill 
contained no similar provision.
      The conferees direct that within the funding level 
provided for transit planning and research, the Federal Transit 
Administration shall make available the following amounts for 
the programs and activities listed below:

        Project                                         Conference level
Joblinks employment transportation program..............      $1,000,000
Hennepin community works program, Hennepin County, 
    Minnesota...........................................       1,000,000
Project ACTION..........................................       2,000,000
Advanced technology transit bus.........................      10,000,000
Fuel cell bus program...................................       4,000,000
Advanced transportation and alternative fueled 
    technologies consortium.............................       1,500,000
Rural transportation assistance program.................         750,000
Fatigue awareness and safety training program...........       1,000,000
Zinc-air battery research...............................       2,000,000
Colorado metropolitan planning organization study.......         500,000
Electronic distribution center for surplus transit-
    related equipment...................................         500,000
Low-speed magnetic levitation...........................       1,000,000

      Colorado metropolitan planning organization study.--The 
conferees have included $500,000 which shall be made available 
to study the metropolitan planning process and organization in 
the Denver metropolitan area. The study shall be based on a 
scope of work agreed to by Douglas County (on behalf of 
selected Denver regional county and municipal governments), the 
Denver Regional Council of Governments, and the Colorado 
Department of Transportation. In order to insure that the study 
is fair and objective, the conferees recommend that the 
Colorado Department of Transportation make these funds 
available to a Denver based, private sector, non-profit 
university based research organization with expertise in public 
policy. The conferees direct that the recommendations of the 
study be provided to the House and Senate Committees on 
Appropriations within twenty-four months of enactment of this 
Act.
      Honolulu, HI.--The conferees direct the Federal Transit 
Administration to support a comprehensive transportation 
investment analysis of the primary urban corridor from Ewa to 
east Honolulu, Hawaii.
      Fuel cell bus program.--The conferees have provided up to 
$4,000,000 to continue development of the fuel cell bus. The 
conferees direct that none of the funds provided in this Act 
shall be available for the construction of a parking garage or 
an Intermodal and National Depository Fuel Cell facility at 
Georgetown University in Washington, DC.

                      TRUST FUND SHARE OF EXPENSES

                (liquidation of contract authorization)

                          (highway trust fund)

      The conference agreement provides $2,210,000,000 in 
liquidating cash for the trust fund share of transit expenses 
as proposed by both the House and Senate.

                          discretionary grants

                      (limitation on obligations)

                          (highway trust fund)

      The conference agreement limits obligations for the 
discretionary grants program to $2,000,000,000 as proposed by 
the House instead of $2,008,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. 
The conference agreement also limits obligations for fixed 
guideway modernization to $800,000,000; for the replacement, 
rehabilitation, and purchase of buses and related equipment and 
the construction of bus-related facilities to $400,000,000; and 
for new fixed guideway systems to $800,000,000 as proposed by 
the House. The Senate bill limits obligations to $780,000,000; 
$440,000,000; and $788,000,000, respectively.
      The conference agreement deletes language proposed by the 
Senate that reallocates $6,345,000 in previously provided funds 
for the Alaska-Hollis to Ketchikan ferry project. The House 
bill contained no similar provision.
      Three-year availability of section 5309 discretionary 
funds.--The conferees direct that the FTA not reallocate funds 
provided in fiscal year 1995 for the Whitehall ferry terminal 
project or the New Jersey Burlington to Gloucester rail project 
before September 30, 1998, because the Committees have been 
informed that these projects are nearing obligation. Further, 
the conferees direct the FTA to deobligate funds in the amount 
of $2,779,000 made available in Public Law 103-122, for 
preliminary engineering associated with the Minneapolis-St. 
Paul Twin Cities Central Corridor project and make these funds 
available for bus and bus facilities projects in the Twin 
Cities Central Corridor. The conferees also direct the FTA to 
reallocate funds in the amount of $4,962,500, made available in 
Public Law 103-331 for the Twin Cities Central Corridor project 
and not obligated by the end of fiscal year 1997, and make 
these funds available for similar bus and bus facilities 
projects in the Twin Cities Central Corridor.
      Further, should additional funds from previous 
appropriations Acts be available for reallocation, the 
conferees direct the FTA to reprogram these funds no earlier 
than fifteen days after notification to the House and Senate 
Committees on Appropriations and only to the extent that those 
projects are able to fully obligate additional resources in the 
course of fiscal year 1998. With respect to reallocation of 
discretionary bus funds, the FTA is directed to reallocate 
funds to only those projects identified in the reports 
accompanying the Department of Transportation and Related 
Agencies Appropriations Act, 1998, no earlier than fifteen days 
after notification to the House and Senate Committees on 
Appropriations.
      Bus and bus-related facilities.--The conference agreement 
provides $400,000,000 for the replacement, rehabilitation and 
purchase of buses and related equipment and the construction of 
bus-related facilities, together with $978,000 of funds 
originally provided in the fiscal year 1995 Department of 
Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The 
conferees agree that the recommended funding is to be 
distributed as follows:
        Project                                               Conference
State of Alabama:
    Birmingham/Jefferson County buses...................      $3,000,000
    Birmingham downtown intermodal transportation 
      facility, phase 2.................................       6,000,000
    Gadsden, buses and vans.............................         100,000
    Hunstville Intermodal center, phase 1...............       5,000,000
    Mobile southern market historic intermodal center...       1,000,000
    Mobile municipal pier intermodal waterfront access 
      rehabilitation project............................       1,000,000
    Mobile bus replacement..............................       1,500,000
    Mobile intermodal facility..........................       5,500,000
    Montgomery bus replacement..........................       1,500,000
    Tuscaloosa bus replacement..........................       1,000,000
State of Arizona:
    Phoenix buses and bus facilities....................       4,500,000
    Tucson intermodal center............................       1,000,000
State of California:
    Folsom multimodal faclity...........................       1,500,000
    Foothill transit bus maintenance facility...........       9,000,000
    I-5 Consortium Cities Joint Powers Authority 
      facilities........................................       5,000,000
    Inglewood transit center project....................         500,000
    Lake Tahoe intermodal center........................       1,000,000
    Long Beach buses and bus facilities.................       1,500,000
    Marina/Ft. Ord buses and multimodal center..........       1,000,000
    Mendocino County buses..............................         800,000
    Modesto bus maintenance facility....................       1,750,000
    Rialto MetroLink depot..............................       1,100,000
    Riverside County buses and bus facility.............       2,350,000
    Riverside County transit vehicle ITS communications.       1,000,000
    Sacramento bus facility.............................       1,000,000
    San Joaquin (Stockton) bus facilities...............       2,000,000
    Santa Clara buses...................................       2,500,000
    Santa Cruz metropolitan transit district buses and 
      bus facility......................................       1,000,000
    San Ysidro border intermodal center.................         500,000
    Solano County buses and bus-related equipment.......       1,200,000
    Sonoma County bus facilities........................       1,000,000
    Unitrans maintenance facility.......................       1,000,000
    Woodland transfer facility..........................         200,000
    Yolo County buses and paratransit vehicles..........       1,000,000
    Yosemite area regional transportation solution......         500,000
State of Colorado, buses and bus facilities.............       5,500,000
State of Connecticut:
    Bridgeport buses and bus facilities.................       2,000,000
    Bridgeport intermodal center........................       3,750,000
    New Haven bus facility..............................       1,200,000
State of Delaware: New Castle bus facility..............       1,500,000
State of Florida:
    Daytona Beach intermodal facility...................       2,000,000
    Florida Citrus Connection buses.....................       1,500,000
    Lakeland transit buses..............................       1,000,000
    Lakeworth buses and bus facilities..................       1,000,000
    LYNX buses and bus facilities.......................       3,000,000
    Metro-Dade County buses and bus facilities..........       5,000,000
    Orlando intermodal facility.........................       1,000,000
    Palm Beach County buses and bus facilities..........       2,000,000
    Tampa (Hillsborough County), HARTline buses and bus 
      facilities........................................       1,500,000
    Volusia County buses and bus facilities.............       2,000,000
State of Georgia:
    Chatham bus facility................................       4,000,000
    MARTA buses.........................................       5,000,000
State of Hawaii: Honolulu buses and bus facility........       5,000,000
State of Illinois: Buses and bus facilities.............       4,500,000
State of Indiana:
    Indianapolis buses..................................       2,000,000
    South Bend intermodal facility......................       2,000,000
State of Iowa:
    Statewide bus and bus facilities....................       2,750,000
    Sioux City park and ride facility...................       1,250,000
State of Kansas: Johnson County bus maintenance/
    operations facility.................................       1,000,000
State of Louisiana:
    Statewide buses and bus facilities..................      13,900,000
State of Maryland: Buses and bus facilities.............       8,000,000
Commonwealth of Massachusetts:
    Franklin RTA buses..................................         500,000
    Greenfield Montague Transportation Area buses.......         700,000
    South Station intermodal transportation center......       1,000,000
    Springfield intermodal center.......................       1,000,000
    Worcester Union Station.............................       3,000,000
State of Michigan: Buses and bus facilities.............       7,500,000
State of Minnesota:
    Metropolitan Council transit operations, buses and 
      bus facilities....................................       9,000,000
    St. Paul, Snelling bus garage.......................       1,500,000
State of Mississippi: Jackson bus facility..............       2,000,000
State of Missouri:
    Kansas City buses and fare box collection system....       3,500,000
    Kansas City Union Station intermodal center.........       4,500,000
    State of Missouri bus and bus facilities............       8,000,000
    State of Nevada:....................................
    Clark County buses..................................       8,000,000
    Reno, Washoe County Regional Transportation 
      Commission, buses and bus facilities..............       1,500,000
State of New Jersey: NJ Transit alternative fuel buses..       6,000,000
State of New Mexico:
    Albuquerque uptown transit center...................       1,000,000
    Demonstration of universal electric transportation 
      subsystems (DUETS)................................       1,000,000
    Las Cruces, Santa Fe, and Albuquerque park and ride.       1,000,000
    Sante Fe buses and bus facilities...................       1,000,000
    Statewide, buses and bus facilities.................       3,750.000
State of New York:
    Nassau County and Long Island buses and bus 
      facilities (Goodwill Games).......................       1,000,000
    Nassau County natural gas buses.....................       5,000,000
    New Rochelle intermodal facility....................       1,500,000
    New York City natural gas buses.....................       7,500,000
    NFTA HUBLINK program................................       1,000,000
    Poughkeepsie intermodal facility....................       2,000,000
    Rensselaer County intermodal facility...............       1,875,000
    Staten Island/Brooklyn mobility project.............       1,000,000
    Suffolk County buses................................       2,150,000
    Syracuse buses......................................       4,300,000
    Westchester County buses............................       5,000,000
    Yonkers intermodal facility.........................       2,000,000
State of North Carolina:
    Chapel Hill University of North Carolina buses......       1,000,000
    Statewide buses and bus facilities..................       5,000,000
State of Ohio: Buses and bus facilities.................      12,500,000
State of Oregon:
    Eugene-Springfield-Lane County buses and bus 
      facilities........................................       1,000,000
    Lane Transit District bus system....................       1,000,000
    Salem and Corvallis buses and bus facilities........       1,000,000
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania:
    Allegheny County buses..............................       1,000,000
    Armstrong Mid-County buses and bus facility.........         200,000
    Berks Area Reading transit intermodal facility......         500,000
    Cambria County buses and bus facilities.............         800,000
    Fayette and Somerset buses, vans, and bus facilities         600,000
    Indiana County buses................................         500,000
    Lackawanna County paratransit vans..................         300,000
    Lawrence County buses...............................       1,000,000
    Lehigh and Northampton buses........................       1,000,000
    Mid Mon Valley transit authority buses..............         750,000
    New Castle area transit authority buses.............         750,000
    North Philadelphia intermodal facility..............       1,000,000
    Philadelphia Eastwick intermodal center.............       1,000,000
    Schuykill County buses..............................         200,000
    Scranton buses and bus facility.....................       1,500,000
    SEPTA buses.........................................       7,500,000
    Towanda Borough intermodal bus facility.............       2,000,000
    Wilkes-Barre intermodal facility....................       1,500,000
    Williamsport buses and bus facility.................       1,250,000
    Statewide bus and bus facilities projects...........       4,000,000
State of South Carolina:
    Columbia buses and facility.........................       2,000,000
    Pee Dee Regional Planning Authority, buses and 
      facilities........................................       3,000,000
    Virtual Transit Enterprise, integration of transit 
      information processing systems....................       1,000,000
State of South Dakota: Statewide bus and bus facilities.       2,250,000
State of Tennessee: Buses and bus facilities............       8,000,000
State of Texas:
    Austin buses........................................       3,000,000
    Brazos Transit Authority, transit facilities and 
      buses.............................................       3,000,000
    Corpus Christi bus facilities.......................       1,950,000
    El Paso buses.......................................       1,000,000
    Fort Worth buses....................................       1,500,000
    Galveston alternatively fueled vehicles.............       2,000,000
    Rural Texas bus replacement program.................       2,500,000
State of Utah:
    Utah Transit Authority Olympic park and ride lots...       2,000,000
    Park City Transit buses.............................         400,000
    Utah Transit Authority bus acquisition..............       2,000,000
    Utah Transit Authority Olympic intermodal 
      transportation centers............................       2,500,000
    Statewide buses and bus facilities..................       2,000,000
State of Vermont:
    Burlington multimodal center........................       1,500,000
    Statewide bus and bus facilities....................       1,000,000
Commonwealth of Virginia:
    Clarendon canopy project............................         250,000
    Falls Church electric buses.........................         400,000
    Dulles corridor buses and bus facilities............       2,500,000
    Richmond multimodal center..........................       2,500,000
State of Washington:
    Bremerton buses and transportation center...........       1,000,000
    Chelan-Douglas multimodal center....................       1,000,000
    Community Transit, Kasch Park facility..............       1,500,000
    Everett intermodal center...........................       2,500,000
    King County multimodal facility.....................       1,000,000
    King County metro commuter intermodal connector.....       1,500,000
    King County park and ride lots......................       5,000,000
    Olympic Peninsula International Gateway 
      Transportation Center.............................       1,000,000
    Snohomish County buses..............................       2,500,000
    Tacoma Dome station project.........................       1,500,000
    Thurston County intercity buses.....................       1,000,000
    Whatcom Transportation Authority, facilities........       1,500,000
State of West Virginia:
    Huntington intermodal facility and buses............       7,000,000
    Statewide buses and bus facilities, communications 
      and computer systems..............................       9,250,000
State of Wisconsin:
    Milwaukee rail station rehabilitation...............       1,000,000
    Wisconsin Transit System buses......................      13,000,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
      Total.............................................     400,975,000

      Mobile, Alabama intermodal facility.--The conference 
agreement includes $5,500,000 for phase 1 of an intermodal and 
transit transfer facility in the city of Mobile, Alabama. These 
funds are to be used for preliminary engineering, design, site 
acquisition, improvement and rehabilitation of an intermodal 
facility to link local transit, intercity bus and passenger 
rail, automobile, for-hire transportation and charter/excursion 
tours in the downtown area. The conferees encourage the city to 
seek additional appropriations in fiscal year 1999 to complete 
phase 2 of the intermodal facility.
      Lake Tahoe intermodal center.--The conferees urge the 
Administrator to consider funds that have already been spent by 
non-federal sources on planning of this project towards the 
local match requirements.
      State of Louisiana.--The conference agreement includes 
$13,900,000 for the state of Louisiana to be distributed as 
follows: Baton Rouge bus-related facilities, $600,000; 
Jefferson Parish buses, $1,200,000; Lafayette bus-related 
facility, $750,000; Lake Charles buses, $150,000; LA DOTD vans 
and equipment, $700,000; Monroe buses and bus-related 
equipment, $800,000; New Orleans buses and bus-related 
facilities, $7,500,000; Shreveport buses and bus-related 
facility, $400,000; and St. Tammany Parish bus and bus-related 
facility, $300,000.
      State of Michigan.--The conference agreement includes 
$7,500,000 for the state of Michigan. In addition to the funds 
provided in this Act, the conferees direct the FTA to make 
available to the state of Michigan for the procurement of buses 
and bus-related equipment funds originally provided in the 
fiscal year 1995 Department of Transportation and Related 
Agencies Appropriations Act for a passenger intermodal transit 
center in Detroit, Michigan.
      New fixed guideway systems.--The conference agreement 
deletes language proposed by the House that would make 
distribution of the funds available for new fixed guideway 
systems subject to authorization. The Senate bill contained no 
similar provisions. The conference agreement provides for the 
following distribution of the recommended funding for new fixed 
guideway systems as follows:

        Project                                         Conference level
Atlanta-North Springs project...........................     $44,600,000
Austin Capital metro....................................       1,000,000
Boston Piers MOS-2 project..............................      46,250,000
Boston urban ring.......................................       1,000,000
Burlington-Essex, VT, commuter rail.....................       5,000,000
Canton-Akron-Cleveland commuter rail project............       2,000,000
Charleston monobeam rail project........................       1,500,000
Charlotte South corridor transitway project.............       1,000,000
Cincinnati Northeast/Northern Kentucky rail line project         500,000
Clark County, Nevada, fixed guideway project............       5,000,000
Cleveland blue line extension to Highland Hills project.         800,000
Cleveland Berea red line extension to Hopkins 
    International Airport...............................         700,000
Cleveland waterfront line extension project.............       1,000,000
Dallas-Fort Worth RAILTRAN project......................       8,000,000
DART North central light rail extension project.........      11,000,000
DeKalb County, Georgia light rail project...............       1,000,000
Denver Southwest corridor project.......................      23,000,000
East Side access project, New York......................      20,000,000
Florida Tri-County commuter rail project................       8,000,000
Galveston rail trolley system project...................       2,000,000
Houston advanced regional bus plan project..............       1,000,000
Houston regional bus project............................      51,100,000
Indianapolis Northeast corridor project.................       1,250,000
Jackson, Mississippi intermodal corridor project........       3,000,000
Los Angeles MOS-3 project...............................      61,500,000
MARC commuter rail improvements.........................      31,000,000
Memphis, Tennessee regional rail project................       1,000,000
Metro-Dade transit east-west corridor project...........       5,000,000
Miami North 27th Avenue project.........................       5,000,000
Mission Valley East corridor project....................       1,000,000
Nassau hub rail link EIS................................         500,000
New Jersey--Hudson-Bergen project.......................      60,000,000
New Jersey Secaucus project.............................      27,000,000
New Orleans Canal Street corridor project...............       6,000,000
New Orleans Desire streetcar project....................       2,000,000
North Carolina Research Triangle Park project...........      12,000,000
Northern Indiana South Shore commuter rail project......       4,000,000
Oceanside-Escondido light rail project..................       3,000,000
Oklahoma City MAPS corridor transit project.............       1,600,000
Orange County transitway project........................       2,000,000
Orlando Lynx light rail project.........................      31,800,000
Pennsylvania Strawberry Hill/Diamond Branch rail project         500,000
Phoenix metropolitan area transit project...............       4,000,000
Pittsburgh airport busway project.......................       5,000,000
Portland--Westside/Hillsboro project....................      63,400,000
Roaring Fork Valley rail................................       2,000,000
Sacramento LRT project..................................      20,300,000
Salt Lake City South LRT project........................      63,400,000
Salt Lake City regional commuter rail...................       4,000,000
San Bernardino Metrolink project........................       1,000,000
San Diego Mid-Coast corridor project....................       1,500,000
San Francisco BART extension to the airport project.....      29,900,000
San Juan Tren Urbano....................................      15,000,000
San Jose Tasman LRT project.............................      21,400,000
Seattle-Tacoma commuter and light rail projects.........      18,000,000
St. Louis--St. Claire LRT extension project.............      30,000,000
St. George ferry terminal project.......................       2,500,000
Springfield-Branson, MO commuter rail...................         500,000
Tampa Bay regional rail project.........................       1,000,000
Tidewater, Virginia rail project........................       2,000,000
Toledo, Ohio rail project...............................       1,000,000
Twin Cities transitways projects........................      12,000,000
Virginia Railway Express Fredericksburg to Washington 
    commuter rail project...............................       2,000,000
Whitehall ferry terminal project........................       2,500,000
Wisconsin central commuter rail project (METRA).........       3,000,000

      Charleston, SC monobeam rail project.--The conference 
agreement provides $1,500,000 for conceptual planning and 
engineering and related work for a full-scale demonstration 
monobeam rail line in the Charleston, South Carolina area.
      Denver southwest corridor project.--Congress has stated 
clearly that airport funds should not be used for non-airport 
purposes. Moreover, the House Subcommittee on Transportation 
Appropriations has stated that it will consider any action to 
divert revenue illegally from airports in all its decisions 
regarding funding for transportation projects within its 
jurisdiction. The conferees are concerned that the City of 
Denver may be considering the diversion of airport revenues to 
buy rights of way from the Union Pacific Railroad. The 
Inspector General is directed to inform the House and Senate 
Committees on Appropriations and the Federal Aviation 
Administration immediately should an illegal diversion of 
airport revenue occur.
      Los Angeles MOS-3 project.--The conference agreement 
provides $61,500,000 for the Los Angeles MOS-3 project, of 
which $24,000,000 shall be available for the East Side 
extension, together with the required local matching funds. The 
conferees agree that none of the funds in this Act shall be 
available until (1) after the LACMTA produces a financially 
constrained rail recovery plan which complies with the consent 
decree for enhanced bus service; (2) the FTA conducts a final 
review and accepts the plans and certifies to the House and 
Senate Committees on Appropriations that the fiscal management 
of the project meets or exceeds accepted U.S. government 
standards; (3) the General Accounting Office and the Department 
of Transportation's inspector generalconduct an independent 
analysis of the plans and provide such analysis to the House and Senate 
Committees on Appropriations within sixty days of FTA accepting the 
plan; (4) the House and Senate have concluded their review of the 
analysis within sixty days of the transmittal of the analysis to the 
Committees; and (5) after the FTA has re-negotiated parts 1A and 1B of 
the MOS-3 full funding grant agreement.
      Pittsburgh airport busway project.--In conjunction with 
the FTA and its project management oversight consultant, the 
Port Authority of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania has developed 
a recovery plan for the Phase I Pittsburgh Airport Busway/
Wabash HOV facility in order to address budget and schedule 
variances from the original full funding grant agreement. The 
conferees believe that the recovery plan has yielded a revised 
project scope that will provide virtually all of the transit 
benefits within the original full funding grant agreement 
amount of $326.8 million. The conference agreement provides 
$5,000,000 for the Pittsburgh busway project, completing the 
federal government's commitment to the project.
      The FTA has proposed to deobligate $19,410,000 of funds 
necessary to implement the recovery plan. These funds have 
already been provided by Congress for this project. Retaining 
these already-appropriated and obligated funds and adding the 
final $5,000,000 will complete the full funding grant 
agreement. Accordingly, the conferees direct the FTA not to 
deobligate the funds already obligated to the Port Authority.
      Twin Cities transitways project.--The conference 
agreement provides $12,000,000 for the Twin Cities Transitways 
project. Of this amount, not less than $10,500,000 is provided 
for the development and construction of the Hiawatha Corridor 
fixed guideway. Up to $1,500,000 may be available for the 
planning, analysis and engineering on the Riverview, Northstar 
and Northwest Corridors, including a major investment study of 
the Riverview Corridor. In the Northstar and Northwest 
Corridors, a portion of the $1,500,000 may be used for minor 
transit improvements, as well as planning, analysis and 
engineering of transit routes and alternatives, including 
commuter rail.
      Virginia Railway Express (VRE) Fredericksburg to 
Washington commuter rail project.--The conferees agree that the 
funds provided in this Act shall be distributed as follows: 
$1,100,000 shall be available for right-of-way acquisition at 
Route 123 and Route 1 to provide direct access to the 
Woodbridge station of the VRE and $900,000 shall be available 
to improve pedestrian safety at the King Street Metro and VRE 
station area.
      Wisconsin central commuter rail project.--The conference 
agreement includes $3,000,000 for Wisconsin central commuter 
rail, or Metra. Funds provided in this Act are to be available 
for engineering and design work on proposed expansions to the 
Metra system, as well as station reconstruction on the South 
Shore line in Chicago.

                       MASS TRANSIT CAPITAL FUND

                (LIQUIDATION OF CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION)

                          (HIGHWAY TRUST FUND)

      The conference agreement provides $2,350,000,000 in 
liquidating cash for mass transit capital programs, as proposed 
by both the House and the Senate.

             WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSIT AUTHORITY

      The conference agreement includes $200,000,000 for the 
construction of the Washington, DC Metrorail system, as 
proposed by the House instead of $160,000,000 as proposed by 
the Senate.

             Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation

                       OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE

                    (HARBOR MAINTENANCE TRUST FUND)

      The conference agreement appropriates $11,200,000 for 
operations and maintenance of the Saint Lawrence Seaway 
Development Corporation as proposed by the House. The Senate 
bill presumed that authorizing legislation would convert the 
Corporation into a performance-based organization, requiring no 
direct appropriation in fiscal year 1998.

              Research and Special Programs Administration

                     RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS

      The conference agreement appropriates $28,450,000 for 
research and special programs as proposed by the Senate instead 
of $27,934,000 as proposed by the House. The conferees have 
made the following reductions to the budget estimate:

Reduction in hazardous materials personnel, compensation 
    and benefits........................................       -$150,000
Limit research and development activities...............      -1,850,000
Increase funding for crisis response center.............        +450,000
Reduction in program support personnel, compensation and 
    benefits............................................        -102,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
      Net change to the budget request..................      -1,652,000

      Crisis response center.--The conferees have provided 
$450,000 for a transportation emergency preparedness and 
response demonstration project, as described in the Senate 
report. The state should provide at least $300,000 in cost 
sharing for this project. The conferees expect that the 
establishment of this center will be a one-time occurrence and 
do not expect the department to provide ongoing consulting or 
other services for the center.
      Program and administrative support.--The conferees 
recommend $8,219,000 for program and administrative support. 
The conferees agree that a $102,000 reduction in program and 
administrative support shall be allocated at the discretion of 
the administrator, and permit the administration to continue 
using detailees as necessary.
      Simultaneous vehicle and infrastructure design.--The 
conferees direct the Secretary of Transportation to submit a 
letter to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations on 
the concept of simultaneous vehicle and infrastructure design 
by January 30, 1998.
      Bill language, as proposed by the House, permitting 
credits to this appropriation to be used for expenses related 
to training, report publication, and dissemination, and for 
travel expenses incurred in the performance of hazardous 
materials exemptions and approval functions has been retained 
in the conference agreement. The Senate bill proposed similar 
language, but did not restrict the credit of funds received 
from state and other public and private authorities expenses 
only to travel.

                            PIPELINE SAFETY

                         (PIPELINE SAFETY FUND)

                    (OIL SPILL LIABILITY TRUST FUND)

      The conference agreement provides total funding of 
$31,300,000 for the pipeline safety program, instead of 
$31,486,000 as proposed by the House and $31,000,000 as 
proposed by the Senate. In addition, the conferees have 
provided $1,465,000 from the reserve fund for one-call 
notification activities and some contract programs, instead of 
$1,000,000 for one-call activities as proposed by the House and 
$2,000,000 for one-call activities and some contract programs 
as proposed by the Senate.
      The following table summarizes the conference agreement 
by budget activity and funding sources:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Oil spill                                  
                 Budget activity                     Pipeline        liability     Reserve fund        Total    
                                                    safety fund     trust fund          \1\                     
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Personnel, compensation and benefits............      $7,706,000        $259,000              --      $7,965,000
Operating expenses..............................       3,687,000              --              --       3,687,000
  Contract programs:                                   2,942,000         713,000        $365,000       4,020,000
    (Information systems).......................              --              --              --     (1,200,000)
    (Risk assessment and technical studies).....              --              --              --     (1,200,000)
    (Compliance)................................              --              --              --       (300,000)
    (Training and information dissemination)....              --              --              --       (820,000)
    (Emergency notification)....................              --              --              --       (100,000)
    (National public education).................              --              --              --       (400,000)
Oil pollution act...............................              --       2,328,000              --       2,328,000
Research and development........................       1,165,000              --              --       1,165,000
  Grants:                                             12,500,000              --              --      12,500,000
    (State grants)..............................    (12,000,000)              --              --    (12,000,000)
    (Risk management grants)....................       (500,000)              --              --       (500,000)
One-call program................................              --              --       1,100,000       1,100,000
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
      Total.....................................      28,000,000       3,300,000       1,465,000      32,765,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Funding derived from the reserve fund is not directly appropriated.                                         

      Coal log pipeline research study.--The conferees agree 
that the office of pipeline safety shall not complete a 
research study on coal log pipelines, as requested by the 
Senate, since the issue falls outside the scope and expertise 
of this office.

                     EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS GRANTS

      The conference agreement provides $200,000 for emergency 
preparedness grants as proposed by both the House and the 
Senate.

                      Office of Inspector General

                         Salaries and Expenses

      The conference agreement includes $42,000,000 for 
salaries and expenses of the office of inspector general as 
proposed by the House instead of $38,900,000 as proposed by the 
Senate.

                      Surface Transportation Board

                         salaries and expenses

      The conference agreement provides $13,853,000 for 
salaries and expenses of the Surface Transportation Board 
instead of $15,853,000 as proposed by the House and $12,300,000 
as proposed by the Senate. In addition, the conference 
agreement includes language that permits the Board to collect 
$2,000,000 in fees to supplement its appropriation in fiscal 
year 1998, instead of $3,100,000 as proposed by the Senate. The 
House bill provided the Board with the ability to offset 
$2,000,000 of its appropriation from fees collected during the 
fiscal year. The conferees agree that any fees received in 
excess of $2,000,000 in fiscal year 1998 shall not be available 
for obligation until October 1, 1998, as proposed by the House. 
The Senate bill proposed that fees in excess of $3,100,000 
shall not be available until October 1, 1998.

                  Bureau of Transportation Statistics

      Funding for the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) 
is provided through the federal-aid highways budget. The 
Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 
(ISTEA) authorized $25,000,000 for fiscal year 1997, and the 
conference agreement defers funding decisions for fiscal year 
1998 to the appropriate authorizing committees which shall 
determine BTS' funding levels in fiscal year 1998 in the 
context of the reauthorization of ISTEA. The conferees are 
concerned, however, that the BTS has sought to reduce 
activities of the Office of Airline Information (OAI), whose 
mission is to provide the US government, the department and 
other users with uniform and comprehensive financial, traffic, 
and economic data on individual air carrier operations and the 
air transportation industry, citing insufficient funding. Last 
year the conferees noted that ample funding was provided 
through BTS' core program to fund all on-going activities 
related to OAI, and the conferees again expect that all OAI 
activities shall be fully funded in fiscal year 1998 within the 
core funding provided to the BTS.

                       TITLE II--RELATED AGENCIES

       Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board

      The conference agreement provides $3,640,000 for salaries 
and expenses of the Architectural and Transportation Barriers 
Compliance Board as proposed by both the House and the Senate.

                  National Transportation Safety Board

                         salaries and expenses

      The conference agreement appropriates $48,371,000 for 
salaries and expenses of the National Transportation Safety 
Board instead of $46,000,000 as proposed by the House and 
$49,700,000 as proposed by the Senate. At this level, the 
conferees agree that sufficient funding is provided to fund 402 
positions and to continue operating the communications center 
on a contract basis.

                             emergency fund

      The conference agreement provides $1,000,000 to the 
National Transportation Safety Board's emergency fund, as 
proposed by both the House and the Senate.

                               TITLE III

                           General Provisions

      The conference agreement includes general provisions that 
were in both the House and Senate versions of the bill that 
were not amended.
      The conference agreement modifies the section on the 
distribution of the Federal-aid highway obligation authority 
contained in both the House and Senate bills by deleting the 
provisions relating to bonus limitation. The conference 
agreement prohibits bonus obligations and includes the 
limitation on federal-aid highway obligations during the period 
October 1 through December 31, 1997, as proposed by the House. 
The Senate bill contained no similar limitations.
      The conference agreement includes the Senate provision 
that redefines the term ``capital project'' under the Federal 
Transit Administration's formula grants program to allow 
preventive maintenance and other activities to be funded as a 
capital expense. Also, the provision allows areas under 200,000 
in population to use formula assistance grants for any transit 
purpose, including capital, planning and operating costs. The 
House bill contained no similar provision.
      The conference agreement includes the House provision 
that limits funds to compensate in excess of 350 staff years 
under the federally funded research and development contract 
between the Federal Aviation Administration and the Center for 
Advanced Aviation Systems Development. The Senate bill 
contained no similar provision.
      The conference agreement modifies the House provision 
that reduces funding for activities of the transportation 
administrative service center of the Department of 
Transportation and limits obligation authority of the center to 
$118,800,000. The Senate bill contained no similar provision.
      The conference agreement includes the House provision 
that prohibits funds to be used to prepare, propose, or 
promulgate any regulation pursuant to title V of the Motor 
Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act prescribing corporate 
average fuel economy standards for automobiles as defined in 
such title, in any model year that differs from standards 
promulgated for such automobiles prior to enactment of this 
section. The Senate bill contained no similar provision.
      The conference agreement includes the House provision 
that prohibits the use of funds to be used for planning, 
engineering, design or construction of a sixth runway at the 
new Denver International Airport unless the Federal Aviation 
Administrator determines that safety conditions warrant 
obligation of such funds, and allows funds to be used for 
planning or analysis of airport noise issues related to a sixth 
runway. The Senate bill contained no similar provision.
      The conference agreement includes the Senate technical 
correction to the House provision that allows for the sale and 
credit of receipts for Bureau of Transportation Statistics data 
products.
      The conference agreement includes the House provision 
that prohibits the use of funds for any type of training which: 
(a) does not meet needs for knowledge, skills, and abilities 
bearing directly on the performance of official duties; (b) 
could be highly stressful or emotional to the students; (c) 
does not provide prior notification of content and methods to 
be used during the training; (d) contains any religious 
concepts or ideas; (e) attempts to modify a person's values or 
lifestyle; or (f) is for AIDS awareness training, except for 
raising awareness of medical ramifications of AIDS and 
workplace rights. The Senate bill contained no similar 
provision.
      The conference agreement includes the House provision 
that requires the Federal Transit Administration's oversight of 
the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) to 
be based in Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The Senate bill 
contained no similar provision.
      The conference agreement includes the Senate provision 
that limits the necessary expenses of advisory committees to 
$1,000,000. The House bill contained no similar provision.
      The conference agreement includes ``or fees collected by 
the Board'' as proposed by the Senate as funds to be used for 
conducting the activities of the Surface Transportation Board. 
The House proposed to use only appropriated funds.
      The conference agreement includes the House provision 
that prohibits the use of funds for the improvement of Miller 
Highway in New York City, New York. The Senate bill contained 
no similar provision.
      The conference agreement includes the House provision 
that prohibits funds to implement or enforce regulations that 
would result in slot allocations for international operations 
to any carrier at O'Hare International Airport in excess of the 
number of slots allocated to and scheduled by that carrier as 
of October 1, 1993, if that slot is withdrawn from an air 
carrier under existing regulations. The Senate bill contained 
no similar provision.
      The conference agreement includes the Senate provision 
that directs the Federal Aviation Administration to provide 
real-time weather and runway observation and other such 
functions at Dutch Harbor, Alaska. The House bill contained no 
similar provision.
      The conference agreement includes the Senate provision 
that limits the number of communities that receive essential 
air service funding by excluding points in the 48 contiguous 
United States that are located 70 highway miles from the 
nearest large or medium hub airport, or that require a subsidy 
in excess of $200 per passenger, unless such a point is more 
than 210 miles from the nearest large or medium hub airport. 
The House bill contained no similar provision.
      The conference agreement modifies the Senate provision on 
the definition of ``passenger capacity of 56 passengers or 
less'' for reconfigured aircraft under section 29(a)(2) of the 
International Air Transportation Competition Act of 1979. This 
provision is discussed under Federal Aviation Administration, 
Operations. The House bill contained no similar provision.
      The conference agreement modifies the Senate provision 
that credits to appropriations of the Department of 
Transportation rebates, refunds, incentive payments, minor fees 
and other funds received by the Department from travel 
management centers, charge card programs, the subleasing of 
building space, and miscellaneous sources. Such funds received 
shall be available until December 31, 1998, instead of December 
31 of the next fiscal year. The House bill contained no similar 
provision.
      The conference agreement includes the Senate provision 
that directs the Department of the Navy to transfer an inactive 
Navy vessel, USNS EDENTON (ATS-1), to the Coast Guard. The 
House bill contained no similar provision.
      The conference agreement modifies the Senate provision 
that clarifies the treatment of airport revenues in the State 
of Hawaii. Any existing obligations, trust or otherwise, to 
Native Hawaiians, Native Americans, or Alaskan Natives with 
respect to ceded lands, arising under existing federal or State 
statutes, remain unaffected. The agreement only prohibits 
airport revenues from being used to satisfy any such 
obligations. Therefore, the State of Hawaii's obligations to 
Native Hawaiians arising under the Admission Act (Public Law 
96-3, 93 Stat. 4) remain unaffected by this provision, except 
that airport revenues may not be used to satisfy those 
obligations. The House bill contained no similar provision.
      The conference agreement includes the Senate provision 
that prohibits the Coast Guard from issuing or enforcing 
regulations regarding animal fats and vegetable oils. The House 
bill contained no similar provision.
      The conference agreement includes the Senate provision 
that authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to allow 
issuers to redeem or repurchase preferred stock sold to the 
Department of Transportation. The House bill contained no 
similar provision.
      The conference agreement includes the Senate provision 
that extends the expiration date from September 30, 1997 to 
February 28, 1998 relating to the operation of longer 
combination vehicles in the State of Nebraska. The House bill 
contained no similar provision.
      The conference agreement modifies the Senate provision 
that would have required the Federal Aviation Administration to 
implement pilot record sharing requirements of section 44936(f) 
of title 49, U.S.C., not later than February 1, 1998, if 
possible, and to work with non-scheduled air carriers under 
part 135 of the Federal Aviation Administration's regulations 
to implement such requirements. The conference agreement 
prohibits funds being used to enforce pilot record sharing 
requirements against unscheduled operations of part 135 
carriers unless the Federal Aviation Administration determines 
that such records can be provided within 30 days. The 
Administrator shall report to Congress if that determination 
cannot be made within 150 days of enactment of this Act. The 
House bill contained no similar provision.
      The conference agreement includes the Senate provision 
that requires the Secretary of Transportation to exercise the 
exemption authority under section 41714 of title 49, U.S.C., 
with respect to certain air service between slot-controlled 
airports subject to that authority and non-hub points, within 
120 days after receiving a request for such an exemption. The 
House bill contained no similar provision.
      The conference agreement includes the Senate provision 
that provides for the development and operation of the 
nationwide differential global positioning system. The House 
bill contained no similar provision.
      The conference agreement includes a provision that 
authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to transfer funds 
appropriated to the Coast Guard in fiscal year 1993 in order to 
pay rent assessments by the General Services Administration 
related to prior year space needs of the Department. The Senate 
bill contained a provision that authorizes the Secretary of 
Transportation to transfer funds to make rental payments to the 
General Services Administration in excess of the amounts 
provided in the bill. The House bill contained no similar 
provision.
      The conference agreement includes a provision which 
precludes Members of Congress from participating in a 
retirement plan change open season. The House and Senate bills 
contained no similar provision.
      Those general provisions that were not included in the 
conference agreement follow:
      The conference agreement deletes the Senate provision 
that allows the Department of Transportation to transfer up to 
5 percent of any discretionary appropriation to another 
appropriation provided that the recipient account does not 
increase by more than 10 percent, and provides that any 
transfer be treated as a reprogramming of funds. The House bill 
contained no similar provision.
      The conference agreement deletes the Senate provision 
that authorizes the Department of Transportation to receive and 
use funds resulting from fees charged to providers of 
telecommunications services for using Federal property for the 
siting of mobile service antennas. The House bill contained no 
similar provision.
      The conference agreement deletes the Senate provision 
that allows the Federal Aviation Administration to approve 
closing the Richards-Gebaur Memorial Airport in Kansas City, 
Missouri, and the Bader Field in Atlantic City, New Jersey, as 
public airports and redeveloping such property for non-
aeronautical use. The House bill contained no similar 
provision.
      The conference agreement has deleted, without prejudice, 
the language included in the Senate bill regarding Richards-
Gebaur Memorial Airport located in Kansas City, MO and Bader 
Field located in Atlantic City, NJ. The conferees believe that 
additional statutory authorities are not necessary for the FAA 
to make the necessary findings regarding closure of civil 
aviation airports.
      The conference agreement deletes the Senate provision 
that directs the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority 
(MTA) to use its transit formula grants to study the costs and 
benefits of instituting an integrated fare system for commuters 
who use both the Metro North Railroad or the Long Island Rail 
Road and the New York City subway or bus systems, and to report 
to the Senate Appropriations Committee. The House bill 
contained no similar provision. The conferees understand that 
the MTA is prepared to undertake the preceding study using 
funds available to the MTA, and direct that the results of the 
study be submitted to the House and Senate Committees on 
Appropriations within 45 days of enactment of this Act.
      The conference agreement deletes the Senate provision 
that provides up to $20,000,000 to the State of Michigan and 
$12,000,000 to the State of Illinois from transit discretionary 
grants for buses and bus facilities. The House bill contained 
no similar provision.
      The conference agreement deletes the Senate provision 
that expresses the sense of the Senate concerning the imminent 
expiration of highway and mass transit spending authorizations 
and the function of this bill. The House bill contained no 
similar provision.

                   CONFERENCE TOTAL--WITH COMPARISONS

      The total new budget (obligational) authority for the 
fiscal year 1998 recommended by the Committee of Conference, 
with comparisons to the fiscal year 1997 amount, the 1998 
budget estimates, and the House and Senate bills for 1998 
follow:

New budget (obligational) authority, fiscal year 1997... $12,068,308,000
Budget estimates of new (obligational) authority, fiscal 
    year 1998...........................................  13,115,727,000
House bill, fiscal year 1998............................  13,162,271,000
Senate bill, fiscal year 1998...........................  12,808,122,883
Conference agreement, fiscal year 1998..................  13,062,718,000
Conference agreement compared with:
    New budget (obligational) authority, fiscal year 
      1997..............................................    +994,410,000
    Budget estimates of new (obligational) authority, 
      fiscal year 1998..................................     -53,009,000
    House bill, fiscal year 1998........................     -99,553,000
    Senate bill, fiscal year 1998.......................    +254,595,117


                                   Frank R. Wolf,
                                   Tom DeLay,
                                   Ralph Regula,
                                   Harold Rogers,
                                   Ron Packard,
                                   Sonny Callahan,
                                   Todd Tiahrt,
                                   Robert B. Aderholt,
                                   Bob Livingston,
                                   Martin Olav Sabo,
                                   Thomas M. Foglietta,
                                   Esteban Edward Torres,
                                   John W. Olver,
                                   Ed Pastor,
                                   David R. Obey,
                                 Managers on the Part of the House.

                                   Richard C. Shelby,
                                   Pete V. Domenici,
                                   Arlen Specter,
                                   Christopher S. Bond,
                                   Slade Gorton,
                                   Robert F. Bennett,
                                   Lauch Faircloth,
                                   Ted Stevens,
                                   Frank R. Lautenberg,
                                   Robert C. Byrd,
                                   Barbara A. Mikulski,
                                   Harry Reid,
                                   Herb Kohl,
                                   Patty Murray,
                                   Daniel K. Inouye,
                                Managers on the Part of the Senate.

                                
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