[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
[June 21, 1991]
[Pages 704-706]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation 
Officials
June 21, 1991

    Thank you. Let me salute Secretary Skinner. I'll tell you, he is 
doing a superb job out there. And I heard about a half an hour of his 
remarks there--[laughter]--and I thought he did a great job warming up 
the crowd. We don't need it here, but he gave my speech. But look, we 
all know that Sam is committed, doing a first-class job, overcoming 
obstacles along the way, and making great progress on this subject 
that's of such concern to all of us here.
    Let me salute also Hal Rives, the AASHTO president, and thank him 
and all of you for being with us today. Behind me we've got the flags of 
all the States, and we stuck them out here for a reason, just as you and 
the Secretary are here for a reason, and that is to symbolize our 
commitment to a new partnership in creating a truly national highway 
system.
    You all understand the importance of mobility in our society. Our 
economic growth, our international competitiveness, even our cultural 
vitality, all depend on the transportation lifelines that span this 
nation, that let people get to work, get home, to entertainment, to 
family, and friends.
    We're the most mobile society in history, economically and, of 
course, I'd say literally as well, given our size. This century, we've 
developed the world's most advanced transportation system. We've done it 
through strong commitment; we've done it through substantial investment. 
We've tried to harness the power of market forces, and we're going to 
continue to do that. But we also believe in solid partnerships between 
the private sector and government at all levels.
    No transportation partnership has endured so long or accomplished as 
much as the one between the Federal Government and AASHTO. Our 
organizations have worked together, I'm told, for 75 years now. We've 
helped turn a sprawling land knitted together by dusty back roads into a 
nation linked together by high-performance roads and highways. Those 
corridors have reshaped our nation and made it possible for all of us to 
take mobility for granted.
    When Ike--when President Eisenhower first proposed a major national 
highway network back in '56, he laid the groundwork for unprecedented 
movement, unprecedented access all across America: to products, to 
services, and obviously, in the process, to prosperity.
    Now, as the whole world seems to shrink while the competitive pace 
quickens, we must make certain American business has the mobility to 
compete and get its goods to market. That's why our surface 
transportation proposal calls for significant investment in the future. 
We propose, as Sam mentioned, increasing Federal highway spending by 39 
percent over the next 5 years. The interstate system has mapped out our 
economic prosperity by ensuring our competitiveness and productivity.
    We're committed to building stronger partnerships at every level. We 
favor giving

[[Page 705]]

new flexibility to the States. Let them decide how to address local 
needs. Our bill provides innovative features to encourage private 
investment in our transportation infrastructure.
    We seek legislation for greater investment at the Federal level for 
our overall highway system to meet an important national need. We asked 
for a higher State matching share for local roads outside the national 
highway system because we believe Federal funds should stay focused on 
national needs.
    We believe our nation is best served by providing greater 
flexibility, greater accountability at the State and local level. A 
higher State match on roads that are critical to national interests will 
increase the total infrastructure investment. It will help us build 
better, more efficient transportation networks.
    And I'm very pleased the Senate included a national highway system 
in its version of the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act. The 
Senate's bill has some good features to it; increased flexibility was 
one that we put forward originally. We need to loosen the Federal 
strings on the States highway programs.
    But at times, the stretch between Pennsylvania Avenue and the 
Capitol Building and the White House seems like the longest street in 
America--the journey from here up there. You wouldn't believe how much 
bills change from the time they leave the White House until the Congress 
finishes with them. And we know we're right all the time, you know. 
[Laughter] So, that's certainly the case with the Senate version of this 
bill that Sam has had such a hand in crafting and trying to get enacted.
    The Senate bill doesn't focus Federal funds sufficiently on national 
needs. It allows for no differential match between the national highway 
system and other programs. And it shortchanges the national highway 
system. It calls for excessive Federal spending, putting at risk other 
important Federal programs, including programs that you all care about. 
Aviation safety and modernization would be ones that come to mind, as 
well as education, health care, fighting the war on drugs--all these 
other national priorities. The Senate version doesn't lower matching 
ratios or eliminate operating subsidies for local transit systems. And 
finally, the Senate bill directs how Federal money will be distributed 
within States, tying the hands of State officials. State transportation 
officials, in our view, have the vision, the experience, and yes, the 
organizations to ensure that our highway funds are spent wisely.
    As you all know, I challenged the Congress to pass a comprehensive 
crime bill and a transportation bill in 100 days, by June 14th. And 
while the Senate has acted, and I give them credit for that, the House 
hasn't taken any official action at all. What the American people heard 
as a 100-day challenge, the Congress used as an excuse to complain. A 
challenge of 100 days became an occasion for 100 different delays and 
101 excuses for inaction. The roadblock, thank heavens, has been broken 
by the action in the Senate. And I urge the House now not to lose that 
Senate-created momentum. I also challenge the Congress not to let a 
fight over the allocation of resources overshadow the real issues that 
are at stake here: long-term productivity and the fundamental economic 
health of our nation.
    So, I say to the Congress: Don't stop. Don't pass ``go.'' Don't 
collect any more dollars. Just pass our transportation bill.
    The old approaches to surface transportation just won't do it. And 
by any standard, the way in which we, the Federal Government, and you, 
the States, do business must change in response to new fiscal and 
technological challenges. We've got to take full advantage of our 
present opportunity to create a surface transportation program that will 
meet our present and future needs, not our past problems.
    We've got to develop a new generation of transportation systems and 
solutions. And our bill recognizes that we can't just preserve the well-
worn paths of the past. We must move ahead. And I do need your help. We 
all need your help. And the Nation needs your expertise, needs your 
service.
    So, let's renew and reinvigorate the partnership between the State 
and Federal interests. And we've got to stop the jawboning up there. 
We've got to stop stalling and

[[Page 706]]

get the job done. With the right tools and the right investment and the 
right incentives, we're going to move this nation into the next American 
century. And I look forward to working with you every step of the way. 
I'm grateful to all those who have already taken a leadership role in 
moving our transportation system forward.
    So, thank you for coming down on this warm day. And you'll be glad 
to know the speech is over. Thank you all very, very much.

                    Note: The President spoke at 10:10 a.m. in the Rose 
                        Garden at the White House. In his remarks, he 
                        referred to Secretary of Transportation Samuel 
                        K. Skinner and Hal Rives, president of the 
                        association.