    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book I)]
    [March 12, 1997]
    [Pages 288-289]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Announcing Proposed National Transportation Efficiency
    Legislation
    March 12, 1997

        Thank you very much. Secretary Slater, Mr. Vice President, members
    of the administration, the Department of Transportation. Senator
    Moynihan, thank you for being here. Mayor Schwartz, thank you for being
    here.
        I spent a lot of time in the last few years talking about the need
    to build a bridge to the 21st century. And usually I'm talking in
    metaphorical terms that involve--[laughter]--balancing the budget,
    improving education for our children, preserving the environment as we
    grow the economy. Today we're talking about building bridges and roads
    and transit systems and highways in more literal terms. But I think it's
    important also to point out that as we invest in these bridges and roads
    and transit systems, we are also building a bridge to a cleaner
    environment. We're building a bridge from welfare to work. We're
    building a bridge to sustainable communities that can last and grow and
    bring people together over the long run. And that is the importance of
    the legislation that we submit to Congress today. It does the old-
    fashioned work of investing in America's infrastructure in a very
    important way, but it also ties those investments to the challenges we
    face today and tomorrow.
        I am proud that even as we have moved toward a balanced budget and
    cut our deficit by 63 percent in the last 4 years, we have still
    increased our Federal investment in transportation infrastructure, and I
    thank the Members of Congress who have supported that. [Applause] I feel
    compelled to disclose that I did not plant the person in the middle of
    the audience over here who started the applause. [Laughter] But if he's
    a Federal employee, he will immediately get a raise. [Laughter]
        Compared to 4 years ago, our highways and bridges are stronger, 100
    miles of new transit lines are under construction, and that is just part
    of the story. But it is a big part of why our economy has produced
    almost 12 million jobs in the last 4 years and one month, including over
    one million new jobs in construction.
        Today we're taking the next big step to maintain and modernize our
    transportation system and to make sure it is the best in the world. The
    ``National Economic Crossroads Transportation Efficiency Act,'' as
    Secretary Slater said, known as NEXTEA, authorizes $174 billion over the
    next 6 years to improve our bridges, highways, and transit systems. It
    will create tens of thousands of jobs for our people, help move people
    from welfare to work, protect our air and water, and improve our highway
    safety.
        I'm especially proud that as we build our infrastructure, we are
    going to help build better lives for people who are moving off welfare.
    One of the biggest barriers facing people who move from welfare to work
    is finding transportation to get to their jobs, their training programs,
    their children's day care center.

    [[Page 289]]

        There was recently a study of Atlanta, Georgia, employment and the
    community surrounding Atlanta, pointing out that in entry-level jobs, an
    overwhelming percentage of those jobs--for example, in fast food
    restaurants--were held full time by inner-city adults who were low
    income people, if they were in Atlanta. If they were in the surrounding
    communities, it was just a little over 50 percent. Why? Because the
    people who wanted the full-time jobs had no way to get there. And you
    see that repeated over and over and over throughout the country.
        This bill provides $600 million over 6 years to help provide and pay
    for transportation, so that those who have been told by the Congress in
    the last session that they have to go to work are, in fact, able to
    reach the jobs that are out there. And I ask for the support of everyone
    for that.

        For too long, too many people have believed that strong
    transportation and a clean environment could not go hand in hand. This
    bill proves that that is not true. NEXTEA provides more than $1.3
    billion a year to reduce air pollution and millions more to preserve
    wetlands and open space. By helping communities to invest in cleaner
    methods of transportation, by supporting recreational trails, bike
    paths, and pedestrian walkways, by investing in scenic byways and
    landscaping, this bill strengthens our infrastructure while protecting
    and enhancing our precious natural resources. Make no mistake about it,
    this is one of the most important pieces of environmental legislation
    that will be considered by the Congress in the next 2 years. And I think
    it should be thought of in that way.

        This legislation also builds on our progress in making roads safer,
    increasing highway traffic safety funds by 25 percent, expanding our
    aggressive campaign to crack down on drunk and drugged driving.

        At its heart, therefore, as you can see and as Secretary Slater
    said, this bill is about more than our roads and our bridges. It's about
    cutting-edge jobs in commerce. It's about the infrastructure we need to
    prepare for them. It's about the responsibility of those moving from
    welfare to work and our responsibility to help them get there. It's
    about the community we share and the steps we have to take to make it
    both safer and cleaner for our children.

        The chance to reshape America's infrastructure comes along only once
    every 6 years. That means that this transportation bill literally will
    be our bridge into the 21st century. That's why we must work together to
    pass this legislation, to build on a long bipartisan position of
    cooperation in transportation policy to move our Nation forward.
    Together we can keep our economy on the right track and ensure that the
    track itself is strong enough for the enormous challenges and
    opportunities that lie ahead.

        I am excited about this legislation. I applaud all the people in the
    Department who put it together, and I'm very much looking forward to
    working with the Congress to make it a reality.

        Thank you very much.

    Note: The President spoke at 9:55 a.m. in Room 450 of the Old Executive
    Office Building. In his remarks, he referred to Oklahoma City Councilman
    Mark Schwartz, president, National League of Cities.