    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (1999, Book II)]
    [October 9, 1999]
    [Pages 1747-1748]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Signing the Department of Transportation and Related
    Agencies Appropriations Act, 2000
    October 9, 1999

        I have signed into law H.R. 2084, the ``Department of Transportation
    and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2000.'' The bill provides $47.1
    billion in funding for the Nation's vital transportation and related
    safety needs. The record level of infrastructure investment provided by
    this measure, which I requested, will enhance use and efficiency,
    provide better connections, and help improve the conditions and
    performance of the Nation's transportation system.
        This bill's funding levels for highway and transit programs will
    allow us to continue making substantial improvements in travel
    conditions and transit ridership. Completing the full funding of our
    request for Coast Guard operating expenses will improve the safety of
    all Americans by enabling the expansion of the Coast Guard's vital
    search and rescue, law enforcement, and drug interdiction activities.
    Provision of our request for Amtrak capital funds will improve passenger
    service and keep the rail service on the 5-year glide path to operating
    self-sufficiency that was agreed to in 1997 by the Congress and my
    Administration.
        I am concerned about the funding level provided in the bill for
    Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) operations and capital programs.
    For example, the bill provides $144 million less than my request for FAA
    operations. This reduction will slow hiring for safety and security
    positions and postpone implementation of needed efficiency and
    management improvements. The bill also constrains funding for the
    modernization of the air traffic control system, including needed
    modernization and improvement of the Global Positioning System. These
    reductions may increase air travel delays and ill-position the FAA to
    meet the growing challenges of the future. My Administration will work
    with the Congress to rectify the consequences of these harmful
    reductions.
        Section 321 of this bill again blocks the Department of
    Transportation from evaluating corporate average fuel economy standards
    to determine whether the vehicles we drive can be more fuel efficient.
    Because of similar provisions, the Department has been unable to carry
    out its responsibility to review this issue for several years, during
    which time the average fuel economy has dropped to its lowest level
    since 1980, adding to pollution and to the Nation's dependency on
    imported oil. I am very disturbed by this limitation on my
    Administration's ability to address this critical issue. We cannot
    continue to ignore this. For that reason, we will soon

    [[Page 1748]]

    invite the leaders of the auto industry to the White House to try to
    find a way to address this issue notwithstanding the limitation in this
    bill.
        I appreciate the increase in funding for motor carrier safety
    provided in the bill, as it is the goal of the Secretary of
    Transportation to reduce motor carrier safety fatalities by 50 percent
    within 10 years. However, I am disappointed that the full funding
    requested for motor carrier safety grants to States was not provided, as
    this funding is needed to help achieve this goal. I am also concerned
    about language that precludes enforcement action, and my Administration
    will work with the Congress to address this problem.
        I am also troubled by the widespread earmarking of vital highway and
    transit programs without regard to criteria that have been established
    to ensure that these are sound investments. For example, a number of
    projects specified for the Job Access and Reverse Commute program are
    strictly for research, an activity that would not otherwise be eligible
    for this funding. In general, earmarks tend to be aimed at projects that
    have not advanced in the local planning process and, as a result, the
    funding will likely remain unused for a longer period of time, depriving
    ready-to-go projects of needed Federal assistance.
        I recognize the widespread transportation needs of our country,
    which is why transportation infrastructure investment during my
    Administration has increased by 32 percent above the previous
    Administration's average. However, our transportation investment must be
    strategic and applied to critical needs, and excessive earmarking can
    undermine this goal. I ask the House and Senate Appropriations
    Committees to work with the Department of Transportation to see that
    essential projects that can quickly utilize Federal funding are given
    the ability to move forward.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,

    October 9, 1999.

    Note: H.R. 2084, approved October 9, was assigned Public Law No. 106-69.
    This statement was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    October 12.