[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 43 (Monday, October 30, 2000)]
[Pages 2580-2582]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on Signing the Department of Transportation and Related 
Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001

October 23, 2000

    I am pleased to sign into law today H.R. 4475, the ``Department of 
Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001.'' The Act 
provides over $58 billion in funding for the Nation's vital 
transportation

[[Page 2581]]

safety and infrastructure investment needs. The transportation safety 
improvements contained in this legislation will save lives on our 
highways and other transportation systems, and the record level of 
infrastructure investment will help improve the conditions and 
performance of the Nation's transportation system in support of a strong 
economy.
    The legislation provides critical transportation safety funding and 
also contains related legislative provisions. Of particular importance 
is a provision that will help set a national impaired driving standard 
at 0.08 Blood Alcohol Content and thus reduce drunk driving on our 
Nation's roads. As I have previously said, this is a reasonable, 
commonsense standard that could save 500 lives a year, while still 
permitting adults to drink responsibly and moderately. I wish to commend 
Senators Lautenberg and Shelby, Congressman Wolf, and Congresswoman 
Lowey for their bipartisan efforts in seeking inclusion of this 
provision. The legislation also includes a compromise measure that will 
enable the Department of Transportation to proceed with all stages of 
rulemaking, short of a final rule, on ``hours of service'' concerning 
the amount of time drivers of large interstate trucks and buses can 
spend behind the wheel. It also permits the Department to move forward 
with its proposal for rollover ratings on cars and light trucks while 
the National Academy of Sciences studies this issue. In addition, the 
legislation contains funding increases requested by my Administration 
for motor carrier safety, pipeline safety, and the automotive defect 
investigation program.
    I am pleased that H.R. 4475 provides the funding levels required by 
the Federal Aviation Administration and the Coast Guard. I am 
particularly pleased with increased funding for modernization of our 
aviation system envisioned in the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment 
and Reform Act for the 21st Century.
    I am disturbed by the provision of H.R. 4475 that blocks the 
Department of Transportation from evaluating the Corporate Average Fuel 
Economy (CAFE) standards. Recent data indicate that motor vehicle fuel 
economy efficiency has declined. I believe that the Department should be 
allowed to analyze this issue, and I expect the Department to work with 
the National Academy of Sciences to carry out the CAFE study authorized 
by the bill to develop workable approaches to energy conservation. The 
Act provides important funding for Job Access grants that will help 
hard-pressed working families, including former welfare recipients, get 
to work. I am disappointed, however, that the bill provides $50 million 
less than our request for these grants, earmarks 75 percent of the 
program, and does not include my Administration's proposal to allow 
Native American tribes to apply directly for this funding.
    I am pleased that H.R. 4475 contains $600 million for the Woodrow 
Wilson Bridge. When added to the $900 million already appropriated, this 
will complete the Federal Government's contribution to this bridge. 
Likewise, I am pleased that the bill includes an additional $25 million 
for Indian Reservation Roads.
    Our transportation investment must continue to be intermodal and 
applied to critical needs. Excessive earmarking can undermine this goal, 
which is why I am disappointed with the widespread earmarking of vital 
highway, airport, and transit construction and research programs 
contained in the Act. This earmarking is without regard to criteria 
established to ensure that these are sound investments. Many earmarks 
are aimed at projects that have not advanced in the local planning 
process, and the funding will often lie unused for a long period of 
time. This deprives ready-to-go projects of needed Federal assistance. 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 able to move forward.
    I am pleased that H.R. 4475 includes additional requested resources 
for the Internal Revenue Service to implement the bipartisan IRS reform 
legislation enacted in 1998. The Act also responds to my request for 
additional resources for counterterrorism programs in the Department of 
the Treasury, thereby enhancing the Federal Government's efforts to 
deter and detect terrorist activity and to continue the high level of 
effort undertaken during Millennium celebration events.

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    I am pleased that H.R. 4475 includes funding the Unanticipated Needs 
account, which can be used by the President to meet needs in furtherance 
of the national interest, security, or defense. I am especially pleased 
this account includes the funding I sought to assist the people of 
Puerto Rico in deciding their islands' future status, an issue that the 
Puerto Ricans have long asked us to clarify. Other Presidents and I have 
sought legislative action, and there has been some, but this is the 
first piece of legislation passed by both Houses of Congress that 
supports Puerto Rico choosing its future status. The account also 
provides funds to educate Puerto Ricans on the available options, 
relying on the Office of the President to ensure the options presented 
to the voters are realistic in light of the Constitution and the basic 
laws and policies of the United States. Once the options have been 
presented, the account also funds a vote by the Puerto Rican people to 
choose what their status should be. I am already working to clarify the 
options, and I am also working to ensure that the next President will 
continue the effort to resolve this issue.
    I also note that language purporting to require congressional 
committee approval for a plan to spend certain funds is unconstitutional 
under the Supreme Court's holding in INS v. Chadha, 462 U.S. 919 (1983). 
In addition, section 347 purports to restrict the contents and form of 
the President's budgetary proposal. This provision would interfere with 
the President's constitutional power to recommend legislation and will 
accordingly be construed as advisory.
    Overall, H.R. 4475 makes a positive contribution to meeting the 
transportation and other needs of this country. I am pleased to sign it 
into law.
                                            William J. Clinton
 The White House,
 October 23, 2000.

Note: H.R. 4475, approved October 23, was assigned Public Law No. 106-
346.