The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“IN RECOGNITION OF DAVID M. LANEY” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Transportation was published in the Senate section on pages S11249 on Oct. 27, 2000.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
IN RECOGNITION OF DAVID M. LANEY
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Mr. David M. Laney, who soon will complete his term as a member of the Texas Transportation Commission. Governor George W. Bush appointed Mr. Laney to the commission in April 1995, designating him chairman and Commissioner of Transportation. In April 2000, he stepped down as Commissioner of Transportation, serving the remainder of his term as a member of the commission.
During his term on the commission, Mr. Laney has been the champion of the state's efforts to increase the state's share of federal transportation dollars returning to Texas. As chairman, he was a partner to the Texas Congressional delegation's efforts to develop fairer highway funding formulas, promoting the efforts of a coalition of ``donor'' states to work with Congress toward achieving at least a 90.5 percent return on payments into the Highway Trust Fund. As a result of our efforts, Texas received an increase of more than $700 million annually in federal highway funds and David Laney deserves a great deal of the credit.
In addition, he promoted increased federal funding for the nation's general aviation and reliever airports, which Congress provided in the Aviation Investment Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR 21). Finally, Mr. Laney has been a strong advocate for the state's small urban and rural transit systems, working with Congress to provide much needed discretionary funding to address the vehicle replacement needs of these vital transportation systems, the most extensive in the nation. With these additional funds for Texas transportation programs, the commission will be better able to meet the tremendous transportation demands of the growing regional and international trade traffic in Texas.
With a look to the future, as Commissioner of Transportation Mr. Laney led the Texas Department of Transportation in its efforts to obtain the flexible financing tools it needs to help address transportation needs in Texas. He was successful in working with the Texas Legislature to create the Texas Turnpike Authority Division of the department, which provides toll-funding options for the state's major transportation projects. With his strong support and encouragement, the division has applied for and expects to receive an
$800 million loan under the federal Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act for a major Central Texas turnpike project. Under Mr. Laney's leadership, the commission has used the Texas State Infrastructure Bank, authorized under the National Highway System Designation Act of 1995, to provide needed assistance to localities to help move forward important transportation projects.
Mr. Laney also initiated a major Texas border strategy to address the demands of international trade traffic.
Throughout his tenure on the commission, Mr. Laney has provided strong and confident leadership to the Texas Department of Transportation, promoting the development of a first-class Texas transportation system. His legacy is a transportation agency with a menu of solid financial and operational tools providing a safe, effective, and environmentally-sensitive transportation system for the people of Texas and the nation. His dedication to transportation and his strong leadership on the commission will be missed.
Mr. President, I know my fellow Texans join me in this expression of appreciation to David Laney for his exemplary leadership on the Texas Transportation Commission.
____________________
