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“DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1996” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Transportation was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1509-E1510 on July 25, 1995.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT,
1996
______
speech of
HON. WILLIAM O. LIPINSKI
of illinois
in the house of representatives
Monday, July 24, 1995
Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Chairman, I rise to express my strong opposition to the amendment offered by the gentleman from Colorado.
I think we all know that the gentleman supports the elimination of the Interstate Commerce Commission. That has been well documented over the years. But this amendment goes beyond previous years' attempts to sunset the ICC. This amendment would take a deliberate, organized process of transition from the ICC to DOT and throw it completely off course.
Nobody here has any illusions about the future of the ICC. The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's Subcommittee on Railroads, on which I am the ranking Democratic member, is currently in the process of drafting legislation to sunset the ICC. We are in the process of determining which functions of the agency should be retained and absorbed by the Department of Transportation or a Commerce Board. Slashing the ICC's appropriation in this bill is tantamount to pulling the rug out from under our feet as we try to move forward--not to mention the disruption it would have on the close down of the ICC itself.
The truth is that Mr. Hefley's amendment would not fund sufficient staff to perform ICC functions which are certain to be transferred. In fact, the amendment would hamstring the Federal Government's ability to carry out regulatory functions that even the regulated industries have said are necessary.
This amendment would fund only 53 positions at DOT for all remaining ICC rail functions. These 53 people would process all proposed rail consolidations and mergers, line abandonment and construction proposals, and line sale requests. They would also review shipper rate complaints, all rail car supply and interchange disputes, and shipper complaints seeking competitive access to more than one rail carrier.
These individuals would also process the 300 motor carrier undercharge cases currently pending before the Commission. I know that my colleagues are familiar with the undercharge crisis and recognize that millions of dollars of disputes are currently pending in courts around the country. Many of them will eventually be referred to the Commission or its successor.
I think my point is quite clear: 53 people cannot effectively perform all these tasks. And none of these areas is slated for deregulation.
This amendment would wreak havoc on the ICC and the transition to its successor. And let's be honest here--the affected industries and the American people will pay the price if this misguided amendment passes. It is one thing to support regulatory reform and efficiency, and entirely another to intentionally underfund and thereby undermine a sound regulatory process.
You want to get rid of the Interstate Commerce Commission?
Fine. But let's do it right. Vote ``no'' on the Hefley amendment.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time
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