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“APPOINTMENT OF CONFEREES ON H.R. 2002, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1996” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Transportation was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H8709-H8710 on Sept. 8, 1995.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
APPOINTMENT OF CONFEREES ON H.R. 2002, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND
RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1996
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 2002) making appropriations for the Department of Transportation and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1996, and for other purposes, with Senate amendments thereto, disagree to the Senate amendments and agree to the conference asked by the Senate.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Virginia?
There was no objection.
motion to instruct conferees offered by mr. coleman
Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I offer a motion to instruct.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the motion.
The Clerk read as follows:
Mr. Coleman moves that in resolving the differences between the House and Senate, the managers on the part of the House at the conferees on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the bill, H.R. 2002, be instructed to provide funding for the Federal-Aid Highways Program at a level which is as close as possible to the level in the House-passed bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Texas [Mr. Coleman] and the gentleman from Virginia [Mr. Wolf] will each be recognized for 30 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Coleman].
Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
My motion to instruct conferees is very straightforward. It simply instructs the House conferees to agree to provide funding for the Federal aid highways program at a level that is as close as possible to the $18 billion provided in the House-passed bill.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the motions offered by the gentleman from Texas. As the gentleman already pointed out, the House bill provides $18 billion for the Federal air highway program, an increase of $840 million over the previous fiscal year. Under this, most States get more than they did in the past.
{time} 1230
The Senate alternatively has elected to reduce highway spending to
$17 billion, $1 billion below the House level and $160 million below last year's level. The Federal-Aid Highway Program consists of several programs designed to aid in the construction, rehabilitation, traffic management, and safety of our Nation's highways.
These programs also assist in the improvement of other modes of transportation, so it is my hope that the committee conference can agree to provide the funding for the Federal-Aid Highway Program at a level which is as close as possible to the level of the House-passed bill, realizing the competing needs of the Coast Guard and others.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the motion offered by the gentleman from Texas. As the gentleman has already pointed out, the House bill provides $18 billion for the Federal-Aid Highway Program, an increase of $840 million over the previous fiscal year.
The Senate, alternatively, has elected to reduce highway spending to
$17 billion, $1 billion below the House level, and $160 million below last year's level.
The Federal-Aid Highway Program consists of several programs designed to aid in the construction, rehabilitation, traffic management, and safety of our Nation's highways. These programs also assist in the improvement of other modes of transportation. Infrastructure spending on highways is critical to the efficient movement of goods and people in the United States and has direct effects on the national economy and interstate commerce. In fact, every billion dollars spent on the highway system results in improvements in pavements and bridge conditions and reduced congestion. For example, $1 billion could fund 2,500 lane miles of pavement improvements, 375 lane miles of increased capacity, and 190 bridge improvements. Highway spending also means jobs: For a billion dollars, as many as 50,000 jobs can be supported.
It is my hope that the conference committee can agree to provide funding for the Federal-Aid Highway Program at a level which is as close as possible to the level in the House-passed bill, recognizing the competing demands of the Coast Guard, the Federal Aviation Administration, and other safety programs of the Department of Transportation.
I support the gentleman's motion and urge that the motion be agreed to.
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. WOLF. I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin.
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the fact that the gentleman is accepting this motion. I think it is the right thing to do.
Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. WOLF. I yield to the gentleman from Texas.
(Mr. COLEMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, my motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 2002, the fiscal year 1996 Department of Transportation Appropriations Act is very straightforward. My motion would simply instruct the House conferees to agree to provide funding for the Federal-Aid Highway Program at a level that is as close as possible to the $18 billion provided in the House-passed bill.
Mr. Speaker, one of the most significant areas of difference in the House and Senate transportation appropriations bill is the funding level recommended for the Federal Highways Program. The House bill provides an obligation limitation for this purpose that is $1 billion more than the $17 billion level recommended by the Senate. In addition to providing a funding level for the Federal Highway Program that is less than the 1995 level, the Senate has also included $39.5 million in earmarked highway demonstration projects that benefit only a few, selected areas.
Mr. Speaker, in Texas and in most other States, there is a huge backlog of roads, highways and bridges that are in desperate need of repair and rehabilitation. In 1993, the Federal Highway Administration estimated that the annual cost to maintain and improve highway conditions was $59 billion. The House bill squarely recognizes these needs and addresses them by providing the highest ever funding level for the Federal Highway Program, and by providing these funds in a manner such that every State will benefit.
As with the other appropriations bills, the House made some very difficult choices in allocating fiscal year 1996 funding for transportation programs that in total is $1 billion less than 1995 appropriations. However, in making those choices, the House determined that investing in our Nation's infrastructure should be of the utmost importance, even in austere budgetary times. Such an investment will enhance highway safety, ease congestion, create jobs, and increase our Nation's productivity. For these reasons, I believe that we should insist on making highway infrastructure spending a priority for the conferees on this bill. I urge the adoption of this motion.
general leave
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks, and that I may include tabular and extraneous material, on this legislation.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Barrett of Nebraska). Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Virginia?
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the previous question is ordered on the motion to instruct.
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion to instruct conferees offered by the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Coleman].
The motion was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the Chair appoints the following conferees: Messrs. Wolf, DeLay, Regula, Rogers, Lightfoot, Packard, Callahan, Dickey, Livingston, Sabo, Durbin, Coleman, Foglietta, and Obey.
There was no objection.
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