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“INSUFFICIENT FUNDING IN THE FY 2004 TRANSPORTATION APPROPRIATIONS BILL” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Transportation was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1847 on Sept. 22, 2003.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
INSUFFICIENT FUNDING IN THE FY 2004 TRANSPORTATION APPROPRIATIONS BILL
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HON. NICK J. RAHALL II
of west virginia
in the house of representatives
Monday, September 22, 2003
Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the Fiscal Year 2004 Transportation appropriations bill.
I voted for the Transportation appropriations bill because there are many worthwhile and appropriate provisions in the bill such as highway funding, funding for the Airport Improvement Program, and restored funding for the Transportation Enhancements Program. Our economy and lifestyles are dependent upon our integrated transportation network, and my vote reflects my support for our infrastructure.
However, I voted for the bill with many misgivings. This bill grossly underfunds passenger rail in this country. As a long-time supporter of passenger rail in this country, I say that Amtrak has never been given adequate support by the U.S. Congress. Instead, it has frequently been made a convenient scapegoat for those eager to say that they support reducing federal spending, but who do not hesitate to fund other transportation modes. For many individuals from my Congressional district in Southern West Virginia, and for those in other areas, Amtrak serves as the primary source of travel even just for routine visits to the doctor's office or the Veterans Administration. Amtrak President David Gunn said he needs $1.8 billion in 2004 to continue to carry out his reforms, which have been very successful to this point. I think we ought to give him the money to do his job.
Similarly, the bill underfunds the Essential Air Services Program. I realize $63 million is no small amount, but it represents a dramatic cut to air travel in rural areas. As we recognized at the time of deregulation, and as we should recognize right now, we need to ensure that rural airports can continue to operate. Small communities in over 35 states rely on this federal funding for much-needed air service and jobs.
Furthermore, were it not for the efforts of Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member John Olver, my friend Tom Petri, who is Chairman of the Highways and Transit Subcommittee to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and several others as well as myself, the funding for the Transportation Enhancements program would not have been preserved as authorized. When we on the Public Works Committee, the precursor to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, authorized this valuable program with the enactment of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act in 1991, we heard the requests of the American people for a transportation bill that reflected lifestyle interests over and above the construction of the highways. In addition to a sufficient roads network, the American people want opportunities to preserve and visit historic, archaeological, cultural, and scenic treasures. As my good friend, Jim Oberstar, the respected Ranking Member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, can no doubt attest, Americans also want to pursue recreational activities such as bike trails as alternatives to increasingly sedentary lifestyles.
Attempting to alter programs through the appropriations process such as the Transportation Enhancements, or the National Scenic Byways program, encroaches upon the jurisdiction of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. This raises an additional point of concern. Mr. Speaker, the Transportation Equity Act of the 21st Century (TEA-21) will expire at the end of this month with no successor bill in place. This key surface transportation bill provides authorization and appropriations to address measurable needs in our infrastructure, but Congress has yet to even embark on a meaningful bill due to unresolved funding issues. This leaves the appropriators with no current, updated authorization language upon which to rely when crafting the transportation appropriations.
The United States Department of Transportation says we need to provide $375 billion in federal funding just to maintain our surface transportation system in its current condition, which the American Society of Civil Engineers recently described as ``substandard.'' Congress should not oppose investment in our infrastructure to ensure our future. We know what needs to be done, yet we are being delinquent in our responsibility to the American people by not doing it.
Congress should enact a surface transportation bill as quickly as possible.
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