vision2020@moscow.com: ISTEA REAUTH UPDATE

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I just received the following today from the US Chamber of Commerce =
regarding the re-authorization of ISTEA...I thought it might be good to =
know. =20

On Thursday, March 12, the Senate passed S. 1173, the Intermodal Surface =
Transportation Efficiency Act of 1997 (ISTEA II) by a vote of 96 - 4. =
The dissenting votes were cast by:
Sen. Kohl (D-WI), Feingold (D-WI), Santorum (R-PA) and Specter (R-PA).

S. 1173 authorizes a total of $214 billion over six years for the =
nation's highways, bridge and transit programs, a 38% increase over the =
last six-year period The legislation specifically provides $171 billion =
for highways and bridges, $2 billion for safety programs and $41.3 =
billion for mass transit.

-An agreement between Sens. Byrd, Gramm, Warner and Baucus and the =
Senate leadership to provide $26 billion in additional highway funding. =
This agreement is a critical step forward to ensure that the 4.3 cents =
gas tax collected through the highway trust fund is used for fixing =
transportation problems and NOT for non-transportation-related programs.

-Adoption of the Inhofe (R-OK) amendment which guarantees states several =
years before they must implement new air quality standards for smog and =
fine particulate matter (PM 2.5). It provides states with the necessary =
funding to set up and run monitoring systems for fine particulate =
matter. This data will be available to the EPA in its current periodic =
review to assess the extent and nature of the fine particulate problem =
nationwide.

The House of Representatives must move promptly on its reauthorization =
legislation known as BESTEA (HR 2400) which would authorize a total of =
$218 billion over six years. Negotiations between the House Republican =
leadership and Chairman Shuster of the Transportation Committee and =
Chairman Kasich of the Budget Committee are continuing to work out the =
total spending in BESTEA in the context of developing an overall federal =
budget. It appears that an agreement may be struck soon and the House =
could consider BESTEA before Congress adjourns for the Easter recess on =
April 2nd. Without swift congressional action to reauthorize ISTEA, =
critical highway construction projects will be delayed or halted =
completely.

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I just received the following today = from the US=20 Chamber of Commerce regarding the re-authorization of ISTEA...I = thought it might be good to know.

On Thursday, March 12, the Senate = passed S.=20 1173, the Intermodal Surface Transportation = Efficiency Act of 1997 (ISTEA II) by a vote of 96 - 4. The = dissenting=20 votes were cast by:

S. 1173 authorizes a total of $214 = billion over=20 six years for the nation's highways, bridge and transit programs, a 38% = increase over the last six-year period The=20 legislation specifically provides $171 billion for highways and bridges, = $2=20 billion for safety programs and $41.3 billion for mass = transit.

-An agreement between Sens. Byrd, = Gramm, Warner=20 and Baucus and the Senate leadership to provide $26 billion in = additional=20 highway funding. This agreement is a critical step forward to = ensure that=20 the 4.3 cents gas tax collected through the highway trust fund is used = for=20 fixing transportation problems and NOT for non-transportation-related=20 programs.

-Adoption of the Inhofe (R-OK) = amendment which=20 guarantees states several years before they = must=20 implement new air quality standards for smog and fine particulate matter = (PM=20 2.5). It provides states with the necessary funding to set up and = run=20 monitoring systems for fine particulate matter. This data will be=20 available to the EPA in its current periodic review to assess the extent = and=20 nature of the fine particulate problem nationwide.

The House of Representatives must = move promptly=20 on its reauthorization legislation known as BESTEA (HR 2400) which would = authorize a total of $218 billion over six years. Negotiations = between the=20 House Republican leadership and Chairman Shuster of the Transportation = Committee and Chairman Kasich of the Budget = Committee are=20 continuing to work out the total spending in BESTEA in the context of = developing=20 an overall federal budget. It appears that an agreement may be = struck soon=20 and the House could consider BESTEA before Congress adjourns for the = Easter=20 recess on April 2nd. Without swift congressional action to = reauthorize=20 ISTEA, critical highway construction projects will be delayed or halted=20 completely.