Jim Jeffords

Mr. JEFFORDS

Mr. JEFFORDS. This bill will provide desperately needed funds to rebuild decaying roads and bridges and to improve transit systems across the country. It will pump billions of dollars into real, lasting improvements in physical infrastructure. In the process it will provide new, quality jobs for hundreds of thousands of people. These are jobs that cannot be outsourced. I repeat--these are jobs that cannot be outsourced. The President says that this bill is too expensive. He also apparently believes that outsourcing American jobs is a good thing. He is wrong on both counts. If we can spend billions rebuilding Iraq's physical infrastructure, surely we can find the money to maintain America's transportation infrastructure. Without well-maintained roads, bridges, and transit systems, our economy will inevitably suffer. Let's keep the big picture in view here. This bill spends money to pay Americans for work done in this country. This work translates directly into improved roads, bridges, and transit systems. Better infrastructure reduces transaction costs and makes the economy more efficient. This is an economic fact. This bill also reduces congestion on our Nation's roadways by enhancing public transportation and promoting intermodal solutions to regional transportation problems. As we all know, less congestion means shorter commute times. Shorter commute times means more time for productive activity. This too is an economic fact. But this bill goes far beyond simply improving the infrastructure in this country. It also enhances our ability to move goods across our borders in trade with Canada and Mexico. By enhancing freight capacity and improving binational transportation planning efforts, the bill reduces the transactions costs associated with cross-border trade. That means that American consumers will pay lower prices for imports from Canada and Mexico. It also means that our exports will be less expensive for Canadian and Mexican consumers, and that's good for American manufacturers. This too is an economic fact. Finally, as several of my colleagues have noted, this bill will also enhance safety on our Nation's highways. With improved safety we can reduce injuries and loss of life from highway accidents. That's obviously good for the American people in a deeply personal sense. It is also good for the country as a whole because it reduces the social costs associated with injury and loss of life. Our country needs this bill and it needs it now. I urge my colleagues to help pass this bill before the Senate concludes its business this week. I yield the floor.

Mr. JEFFORDS. Will the Senator yield for a question?

Mr. JEFFORDS. I commend the Senator for his accurate statement relative to the purported threats. There was no way to deliver. I think 900 miles was the furthest rockets could carry, and there was no threat really ever given anyway. I want to clear that up from my perspective. I thank the Senator from South Carolina more so for the wonderful economic history of this Nation he has given us and how we came to the incredibly strong positions we were in but now find ourselves dissipating all those great triumphs we had in the past and watching them all march overseas. I think what Senator Hollings has given us today ought to be put in marble so everybody can read and better understand the situation of this Nation at this time. I thank him for that wonderful contribution to our history.

Mr. JEFFORDS

Mr. JEFFORDS. Will the Senator yield for a question?

Mr. JEFFORDS. Is my understanding correct that the Senator said there will be no authority to be able to get documents or be able to subpoena information?

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, the EPW Committee has been working this bill for the past 2 years. Senators Inhofe, Bond, and Reid and I have been very involved in this process. From the beginning, we wanted to accomplish a few important national goals: First, improve roads and bridges; second, move freight; third, address congestion; and fourth, improve safety. Congestion is a growing concern all across America. Each day, Americans spend more time in their cars as they pursue routine activities, such as going to work, taking the kids to school, or picking up some groceries. As our Nation's population grows, travel demands grow as well. The number of miles traveled annually on our Nation's roads is increasing at a substantial rate. Many roads are at or approaching their physical capacity. In many areas of the country, it is both impractical and financially infeasible to add lanes to existing roadways. However, we can increase capacity by actively managing the transportation network. Intelligent transportation systems provide State and local governments the data and tools necessary to undertake time saving activities like incident management, ramp metering, traveler advisory systems, and variable pricing. Over the past 10 years, some areas of the country have begun to implement these techniques, and they have realized numerous benefits. Areas that employ transportation management techniques enjoy improved travel times, more timely incident management, and improved communication with the traveling public. Crafting this reauthorization bill, we recognized the importance of enhancing State and local governments' ability to manage their infrastructure now and in the future. S. 1072 expands Surface Transportation Program eligibility to ensure that States may use Federal highway dollars to manage their network. The bill shifts Intelligent Transportation Systems out of the research realm and into the mainstream program. States may use core highway program dollars to fund ITS projects. S. 1072 directs the Secretary to implement a nationwide real-time travel data network. Additionally, States are directed to develop statewide incident reporting systems. Implementation of these systems will assist travelers and provide State and local transportation agencies the information they need to manage our current infrastructure and to plan for future improvements. Finally, S. 1072 provides resources to examine future management technologies. The research title of the bill includes provisions to develop the next generation of intelligent transportation systems and management tools. The research title also provides resources to train the engineers who will design, build, and manage our future transportation infrastructure. Mr. President, I think it is clear that S. 1072 addresses congestion in a proactive manner by providing policy changes and financial resources to promote the efficient use of our Nation's transportation infrastructure. As I have said before, passage of this bill is critical. I urge my colleagues to support this effort to provide much-needed resources to our States. I yield the floor.

Mr. JEFFORDS. Being one of those who never believed there was a threat of any kind and a sufficient level to warrant the war, it shocks me to find out the route being set up to verify what I believed to be the truth will have no power to find the truth. This is very disturbing for me.

Mr. JEFFORDS. I thank the Senator from Florida for enlightening me on this very disturbing news. I will do whatever I can, working with him and with others, to make sure we get the kind of resolution for finding the information which should be ours to be able to make judgments. I thank the Senator very much for his statement.

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I would like to continue my discussion about key provisions of S. 1072. In particular, I would like to discuss some of the bicycle and pedestrian provisions. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 5,600 pedestrians and bicyclists were killed in traffic accidents in 2001. Tens of thousands more were injured in traffic accidents. In that same year, more than one-fifth of the bikers killed in traffic crashes were between the ages of 5 and 15, our Nation's children. Pedestrian and bicyclist fatality numbers have been slowly decreasing over the years, but one death is too many. We must improve our record. S. 1072 provides resources to help States address this safety problem. Our bill reauthorizes the bicycle/pedestrian provisions found in TEA-21. We recognize the importance of these provisions. More people walking and bicycling means fewer people in cars. It means healthier communities and a cleaner environment. We should promote it. Under our proposal, States may continue to use core program dollars to fund improvements for bicyclists and pedestrians. However, if we really want to encourage people to walk and bicycle around our communities, we must make these activities safer. Mr. President, 5,600 fatalities is an unacceptable number. In addition to reauthorizing current programs, our bill directs the Secretary of Transportation to make safety grants to fund an information clearinghouse and educational programs to promote bicycle and pedestrian safety. These provisions will support existing efforts to improve bicycle and pedestrian access to transportation facilities and to enhance safety for all transportation users. I believe that these provisions in the bill, if taken into use by our States and communities, will do a great deal to protect the children presently in our system and in the future. I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. JEFFORDS

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Diana Harrington of my staff be granted the privilege of the floor during the pendency of S. 1072.

Mr. JEFFORDS

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I, first, commend my good friend from Oklahoma, and then I will give my synopsis of some of the areas of this bill. I have just never worked with someone who has been more cooperative--and our staffs--to bring about a consensus in a very difficult bill. A little change here and a little change there will change millions of dollars and who it goes to and will bring about a consensus that will at least make enough people happy to vote for the bill, which is the ultimate goal. We have made great progress. I think we are now in a position where we are going to be able to move forward. TEA-21 provided record funding levels for transportation, which allowed States and local governments to make greater investments in our transportation systems than ever before. S. 1072 will continue that trend. In crafting this bill, Chairman Inhofe, Senator Bond, Senator Reid, and I wanted to ensure the resources available under this bill would be spent wisely and responsibly. During our hearings, we learned of challenges facing communities and transportation agencies trying to manage a full load of increasingly complex transportation projects. In response, we crafted a bill that will improve the delivery and stewardship of the Federal aid highway program. First, we have expanded the scope of a program called ``value engineering.'' Value engineering provides States and local governments an additional approach to examining transportation projects before they are finalized. It promotes improved design, construction, and funding of transportation projects. Second, we have included provisions to address issues that arise when State and local governments develop large-scale projects, so-called mega projects that cost over $1 billion. To ensure these projects are developed and managed efficiently, S. 1072 requires project management and financial plans. Finally, to ensure that money received by the States is properly accounted for, we direct the Secretary to annually review States' financial management systems. As my colleagues can see, S. 1072 provides record levels of funding for transportation investment and the provisions to ensure we are good stewards of the public funds. I look forward to going into the amendment process and making sure we work, hopefully, efficiently and effectively and quickly to get this bill before us in final form before too long. I yield the floor, and I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, the transportation planning process is a critical component of any surface transportation program or project. Poor planning may lead to cost overruns, project delays, and even project cancellations. An early and comprehensive planning process can help stakeholders and project sponsors to identify and overcome potential problems so transportation projects proceed smoothly. Our bill includes several provisions to encourage better planning practices at both the State and metropolitan levels. We make some additions to current law to encourage transportation planning agencies to consider our environmental, natural resource, and community health issues early in the planning process. The bill directs transportation planners to consult with relevant resource agencies when developing long-range transportation plans. Improved coordination will promote long-range plans and project proposals that adequately consider and address the diverse implications of transportation projects. Improved interagency consultation and coordination is only one component of a successful plan. As I have said before, transportation investment is about people and communities. It is about making life better for our citizens by providing an efficient, safe, and comprehensive transportation system. A successful transportation program is one that considers the needs and the wishes of the people it serves. Our bill will enhance public participation in the planning process, encouraging projects that meet our infrastructure needs without sacrificing the environment or quality of life. Finally, our bill emphasizes the role of new and emerging technologies in transportation planning. Geospatial mapping technologies have inspired innovative and successful planning processes in many States around the country. We encourage States to continue to develop and implement those technologies and to integrate them into the transportation planning process. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. JEFFORDS

Mr. JEFFORDS. Madam President, I appreciate the contributions of the Senator in helping us better understand the need for and also the great benefits of this legislation. I am sure when Members go to a vote--if we ever get to a vote--we will overwhelmingly accept the Senator's concept of what should and could be done. I appreciate what the Senator has done to make this bill as good as it is.

Mr. JEFFORDS. Will the Senator yield for a question?

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I do. Mr. President, S. 1072 will send billions of dollars to the States. It provides the resources to maintain the transportation infrastructure that we use and enjoy every day. Literally hundreds of thousands of jobs are at stake. It is imperative that we pass this bill this week. Our staff has worked diligently for many months to prepare this comprehensive proposal. They have addressed concerns raised by various Members. It is time for us to complete this bill and send it to the House. I would like to continue the discussion I began last week and speak for a few minutes about some of the key provisions of the transportation bill. As I have mentioned in earlier statements, our Environment and Public Works Committee conducted a very thorough hearing process as part of our preparations of S. 1072. A consistent theme from those hearings was that the national transportation program has worked well over the last 12 years, following the principles set forth in ISTEA and enjoying the funding guarantees established in TEA-21. We therefore sought to refine rather than revise the program. A key reflection of that decision is the pattern of resource allocation in the bill. We grew each of the core programs--interstate maintenance, national highway system, bridge, surface transportation, and congestion mitigation and air quality improvement--in proportion to its funding in current law. We could have played politics with these funding allocations, but we chose to maintain the overall balance of the program. Also based on consistent testimony from our many witnesses, we retained the flexibility that has become a hallmark of the surface transportation program. Rather than make political adjustments in Washington to suit the needs of an individual State or region, we yield to State and local officials, working through an open planning process, to move funds among the core programs as best fits their unique and individual needs. Further, under current law and reinforced in S. 1072, we permit money to be ``flexed'' among the various transport modes--highways, transit, bicycles, pedestrians, intermodal transfers, and rail. By maintaining balance among the core programs along with flexibility on program and modal spending at the State and local level, we seek to foster a more balanced and ``right fit'' outcome on the ground. The right combination of investments will vary from place to place. And a single solution--roads only or transit only--is likely to be a poor fit for a diverse and dynamic modern American community. As I traveled our Nation over the past 2 years, I saw intermodalism on the rise. In place after place, the solution to traffic congestion and the solution to freight mobility combined roadway and rail investments with improved operations. The balance and flexibility in S. 1072 will be essential to support these complex and ambitious solutions. I yield the floor.

Mr. JEFFORDS. Will the Senator yield?

Mr. JEFFORDS. I have been here a long time, as the Senator from Oklahoma has. Have we had anybody come down?

Mr. JEFFORDS. Well, I hope the Senator from Ohio will get such enthusiasm created with his speech that we can spend the rest of the time making some progress.

Mr. JEFFORDS. Yes.

Mr. JEFFORDS. Madam President, I also add to the accolades to my good friend from Mississippi for putting in perspective where we are and what we must do to make this a reality. This Nation cannot wait much longer to have the funds that will be available under this bill in order to enhance the employment growth as well as the needs of this Nation to be more efficient and effective in all categories of life. We must work together. We must work quickly. And we should start today. I thank the Chair.

Mr. JEFFORDS. I would like to take you back to when the highway program was started by President Eisenhower. As I remember, one of the big concerns at that time was the inability of this Nation to defend itself, some real problems that were created for the defense of this Nation, because the highway system from East to West and North to South was so poor that in the event we did get an invasion in different areas, we would have little or no chance to get the troops there and mobilize them on the scene. We recognized at that time we had serious defense problems unless we improved the infrastructure of the United States. Am I correct in my understanding of that?

Mr. JEFFORDS. Do we not have other problems, in the sense of trying to move freight across the country and making the highways safe? We took the intermodal transportation systems we had, and a lot of that takes funds we would normally use, is that not true? Mr. Reid, yes. That is why it was called intermodal transportation system--ISTEA. The reason, as I said before, is we learned a few bills ago that just simply pouring more asphalt is not the way to solve all the problems in this country. What this bill takes into consideration is ways to more efficiently move people and products across our country. We have done the best we can on this. Again, I don't see how this, in any form or fashion, can be pork. This is different than our regular appropriations bills. I think people are overly critical of those, but this is not even in the same category.

Mr. JEFFORDS. I also go back to some of Senator Moynihan's concerns years ago. Now looking at what is going on in China and other places, with the development of intermodal systems or the ability to travel at much faster rates of speed, to move--in their case--millions of people who want to travel, is that not also something we are trying to look at, trying to make sure we will not lose our position in the world with respect to our transportation methodology?