Richard Shelby

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. I am aware of the importance of the Indian Reservation Roads program to the Senator from New Mexico, and pledge to work for full funding of the Indian Reservation Roads program as provided in TEA-21.

Mr. SHELBY. It is clear that the US 89 project, from West Forest Boundary to Bishoff Canyon in Idaho, is a critical priority for Idaho and the nation, and deserves to be funded. I assure the Senator from Idaho that we will work to include this project in any list of earmarks determined by the conference committee. the indian roads program

Mr. SHELBY. The Senator from Idaho is correct. Idaho, Alaska, and West Virginia have already each been granted flexibility under Section 1212(g) of TEA-21, to ``pool'' the state's obligation authority for high priority projects, as long as the total amount of funds authorized for any project for which the funds are allocated are not reduced. This flexibility does not have to be re-established legislatively on an annual basis, and nothing in the FY2000 Transportation Appropriations bill or report changes this flexibility. supporting public lands discretionary project

Mr. SHELBY. I have noted the importance of this project and I hope to work with you further on this project during conference.

Mr. SHELBY. Can the Senator from Nebraska please describe your request in greater detail?

Mr. SHELBY. I am aware of the Senator from Alaska's ongoing efforts to improve aviation safety in his home state. And I know he is particularly impressed with NIOSH's past record of initiating safety improvements without recommending more regulations--it is an impressive record. I have flown within the state of Alaska on many occasions and have witnessed firsthand the unique challenges Alaskan aviators face. The NIOSH study is a worthy project for my subcommittee's consideration when this bill goes to conference. I will work to find the funds to support this study.

Mr. SHELBY. I will be happy to yield to the senior Senator from Georgia for question.

Mr. SHELBY. The Chairman is correct. I strongly concur that the Coast Guard should ask the City of Unalaska to use its own local knowledge and competitive procurement process to manage the pier extension. I also agree that the Congress should encourage an arrangement between the City and the agency to reduce the Coast Guard's operating costs associated with the long-term maintenance of any dedicated pier space. We will seek to address this in conference at the appropriate time. savannah water taxi

Mr. SHELBY. I agree with the Senator from Pennsylvania's assessment of the importance of smart technology and commend the work being done at Drexel University's Intelligent Infrastructure Institute. It is important that we continue to support the work of the Institute, and I look forward to working with the Senator during the conference with the House to see that this work is accomplished this year and in succeeding years. unalaska pier extension

Mr. SHELBY. I will be happy to work with the senior Senator from Georgia on this issue during conference negotiations with the House. I realize how important the establishment of a water taxi service in Savannah, Georgia is to you and the local community. I appreciate all your hard work and diligence on this project.

Mr. SHELBY. I will be happy to work with you on this matter during conference negotiations with the House. I understand that the Senator had secured a commitment that this matter will be affirmatively addressed by the Environment and Public Works Committee in the next authorizing legislation vehicle. I commend the Senator for his initiative, diligence, and hard work on this matter. I will continue to watch and work with the Senator on this important issue for his state.

Mr. SHELBY. The distinguished Senator from Maine is correct. This report language is intended to convey that it is the Senate's intention for the FHWA to continue its advanced engineered wood composites research and development program begun last year at the University of Maine's Advanced Wood Composites Center. I thank the distinguished Senator from Maine for giving us the opportunity to clarify our intent on this matter.

Mr. SHELBY. My colleague is exactly right. The Public Lands Highway Program was indeed created to fulfill the long-neglected infrastructure needs of our nations vast holdings of federal lands. I share the Senator's commitment to ensuring that public lands states, such as Nevada, continue to receive the lion's share of funding under this program. I will also seek to address the Senator's concerns about earmarking of this program both in Conference this year and when drafting next year's Transportation Appropriation's bill.

Mr. SHELBY. I thank my colleague for raising these important issues with me. Even in a tight budget year, such as this one, I agree that these programs and projects have merit and I will work diligently to secure funding for them in the House-Senate Conference or in whatever end-of-year mechanism we use to fund transportation in FY 00. georgia noise barriers

Mr. SHELBY. The Senator raises a very good point. Given the economic and public safety impacts on the County when the road is closed as well as the potential liabilities for the Federal Government, I will work with the Senator, the House and the Administration during conference on this bill to identify funds for the County to improve this small section of the road. public lands highway program

Mr. SHELBY. We have many airports in need of increased funding. I understand the nature of your problem in Great Falls requires immediate concern. Thank you for bringing these issues to my attention.

Mr. SHELBY. I understand your concerns and agree with you about the weather-related burdens on Montana's roads. Such conditions can be very harmful to a paved surface.

Mr. SHELBY. I agree with the remarks of the Senator from New Hampshire, and I look forward to working with him on this issue in the future. aovcc

Mr. SHELBY. I appreciate my colleague bringing this issue to my attention and am interested in ensuring that scarce Federal transportation resources are used as efficiently as possible. I understand your concerns and look forward to working with you on this issue. increased funding for u.s. route 2 in new hampshire

Mr. SHELBY. If the Senator will yield, this equipment appears to be a promising technology which has the potential to greatly enhance safety. I would concur with the Senator from Oklahoma that if FAA determines that the test of the AOVCC is successful, every effort should be made to purchase this equipment.

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Michigan for his comments, and he is correct, we did face significant constraints throughout this bill which impacted upon the Next Generation High Speed Rail program. Furthermore, the Administration's funding request for this specific program was funded in part with a recommendation to transfer Revenue Aligned Budget Authority from the State highway formula to this and other programs, a proposal which was rejected by the Congress. I believe the Senator from Michigan opposed the RABA transfer from the States in the Budget Committee. However, I believe the unallocated portion of the train control demonstration program under the Next Generation High Speed Rail Program should be allocated to the Michigan ITCS project, and as we enter the Conference with the House, I will work to ensure adequate funding for this project.

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I agree that the RIMS project described by Senator Abraham indeed appears to be worthy of federal funding, and I would recommend that the Federal Highway Administration provide funding for this project to the extent possible after fully funding the SEMSIM project discussed before. Furthermore, if the final appropriations bill will provide more ITS money for Michigan, I will press to have both of these projects funded as fully as possible, in accordance with the prioritization I have previously discussed.

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I was pleased to support that designation in the drafting of S. 1143, and was particularly impressed that it is projected to reduce the cost of winter storm maintenance by 10% in Southeast Michigan, reduce weather-related accidents by 10%, as well as reduce by 5% the amount of salt used on those roads, while also creating a model for other states to improve their snow removal operations. Because of that, I believe that the Federal Highway Administration should consider the SEMSIM project as the top priority project within that $4 million distribution to Southeast Michigan.

Mr. SHELBY. I understand the concerns of the Senator of Washington and his desire to provide adequate access to an important area in his state without disrupting its unique attributes. I would be happy to work with Senator Gorton, the Federal Highway Administration, and other interested parties to resolve this issue.

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I am aware of House action on this matter as well as the Senators' role in bringing about that action and of their steadfast commitment to improving boating safety. I can assure the Senators from Michigan that I will support directing the Coast Guard in the final Transportation Appropriations Act for FY 2000 to keep the Muskegon seasonal Air Facility open.