Frank Wolf

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the comment of the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest]. I admire him about as much as I do anybody in the body. And we will talk, and if we are able to keep this language in, I will change it to make sure that the report goes to the authorizing committee too at the same time. We just want to make sure that the money is wisely spent. I am very concerned about the drug problem coming into the country. I have very strong views about it. We have had a number of drug conferences in my district. I just want to make sure that it is really wisely and well spent. Second, by doing this, we put a great responsibility on the drug czar and also on the Coast Guard. But I think I understand what the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest] says. And again, if we can, we will make sure that the report goes to the gentleman's committee and the Coast Guard.

Mr. WOLF. Reclaiming my time, I hope we can. And I am sure the gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Sabo] and I will be able to work something out. I hope the gentleman will take a look at that, and I am going to ask the staff to show how retirement payments were being paid by Amtrak. And there are some problems, but I am committed to working with Amtrak and I am doubly committed to making the Northeast corridor the flagship which will help bring Amtrak a lot more money.

Mr. WOLF. I yield to the gentleman from Maryland.

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, I would just say to the gentleman from Maryland that I am really committed to Amtrak; I want Amtrak to do very well. I think people should understand, so when they think about this bill, that the committee mark has provided $30 million more for Amtrak than enacted in fiscal year 1997. This bill is actually $3.5 million above what the administration requested. The subcommittee has provided $202 million for operating expenses in fiscal year 1998, which is the same amount as requested by the administration. Funding for capital improvements is $260 million, which is $14.55 million more than requested by the administration and $36.55 million more than last year. Also, too, the gentleman, both of us have a strong interest in the Amtrak corridor because that is, in essence, the flagship for Amtrak. By making this work very well, it will help the entire system. And the subcommittee provided $250 million for the Northeast corridor, which is $50 million more than requested and $75 million more than was in 1975. So for Amtrak, the Northeast corridor, we are actually putting more on it. We hope to see that high-speed rail moving up and down there as quickly as possible. I can assure the gentleman, and I know the gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Sabo], having sat through all the hearings, knows that I want to do everything we can to protect it. The problem is, though, last year the Congress provided a significant amount of money to keep open a number of routes that Amtrak wanted to close down. We lost that money because four of those six routes are now gone. They are gone. In addition, Amtrak actually lost more money because they could have taken the train sets from those routes and use them on more productive routes. But I want the gentleman to know that many areas were actually significantly higher. I believe the opportunity for Amtrak, with monopoles in the Northeast corridor, aggressive mail delivery, and a lot of other opportunities, that that can be the flagship. I am committed to maintaining and having a national rail system because I just think it is important for a first class country to have a first class system.

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, in closing, I would just like to refer Members to page 31, where the committee said the following in the report: In following up on the work of the National Civil Aviation Review Commission over the coming months, and to help restore the credibility and effectiveness of the agency, the committee encourages the new administrator to establish an informal working group composed of former FAA administrators to advise her and the Secretary of Transportation regarding the future direction and the need of policies of the agency. The committee believes the views of these former executives could be invaluable in helping shape the agency's future. Mr. Chairman, again I thank the gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Sabo] for his help and efforts, and all the committee staff.

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Alabama [Mr. Callahan], who serves on the committee. (Mr. CALLAHAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Regula].

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, the gentleman from Michigan is correct, nothing in H.R. 2169 would prevent the authorizing committee from changing the funding allocation formulas for fiscal year 1998 or any year thereafter.

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, it is my understanding, if my memory serves me, the gentleman believes that the concerns expressed in the report have been addressed and he sought my commitment to clarify this issue in the conference report. Based on talking to Mr. Sabo, I can provide the gentleman my assurance, we will also talk to the gentleman from New Jersey, Mr. Pallone, but I will work with the gentleman to resolve his concerns regarding the Belford Ferry project. I am aware of the traffic and the transportation and the need to get into New York. The gentleman has approached me. I understand the gentleman was going to offer an amendment and that is not necessary so; yes, I will work with the gentleman with regard to that project. I appreciate him bringing it to our attention. I understand and I want to assure him after talking to the Federal Highway Administration what the gentleman said is accurate.

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Pappas].

Mr. WOLF. If the gentleman will continue to yield, before I answer, if I could defer to the gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Sabo].

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, there is nothing in the bill which would require any other delays or studies.

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, if the gentleman will continue to yield, I would concur that these studies have been completed and we checked on them just the other day. Adequate demand for the ferry and ridership for the Belford Ferry has been established and the Federal Highway Administration considers the county of Monmouth the willing operator for the Belford Ferry project. Based on informal discussions that we have had, not in writing but discussions, I believe that the conditions in the report have been met; and if that is the case, there would be no reason for further delay of the project.

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for his observations and his ideas. I think it is a great idea. We never even thought of it in the committee. I will do everything I can, not only to encourage the Department to work with the various modes to further explore the potential of an electronic redistribution center but also to see if there is some way working together with the other side we can kind of bring it about, because car dealers and many other groups do that. You cannot maintain all of that inventory. And since everybody is electronically connected, you could do that and exchange with other systems. It is not just a good idea, I think it is a great idea. We will do everything we possibly can to see that that takes place, working with the gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Sabo] and the Senate.

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Knollenberg].

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, if the gentleman will yield, yes, I do.

Mr. WOLF. The gentlewoman from Kentucky [Mrs. Northup] is absolutely, positively correct. I have not thought of that airport for years, but I flew in there in 1962 when I went to basic training at Fort Knox, KY. It was one of the most depressing days of my life. I remember when I landed at the airport I arrived into Fort Knox, KY, and they put me on KP right away. If I had only known the need then. But I do remember the airport well. The FAA advises me that all the remaining funds needed to reimburse the local authorities for costs related to the ILS are included in the fiscal year 1998 budget, and the FAA intends to provide the final reimbursement by the end of that fiscal year. I was just wondering, do they still march the men up Misery Hill the way they used to?

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, will the gentlewoman yield?

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Kentucky [Mrs. Northup] for a colloquy.

Mr. WOLF. If the gentleman would continue to yield, I appreciate that, and I promise the gentleman from Kansas personally, too, we will stay with him throughout this issue to make sure that it does not get out of hand. I thank the gentleman very much for bringing this to our attention.

Mr. WOLF. If the gentleman would yield, that is the purpose of including the language that we have in the report.

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Chairman, that is my understanding too.