Agenda - Council - 11/25/1981 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

I I '1 I '1 I :1 I I I I I I i I I I I battle is not over, but we are moving in the proper direction. The MRPC Executive Committee will continue its efforts in regard to this matter, a~d a final outcome may be resolved sometime next month. Again, we reiterate the need for each State Parkway Commission to actively pursue Great River Road obligations at the State level. If you have any questions please contact MRPC Secretary Timothy Ed/nan as soon as possible. We will keep you informed as we proceed t~rough this critical period. Sincerely, Vic Jude, ~vsIpc Pilot and Porter Young,-MttPC Pilot-Elect SENATE COMMITTEE DELETES GREAT RIVER ROAD FUNDING The UoS. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved the 1981 Federal Highway Act (S. 1024) on September 30, 1981 withou~ including any funds for the Great River Road program. The Senate Committee not only approved language eliminating the Great River Road pro~ram, but also reduced overall funding provided in S. 1024 by Sl billion. Differences between S. 1024 and the House approved version of the 1981 Federal 'Highway Act (which includes Great River Road funding) will be determined in a Congressional Conference Committee to be appointed within the next month. In response to President Reagan's request for an additional $13 billion fiscal year 1982 budget cut, the Senate committee reduced overall funding in S. 1024 from $8.6 billion to $7.6 billion. An effort was made by a few Senators to postpone or lessen the $1 billion cut, but the proposal lacked the necessary support. Sponsors of S. 1024 argued that the Committee must boldly take the first step twoards accomplishing the $13 billion cut, and that the Committee could resotre its $1 billion reduction on the Senate floor is Congress generally rejected the President's additional budget cut request. Initially, only the Senate Transportation Subcommittee was scheduled to mark-up S. 1024 on September 30. However, with the new fiscal year starting on October 1, the full senate Public Works Committee decided it needed to move quickly on S. 1024. Full Senate floor action may come as soon aa next week. ~here was much discussion durL~g ~e Senate Com~ttee session ~ regard to the multi-year nature of S. 1024 and the single year House version of the 1981 Federal Highway Act (H.R. 3210). The Senate indicated that it would insist on at least a minimum two year bill, while the House has stated that it wants nothing more than their one year bill. The full House overwhelmingly approved H.R. 3210 last month which includes funds for the Great River Road. HOuse Public Works Committee staff have stated that technically the House does not have to agree to any compromise since the 1978 Federal Highway Act still provides an acceptable trust fund authorization level for fiscal year 1982 including $25 million for the Great River Road. Since Congress has not yet completed action on the Federal highway legislation and the Great River Road deferral issued last month has expired at the start of the new fiscal year on October 1, the States are now. ~ab~9__~o ~bligate all preriously allocated Great River Road funds. -2-