Extensions of Remarks

December 17, 1985 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 37489 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 1985 ANNUAL REPORT ON THE 100-percent funding from the Federal Gov sense of the Congress that, among other HIGHWAY SAFETY IMPROVE ernment. When they do not, that is to say things, American institutions in the public MENT PROGRAMS when they undertake projects whose bene and private sectors should jointly develop fit-to-cost ratio is less than l, States and lo commitments and a plan to end world HON. JAMES A. TRAFICANT, JR. calities will receive Federal sharing based hunger. As a cosponsor of this bill, I OF OHIO on the Federal-aid road system being im strongly urge my colleagues to give it their IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES proved (lnterstate-90 percent; other sys support. tems-75 percent) Our passing this resolution today gives Monday, December 16, 1985 Through this new initiative, the Con recognition to the problem of world hunger Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise gress' and the Committee on Public Works and helps to heighten public awareness of today to introduce a bill that is designed to and Transportation's traditional focus on the need for everyone to pull together and encourage State and local governments to and commitment to road safety can be con help. It's easy to pass a bill to spend hun initiate road safety improvement projects tinued and expanded in a highly responsi dreds of millions of our tax dollars to fight that will produce maximum cost/benefit re ble and effective way during this period of world hunger. But what we really need to turns to the motoring public. To accom budgetary concern. This is so because do is to create an attitude of cooperation plish this when the project undertaken is of funds allocated to projects eligible for sec and a lasting framework for getting the the type that evaluation studies of the Fed tion 120(d) moneys have already been ap private sector directly involved in our ef eral Highway Administration's Highway portioned to the States from the highway forts. Safety Evaluation System have shown gen trust fund. This legislation will simply When world hunger is mentioned, erally produce cost/benefit ratios equal to assure that obligations under this provision thoughts of Ethiopia and other poor Third or greater than 1.0 per dollar invested, the will produce the greatest benefits to the World countries come to mind. I support Federal share of such project may be 100 motoring public for each dollar invested. efforts to help the people in those coun percent. For the forgoing reasons, I urge every tries, but we sometimes seem to forget that The Office of Highway Safety of the Fed Member of Congress interested in road there are many people within our own bor eral Highway Administration in its 1985 safety and cost-effectiveness to support this ders who need help. One doesn't normally Annual Report on the Highway Safety Im bill, the Highway Safety Initiative Act. think about the Midwest when talking provement Programs published a chart TABLE 111-14.-HIGHWAY SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS WITH about hunger, but the crisis in the farm (table 111-14-pg 37) listing those highway economy is forcing more and more people BENEFIT/COST RATIOS EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN 1 safety improvements with benefit to cost in Iowa to seek help in feeding their fami ratios of 1.0 or better. That chart is repro Rank Improvement type code and description B.C ratio lies from the local food pantries. duced following this statement. Twelve It was because of this growing need types of improvements are listed. Under !... .......... lC- Traffic signs ............ 6.8 within the very district that I represent this legislation, they would be eligible for 2. lE- lllumination ............... .............. .............. 3.1 that I decided to see what I could do with 3. .. .. ...... .. 3K-Upgraded guardrail... 100 percent funding. By this means, State 4 ............ IG--Hew traffic signals .......................................... t~ out passing any laws or spending any of and local authorities will be encouraged to 5. ... ........... 3N- lmpact attenuator .................... U the taxpayers' money. So last month I undertake these high payoff types of road 6............... 3R--Obstacle removal......... .. ........ ............................ 7.. .... ......... 3M-New median barrier .......... ...................................... 1.6 helped organize a districtwide food drive to safety improvements. By doing so, hun ~ ::: : : ::: :: ::: : : ~~a:i~~~~~~r~'.~il. .~ .ra_n~~.:::::::::::::::::::::::::: l : ~ solicit donations from the private sector to dreds, perhaps thousands, of lives will be 1.3 replenish the community food pantries. The saved each year after the program is in full l~ ::::::::::::: l~~~:!aV:~~g:~iiii · ~·ries ::::::::::::::::::::: : :::::::: 12... .......... 18-Sight distance improvements ........................ U result was a tremendous outpour of sup- swing. And countless injuries will be pre port from corporations, private citizens, vented altogether, or their severity will be Source: Highway Safety Evaluation System, FHWA. 1984. and volunteers. Collection boxes were minimized. Because of its cost/effective placed in businesses, public buildings, food ness, the 100 percent funding will promote pantries, and churches in all 27 counties of the most efficient and effective expenditure the district. Hundreds of cases of food were of public moneys for road safety. A TIME FOR SHOWING THAT WE CARE donated by concerned corporations, turn- According to the 1985 Annual Report ear ing my district offices into temporary ware lier referred to (page 9): HON. JIM ROSS LIGHTFOOT houses. Phone calls and letters with cash Since the inception of the highway safety donations poured into my offices. School categorical programs in 1974, the FHWA's OF IOWA children joined the effort-the student Office of Highway Safety estimates that IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES almost 30,000 lives have been saved and council of the Adair-Casey High School almost 650,000 serious injuries have been Monday, December 16, 1985 raised $127 in cash and used it to buy food prevented as the result of highway safety Mr. LIGHTFOOT. Mr. Speaker, the for the Adair community. One company improvements. Christmas holiday season is a time for us loaned a semitruck to haul the food to the The Committee on Public Works and to make an extra effort to give thanks for empty food pantries throughout the dis Transportation initiated and was responsi what we have, and to share our blessings trict. Thanks to the efforts of people like ble for enactment of those programs in the with those who aren't as fortunate. For the Rev. Gary Haines, Mr. Joe Ricketts, and Highway Safety Act of 1973 referred to hungry in the world, Christmas won't be Mr. Rick Gibson, donations for the drive above. The 100-percent Federal funding bill full of happiness and cheer. To them, including cash and food totaled well over will take the road safety process a further Christmas will be another cold day of $40,000-and donations continue to come lifesaving step. Its approval and enactment wanting. in. will provide new, targeted focus for high It, therefore, is an appropriate time for In short, Mr. Speaker, the drive was a way safety improvements programs. There us to consider and pass one particular bill tremendous success. At the start the project will be a legislative incentive for States and before us today; and that ls House Concur was given the title "Care and Share," and I localities to undertake those projects which rent Resolution 57, encouraging private can think of nothing more appropriate. contribute most to the safety of the motor sector involvement in the worldwide effort The response this project received proves ing public. When they do, they will receive to alleviate hunger. This bill expresses the that neighbors care about each other and e This "bullet" symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by the Member of the Senate on the floor. Boldface type indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. 51 -059 0 -87-53 <P t. 26 > 37490 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS December 17, 1985 are willing to give of themselves when President will be required to submit annual tion programs, Medicaid and veterans' there's a need. We, their elected Represent budgets in which the projected deficits do compensation are among the programs that atives, can help by providing the leadership not exceed specified levels. Starting with a are exempted from automatic cuts. Certain and organization that is needed to create a budget proposal that is already within re critical health programs are protected, framework for this sharing to take place. sonable funding limits will make it all that through provisions that set maximum per What happened in the fifth district of Iowa much easier for Congress to come up with missible reductions at no more than 1 per should not be considered a special occur a finished product that stays within the cent in fiscal year 1986 and 2 percent in rence. Instead, it should be seen as what it deficit guidelines. These specified levels fiscal year 1987. really was-a natural response to a need by will be gradually decreased, until 1991, It is my hope that automatic cuts will not people who cared enough about each other when the maximum allowable Federal become necessary. Each year Congress will to do something about it. budget deficit will be zero. • have at least two opportunities to do its job It is this attitude of pulling together that The bill includes provisions establishing by making careful and rational choices the bill we have before us today seeks to a new, accelerated timetable for the budget about the programs that will receive cuts. encourage, and I urge my colleagues to process. In recent years, Congress has Only if Congress fails to meet the deficit give it their support.

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