REMARKS FOR
THE HONORABLE
NORMAN Y. MINETA
SECRETARY OF
TRANSPORTATION
TRANSPORTATION
CONSTRUCTION COALITION FLY-IN
WASHINGTON,
D.C.
APRIL 30, 2003
7:30 AM
Thank you for that introduction,
Tom. Good morning, everyone, and
thank you for taking the time out of your own busy schedules to come here so
early. I am honored that you
invited me here to share my thoughts on the forthcoming surface transportation
legislation.
All of you here this morning
play a major role in ensuring that our Nation continues to lead the world in the
free movement of people and commercial goods.
Each
of you, the men and women who build and maintain our Nation’s infrastructure,
serve as the driving force behind an industry responsible for more than 10
percent of our Nation’s economy.
So, I
wanted to briefly outline for you my priorities as we finalize the Bush
Administration’s surface transportation reauthorization bill, which I expect
to announce soon.
But
before I do, let me say at the onset: I know that many of you here are heading
up to The Hill later today to call for a level of reauthorization funding that
runs contrary to the views of President Bush.
That’s
fine. But know this: the Bush
Administration’s reauthorization proposal includes the largest federal funding
commitment in the history of surface transportation.
Our
proposal will further the President’s efforts to grow the economy without
imposing costly new gas taxes. Now,
I’ve been in Washington long enough to know that on issues of spending, good
people can agree to disagree.
But I
strongly believe our Administration’s proposal is the right way to go, and I
am going to fight hard to see that it is passed.
As a member of Congress for 20 years, I am familiar with the kind of
budgetary wrangling that often accompany such important legislative proposals.
As Secretary of Transportation, I now have the privilege of building on
the successes of ISTEA, which I co-authored, and it’s successor, TEA-21.
I am personally committed to the passage of this bill.
However, to do that, I want to partner with you to promote our common
goals.
You see, some view legislation such as ISTEA, TEA-21, and our upcoming
proposal as simple spending bills. My
view, as it was back in Congress, is very different.
While I am proud to say that our forthcoming reauthorization proposal will
serve as the largest surface transportation investment in our Nation’s
history, our proposal serves as something even greater – a roadmap for reform.
And I want to partner with you to make this roadmap a reality.
Here are my thoughts on the subject:
I believe that our Nation deserves a reauthorization bill with a clear
vision for ensuring guaranteed funding of important transportation projects.
I believe that leaders throughout our Nation’s counties, our cities, and
our states – not Washington, DC – know best how to build badly needed roads
and other transportation projects.
Therefore, we need a bill from Washington, DC, that provides local
leaders with funding flexibility, the ability to dedicate more funds to moving
freight, and providing innovative financing tools. We need this to get the job done right, to get it done
quickly and to get it done without harming the environment.
But anyone who knows me will tell you that my first priority is to save
lives.
So it
should come as no surprise when I tell you that our bill directs $14 billion
exclusively toward safety programs.
Here’s why: 42,000 people – the equivalent of every citizen in
a city the size of Palm Springs, CA – die annually in traffic crashes that are
preventable.
Almost one out of four – more
than 9,000 lives – could be saved, if America would only buckle up.
Our proposed legislation will help save lives by more than doubling the
funding in TEA-21 for highway safety. The
funds will be used to promote such programs as primary seatbelt laws and expand
the auditing of new entrant motor carriers.
Our bill also will propose to consolidate and expand federal safety
programs, such as work zone safety, increase funding, and tie available
resources more directly to performance.
These are
just a few of the priorities that you will hear me and my colleagues at the
Department of Transportation talk about in the days and weeks ahead.
I look forward to sharing more with you when the Administration submits its bill
to the Congress, and to working with you to pass the new surface transportation
reauthorization bill.
Again, thank you for inviting me here this morning and for you to take the time
to be here this morning. I welcome
any questions.
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