[Pages H10488-H10520]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 2002

Mr. WOLF submitted the following conference report and statement on
the bill (H.R. 2002) making appropriations for the Department of
Transportation and related agencies for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 1996, and for others purposes:

Conference Report (H. Rept. 104-286)

The committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the
two Houses on the amendments of the Senate to the bill (H.R.
2002) ``making appropriations for the Department of
Transportation and related agencies for the fiscal year
ending September 30, 1996, and for other purposes,'' having
met, after full and free conference, have agreed to recommend
and do recommend to their respective Houses as follows:
That the Senate recede from its amendments numbered 2, 5,
10, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 21, 34, 37, 44, 51, 53, 56, 63, 64,
65, 66, 73, 78, 86, 91, 112, 121, 125, 126, 132, 133, 134,
135, 141, 142, 143, 146, 148, 152, 155, 156, 161, 162, 165,
166, 171, 172, 173, 181, 183, 184, 185, 189, and 190.
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendments of the Senate numbered 3, 4, 15, 17, 20, 24, 31,
33, 35, 38, 39, 42, 43, 46, 49, 50, 69, 70, 71, 74, 76, 77,
79, 84, 85, 89, 90, 93, 99, 105, 107, 108, 114, 119, 120,
136, 138, 144, 145, 147, 149, 150, 151, 159, 160, 168, 169,
170, and 191, and agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 1:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 1, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$56,189,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 6:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 6, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$8,220,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 7:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 7, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$103,149,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 8:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 8, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$22,600,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 9:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 9, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$22,600,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 14:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 14, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$16,000,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 16:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 16, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$135,200,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 22:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 22, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$2,278,991,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 23:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 23, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
Restore the matter stricken by said amendment, amended to
read as follows: ; and of which $20,000,000 shall be
expended from the Boat Safety Account; and the Senate agree
to the same.
Amendment numbered 25:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 25, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$362,375,000; and on page 8 of the House engrossed bill H.R.
2002 delete line 23; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 26:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 26, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$167,600,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 27:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 27, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$12,000,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 28:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 28, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$49,200,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 29:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 29, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$88,875,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 30:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 30, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$44,700,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 32:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 32, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the matter proposed by said amendment, insert:
Provided further, That the Commandant may dispose of surplus
real property by sale or lease and the proceeds of such sale
or lease shall be credited to this appropriation; and the
Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 36:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 36, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$18,000,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 40:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 40, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$4,645,712,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 41:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 41, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$2,222,859,100; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 45:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 45, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the matter proposed by said amendment, insert: :
Provided further, That the Secretary may transfer funds to
this account, from Coast Guard ``Operating expenses'', not to
exceed $60,000,000 in total for the fiscal year, fifteen days
after written notification to the House and Senate Committees
on Appropriations, solely for the purpose of providing
additional funds for air traffic control operations and
maintenance to enhance aviation safety and security; and the
Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 47:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 47, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$1,934,883,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 48:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 48, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$1,718,883,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 52:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 52, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$185,698,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 54:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 54, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$1,450,000,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 55:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 55, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the first sum named in said amendment, insert:
$26,000,000.
In lieu of the second sum named in said amendment, insert:
$48,000,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 57:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 57, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:

[[Page H10489]]

In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$509,660,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 58:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 58, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$208,946,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 59:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 59, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$11,000,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 60:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 60, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$11,000,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 61:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 61, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$17,550,000,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 62:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 62, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$77,225,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 67:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 67, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$51,884,430; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 68:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 68, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$32,247,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 72:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 72, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$127,700,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 75:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 75, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
Restore the matter stricken by said amendment, amended to
read as follows: Provided further, That none of these funds
shall be used for construction, rehabilitation or remodeling
costs, or for office furnishing and fixtures for State,
local, or private buildings or structures; and the Senate
agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 80:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 80, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$49,919,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 81:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 81, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$24,550,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 82:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 82, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$115,000,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 83:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 83, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the matter stricken and inserted by said
amendment, insert: studies, corridor planning, development,
demonstration, and implementation, $19,205,000, to remain
available until expended; and on page 24, line 14 of the
House engrossed bill H.R. 2002, delete ``$5,000,000'' and in
lieu thereof, insert: $7,118,000; and the Senate agree to the
same.
Amendment numbered 87:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 87, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the first sum named in said amendment, insert:
$1,000,000; and in lieu of the second sum named in said
amendment, insert: $6,000,000; and the Senate agree to the
same.
Amendment numbered 88:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 88, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the matter stricken and inserted by said
amendment, insert: $635,000,000, to remain available until
expended; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 92:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 92, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
Restore the matter stricken by said amendment, amended to
read as follows: That up to $15,000,000 of the amount made
available under this head for capital improvements may, at
the discretion of the Corporation, be transferred to the
Northeast Corridor Improvement Program: Provided further,
And the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 94:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 94, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$942,925,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 95:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 95, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$2,052,925,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 96:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 96, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the matter proposed by said amendment, insert: :
Provided further, That the limitation on operating assistance
provided under this heading shall, for urbanized areas of
less than 200,000 in population, be no less than seventy-five
percent of the amount of operating assistance such areas are
eligible to receive under Public Law 103-331; and the Senate
agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 97:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 97, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the matter proposed by said amendment, insert: :
Provided further, That in the distribution of the limitation
provided under this heading or urbanized areas that had a
population under the 1990 census of 1,000,000 or more, the
Secretary shall direct each such area to give priority
consideration to the impact of reductions in operating
assistance on smaller transit authorities operating within
the area and to consider the needs and resources of such
transit authorities when the limitation is distributed among
all transit authorities operating in the area; and the Senate
agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 98:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 98, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the matter stricken and inserted by said
amendment, insert: $85,500,000 of which $39,500,000 shall be
for activities under 49 U.S.C. 5303, $4,500,000 for
activities under 49 U.S.C. 5311(b)(2), $8,250,000 for
activities under 49 U.S.C. 5313(b), $22,000,000 for
activities under 49 U.S.C. 5314, $8,250,000 for activities
under 49 U.S.C. 5313(a), and $3,000,000 for activities under
49 U.S.C. 5315; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 100:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 100, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the matter stricken and inserted by said
amendment, insert: , notwithstanding any other provision of
law, except for fixed guideway modernization projects,
$21,631,250 made available under Public Law 102-388 under
``Federal Transit Administration, Discretionary Grants'' for
projects specified in that Act or identified in reports
accompanying that Act, not obligated by September 30, 1995,
shall be made available for new fixed guideway systems
together with the $666,000,000 made available for new fixed
guideway systems in this Act, to be available as follows; and
the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 101:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 101, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$20,060,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 102:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 102, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
Restore the matter stricken by said amendment, amended to
read as follows: $4,250,000 for the Canton-Akron-Cleveland
commuter rail project; ; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 103:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 103, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
Restore the matter stricken by said amendment, amended to
read as follows: $1,000,000 for the Cincinnati Northeast/
Northern Kentucky rail line project; ; and the Senate agree
to the same.
Amendment numbered 104:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 104, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$3,000,000; and the Senate agree to the same.

[[Page H10490]]

Amendment numbered 106:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 106, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$6,000,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 109:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 109, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
Restore the matter stricken by said amendment, amended to
read as follows: $9,720,625 for the Jacksonville ASE
extension project; ; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 110:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 110, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$85,000,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 111:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 111, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
Restore the matter stricken by said amendment, amended to
read as follows: $8,500,000 for the Los Angeles-San Diego
commuter rail project; ; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 113:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 113, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$15,315,000; and the senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 115:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 115, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
Restore the matter stricken by said amendment, amended to
read as follows: $1,250,000 for the Memphis, Tennessee
Regional Rail Plan; ; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 116:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 116, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$80,250,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 117:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 117, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
Restore the matter stricken by said amendment, amended to
read as follows: $5,000,000 for the New Orleans Canal Street
Corridor project; ; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 118:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 118, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$126,725,125; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 122:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 122, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$12,500,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 123:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 123, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$9,759,500; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 124:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 124, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
Restore the matter stricken by said amendment, amended to
read as follows: , of which not more than $5,000,000 may be
available for high-occupancy vehicle lane and intermodal
corridor design costs; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 127:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 127, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
Restore the matter stricken by said amendment, amended to
read as follows: $7,500,000 for the San Juan, Puerto Rico
Tren Urbano project;
And the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 128:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 128, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
Restore the matter stricken by said amendment, amended to
read as follows: $500,000 for the Tampa to Lakeland commuter
rail project;
And the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 129:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 129, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
Restore the matter stricken by said amendment, amended to
read as follows: $2,500,000 for the Whitehall ferry terminal,
New York, New York;
And the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 130:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 130, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
Restore the matter stricken by said amendment, amended to
read as follows: ; and; the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 131:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 131, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the matter proposed by said amendment, insert:
$5,650,000 for the Burlington-Charlotte, Vermont commuter
rail project.
And the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 137:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 137, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$23,937,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 139:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 139, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$31,448,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 140:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 140, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$23,750,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 153:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 153, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$7,500,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 154:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 154, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$95,649,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 157:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 157, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the matter stricken and inserted by said
amendment, insert: collocate and consolidate; and the Senate
agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 158:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 158, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the matter stricken and inserted by said
amendment, insert: surface transportation field offices and
administrative activities; and the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 163:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 163, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the matter proposed by said amendment, insert
the following:
Sec. 339. None of the funds in this Act shall, in the
absence of express authorization by Congress, be used
directly or indirectly to pay for any personal service,
advertisement, telegram, telephone, letter, printed or
written matter, or other device, intended or designed to
influence in any manner a Member of Congress, to favor or
oppose, by vote or otherwise, any legislation or
appropriation by Congress, whether before or after the
introduction of any bill or resolution proposing such
legislation or appropriation: Provided, That this shall not
prevent officers or employees of the Department of
Transportation or related agencies funded in this Act from
communicating to Members of Congress on the request of any
Member or to Congress, through the proper official channels,
requests for legislation or appropriations which they deem
necessary for the efficient conduct of the public business.
And, on page 53 of the House engrossed bill H.R. 2002,
delete lines 1-13.
And the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 164:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 164, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
Restore the matter stricken by said amendment, amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 340. None of the funds in this Act shall be available
to pay the salaries and expenses of any individual to arrange
tours of scientists or engineers employed by or working for
the People's Republic of China, to hire citizens of the
People's Republic of China to participate in research
fellowships sponsored by the modal administrations of the
Department of Transportation, or to provide training or any
form of technology transfer to scientists or engineers
employed by or working for the People's Republic of China:
Provided, That this provision shall not apply to the Federal
Aviation Administration or the joint Federal Aviation
Administration, Department of Defense and Department of
Commerce initiative designed to modernize the air traffic
control system of the People's Republic of China.

[[Page H10491]]

And the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 167:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 167, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the matter proposed by said amendment, insert:
Sec. 343. None of the funds made available in this Act may
be used for improvements to the Miller Highway in New York
City, New York.
And the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 174:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 174, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the matter proposed by said amendment, insert:
Sec. 347. (a) In consultation with the employees of the
Federal Aviation Administration and such non-governmental
experts in personnel management systems as he may employ, and
notwithstanding the provisions of title 5, United States
Code, and other Federal personnel laws, the Administrator of
the Federal Aviation Administration shall develop and
implement, not later than January 1, 1996, a personnel
management system for the Federal Aviation Administration
that addresses the unique demands on the agency's workforce.
Such a new system shall, at a minimum, provide for greater
flexibility in the hiring, training, compensation, and
location of personnel.
(b) The provisions of title 5, United States Code, shall
not apply to the new personnel management system developed
and implemented pursuant to subsection (a), with the
exception of:
(1) Section 2302(b), relating to whistleblower protection;
(2) Sections 3308-3320, relating to veterans' preference;
(3) Section 7116(b)(7), relating to limitations on the
right to strike;
(4) Section 7204, relating to antidiscrimination;
(5) Chapter 73, relating to suitability, security, and
conduct;
(6) Chapter 81, relating to compensation for work injury;
and
(7) Chapters 83-85, 87, and 89, relating to retirement,
unemployment compensation, and insurance coverage.
(c) This section shall take effect on April 1, 1996.
And the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 175:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 175, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the matter proposed by said amendment, insert:
Sec. 348. (a) In consultation with such non-governmental
experts in acquisition management systems as he may employ,
and notwithstanding provisions of Federal acquisition law,
the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration
shall develop and implement, not later than January 1, 1996,
an acquisition management system for the Federal Aviation
Administration that addresses the unique needs of the agency
and, at a minimum, provides for more timely and cost-
effective acquisitions of equipment and materials.
(b) The following provisions of Federal acquisition law
shall not apply to the new acquisition management system
developed and implemented pursuant to subsection (a):
(1) Title III of the Federal Property and Administrative
Services Act of 1949 (41 U.S.C. 252-266).
(2) The Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act (41 U.S.C.
401 et seq.);
(3) The Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994
(Public Law 103-355);
(4) The Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.), except
that all reasonable opportunities to be awarded contracts
shall be provided to small business concerns and small
business concerns owned and controlled by socially and
economically disadvantaged inidividuals;
(5) The Competition in Contracting Act;
(6) Subchapter V of Chapter 35 of title 31, relating to the
procurement protest system;
(7) The Brooks Automatic Data Processing Act (40 U.S.C.
759); and
(8) The Federal Acquisition Regulation and any laws not
listed in (a) through (e) of this section providing authority
to promulgate regulations in the Federal Acquisition
Regulation.
(c) This section shall take effect on April 1, 1996.
And the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 176:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 176, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the section designation of said amendment,
insert:
Sec. 349.
And the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 177:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 177, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the section designation of said amendment,
insert:
Sec. 350.
And the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 178:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 178, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the section designation of said amendment,
insert:
Sec. 351.
And the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 179:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 179, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the section designation of said amendment,
insert:
Sec. 352.
And the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 180:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 180, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the section designation of said amendment,
insert:
Sec. 353.
And the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 182:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 182, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the section designation of said amendment,
insert:
Sec. 354.
And the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 186:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 186, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the section designation of said amendment,
insert:
Sec. 355.
And the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 187:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 187, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the section designation of said amendment,
insert:
Sec. .
And the Senate agree to the same.
Amendment numbered 188:
That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 188, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
In lieu of the matter proposed by said amendment, insert:

SEC. 357. AUTHORITY TO USE FUNDS FOR SIDING AND INTERMODAL
FACILITY IN RICHLAND COUNTY, NORTH DAKOTA.

Notwithstanding section 22101(a)(3) of title 49, United
States Code, the State of North Dakota may use funds
available to the State under section 22106(b) of such title
for the building of a siding and intermodal facility proposed
by the State in Sections 7 and 8, Township 133 North, Range
47 West, Richland County, North Dakota.
And the Senate agree to the same.

Frank R. Wolf,
Tom DeLay,
Ralph Regula,
Harold Rogers,
Jim Lightfoot,
Ron Packard,
Sonny Callahan,
Jay Dickey,
Bob Livingston,
Martin Olav Sabo (except amendment 174 and amendment 190)
Richard J. Durbin (except amendment 132, amendment 174, and
amendment 190)
Ronald D. Coleman (except amendment 174)
Thomas M. Foglietta (except amendment 174)
David R. Obey (except amendment 174)
Managers on the Part of the House.

Mark O. Hatfield,
Pete V. Domenici,
Arlen Specter,
Christopher S. Bond,
Slade Gorton,
Richard C. Shelby,
Frank R. Lautenberg,
Tom Harkin,
Barbara A. Mikulski,
Managers on the Part of the Senate.

JOINT EXPLANATORY STATEMENT OF THE COMMITTEE OF CONFERENCE

The managers on the part of the House and the Senate at the
conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on
amendments of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 2002) making
appropriations for the Department of Transportation and
related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30,
1996, and for other purposes, submit the following joint
statement to the House and the Senate in explanation of the
effect of the action agreed upon by the managers and
recommended in the accompanying conference report.

congressional directives

The conferees agree that Executive Branch propensities
cannot substitute for Congress' own statements concerning the
best evidence of Congressional intentions--that is, the
official reports of the Congress. Report language included by
the House that is not changed by the report of the Senate,
and Senate report language that is not changed by the
conference is approved by the committee of conference. The
statement of the managers, while repeating some report
language for emphasis, is not intended to negate the language
referred to above unless expressly provided herein.

program, project and activity

During fiscal year 1996, for the purposes of the Balanced
Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Public Law
99-177), as amended, with respect to funds provided for

[[Page H10492]]

the Department of Transportation and related agencies, the
terms ``program, project and activity'' shall mean any item
for which a dollar amount is contained in an appropriations
Act (including joint resolutions providing continuing
appropriations) or accompanying reports of the House and
Senate Committees on Appropriations, or accompanying
conference reports and joint explanatory statements of the
committee of conference. In addition, the reductions made
pursuant to any sequestration order to funds appropriated for
``Federal Aviation Administration, facilities and equipment''
and for ``Coast Guard, Acquisition, construction, and
improvements'' shall be applied equally to each ``budget
item'' that is listed under said accounts in the budget
justifications submitted to the House and Senate Committees
on Appropriations as modified by subsequent appropriation
Acts and accompanying committee reports, conference reports,
or joint explanatory statements of the committee of
conference. The conferees recognize that adjustments to the
above allocations may be required due to changing program
requirements or priorities. The conferees expect any such
adjustment, if required, to be accomplished only through the
normal reprogramming process.

staffing increases provided by congress

The conferees direct the Department of Transportation to
fill expeditiously any positions added in this bill, without
regard to agency-specific staffing targets which may have
been previously established to meet the mandated government-
wide staffing reductions. The conferees support the overall
staffing reductions, and have made reductions in the bill
which more than offset staffing increases provided for a
small number of specific activities.

TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary

salaries and expenses

Amendment No. 1: Appropriates $56,189,000 for salaries and
expenses of the Office of the Secretary, instead of
$55,011,500 as proposed by the House and $56,500,000 as
proposed by the Senate. Within these funds, the conferees
have provided $91,000 and 1 full-time equivalent staff year
for aviation information management.
The conference agreement includes the following changes to
the budget request for this office:

Reductions in staff, -8 FTEs..................................-$600,000
Hold reception and representation costs to 1995 levels..........-20,000
Hold travel to $365,000........................................-150,000
Reduce contractual services for acquisition, maintenance and repair of
ADP equipment and commercial online data information systems, and
other reductions.............................................-500,000
Delete funds for residual functions of the Interstate Commerce
Commission.................................................-4,705,000

Reductions in staff, -8 FTEs.--The conference agreement
reduces the number of full time equivalent staff of the
Office of the Secretary by 8 full-time equivalent staff years
and $600,000. Though the conferees believe that reductions in
the number of attorney advisors, public affairs specialists
and congressional affairs officers will not undermine the
ability of the Department to conduct its core duties and
responsibilities, the conference agreement affords the
Secretary the flexibility to determine the specific
reductions in staff. The Secretary is directed to allocate
the reduction in staff and notify the House and Senate
Committees on Appropriations within fifteen days after the
enactment of this Act.
Travel, office of the assistant secretary for budget and
programs.--The conference agreement includes $5,000 for the
travel of the office of the assistant secretary for budget
and programs, which is the same level imposed upon the office
in fiscal year 1995. The conferees are concerned that travel
for this office in fiscal year 1995 may have exceeded last
year's directive and that this directive may have been
circumvented by using funds from the operating
administrations. The conferees reiterate that Congressional
directives in this area need to be followed explicitly by
this office in the future and direct that no funds be used
from other sources to supplement travel by this office.
Reprogramming procedures.--Over the past year, the
conferees have become aware of numerous instances in which
various modal administrations of the department have either
misinterpreted or disregarded the existing departmental
reprogramming procedures, which limit reprogrammings among
programs, projects and activities to no more than ten percent
unless Congressional approval is granted. The conferees
reiterate that the department shall not take any action that
would contravene an instruction included in the conference
agreement unless such action is in accord with the
established reprogramming guidelines and for which previous
Congressional approval is provided.
Office of intermodalism.--The conferees note that in 1991,
the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act created
the Office of Intermodalism within the Department of
Transportation to initiate and promote efficient intermodal
transportation. The conferees express their support for the
assistance the office has given the Department of Defense in
exploring joint-use, civilian/military transportation
infrastructure improvements at Biggs Army Airfield located at
Fort Bliss, Texas. In consultation and cooperation with Santa
Teresa, New Mexico and its proposed intermodal transportation
facility, the conferees urge the Department to consider to
support actively this venture.
Amendment No. 2: Provides $40,000 for official reception
and representation expenses as proposed by the House instead
of $60,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Amendment No. 3: Includes language that prohibits funds
from being used to maintain ``custody'' of airline tariffs as
proposed by the Senate, instead of language that prohibits
funds to maintain ``duplicate physical copies'' of airline
tariffs as proposed by the House.
Amendment No. 4: Includes the words ``and open'' as
proposed by the Senate, instead of ``or open them'' as
proposed by the House.

Office of Civil Rights

Amendment No. 5: Appropriates $6,554,000 for the Office of
Civil Rights as proposed by the House instead of $12,083,000
as proposed by the Senate. The conference agreement disallows
the transfer of 65 FTEs and $5,158,000 to consolidate
external civil rights functions in the office of the
secretary. The conferees are concerned that the proposal to
consolidate the various modal offices of civil rights into
one office under the guidance of the secretary may dilute the
power and flexibility of those offices to respond to the
needs of small and minority businesses participating in the
various programs of the modal administrations.

transportation planning, research, and development

Amendment No. 6: Appropriates $8,220,000 for transportation
planning, research, and development instead of $3,309,000 as
proposed by the House and $9,710,000 as proposed by the
Senate. The conference agreement provides $3,900,000 for the
integrated personnel/payroll system; $2,809,000 for
transportation planning studies; $1,000,000 for aviation
management systems; and $500,000 for the docket management
system. Funding of $6,195,000 for the automated procurement
system is deferred.
Railroad Safety Institute.--The conferees urge the
Department to consider providing funds to establish the
Railroad Safety Institute. This relates to a Senate provision
in amendment numbered 185.

working capital fund

Amendment No. 7: Limits expenses of the working capital
fund to $103,149,000, instead of $102,231,000 as proposed by
the House and $104,364,000 as proposed by the Senate. The
conference agreement includes the following reductions to the
budget request:

Disallowance of transfer from OST of intermodal data network..-$453,000
Hold non-pay inflationary increases to 1.5 percent.............-262,000
Reduction in WCF-funded travel.................................-300,000
Reduction in executive training and development programs.......-200,000

payments to air carriers

(liquidation of contract authorization)

(airport and airway trust fund)

(including rescission of contract authorization)

Amendment No. 8: Appropriates $22,600,000 to liquidate
contract authority obligations for payments to air carriers
instead of $15,000,000 as proposed by the House and
$26,738,536 as proposed by the Senate.
Amendment No. 9: Limits obligations for payments to air
carriers to $22,600,000, instead of $15,000,000 as proposed
by the House and $26,738,536 as proposed by the Senate.
The conferees fully intend that all essential air service
communities that are participating in the program in fiscal
year 1995 will continue to be eligible for participation in
the essential air service program in fiscal year 1996, albeit
at reduced levels. The conferees expect that the Department
may be required to make pro-rata reductions in the subsidy or
daily/weekly service levels to manage the funding reductions
included in the conference report.
Amendment No. 10: Includes language proposed by the House
that prohibits payments to air carriers in communities fewer
than seventy highway miles from the nearest large or medium
hub airport instead of seventy-five highway miles as proposed
by the Senate.
Amendment No. 11: Deletes ``or small'' proposed by the
Senate. The program mileage criteria retained in the
conference agreement pertain only to distances from the
nearest ``large or medium'' hub airport as proposed by the
House.
Amendment No. 12: Deletes exception to essential air
service program mileage criteria for communities having
certain airline maintenance facilities proposed by the
Senate. The House bill contained no similar exception.
Amendment No. 13: Includes language proposed by the House
that allows essential air service subsidies to communities
located greater than two hundred and ten miles from the
nearest large or medium hub airport instead of two hundred
miles as proposed by the Senate.
Amendment No. 14: Rescinds $16,000,000 in contract
authority from the payments to air

[[Page H10493]]

carriers program instead of $23,600,000 as proposed by the House and
$11,861,464 as proposed by the Senate. The conference agreement
rescinds contract authority that is not available for obligation due to
annual limits on obligations.
Amendment No. 15: Deletes House language that would require
the state, local government, or other non-Federal entity to
pay at least fifty percent of the cost of providing essential
air service. The conferees recognize that many states'
legislatures are not in session at this time and would have
difficulty responding to the cost sharing requirements
contained in the House bill. The conferees note, however,
that states, local governments and non-Federal entitles
should begin pursuing cost sharing mechanisms in anticipation
of a fifty percent cost share requirement in fiscal year
1997.

rental payments

Amendment No. 16: Appropriates $135,200,000 for rental
payments instead of $130,803,000 as proposed by the House and
$139,689,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Amendment No. 17: Provides $17,685,000 in rental payments
from ``Federal-aid highways, Limitation on general operating
expenses'' as proposed by the Senate instead of $17,099,000
as proposed by the House.

minority business outreach

Amendment No. 18: Appropriates $2,900,000 for minority
business outreach activities as proposed by the House instead
of $2,100,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Amendment No. 19: Provides that of the funds appropriated
for minority business outreach activities, $2,642,000 shall
be available until September 30, 1997, as proposed by the
House instead of $1,842,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Amendment No. 20: Provides that funds appropriated for
minority business outreach activities may be used for
business opportunities related to any mode of transportation
as proposed by the Senate. The House bill contained no
similar provision.

interstate commerce commission sunset

Amendment No. 21: Deletes appropriation of $4,705,000 for
the Interstate Commerce Commission Sunset activities proposed
by the Senate. The House bill contained no similar
appropriation. Funding for these activities is included under
amendment numbered 166.

Coast Guard

operating expenses

Amendment No. 22: Appropriates $2,278,991,000 for Coast
Guard operating expenses instead of $2,565,607,000 as
proposed by the House and $2,286,000,000 as proposed by the
Senate. The conference agreement assumes that additional
funding of $300,000,000 will be provided in the Department of
Defense Appropriations Act, 1996.
The following table shows detailed adjustments to the
budget estimate in the House and Senate recommendations and
the conference agreement by budget activity:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
House bill Sente bill Conference
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pay and allowances:
Budget estimate.................................... $1,591,835,000 $1,591,835,000 $1,591,835,000
Adjustments to budget estimate:
Military pay and benefits:
Military pay raise (2.2%)...................... -1,401,000 0 0
Military essentiality.......................... -1,000,000 0 -1,000,000
General detail................................. -3,000,000 -3,000,000 -3,000,000
Leased housing (transfer)...................... -14,900,000 -14,900,000 -14,900,000
Civilian pay and benefits:
SES staffing................................... +1,000,000 0 0
Youth opportunity staffing..................... -825,000 -825,000 -825,000
Medical care and equipment: Hold costs to fiscal
year 1995 level................................... -6,300,000 0 -2,835,000
Leased housing (by transfer)....................... +14,900,000 +14,900,000 +14,900,000
Budget activity-wide:
Accelerate existing streamlining............... -4,850,000 0 -4,850,000
Accelerate fiscal year 1997 restructuring...... -5,000,000 0 0
Undistributed.................................. +175,000 -8,000,000 0
--------------------------------------------------------
Amount recommended........................... 1,570,634,000 1,580,010,000 1,579,325,000
========================================================
Depot level maintenance:
Aircraft........................................... 139,041,000 139,041,000 138,124,000
Electronics........................................ 31,549,000 31,549,000 31,549,000
Shore facilities................................... 95,645,000 94,126,000 93,963,000
Vessels............................................ 99,081,000 99,081,000 98,465,000
--------------------------------------------------------
Amount recommended............................... 365,316,000 363,797,000 362,101,000
========================================================
Operations and support:
Budget estimate.................................... 400,496,000 400,496,000 400,496,000
Adjustments to budget estimate:
Area operations and support:
Cutters--high endurance........................ 0 -263,000 -263,000
Area offices................................... 0 -823,000 -823,000
Maintenance and logistics commands............. 0 -12,734,000 -2,734,000
Communications stations........................ 0 -155,000 0
District operations and support:
District offices............................... -5,600,000 0 -2,800,000
Groups and bases............................... 0 -577,000 -577,000
Combined group/air stations.................... 0 -359,000 -359,000
Marine safety offices.......................... 0 -1,285,000 -1,285,000
LORAN stations................................. 0 -237,000 -237,000
--------------------------------------------------------
Amount recommended........................... 394,896,000 394,063,000 391,418,000
========================================================
Recruting and training:
Budget estimate.................................... 70,943,000 70,943,000 70,943,000
Adjustments to budget estimate: Graduate school
tuition........................................... -1,000,000 0 0
--------------------------------------------------------
Amount recommended............................... 69,943,000 70,943,000 70,943,000
========================================================
Coast Guard-wide centralized services and support:
Budget estimate.................................... 189,726,000 189,726,000 189,726,000
Adjustments to budget estimate:
Headquarters-managed units:
TISCOM......................................... 0 -19,000 -19,000
Military personnel center...................... -150,000 0 -150,000
Activities Europe.............................. 0 -1,372,000 -1,372,000
Headquarters administration:
Hold to 1.7 percent increase................... -2,000,000 0 -2,000,000
Reduce by three-tenths of 1 percent............ 0 -325,000 0
Centralized bill paying:
FTS 2000....................................... -1,434,000 -560,000 -900,000
FEC............................................ -647,000 0 -647,000
Unemployment compensation...................... -115,000 -115,000 -115,000
--------------------------------------------------------
Amount recommended........................... 185,380,000 187,335,000 184,523,000
========================================================
Account-wide adjustments:
Recreational equipment............................. -146,000 -146,000 -146,000
--------------------------------------------------------
Non-pay inflation.................................. -5,842,000 -5,842,000 -5,842,000
========================================================
Non-operational travel............................. -1,831,000 -1,831,000 -1,831,000
MPPC contracting out............................... -500,000 0 0
Undistributed...................................... -10,243,000 -2,329,000 0
VTS contracting out................................ -1,000,000 0 -1,000,000
Studies and analysis............................... -1,000,000 0 -500,000
Defense bill--offset............................... 0 -300,000,000 -300,000,000
--------------------------------------------------------

[[Page H10494]]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
House bill Sente bill Conference
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amount recommended............................... -20,562,000 -310,148,000 -309,319,000
--------------------------------------------------------
Total appropriation.............................. 2,565,607,000 2,286,000,000 2,278,991,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reprogramming procedures.--The House report expressed
concern that the Coast Guard has misinterpreted the existing
departmental reprogramming procedures, which limit
reprogrammings among programs, projects, and activities
(PPAs) to a specified percentage unless Congressional
notification and approval is granted, and which define PPAs.
In response, the Coast Guard stated they are unaware of any
such guidelines. The conferees are concerned that the Coast
Guard is unaware of the document titled ``Reprogramming
Guidelines'' issued on April 13, 1992 to each of the
operating administrations by the Assistant Secretary for
Budget and Programs, in which these and other important
procedures are specified. Consequently, the conferees direct
the Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs to re-issue
this guidance to all operating administrations as soon as
possible, and to report to the House and Senate Committees on
Appropriations regarding the Coast Guard's compliance with
those guidelines under the service's current practices.
Military/civilian staffing ratio.--The conference agreement
includes a reduction of $1,000,000 for conversion of military
support positions to civilian positions, as proposed by the
House, and no additional senior executive service (SES)
positions, as proposed by the Senate. The House believed that
a modest increase in the ratio of civilians to military
staffing in the Coast Guard and additional SES positions
would lead to budget savings, management stability, and
stronger ``corporate memory'' than is presently the case.
While supporting the concept of military-to-civilian
conversion, the Senate assumed no savings from that
conversion and did not agree that additional SES positions
were necessary. The conferees agree that this topic should be
more fully explored, and direct the U.S. General Accounting
Office to follow up on its past work in this area by
conducting a thorough analysis of the Coast Guard's military/
civilian staffing ratio to determine the benefits of greater
military-to-civilian conversion, including senior civilian
management positions such as the senior executive service.
Marine safety resources.--The conferees concur in the
initiative of the Senate and have provided adequate funds
within the amounts made available for military pay and marine
safety office (MSO) operations to restore the marine safety
billets slated for termination. The conferees expect funds
provided for MSO operations above the fiscal year 1995 level
first to be used for annualization of fiscal year 1995
follow-on costs and then to restore the operating costs
associated with these 21 billets. The conferees expect the
Commandant to submit the report on these restored billets as
requested by the Senate.
Military personnel center.--The conference agreement
includes a reduction of $150,000 for recruiting activities.
These activities should be funded under ``recruiting and
training'', not under this project.
Vessel traffic service contracting out.--The conference
agreement includes a reduction of $1,000,000 in the operating
cost of vessel traffic service (VTS) systems across the
country, as proposed by the House. This represents a 5
percent reduction from the budgeted level of $19,862,000. The
conferees believe that VTS system operations are a prime
candidate for contract operation, and that such systems could
be operated at less cost than is presently the case with
government employees. The Coast Guard has a study underway to
address the long-term viability of retaining the VTS mission
within the Coast Guard budget, and the conferees await the
results of that study next year. However, this interim step
is necessary due to budget constraints and to assist in
determining the lowest cost method of operating VTS systems
within the Coast Guard budget.
Southern Lake Michigan air facility.--The conference report
includes funds to maintain a Coast Guard search and rescue
air facility located in southern Lake Michigan.
Amendment No. 23: Provides that, of the total funding
provided for ``Operating expenses'', $20,000,000 shall be
expended from the Boat Safety Account of the Aquatic
Resources Trust Fund instead of $25,000,000 as proposed by
the House and no funds as proposed by the Senate. Under
current law, the Coast Guard is authorized to expend from the
trust fund for boating safety activities an amount equal to
the amount appropriated for the boat safety grants program.
Amendment No. 24: Deletes House language specifying that no
less than $314,200,000 is available for drug enforcement
activities, as proposed by the Senate.

Acquisition, Construction, and Improvements

Amendment No. 25: Appropriates $362,375,000 for
``Acquisition, construction, and improvements'' instead of
$375,175,000 as proposed by the House and $366,800,000 as
proposed by the Senate. The conferees also approve
reprogramming totaling $38,000,000, resulting in overall
program resources of $400,375,000 for fiscal year 1996.
A table showing the distribution of this appropriation by
project as included in the fiscal year 1996 budget estimate,
House bill, Senate bill, and the conference agreement
follows:

ACQUISITION CONSTRUCTION AND IMPROVEMENTS: CONFERENCE AGREEMENT--FISCAL YEAR 1996
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 1996 Fiscal year 1996 Fiscal year 1996 Conference
Program name estimate House Senate agreement
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vessels:
Survey and design--cutters and
boats.......................... $500,000 $500,000 $500,000 $500,000
Seagoing buoy tender (WLB)
replacement.................... 65,000,000 65,000,000 65,000,000 65,000,000
Coastal buoy tender (WLM)
replacement.................... 93,000,000 93,000,000 93,000,000 93,000,000
47-foot motor lifeboat (MLB)
replacement project............ 500,000 500,000 500,000 500,000
Buoy boat replacement project
(BUSL)......................... 8,500,000 0 8,500,000 0
Polar icebreaker replacement
follow-on...................... 4,300,000 4,300,000 0 0
82-foot WPB capability
replacement.................... 4,000,000 0 0 0
Norwegian crewing concept
development (NORCREW).......... 2,000,000 2,000,000 0 0
Self propelled barge replacement 900,000 900,000 0 0
Surface search radar replacement
project........................ 3,500,000 3,500,000 0 0
210-foot medium endurance cutter
MMA............................ 14,500,000 14,500,000 10,500,000 6,000,000
378-foot shipboard command &
control........................ 1,300,000 1,300,000 0 0
Configuration management........ 5,700,000 5,700,000 0 2,600,000
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total vesssels................ 203,700,000 191,200,000 178,000,000 167,600,000
===========================================================================
Aircraft:
Traffic alert & collision
avoidance system (TCAS) phase
IV............................. 13,000,000 10,000,000 8,000,000 8,000,000
Global positioning system
installation phase VI.......... 1,900,000 1,900,000 1,900,000 1,900,000
HH-65 Helicopter main
transmission gearbox upgrade
phase II....................... 2,500,000 2,500,000 2,500,000 0
HC-130 side looking airborne
radar (SLAR) upgrade........... 2,100,000 2,100,000 2,100,000 2,100,000
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total aircraft................ 19,500,000 16,500,000 14,500,000 12,000,000
===========================================================================
Other equipment:
Supply center computer
replacement.................... 1,000,000 1,000,000 1,000,000 1,000,000
Fleet logistics system.......... 3,000,000 3,000,000 0 3,000,000
Vessel traffic service (VTS)
system 2000.................... 5,000,000 5,000,000 2,000,000 3,400,000
VTS equipment replacement....... 3,000,000 3,000,000 3,000,000 1,900,000
Marine information for safety
and law enforcement (MISLE).... 11,000,000 11,000,000 11,000,000 11,000,000
Conversion of software
applications................... 11,100,000 6,100,000 9,000,000 8,500,000
Finance center information
system replacement............. 2,600,000 2,600,000 2,500,000 2,500,000
Differential GPS transmitter
replacement.................... 1,700,000 0 1,700,000 1,700,000
Differential GPS implementation--
second district................ 2,400,000 0 2,400,000 0
Search and rescue simulation
model (SARSIM)................. 500,000 500,000 500,000 500,000
Communication systems 2000...... 11,000,000 6,000,000 11,000,000 11,000,000
WLB/WLM support facility........ 1,500,000 1,500,000 1,000,000 1,000,000
Vessel navigation training
simulator...................... 1,500,000 1,500,000 1,500,000 1,500,000
Local notice to mariners
automation..................... 500,000 500,000 500,000 500,000
Global maritime distress and
safety system.................. 500,000 500,000 500,000 500,000
Operational information system.. 0 0 0 1,200,000
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total other equipment......... 56,300,000 42,200,000 47,600,000 49,200,000
===========================================================================
Shore facilities and aids to
navigation:
Survey and design--Shore
projects....................... 8,000,000 8,000,000 6,000,000 6,000,000

[[Page H10495]]
ACQUISITION CONSTRUCTION AND IMPROVEMENTS: CONFERENCE AGREEMENT--FISCAL YEAR 1996--Continued
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 1996 Fiscal year 1996 Fiscal year 1996 Conference
Program name estimate House Senate agreement
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Minor AC&I shore construction
projects....................... 5,000,000 5,000,000 4,000,000 4,000,000
Streamlining initiatives........ 5,000,000 5,000,000 0 0
Air station consolidation....... 11,00,000 11,000,000 0 0
Coast Guard Yard ship handling
facility (phase II)............ 15,100,000 0 7,000,000 7,000,000
Public family quarters.......... 22,700,000 20,275,000 8,900,000 9,175,000
Station Boothbay Harbor, ME--
renovate/expand................ 2,800,000 2,800,000 2,800,000 2,800,000
Base South Portland, ME--
construct station operations
bldg........................... 2,600,000 2,600,000 2,600,000 2,600,000
Base San Juan, PR--
reconstruction................. 3,150,000 3,150,000 0 0
Station Port Isabel, TX--
reconstruct/expand waterfront
facilities..................... 2,650,000 2,650,000 2,650,000 2,650,000
Station Portage, MI--relocate/
replace station facilities..... 4,200,000 4,200,000 4,200,000 2,300,000
Station Chetco River, OR--
construct mooring/waterfront... 2,000,000 2,000,000 2,000,000 2,000,000
Station Honolulu, HI--
replacement.................... 5,000,000 5,000,000 5,000,000 5,000,000
Waterways ATON projects......... 5,500,000 5,500,000 4,000,000 4,500,000
Overseas LORAN closure.......... 0 0 0 -1,900,000
Streamlining/initiatives:
New London, CT: Academy (Roland
Hall renovation)............... 5,100,000 5,100,000 0 3,900,000
New London, CT: Academy (CPO &
leadership schools)............ 0 0 2,500,000 2,500,000
New London: CT: Academy (Galley
renovation).................... 0 0 0 5,000,000
Wadsworth, NY: Group/MSO/VTC
Center......................... 0 0 9,000,000 9,000,000
Rosebank, NY: Pier and station
rehabilitation................. 0 0 4,000,000 4,000,000
Rosebank, NY: Moorings.......... 0 0 0 3,900,000
Bayonne, NJ: Pier improvements/
ANT team facilities............ 0 0 5,700,000 5,700,000
Sandy Hook, NJ: Construct group
engineering building........... 0 0 2,750,000 2,750,000
Portsmouth, VA: Support center
administrative space........... 0 0 4,000,000 4,000,000
Boston, MA: Support center
rehabilitation................. 0 0 2,000,000 2,000,000
Yorktown, VA: Reserve training
center yeoman school mods...... 0 0 1,100,000 0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total shore facilities and
aids to navigation........... 99,800,000 82,200,000 80,200,000 88,875,000
===========================================================================
Personnel and related support:
Direct personnel costs.......... 48,200,000 42,500,000 46,000,000 44,200,000
Core acquisition costs.......... 700,000 500,000 500,000 500,000
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total personnel and related... 48,900,000 43,000,000 46,500,000 44,700,000
===========================================================================
Total appropriations.......... 428,200,000 375,175,000 366,800,000 362,375,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Amendment No. 26: Provides $167,600,000 to acquire, repair,
renovate or improve vessels, small boats and related
equipment instead of $191,200,000 as proposed by the House
and $178,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. In addition, the
conference agreement includes the reprogramming of
$14,000,000 from the seagoing and coastal buoy tender (WLB/
WLM) programs, to be reallocated to the following programs:

Polar icebreaker replacement.................................$4,300,000
NORCREW search and rescue boat................................2,000,000
Self-propelled barge............................................900,000
Surface search radar replacement..............................3,500,000
378-foot shipboard command and control........................1,300,000
210-foot cutter MMA...........................................2,000,000

Stern loading buoy boat (BUSL) replacement.--The conference
agreement provides no funding for this project, as proposed
by the House, instead of $8,500,000 as proposed by the
Senate. This should be interpreted as a deferral of
additional funding, and not Congressional desire to terminate
the project. Due to project delays, prior year funding is
available to continue this effort through fiscal year 1996
without additional appropriation.
Amendment No. 27: Provides $12,000,000 to acquire new
aircraft and increase aviation capability instead of
$16,500,000 as proposed by the House and $14,500,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
RU-38A wing assembly upgrade.--The conferees understand the
Coast Guard has identified a particular upgrade to the center
wing assembly of the RU-38A surveillance aircraft which could
significantly enhance the aircraft's service life, range and
endurance on operational missions. The conferees understand
that additional funding may be required to conduct this
upgrade, and encourage the Coast Guard to submit a
reprogramming proposal to the Congress for this work if the
Coast Guard determines the project to be of sufficient
priority.
Amendment No. 28: Provides $49,200,000 for other equipment
instead of $42,200,000 as proposed by the House and
$47,600,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Operational information system.--The conference agreement
includes $1,200,000 for procurement and evaluation of
prototypes of the operational information system (OIS),
proposed by the House under the ``Research, development, test
and evaluation'' (RDT&E) appropriation. In its appeal to the
conferees, the Coast Guard suggested that RDT&E was not the
appropriate account for this project. Consequently, the
conference agreement includes funding under this
appropriation.
Amendment No. 29: Provides $88,875,000 for shore facilities
and aids to navigation facilities instead of $82,275,000 as
proposed by the House and $80,200,000 as proposed by the
Senate. In addition, the conference agreement includes the
reprogramming of $24,000,000 from various shore facilities as
listed in the Senate report (-$22,100,000) and from the
overseas Loran-C closure program (-$1,900,000), to be
reallocated to the following programs:

Air station consolidation...................................$11,000,000
Public family quarters.......................................11,100,000
Station Portage, MI...........................................1,900,000

Amendment No. 30: Provides $44,700,000 for acquisition-
related personnel compensation, benefits and related costs
instead of $43,000,000 as proposed by the House and
$46,500,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Amendment No. 31: Deletes House language that would have
allowed the Secretary to transfer up to $50,000,000 within
the AC&I appropriation for implementation costs associated
with Coast Guard streamlining plans. The Senate bill provided
funding for specific streamlining projects rather than
transfer authority for unspecified projects. The conference
agreement adopts the Senate approach, providing $42,750,000
for ten streamlining projects. This compares to $31,050,000
in the Senate bill. The budget request included $5,000,000
for unspecified projects. The conferees are very supportive
of the Coast Guard's streamlining efforts and look forward to
reviewing specific proposals next year in detail.
Amendment No. 32: Provides that the Commandant may dispose
of surplus real property by sale or lease and the proceeds
shall be credited to this appropriation. The Senate bill
required disposal by sale or lease. The House bill contained
no similar provision.

port safety development

Amendment No. 33: Appropriates $15,000,000 for debt
retirement of the Port of Portland, Oregon, to remain
available until expended, as proposed by the Senate. The
House bill contained no similar appropriation.

alteration of bridges

Amendment No. 34: Appropriates $16,000,000 for the
alteration or removal of obstructive bridges as proposed by
the House instead of $2,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
A table comparing the fiscal year 1996 estimate, House
bill, Senate bill, and conference agreement by bridge and
location follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year Conference
1996 estimate House bill Senate bill agreement
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bridge and location:
Burlington, IA, Burlington Northern RR
Bridge..................................... $2,000,000 $2,000,000 $2,000,000 $2,000,000
New Orleans, LA, Florida Avenue RR/HW Bridge .............. 2,000,000 .............. 2,000,000
Brunswick, GA, Sidney Lanier HW Bridge...... .............. 8,000,000 .............. 8,000,000
Chelsea St. Bridge, Boston, MA.............. .............. 2,000,000 .............. 2,000,000
Limehouse HW Bridge, St. John's Island, SC.. .............. 2,000,000 .............. 2,000,000
---------------------------------------------------------------
Total................................... 2,000,000 16,000,000 2,000,000 16,000,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page H10496]]

reserve training

Amendment No. 35: Appropriates $62,000,000 for reserve
training as proposed by the Senate instead of $61,859,000 as
proposed by the House.

Research, development, test, and evaluation

Amendment No. 36: Appropriates $18,000,000 for research,
development, test, and evaluation instead of $18,500,000 as
proposed by the House and $20,000,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
The following table summarizes the fiscal year 1996 budget
estimate, House and Senate recommendations, and the
conference agreement by program, project and activity:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 1996 Conference
Program area estimate House bill Senate bill agreement
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Improve search and rescue
capability:
Search planning................. $100,000 $100,000 ................. 100,000
Search process, platforms and
sensors........................ 400,000 400,000 ................. 400,000
Personnel....................... 432,000 432,000 ................. 432,000
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... 932,000 932,000 500,000 932,000
===========================================================================
Waterways safety and management:
Waterways management............ 500,000 500,000 ................. 400,000
Advanced vessel traffic systems/
services....................... 600,000 100,000 ................. 275,000
Integrated navigation systems... 450,000 450,000 ................. 450,000
Short range aids to navigation.. 400,000 200,000 ................. 200,000
Advanced GPS development........ 0 0 ................. 0
Personnel....................... 864,000 864,000 ................. 864,000
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... 2,814,000 2,114,000 1,325,000 2,189,000
===========================================================================
Marine safety:
Marine safety research.......... 530,000 200,000 ................. 200,000
Human factors analysis.......... 1,685,000 700,000 ................. 1,050,000
Fire safety for commercial
vessels........................ 960,000 750,000 ................. 750,000
Personnel....................... 972,000 700,000 ................. 700,000
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... 4,147,000 2,350,000 2,000,000 2,700,000
===========================================================================
Ship structure committee:
Support for Committee........... 250,000 0 0 0
Personnel....................... 36,000 0 0 0
===========================================================================
Total......................... 286,000 0 0 0
===========================================================================
Marine environmental protection:
Planning, management and
training....................... 150,000 150,000 ................. 150,000
Detection/surveillance systems.. 0 0 ................. 0
Oil pollution response.......... 850,000 500,000 ................. 625,000
Personnel health and safety..... 75,000 75,000 ................. 75,000
Port demonstration project...... 0 0 ................. 0
OPA90 regional grant program.. 0 0 ................. 0
HazChem countermeasures and
safety......................... 0 0 ................. 0
Personnel....................... 504,000 504,000 ................. 504,000
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... 1,579,000 1,229,000 1,075,00 1,354,000
===========================================================================
Maritime law enforcement:
Surveillance.................... 725,000 725,000 ................. 725,000
Vessel search................... 0 0 ................. 0
Sensor integration information.. 0 0 ................. 0
Personnel....................... 504,000 504,000 ................. 504,000
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... 1,229,000 1,229,000 725,000 1,229,000
===========================================================================
Safety and environmental compliance:
Cutter fire safety technology... 600,000 586,000 0 586,000
Pollution prevention............ 500,000 500,000 0 500,000
Aviation engineering support.... 75,000 0 0 0
Vessel loss exposure and risk
analysis methology............. 620,000 620,000 0 620,000
Personnel....................... 612,000 612,000 ................. 612,000
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... 2,407,000 2,318,000 0 2,318,000
===========================================================================
Human resource management
effectiveness:
Training techniques and
technologies................... 300,000 0 0 100,000
Staffing standards development.. 0 0 0 0
Personnel....................... 144,000 0 0 0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... 444,000 0 0 100,000
===========================================================================
Command, control, computers and
intelligence:
Information systems............. 280,000 1,780,000 0 280,000
Advanced communications systems. 0 0 0 0
Personnel....................... 648,000 648,000 0 648,000
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... 928,000 2,428,000 0 928,000
===========================================================================
Technology base:
Future technology assessment.... 300,000 0 0 0
Modeling........................ 150,000 0 0 0
Select projects................. 450,000 300,000 0 300,000
Personnel....................... 684,000 200,000 0 200,000
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... 1,584,000 500,000 0 500,000
===========================================================================
R&D personnel, program support and
operations
Admin/support personnel and
related costs.................. 3,100,000 2,600,000 0 2,850,000
Support and operations.......... 1,700,000 1,500,000 0 1,600,000
R&D management info system
development.................... 500,000 450,000 0 450,000
Modernization of F&STD test
facilities..................... 850,000 850,000 0 850,000
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... 6,150,000 5,400,000 0 5,750,000
===========================================================================
Mission capabilities assessment..... 0 0 1,780,000 0
Multimission/administrative
support........................ 0 0 12,595,000 0
Other projects:
South Florida oil spill research
center......................... 0 0 0 0
Maritime Fire and Research
Assoc.......................... 0 0 0 0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... 0 0 0 0
===========================================================================
Total appropriations.......... 22,500,000 18,500,000 20,000,000 18,000,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page H10497]]

boat safety

(aquatic resources trust fund)

Amendment No. 37: Appropriations $20,000,000 for boat
safety grants as proposed by the House instead of no funding
as proposed by the Senate. The budget proposal and the Senate
recommendation assumed this program would be fully funded as
a mandatory appropriation beginning in fiscal year 1996. When
combined with an estimated $10,000,000 in mandatory spending
authorized by the Clean Vessel Act of 1992, total program
resources are $30,000,000 for fiscal year 1996, which
compares to $32,500,000 for fiscal year 1995.
Notwithstanding the difficult budget constraints faced by
the Congress, the conferees believe that to convert
discretionary grant programs such as this one to mandatory
funding--avoiding annual budget review and competition with
other programs in the appropriations process--would undermine
fiscal constraint and lessen Congressional oversight in an
area which has the country's second highest number of
transportation-related fatalities and is currently on the
National Transportation Safety Board's list of ``most
wanted'' safety improvements. Rather than put this program on
an automatic spending status and lessen oversight, the
conferees believe the Coast Guard and the department could
more effectively use these grant funds to target states with
poor boat safety records, and provide leveraged funding for
safety improvements.
The conferees also note the Coast Guard is in error when it
assumes that funding for this and other maritime programs
comes at the expense of its operating budget. The conferees
wish to make clear to the Coast Guard and the department
that, while funding for boating safety grants is clearly a
portion of the overall allocation of budgetary resources in
this bill, it should not be assumed that reductions have been
made in Coast Guard operating expenses to accommodate this or
any other important maritime programs in the bill.

emergency fund

(limitation on permanent appropriations)

(oil spill liability trust fund)

Amendment No. 38: Deletes limitation of $3,000,000 on the
permanent appropriation authorized in section 1012(a)(4) of
the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 proposed by the House. The
Senate bill contained no similar limitation.

Federal Aviation Administration

operations

(including transfer of funds)

Amendment No. 39: Inserts heading ``including transfer of
funds'' as proposed by the Senate. This is necessary due to
the disposition of amendment numbered 46.
Amendment No. 40: Appropriates $4,645,712,000 for FAA
operations instead of $4,600,000,000 as proposed by the House
and $4,550,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The following table summarizes adjustments to the budget
estimate in the House and Senate bills and the conference
agreement, by budget activity:

FAA OPERATIONS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Conference
House bill Senate bill agreement
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operation of the ATC system:
Budget estimate.................................... 2,228,634,000 2,228,634,000 2,228,634,000
Adjustments to budget estimate:
Contract tower streamlining.................... -6,520,000 0 0
``Quality through partnership''................ -1,790,000 0 -1,790,000
General reduction.............................. 0 -28,310,000 0
Acclerated promotion........................... 0 0 -4,300,000
--------------------------------------------------------
Amount recommended........................... 2,220,324,000 2,200,324,000 2,222,544,000
========================================================
NAS logistics support:
Budget estimate.................................... 185,158,000 185,158,000 185,158,000
Adjustments to budget estimate:
Motor fleet, FAALC............................. -3,100,000 0 0
Depot spares................................... +4,000,000 0 0
General reduction.............................. 0 +4,493,000 0
--------------------------------------------------------
Amount recommended........................... 186,058,000 180,665,000 185,158,000
========================================================
Maintenance of ATC system:
Budget estimate.................................... 868,297,000 868,297,000 868,297,000
Adjustments to budget estimate:
AMASS maintenance.............................. -2,000,000 0 -2,000,000
OASIS maintenance.............................. -100,000 0 -100,000
Undefined inflation............................ 0 -3,602,000 -3,602,000
--------------------------------------------------------
Amount recommended........................... 866,197,000 864,695,000 862,595,000
========================================================
Leased telecommunications:
Budget estimate.................................... 328,423,000 328,423,000 328,423,000
Adjustments to budget estimate:
Administrative communications.................. -4,680,000 0 -1,500,000
WECO switch offset............................. -2,000,000 0 -2,000,000
General reduction.............................. 0 -2,078,000 0
--------------------------------------------------------
Amount recommended........................... 321,743,000 326,345,000 324,923,000
========================================================
Aviation regulation/certification:
Budget estimate.................................... 399,711,000 399,711,000 399,711,000
Adjustments to budget estimate:
Flight standards staff increase................ -4,954,000 -4,954,000 0
New data systems............................... -1,634,000 -1,634,000 -1,634,000
PCS moves...................................... -617,000 -617,000 -617,000
OMEGA navigation system........................ -8,556,000 -2,056,000 -1,840,000
--------------------------------------------------------
Amount recommended........................... 383,950,000 390,450,000 395,620,000
========================================================
Aviation standards:
Budget estimate.................................... 111,395,000 111,395,000 111,395,000
Adjustments to budget estimate:
Hold costs to fiscal year 1995 level........... -2,644,000 -2,644,000 -2,644,000
--------------------------------------------------------
Amount recommended........................... 108,751,000 108,751,000 108,751,000
========================================================
Aviation security:
Budget estimate.................................... 65,769,000 65,769,000 65,769,000
Adjustments to budget estimate:
Hold costs to fiscal year 1995 level........... -920,000 0 0
General reduction.............................. 0 -769,000 0
--------------------------------------------------------
Amount recommended........................... 64,849,000 65,000,000 65,769,000
========================================================
NAS Design and management
Budget estimate.................................... 53,277,000 53,277,000 53,277,000
Adjustments to budget estimate:
General reduction.............................. -8,277,000 -277,000 -3,000,000
--------------------------------------------------------
Amount recommended........................... 45,000,000 53,000,000 50,277,000
========================================================
Administration of airports:
Budget estimate.................................... 42,173,000 42,173,000 42,173,000
Adjustments to budget estimate:
Staffing increase.............................. -643,000 -673,000 -650,000
--------------------------------------------------------
Amount recommended........................... 41,530,000 41,500,000 41,523,000
========================================================

[[Page H10498]]
FAA OPERATIONS--Continued
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Conference
House bill Senate bill agreement
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commercial space transportation:
Budget estimate.................................... 6,541,000 6,541,000 6,541,000
Adjustments to budget estimate:
Hold travel to fiscal year 1995 level.......... -45,000 -45,000 -45,000
Contract programs.............................. -666,000 -666,000 -666,000
Delete industry support........................ -60,000 -60,000 -60,000
--------------------------------------------------------
Amount recommended........................... 5,770,000 5,770,000 5,770,000
========================================================
Human resource management:
Budget estimate.................................... 231,947,000 231,947,000 231,947,000
Adjustments to budget estimate:
Labor, personnel and human relations........... -22,142,000 0 -17,197,000
Centralized training........................... -10,050,000 0 -8,000,000
MARC........................................... +250,000 0 +250,000
General reduction.............................. 0 -23,447,000 0
--------------------------------------------------------
Amount recommended........................... 200,005,000 208,500,000 207,000,000
========================================================
Executive direction and management:
Budget estimate.................................... 189,216,000 189,216,000 189,216,000
Adjustments to budget estimate:
Staffing reductions............................ -5,390,000 0 -3,169,000
Regional public affairs staffing............... -2,047,000 0 -2,047,000
General reduction.............................. -6,779,000 -9,216,000 0
--------------------------------------------------------
Amount recommended........................... 175,000,000 180,000,000 184,000,000
========================================================
Account-wide adjustments:
Administration aircraft............................ -3,600,000 0 -1,500,000
Adjustments to budget estimate:
SAE grant.......................................... -105,000 0 0
Overseas personnel assignments..................... -500,000 0 -500,000
Non-pay inflation.................................. -4,824,000 0 -4,824,000
Workers' compensation.............................. -1,394,000 0 -1,394,000
Undistributed...................................... -8,754,000 -15,000,000 0
Operational pay differential....................... 0 -45,000,000 0
Non-pay inflation, administrative aircraft, and GSA
vehicles.......................................... 0 -5,000,000 0
--------------------------------------------------------
Amount recommended........................... -19,177,000 -65,000,000 -8,218,000
========================================================
Offsetting receipts: Amount recommended 0 -10,000,000 0
--------------------------------------------------------
Total appropriation.............................. 4,600,000,000 4,550,000,000 4,645,712,000
Transfer from Coast Guard........................ ................. ................. 60,000,000
Total funding.................................... 4,600,000,000 4,550,000,000 4,705,712,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Contract tower streamlining program.--The conferees agree
to restore the reduction of $6,520,000 proposed by the House
for this program, but agree with the House's observation that
in past years, funds for this important program have not been
spent as intended, but reprogrammed to other activities. The
conferees believe these delays have been at least partly due
to wage determinations required administratively by the
Department of Labor. Since the conferees agree with the
Senate language amending and streamlining the wage
determination process, it is hoped the contract tower program
will move forward without further delay and achieve the
promised budgetary savings. The FAA is directed not to
reprogram any of the $6,520,000 appropriated for this
program.
``Quality through partnership'' program.--The conference
agreement deletes the $1,790,000 budgeted for this program,
as proposed by the House. The conferees direct that no funds
be reprogrammed for this activity during fiscal year 1996.
Accelerated promotion.--Since completion of House and
Senate action on this bill, program savings of $4,300,000
have been found resulting from discontinuation of the
accelerated promotion program for air traffic controllers.
When the Training Agreement for Accelerated Promotions
expired on July 15, 1995 and the administration made a
decision not to renew the program, these funds became excess
to budgetary requirements. This program allowed controllers
to receive grade-to-grade promotions without fulfilling the
time-in-grade requirements applicable to other federal
employees. The conferees have used these savings to restore
funding for additional FAA safety and certification
inspectors, in order to provide the highest level of aviation
safety possible.
Aviation safety inspectors.--The conference agreement fully
funds the administration's request for 233 additional
aviation safety inspectors, including an additional 117
general aviation inspectors. This is in addition to the
increase in staffing provided for fiscal year 1995. Between
fiscal year 1994 and 1996, end-of-year staffing in this area
has risen from 4,051 to a funded level of 4,606, a two-year
increase of almost 14 percent. Despite difficult budget
constraints, the conferees believe this is a high priority
safety area worthy of additional funding.
Flight service stations.--The conferees do not intend for
FAA to close flight service stations not in the currently-
approved plan, and believe funding in the conference
agreement is sufficient for the FAA to continue to operate
and maintain its existing network of flight service stations
around the country.
Allocation of budget reductions.--The conferees reiterate
to FAA and departmental officials that the funding
allocations and reductions specified in the bill, as detailed
and explained in this joint explanatory statement of the
committee of conference, are the best expressions of
Congressional intentions regarding the proper uses of
appropriated funds. Should the department decide to reduce
activities below the levels specified or implied herein, and
in particular if activities are to be substantially reduced
or terminated by agency action which is not specifically
addressed in this statement, the department shall receive
prior Congressional approval through the reprogramming
process.
Mid America Aviation Resource Consortium.--The conferees
agree to provide $250,000 for continued support of the Mid-
America Aviation Resource Consortium, as proposed by the
House, but intend that this be the final year of federal
support for this facility unless requested in the President's
budget.
Loran-C automatic blink system.--The conferees agree with
the House's direction to expedite implementation of the
automatic blink system for the Loran-C navigation system.
Aurora, IL en route center.--The conferees recognize the
urgency of solving the problems causing computer outages at
the FAA's air traffic control center in Aurora, Illinois. The
Aurora center is one of the busiest in the world and a
critical link in our nation's air traffic control system.
Years of delay in updating the present equipment have
resulted in an obsolete, aged, and failure-prone system in
the Aurora center. FAA has worked diligently to develop an
interim solution to this problem as quickly as is
technologically feasible, pending installation of a new air
traffic control system for the nation. The conferees deem
maintenance of reliable operational capability at the Aurora
center to be in the national interest of maintaining an
efficient and viable national air transportation system, and
deem the implementation of interim solutions to the problems
causing computer outages to be an urgent national priority.
FAA should simplify and expedite its procurement process to
the maximum extent feasible, and should allocate all
necessary personnel resources to assure that the existing
system remains in reliable working order. If FAA determines
that additional technological or personnel resources are
necessary to develop and implement interim solutions to these
problems, then the Congress would give serious consideration
to providing such additional resources. The conference
agreement includes $20,000,000, as proposed by the Senate,
for the display channel complex rehost program, which will
upgrade the computers at Aurora and similar centers.
Amendment No. 41: Provides that $2,222,859,100 shall be
derived from the airport and airway trust fund instead of
$1,871,500,000 as proposed by the House and $1,865,000,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
Amendment No. 42: Allows funds for any ``agency'' services
to be credited to this appropriation, as proposed by the
Senate. The House bill specified that only receipts for
``aviation'' services be credited to the appropriation.
Amendment No. 43: Requires that funds credited to the
appropriation be ``receipts

[[Page H10499]]

for'' certain services, as proposed by the Senate. The House
bill contained no similar language.
Amendment No. 44: Deletes Senate language allowing
$10,000,000 in additional safety and security fees to be
credited to this appropriation. The conferees have not yet
seen adequate details from the administration demonstrating
the unequivocal need for new fees, and explanation and
justification of the specific fees to be imposed, or a
convincing argument that the FAA's cost structure is of such
efficiency that new fees or taxes are necessary. In addition,
the conferees believe there will be substantial savings
achieved through the FAA reform provisions enacted in this
bill and the broader revisions currently under consideration
in the authorization process. Such cost savings, combined
with further review of the agency's cost structure, could
obviate or minimize the need for additional fees.
Amendment No. 45: The conference agreement deletes language
proposed by the Senate which would have begun a three year
phaseout of the ``five percent bonus pay'' for air traffic
controllers and technicians, and inserts new language
allowing the Secretary of Transportation permissive transfer
authority of up to $60,000,000 from Coast Guard ``Operating
expenses'' to augment funding for air traffic control
operations and maintenance to enhance safety and security.
FAA operations funding and transfer flexibility.--Since
consideration of the fiscal year 1996 transportation
appropriations bill by the House and Senate, the
administration has raised the priority of funding for FAA
operations and maintenance. For example, in a September 13,
1995 letter to the House and Senate Appropriations
Committees, the director of the Office of Management and
Budget advised ``the administration has serious concerns that
the funding level for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Operations would make it difficult to continue today's high
levels of aviation safety. The administration's highest
priority is that FAA operations be funded at the requested
level.''
The conferees have given the utmost consideration to the
administration's priorities. The conference agreement
includes an appropriation for FAA operations above the levels
proposed in either the House or Senate bill. In addition, the
agreement includes the authority for the Secretary of
Transportation to transfer up to $60,000,000 from Coast Guard
``Operating expenses'' to augment the FAA's operating budget
for air traffic control operations and maintenance activities
which enhance aviation safety and security. It is not clear
at this time how much of this authority might be required,
but the conferees wish to provide maximum flexibility in the
event of a critical shortfall. With the transfer, total
funding for FAA operations in this bill is $4,705,712,000,
slightly above the administration's request.
In addition, the conference agreement fully restores the
requested increase for aviation safety inspectors and
implements significant FAA personnel and procurement reforms.
The first action addresses a high administration priority and
provides the maximum resources possible for an important
safety initiative. Personnel and procurement reforms are
expected to free up significant operating funds or air
traffic control and safety-related activities. Overall, the
conferees are confident that the increased funding level,
combined with transfer flexibility and these additional
actions, will be sufficient to maintain aviation safety over
the coming year despite the difficult budget environment and
the necessity for government-wide downsizing.
Five percent bonus pay.--The conference agreement restores
the reduction of $45,000,000 to begin a three year phaseout
of this pay proposed by the Senate. However, in order to
accommodate the $88,600,000 estimated for this program, the
conferees were required to hold funding for the airport
improvement program to the fiscal year 1995 level of
$1,450,000,000. Given the high priority placed on the five
percent bonus by the administration and the desire to
maintain morale in the air traffic controller workforce, the
conferees believe it prudent and necessary to delay some
airport construction projects to finance continuation of this
important activity.
Aviation security.--The conference agreement fully funds
the administration's request of $65,769,000 for aviation
security activities due to the high priority of this activity
given recent threat assessments.
Amendment No. 46: Provides for the transfer of unexpended
balances from prior appropriations for the office of
commercial space transportation to this appropriation, and
prohibits airport and airway trust fund resources from being
used to support the office of commercial space
transportation, as proposed by the Senate. The House bill
contained no similar provisions. The conference agreement
transfers this office from the office of the secretary of
transportation to the FAA.

facilities and equipment

(airport and airway trust fund)

Amendment No. 47: Appropriates $1,934,883,000 for
facilities and equipment instead of $2,000,000,000 as
proposed by the House and $1,890,377,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
The following table summarizes the fiscal year 1996 budget
estimate, House and Senate recommended levels, and the
conference agreement by program, project, and activity:

[[Page H10500]]

<graphic><tiff>TH20OC95.000

[[Page H10501]]

<graphic><tif1>TH20OC95.001

[[Page H10502]]

<graphic><tif2>TH20OC95.002

[[Page H10503]]

Automated surface observing system.--In its July 30, 1992
report on the fiscal year 1993 DOT Appropriations Bill, the
Senate Appropriations Committee noted that certain critical
requirements for the automated surface observing system
(ASOS) appeared to be unfunded and not included in the
original ASOS contract. In a report to Congress dated July
26, 1993, the Acting Administrator of the FAA noted that
ground-to-air radios, freezing rain sensors, and improved
tower displays were ``considered urgent to achieve successful
completion of the ASOS program''. According to the FAA,
additional funding was not required for the radios, the rain
sensors would be funded over fiscal years 1994 and 1995, and
the display upgrade only awaited a cost estimate from the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Given these
statements, the conferees were surprised to learn that a
recent ASOS program review revealed unfunded costs of
approximately $25,000,000 for these items, as well as
unfunded maintenance costs. The FAA is now developing a plan
to use a large portion of the fiscal year 1996 funds--
appropriated to procure 106 additional systems--to address
this shortfall instead. The conferees emphatically direct the
FAA to use the fiscal year 1996 funding to procure the
additional ASOS systems, as was justified to the Congress in
the President's budget request.
The conferees are disappointed to learn that the FAA did
not resolve these problems in 1993, as it led Congress to
believe, and are concerned that this is one more example of
an FAA acquisition culture in great need of the reforms
contained in this bill. If the FAA's estimates of a shortfall
are correct, then a reprogramming of non-ASOS funds should be
submitted for consideration through the normal process, in an
expedited manner as would be suggested by the agency's past
statements regarding the urgency of these improvements. In
addition, the conferees direct the FAA to report to the House
and Senate Committees on Appropriations by December 1, 1995
on the agency's plans to close the gap of installed versus
commissioned sites, without interrupting the scheduled
procurement of ASOS units.
The conferees direct the FAA to expedite installation of
the long line connection providing ASOS data between the Ames
Airport, Iowa and the national weather net.
Terminal area surveillance system.--The conference
agreement provides $5,000,000 for the terminal area
surveillance system (TASS) as proposed by the Senate instead
of $5,800,000 as proposed by the House. In its appeal to the
conferees, the FAA stated ``the TASS program has been
restructured from a single, multi-function system acquisition
program to a program focused on research into subsystem
performance enhancements.'' The conferees have no information
on this restructured program, and believe the TASS
development and acquisition program should proceed as
scheduled and planned prior to any restructuring. Fiscal year
1996 funding is provided specifically for the TASS system
acquisition program and not for any subsystem enhancements.
Low-cost ASDE and non-radar runway incursion
technologies.--The conferees agree that the FAA should
explore lower cost surface detection technology solutions for
airports not scheduled to receive ASDE-3 equipment. The
conferees agree to provide $5,000,000 for the development and
demonstration of lower cost phased array surface detection
technology, instead of $8,000,000 as proposed by the House.
Funds should be used for purchase and installation of one
such system and for administrative costs related to
demonstration and evaluation of the system.
Terminal doppler weather radar.--The conference agreement
does not include additional funding for the acquisition of
five new terminal doppler weather radars proposed by the
House. The conferees, however, are not convinced that the
ASR/windshear alert program, now in the research phase, will
be a cost-effective alternative to terminal doppler weather
radar in meeting future windshear requirements. The FAA has
not provided sufficient data regarding the performance of the
ASR/windshear alert program in dry regions of the country.
Moreover, under current projects, the ASR/windshear alert
program will not be commissioned until the year 2002. During
the fiscal year 1997 hearing cycle, the conferees expect to
further explore the efficacy of the ASR/windshear alert
program. In the interim, the conferees expect the FAA to move
forward with site surveys for the next five sites for which
TDWR systems are indicated, and to report on its progress no
later than sixty days following enactment of this Act. In
addition, the conferees direct the FAA to update the needs
requirement analysis for the terminal doppler weather program
that was first done in 1986 no later than sixty days
following enactment of this Act. The update should include a
review of the 47 sites included in the existing contract and
the 53 sites not scheduled under the current contract. The
conferees direct the FAA to review those sites experiencing
significant delays in the installation of TDWRs in the
existing contract and certify that each is likely to be
commissioned. With that review, and based upon the site
selection review for the next five sites, the FAA is urged to
request reprogramming permission, if necessary to continue
the TDWR program in fiscal year 1996.
The conferees want to reiterate that funding for any TDWR
environmental impact statement (EIS) shall not prejudge the
outcome of the EIS for any particular site in New York except
as previously cited (North Belmore and Roslyn, New York).
Instrument landing systems-establishment.--The conference
agreement provides $35,000,000 as proposed by the Senate
instead of $33,500,000 as proposed by the House. Of the
amount provided, $3,500,000 is for a category II ILS on
runway 7/25 in Rockford, Illinois, and $1,500,000 is for
benefit-cost analysis, environmental assessment, site survey,
and other activities necessary to determine the requirements
for an ILS (category I, II, or III) at Lanai Airport, Hawaii.
The conference agreement includes funding for a category III
ILS on runway 12L/30R at Lambert-St. Louis International
Airport, not runway 14R as specified in the House report.
St. Paul, MN downtown airport tower.--In fiscal year 1995,
Congress provided $3,476,000 for the St. Paul, Minnesota
Downtown Airport to build a replacement air traffic control
tower. The FAA, however, used the airport's money to finance
cost overruns on another project. Given that the FAA
requested and Congress provided funds for the St. Paul tower
in fiscal year 1995, the conferees urge the FAA to honor
their prior agreement and make available the funds necessary
to build the replacement tower at the St. Paul Downtown
Airport.
Financial baseline control notices.--The conferees
reiterate the House's direction that all financial baseline
control notices are to be submitted to the Congress at the
time they are approved by the agency. The documents
themselves should be submitted. The Appropriations Committees
will review this practice at the end of the fiscal year to
determine whether it should be continued.
Support contracts.--A recent FAA study concluded that the
agency uses far too many support contractors, that agency
personnel could be much more cost conscious in their
contracting and oversight methods, and that in many cases,
contract employees are collated with FAA staff and virtually
indistinguishable from government employees. While the
conferees have high regard for the work of FAA's support
contractors, the study nevertheless raises questions about
the extensive nature of such contracts within the FAA.
Therefore, the conferees direct the FAA to report to the
House and Senate Committees on Appropriations by March 30,
1996 on its plan for resolving the findings and implementing
the recommendations of this study. This report should include
a discussion of the extent to which the procurement reforms
in this bill lessen the need for support contracts to meet
the current requirements of the procurement process.
Amendment No. 48: Provides that, of the total amount
appropriated, $1,718,883,000 is available for three years,
instead of $1,784,000,000 in the House bill and
$1,674,377,000 in the Senate bill. This is the amount
provided for budget activities one through four.
Amendment No. 49: Includes technical change proposed by the
Senate, deleting the word ``and'' to allow inclusion of
language contained in amendment numbered 50.
Amendment No. 50: Provides that, of the total amount
appropriated, $10,000,000 is for noncompetitive cooperative
agreements with air carriers for acquisition, installation,
and evaluation of certain specified airport security
equipment, as proposed by the Senate. The House bill
contained no similar provision, although $10,000,000 was
provided for such equipment in the overall appropriation.

facilities and equipment

(airport and airway trust fund)

(rescission)

Amendment No. 51: Rescinds $60,000,000 as proposed by the
House instead of $70,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.

research, engineering, and development

(airport and airway trust fund)

Amendment No. 52: Appropriates $185,698,000 for research,
engineering, and development instead of $143,000,000 as
proposed by the House and $215,886,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
The following table summarizes the fiscal year 1996
estimate, House and Senate recommendations, and the
conference agreement, by program, project, and activity:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 1996 Conference
Program name estimate House bill Senate bill agreement
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
System development and
infrastructure..................... $13,551,000 $8,800,000 $12,500,000 $10,000,000
System planning and resource
management..................... 3,953,000 3,000,000 3,700,000 2,000,000
Technical laboratory facility... 9,598,000 5,800,000 8,800,000 8,000,000
Capacity and air traffic management
technology......................... 79,205,000 25,129,000 50,800,000 37,200,000
Air traffic management
technology..................... 9,875,000 0 8,000,000 3,500,000
Oceanic automation program...... 10,470,000 8,000,000 8,000,000 8,000,000
Terminal air traffic control
automation (TATCA)............. 15,624,000 0 0 0
Runway incursion reduction...... 8,177,000 0 8,000,000 4,000,000
System capacity, planning and
improvements................... 12,256,000 6,000,000 12,000,000 9,000,000

[[Page H10504]]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 1996 Conference
Program name estimate House bill Senate bill agreement
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cockpit technology.............. 8,266,000 6,500,000 8,200,000 6,700,000
General aviation/vertical flight
technology..................... 3,327,000 2,629,000 2,600,000 2,600,000
Modeling, analysis, and
simulation..................... 7,807,000 2,000,000 4,000,000 3,400,000
Future airway facilities
technology..................... 3,403,000 0 0 0
Communications, navigation and
surveillance....................... 31,330,000 20,000,000 25,963,000 23,000,000
Communications.................. 15,367,000 10,000,000 10,000,000 10,000,000
Navigation...................... 15,963,000 10,000,000 15,963,000 13,000,000
Surveillance.................... 0 0 0 0
Weather............................. 6,493,000 6,493,000 6,493,000 6,493,000
Airport technology.................. 9,278,000 1,000,000 8,000,000 6,000,000
Aircraft safety technology.......... 47,547,000 29,578,000 40,548,000 37,978,000
Aircraft systems fire safety.... 3,906,000 0 0 0
Advanced materials/structural
safety......................... 2,973,000 2,000,000 2,500,000 2,000,000
Propulsion and fuel systems..... 4,059,000 0 4,055,000 3,400,000
Flight safety/atmospheric
hazards research............... 4,173,000 4,173,000 4,173,000 4,173,000
Aging aircraft.................. 21,415,000 15,000,000 21,415,000 20,000,000
Aircraft catastrophic failure
prevention research............ 4,357,000 2,705,000 2,705,000 2,705,000
Fire research................... 4,604,000 0 0 0
Fire research and safety........ 0 5,700,000 5,700,000 5,700,000
General aviation renaissance.... 1,005,000 0 0 0
Cabin safety.................... 1,055,000 0 0 0
System security technology.......... 43,808,000 23,000,000 37,900,000 36,045,000
Explosives and weapons detection 33,179,000 23,000,000 30,000,000 29,000,000
Airport security technology
integration.................... 2,530,000 0 1,500,000 1,000,000
Aviation security human factors. 4,603,000 0 3,000,000 2,549,000
Aircraft hardening.............. 3,496,000 0 3,400,000 3,496,000
Human factors and aviation medicine. 25,860,000 28,000,000 25,182,000 23,682,000
Flight deck/maintenance/system
integration human factors...... 11,182,000 15,500,000 11,182,000 11,182,000
Air traffic control/airway
facilities human factors....... 10,193,000 10,000,000 10,000,000 10,000,000
Aeromedical research............ 4,485,000 2,500,000 4,000,000 2,500,000
Environment and energy.............. 5,429,000 1,000,000 4,500,000 3,800,000
Innovative/cooperative research..... 5,160,000 0 4,000,000 1,500,000
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total appropriation........... 267,661,000 143,000,000 215,886,000 185,698,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Innovative deicing technology.--In order to evaluate the
effectiveness of enclosed deicing techniques at smaller
regional airports, the conferees urge the FAA to consider the
application of Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport to develop a
test site for the evaluation of innovative deicing
technology. The conferees believe that this technology
warrants further exploration, and direct the FAA to provide a
full report to the House and Senate Committees on
Appropriations by March 15, 1996 on the results of testing
and the agency's plans to authorize airport grant funding or
passenger facility charges to enable airports to procure such
a system.
Runway incursion reduction.--The conference agreement
includes $4,000,000 instead of no funds as proposed by the
House and $8,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. With the
funds provided, the conferees direct FAA to give immediate
priority and attention to the surface movement advisor
project. The conferees believe that reducing runway
incursions is a high priority for further research and rapid
prototyping. While funds in this long-term research activity
are being reduced below the administration's request, the
conference agreement includes an additional $7,000,000 in the
``facilities and equipment'' account for non-radar
technologies and development of low-cost ASDE radar systems.
Total funding, over all accounts, for addressing this safety
problem in the conference agreement is approximately
$3,000,000 above the administration's request.

grants-in-aid for airports

(liquidation of contract authorization)

(airport and airway trust fund)

Amendment No. 53: Deletes heading ``including rescission of
contract authorization'' proposed by the Senate. This is a
technical amendment referring to a proposed rescission of
contract authority discussed under amendment numbered 56.
Amendment No. 54: Limits obligations for the grants-in-aid
for airports program to $1,450,000,000 instead of
$1,600,000,000 as proposed by the House and $1,250,000,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
Letters of intent.--The conferees agree with the Senate
direction that new letters of intent (LOIs) be awarded only
after (1) scheduled LOI payments fall to less than fifty
percent of AIP discretionary funds, and (2) FAA has improved
its ability to estimate airport development projects' impact
on systemwide capacity. Regarding the Senate's language on
possible letters of intent for the Northwest Arkansas
Regional Airport and the Philadelphia International Airport,
the conferees agree that the FAA should fairly consider LOI
applications from these airports, and base a final decision
on technical requirements at these sites and projections of
long term AIP funding, consistent with other directions in
this report.
Regarding the Senate's language on a possible letter of
intent for the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, the
conferees agree that the FAA should also fairly consider an
LOI application from this airport subject to: (1) completion
of the required FAA/federal environmental review process; (2)
resolution of the concerns brought forward in the report RO-
FA-5-015 by the Office of Inspector General; and (3) approval
of the runway project from the Regional Transportation
Planning Organization for the central Puget Sound region by
amending the Regional Air System Plan. Finally, the FAA shall
fairly consider any information brought out at Congressional
field hearings on this matter, but not sign an LOI prior to
March 31, 1996.
Amendment No. 55: Limits obligations for the military
airports program to $26,000,000 and the reliever airports
program to $48,000,000. The Senate bill proposed obligation
limitations of $20,000,000 and $50,000,000, respectively. The
House bill contained no similar limitations. The conference
agreement reflects the Senate's concerns over the
effectiveness of these programs, and frees up financial
resources for discretionary grants in other parts of the
overall AIP program.
Huntsville, AL runway/taxiway rehabilitation project.--The
conferees understand that a specific allocation of fiscal
year 1996 funds for this project is not necessary, and that
sufficient fiscal year 1995 funding has been provided for
this project.
State of Missouri flood-damaged airports.--The conferees
understand that a specific allocation of fiscal year 1996
funds for this project is not necessary, and that sufficient
fiscal year 1995 funding has been provided for this project.
Amendment No. 56: Deletes rescission of contract authority
of $5,000,000 proposed by the Senate. The House bill
contained no similar rescission.

Federal Highway Administration

limitation on general operating expenses

Amendment No. 57: Limits general operating expenses of the
Federal Highway Administration to $509,660,000, instead of
$495,381,000 as proposed by the House and $548,434,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
Amendment No. 58: Provides $208,946,000 for contract
programs of the Federal Highway Administration, instead of
$190,667,000 as proposed by the House and $248,909,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
Recommended funding distribution by program and activity of
the administrative expenses and the research and development
programs of the Federal Highway Administration is as follows:

Program/Activity Conference
Administrative expenses....................................$254,714,000
Motor carrier safety administrative expenses.................46,000,000
Contract programs:
Research and technology:
Highway R&D............................................56,772,000
Intelligent transportation systems....................109,779,000
Technology deployment..................................12,622,000
Long term pavement performance..........................8,739,000
Local technical assistance..............................3,015,000
National Highway Institute..............................4,369,000
Disadvantaged business enterprises.....................10,000,000
International transportation..............................500,000
OJT/supportive services......................................
Technical assistance to Russia............................400,000
Truck dynamic test facility...............................750,000
Transportation investment analysis...........................
Cost allocation study...................................2,000,000
________________

Total...............................................509,660,000

The highway research and development and intelligent
transportation systems programs by activity are as follows:

Highway research and development:
Safety....................................................8,768,000
Pavements.................................................9,247,000
Structures...............................................13,211,000
Environment...............................................5,593,000
Right-of-way................................................429,000

[[Page H10505]]

Policy....................................................5,681,000
Planning..................................................6,069,000
Motor carrier.............................................7,774,000
________________

Total..................................................56,772,000
================

Intelligent transportation systems:
Research and development.................................24,479,000
Operational tests........................................32,500,000
Commercial vehicle operations............................14,500,000
Automated highway system.................................14,000,000
Advanced technology applications...................................
Program and systems support..............................11,300,000
Priority corridors.................................................
Crash avoidance research.................................13,000,000
________________

Total.................................................109,779,000

Office of motor carriers.--The conference agreement
provides a specific designation of funds for the Office of
motor carriers' administrative expenses within the Federal
Highway Administration's limitation on general operating
expenses. The House had included funding for the Office of
motor carrier's administrative expenses within the limitation
on general operating expenses.
Fatigue-related issues.--The conferees direct the Federal
Highway Administration to issue an advanced notice of
proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) dealing with a variety of
fatigue-related issues no later than March 1, 1996. This
ANPRM is to be followed by a notice of proposed rulemaking
within one year, and a final rule or decision thereafter.
Highway safety research.--Congress has long been active in
the advancement of highway safety and has recognized the
invaluable contributions which short-term, applied research
can make to improve safety. Given its concern for safety, the
Congress has, since the early 1990s, vigorously supported
this research by encouraging the Federal Highway
Administration to work closely with the Trucking Research
Institute (TRI) in the study of such issues as fatigue, sleep
disorders, brake maintenance, and rest stop access--all
investigations which may directly affect safety.
In fiscal year 1994, the Congress continued its
participation in the development of an aggressive research
agenda by directing the FHWA to undertake three projects
totaling $1,750,000: Truck loading and unloading as a
possible contributor to driver fatigue; technology to
automate commercial vehicle roadside inspections; and
guidelines for the inspection and maintenance of wheels and
bearings. In fiscal year 1995, the Congress identified three
additional studies, totaling $2,500,000, for the
implementation in the same fashion with TRI: The use of
``smart cards'' to facilitate compliance with motor carrier
safety rules; medical requirements associated with commercial
vehicle operation; and electronic truck and intermodel
information systems.
Highway safety research and related activities continue to
be a priority of the Congress and the conferees. In fact, a
recent National Transportation Safety Board study on driver
fatigue and fatal truck accidents further highlights their
importance and currency. However, despite directions to the
contrary, the FHWA has been negligent in its efforts to
undertake any of the aforementioned research projects
designated by the Congress in either fiscal years 1994 to
1995.
The conferees therefore reiterate the direction to FHWA to
use unobligated balances to make grants to, enter into
cooperative agreements or contracts with, or use any existing
technical support services agreements with TRI, in amounts
totaling not less than $4,000,000 to conduct the six studies
referenced above. The conferees further direct FHWA to
complete this process within 90 days from the date of
enactment of this Act and to advise the House and Senate
Committees on Appropriations when such actions have been
completed.
Highway research and development.--The conference agreement
provides $8,768,000 for safety-related research and
development. The conferees direct that safety be funded at a
level of at least $12,768,000, including both ISTEA and
appropriations authority.
Pavement research and development.--The conference
agreement provides $9,247,000 for pavement research and
development but does not include $1,000,000 as proposed by
the Senate for a joint university/industry grant.
The conferees agree that expanded cost-effective use of
benign waste materials in infrastructure construction, based
on appropriate tests and standards to ensure long-term
environmental and physical performance, represents a priority
technology that is intended to be funded within the funds
available for Section 6005.
National Center for Physical Acoustics.--The conferees urge
the Federal Highway Administration to work with the National
Center for Physical Acoustics in its effort to apply
acoustics to monitor traffic and/or pipeline maintenance.
Motor carrier research.--The conference agreement provides
$7,774,000 for motor carrier research and includes funds for
two studies to (1) identify and test technological
interventions to offset driver fatigue and (2) determine the
extent of scheduling practices and their influences on truck
driver fatigue. No funds are provided for outreach and
technical assistance to regulated entities, to help complete
program uniformity activities, or to eliminate barriers to
effective intermodal freight transportation.
Intelligent transportation systems.--The conference
agreement provides a total of $109,779,000 for intelligent
transportation systems (ITS). Within the funds provided for
operational tests, $10,000,000 shall be allocated to initiate
at least two different operational tests that evaluate
various elements of the systems architecture and integrate
the core infrastructure features, including advance traffic
management systems.
ITS/commercial vehicle operations.--The conference
agreement provides $14,500,000 for commercial vehicle
operations (CVO). Within these funds, the conferees have
included $6,000,000 for development and initial pilot testing
of the CVO communications architecture and the purchase of
transponders.
ITS program and systems support.--The conferees direct that
no more than $2,500,000 of the $11,300,000 provided for
program and systems support shall be spent on institutional
studies.
The conferees are concerned that the joint program office
and the FHWA administrator have failed to submit several
reports pertaining to the national ITS program. These reports
include: the annual report on the ITS program (due in
December 1994); a report on the future of the CVO components
of the ITS program (due in May 1995); and the interim report
on the automated highway system program (due in April 1995).
These reports were intended to provide essential information
useful in evaluating the department's activities and plans.
The conferees direct the Secretary to ensure more timely
delivery of all reports relevant to the ITS program, as well
as other reports on departmental programs and activities.

highway-related safety grants

(liquidation of contract authorization)

(highway trust fund)

(including transfer of funds)

Amendment No. 59: Appropriates $11,000,000 to liquidate
contract authority obligations for highway-related safety
grants instead of $10,000,000 as proposed by the House and
$13,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Amendment No. 60: Limits obligations to $11,000,000 for
highway-related safety grants instead of $10,000,000 as
proposed by the House and $13,000,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
The conferees agree that not less than $1,000,000 shall be
allocated to the Office of Highway Safety to support the red
light running campaign and to increase compliance with yield
right-of-way or grade crossing signs.

federal-aid highways

(limitation on obligations)

(highway trust fund)

Amendment No. 61: Limits obligations for the Federal-aid
highways program to $17,550,000,000 instead of
$18,000,000,000 as proposed by the House and $17,000,000,000
as proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement deletes the Senate's references of
priority designations within the Federal Highway
Administration's discretionary grant programs.
The conferees direct that within the total provided for the
intelligent transportation systems program, funding shall be
available for the following projects in the amounts specified
below:

Project Amount
I-10 Mobile, Alabama.........................................$3,000,000
Hazardous materials fleet management and monitoring system (NI2,500,000
Green light CVO project, Oregon...............................7,000,000
Capital beltway...............................................4,000,000
Houston, Texas................................................2,200,000
Syracuse, New York congestion management......................1,500,000
I-95 Corridor.................................................3,500,000
Johnson City, Tennessee.......................................1,500,000
Texas Transportation Institute..................................600,000
University of North Dakota....................................1,000,000
I-675/SR 844/Col. Glenn, Fairborn, Ohio.......................1,000,000
Paralympiad...................................................1,000,000
Santa Teresa border crossing, New Mexico........................900,000
Western Transportation Institute, Montana.....................1,000,000
TRANSCOM, New York/New Jersey.................................1,500,000
New York State Thruway........................................1,500,000
National Transportation Center, Oakdale, New York.............2,000,000
Advanced railroad/highway crossings...........................1,250,000
Minnesota GuideStar...........................................2,000,000
Salt Lake City................................................2,000,000

In fiscal year 1996, the conference agreement earmarks a
total of $40,950,000 for intelligent transportation systems,
a reduction of over $35,000,000 compared with fiscal year
1995 levels. The conferees will give serious consideration to
discontinuing the practice of earmarking the intelligent
transportation systems program in fiscal year 1997.
The conferees direct that any funding provided for
intelligent transportation systems be used only in support
of, or research on, intelligent transportation systems and
not for construction of buildings.
Paralympiad.--The conferees direct the Federal Highway
Administration to pursue

[[Page H10506]]

vigorously the deployment and demonstration of an
individualized routing system to assist people with
disabilities in moving about independently during the Tenth
Paralympiad. The conferees expect that the funds provided
will be expended and that a system will be delivered and
fully implemented in time of the Tenth Paralympiad.
National Transportation Center, Oakdale, New York.--The
conference agreement includes $2,000,000 for the National
Transportation Center in Oakdale, New York, of which
$1,000,000 shall be available only for a NAFTA intermodal
transportation center.
Minnesota GuideStar.--The State of Minnesota has
established a major laboratory for intelligent transportation
system activities in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. The
GuideStar network emphasizes transit systems in addition to
highways and has been recognized by the Federal Highway
Administration as a leader in the development and
implementation of ITS technologies. The conferees have
included $2,000,000 for this project. Up to 25 percent of
this amount may be made available to the University of
Minnesota's Center for Transportation Studies to support
education, research and training aspects of the project.
World wide web site on the Internet.--The conferees urge
the FHWA to establish a world wide web site to permit
commuters in major metropolitan areas to retrieve through the
Internet video feeds from traffic cameras, average speeds as
determined by traffic monitoring systems, and traffic
messages that appear on variable message signs employed in
the area. To the extent possible, the Department should make
the data available in a standard format on a dial-in network
server that provides text-only access, and a standard
protocol for a touch-tone driven phone system.

motor carrier safety grants

(liquidation of contract authorization)

(highway trust fund)

Amendment No. 62: Limits obligations for motor carrier
safety grants to $77,225,000 instead of $79,150,000 as
proposed by the House and $75,000,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
The conferees agree to the following program allocations:

Basic grants to states......................................$58,000,000
Traffic enforcement...........................................6,900,000
Hazardous materials training..................................1,500,000
Research and development........................................500,000
Public education................................................850,000
CDL enforcement...............................................1,000,000
Truck and bus accidents.......................................1,750,000
Uniformity grants.............................................3,450,000
Uniformity working groups.......................................450,000
Commercial vehicle information system.........................1,500,000
Drug interdiction assistance program............................500,000
Administrative expenses.........................................825,000

Covert verification activities.--The conferees agree that,
within the basic grant program, $1,500,000 shall be used to
conduct covert operations in addition to those funds
originally intended under each state's enforcement plan. Of
the $1,500,000, $400,000 shall be allocated to develop a
model out-of-service prototype system that states can use to
assure that commercial vehicle drivers comply with those
orders.
In addition to covert operations, the conferees believe
that the office of motor carriers should develop cost
effective rules to improve safety, educate motor carriers so
that they know how to comply with these rules, and promote
voluntary compliance.
Assistance to border states.--The conferees agree that,
within the basic grant program, $750,000 shall be provided to
states along the Mexican border to ensure the safety of
increased traffic. These states face special problems
associated with a projected concentration of trade-related
commercial vehicle traffic once restrictions along the U.S.-
Mexican border are significantly reduced on December 17,
1995.
Truck and bus accidents.--The conferees have provided
$200,000 to conduct a model accident investigation and
reconstruction program. These funds shall be available to
train motor carrier safety officers on investigative
techniques at accident sites.

surface transportation projects

Amendment No. 63: Deletes appropriation of $39,500,000 for
surface transportation projects proposed by the Senate. The
House provided no similar appropriation.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

operations and research

Amendment No. 64: Appropriates $73,316,570 for the general
fund portion of the operations and research activities of the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as proposed by
the House instead of $71,261,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Amendment No. 65: Provides that of the general funds made
available for operations and research, $37,825,850 shall
remain available until September 30, 1998 as proposed by the
House instead of $36,770,676 as proposed by the Senate.
Amendment No. 66: Includes language proposed by the House
which prohibits the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration from obligating or expending funds to plan,
finalize, or implement any rulemaking that would alter the
tire grading standards currently in effect. The Senate bill
contained no similar provision.

operations and research

(highway trust fund)

Amendment No. 67: Appropriates $51,884,430 from the highway
trust fund for operations and research activities of the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration instead of
$52,011,930 as proposed by the House and $50,344,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
Amendment No. 68: Provides that of the funds made available
for operations and research, $32,247,000 shall remain
available until September 30, 1998, instead of $32,770,670 as
proposed by the House and $31,716,720 as proposed by the
Senate.
The conference agreement for operations and research
(general fund and highway trust fund combined) includes the
following adjustments to the budget request

Rulemaking:
Vehicle safety standards..................................-$200,000
New car assessment program...............................-1,057,000
Fuel economy program.....................................-2,165,000
Theft program pilot project................................+890,000
Enforcement:
Vehicle safety compliance..................................-500,000
Auto safety hotline......................................-1,000,000
Odometer fraud..............................................-40,000
Highway safety program:
Safe communities injury control..........................-5,225,000
Alcohol program............................................-548,000
Pedestrian and bicycle.....................................-224,000
National occupant protection...............................-392,000
Child safety seat program..................................-600,000
Police traffic system......................................-300,000
Driver education............................................-75,000
Older driver research......................................+100,000
Driver fatigue...........................................+1,000,000
Research and analysis:
Biomechanics.............................................-1,500,000
Fatal accident reporting system............................-300,000
National accident sampling system..........................-300,000
Data analysis program......................................-500,000
State data programs........................................-400,000
Partnership for new generation vehicles..................-5,000,000
General administration:
Strategic planning.........................................-200,000
Accountwide adjustments:
Computer support...........................................-245,000
Administrative.............................................-250,000
Travel......................................................-50,000
Overtime....................................................-60,000
________________

Net reduction.......................................-19,141,000

Theft program.--The conference agreement provides $890,000
to establish pilot National Motor Vehicle Title Information
System programs. The conferees not that the Anti-Car Theft
Act of 1992 directed the Department of Transportation to
establish an information system for instant and reliable
access to titling information. The American Association of
Motor Vehicle Administrators, the Customs Service, and others
have stated that such a system is essential to prevent
thieves from obtaining legal ownership of stolen vehicles.
Older drivers.--The conferees have provided $100,000 for
older driver research to improve and test referral systems
and develop performance assessment techniques. These
additional funds will advance NHTSA's goal of improving
driving performance and licensing of older drivers.
Driver fatigue.--The conference agreement includes
$1,000,000 to analyze the role of river fatigue, sleep
disorders, and inattention in highway crashes and shall be
available to develop and test public education strategies and
countermeasures that make drivers aware of the dangers of
driving while fatigued.
Section 403 programs.--The purposes of the section 403
programs is to research and test new highway safety ideas
that may be successfully implemented throughout the United
States. In recent years, some of these programs have received
``seed money'' far longer than expected. The conferees agree
with the Senate direction that requires NHTSA to prepare a
report highlighting how much money section 403 programs have
received, what future financial support is expected for these
programs, and when such support can be terminated. The
conferees urge NHTSA to complete this report as soon as
possible and provide it to the House and Senate Committees on
appropriations by May 1, 1996.
National advanced driving simulator.--the conferees have
provided $2,000,000 for the national advanced driving
simulator. The conferees direct the Department of
Transportation to allocate the costs of the simulator among
the participating modal administrations, including the
Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit
Administration, Federal Railroad Administration, and the
Intelligent transportation systems joint program office, as
part of the department's 1997 budget request. Also, the
conferees urge the department to discuss additional cost
sharing commitments with the departments of Defense and
Health and Human Services.

operations and research

(rescissions)

Amendment No. 69: Deletes rescissions of $4,547,185 in
unobligated balances previously made available for the
national advanced driving simulator as proposed by the
Senate.

[[Page H10507]]

highway traffic safety grants

(liquidation of contract authorization)

(highway trust fund)

Amendment No. 70: Appropriates $155,100,000 to liquidate
contract authority obligations for highway traffic safety
grants as proposed by the Senate instead of $153,400,000 as
proposed by the House.
Amendment No. 71: Limits obligations for highway traffic
safety grants to $155,100,000 as proposed by the Senate
instead of $153,400,000 as proposed by the House.
Amendment No. 72: Provides $127,700,000 for state and
community highway safety grants instead of $126,000,000 as
proposed by the House and $128,000,000 as proposed by the
Senate. Of the total, the conferees agree that $4,700,000
shall be available to local communities to implement safe
communities initiatives and $9,200,000 for youth traffic
safety programs.
Amendment No. 73: Provides $2,400,000 for the National
Driver Register as proposed by the House instead of
$2,100,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Amendment No. 74: Provides that funding for the national
Driver Register shall be subject to authorization as proposed
by the Senate instead of subject to passage by the House of a
bill authorizing appropriations and for only the amounts
provided therein as proposed by the House.
Amendment No. 75: Includes language proposed by the House
which prohibits any funding for highway traffic safety grants
to be used for construction, rehabilitation, or remodeling
costs, or for office furnishings and fixtures for state,
local, or private buildings or structures. Deletes language
proposed by the House which prohibits funds to be used to
purchase automobiles or motorcycles for state, local, or
private usage. The Senate bill contained no similar
provisions.
Amendment No. 76: provides $5,211,000 for the
administration of state and community highway safety grants
as proposed by the Senate instead of $5,153,000 as proposed
by the House. The conferees agree that $300,000 of the
administrative takedown shall be expended to evaluate the
costs and benefits of the section 403 safe communities injury
control initiative. The evaluation shall be provided to the
House and Senate Committees on Appropriations by March 1,
1997.
Amendment No. 77: Requires up to $500,000 shall be used for
technical assistance to states as proposed by the Senate
instead of allowing flexibility to use up to that amount, as
proposed by the House.
Amendment No. 78: Provides $890,000 for administrative
expenses under the national Driver Register program as
proposed by the House instead of $777,000 as proposed by the
Senate.

Federal Railroad Administration

office of the administrator

Amendment No. 79: Appropriates $14,018,000 for the Office
of the Administrator as proposed by the Senate instead of
$14,000,000 as proposed by the House. The conference
agreement includes the following reductions to the budget
request:

Technical assistance program..................................-$130,000
Operation respond...............................................-10,000
Nonpay inflation...............................................-500,000
Other services..................................................-91,000
Offset for high unobligated balances.........................-2,621,000

The conference agreement allows the Office of the
administrator to spend down its prior years' unobligated
balance.

railroad safety

Amendment No. 80: Appropriates $49,919,000 for railroad
safety instead of $49,940,660 as proposed by the House and
$49,105,000 as proposed by the Senate. The conference
agreement includes the following reductions to the budget
request:

Other services................................................-$105,000
New partnership program........................................-400,000
Nonpay inflation...............................................-230,000
Salaries and expenses..........................................-200,000
Inspector trainee program.......................................-50,000
Automated track inspection program.............................-100,000
Permanent change of station moves..............................-100,000

Federal Railroad Administration offices.--The conferees
generally agree that the Federal Railroad Administration
should limit its railroad safety offices to two per state,
but recognize that large states with significant rail
activities may require an exception. The Federal Railroad
Administration shall submit to the House and Senate
Committees on Appropriations prior to October 1, 1996, a
written justification for any state(s) where it may be
necessary to provide more than two offices due to volume of
rail activity and/or geographic coverage.
New computers for railroad safety inspectors.--The
conferees have provided $800,000 to procure laptop computers
for railroad inspectors in one region, anticipating that
productivity enhancements and reduced program costs will
occur as inspectors compile their work from remote locations.
The conferees direct the Federal Railroad Administration
(FRA) to prepare a study detailing the cost savings resulting
from the investment in laptop computers for railroad safety
inspectors. The study shall be completed prior to FRA
requesting further funding to procure additional laptop
computers for its railroad safety inspectors in other
regions.
Accident reporting.--The conferees direct the Federal
Railroad Administration to complete necessary changes to its
accident report by June 1, 1996.

railroad research and development

Amendment No. 81: Appropriates $24,550,000 for railroad
research and development instead of $21,000,000 as proposed
by the House and $25,775,000 as proposed by the Senate. The
conference agreement includes the following adjustments to
the budget request:

Increase Operation Lifesaver..................................+$150,000
Increase human factors work....................................+400,000
Reduce track, structures, and train control..................-1,000,000
Reduce growth in high speed activities......................-27,922,000
Delete maglev initiative.......................................-825,000
Reduce grade crossing notification system......................-100,000
Postive train separation.....................................+5,000,000
Reduce administration..........................................-100,000

Operation Lifesaver.--The conference agreement provides a
total of $300,000 for Operation Lifesaver, $150,000 more than
the budget request. The conferees agree that the increase
shall be expended to address grade crossing safety.
Human factors.--The conferees have provided $400,000 for
human factors research to implement FRA's five-year human
factors strategic research plan as rapidly as possible and to
address fundamental problems that cause railroad accidents,
such as fatigue and stress.
Positive train separation.--The conferees have provided
$5,000,000 for the state of Oregon for positive train
separation (PTS) activities. As part of this work, funding
can be used for an extension into Union Station and for
additional track and signal work. In addition, the Federal
Railroad Administration (FRA) shall research and develop PTS,
implement a high speed rail mitigation path, evaluate the
compatibility of PTS and corridor passenger service on the
Portland, Oregon to Seattle, Washington corridor, and
purchase necessary wayside sensors and radios so that the PTS
system can verify train locations and switch positions. This
will allow PTS equipped trains to operate on either track in
either direction at full track speed. Finally, FRA shall
assess the communications reliability of this system in a
dense urban area, such as Portland, Oregon. FRA believes that
the Pacific Northwest Corridor is the ideal testbed for such
a system. No matching funds are required for this project.
In connection with this project, the conferees strongly
encourage the Federal Railroad Administration, the U.S. Coast
Guard, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to work together
to establish differential global positioning system coverage
for the territory between Portland and Hinkle, Oregon. Such
coverage is vital to test and validate the PTS automatic
location capability in an area where radio propagation may be
limited by the rugged terrain.
National Academy of Sciences study of high speed rail.--The
conferees direct the FRA to contract with the National
Academy of Sciences to assemble a panel of experts to issue
periodic reports on FRA's high speed rail research and
development and next generation high speed rail activities.
The first of these reports should assess the content, inter-
relationship of individual projects, management structure,
and direction of FRA's activities. The intent of this
assessment is to determine whether these activities make up a
coherent, well-managed whole, and whether the proposed fiscal
year 1997 projects are logical extensions of these efforts.
This first assessment should be completed by April 1, 1996,
to meet the deadline established in the House report. The
second report should assess whether specific projects in
FRA's program are likely to yield useful research results,
and the prospect of state and/or private deployment.
Thereafter, the panel should consider and report on, in
sequence, the other elements as stated in the Senate report.
Advanced train control study.--The conferees agree not to
require FRA to submit an advanced train control plan for
evaluation prior to further corridor development work
occurring outside of the Northeast Corridor as proposed by
the House.

northeast corridor improvement program

Amendment No. 82: Appropriates $115,000,000 for the
northeast corridor improvement program instead of
$100,000,000 as proposed by the House and $130,000,000 as
proposed by the Senate. Of this amount, the conferees agree
to distribute $65,000,000 to the southern portion of the
corridor for repair and $50,000,000 to the northern portion
of the corridor for track work, maintenance facilities, and
electrification. The conferees have not provided any
additional funding for high-speed transets because prior year
appropriations remain available for this procurement. This
should be interpreted as a deferral of additional funding and
not Congressional desire to terminate the project. The
conferees direct Amtrak to notify the House and Senate
Committees on Appropriations of its final detailed allocation
of these funds.
Cash flow analysis.--The conferees agree that Amtrak is to
provide a detailed cash flow analysis, which identifies the
funding required to complete the high-speed rail trainset
procurement and options for public and private financing of
the procurement. This cash flow analysis should include
information from Amtrak's ongoing market and ridership survey
that validates the estimates

[[Page H10508]]

being made for the electrified New Haven to Boston service. A
preliminary report shall be provided to the House and Senate
Committees by December 1, 1995 and a final report shall be
issued no later than March 1, 1996.
Joint transportation plan.--The conferees direct the
Federal Railroad Administration and Amtrak to provide by
March 1, 1996 to the House and Senate Committees on
Appropriations a joint and comprehensive transportation plan
for the Washington, DC to New York, N.Y. segment of the
corridor that details (1) the state of the rail line, (2) all
required capital improvements, (3) necessary investments for
recapitalization, and (4) a projected timeline for these
expenditures over the next two decades. This plan should
include information on how the costs for upgrading and
maintaining the railroad will be shared by all users of the
rail line.

next generation high speed rail

Amendment No. 83: Appropriates $19,205,000 for next
generation high speed rail studies, corridor planning,
development, demonstration, and implementation instead of
$10,000,000 as proposed by the House and $20,000,000 as
proposed by the Senate. The House bill provided funding only
for high speed rail technology development and
demonstrations.
The conference agreement provides total funding
(appropriation plus limitation on obligations) of $24,205,000
for the next generation high speed rail program to be
allocated as follows:

Advanced train control:
Detroit to Chicago corridor..............................$3,000,000
Chicago to St. Louis corridor.............................6,000,000
Nonelectric locomotives:
New York nonelectric locomotives demonstration............6,000,000
Transportation technology center..........................3,000,000
Grade crossing hazards:
Complete state grade crossing work........................1,000,000
Innovative techniques.....................................3,500,000
Corridor planning technology..............................1,250,000
Administrative costs........................................455,000

Nonelectric locomotives.--The conferees have provided
$6,000,000 to continue the development, testing, and
demonstration of turbine powered nonelectric locomotives in
the state of New York as proposed by the Senate. This funding
shall be matched on a dollar-for-dollar basis. The House did
not provide funding for this project. Since then, the House
has received significant information on the project and now
believes that a more comprehensive demonstration of this
technology is necessary. Therefore, the conferees have agreed
to fund the retrofit of a second nonelectric trainset so that
additional data can be gathered on the capacity, reliability,
maintainability, and fuel consumption of a turbine powered
nonelectric fleet. Also, this funding should be used to
further develop ways to improve the acceleration capabilities
of nonelectric locomotives so that their performance is more
comparable to that of electric locomotives. FRA, in
conjunction with Amtrak and the State of New York, should
submit information on the retrofitted locomotives as compared
to the Genesis P-40 and other high speed locomotives, to the
House and Senate Committees on Appropriations no later than
August 15, 1996 so that the results can be evaluated prior to
finalization of the fiscal year 1997 Department of
Transportation appropriations bill. While this is ongoing,
FRA, Amtrak, and the State of New York should work to resolve
the liability concerns along the Empire Corridor and close
highway-rail grade crossings so that these trains can operate
at 125 miles per hour.
In addition, the conference agreement raises the
liquidating cash appropriation from the highway trust fund to
$7,118,000, based on updated estimates from FRA. The House
and Senate bills included $5,000,000 for this purpose.
Amendment No. 84: Provides that next generation high speed
rail funds may be made available for grants to states for
high speed rail corridor design, feasibility studies,
environmental analyses, and track and signal improvements as
proposed by the Senate. The House bill included no similar
provision.

alaska railroad rehabilitation

Amendment No. 85: Appropriates $10,000,000 for Alaska
Railroad rehabilitation as proposed by the Senate. The House
contained no similar appropriation.

pennsylvania station redevelopment project

Amendment No. 86: Deletes $25,000,000 for the Pennsylvania
Station Redevelopment project proposed by the Senate. The
House bill contained no similar appropriation. The conferees
have provided funding for related activities under the
National Railroad Passenger Corporation's capital grants
program, rather than new development of the James A. Farley
post office building.

rhode island rail development

Amendment No. 87: Appropriates $1,000,000 for Rhode Island
rail development instead of $2,000,000 as proposed by the
Senate. The House bill contained no similar appropriation. As
proposed by the Senate, the conference agreement specifies
that the federal contribution shall be matched on a dollar-
for-dollar basis. Further, the Providence and Worcester
Railroad shall reimburse Amtrak and/or the Federal Railroad
Administration up to the first $6,000,000 in legal damages if
damages occur resulting from provision of vertical clearances
in excess of those required for present freight operations.

grants to the national railroad passenger corporation

Amendment No. 88: Provides $635,000,000 for the National
Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) instead of
$628,000,000 as proposed by the House and $605,000,000 as
proposed by the Senate. Over the past year, Amtrak has
undergone significant changes to improve its service quality
and productivity and to eliminate its dependence on federal
operating assistance by the year 2001. Amtrak has made
strides in reaching these goals; however, legislative
reforms, including labor reforms, must be enacted if Amtrak
is to reach its operating cost goals. Current authorization
bills contain a number of these legislative reforms. As such,
the significant level of funding provided is predicated on
the belief that vital legislative reforms will occur in the
near term, which will reduce Amtrak's costs.
Amendment No. 89: Provides $305,000,000 for operating
losses and mandatory passenger rail service payments as
proposed by the Senate instead of $336,000,000 as proposed by
the House.
Amendment No. 90: Provides $100,000,000 for Amtrak's
transition costs as proposed by the Senate instead of
$62,000,000 as proposed by the House.
Amendment No. 91: Provides $230,000,000 for capital
improvements to Amtrak as proposed by the House instead of
$200,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. The conference
agreement provides up to $20,000,000 for emergency life
safety repairs to be completed at the existing Pennsylvania
Station, as allowed during fiscal year 1995, as well as for
the reconstruction of the station's service building to
provide the support services necessary for the safe operation
of the station.
Amendment No. 92: Deletes language proposed by the House
which would have made the availability of funds contingent
upon enactment of significant reforms in authorizing
legislation to restructure the National Railroad Passenger
Corporation. The Senate bill contained no similar provision.
In lieu of this language, the conference agreement provides
Amtrak with the ability to transfer not more than $15,000,000
from the capital improvements account to the Northeast
Corridor Improvement Program.

Federal Transit Administration

administrative expenses

Amendment No. 93: Appropriates $42,000,000 for
administrative expenses of the Federal Transit Administration
(FTA) as proposed by the Senate instead of $39,260,000 as
proposed by the House. The conference agreement provides two
full-time equivalent staff year positions in the FTA's
Washington, DC offices to conduct management and oversight of
the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).
The conference agreement also includes a provision under
amendment numbered 165 that requires the FTA to conduct its
oversight of WMATA from FTA's Washington metropolitan area
offices.

formula grants

Amendment No. 94: Appropriates $942,925,000 from the
general fund for formula grants of the Federal Transit
Administration instead of $890,000,000 as proposed by the
House and $985,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Amendment No. 95: Provides for a total program level of
$2,052,925,000, including appropriations and limitations on
obligations, for transit formula grants, instead of
$2,000,000,000 as proposed by the House and $2,105,850,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
Amendment No. 96: Limits reductions in transit operating
assistance to urbanized areas of less than 200,000 in
population to no less than seventy-five percent of the amount
of operating assistance such areas are eligible to receive
under Public Law 103-331, instead of eighty percent as
proposed by the Senate. The House bill contained no similar
provision.
Amendment No. 97: Deleted language proposed by the Senate
that would apportion $29,325,031 to areas of 200,000 or
greater in population before apportionment of transit formula
funds. The conference agreement includes language that, in
the distribution of the limitation on transit operating
assistance to urbanized areas that had a population under the
1990 decennial census of 1,000,000 or more, the Secretary
shall direct each area to give priority consideration to the
impact of reductions in operating assistance on smaller
transit authorities operating within the area, and to
consider the needs and resources of such transit authorities
when the limitation is distributed among all transit
authorities operating in the area.

transit planning and research

Amendment No. 98: Appropriates $85,500,000 for transit
planning and research instead of $82,250,000 as proposed by
the House and $90,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. The
conferees agree to specify in the bill that $39,500,000 shall
be provided for the metropolitan planning program (49 U.S.C.
5303); $4,500,000 for the rural transit assistance program
(49 U.S.C. 5311(b)(2)); $8,250,000 for the transit
cooperative research program (49 U.S.C. 5313(b)); $22,000,000
for the national program (49 U.S.C. 5314); $8,250,000 for the
state program (49 U.S.C. 5313(a)); and $3,000,000 for the
National transit institute (49 U.S.C. 5315). The House bill
contained similar funding allocations, but at different
levels than in the conference agreement. The Senate bill
contained no allocations by program in the bill.

[[Page H10509]]

The conferees direct that within the total funding level
provided for transit planning and research, the Federal
Transit Administration shall make available the following
amounts for the programs and activities listed below:

Team transit program of the Minnesota Metropolitan Commission..$500,000
Project ACTION (Accessible Community Transportation in our Nat2,000,000
Advanced technology transit bus...............................5,000,000
Fuel cell bus technology......................................5,000,000
Research on large circuit breakers and switch gears...........2,500,000
Dulles corridor studies.........................................500,000
Hennepin County, Minnesota, public works program................500,000
Intermodal positioning system (inertial navigational technology)500,000
Advanced lead acid battery consortium...........................500,000
Ridership enhancement strategies................................500,000

The conferees agree that federal transit assistance should
contribute to the improvement of the entire community which
transit systems serve, rather than support just the transit
service itself. This is the goal of the livable communities
initiative. By assisting a broad range of activities,
communities may be improved; and by better linking the
communities to the transit system, transit service may be
made more effective. The conferees, therefore, urge the
Department of Transportation to endeavor in these types of
community initiatives.
Advanced transportation systems program.--Section 6071 of
title V of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency
Act established the advanced transportation systems and
electric vehicle technology program. The conferees are aware
of the significant contributions that participating consortia
have made to this program and direct the FTA to continue its
heavy duty transit buses, the development of energy storage
technologies, flywheel and hybrid vehicle development and
demonstration, and the continued charging infrastructure
programs.
Within available funds, the department is urged to consider
support of monobeam transit system development.

trust fund share of expenses

(liquidation of contract authorization)

(highway trust fund)

Amendment No. 99: Provides $1,120,850,000 in liquidating
cash for the trust fund share of expenses of the formula
grants program as proposed by the Senate instead of
$1,110,000,000 as proposed by the House.

discretionary grants

(limitation on obligations)

(highway trust fund)

Bus and bus-related facilities.--The conference agreement
provides $333,000,000 for the replacement, rehabilitation,
and purchase of buses and related equipment and the
construction of bus-related facilities. The conferees agree
that the recommended funding should be distributed as
follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Project location and purpose House Senate Conference
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arkansas:
Little Rock, central Arkansas transit transfer
facility.......................................... $0 $1,000,000 $0
Fayetteville, intermodal transfer facility......... 0 5,400,000 0
State of Arkansas; buses........................... 6,000,000 0 6,200,000
California:
Coachella Valley; SunLine bus facility............. 1,000,000 0 500,000
Long Beach, bus replacement and parts.............. 0 3,000,000 1,500,000
Los Angeles; Gateway intermodal center............. 8,000,000 15,000,000 8,000,000
San Diego, San Ysidro intermodal center............ 0 10,000,000 5,000,000
San Francisco; buses............................... 13,480,000 0 6,740,000
San Francisco, BART ADA compliance/paratransit..... 0 4,460,000 2,230,000
San Gabriel Valley; Foothill bus facilities........ 12,500,000 0 9,750,000
San Joaquin, RTD bus replacement................... 0 10,560,000 5,280,000
Santa Cruz; bus facility........................... 3,000,000 0 1,500,000
Sonoma County; park and ride facilities............ 2,500,000 0 1,250,000
Ventura County; bus facility....................... 1,200,000 0 600,000
Yolo County; buses................................. 3,000,000 0 1,500,000
Colorado: Fort Collins and Greeley; buses.............. 2,500,000 0 1,250,000
Connecticut: Norwich; intermodal center................ 3,000,000 0 1,500,000
Delaware: State of Delaware; buses..................... 2,700,000 0 1,350,000
Florida:
Metropolitan Dade County; buses.................... 4,000,000 16,000,000 10,000,000
Orlando; Lynx buses and bus operating facility..... 8,500,000 0 4,250,000
Palm Beach County; bus facilities.................. 4,000,000 0 2,000,000
Volusia County; buses and park and ride facility... 2,500,000 0 1,250,000
Georgia: Atlanta; buses................................ 7,500,000 0 3,750,000
Hawaii: Honolulu, Oahu; Kuakini medical center parking
facility.............................................. 0 8,000,000 4,000,000
Iowa:
Ames, Marshalltown, Ottumwa, Regions 6, 14, 15, 16;
buses and bus facilities.......................... 4,000,000 0 2,350,000
Cedar Rapids; hybrid electric bus consortium....... 0 2,960,000 1,200,000
Ottumwa; global positioning equipment.............. 0 700,000 0
Waterloo; intermodal bus facility.................. 0 1,340,000 670,000
State of Iowa; buses, equipment, and facilities.... 0 8,000,000 4,280,000
Illinois:
Chicago replacement buses/communications system.... 0 13,700,000 0
State of Illinois; buses........................... 20,000,000 0 16,850,000
Indiana:
Gary and Hammond; buses............................ 520,000 0 260,000
South Bend; intermodal facility.................... 5,000,000 0 2,500,000
State of Indiana; buses and bus facilities......... 13,000,000 0 6,500,000
Kentucky: Lexington; buses............................. 2,000,000 0 1,000,000
Louisiana:
New Orleans; bus facility.......................... 6,000,000 0 3,000,000
New Orleans; buses................................. 12,000,000 0 6,000,000
Saint Barnard Parish; intermodal facility.......... 3,000,000 0 1,500,000
Massachusetts: Worcester; intermodal center............ 4,000,000 0 2,000,000
Maryland: Maryland Transit Authority, Maryland; buses.. 10,000,000 16,000,000 13,000,000
Michigan:
Lansing intermodal transportation center........... 0 4,180,000 2,090,000
State of Michigan; ISTEA set-aside requirement..... 10,000,000 10,000,000 10,000,000
Minnesota: Metropolitan Council, Minnesota; articulated
buses................................................. 15,000,000 0 7,500,000
Missouri:
Kansas City; Union Station intermodal.............. 0 13,000,000 6,500,000
St. Louis; Metrolink bus purchase.................. 0 10,000,000 3,500,000
State of Missouri; buses and bus facilities........ 0 11,000,000 7,000,000
North Carolina: State of North Carolina; buses and bus
facilities............................................ 10,000,000 0 5,000,000
New Jersey:
Garden State Parkway; park-n-ride at interchange
165............................................... 0 2,300,000 1,150,000
Hamilton Township; intermodal facility/bus
maintenance....................................... 0 25,000,000 12,500,000
Nevada: Clark County, Nevada; buses and bus facility... 14,000,000 20,000,000 17,000,000
New York:
Albany; buses...................................... 0 10,000,000 5,000,000
Buffalo; Crossroads intermodal station............. 1,000,000 0 500,000
Long Island; buses................................. 0 3,000,000 1,500,000
New Rochelle; intermodal facility.................. 1,500,000 0 750,000
New York City; natural gas buses/fueling station... 0 10,000,000 5,000,000
Rensselaer; intermodal station..................... 7,500,000 7,500,000 7,500,000
Rochester-Genessee; buses.......................... 0 1,400,000 700,000
Syracuse; buses.................................... 2,000,000 0 1,000,000
Syracuse; intermodal station....................... 2,000,000 0 1,000,000
Utica; buses....................................... 0 6,000,000 3,000,000
Westchester, bus facility.......................... 4,500,000 0 2,250,000
Ohio:
Cleveland; Triskett bus facility................... 2,500,000 0 1,250,000
Columbus; buses.................................... 0 10,000,000 0
State of Ohio; buses and bus facilities............ 20,000,000 0 15,000,000
Oregon:
Wilsonville; transit vehicles...................... 0 500,000 250,000

[[Page H10510]]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Project location and purpose House Senate Conference
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eugene Lane transit district; radio system......... 0 1,300,000 650,000
Pennsylvania:
Allegheny County; busway system.................... 8,000,000 10,000,000 9,000,000
Altoona; ISTEA set-aside requirement............... 2,000,000 0 1,000,000
Beaver County; bus facility........................ 1,600,000 3,300,000 2,450,000
Erie; intermodal complex........................... 0 8,000,000 4,000,000
North Philadelphia; intermodal center.............. 6,000,000 0 3,000,000
Philadelphia; buses................................ 3,000,000 0 1,500,000
Philadelphia: Chestnut Street/alternative fueled
vehicles.......................................... 0 2,000,000 1,000,000
Philadelphia; lift-equipped buses.................. 15,000,000 0 7,500,000
Tennessee: Nashville, Tennessee; electric buses........ 600,000 0 300,000
Texas:
Corpus Christi; buses, dispatching system, and
facilities........................................ 0 1,600,000 2,450,000
Corpus Christi; bus facilities..................... 2,500,000 0 0
El Paso; buses, equipment and facilities........... 6,000,000 0 5,200,000
El Paso; bus equipment............................. 2,900,000 0 0
El Paso; satellite transit terminal................ 1,500,000 0 0
Robstown/Corpus Christi bus shelters/curb cuts/
transit center.................................... 0 800,000 0
Utah: Utah Transit Authority, Utah; buses.............. 3,500,000 0 1,750,000
Virginia: Richmond; downtown intermodal station........ 0 10,000,000 5,000,000
Vermont:
State of Vermont, buses and bus facilities......... 0 6,000,000 3,000,000
Marble Valley; bus upgrades........................ 0 2,000,000 1,000,000
Washington:
Everett; intermodal center......................... 0 7,000,000 3,500,000
Pierce County; Tacoma Dome station................. 3,000,000 5,000,000 5,000,000
Seattle; Metro/King County multimodal.............. 0 4,000,000 2,000,000
Seattle/King County; Seattle metro bus purchase.... 2,500,000 10,000,000 6,250,000
Wenatchee; Chelan-Douglas multimodal............... 0 2,000,000 0
Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin; buses................... 20,000,000 0 10,000,000
--------------------------------------------------------
Total............................................ 333,000,000 333,000,000 333,000,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Within available balances, the conferees direct the Federal
Transit Administration to support the following applications:
the Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District for state-of-
the-art, electric battery-powered buses for initial use at
the 1996 Summer Olympic Games; Taos, New Mexico and Kansas
City, Kansas for buses and bus-related purchases; and the
Pennsylvania consolidated bus purchase.
State of Arkansas.--The conference agreement includes
$6,200,000 for buses and intermodal and bus-related
facilities to be made available to the Arkansas Highway and
Transportation Department to be distributed as follows:
$200,000 for Pine Bluff Transit; $3,200,000 for the
University of Arkansas; $400,000 for Hot Springs Transit;
$300,000 for South Central Arkansas; $800,000 for Central
Arkansas Transit; and $800,000 for Southeast Arkansas
Transit. The remaining balances may be retained by the
Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department for other
state bus and bus-related projects.
Ames, Marshalltown, Ottumwa, Regions 6, 14, 15 and 16,
Iowa; bus and bus facilities.--The conference agreement
includes $2,350,000 for buses and bus facilities for Ames,
Marshalltown, Ottumwa, and Regions 6, 14, 15 and 16, Iowa to
be distributed as follows: $1,069,000 for Ames; $704,300 for
Ottumwa; $189,500 for Marshalltown; $17,600 for Region 6;
$121,100 for Region 14; $159,400 for Region 15; and $89,100
for Region 16.
State of Michigan.--The conference agreement includes
$10,000,000 for the State of Michigan to fulfill the
requirements of section 3035(ll) the Intermodal Surface
Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991. Of the $10,000,000 for
the State of Michigan, the conferees have included:
$3,022,500 for buses and bus facilities for Grand Rapids;
$3,022,500 for buses and bus facilities in Flint; $3,022,500
for the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional
Transportation (SMART); and $932,500 for an intermodal
facility in Lansing. The conference agreement includes a
total of $3,022,500 for the intermodal transportation center
in Lansing. The conferees recognize that $1,200,000 more is
required to complete this project and encourage the project
sponsors to submit a future request for the remaining funds.
State of New York.--The conferees direct those transit
systems in the State of New York receiving section 3 bus
discretionary allocations in areas over 200,000 population
for the express purpose of providing fixed-route transit
services, to purchase alternative fueled buses. Vehicles
purchased for use in urbanized areas under 200,000 population
and for use in rural areas and/or for ADA mandated
paratransit services are exempt.
State of Illinois.--The conference agreement provides
$16,850,000 for the Illinois Department of Transportation for
replacement buses and transit facilities. This amount
includes funds for replacement buses for the following
transit agencies: $1,585,000 for Champaign-Urbana; $528,000
for Decatur; $2,290,000 for Madison County; $528,000 for
Quincy; $528,000 for Rockford; $880,000 for Rock Island;
$1,073,000 for Springfield; and $1,665,000 for Pace. The
amount also includes $720,000 for a transfer facility in
Peoria and $800,000 for bus facilities for the South Central
MTD. In addition, $6,000,000 is provided for a new bus
communications system for the Chicago Transit Authority.
Bus overhauls.--The conferees direct the FTA to study and
report to the appropriate Congressional committees by July
15, 1996 on the data associated with requests for funding
under the periodic bus overhaul funding provision, including,
but not limited to, the number, size, and geographic type of
transit systems that seek to capitalize such expenses, and
the amounts requested under this section.
Amendment No. 100: Includes language that reprograms
$21,631,250 of funds previously made available in Public Law
102-388 and provides $666,000,000 for new fixed guideway
systems. The House bill included $666,000,000 and the Senate
bill included a total of $688,840,000, of which $22,840,000
was proposed to be reprogrammed.
The conferees recommend that $21,631,250 of funds that were
originally provided in the fiscal year 1993 Department of
Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act,
Public Law 102-388, that have not been obligated by October
1, 1995 be reprogrammed. Should additional funds from Public
Law 103-388 remain unobligated, the conferees direct the
Administrator to reprogram these funds 15 days after
notification to the House and Senate Committees on
Appropriations only to those projects that have existing full
funding grant agreements on the date of enactment of this
Act, to the extent that those projects are likely to be
capable of obligating these funds in the course of this
fiscal year.
The conference agreement provides for the following
distribution of the recommended funding for new fixed
guideway systems as follows:

Project Amount
Atlanta-North Springs project...............................$42,410,000
South Boston Piers (MOS-2) project...........................20,060,000
Canton-Akron-Cleveland commuter rail project..................4,250,000
Cincinnati Northeast/Northern Kentucky rail line project......1,000,000
Dallas South Oak Cliff LRT project...........................16,941,000
DART North Central light rail extension project...............3,000,000
Dallas-Fort Worth RAILTRAN project............................6,000,000
Florida Tri-County commuter rail project.....................10,000,000
Houston Regional Bus project.................................22,630,000
Jacksonville ASE extension project............................9,720,625
Los Angeles Metro Rail (MOS-3)...............................85,000,000
Los Angeles-San Diego commuter rail project...................8,500,000
MARC commuter rail project...................................10,000,000
Maryland Central Corridor LRT project........................15,315,000
Miami-North 27th Avenue project...............................2,000,000
Memphis, Tennessee Regional Rail Plan.........................1,250,000
New Jersey Urban Core-Secaucus project.......................80,250,000
New Orleans Canal Street Corridor project.....................5,000,000
New York Queens Connection project..........................126,725,125
Pittsburg Airport Phase 1 project............................22,630,000
Portland-Westside LRT project...............................130,140,000
Sacramento LRT extension project..............................2,000,000
St. Louis Metro/Link LRT project.............................12,500,000
Salt Lake City light rail project.............................9,759,500
San Francisco BART extension project.........................10,000,000
San Juan, Puerto Rico Tren Urbano project.....................7,500,000
Tampa to Lakeland commuter rail project.........................500,000
Whitehall ferry terminal, New York, New York..................2,500,000

[[Page H10511]]

Wisconsin central commuter project...........................14,400,000
Burlington-Charlotte, Vermont commuter rail project...........5,650,000

South-North corridor project.--The conferees note that the
Oregon legislature and Portland area voters have approved
$850 million in local and state funds for the South-North
corridor project. The conferees support the inclusion of the
South-North corridor in the Portland area program of
interrelated projects and note that a project financing plan,
based on a discretionary (section 3) share of fifty percent
of the total project costs, will be considered should the
Portland region seek funding for this project.
Orange County, California.--The conferees are concerned
with the delay of the Federal Transit Administration in
obligating the funds previously provided in fiscal years 1994
and 1995 for the Orange County Transitway project. The
conferees are concerned that the FTA may fail to recognize
that the Anaheim Intermodal Transportation Center is not an
element of the Transitway project. The conferees, therefore,
direct the FTA to work expeditiously to obligate these funds
once all pending planning and financial issues are addressed
adequately.
Kansas City.--Although no funds have been provided for the
Kansas City, Missouri light rail project, the conferees
believe that based on the results of the recently completed
major investment study, the project may have merit and
therefor encourage project sponsors to continue to seek
federal support in the future.
Seattle-Tacoma.--The conferees agree that sums available
from funds appropriated in fiscal year 1992 for the Seattle-
Tacoma commuter rail project may be used for intermodal
access and facilities in Seattle and/or commuter track and
signal projects in and between Seattle and Tacoma, only to
the extent to which such projects are consistent with
existing federal transportation laws and regulations.
Amendment No. 101: Provides $20,060,000 for the South
Boston Piers (MOS-2) project instead of $17,500,000 as
proposed by the House and $22,620,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
Amendment No. 102: Provides $4,250,000 for the Canton-
Akron-Cleveland commuter rail project instead of $6,500,000
as proposed by the House and no funding as proposed by the
Senate; and deletes House language that would have made
funding for this project contingent upon passage by the House
of a bill authorizing appropriations therefor, and only in
amounts provided therein. The conferees have agreed to delete
this language because on September 20, 1995, the House passed
H.R. 2274, the National Highway Systems Designation Act of
1995, which contained the authorization for this and the
several other new start projects that follow below.
Amendment No. 103: Provides $1,000,000 for the Cincinnati
Northeast/Northern Kentucky rail line project instead of
$2,000,000 as proposed by the House and no funding as
proposed by the Senate; and deletes House language that would
have made funding for this project contingent upon passage by
the House of a bill authorizing appropriations therefor, and
only in amounts provided therein.
Amendment No. 104: Provides $3,000,000 for the DART North
Central light rail extension project instead of $2,500,000 as
proposed by the House and $3,500,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
Amendment No. 105: Deletes House language that would have
made funding for the DART North Central rail extension
project contingent upon passage by the House of a bill
authorizing appropriations therefor, and only in amounts
provided therein.
Amendment No. 106: Provides $6,000,000 for the Dallas-Fort
Worth RAILTRAN project instead of $5,000,000 as proposed by
the House and $7,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Amendment No. 107: Deletes House language that would have
made funding for the Dallas-Fort Worth RAILTRAN project
contingent upon passage by the House of a bill authorizing
appropriations therefor, and only in amounts provided
therein.
Amendment No. 108: Deletes House language that would have
made funding for the Florida Tri-County commuter rail project
contingent upon passage by the House of a bill authorizing
appropriations therefor, and only in amounts provided
therein.
Amendment No. 109: Provides $9,720,625 for the Jacksonville
ASE extension project instead of $12,500,000 as proposed by
the House, The Senate bill contained no similar provision.
Amendment No. 110: Provides $85,000,000 for the Los Angeles
Metro Rail (MOS-3) instead of $125,000,000 as proposed by the
House and $45,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement provides $85,000,000 for the Los
Angeles Metro Rail Line project. The conferees, however,
reiterate the safety concerns and the need for quality
assurances outlined in the Senate report.
The conferees are aware that after the Senate's
consideration of the Act, the Los Angeles Metropolitan
Transportation Authority (MTA) has made significant progress
in the areas of concern as expressed by the Senate. The MTA
has hired a new head of Metro construction to whom quality
assurance and safety personnel now must directly report. In
addition, the MTA has submitted the updated Metro Rail Red
Line Project Management plan, which demonstrates the
commitment to safety and quality assurance, to the Federal
Transit Administration for review, prior to FTA's October 1,
1995 deadline.
While this progress is encouraging, the conferees direct
the Federal Transit Administration to continue diligent
oversight and to ensure that these commitments to greater
safety and quality assurance staffing are finalized before
these or any other federal funds are obligated to the Metro
Red Line Project.
Amendment No. 111: Provides $8,500,000 for the Los Angeles-
San Diego commuter rail project instead of $10,000,000 as
proposed by the House and no funding as proposed by the
Senate.
Amendment No. 112: Provides $10,000,000 for the MARC
commuter rail project as proposed by the House instead of
$15,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Amendment No. 113: Provides $15,315,000 for the Maryland
Central Corridor LRT project instead of $3,000,000 as
proposed by the House and $22,630,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
Amendment No. 114: Deletes House language that would have
made funding for the Miami-North 27th Avenue project
contingent upon passage by the House of a bill authorizing
appropriations therefor, and only in amounts provided
therein.
Amendment No. 115: Provides $1,250,000 for the Memphis,
Tennessee Regional Rail Plan instead of $2,500,000 as
proposed by the House and no funding as proposed by the
Senate; and deletes House language that would have made
funding for this project contingent upon passage by the House
of a bill authorizing appropriations therefore, and only in
amounts provided therein.
Amendment No. 116: Provides $80,250,000 for the New Jersey
Urban Core-Secaucus project instead of $75,000,000 as
proposed by the House and $85,500,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
Amendment No. 117: Provides $5,000,000 for the New Orleans
Canal Street Corridor project instead of $10,000,000 as
proposed by the House and no funding as proposed by the
Senate, and deletes House language that would have made
funding for this project contingent upon passage by the House
of a bill authorizing appropriations therefore, and only in
amounts provided therein.
Amendment No. 118: Provides $126,725,125 for the New York
Queens Connection project instead of $114,989,000 as proposed
by the House and $160,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Amendment No. 119: Deletes funding for the Orange County
Transitway project as proposed by the Senate instead of
$5,000,000 as proposed by the House.
Amendment No. 120: Provides $130,140,000 for the Portland
Westside LRT project as proposed by the Senate instead of
$85,500,000 as proposed by the House.
Amendment No. 121: Provides $2,000,000 for the Sacramento
LRT extension project as proposed by the House instead of no
funding as proposed by the Senate.
Amendment No. 122: Provides $12,500,000 for the St. Louis
Metro Link LRT project instead of $10,000,000 as proposed by
the House and $13,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. Within
the funds provided, the conferees have included up to
$2,000,000 for the St. Claire extension.
Amendment No. 123: Provides $9,759,500 for the Salt Lake
City light rail project instead of $5,000,000 as proposed by
the House and $14,519,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Amendment No. 124: Retains, with modification, House
language which provides that $5,000,000 of the funds made
available for the Salt Lake City light rail project may be
available for related high occupancy vehicle lane and
intermodal corridor design costs.
Amendment No. 125: Provides $10,000,000 for the San
Francisco BART extension project as proposed by the House
instead of $22,620,000 for the San Francisco BART extension
to the airport/Tasman corridor projects as proposed by the
Senate.
The conferees have agreed to provide $10,000,000 to
continue the BART proposed extension to the San Francisco
International Airport. BART and the San Francisco Airport
Commission recently reached an agreement in principle on an
airport station alignment that reduces project costs and that
is compatible with the airport's extension plan. However,
significant unresolved issues must be resolved before a long-
term financial commitment can be made to this project. For
example, despite planned cost reductions, a complete cost
analysis and financial plan are not yet available and there
is no assurance that the federal share of this project will
be reduced. Further, neither supplemental draft nor analyses
have yet been concluded, and four transportation agencies on
the San Francisco peninsula, including one of the project
sponsors (the San Mateo County Transit District), have voted
to study a direct CalTrain link with the airport. Lastly, the
conferees believe that the proposed local share costs to be
borne by the airport and its users should be consistent with
federal transportation policy and regulation. Given these
many concerns, the conferees believe that sufficient time to
complete and review adequately the supplemental draft
environmental impact statement and the subsequent engineering
and financial plans, and final environmental impact
statements is not available in fiscal year 1996. Sixty days
prior to action to execute a full funding grant agreement,
the conferees direct the FTA to report back to both the House
and Senate Committees on Appropriations and certify in
writing that the aforementioned concerns are fully

[[Page H10512]]

addressed. This action shall not be interpreted as a
Congressional desire to terminate this project.
The conference agreement provides no new funding for the
Tasman corridor project. Measure A, a Santa Clara County
local sales tax proposition which constitutes the Tasman
project's local match, was invalidated by a California
appeals court and later upheld by the California Supreme
Court on September 28, 1995. Therefore under the terms of the
Bay Area's Metropolitan Transportation Commission's new rail
starts program, the conferees expect that the $33,320,000 of
federal funds originally made available in fiscal years 1994
and 1995 shall be allocated by the Metropolitan
Transportation Commission to the San Francisco BART extension
to the airport.
Amendment No. 126: Restores language proposed by the House
which provides funds for the San Francisco BART extension to
the airport only instead of the San Francisco BART extension/
Tasman corridor project as proposed by the Senate.
Amendment No. 127: Provides $7,500,000 for the San Juan,
Puerto Rico Tren Urbano project instead of $15,000,000 as
proposed by the House and no funding as proposed by the
Senate; and deletes House language that would have made
funding for this project contingent upon passage by the House
of a bill authorizing appropriations therefor, and only in
amounts provided therein.
Amendment No. 128: Provides $500,000 for the Tampa to
Lakeland commuter rail project instead of $1,000,000 as
proposed by the House and no funding as proposed by the
Senate; and deletes House language that would have made
funding for this project contingent upon passage of the House
of a bill authorizing appropriations therefor, and only in
amounts provided therein.
Amendment No. 129: Provides $2,500,000 for the Whitefall
ferry terminal, New York, New York instead of $5,000,000 as
proposed by the House and no funding as proposed by the
Senate; and deletes House language that would have made
funding for this project contingent upon passage by the House
of a bill authorizing appropriations therefor, and only in
amounts provided therein.
Amendment No. 130: Deletes House language that would have
made funding for the Wisconsin central commuter project to
passage by the House of a bill authorizing appropriations
therefor, and only in amounts provided therein.
Amendment No. 131: Provides $5,650,000 for the Burlington-
Charlotte, Vermont commuter rail project instead of
$11,300,000 as proposed by the Senate. The House bill
contained no similar appropriation.
Amendment No. 132: Deletes $5,000,000 for the Chicago
central area circulator proposed by the Senate. The House
bill contained no similar provision.
Due to the failure of the State of Illinois to appropriate
funding for its share of the Chicago central area circulator
project this year and the uncertainty of the design and
construction of the system, the conferees have not allocated
any new fiscal year 1996 funding for this project. Should the
state appropriate its share of the costs of the project or
should the Federal Transit Administration approve the core
system phasing approach into an amended full funding grant
agreement, the conferees will then make every effort to
provide funding according to a full funding grant agreement
funding schedule.

mass transit capital fund

(Liquidation of Contract Authorization)

(Highway Trust Fund)

Amendment No. 133: Appropriates $2,000,000,000 to liquidate
contract authority obligations for mass transit capital
programs as proposed by the House instead of $1,700,000,000
as proposed by the Senate.

washington metropolitan area transit authority

Amendment No. 134: Appropriates $200,000,000 for
construction of the Washington, DC metrorail system as
proposed by the House instead of $170,000,000 as proposed by
the Senate.

Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation

Amendment No. 135: Deletes language proposed by the Senate
that prohibits expenditure of funds in the Corporation's
financial reserve or from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund
for the design, development, or procurement of a global
positioning system vessel traffic services system during
fiscal year 1996. The House bill contained no similar
provision.
Vessel traffic services system.--The conferees have
expanded the scope of a study on the options for privatizing
procurement and operation of vessel traffic services on the
American portion of the Saint Lawrence Seaway, which the
Senate report directed the Corporation to submit by May 1,
1996. The study shall focus on division of responsibility and
cost-sharing issues in the development, procurement,
installation, and operation of a GPS vessel traffic services
system among the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development
Corporation, the St. Lawrence Seaway Authority of Canada, the
U.S. Coast Guard, the Canadian Coast Guard, and the carrier
industry.

operations and maintenance

(harbor maintenance trust fund)

Amendment No. 136: Appropriates $10,150,000 for operations
and maintenance of the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development
Corporation as proposed by the Senate instead of $10,190,500
as proposed by the House. The conferee agreement includes the
following adjustments to the budget request:

Travel and transportation of things.............................-$6,000
Other miscellaneous services.....................................-5,500
Nonpay inflation................................................-41,000
Unspecified reduction...........................................-40,500

Research and Special Programs Administration

research and special programs

Amendment No. 137: Appropriates $23,937,000 for research
and special programs instead of $26,030,000 as proposed by
the House and $24,281,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The conference agreement distributes the research and
special programs appropriation and 176 full-time equivalent
staff as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
In dollars Positions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hazardous materials safety................... 12,650,000 111
Research and technology...................... 3,288,000 13
Emergency transportation..................... 1,022,000 7
Program support.............................. 7,388,000 45
Accountwide adjustments...................... -411,000 .........
------------------------------------------------------------------------

The conferees have made the following adjustments to the
budget request:

In dollars
Hazardous materials safety:
Information systems.........................................-50,000
Training...................................................+100,000
Registration program.......................................-182,000
Aviation information management............................-2,282,000
Research and technology:
Personnel compensation and benefits.........................-91,000
Technology development...................................-2,951,000
Technology promotion.......................................-874,000
Technology deployment......................................-400,000
Emergency transportation:
Crisis management..........................................-279,000
Program administration:
Operating expenses..........................................-42,000
Policy and program support..................................-50,000
Civil rights and special programs...........................-25,000
Program management and administration.......................-95,000
Contract program............................................-53,000
Working capital fund........................................-40,000
Accountwide adjustments:
Training...................................................-109,000
Equipment..................................................-302,000
________________

Net reduction..............................................-7,725,000

Amendment No. 138: Deletes House language as proposed by
the Senate and transfers $2,200,000 and 22 full-time
equivalent employees from the Research and Special Programs
Administration's aviation information management program to
the Bureau of Transportation Statistics under amendment
numbered 144.

Pipeline Safety

(pipeline safety fund)

Amendment No. 139: Appropriates $31,448,000 for pipeline
safety instead of $29,941,000 as proposed by the House and
$32,973,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Amendment No. 140: Provides $28,750,000 from the Pipeline
Safety Fund instead of $27,243,000 as proposed by the House
and $30,275,000 as proposed by the Senate. The conference
agreement includes the following reductions from the budget
request:

In dollars
Personnel compensation and benefits.............................-22,000
Operating expenses.............................................-306,000
Information systems............................................-552,000
Risk assessment and technology studies.........................-500,000
Compliance...................................................-4,146,000
Training and information dissemination..........................-21,000
Research and development.....................................-2,423,000
Grants.......................................................-3,000,000
________________

Net reduction...........................................-10,970,000

Amendment No. 141: Provides that not to exceed $1,000,000
shall be available from the pipeline safety fund for grants
to states for the development and establishment of one-call
notification systems, as proposed by the House instead of
$1,500,000 as proposed by the Senate.

emergency preparedness grants

(emergency preparedness fund)

Amendment No. 142: Limits obligations for emergency
preparedness grants to $8,890,000 as proposed by the House
instead of $9,200,000 as proposed by the Senate.

Office of Inspector General

salaries and expenses

Amendment No. 143: Appropriates $40,238,000 for salaries
and expenses of the Office of inspector general as proposed
by the House instead of $39,891,200 as proposed by the
Senate.

Bureau of Transportation Statistics

Amendment No. 144: Appropriates $2,200,000 for the Bureau
of Transportation Statistics as proposed by the Senate. The
House bill contained no similar provision.

[[Page H10513]]

TITLE II--RELATED AGENCIES

ARCHITECTURAL AND TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS COMPLIANCE BOARD

salaries and expenses

Amendment No. 145: Appropriates $3,500,000 for salaries and
expenses of the Architectural and Transportation Barriers
Compliance Board as proposed by the Senate instead of
$3,656,000 as proposed by the House. The conferees agree
that, although no funding is provided in fiscal year 1996 for
the acquisition of a new financial accounting system, this
reduction is made without prejudice to the system receiving
funding in future appropriations acts.

National Transportation Safety Board

salaries and expenses

Amendment No. 146: Appropriates $38,774,000 for salaries
and expenses of the National Transportation Safety Board as
proposed by the House instead of $37,500,000 as proposed by
the Senate.
The conference agreement distributes the salaries and
expenses of the National Transportation Safety Board and 350
full-time equivalent staff years as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Budget Staff
Office authority years
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Policy and direction........................... $5,662,000 45
Aviation safety................................ 13,334,000 122
Surface transportation......................... 10,473,000 94
Research and engineering....................... 5,281,000 48
Administration................................. 2,692,000 31
Administrative law judges...................... 1,332,000 10
------------------------------------------------------------------------

emergency fund

Amendment No. 147: Appropriates $360,802 for the emergency
fund as proposed by the Senate instead of $160,802 as
proposed by the House.

Interstate Commerce Commission

salaries and expenses

Amendment No. 148: Appropriates $13,379,000 for one quarter
year of salaries and expenses as well as severance and
closing costs of the Interstate Commerce Commission as
proposed by the House. The Senate bill provided the same
amount, but only for severance and closing costs. The
conferees agree that collected fees shall be made available
for the time the Commission remains in existence during
fiscal year 1996 and that once the Commission ceases to
exist, any unobligated balances from these collections shall
be used to pay termination and severance costs.

TITLE III--GENERAL PROVISIONS

(including transfers of funds)

Amendment No. 149: Makes technical change in the citation
to the authorization statute regarding primary and secondary
schooling of dependents of FAA personnel stationed outside of
the continental United States, as proposed by the Senate.
Amendment No. 150: Deletes ``pursuant to paragraph (d)'' as
proposed by the Senate.
Amendment No. 151: Prohibits the use of funds for salaries
and expenses of more than one hundred political and
Presidential appointees in the Department of Transportation
as proposed by the Senate instead of one hundred and ten
appointees as proposed by the House.
Amendment No. 152: Restores House language deleted by the
Senate that prohibits funds to be used to implement section
404 of title 23, United States Code.
Amendment No. 153: Reduces the working capital fund for the
Department of Transportation programs funded in this Act by
$7,500,000 instead of $10,000,000 as proposed by the House
and $5,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Amendment No. 154: Limits working capital fund obligational
authority for the Department of Transportation programs
funded in this Act to no more than $95,649,000 instead of
$92,231,000 as proposed by the House and $99,364,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
Amendment No. 155: Restores House language deleted by the
Senate that prohibits the use of funds to prepare, propose or
promulgate any regulations that prescribe changes in the
corporate average fuel economy standards for automobiles.
Amendment No. 156: Cancels $25,000,000 of the budgetary
resources provided to the Department of Transportation,
excluding the Maritime Administration, as proposed by the
House, instead of canceling $25,000,000 of the budgetary
resources provided to the Department of Transportation,
including the Maritime Administration, as proposed by the
Senate.
Amendment No. 157: Restores House language deleted by the
Senate and includes language proposed by the Senate which
requires the Secretary of Transportation to collocate and
consolidate the Department of Transportation's office
structure.
Amendment No. 158: Restores House language deleted by the
Senate and includes language proposed by the Senate which
requires the Secretary of Transportation to collocate and
consolidate the Department of Transportation's surface
transportation field offices and activities.
Amendment No. 159: Includes Senate language that permits
the Secretary of Transportation to submit a reorganization
plan of the surface transportation activities of the
Department of Transportation and the relationship of the
Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation to the
Department. The House bill included no similar provision.
Amendment No. 160: Permits the Secretary of Transportation
to transfer funds appropriated in this Act to ``Rental
Payments'' as proposed by the Senate. The House bill would
have permitted the Secretary of Transportation to transfer
funds appropriated for any office of the Office of the
Secretary.
Amendment No. 161: Prohibits funds for certain specified
types of employee training activities, as proposed by the
House. The Senate bill required that training be consistent
with current law.
Amendment No. 162: Prohibits funds for enforcing the
existing airport revenue diversion laws, and which require
airports to be as self-sustaining as possible, as they relate
to specified facilities on Hot Springs Memorial Field in Hot
Springs, Arkansas, as proposed by the House. The Senate bill
contained no similar provision.
Amendment No. 163: Deletes language in the Senate bill
requiring that time an individual has spent on the workers'
compensation rolls be counted as regular employment time for
the purpose of calculating retirement benefits. In addition,
the conference agreement deletes lines 1 through 13 on page
53 of the House engrossed bill, H.R. 2002. The effect of this
and the preceding disposition is to delete all language in
the House and Senate bills requiring changes in the
eligibility of employees to receive workers' compensation
payments after becoming eligible for regular federal
retirement benefits. Both the House and Senate bills required
a cessation of workers' compensation benefits six months
after retirement eligibility is reached.
The conferees are concerned, however, that for many
individuals, workers' compensation has become a more
lucrative alternative to regular retirement. For example, in
the FAA alone, almost 500 people on the workers' compensation
rolls are at least 70 years of age, and over 1,200 are over
60. The current system allows these people to remain on the
workers' compensation rolls even when disability retirement
is available to them and even when there is little or no
chance they will be returned to work in the agency. These
cases create a drain on the annual discretionary budget of
agencies like the FAA, which are forced to use those scarce
funds to finance what is essentially a retirement program--
and one with excessive and unnecessary costs. To address this
issue on a government-wide basis, the conferees direct the
General Accounting Office to study this issue and report with
recommendations for reform to the House and Senate Committees
on Appropriations no later than May 31, 1996.
The conference agreement also includes a limitation against
using funds in this Act for activities designed to influence
Congress on legislation or appropriations pending before the
Congress except on the request of Members of Congress through
the proper official channels. The effect of this provision is
to restate, for emphasis, existing law codified in 18 U.S.C.
1813 regarding limitations on lobbying activities.
Amendment No. 164: Modifies House language deleted by the
Senate that prohibits the use of funds for technical
training, tours, research fellowships with citizens of the
People's Republic of China to exempt the Federal Aviation
Administration and the joint Federal Aviation Administration,
Department of Defense and Department of Commerce initiative
designed to modernize the air traffic control system of the
People's Republic of China.
Amendment No. 165: Restores House language deleted by the
Senate which prohibits the use of funds in the Act to support
Federal Transit Administration's field operations and
oversight of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit
Authority in any location other than from the Washington, DC
metropolitan area.
Amendment No. 166: Restores House language deleted by the
Senate which appropriates $8,421,000 to the successor of the
Interstate Commerce Commission and permits the collection of
fees collected pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 9701. The conferees
expect that the current level of user fees will continue to
be collected throughout the fiscal year unless changed by
authorization.
Amendment No. 167: Deletes language proposed by the Senate
that provides for the redistribution of funds originally
provided for a project in West Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana to
be available for a project in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and
inserts language that limits the use of funds for
improvements to the Miller Highway in New York City, New
York. The House bill addressed this issue in amendment
numbered 191.
Amendment No. 168: Includes language proposed by the Senate
that would require improvements identified by section 1069(t)
of Public Law 102-240 and funded pursuant to section
118(c)(2) of title 23, U.S.C. shall not be treated as an
allocation for interstate maintenance. The House bill
contained no similar provision.
Amendment No. 169: Includes Senate language which requires
the Secretary of Transportation to carry out research to
identify successful telecommuting programs. The House bill
contained no similar provision.
Amendment No. 170: Includes Senate language which would
exempt Indian Reservation Roads from any reductions required
pursuant to section 1003 of Public Law 102-240. The House
bill contained no similar provision.
Amendment No. 171: Deletes Senate provision that would have
allowed states to trade in unobligated balances of their
federal-aid highway program, except for the congestion
mitigation and air quality improvement program, to mitigate
reductions pursuant to

[[Page H10514]]

section 1003 of the Intermodal Surface Transportation
Efficiency Act. The House bill contained no similar
provision.
Amendment No. 172: Deletes Senate provision that would have
allowed states to trade in unobligated balances of funds
authorized or appropriated for highway demonstration projects
to mitigate reductions pursuant to section 1003 of the
Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act. The House
bill contained no similar provision.
Amendment No. 173: Deletes Senate provision that would have
established interstate compact infrastructure banks. The
House bill contained no similar provision.
Amendment No. 174: Retains, with amendment, language in the
Senate bill requiring development of a new personnel
management system for the Federal Aviation Administration.
The House bill contained no similar provisions. The
conference agreement includes the following changes to the
Senate bill: (a) the official responsible for development and
implementation of the new personnel system is the FAA
administrator, not the Secretary; and (b) the new system
shall not waive current law relating to veterans' preference
and unemployment compensation. The provision takes effect on
April 1, 1996, as proposed by the Senate.
Management-labor relationship.--The conferees believe that
a harmonious management-labor relationship within the FAA is
important to the effectiveness and efficiency of the national
airspace system. The conferees do not intend that the
personnel management reforms included in this bill force the
disestablishment of any existing management-labor agreement
or lead to the dissolution of any union currently
representing FAA employees. Instead, the conference agreement
provides the administrator of the FAA flexibility to redefine
the management-labor relationship to the benefit of the
agency and all of its employees.
Administrator's working group.--The conferees have included
bill language which requires the FAA to develop new personnel
and procurement reform plans, with the goal of accelerating
the modernization of the FAA in the most efficient and cost-
effective manner. The conferees believe the success of this
plan will, in part, depend upon the assistance of the entire
aviation community. The conferees would like to see high
level input from the aviation community. The conferees
therefore strongly recommend that the administrator consult
with the widest array of interested parties in developing the
new personnel and procurement systems. The administrator
should consider establishing a working group to assist his
efforts. The working group could include, but not be limited
to, representatives from the air carriers, general and
business aviation, airports, aircraft manufacturers, airline
and FAA employees, and the Office of the Secretary of
Defense.
Amendment No. 175: Retains, with amendment, language in the
Senate bill requiring development of a new acquisition
management system for the Federal Aviation Administration.
The House bill contained no similar provisions. The
conference agreement changes the official responsibile for
development and implementation of the new acquisition system
to the FAA administrator, not the Secretary. The provision
takes effect on April 1, 1996, as proposed by the Senate.
Amendment No. 176: Reduces bonuses and cash awards for
Department of Transportation employees by $752,852 as
proposed by the Senate. The House bill included no similar
provision.
Amendment No. 177: Limits funds for Department of
Transportation advisory committees to $850,000 as proposed by
the Senate. The House bill contained no similar provision.
Amendment No. 178: Includes provision that enables the
Secretary of Transportation to enforce and continue in effect
the exemption provisions of the Motor Vehicle Information and
Cost Savings Act. The House bill contains no similar
provision.
Amendment No. 179: Provides that the FAA Technical Center
in Pomona, New Jersey be designated as the ``William J.
Hughes Technical Center'', as proposed by the Senate. The
House bill contained no similar provision.
Amendment No. 180: Provides that no funds may be used to
close Coast Guard small boat stations or subunits, and allows
flexibility for the Secretary to implement system-wide
management efficiencies, as proposed by the Senate. The House
bill contained no similar provision. The conferees support
Coast Guard downsizing and streamlining efforts in general,
but find that in this instance the Coast Guard's methodology
failed to fairly consider distinctions between small boat
stations, such as water temperature and survival time,
leading ultimately to a proposal which lacked critical
justification.
Amendment No. 181: Deletes Senate language that would
redistribute funds made available for obligation authorized
by item 21 of the table in section 1105(f) of Public Law 102-
240 to carry out additional surface transportation projects
in Louisiana. The House bill contained no similar provision.
Amendment No. 182: Includes Senate language that provides
for the transfer of certain federal property in Hoboken, New
Jersey. The House bill contained no similar provision.
Amendment No. 183: Deletes Senate language which requires a
five percent reduction from fiscal year 1995 levels in the
energy costs of federal facilities used by agencies funded in
this Act. The conferees are aware that this issue will be
addressed government-wide by the Treasury, Postal Service and
General Government Appropriations Act, 1996.
Amendment No. 184: Deletes language proposed by the Senate
requiring the Secretary of Transportation to conduct a study
of competition and air fares in rural aviation markets in the
United States.
Amendment No. 185: Includes Senate language that would
provide $1,000,000 to establish and operate the Railroad
Safety Institute. The House bill contained no similar
provision. The conference agreement also addresses this issue
under amendment numbered 6.
Amendment No. 186: Retains language proposed by the Senate
expressing the sense of the Senate regarding a dispute
between the United States and Japan over implementation of
the current U.S./Japan bilateral aviation agreement. The
House bill contained no similar provision.
Amendment No. 187: Includes Senate language which modifies
provisions of section 339 of the Department of Transportation
and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1993 (Public Law
102-388). The House bill included no similar provision.
Amendment No. 188: Deletes Senate provision that repeals
section 404 of 23 U.S.C. and inserts language that waives the
freight tonnage limit for rail lines benefiting from the
Local Rail Freight Assistance (LRFA) program for a project
near Wahpeton, North Dakota. The funds are proceeds from LRFA
loans that have been repaid to the State. Approximately
$2,300,000 may be used for the partial cost of a privately
owned rail spur, siding, and loading facility.
Amendment No. 189: Includes Senate language that would have
delayed the restriction on the availability of certain
highway funds and designated the National Highway System. The
House bill contained no similar provision.

TITLE IV

Amendment No. 190: Restores House language deleted by the
Senate which provides for mandatory standards and procedures
governing arbitrators and arbitration of labor disputes in
the Washington, DC area.

TITLE V

Amendment No. 191: Deletes title V of the House bill which
restricts the use of funds for improvements to the Miller
Highway in New York City, New York. This prohibition is
included under amendment numbered 167.

conference total--with comparisons

The total new budget (obligational) authority for the
fiscal year 1996 recommended by the Committee of Conference,
with comparisons to the fiscal year 1995 amount, the 1996
budget estimates, and the House and Senate bills for 1996
follow:

New budget (obligational) authority, fiscal year 1995...$14,214,401,000
Budget estimates of new (obligational) authority, fiscal 35,468,964,831
House bill, fiscal year 1996.............................12,810,725,806
Senate bill, fiscal year 1996............................12,613,811,567
Conference agreement, fiscal year 1996...................12,680,532,831
Conference agreement compared with:....................................
New budget (obligational) authority, fiscal year 1995..-1,533,868,169
Budget estimates of new (obligational) authority, fisc-22,788,432,000
House bill, fiscal year 1996.............................-130,192,975
Senate bill, fiscal year 1996.............................+66,721,264

[[Page H10515]]

<graphic><tif3>TH20OC95.003

[[Page H10516]]

<graphic><tif4>TH20OC95.004

[[Page H10517]]

<graphic><tif5>TH20OC95.005

[[Page H10518]]

<graphic><tif6>TH20OC95.006

[[Page H10519]]

<graphic><tif7>TH20OC95.007

[[Page H10520]]

Frank R. Wolf,
Tom DeLay,
Ralph Regula,
Harold Rogers,
Jim Lightfoot,
Ron Packard,
Sonny Callahan,
Jay Dickey,
Bob Livingston,
Martin Olav Sabo (except amendments 174 and 190),
Richard J. Durbin (except amendments 132, 174, and 190),
Ronald D. Coleman (except amendment 174),
Thomas M. Foglietta (except amendment 174),
David R. Obey (except amendment 174)
Managers on the Part of the House.

Mark O. Hatfield,
Pete V. Domenici,
Arlen Specter,
Christopher S. Bond,
Slade Gorton,
Richard C. Shelby,
Frank R. Lautenberg,
Tom Harkin,
Barbara A. Mikulski,
Managers on the Part of the Senate.

____________________