H. C. R. 13
(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss, and Delegates Douglas, Manuel, Martin, Pino, Varner, Ashley, Faircloth,
Miller, Staton, Michael and Mezzatesta)

Urging Congress to reauthorize the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act with simplification and refinement.

Whereas, The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) of 1991 represented a revolutionary change in the forty year Interstate Highway construction era by introducing a new era of highway system preservation and increased efficiency; and
Whereas, The federal government has been a key transportation partner to help fund highway, bridge and transit projects which preserve the national interest and assure that a proper focus remains on mobility, connectivity, uniformity, integrity, safety and research; and
Whereas, West Virginia has been able to build and maintain a modern and safe transportation system through the prudent investment of federal highway funds which has allowed our state to compete nationally and globally; and
Whereas, The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act has allocated funds to states primarily based on needs and not necessarily on population or revenues generated in order to achieve national goals such as improved air quality, economic competitiveness and improved quality of life; and
Whereas, ISTEA allowed greater flexibility between programs and eligibility within programs due to the varying conditions and problems from state-to-state and mode-to-mode; and
Whereas, Congress must reauthorize ISTEA in 1997 at a maximum level of federal investment in order to preserve our nation's and West Virginia's multimodal transportation systems; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the 73rd West Virginia Legislature urges Congress to reauthorize the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act with simplification and refinement but without significant changes. While improvements can be made, its fundamental structure is sound and should be preserved. This Legislature recommends that Congress reject proposals to overhaul the system. West Virginia and the nation have invested heavily in making ISTEA work and this investment should be preserved; and be it
Further Resolved, That the West Virginia Legislature urges Congress to minimize prescriptive federal regulations and to eliminate federal/state duplication which will allow for a more efficient and effective transportation program and reduce time consuming federal reviews and onerous mandates and sanctions; and be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates transmit duly authenticated copies of this resolution to the Speaker and the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, the President Pro Tempore and the Secretary of the United States Senate, the members of West Virginia's congressional delegation, the Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway administrator.