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1997 SESSION

978227749
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 225
Offered January 10, 1997
Memorializing Congress to pass the ISTEA Integrity Restoration Act or similar legislation embodying the principles of the Surface Transportation Efficiency Program for the 21st Century (STEP 21).
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Patrons-- Waddell, Barry, Colgan, Hawkins, Houck, Howell, Marsh, Miller, Y.B., Norment, Stosch, Ticer, Trumbo and Williams; Delegate: Cox
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Referred to the Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) of 1991 expires September 30, 1997; and

WHEREAS, according to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) publication Federal Highway Statistics, Virginia consistently receives a lower percentage of federal highway funding than its percentage share of payments into the federal Highway Trust Fund; and

WHEREAS, the upcoming reauthorization of the federal surface transportation program provides an ideal opportunity to ensure that future methods of apportioning federal transportation funds are equitable and fair; and

WHEREAS, adequate support for the National Highway System (NHS) is necessary to provide consistent mobility and economic benefits for all states and the nation as a whole and to ensure that our citizens are connected with those in all parts of the nation; and

WHEREAS, a streamlined transportation program is needed to provide flexible funding to allow states and their local partners to respond to specific state and local needs; and

WHEREAS, there is a national interest to ensure an adequate level of resources for highways in low-population large-land-area states and for highways in low-population small-land-area states in order to provide the road systems that are needed for national mobility, economic connectivity, and national security; and

WHEREAS, the ISTEA Integrity Restoration Act, legislation which embodies the principles put forth by the STEP 21 Coalition, has been introduced in both the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That prior to the expiration of ISTEA, Congress be urged to enact the ISTEA Integrity Restoration Act to reauthorize the federal surface transportation program. This legislation is based on the principles of the STEP 21 Coalition and would significantly improve equity in the formulae, maximize flexibility for the states, and provide adequate support for the National Highway System; and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Virginia Congressional Delegation in order that they may be apprised of the sense of the General Assembly in this matter.