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SL cr-- Support-National Highway System(NHS)Legislation
Our orgattiration is working with the Keep America Moving Coalition obtain Congressional passage of the
National Highway System (NHS) legislation before its deadline of September 30,1995.
Although the Senate has passed S.440 to designate NHS,it has not been introduced in the Nouse. With
very few weeks left in the 104th Congressional session,it is in the best interest of California and the radon that
this legislation be enacted this year. In order to obtain that goal we need your assistance.
When passed,the NHS will serve as the backbone of the nation's transportation infrastructure in the 21st
Century,jest as the Interstate System has for the second half of the 20th Century. It will create and secure thousands
of jobs,and the national implications of its passage are for reaching. It will bring 95%of the businesses and 90%of
the households within five miles of quality highway service.
Enclosed you will find information on the NHS and a suggested letter of support We would appreciate
your consideration in sending written support as soon as possible to your representative andlor rhe following
members of the Souse Transportation & Infrastructure Commitlee:
The Honorable Bill Baker The Honorable Bob Filner
United Storrs House of Representatives United States House of Representatives
1724 Longworth House Office Building 504 Cannon Hoose Office Building
Washington, DC 20515 Washington,DC 20515
The Honanble Steve Horn The Honorable Jay Kan
United States House of Representatives United Statex House of Representatives
129 Cation House Office Building 435 Cannon House Office Building
Washington,DC 20515 Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Norman Mineta•(Chirmasi) The Honorable Andrea S=trand
United States House of Representatives United States House of Representatives
2221 House Office Building 1216 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515 Washington,DC 20515
The Honorable Walter TU&U
United Staten House of Representatives
419 Camrm Ham Office Budding
Washington, DC 20515
We look forward to working with you to ensure the passage of this important legislation. We will contact
you regarding this correspondence soon. Thank you in advance for your consideration. .
21 11 wa.aow sous ivARD Surm 630 /ALMTCrb VMGVW 22201 Pte (703) 641-0626 FAX (703) 243-2874
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Suggested Drgft better to Congress andlar Members of the Rouse Transportation
and In;;astrne ire Committee
Date
The Honorable
U.S. House of Representatives
House Ofrice Budding
Washington,D.C. 20515
Dear Representative
With recent Senate passage of S.440 designating the National Highway System(NHS), I
would like to encourage your support and cosponsorship of this legislation when introduced in the
House.
As you are aware, the highway system in California is one of the most traveled in the
nation. NHS funding will bring $569 million in federal highway funding annually and will
maintain and upgrade 7,417 miles of California's key roadways, including all 2,402 miles of
Interstate highways—roads that carry 45% of all motor vehicle traffic in our State.The NHS will
connect important urban centers, including Bakersfield, Fresno, Santa Rosa, and Chico, that are
not currently served by an Interstate highway. It will also improve access to visitor destinations
such as Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks, the beaches of Southern California,the golf courses
of Pebble Beach, and Disneyland.
Ahik To our dismay,the Senate passed an amendment to make Amtrak eligible to receive federal
highway funds that is strongly opposed by highway user groups and State Departments of
Transportation across the nation,including Caltrans.In a recent letter to the U.S. Senate, Caltrans
Director James Van Loben Sets said"inclusion of Amtrak in the NHS would limit state discretion
by including additional infrastructure demands on a specific and limited category of funding."
The Senate amendment essentially robs the highway account to spend money on Amtrak,
while there is a huge and well-documented backlog of unmet highway and bridge repair needs.
The amendment breaks the "user fee" principle under which taxes levied on highway users are
allotted to build and repair roads and bridges. Donor states like California currently receive less
money from the highway cost fund than they contribute each year and therefore,highway users in
donor stares will be subsidizing Amtrak in other states that now already receive a greater return
from the trust fund.
Designation of the NHS would represent one of the few government programs for which
all Americans could see a direct hometown benefit for the billions of dollars they pay in taxes.
However,if Congress fails to designate the NHS by September 30, 1995,$6.5 billion in highway
funds will not be apportioned to the states.
Action on this crucial piece of legislation trust be expedited With so few days left in the
104th Congress, I would appreciate it if you could lend your support to the this important
legislation and help promote its passage during this session of Congress.
Sincerely,
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California Needs the
National Highway System
Ir Congress will consider legislation that would designate a National Highway System to modemize
and improve the nation's busiest and most important roads, including those in California.
Nationwide, the system would comprise some 160,000 miles of roadways that carry 40 percent
of urban highway traffic,42 percent of rural travel. and 75 percent of commercial truck traffic.
The program would be paid for by funds already collected from highway users and now sitting in
the nation's Highway Trust Fund—not new taxes.
Califomia would benefit significantly from the National Highway System. It would:
• Bring$569 million a year in federal highway funding to California;
• Maintain and upgrade 7,417 miles of CaJifomia's key roadways, including all 2,402 miles of
Interstate highways—roads that carry 45.35 percent of the state's motor vehicle traffic;
• Improve key highways to cities not currently served by an Interstate, such as Bakersfield,
Fresno, Santa Rosa, and Chico;
• Improve roads in rural communities and to tourist attractions, like Yosemite and Sequoia
National Parks, the beadles of southern California,the golf courses of Pebble Beach, and
Disneyland.
California needs the National Highway System.A Federal Highway Administration report shows
that 28.5 percent of Califomia's bridges are in need of replacement or repair. If Congress
approves the National Highway System, the people of California and the nation will enjoy
better. safer roads and bridges, less traffic congestion and pollution, and a stronger economy.
refted WIINS
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