H-628 _______________________________________________
HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL NO. 1
_______________________________________________
Passed Legislature - 1985 Reg.
State of Washington 49th Legislature 1985 Regular Session
By Representatives Walk, Schmidt, Patrick, Lundquist, Schoon and Gallagher
Read first time 1/17/85 and referred to Committee on Transportation.
TO THE HONORABLE RONALD REAGAN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:
We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:
WHEREAS, Congress has established a national goal for completion of the National System of Defense and Interstate Highways by 1990; and
WHEREAS, Congress, in the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982, increased the Federal Motor Fuel Tax from 4 cents to 9 cents per gallon and increased other highway user fees to ensure adequate funding for completion of the Interstate System and for other purposes; and
WHEREAS, The resultant increased highway user fees have been accruing to the Highway Trust Fund since April 1983; and
WHEREAS, Congress has authorized funding for completion of the Interstate System; and
WHEREAS, The Federal Highway Administration has been unable to distribute to the states the authorized funding for construction of the Interstate System, due to the lack of approval of an Interstate Cost Estimate; and
WHEREAS, This lack of approval of an Interstate Cost Estimate has resulted in 7 billion dollars of previously approved Federal Interstate Construction funds being frozen and unavailable for use, while states are ready to build remaining critical gaps in the Interstate System; and
WHEREAS, Continued delay in approval of the Interstate Cost Estimate and release of authorized Federal Instate Construction funds will jeopardize the states' ability to complete the Interstate System by the Congressional target date of 1990, delay the creation of hundreds of thousands of jobs and other economic benefits promised by the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982, and result in the unnecessary prolongation of highway safety hazards and traffic congestion across the country; and
WHEREAS, The State of Washington is awaiting receipt of over 200 million dollars of Federal Interstate Construction funds, a large portion of which is needed immediately; and
WHEREAS, A major concern is that if additional Federal Interstate Construction funds are not received soon, the entire 1985 highway construction season could be lost, along with the 4,000 jobs that could be supported by the work conducted in that season;
NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the United States Congress take immediate action in the 99th Congress to:
(1) Approve an Interstate Cost Estimate which will allow full Federal Interstate Construction funding to be released to the states;
(2) Permit the Federal Highway Administration, in cooperation with the states, to develop and implement all future cost estimates unless Congress has acted prior to the expiration of the previous cost estimate.
BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable Ronald Reagan, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.