H-780 _______________________________________________
HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL NO. 4000
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Passed Legislature - 1987 Reg.
State of Washington 50th Legislature 1987 Regular Session
By Representatives Walk, Schmidt, Baugher, D. Sommers, Sutherland, Meyers, J. Williams, Heavey, S. Wilson, Grimm, Fisher, Betrozoff, Haugen, May, Dellwo, Ferguson, Gallagher, O'Brien, K. Wilson, Kremen, Spanel, Cooper, Grant, Cantwell, Holm, Rayburn, Fisch, Miller and Hankins
Read first time 1/19/87 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, The 99th Congress failed to enact a continuing Surface Transportation Assistance Act; and
WHEREAS, Congress has established a national goal for completion of the National System of Defense and Interstate Highways by 1990; and
WHEREAS, Continued delay in the reauthorization of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act 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, Continuation of the multi-year Federal-aid highway and public transportation programs is essential to the growth of the State's economy and the safety and mobility of all the residents of and travelers through the State of Washington; and
WHEREAS, The failure of the 100th Congress to reauthorize the Surface Transportation Assistance Act by March 1987 will mean the loss of the summer construction season in Washington State, thereby delaying for one year the start of planned highway rehabilitation, capacity expansion, and safety projects on the Federal-aid Highway System; and
WHEREAS, The lack of such projects will mean the estimated loss of 4,400 jobs and $250,000,000 in economic activity in the State of Washington; and
WHEREAS, Congressional inaction will result in the loss of funds to provide vehicles for the transportation of elderly and handicapped persons, causing a negative impact upon the health, well-being, and employment of those persons; and
WHEREAS, Congressional inaction will delay continuation of construction or increase costs related to the need for debt service of the Seattle bus tunnel, a project to help reduce traffic congestion in the state's largest urban area;
NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the United States Congress take immediate action in the 100th Congress to secure passage of a multi-year Surface Transportation Assistance Act that will use to the greatest extent possible the revenues and balances in the Highway Trust Fund.
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, each member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, each member of the House Committee on Public Works and Transportation, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.