1998-025-RES WHEREAS, THE NATION'S TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE PLAYS AN INTEGRAL PART

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RESOLUTION NO. 98-025 WHEREAS, the nation's transportation infrastructure plays an integral part in the nation's economy, and the Texas transportation system is a key component of the national network; and, WHEREAS, the United States Department of Transportation has reported that the nation's transportation network is in dire need of a substantial increase in the level of financial investment to bring the system up to standards for safe and efficient operation and to meet expanding transportation demands; and, WHEREAS, providing all states and the nation as a whole with the benefits of mobility and economic prosperity and ensuring an effective connection between the vital Texas transportation system and that of the rest of the nation requires steadfast support for the nation's transportation network as we enter the twenty-first century; and, WHEREAS, the upcoming re-authorization of federal surface transportation programs represents a critical opportunity to ensure that federal transportation funds provided to support the nation's transportation system are sufficient to support an effective response to the true needs of a modern transportation system; and, WHEREAS, Amendment No. 1397, known as the Byrd-Gramm Amendment to Senate Bill 1173, the lntermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1997, was introduced in the Senate on October 22,1997, by Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia and Senator Phil Gramm of Texas; and, WHEREAS, the enactment of Senate Bill 1173 as amended by the Byrd-Gramm Amendment would authorize the use of an additional $6.1 billion per year from the Highway Account of the Federal Highway Trust Fund for highway infrastructure, making an additional $30.9 billion in contract authority available for highways during the five-year period; and, WHEREAS, the increases in federal funding support for the surface transportation provided by the Byrd-Gramm Amendment are fully funded through federal motor fuel tax revenues recently redirected to the Highway Trust Fund by the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, that the City Council supports the efforts represented by the Byrd-Gramm Amendment to provide needed increases in federal funding for surface transportation; and, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Texas Congressional Delegation and members of the Texas transportation community are encouraged to support and work toward the successful adoption of the principles included in that Amendment. ATTEST: