[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 68 (Thursday, May 26, 1994)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov] [Congressional Record: May 26, 1994] From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] NATIONAL HIGHWAY SYSTEM DESIGNATION ACT OF 1994 ______ speech of HON. TOM LEWIS of florida in the house of representatives Wednesday, May 25, 1994 The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union had under consideration the bill H.R. 4385) to amend title 23, United States Code, to designate the National Highway System, and for other purposes: Mr. LEWIS of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 4385, the National Highway System Designation Act of 1994. Let me take this opportunity to thank the chairman and ranking member of the Surface Transportation Subcommittee, Chairman Rahall and Congressman Petri, as well as the chairman and ranking minority member of the Public Works Committee, Chairman Mineta and Congressman Shuster for their diligence and hard work on behalf of this bill. I wish to point out that through their leadership this bill has been brought before the House a full year earlier than mandated by the 1991 Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act [ISTEA]. This bill serves three important purposes. First it designates 159,000 miles of roadway into the National Highway System [NHS]. Second, it makes a number of technical and perfecting amendments to the 1991 ISTEA. One of those amendments will enhance the operation of the Tri-County Commuter Rail Authority [Tri-Rail] in south Florida. I would like to thank the members of the committee for the authorization for capital improvements for Tri-Rail. Finally, the bill authorizes 283 projects for roads and other transportation projects throughout the country. Two of those projects are of vital importance to south Florda; the widening of State Road 7/ U.S. 441 and the Port of Palm Beach Road relocations. State Road 7/U.S. 441 will provide a safe evacuation route in case of a hurricane in south Florda. Given the experience of Hurricane Andrew, it is my belief that an additional safe north-south hurricane evacuation route will be vital to the safety of the south Florida population should another major hurricane devastate the area. As the Port of Palm Beach looks toward the future and prepares for increased activity, plays an important role in authorizing local road improvements. This will facilitate the flow of port-related traffic and will relieve additional congestion that will otherwise result from increased tonnage moving through the port. The committee has shown great foresight in authorizing this project, as well the State Road 7 project. I wish to once again thank them and give my wholehearted support for passage of H.R. 4385. ____________________