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[From Thomas, a service of the U.S. Congress through its Library.
Check for accuracy before citing or quoting.]
42 275 cc
Calendar No. 121
105 th Congress
Report
SENATE
1st Session
105 55
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND RELATED AGENCIES
APPROPRIATIONS BILL,
1998
July 22, 1997--Ordered to be printed
Mr. Shelby, from the Committee on Appropriations, submitted the
following
REPORT
[To accompany S. 1048]
The Committee on Appropriations reports the bill (S. 1048) making
appropriations for the Department of Transportation and related agencies
for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1998, and for other purposes,
reports favorably thereon and recommends that the bill do pass.
Amounts of new budget (obligational) authority for fiscal year 1998
Amount of bill as reported to Senate $12,610,422,883
Amount of budget estimates, 1998 13,115,727,000
Fiscal year 1997 enacted 11,109,835,396
C O N T E N T S
Total obligational authority 4
Salaries and expenses 7
Office of Civil Rights 7
Transportation planning, research, and development 8
Transportation Administrative Service Center 8
Payments to air carriers 9
Rental payments 12
Minority Business Resource Center Program 15
Minority business outreach 15
Operating expenses 21
Acquisition, construction, and improvements 26
Environmental compliance and restoration 32
Port safety development 32
Alteration of bridges 33
Retired pay 33
Reserve training 33
Research, development, test, and evaluation 34
Boat safety 35
Operations 36
Facilities and equipment 44
Research, engineering, and development 65
Grants-in-aid for airports 69
Aircraft Purchase Loan Guarantee Program 83
Limitation on general operating expenses 84
Motor carrier safety operations 85
Highway-related safety grants 90
Federal-aid highways 91
Right-of-way revolving fund 98
Motor carrier safety grants 98
State infrastructure banks 99
Operations and research 101
Highway traffic safety grants 105
Office of the Administrator 108
Railroad safety 110
Railroad research and development 111
Northeast Corridor Improvement Program 114
Railroad Rehabilitation Improvement Program 116
Next generation high-speed rail 116
Alaska railroad rehabilitation 118
Rhode Island rail development 118
Direct loan financing program 119
Grants to National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) 119
Administrative expenses 123
Formula grants 126
University transportation centers 127
Transit planning and research 127
Trust fund share of transit programs 129
Discretionary grants 129
Mass transit capital fund 143
Operations and maintenance 144
Research and special programs 146
Pipeline safety 150
Emergency preparedness grants 152
Salaries and expenses 153
Salaries and expenses 155
Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board: Salaries and expenses
157
National Transportation Safety Board: Salaries and expenses 157
General provisions 160
Compliance with paragraph 7, rule XVI, of the Standing Rules of the Senate 162
Compliance with paragraph 7(c), rule XXVI, of the Standing Rules of the Senate
162
Compliance with paragraph 12, rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate
163
Budgetary impact statement 164
TOTAL OBLIGATIONAL AUTHORITY PROVIDED--GENERAL FUNDS AND
TRUST FUNDS
In addition to the appropriation of $12,610,422,883 in new budget
authority for fiscal year 1998, large amounts of contract authority are
provided by law, the obligation limits for which are contained in the
annual appropriations bill. The principal items in this category are the
trust funded programs for Federal-aid highways, for mass transit, and
for airport development grants. For fiscal year 1998, estimated
obligation limitations total $28,081,300,000.
PROGRAM, PROJECT, AND ACTIVITY
During fiscal year 1998, for the purposes of the Balanced Budget and
Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Public Law 99 177), as amended,
with respect to appropriations contained in the accompanying bill, the
terms ``program, project, and activity'' shall mean any item for which a
dollar amount is contained in appropriations acts (including joint
resolutions providing continuing appropriations) or accompanying reports
of the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations, or accompanying
conference reports and joint explanatory statements of the committee of
conference. This definition shall apply to all programs for which new
budget (obligational) authority is provided, as well as to discretionary
grants and discretionary grant allocations made through either bill or
report language. In addition, the percentage reductions made pursuant to
a sequestration order to funds appropriated for facilities and
equipment, Federal Aviation Administration, and for acquisition,
construction, and improvements, Coast Guard, shall be applied equally to
each budget item that is listed under said accounts in the budget
justifications submitted to the House and Senate Committees on
Appropriations as modified by subsequent appropriations acts and
accompanying committee reports, conference reports, or joint explanatory
statements of the committee of conference.
ISTEA AUTHORIZATIONS EXPIRATION
The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act provides
authorizations for most Federal highway, transit, and highway safety
programs, and most of those authorizations are contract authority. That
means they are available for obligation without appropriation. The role
of the appropriations process with respect to contract authority
programs generally is to set obligation limitations so that overall
Federal spending stays within legislated targets and to appropriate
liquidating cash to cover the outlays associated with obligations that
have been made.
ISTEA authorized these Federal surface transportation programs
through fiscal year 1997, and the Congress must reauthorize these
programs in order to create new contract authority for fiscal year 1998
and later years. The Congress has begun the process to reauthorize
ISTEA, but neither the Senate nor the House has passed reauthorization
legislation. Until such legislation is enacted, there will not be new
contract authority to fund such surface transportation programs as the
Federal-aid highway program, transit discretionary grants, or highway
safety grants, although any unobligated balances from prior years will
carry over and be available for obligation.
In developing fiscal year 1998 appropriations legislation for the
Federal surface transportation programs authorized by ISTEA, the
Committee has generally assumed continuation of current law. If, as the
ISTEA reauthorization process moves forward, the Congress decides to
make changes to these programs, there may need to be associated changes
to the appropriations language for these programs.
THE GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE AND RESULTS ACT
The Government Performance and Results Act [Results Act] requires
Federal agencies to develop strategic plans and annual performance plans
and reports. The first multiyear strategic plan is due by the end of
September 1997. The Committee is fully committed to support the
Department as it seeks to implement the requirements of the Results Act.
The Committee commends the Department for its aggressive
implementation of the Results Act. Performance measures have been
identified for most of the Department's major programs, and the
Department has briefed staff of this Committee and others on these
measures. The Department has distributed a draft strategic plan and
invited comments from its stakeholders as part of the consultation
process required by law. The draft strategic plan represents a
commendable effort that builds on the Department's efforts to identify
program performance measures and articulates broad goals and objectives
for the array of departmental programs. The Committee is disappointed,
however, that the draft plan does not set out priorities among those
goals and objectives. Setting priorities among such a broad array of
goals and objectives is a challenging and controversial task, but the
Committee is convinced that a plan with as many goals and objectives as
the Department's draft plan that lacks a priority scheme is, in the end,
no plan at all. As OMB Director Raines said in a recent discussion of
the Results Act, ``This is an era of fiscal limits. Resources are
scarce. Not every priority can be met nor all needs satisfied. Every
program must count.'' The Committee, therefore, strongly urges the
Secretary to consult with this Committee and others in Congress and the
Department's stakeholders, before the strategic plan is finalized, to
identify priorities among the Department's goals and objectives. If the
Secretary and the Congress agree on the Department's priorities, this
Committee can work more effectively with the Department in the
appropriations process to ensure resources are allocated in a manner
best suited to achieving those priorities.
As the Department moves forward with implementation of the Results
Act, the Committee understands that revisions and realignments to
current budgetary presentations will be likely to ensure consistency
with strategic and annual performance plans. The Committee strongly
encourages the Department to develop and propose such revisions, and to
present any necessary reconciliation and crosswalks, to ensure that
fiscal year 1999 and subsequent budget submissions display amounts
requested against program activity structures for which annual
performance goals and indicators have been established. The Committee
further expects that the Department will develop any needed revisions to
account and program activity structures in consultation with the
Committee on Appropriations and cognizant authorizations committees.
TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
Appropriations, 1997 \1\$52,966,000
Budget estimate, 1998 56,136,000
Committee recommendation 66,703,000
\1\Does not include reduction for TASC pursuant to section 321
of Public Law 104 205.
Section 3 of the Department of Transportation Act of October 15, 1966
(Public Law 89 670) provides for establishment of the Office of the
Secretary of Transportation [OST]. The Office of the Secretary is
composed of the Secretary and the Deputy Secretary immediate offices,
the Office of the General Counsel, and five assistant secretarial
offices for transportation policy, aviation and international affairs,
budget and programs, governmental affairs, and administration. These
secretarial offices have policy development and central supervisory and
coordinating functions related to the overall planning and direction of
the Department of Transportation, including staff assistance and general
management supervision of the counterpart offices in the operating
administrations of the Department.
The Committee recommends a total of $66,703,000 for the salaries and
expenses of the Office of the Secretary of Transportation including
$40,000 for reception and representation expenses.
Bill Language
User fees .--The Committee has included bill language which permits
the Office of the Secretary to credit to this account $1,000,000 in user
fees.
OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS
Appropriations, 1997 \1\$5,574,000
Budget estimate, 1998 5,574,000
Committee recommendation 5,574,000
\1\Does not include reduction for TASC pursuant to section 321
of Public Law 104 205.
The Office of Civil Rights is responsible for advising the Secretary
on civil rights and equal employment opportunity matters, formulating
civil rights policies and procedures for the operating administrations,
investigating claims that small businesses were denied certification or
improperly certified as disadvantaged business enterprises, and
overseeing the Department's conduct of its civil rights responsibilities
and making final determinations on civil rights complaints. In addition,
the Civil Rights Office is responsible for enforcing laws and
regulations which prohibit discrimination in federally operated and
federally assisted transportation programs.
The Committee has provided a total of $5,574,000 for the Office of
Civil Rights.
TRANSPORTATION PLANNING, RESEARCH, AND DEVELOPMENT
Appropriations, 1997 \1\$3,000,000
Budget estimate, 1998 6,008,000
Committee recommendation 4,400,000
\1\Does not include reduction for TASC pursuant to section 321
of Public Law 104 205.
The Office of the Secretary performs those research activities and
studies which can more effectively or appropriately be conducted at the
departmental level. This research effort supports the planning, research
and development activities, and systems development needed to assist the
Secretary in the formulation of national transportation policies. The
program is carried out primarily through contracts with other Federal
agencies, educational institutions, nonprofit research organizations,
and private firms.
The Committee has reduced the administration's request by $1,608,000.
The recommended level includes $300,000 for reimbursement to the Bureau
of Transportation Statistics [BTS] for services provided by the Office
of Aviation Information. These funds should be tendered to BTS in the
first quarter of the fiscal year to assist BTS in defraying the costs of
providing these and other services to OST.
Transportation planning .--The recommended level includes funding
for transportation planning assistance for the 2002 Winter Olympics in
Salt Lake City and for a multimodal transportation study for Albuquerque
and Santa Fe, NM.
Safety standards relating to the use of antihistamines .--With funds
appropriated during fiscal years 1996 97, the Department is preparing a
1998 public awareness campaign to combat the effect of fatigue, sleep
disorders, and inattention related to motor vehicle crashes. In addition
to this important effort, the Committee believes that specific attention
must be paid to raising awareness of the potential operator impairment
caused by various medications. The Federal Aviation Administration has
been very vigilant in its review of medication suitable for use by
pilots and safety-related personnel and has approved, for example, the
use of certain antihistamines for allergy relief that are nonsedating.
The Committee believes that other agencies within the Department, such
as NHTSA and the Office of Motor Carriers, should follow the lead of the
FAA in this regard. Therefore, the Committee directs the Secretary to
provide by December 31, 1997, a report detailing his plan to develop
safety standards relating to the use of antihistamines in all
public/commercial modes of transportation.
TRANSPORTATION ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE CENTER
Limitation, 1997 \1\($124,812,000)
Budget estimate, 1998 ...........................
Committee recommendation ...........................
\1\Does not reflect reduction pursuant to section 321 of Public
Law 104 205.
The Transportation Administrative Service Center [TASC] provides a
business operation fund for DOT to provide a wide range of
administrative services to the Department and other customers. TASC
functions as an entrepreneurial and self-sufficient entity and provides
competitive quality services responsive to customer needs. The TASC is
governed by a Board of Directors composed of customer agencies,
operating in a competitive business like environment. The TASC presents
proposed operating and financial plans to the Board at the beginning of
each fiscal year. Once the Board has approved those plans the TASC
provides cost-effective products and services to its full customer base.
The Director of TASC provides quarterly performance and financial
reports to the Board, makes recommendations for changes to the approved
plans and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the TASC. DOT
administrations must procure consolidated administrative services from
the TASC unless a financial analysis of the services demonstrates that
it is more cost beneficial to the Department as a whole--not to an
individual operating entity alone--to change the nature of the service
delivery (to consolidate a service or to decentralize a service). TASC
services are being marketed to customers outside DOT to provide greater
economies of scale, thus reducing costs to individual customers. TASC
services include:
--Functions formerly in DOT's working capital fund [WCF];
--Office of the Secretary [OST] personnel, procurement and
information technology support operations;
--Systems development staff;
--Operations of the consolidated departmental dockets facilities; and
--Certain departmental services and administrative operations, such
as human resources management programs, transit fare subsidy payments,
and employee wellness including substance awareness and testing.
All of the services of the TASC will be financed through customer
reimbursements, to the extent possible, on a fee-for-service basis.
The Committee is directing the Office of the Inspector General to
undertake a study and report back to the Committee by April 1, 1998,
that evaluates the cost effectiveness of TASC and whether the TASC
provides quality services responsive to customer needs.
PAYMENTS TO AIR CARRIERS
(liquidation of contract authorization)
(airport and airway trust fund)
Appropriations, 1997 ($25,900,000)
Budget estimate, 1998 ...........................
Committee recommendation ...........................
In fiscal year 1998, this account is being terminated, and remaining
contract authority is being rescinded. The Essential Air Service Program
is being funded in a new account (essential air service and rural
airport improvement fund), reflecting provisions of the Federal Aviation
Reauthorization Act of 1996.
Many EAS points are located in remote rural areas: 57 of 69
communities served by the Essential Air Service Program are more than
100 highway miles from the nearest small, medium, or large hub airport.
Twenty-six more communities are located in Alaska, where, in all but two
cases, year-round road access does not exist. Recognizing the critical
importance of EAS service to these communities, the Committee intends
that service in Alaska not be reduced. Without air service, such
communities would be further isolated from the Nation's economic
centers. Moreover, businesses are typically interested in locating in
areas that have convenient access to scheduled air service. Loss of
service would seriously hamper small communities' ability to attract new
business or even to retain those they now have, resulting in further
strain on local economies and loss of jobs.
ESSENTIAL AIR SERVICE AND RURAL AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT FUND
Appropriations, 1997 ...........................
Budget estimate, 1998 (mandatory authority) $50,000,000
Committee recommendation (mandatory authority) 50,000,000
The Essential Air Service [EAS] and Rural Airport Improvement Program
provides funds directly to commuter/regional airlines to provide air
service to small communities that otherwise would not receive air
service and for rural airport improvement as provided by the 1996
Federal Aviation Reauthorization Act.
The Federal Aviation Reauthorization Act of 1996 authorizes
$100,000,000 in user fees for flights that fly over, but do not land in,
the United States. The first $50,000,000 of each year's fees go directly
to carry out the Essential Air Service Program and, to the extent not
used for essential air service, to improve rural airport safety.
The Committee recommendation includes a general provision which would
limit the number of communities that receive EAS funding by excluding
points in the 48 contiguous United States that are located fewer than 70
highway miles from the nearest large or medium hub airport, or that
require a subsidy in excess of $200 per passenger unless such a point is
more than 210 miles from the nearest large or medium hub airport.
The following table reflects the points currently receiving service
and the annual rates as of the end of March 1997:
RECENT EAS SUBSIDY
DATA\1\
States/communities Estimated mileage to nearest hub (small, medium, or large)
Average daily enplanements at EAS point (calendar year 1996) Current annual subsidy rates
(June 1, 1997) Subsidy per passenger
Arizona: 101
5.8 $155,369 $51.26
Arkansas: 108
7.0 569,344 112.48
California: 234
25.1 151,450 11.58
Colorado: 258
36.4 210,544 31.34
Hawaii: Kamuela 39
3.1 292,061 180.84
Illinois: 126
5.7 182,319 61.62
Iowa: Ottumwa 85
4.0 382,072 181.16
Kansas: 149
10.1 146,225 27.70
Maine: 71
12.0 330,080 52.57
Michigan: 236
21.2 141,363 37.26
Minnesota: 127
(\3\) (\3\) (\3\)
Missouri: 138
13.1 108,120 24.02
Montana: 280
6.7 387,540 110.25
Nebraska: 256
2.2 346,863 296.21
Nevada: Ely 237
2.9 508,759 335.37
New Hampshire: Keene 56
5.6 382,283 131.82
New Mexico: 91
12.9 188,923 27.99
New York: 118
9.0 132,540 28.12
North Dakota: 405
15.0 415,506 53.10
Oklahoma: 84
6.0 381,517 121.15
Pennsylvania: Oil City/Franklin 86
25.5 118,373 8.89
South Dakota: 206
(\3\) (\3\) (\3\)
Texas: Brownwood 138
4.2 499,109 226.56
Utah: 178
21.8 292,882 25.70
Vermont: Rutland 69
11.9 382,283 61.51
Washington: Ephrata/Moses Lake 108
38.7 177,628 8.78
West Virginia: 173
8.6 270,835 60.36
Wyoming: Worland 164
9.6 155,468 31.01
\1\The above list of communities is based on currently available data, and is subject to change for
a number of reasons. Subsidy rates change as their 2-year rate terms expire throughout the year.
In addition, air carriers submit passenger traffic data on a quarterly basis. Changes in both
subsidy rates and traffic levels will, of course, change subsidy-per-passenger calculations.
Further, some communities currently receiving subsidy-free service may require subsidy in the
future while some currently subsidized communities may attain profitability and no longer
require subsidy. Finally, hub designations are recalculated annually and published by the FAA in
the ``Airport Activities Statistics.''
\2\There was an extended service hiatus; thus, no meaningful calculation can be made.
\3\No service or subsidy rate in place.
PAYMENTS TO AIR CARRIERS
(rescission of contract authorization)
(airport and airway trust fund)
Rescission, 1997 -$12,700,000
Budget estimate, 1998 -38,600,000
Committee recommendation -38,600,000
The Committee has included bill language which would continue the
current eligibility criteria for essential air service. In addition, the
Department is encouraged to explore establishing dual EAS hubs in Kansas
within the eligibility criteria and available funding.
RENTAL PAYMENTS
Appropriations, 1997 $127,447,000
Budget estimate, 1998 10,567,000
Committee recommendation ...........................
In 1996 and 1997 payments to the General Services Administration
[GSA] for headquarters and field space rental and related services for
all operating administrations were consolidated into this account.
Beginning in 1998, the administration proposes that all GSA rental
payments be included in the modal budgets. Therefore, the budget request
includes funding only for OST utilized space and related services and
departmentwide facility security enhancements. The administration
believes that decentralized budgeting for rent will encourage the
operating administrations to reduce excess space. The Committee includes
funding for rent, but has included the funding in the Office of the
Secretary salaries and expenses.
GSA RENTAL PAYMENTS\1\
[Dollars and square feet in thousands]
Administration Fiscal year 1996 enacted\2\ Fiscal year 1996 GSA
billings Fiscal year 1997 projected\3\ Fiscal year 1998 request
Funding Square feet Funding Square feet Funding
Square feet
Federal Highway Administration [17,685] [17,112] [18,005]
[1,070] 18,275 1,067
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 4,381 4,386
217 4,234 217
Federal Railroad Administration 3,493 4,955 212
2,955 156
Federal Transit Administration 3,237 3,304 152
3,239 153
Federal Aviation Administration 69,431 68,309 4,160
67,024 4,213
U.S. Coast Guard 40,334 36,237 2,363
34,815 2,364
St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation 193 196
9 150 9
Research and Special Programs Administration 2,022 2,077
103 2,075 103
Office of the Inspector General 2,225 2,386 110
2,350 110
Office of the Secretary of Transportation: 12,885 6,381 291
5,898 291
Transportation Administrative Services Center 6,526 321
6,640 321
Bureau of Transportation Statistics 452 587 26
575 26
OST--rental payments to GSA [135,200] [138,653] [135,344]
[7,964]
----------- ---------------- ----------- ------------------ ---------
------------- -------
Subtotal 135,200 138,653 135,344 7,964
152,899 9,030
Federal Highway Administration 17,685 17,112 18,005
1,070
----------- ---------------- ----------- ------------------ ---------
------------- -------
Subtotal, consolidated account 152,885 8,580 155,765 153,349
9,034
Maritime Administration 4,594 298 4,433 4,465 299
4,684 299
----------- ---------------- ----------- ------------------ ---------
------------- -------
Total, Department of Transportation 157,479 8,878 160,198 157,814
9,333 157,583 9,329
\1\Enacted as a single account under the Office of the Secretary of Transportation. Fiscal years
1996 and 1997 appropriations directed the reimbursement of FHWA GSA rent from FHWA
LGOE account to the consolidated account. The fiscal year 1998 budget proposes the termination
of the consolidated rent account and the return of funding for space utilized by the operating
administrations to their respective budgets
\2\Fiscal year 1996 requirements are best represented by the actual billings. There is no
distribution by mode of the enacted amounts of $152,885 and 8,580 square feet because they are
less than our existing inventory. The shortfall of $3,500,000 for the consolidated account was
covered by GSA.
\3\Fiscal year 1997 requirements are best represented by the projected billings. There is no
distribution by mode of the enacted amounts of $144,741 and 8,580 square feet because they are
less than our existing inventory.
MINORITY BUSINESS RESOURCE CENTER PROGRAM
Appropriations, 1997 $1,900,000
Budget estimate, 1998 1,900,000
Committee recommendation 1,900,000
Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
[OSDBU]/Minority Business Resource Center [MBRC]. --The OSDBU/MBRC
provides assistance in obtaining short-term working capital and bonding
for disadvantaged, minority, and women-owned businesses [DBE/MBE/WBE's].
In fiscal year 1998, the short-term loan program will focus on the
lending of working capital to DBE/MBE/WBE's for transportation-related
projects in order to strengthen their competitive and productive
capabilities.
Since fiscal year 1993, the loan program has been a separate line
item appropriation, which reflects the President's budget proposal,
which segregated such activities in response to changes made by the
Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990. The limitation on direct loans under
the Minority Business Resource Center is at the administration's
requested level of $15,000,000.
The Department is projecting that the authorized loan level of
$15,000,000 will be reached in fiscal years 1998 and 1999. Of the funds
appropriated, $1,500,000 covers the direct subsidy costs for loans not
to exceed $15,000,000; and, $400,000 is for administrative expenses to
carry out the Direct Loan Program.
MINORITY BUSINESS OUTREACH
Appropriations, 1997 $2,900,000
Budget estimate, 1998 2,900,000
Committee recommendation 2,900,000
This appropriation provides contractual support to assist minority
business firms, entrepreneurs, and venture groups in securing contracts
and subcontracts arising out of projects that involve Federal spending.
It also provides support to historically black and Hispanic colleges.
Separate funding is requested by the administration since this program
provides grants and contract assistance that serves DOT-wide goals and
not just OST purposes.
General Provisions
Political and Presidential appointees .--The Committee has included
a provision in the bill (sec. 305), which is similar to general
provisions that have been included in previous appropriations acts,
which limits the number of political and Presidential appointees within
the Department of Transportation. The Committee is recommending that the
ceiling for fiscal year 1998 be 107 personnel.
Advisory committees .--The Committee has included a general
provision (sec. 323) which would limit the amount of funds that could be
used for the expenses of advisory committees utilized by the Department
of Transportation. The limitation specified is $1,000,000, which is
$250,000 below that enacted in fiscal year 1997.
Minority business outreach program .--The bill includes a provision
in the bill (sec. 337) that would allow the repurchase of preferred
stock at a rate determined by the Secretary to facilitate the
administration of the Minority Business Resource Center Program and to
make more funds available for the underlying purposes of the program.
Other
Reductions in fiscal year 1997 appropriations .--In fiscal year
1997, reductions were made to a number of accounts due to limitations or
reductions imposed in various areas, such as the Transportation
Administration Services Center, performance awards, and rescissions
required by the Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act of 1997 (Public
Law 104 208). In the Senate Committee report, each account head shows
the amount appropriated in Public Law 104 205 and Public Law 104 208,
before the various reductions were made. The table below depicts the
amount of funds appropriated for each of the accounts, and the
reductions required.
CHANGES IN FISCAL YEAR 1997 DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION APPROPRIATIONS
Account Public Law 104 205
Public Law 104 208 Net appropriation
Appropriations TASC GP 321 Awards GP
346 Appropriations Rescissions
Office of the Secretary: $52,966,000 -$1,458,200
$51,507,800
---------------- -------------- ---------------
---------------- ---------------- ---------------
Subtotal -1,553,804
================ ==============
=============== ================ ================ ===============
U.S. Coast Guard: 2,294,725,000 -2,026,805 -$3,000
2,292,695,195
---------------- -------------- ---------------
---------------- ---------------- ---------------
Subtotal -2,026,805 -3,000
================ ==============
=============== ================ ================ ===============
Federal Aviation Administration: 4,900,000,000 -2,811,301
-176,888 $57,900,000 4,954,911,811
---------------- -------------- ---------------
---------------- ---------------- ---------------
Subtotal -2,811,301 -176,888
226,600,000
================ ==============
=============== ================ ================ ===============
Federal Highway Administration: (20,000,000)
( -9,100,000) (10,900,000)
---------------- -------------- ---------------
---------------- ---------------- ---------------
Subtotal -2,001,532 -178,512
82,000,000
================ ==============
=============== ================ ================ ===============
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: (171,000,000)
( -11,800,000) (159,200,000)
---------------- -------------- ---------------
---------------- ---------------- ---------------
Subtotal -597,812 -32,000
================ ==============
=============== ================ ================ ===============
Federal Railroad Administration: 16,739,000 -103,000 -4,000
16,632,000
---------------- -------------- ---------------
---------------- ---------------- ---------------
Subtotal -170,979 -15,000
141,180,000
================ ==============
=============== ================ ================ ===============
Federal Transit Administration: Administrative expenses 41,497,000 -451,135
-4 41,045,861
================ ==============
=============== ================ ================ ===============
St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation: Operations and maintenance 10,337,000
-12,704 -2,000 10,322,296
================ ==============
=============== ================ ================ ===============
Research and Special Programs Administration: 26,886,000 -179,100
-3,900 3,000,000 29,703,000
---------------- -------------- ---------------
---------------- ---------------- ---------------
Subtotal -279,842 -5,200
3,000,000
================ ==============
=============== ================ ================ ===============
Office of Inspector General: Salaries and expenses 37,900,000 -94,086
-1,000 37,804,914
================ ==============
=============== ================ ================ ===============
Bureau of Transportation Statistics\1\ (25,000,000) ( -118,094) (
-36,860) 24,845,046
================ ==============
=============== ================ ================ ===============
Surface Transportation Board: Salaries and expenses 12,344,000
-100,000 12,244,000
================ ==============
=============== ================ ================ ===============
Total reductions, Department of Transportation -10,000,000
-513,604 452,780,000
\1\BTS reductions in parentheses included under Federal-aid highways.
Asset sales .--The Coast Guard and FAA, like many other agencies,
are reorganizing and downsizing while providing critical services to the
public at less cost.
The Committee believes that the Coast Guard, the FAA, the FHWA, and
the Government as a whole, would benefit substantially if allowed
budgetary credit for property they expect to excess as part of
downsizing efforts. Clearly, there is the potential for a very positive
benefit if the Coast Guard and the FAA are permitted to receive credit
for the value of excessed property.
Rebates, refunds, and incentive payments .--The Department receives
funds from various Government programs at different time intervals (that
is, weekly, monthly, quarterly). For example, under the General Services
Administration's Travel Management Center [TMC] Program, rebate checks
received from the travel contractor are distributed monthly to each
element of the Department in proportion to net domestic airline sales
arranged by the contractor. Past expenditures have to be analyzed to
determine the proper sources to refund which can be a time-consuming
process. The staff time and cost associated with the precise accounting
for each such refund is prohibitive. To alleviate the need to
specifically identify the source for each repayment the language allows
a fair and sensible allocation of the rebates and miscellaneous and
other funds.
Many repayments are received late in the fourth quarter of the fiscal
year or in the first quarter of the new fiscal year and thus are not
effectively available to the agency for new obligations. For example,
rebate checks for September travel are received from the travel
management contractor in October. To maintain good financial management
incentives and avoid injudicious commitments, this provision would
provide specific authority to use rebated funds for program purposes
beyond the fiscal year of the appropriation charged for the initial
payment.
U.S. COAST GUARD
SUMMARY OF FISCAL YEAR 1998 PROGRAM
The U.S. Coast Guard, as it is known today, was established on
January 28, 1915, through the merger of the Revenue Cutter Service and
the Lifesaving Service. In 1939, the U.S. Lighthouse Service was
transferred to the Coast Guard, followed by the Bureau of Marine
Inspection and Navigation in 1942. The Coast Guard has as its primary
responsibilities the enforcement of all applicable Federal laws on the
high seas and waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States;
promotion of safety of life and property at sea; assistance to
navigation; protection of the marine environment; and maintenance of a
state of readiness to function as a specialized service in the Navy in
time of war (14 U.S.C. 1, 2).
The Committee recommends a total program level of $3,964,731,000 for
the activities of the Coast Guard in fiscal year 1998. The following
table summarizes the Committee's recommendations:
[In thousands of dollars]
Program Fiscal year 1997 enacted\1\ Fiscal year 1998 estimate
Committee recommendations
Operating expenses \2\2,619,725 \3\2,740,000
\2\2,731,700
Acquisition, construction, and improvements 374,840 \4\379,000
\4\412,300
Environmental compliance and restoration 22,000 21,000
21,000
Port safety development 5,000
Alteration of bridges 16,000
26,000
Retired pay 617,284 645,696
653,196
Reserve training 65,890 65,000
65,535
Research, development, test, and evaluation 19,200 19,000
20,000
Boat safety 35,000 55,000
35,000
----------------------------- ---------------------------
---------------------------
Total 3,774,939 3,924,696
3,964,731
\1\Excludes reductions pursuant to sections 321 and 346 of Public Law 104 205.
\2\Includes $300,000,000 in Department of Defense Appropriations Act.
\3\Includes $300,000,000 from defense discretionary funds.
\4\Excludes $9,000,000 in proposed asset sales.
OPERATING EXPENSES
General Trust Total
Appropriations, 1997\1\ $2,594,725,000 $25,000,000 $2,619,725,000
Budget estimate, 1998\2\ 2,715,000,000 25,000,000 2,740,000,000
Committee recommendation\3\ 2,706,700,000 25,000,000 2,731,700,000
\1\Includes $300,000,000 by transfer from the Department of Defense. Excludes reductions for
TASC and awards pursuant to sections 321 and 346 of Public Law 104 205.
\2\Includes $300,000,000 from defense discretionary funds.
\3\Includes $300,000,000 by transfer from the Department of Defense.
The ``Operating expenses'' appropriation provides funds for the
operation and maintenance of multipurpose vessels, aircraft, and shore
units strategically located along the coasts and inland waterways of the
United States and in selected areas overseas.
The program activities of this appropriation fall into the following
categories:
Search and rescue. --One of its earliest and most traditional
missions, the Coast Guard maintains a nationwide system of boats,
aircraft, cutters, and rescue coordination centers on 24-hour alert.
Aids to navigation. --To help mariners determine their location and
avoid accidents, the Coast Guard maintains a network of manned and
unmanned aids to navigation along our coasts and on our inland
waterways, and operates radio stations in the United States and abroad
to serve the needs of the armed services and marine and air commerce.
Marine safety. --The Coast Guard insures compliance with Federal
statutes and regulations designed to improve safety in the merchant
marine industry and operates a recreational boating safety program.
Marine environmental protection. --The primary objectives of this
program are to minimize the dangers of marine pollution and to assure
the safety of U.S. ports and waterways.
Enforcement of laws and treaties. --The Coast Guard is the principal
maritime enforcement agency with regard to Federal laws on the navigable
waters of the United States and the high seas, including fisheries, drug
smuggling, illegal immigration, and hijacking of vessels.
Ice operations. --In the Arctic and Antarctic, Coast Guard
icebreakers escort supply ships, support research activities and
Department of Defense operations, survey uncharted waters, and collect
scientific data. The Coast Guard also assists commercial vessels through
ice-covered waters.
Defense readiness. --During peacetime the Coast Guard maintains an
effective state of military preparedness to operate as a service in the
Navy in time of war or national emergency at the direction of the
President. As such the Coast Guard has primary responsibility for the
security of ports, waterways, and navigable waters up to 200 miles
offshore.
COMMITTEE FUNDING RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommendation for Coast Guard operating expenses is
$2,731,700,000, including $25,000,000 from the oilspill liability trust
fund and $300,000,000 from the Defense appropriations bill for national
security missions.
[In thousands of dollars]
Fiscal year 1997 enacted\1\ Budget request Committee
recommendation
Pay and allowances: 1,221,311 1,252,440
1,252,440
----------------------------- ----------------
--------------------------
Total, pay and allowances 1,591,249 1,635,898
1,635,898
=============================
================ ==========================
Depot level maintenance: 144,276 154,659
154,659
----------------------------- ----------------
--------------------------
Total, depot level maintenance 375,305 395,990
395,990
=============================
================ ==========================
Operations and support:
Area operations and support:
Cutters:
Medium endurance (WMEC) 17,803 18,939
18,939
High endurance (WHEC) 11,529 11,944
11,944
Polar WAGB's 2,380 2,858
2,858
Area offices 18,062 18,400
18,400
Maintenance and logistics commands 136,137 130,469
122,169
Communication stations 2,236 2,335
2,335
District operations and support:
District offices 46,898 47,395
47,395
Groups/bases 67,196 69,112
69,112
Combined group/air station 9,928 10,281
10,281
Air stations 45,373 49,820
49,820
Marine safety offices 9,926 10,104
10,104
Long-range electronic navaids (Loran) 6,283 6,362
6,362
Cutters-WLB's and smaller; Mackinaw 31,761 34,504
34,504
Vessel traffic service [VTS] systems 241 244
244
----------------------------- ----------------
--------------------------
Total, operations and support 408,365 415,406
407,106
=============================
================ ==========================
Recruiting and training support: 6,767 7,313
7,313
----------------------------- ----------------
--------------------------
Total, recruiting and training support 67,733 76,275
76,275
=============================
================ ==========================
Coast Guard-wide centralized services and support:
Headquarters-managed units:
Engineering Logistics Center 8,052 8,157
8,157
Finance center 4,786 4,843
4,843
Human Resources Service and Information Center 1,371 1,391
1,391
Coast Guard yard 2,771 2,846
2,846
National Strike Force 2,099 2,114
2,114
National Pollution Funds Center 1,080 1,118
1,118
Command and Control Engineering Center [C\2\CEN] 2,584 3,522
3,522
Air station Washington, DC 773 871
871
Operations Systems Center [OSC] 7,200 7,229
7,229
Telecommunications/information systems command [TISCOM] 4,116
4,138 4,138
Navigation Center [NAVCENT] 1,896 1,899
1,899
Intelligence Coordination Center [ICC] 189 1,458
1,458
Electronics Engineering Center [EECEN] 2,304 346
346
Coast Guard Institute 968 979
979
Research and Development Center 243 246
246
Coast Guard Personnel Center 957 970
970
National Maritime Center 3,246 3,287
3,287
Centralized bill paying:
Postal 6,297 6,431 6,431
FTS 11,544 12,344 12,344
Federal employment compensation 6,486 6,452
6,452
Unemployment compensation 5,250 4,639
4,639
GSA rent 35,748 35,748
----------------------------- ----------------
--------------------------
Total, Coast Guard-wide centralized services and support 175,043 216,431
216,431
=============================
================ ==========================
Total, accountwide adjustments ================
==========================
=============================
Total appropriation 2,617,695 2,740,000
2,731,700
\1\Includes reduction of $2,030,000 for TASC and awards pursuant to sections 321 and 346 of
Public Law 104 205.
Note.--Fiscal year 1997 enacted and fiscal year 1998 request includes $300,000,000 provided by
transfer from the Department of Defense.
PAY AND ALLOWANCES
Medical care and equipment .--The Committee has provided the full
amount requested for medical care and equipment. The Committee feels
that the Coast Guard has done a good job to keep its medical care and
equipment line item under budget.
OPERATIONS AND SUPPORT
Area operations and support
Maintenance and logistics commands .--The Committee has provided the
amount requested for the maintenance and logistics commands less the
caretaker fund requested for Governor's Island. The Committee encourages
the Coast Guard to auction the Governor's Island property as quickly as
possible. The sale of the Governor's Island facility was anticipated in
the budget agreement and the Committee has provided bill language that
relieves the Coast Guard from the responsibility for maintaining the
property in caretaker status.
RECRUITING AND TRAINING SUPPORT
The recruiting and training support category has several subsets,
including recruiting, training centers (Yorktown, VA; Petaluma, CA; and
Cape May, NJ), the Coast Guard Academy, and professional training and
education. The Committee has provided $76,275,000 consistent with the
budget request. The Committee believes that the Coast Guard has done a
good job in trying to hold costs down, and though its budget for
professional training and education is sizable, further cuts are not
necessary at this time and would undermine the Coast Guard's efforts to
recruit and train to meet personnel needs in a streamlined Coast Guard.
CENTRALIZED SERVICES AND SUPPORT
The centralized services and support line item includes a number of
individual activities. The Committee has provided $216,431,000 overall
for centralized services and support. The recommendation provides a
$41,388,000 increase over the fiscal year 1997 level for this
subactivity.
BILL LANGUAGE
National security .--The Committee's recommendation includes
$300,000,000 transferred from the Department of Defense for Coast Guard
support of national security activities. The Coast Guard plays a key
role in support of military missions under the U.S. Atlantic and
Southern Commands in support of drug interdiction missions, refugee and
immigration support, and enforcement and joint military training.
The Coast Guard is a cost-effective force which is multimissioned.
Its ships, aircraft, shore units, and people have four primary roles:
maritime safety, maritime law enforcement, marine environmental
protection, and national defense. These roles are complementary and
contribute to the Coast Guard's unique niche within the national
security community. The value of the Coast Guard forces and their
mission experience was clearly evident by their active participation in
Operations Desert Shield/Storm in the Persian Gulf, and more recently,
in operations restore/uphold democracy in Haiti. The Coast Guard is one
of the five Armed Forces, and is a full partner on the joint national
security team. To be a credible partner, the Coast Guard must maintain a
high state of operational readiness. Many parts of the Coast Guard's
budget contain funding requests that, if cut, would severely impair the
Coast Guard's operational readiness and, therefore, its ability to meet
national security commitments.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Vessel traffic safety fairway, Santa Barbara/San Francisco .--The
Committee has included a general provision (sec. 313) that would
prohibit funds to plan, finalize, or implement regulations establishing
a vessel traffic safety fairway which is less than 5 miles wide between
the Santa Barbara vessel traffic separation scheme and the San Francisco
vessel traffic separation scheme. This language has been included in
previous appropriations bills.
Regulations regarding animal fats and vegetable oils .--The
Committee has retained a general provision (sec. 335) that prohibits
Coast Guard from using funds to issue, implement, or enforce a
regulation that fails to provide for the differences between animal
fats, vegetable oils, and other oils.
OTHER
Mackinaw .--The bill includes the $4,865,000 in requested funding
for continued operation and maintenance of the icebreaking cutter
Mackinaw during fiscal year 1998. The Committee discourages the
administration from pursuing proposals to charge user fees for
icebreaking services.
Marine Fire and Safety Association .--The Committee remains
supportive of efforts by the Marine Fire and Safety Association [MFSA]
to provide specialized fire fighting training and maintain an oilspill
response contingency plan for the Columbia River. The Committee
encourages the Secretary to provide funding for MFSA consistent with the
authorization and directs the Secretary to provide $146,500 to continue
efforts by the MFSA to provide specialized communications, fire fighting
training and equipment, and to implement the oilspill response
contingency plan for the Columbia River.
Defense readiness .--The Committee has provided the requested
$34,300,000 increase in resources for the war on drugs. It should be
left to the Commandant's discretion how the drug interdiction funding is
to be distributed; however, the Committee believes that this area is
perfectly suited for application of performance measures and evaluation
of program impacts.
Civilian staffing .--The Coast Guard recently provided the Committee
with a report analyzing its current personnel management structure to
determine whether greater use of civilians would be of benefit to the
agency. The report concludes that a military member costs more than a
civilian filling the same position; the cost differential representing
the premium paid for frontline, rapid-response capability in an
operational environment.
In the aftermath of completing a major streamlining initiative, the
Coast Guard must now conduct military position essentiality review. The
report outlines the criteria to be used in such a review, including:
deployment, command and control, operations, military skills,
jurisdiction of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, statutory
requirements, organizational structure, and unusual work hours. The
Committee is very interested in the ongoing process of the essentiality
review and the results flowing from that effort. The Coast Guard is to
be commended for the openness of the report and the Committee encourages
the Coast Guard to pursue the essentiality review with the same
openness.
ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION, AND IMPROVEMENTS
General Trust Total
Appropriations, 1997 $354,840,000 $20,000,000 $374,840,000
Budget estimate, 1998 359,000,000 20,000,000 379,000,000
Committee recommendation 392,300,000 20,000,000 412,300,000
This appropriation provides for the major acquisition, construction,
and improvement of vessels, aircraft, shore units, and aids to
navigation operated and maintained by the Coast Guard. Currently, the
Coast Guard has in operation approximately 250 cutters, ranging in size
from 65-foot tugs to 399-foot polar icebreakers, more than 2,000 boats,
and an inventory of more than 200 helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.
The Coast Guard also operates approximately 600 stations, support and
supply centers, communications facilities, and other shore units. The
Coast Guard provides over 48,000 navigational aids--buoys, fixed aids,
lighthouses, and radio navigational stations.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The following table summarizes the Committee's programmatic
recommendations:
[In thousands of dollars]
Fiscal year 1997 enacted Fiscal year 1998 estimate Committee
recommendation
Vessels 216,500 186,900 214,700
Aircraft 18,040 26,400 26,400
Other equipment 41,700 49,700 51,200
Shore facilities and aids to navigation 52,350 69,000
73,000
Personnel and related support 46,250 47,000
47,000
-------------------------- --------------------------- --------------------------
Total 374,840 \1\379,000 \1\412,300
\1\Includes $9,000,000 in proposed asset sales.
VESSELS
The Committee recommends $214,700,000 for vessel acquisition and
improvement. The projected allocation of these funds is shown in the
table below:
VESSELS
[In thousands of dollars]
Fiscal year 1998 estimate Committee
recommendation
Acquire vessels and equipment: 55,000 41,000
Repair, renovate, or improve existing vessels and small boats: 3,800
3,800
--------------------------- --------------------------
Total (new program level) 186,900 214,700
The Committee recommends a funding level of $214,700,000 for vessels
procurement. This is an increase of $27,800,000 over the budget request.
This level of funding is necessary to begin to relieve the out-year
pressure on the ACI account due to anticipated replacement of the
deepwater fleet. By increasing the procurement of current production
vessels, the Coast Guard will realize per unit savings and will create
out-year room for anticipated new procurements. In addition, the
increased procurement of vessels will provide the Coast Guard with
additional flexibility in positioning assets as the Coast Guard moves to
a more modern generation of vessels. This flexibility will enable the
Coast Guard to better meet its multimission challenges and better deploy
a streamlined force.
Seagoing buoy tender [WLB] replacement .--The Coast Guard plans to
replace its 50-year-old fleet of seagoing buoy tenders with up to 16 new
tenders. The request of $55,000,000 for fiscal year 1998 is to pay for
the award of the second ship under the full production contract, and to
cover additional costs such as spare parts, logistics, and project
administration. According to recent estimates, the contract for the
first two production ships will be awarded in the second quarter of
fiscal year 1998.
The Committee is concerned about the growing carryover balances in
this program. Last year, the Committee restored much of the House
reductions in this account pursuant to the belief that the Coast Guard
would be able to obligate a substantial portion of the requested funds.
That has not happened. Accordingly, the Committee recommends a reduction
of $14,000,000 in the request which can be made up by the $46,564,000
unobligated balance. This program continues to concern the Committee due
to the increasing program administration costs, the vacillating
sail-away costs, and the current unobligated balance. The Coast Guard
estimates the first vessel in the class to have cost $49,400,000, and
the second vessel in the class to have cost $29,800,000. Assuming these
estimates are accurate, the funds provided are adequate to award a
contract in the second quarter of fiscal year 1998 for two vessels if
the lower cost is accurate or if the first two vessels under the
production contract have similar cost profiles of the first two vessels
in the class.
Coastal buoy tender [WLM] replacement .--The Committee has provided
$21,000,000 for the coastal buoy tender replacement program. This
program replaces the Coast Guard's existing 133-foot and 157-foot
coastal buoy tenders with 14 new ships. The Coast Guard's request of
$21,000,000 for fiscal year 1998 is for economic price adjustments
change orders, logistics, and administration. All 14 ships have been
ordered. Based on recent information on the 1998 spending plans, it
appears that the Coast Guard should have virtually no unobligated
carryovers that could be used in fiscal year 1998 against this request.
Coastal patrol boat/82-foot WPB replacement .--The Committee has
provided $68,100,000 for the coastal patrol boat replacement program,
which is a $30,800,000 increase to the amount requested for fiscal year
1998. This program would replace the 82-foot coastal patrol boats which
are over 30 years old with 31 new boats. The request for fiscal year
1998 was to procure eight new boats.
The Committee recommendation is to procure an additional seven CPB's
by exercising existing options which will provide the Coast Guard
increased flexibility in asset deployment at an earlier date than under
the current procurement schedule. The CPB is one of the more versatile
vessels in the Coast Guard inventory and should provide increased
flexibility and capability as the Coast Guard transitions from the
current fleet mix and recapitalizes the fleet.
Stern loading buoy boat replacement project .--The Committee
recommendation provides the entire Coast Guard request of $12,000,000 in
fiscal year 1998 to procure eight new buoy boats.
Mackinaw replacement .--The Committee recommends $2,000,000 for
concept exploration to refine the specifications and costs for a heavy
icebreaking replacement vessel, including a new multimission vessel, for
the 53-year-old Mackinaw . While the Committee is pleased that the
Commandant has committed to the continued operation of the Mackinaw to
maintain heavy icebreaking capabilities on the Great Lakes, the
Committee is concerned about the long lead time projected by the Coast
Guard to receive a replacement vehicle when the Coast Guard has been
studying this issue for a number of years, and projects that a
replacement vehicle would not be available until the year 2006. The
funding provided in the bill will prevent another year's delay in the
acquisition process for a replacement heavy icebreaking vessel. The
Committee expects the Coast Guard to issue an interim status report on
the concept exploration to the Committee by May 1, 1998.
Polar class icebreaker reliability improvement project [RIP] .--The
Committee recommends a reduction of $4,000,000 in this program in order
that the Coast Guard can effectively manage the reliability improvement
project for polar class icebreakers.
ATS 1 conversion .--The Committee recommends $13,000,000 for
conversion and the addition of a flight deck.
AIRCRAFT
For aircraft procurement, the Committee recommends $26,400,000
consistent with the budget request. Funds for aircraft acquisitions are
distributed as follows:
AIRCRAFT
[In thousands of dollars]
Fiscal year 1998 estimate Committee recommendation
Traffic alert and collision avoidance system [TCAS] 3,300 3,300
Global positioning system installation--phase VII, IX 1,900 1,900
HC 130 engine conversion 5,200 5,200
HH 65A helicopter kapton rewiring 3,200 3,200
Long range search aircraft capability preservation 4,600 4,600
HH 65A helicopter mission computer unit replacement 4,400
4,400
HC 130 aircraft sensor upgrade 3,800 3,800
--------------------------- --------------------------
Total 26,400 26,400
OTHER EQUIPMENT
The Committee recommends $51,200,000. The following table displays
the project allocation:
OTHER EQUIPMENT
[In thousands of dollars]
Fiscal year 1998 estimate Committee
recommendation
Fleet logistics system [FLS] 9,200
9,200
Ports and waterways safety system [PAWSS] 5,500
5,500
Port security equipment 3,500
Marine information for safety and law enforcement [MISLE] 4,000
4,000
Local notices to mariners [LNM] automation 1,800
1,800
Frequency spectrum reallocation 5,100
5,100
Conversion of software applications 2,000
2,000
Defense message system [DMS] impementation 1,400
1,400
Communication system [COMMSYS] 2000 1,000
1,000
Differential global positioning system [DGPS] (coastal gaps) phase II 1,000
1,000
Personnel management information system/joint uniform military pay system II
1,600 1,600
Aviation logistics management information system [ALMIS] 2,700
2,700
National distress system modernization 7,000
5,000
VHF FM high level site upgrade--phase III 7,400
7,400
--------------------------- --------------------------
Total 49,700 51,200
Ports and waterways safety system [PAWSS] .--The Committee
recommends $5,500,000 for the development and implementation of a new
ports and waterways safety system [PAWSS], as requested by the
administration. The Committee continues to be interested in Coast Guard
activities to develop a new approach to navigation safety, with an
emphasis on streamlining and reducing the cost of such safety systems.
The Committee applauds the Coast Guard's efforts to develop such a
system in cooperation with the maritime community and to apply
information technology.
Personnel management information system .--The Committee has
provided the full amount requested.
National distress system modernization .--The Committee recommends a
reduction of $2,000,000 to $5,000,000. The Committee believes the Coast
Guard can complete the activities anticipated for fiscal year 1998 in
this program within the reduced funding level.
SHORE FACILITIES AND AIDS TO NAVIGATION
The program level recommended is $73,000,000.
SHORE FACILITIES AND AIDS TO NAVIGATION
[In thousands of dollars]
Fiscal year 1998 estimate Committee
recommendation
Shore--General: 6,000 6,000
Groups/bases/stations/MSO's: 4,000 4,000
Aids to navigation facilities: Waterways aids-to-navigation projects 5,000 5,000
OMEGA termination cost 6,700 6,700
Coast Guard District 1--construct Bayonne pier 4,100 4,100
Integrated support command--Portsmount, VA: 4,700 4,700
Asset sales (9,000) (9,000)
--------------------------- --------------------------
Total 69,000 73,000
Air Stations Brooklyn and Cape May. --The Committee understands that
the Coast Guard has proposed to consolidate Air Station Brooklyn and Air
Station Cape May due to improved operational capabilities of its assets
which result in budgetary savings. However, the Committee remains
concerned about maintaining critically important Coast Guard air rescue
response time in the New York City areas at the level currently provided
by Air Station Brooklyn during the peak boating season. Therefore, the
Committee encourages the Coast Guard to establish and operate a seasonal
air facility in the New York City area to provide helicopter rescue
capability during the period April 15 through October 15.
Kodiak electricity cogeneration .--The Committee encourages the
Coast Guard to explore innovative means of assisting the local
electrical cooperative from which it purchases power in upgrading its
power production capability.
PERSONNEL AND RELATED SUPPORT
The program level recommended is $47,000,000. Within the amount
provided, $500,000 shall be for core acquisition costs.
The Committee has provided the full amount requested for AC&I
personnel and related support.
[In thousands of dollars]
Personnel and related support Fiscal year 1998 estimate Committee recommendation
Direct personnel costs 46,500 46,500
Core acquisition costs 500 500
--------------------------- --------------------------
Total 47,000 47,000
BILL LANGUAGE
Asset sales .--The bill includes a provision which would credit the
proceeds from the sale or lease of surplus Coast Guard real property to
this appropriation. The administration requested this authority which
allows asset sale revenues to be credited to this appropriation as
offsetting collections, but limits the amount of offsetting collections
in fiscal year 1998 to $9,000,000. Any excess proceeds from asset sales
would accrue to the following fiscal year. Accordingly, the Committee
encourages the Coast Guard to explore the auction or sale of the
Governor's Island facility during fiscal year 1998 with an eye toward
supplmenting fiscal year 1999 appropriations. In addition, the bill
includes language that protects the Coast Guard from liability for the
cost of maintaining Governor's Island.
The Coast Guard's closure of Governors Island provides and example of
the cost savings attainable by streamlining the agency's infrastructure
and the potential significant revenue available to the Coast Guard and
the rest of the Federal Government by selling nonessential or
noncritical, high-value assets. The Committee would also like to know
about additional properties of high value in the Coast Guard's real
property portfolio; therefore, the Coast Guard is directed to submit to
the Committee by April 2, 1998, a list of its 25 most valuable
properties. This list should include information on the fair market
value of each property (or an estimate thereof), the amount of land and
the number of buildings, the current use being made of the property, and
the annual operating costs for the activities housed on each property.
The Coast Guard needs funding it can depend upon to carry out
necessary projects. The Senate supports the authority vested in the
Commandant which allows the sale of real property and specified
operational assets, with proceeds to be credited to the ``Acquisition,
construction, and improvements'' appropriation.
Pier space use agreement .--The bill includes language that allows
the Secretary of Transportation, acting through the Commandant of the
Coast Guard, to enter into a long-term use agreement with the city of
Unalaska for dedicated pier space on the municipal dock. This authority
is necessary to support Coast Guard vessels when such vessels call on
the Port of Dutch Harbor, AK. The terms and conditions of the use
agreement shall be develop by the Secretary and the city of Unalaska.
New York search and rescue capability .--The Committee directs the
Department of Defense to provide facilities including runway; hangar;
fire crash and rescue; and support spaces at the Air National Guard site
at the Francis S. Gabreski Airport, Hampton, Long Island, NY, to the
Coast Guard. This facility will provide seasonal search and rescue
capability during the period April 15 through October 15. Support spaces
will consist of suitable operations, berthing, and maintenance spaces.
General provisions .--The Committee has included a general provision
directing the transfer of the U.S.N.S. Edenton to the Coast Guard.
ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE AND RESTORATION
Appropriations, 1997 $22,000,000
Budget estimate, 1998 21,000,000
Committee recommendation 21,000,000
The Committee recommends funding of $21,000,000 to continue the
environmental restoration and compliance-related actions throughout the
Coast Guard.
These fiscal year 1998 funds will be used to address environmental
problems at former and current Coast Guard units as required by
applicable Federal, State, and local environmental laws and regulations.
Planned expenditures for these funds include major upgrades to petroleum
and regulated-substance storage tanks, restoration of contaminated
ground water and soils, remediation efforts at hazardous substance
disposal sites, and initial site surveys and actions necessary to bring
Coast Guard shore facilities and vessels into compliance with
environmental laws and regulations.
ISC Kodiak remediation funding .--The investigation and potential
cleanup of 34 sites on ISC Kodiak, as per the 1990 Resources
Conservation Recovery Act consent order, goes well. Eight of these sites
have been closed and eight other sites have been approved for no further
action status. Due to reduced levels of contamination anticipated, lower
than expected costs to meet consent order milestones, and successful
ongoing milestone negotiations with the regulatory bodies, annual
requirements for this project have been reduced from past levels of
$4,400,000 to $5,400,000 to about $3,000,000 to $3,500,000. Given
overall budget constraints and other demands placed on the
``Environmental compliance and restoration'' appropriation, these levels
will be adequate to continue this remediation effort in fiscal year
1998.
PORT SAFETY DEVELOPMENT
Appropriations, 1997 $5,000,000
Budget estimate, 1998 ...........................
Committee recommendation ...........................
This appropriation provided funds in 1996 and 1997 for the reduction
of debt incurred by the Port of Portland, OR, from prior infrastructure
development. No funds are requested for 1998.
ALTERATION OF BRIDGES
Appropriations, 1997 $16,000,000
Budget estimate, 1998 ...........................
Committee recommendation 26,000,000
The ``Alteration of bridges'' appropriation provides funds for the
Coast Guard's share of the cost of altering or removing bridges
obstructive to navigation. Under the provisions of the Truman-Hobbs Act
of June 21, 1940, as amended (33 U.S.C. 511 et seq.), the Coast Guard,
as the Federal Government's agent, is required to share with owners the
cost of altering railroad and publicly owned highway bridges which
obstruct the free movement of navigation on navigable waters of the
United States in accordance with the formula established in 33 U.S.C.
516.
The Committee directs that, of the funds provided, $5,000,000 shall
be allocated to the Sand Island Road Tunnel in Honolulu, HI, $3,000,000
shall be allocated to the Florida Avenue railroad/highway combination
bridge in New Orleans, LA, and $18,000,000 shall be allocated to the
Sidney Lanier highway bridge in Brunswick, GA.
RETIRED PAY
Appropriations, 1997 $617,284,000
Budget estimate, 1998 645,696,000
Committee recommendation 653,196,000
The ``Retired pay'' appropriation provides for retired pay of
military personnel of the Coast Guard and Coast Guard Reserve, members
of the former Lighthouse Service, and for annuities payable to
beneficiaries of retired military personnel under the retired
serviceman's family protection plan (10 U.S.C. 1431 1446) and survivor
benefit plan (10 U.S.C. 1447 1455), and for medical care of retired
personnel and their dependents under the Dependents Medical Care Act.
The average number of personnel on the retired rolls is estimated to be
31,279 in fiscal year 1998, as compared with an estimated 30,433 in
fiscal year 1997 and 29,650 in fiscal year 1996.
The bill includes $653,196,000 for retired pay, consistent with the
budget request, adjusted by $6,100,000 to annualize fiscal year 1997
supplemental funding. This is scored as a mandatory appropriation in the
congressional budget process.
In addition, this funding level includes $1,400,000 in anticipation
of congressional action to extend partial veteran benefits to Merchant
Mariners who served between August 16, 1945, and December 31, 1946. The
Committee recommends the additional funds for the Coast Guard to process
up to 50,000 applications in fiscal year 1998.
RESERVE TRAINING
Appropriations, 1997 $65,890,000
Budget estimate, 1998 65,000,000
Committee recommendation 65,535,000
Under the provisions of 14 U.S.C. 145, the Secretary of
Transportation is required to adequately support the development and
training of a Reserve force to ensure that the Coast Guard will be
sufficiently organized, manned, and equipped to fully perform its
wartime missions. The purpose of the Reserve training program is to
provide trained units and qualified persons for active duty in the Coast
Guard in time of war or national emergency, or at such other times as
the national security requires. Coast Guard reservists must also train
for mobilization assignments that are unique to the Coast Guard in times
of war, such as port security operations associated with the Coast
Guard's Maritime Defense Zone [MDZ] mission and include deployable port
security units.
The Committee has provided $65,535,000 for Reserve training. The
amount provided is $535,000 above the President's request.
The Coast Guard is provided Reserve training funding as follows:
[In thousands of dollars]
Functional program element Fiscal year 1997 levels President's request (7,600
SELRES) Committee recommendation (8,000 SELRES)
Drill pay and benefits 26,763 26,203
26,763
Full-time support personnel 20,904 21,013
21,013
Annual training program 11,665 11,467
11,467
District administration/training 2,315 2,250
2,250
Recruiting 2,051 2,066
2,066
O/M support to training facilities 1,532 1,316
1,316
Headquarters administration 660 685
660
------------------------- ------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
Total 65,890 65,000
65,535
RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST, AND EVALUATION
General Trust Total
Appropriations, 1997 $14,180,000 $5,020,000 $19,200,000
Budget estimate, 1998 15,500,000 3,500,000 19,000,000
Committee recommendation 16,500,000 3,500,000 20,000,000
The Coast Guard's Research and Development Program seeks to improve
the tools and techniques with which Coast Guard carries out its varied
operational missions and to increase the knowledge base upon which it
depends to fulfill its regulatory responsibilities.
The bill includes $20,000,000 for research, development, test, and
evaluation, which is $1,000,000 above the budget request.
The Committee recommendation for funding distribution is as follows:
[In thousands of dollars]
Fiscal year 1997 Fiscal year 1998 estimate Committee recommendation
Program areas: 1,872 1,875 1,875
------------------ --------------------------- --------------------------
Total 19,200 19,000 20,000
The Committee has made a slight adjustment to the fiscal year 1998
request for research and development. In the marine environmental
protection area, the Committee has provided the amount requested for the
aquatic nuisance species program, which is $1,529,000 and increased the
funding for this activity by $1,000,000 to further research effects into
a nonchemical interim ballast management practice for fully loaded
vessels to prevent the ballast-mediated transfer of species. This
research should focus in particular on vessels reporting no ballast on
board [NOBOB]. In addition, this funding is also intended to assist the
Coast Guard's other efforts consistent with the National Invasive
Species Act.
BOAT SAFETY
(aquatic resources trust fund)
Appropriations, 1997 $35,000,00006
Budget estimate, 1998\1\ (55,000,000)
Committee recommendation 35,000,00006
\1\The President's budget proposed, contingent on enactment of
legislation, that $55,000,000 be available as a direct (mandatory)
program and no discretionary funds.
This account provides financial assistance for a coordinated National
Recreational Boating Safety Program for the several States. Title 46,
United States Code, section 13106, establishes a ``Boat safety'' account
from which the Secretary may allocate and distribute matching funds to
assist in the development, administration, and financing of qualifying
State programs. The ``Boat safety'' account consists of amounts
transferred from the highway trust fund which are derived from the
motorboat fuel tax (18.4 cents per gallon).
The President's budget requests no discretionary funding in 1998.
Instead, the President's budget proposes to provide all funding for the
State boating safety grant program by providing $35,000,000 from the
aquatic resources trust fund, together with $20,000,000 from the
7E``Sport fish restoration'' account as authorized under the Clean
Vessel Act of 1992 (title V of the Oceans Act of 1992).
The Committee cannot support the administration's proposal to convert
this program to mandatory spending. After highway fatalities,
recreational boating accidents result in the highest number of
transportation fatalities annually. The number of boats is increasing
each year and the National Transportation Safety Board continues to list
boating safety as one of the areas most in need of safety improvement.
Annual congressional review and guidance is necessary for timely
implementation of boating safety initiatives.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
SUMMARY OF FISCAL YEAR 1998 PROGRAM
The Federal Aviation Administration traces its origins to the Air
Commerce Act of 1926, but more recently to the Federal Aviation Act of
1958 which established the independent Federal Aviation Agency from
functions which had resided in the Airways Modernization Board, the
Civil Aeronautics Administration, and parts of the Civil Aeronautics
Board. FAA became an administration of the Department of Transportation
on April 1, 1967, pursuant to the Department of Transportation Act
(October 15, 1966).
The total recommended program level for the FAA for fiscal year 1998
amounts to $9,179,154,883 including $50,000,000 in user fees credited to
the ``Operations'' appropriation and a $1,700,000,000 obligation
limitation on the use of contract authority for the Airport Grants
Program. The following table summarizes the Committee's recommendations:
[In thousands of dollars]
Program Fiscal year 1997 enacted Fiscal year 1998 budget estimate
Committee recommendation
Operations \1\4,957,900 5,086,100
5,375,900
User fees: \2\(75,000) -50,000
-50,000
Facilities and equipment 1,937,700 1,875,000
1,889,005
Research, engineering, and development 208,412 200,000
214,250
Grants-in-aid for airports\4\ 1,460,000 1,000,000
1,700,000
National Civil Aviation Review Commission 2,400
-------------------------- ----------------------------------
--------------------------
Total 8,491,412 8,411,100
9,129,155
\1\Excludes reductions for TASC and awards pursuant to sections 321 and 346 of Public Law
104 205.
\2\Reflects maximum amount provided in Public Law 104 205. FAA estimates collections of
only $20,000,000 in fiscal year 1997.
\3\Proposed user fees.
\4\Limitation on obligations.
OPERATIONS
General Trust User fees Total
Appropriations, 1997 $3,182,500,000 $1,700,400,000 $75,000,000 $4,957,900,000
Budget estimate, 1998 1,611,100,000 3,425,000,000 350,000,000 5,386,100,000
Committee recommendation 3,424,272,000 1,901,628,000 50,000,000
5,375,900,000
FAA's ``Operations'' appropriation provides funds for the operation,
maintenance, communications, and logistic support of the air traffic
control and navigation systems and activities. It also covers the
administration and management of the regulatory, airports, commercial
space, medical and engineering, and development programs.
User fees. --The administration proposed collecting $400,000,000 in
user fees in fiscal year 1998. Of these fees, $100,000,000 is available
without Appropriations Committee action, including $50,000,000 for the
essential air service program and rural airport safety and $50,000,000
for FAA expenses.
The bill includes a total of $5,325,900,000 for the operations
activities of the Federal Aviation Administration, of which
$1,901,628,000 shall be derived from the airport and airway trust fund.
An additional $50,000,000 for FAA operations will be derived from user
fees.
As in past years, FAA is directed to report immediately to the
Committees on Appropriations in the event resources are insufficient to
operate a safe and effective air traffic control system.
The activities of the operations accounts comprise eight main areas
consistent with FAA's reorganization to bring together functions and
activities that support the provision of a single, major service and to
establish a single executive responsible for that service.
Air traffic services. --The operations and maintenance of the
national air traffic control and navigation system and the installation
of air traffic and navigation equipment. Air traffic services consists
of five subactivities: air traffic, NAS logistics, systems maintenance,
leased telecommunications, and flight inspections.
Aviation regulation and certifications.-- Promotes aviation safety
and ensures compliance with safety and certification standards for air
carriers, commercial operators, air agencies, airmen, and civil
aircraft, including aircraft registration; develops and administers
safety standards for airworthiness of aircraft and components. Includes
accident investigation, aviation medicine, aviation rulemaking, and the
suspected unapproved parts office.
Civil aviation security .--Provides for the overall planning,
direction, management, evaluation, and enforcement of civil aviation
security; supports efforts covering the investigation and interdiction
of illegal drugs and the assessment of foreign airports.
Research and acquisition.-- Responsible for all research,
prototyping, system development, and acquisition activities. Includes
the William J. Hughes Technical Center.
Administration of airports. --Provides for the administration of
airport grants and the safety inspection and certification of the
Nation's airports.
Commercial space transportation. --Facilitates and promotes
commercial space launches by the U.S. private sector and licenses and
regulates commercial launches, launch site operations, and certain
payloads.
Administration. --Funds the administrative functions that establish
policy and direct and develop programs in the areas of FAA aircraft use
and management, building space management, budget and accounting,
business information and consultation, human resource management, and
technical and management training; includes the regional administrators
and the Aeronautical Center Director.
Staff offices. --Funds the Office of the Administrator and the
Deputy Administrator, and offices that report directly to the
Administrator and provide executive direction; operations and
communications control; civil rights; government and industry affairs;
policy, planning, and international aviation; legal counsel; and public
affairs.
The following table summarizes the Committee's recommendation in
comparison to the budget estimate:
[In thousands of dollars]
Fiscal year 1997 program level\1\ Fiscal year 1998 budget estimate
Committee recommendations
Air traffic services 3,801,353 4,192,516
4,181,916
Aviation regulation and certification 501,921 613,768
614,168
Aviation security 114,360 98,651
98,651
Research and acquisition 85,767 92,858
92,858
Administration of airports 45,051 48,052
48,052
Commercial space transportation 6,040 6,182
6,182
Administration 330,044 262,143
262,143
Staff offices 70,376 71,930
71,930
Accountwide adjustments ----------------------------------
---------------------------
-----------------------------------
Total 4,954,912 5,386,100
5,375,900
===================================
================================== ===========================
User fees 350,000
50,000
Appropriated funds 5,036,100
5,325,900
----------------------------------- ----------------------------------
---------------------------
Total available funds 5,386,100
5,375,900
\1\Includes reduction for TASC and awards pursuant to sections 321 and 346 of Public Law 104
205.
AIR TRAFFIC SERVICES
The Committee recommends a total of $4,181,916,000 for the operation
and maintenance of the national air traffic control and flight service
system. This is $10,600,000 less than the budget estimate, but
$380,563,000 above the fiscal year 1997 level.
Over the next decade, the Committee expects to see the billions of
dollars of new technology being developed, procured, and implemented
under the ``Facilities and equipment'' account--computers,
communications equipment, and information analysis capability--reflected
in a projected trend toward more productive work forces and, therefore,
lower operations budget estimates.
The major activities include:
Air traffic. --The Committee recommends $2,536,258,000 and 24,581
FTE's. The Committee's recommendation provides a net increase of 500
additional air traffic controllers as request by the administration.
-- Equipment and staffing deficiencies in the New York/New Jersey
region .--The Committee continues to be concerned with the shortage of
adequately trained air traffic controllers as well as persistent
problems with air traffic control equipment at the FAA's air traffic
facilities in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area. These staffing
shortages and equipment outages have resulted in increased delays and
inefficiencies that have placed an inordinate amount of pressure on the
overtaxed FAA work force, the air carriers serving the region, as well
as the flying public.
The Subcommittee on Transportation held a special hearing on this
topic on June 12, 1997, during which testimony was received from Members
of Congress as well as representatives of the FAA, air carriers, the air
traffic controllers, and technicians unions. The hearing served to
highlight the urgent need for the FAA to expedite staffing of its
facilities in the New York/New Jersey area so that they meet or exceed
authorized staffing levels. It also highlighted the failure of the FAA
to fully utilize all the tools at its disposal, including the tools
granted under its personnel reform authorities, to alleviate critical
staffing shortages at these facilities as expeditiously as possible.
Finally, the hearing highlighted the need for the FAA to expedite the
installation of upgraded and new air traffic control equipment in order
to expedite the replacement of outdated equipment and assist the air
traffic controllers and air carriers serving the region in handling
growing volumes of air traffic, especially during inclement weather.
The Committee is pleased with the FAA's progress over the past year
in increasing the staffing levels at area towers, the New York TRACON
and the New York center. However, the Committee directs the
Administrator to meet the authorized staffing levels for all facilities
in the New York/New Jersey region by the dates identified in the pending
agreements with the pertinent employee organizations. The Administrator
is further directed to inform the Committee immediately if it appears
that those deadlines will not be met. The Committee further requests the
Administrator to use all tools at his or her disposal to rectify the
ongoing problems highlighted during the special hearing held by the
Transportation Subcommittee.
-- Contract tower program .--The Committee recommends $43,700,000 for
the contract tower program, as requested by the administration, and
directs FAA to study traffic at the airports in New Bern and Hickory,
NC, and at the Salisbury/Wicomico County Regional Airport in Maryland,
and, if those airports meet or are projected to meet FAA's benefit/cost
criteria for tower operations within the next 2 years or if tower
operation could be justified under a cost-sharing arrangement, directs
FAA to open contract towers at those airports for service during fiscal
year 1998.
The Committee is aware that FAA has notified 22 airports around the
Nation that the FAA will withdraw funding for towers at those airports
in 2 years unless the benefit/cost ratio at those airports exceeds 1.0
by the end of 1998. The Committee is concerned about the impacts loss of
tower service would have at these 22 airports and will monitor
developments with respect to these airports. The Committee urges FAA to
work with the communities to explore alternatives, such as sharing of
the tower operating costs, to maintain tower operations if the benefit/
cost criteria are unlikely to be satisfied at any of these airports by
the end of 1998.
National airspace system logistics support. --The Committee
recommends $180,833,000 for this subactivity including 1,188 FTE's.
The funding provided for the national airspace system logistics
support activity is the full amount requested by the administration for
fiscal year 1998.
Maintenance of air traffic control system. --The Committee
recommends $1,064,545 and 9,505 FTE's for this budget subactivity, as
requested by the administration. For the reasons discussed below, the
Committee has concluded that FAA is likely to continue to underutilize
its radio communications link [RCL] network in favor of leased
telecommunications. The Committee suggests that FAA accommodate the
$4,000,000 reduction by disposing of a part of its underutilized RCL
network and taking staffing savings.
Leased telecommunication services. --The Committee recommends
$343,339,000 for this budget subactivity. This is a reduction of
$4,000,000 from the request level.
FAA's leased telecommunications request for fiscal year 1998
($347,339,000) represents a $17,077,000 increase over the fiscal year
1997 level. In the report accompanying last year's appropriation bill,
the Committee expressed concern about underutilization of the radio
communications link [RCL], which is owned by FAA and is one of the
largest microwave networks in the country. The alternative to increased
use of the RCL is increased reliance on leased telecommunications costs
for the use of private networks. The Committee directed FAA to transfer
to the radio communications link as much of the existing workload as
possible to better utilize that resource. The Committee understands that
FAA plans to use an additional 2,300 to 2,900 RCL circuits rather than
leasing circuits from a private vendor. Even if FAA adopts this plan, it
would still only be utilizing 56 to 61 percent of its analog circuits
and still have a significant amount of digital capacity sitting idle.
Given that FAA will apparently continue to underutilize the RCL and
prefers leased telecommunications links, the Committee is recommending a
reduction of $4,000,000 from the request for the systems maintenance
subactivity.
Satellite communications technology .--The Committee has added
$400,000 to the air traffic activity to provide a low-earth orbit [LEO]
satellite communication system at Anchorage, AK, to augment present
communications systems. Extensive areas of Alaska are not within present
radio coverage. The LEO system will be available for widespread use in
Alaska within 2 years, and the Committee anticipates |
