HomeMy WebLinkAbout025641 RES - 01/27/2004 RESOLUTION
SUPPORTING A FAIR SHARE FOR FEDERAL HIGHWAYS IN TEXAS.
WHEREAS, Federal legislation authorizing the Highway Program expires February 29,
2004;
WHEREAS, since the inception of the Federal Highway Program in 1956, Texas has
given more than $5 billion to other states in the Federal Highway Program, as one of the
"donor" states which sends in more revenue than it receives in return from the Federal
Highway Administration;
WHEREAS, despite strong past efforts by former Senators Bentsen and Gramm to
rectify this inequity, Texas most recently has received about 88 cents on the dollar in
rate of return numbers;
WHEREAS, the effort to upgrade Texas' return this year is led by Majority Leader Tom
DeLay, who has filed H.R. 2208, the Highway Funding Equity Act of 2003, ensuring a
95% return on trust fund contributions;
WHEREAS, if Texas would have enjoyed this 95% return since the enactment of the
last highway bill in 1998, our state would have received nearly $1.2 billion more to
invest in the Texas Highway Program;
WHEREAS, our dependence on the federal-aid portion of the Highway Program has
grown significantly since 2003, this is the first time since 1991 that the Texas
Legislature has provided a meaningful increase in state highway funds;
WHEREAS, the 95% return would allow increased funding for two important projects for
the South Texas region (1) 1-69, (2) Gulf Coast Strategic Highway System;
WHEREAS, the City of Corpus Christi supports direct funding for 1-69 right-of-way
funding acquisition and construction in the Federal reauthorization legislation;
WHEREAS, the City of Corpus Christi is grateful to the members of the Texas
delegation who have supported H.R. 2208; and
WHEREAS, the City of Corpus Christi is hopeful that 100 percent of the Texas
Congressional delegation will be co-sponsors;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS:
SECTION 1. The City of Corpus Christi fully supports HR. 2208, and encourages all
members of the Texas Congressional delegation to co-sponsor the bill and work for its
enactment.
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SECTION 2. The Mayor is directed to forward a copy of this resolution to Senator
Hutchinson, Senator Cornyn, and Representative Ortiz and to the Texas Good
Roads/Transportation Association.
ATTEST,~/~
Armand'o Chapa
City Secretary
THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI
Mayor
APPROVED: 21~'t day of January, 2004.
R, al'ay eining///
Acting City Attdrney
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Corpus Christi, Texas
~'dayof ~T~_~,-~I ,2004
The above resolution was passed by the following vote:
Samuel L. Neal,
Brent Chesney
Javier D. Colmenero
Melody Cooper
Henry Garrett
Rex A. Kinnison
Bill Kelly
Jessie Noyola
Mark Scott
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