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104th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 1st Session                                                    104-286
_______________________________________________________________________



MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND RELATED
AGENCIES, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1996, AND FOR OTHER
                                PURPOSES

                                _______


                October 20, 1995.--Ordered to be printed

_______________________________________________________________________


  Mr. Wolf, from the committee of conference, submitted the following

                           CONFERENCE REPORT

                        [To accompany H.R. 2002]

      The committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of
the two Houses on the amendments of the Senate to the bill
(H.R. 2002) ``making appropriations for the Department of
Transportation and related agencies for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 1996, and for other purposes,'' having met, after
full and free conference, have agreed to recommend and do
recommend to their respective Houses as follows:
      That the Senate recede from its amendments numbered 2, 5,
10, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 21, 34, 37, 44, 51, 53, 56, 63, 64, 65,
66, 73, 78, 86, 91, 112, 121, 125, 126, 132, 133, 134, 135,
141, 142, 143, 146, 148, 152, 155, 156, 161, 162, 165, 166,
171, 172, 173, 181, 183, 184, 185, 189, and 190.
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendments of the Senate numbered 3, 4, 15, 17, 20, 24, 31, 33,
35, 38, 39, 42, 43, 46, 49, 50, 69, 70, 71, 74, 76, 77, 79, 84,
85, 89, 90, 93, 99, 105, 107, 108, 114, 119, 120, 136, 138,
144, 145, 147, 149, 150, 151, 159, 160, 168, 169, 170, and 191,
and agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 1:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 1, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$56,189,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 6:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 6, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$8,220,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 7:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 7, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$103,149,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 8:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 8, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$22,600,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 9:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 9, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$22,600,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 14:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 14, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$16,000,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 16:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 16, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$135,200,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 22:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 22, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$2,278,991,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 23:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 23, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      Restore the matter stricken by said amendment, amended to
read as follows:  ; and of which $20,000,000 shall be expended
from the Boat Safety Account; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 25:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 25, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$362,375,000; and on page 8 of the House engrossed bill H.R.
2002 delete line 23; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 26:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 26, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$167,600,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 27:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 27, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$12,000,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 28:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 28, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$49,200,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 29:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 29, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$88,875,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 30:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 30, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$44,700,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 32:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 32, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the matter proposed by said amendment, insert:
: Provided further, That the Commandant may dispose of surplus
real property by sale or lease and the proceeds of such sale or
lease shall be credited to this appropriation; and the Senate
agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 36:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 36, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$18,000,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 40:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 40, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$4,645,712,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 41:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 41, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$2,222,859,100; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 45:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 45, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the matter proposed by said amendment, insert:
: Provided further, That the Secretary may transfer funds to
this account, from Coast Guard ``Operating expenses'', not to
exceed $60,000,000 in total for the fiscal year, fifteen days
after written notification to the House and Senate Committees
on Appropriations, solely for the purpose of providing
additional funds for air traffic control operations and
maintenance to enhance aviation safety and security; and the
Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 47:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 47, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$1,934,883,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 48:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 48, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$1,718,883,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 52:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 52, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$185,698,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 54:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 54, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$1,450,000,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 55:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 55, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the first sum named in said amendment, insert:
$26,000,000.
      In lieu of the second sum named in said amendment,
insert: $48,000,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 57:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 57, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$509,660,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 58:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 58, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$208,946,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 59:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 59, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$11,000,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 60:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 60, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$11,000,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 61:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 61, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$17,550,000,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 62:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 62, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$77,225,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 67:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 67, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$51,884,430; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 68:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 68, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$32,247,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 72:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 72, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$127,700,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 75:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 75, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      Restore the matter stricken by said amendment, amended to
read as follows: : Provided further, That none of these funds
shall be used for construction, rehabilitation or remodeling
costs, or for office furnishings and fixtures for State, local,
or private buildings or structures; and the Senate agree to the
same.
      Amendment numbered 80:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 80, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$49,919,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 81:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 81, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$24,550,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 82:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 82, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$115,000,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 83:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 83, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the matter stricken and inserted by said
amendment, insert: studies, corridor planning, development,
demonstration, and implementation, $19,205,000, to remain
available until expended; and on page 24, line 14 of the House
engrossed bill H.R. 2002, delete ``$5,000,000'' and in lieu
thereof, insert: $7,118,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 87:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 87, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the first sum named in said amendment, insert:
$1,000,000; and in lieu of the second sum named in said
amendment, insert: $6,000,000; and the Senate agree to the
same.
      Amendment numbered 88:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 88, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the matter stricken and inserted by said
amendment, insert: $635,000,000, to remain available until
expended; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 92:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 92, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      Restore the matter stricken by said amendment, amended to
read as follows: That up to $15,000,000 of the amount made
available under this head for capital improvements may, at the
discretion of the Corporation, be transferred to the Northeast
Corridor Improvement Program: Provided further, ; and the
Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 94:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 94, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$942,925,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 95:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 95, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$2,052,925,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 96:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 96, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the matter proposed by said amendment, insert:
: Provided further, That the limitation on operating assistance
provided under this heading shall, for urbanized areas of less
than 200,000 in population, be no less than seventy-five
percent of the amount of operating assistance such areas are
eligible to receive under Public Law 103-331; and the Senate
agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 97:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 97, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the matter proposed by said amendment, insert:
: Provided further, That in the distribution of the limitation
provided under this heading to urbanized areas that had a
population under the 1990 census of 1,000,000 or more, the
Secretary shall direct each such area to give priority
consideration to the impact of reductions in operating
assistance on smaller transit authorities operating within the
area and to consider the needs and resources of such transit
authorities when the limitation is distributed among all
transit authorities operating in the area; and the Senate agree
to the same.
      Amendment numbered 98:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 98, and agree to the same with
an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the matter stricken and inserted by said
amendment, insert: $85,500,000 of which $39,500,000 shall be
for activities under 49 U.S.C. 5303, $4,500,000 for activities
under 49 U.S.C. 5311(b)(2), $8,250,000 for activities under 49
U.S.C. 5313(b), $22,000,000 for activities under 49 U.S.C.
5314, $8,250,000 for activities under 49 U.S.C. 5313(a), and
$3,000,000 for activities under 49 U.S.C. 5315; and the Senate
agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 100:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 100, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the matter stricken and inserted by said
amendment, insert: , notwithstanding any other provision of
law, except for fixed guideway modernization projects,
$21,631,250 made available under Public Law 102-388 under
``Federal Transit Administration, Discretionary Grants'' for
projects specified in that Act or identified in reports
accompanying that Act, not obligated by September 30, 1995,
shall be made available for new fixed guideway systems together
with the $666,000,000 made available for new fixed guideway
systems in this Act, to be available as follows; and the Senate
agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 101:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 101, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$20,060,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 102:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 102, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
      Restore the matter stricken by said amendment, amended to
read as follows: $4,250,000 for the Canton-Akron-Cleveland
commuter rail project; ; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 103:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 103, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
      Restore the matter stricken by said amendment, amended to
read as follows: $1,000,000 for the Cincinnati Northeast/
Northern Kentucky rail line project; ; and the Senate agree to
the same.
      Amendment numbered 104:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 104, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$3,000,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 106:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 106, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$6,000,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 109:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 109, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
      Restore the matter stricken by said amendment, amended to
read as follows: $9,720,625 for the Jacksonville ASE extension
project; ; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 110:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 110, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$85,000,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 111:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 111, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
      Restore the matter stricken by said amendment, amended to
read as follows: $8,500,000 for the Los Angeles-San Diego
commuter rail project; ; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 113:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 113, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$15,315,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 115:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 115, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
      Restore the matter stricken by said amendment, amended to
read as follows: $1,250,000 for the Memphis, Tennessee Regional
Rail Plan; ; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 116:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 116, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$80,250,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 117:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 117, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
      Restore the matter stricken by said amendment, amended to
read as follows: $5,000,000 for the New Orleans Canal Street
Corridor project; ; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 118:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 118, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$126,725,125; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 122:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 122, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$12,500,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 123:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 123, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$9,759,500; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 124:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 124, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
      Restore the matter stricken by said amendment, amended to
read as follows: , of which not more than $5,000,000 may be
available for high-occupancy vehicle lane and intermodal
corridor design costs; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 127:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 127, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
      Restore the matter stricken by said amendment, amended to
read as follows: $7,500,000 for the San Juan, Puerto Rico Tren
Urbano project;
      And the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 128:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 128, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
      Restore the matter stricken by said amendment, amended to
read as follows: $500,000 for the Tampa to Lakeland commuter
rail project;
      And the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 129:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 129, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
      Restore the matter stricken by said amendment, amended to
read as follows: $2,500,000 for the Whitehall ferry terminal,
New York, New York;
      And the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 130:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 130, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
      Restore the matter stricken by said amendment, amended to
read as follows: ; and; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 131:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 131, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the matter proposed by said amendment, insert:
$5,650,000 for the Burlington-Charlotte, Vermont commuter rail
project.
      And the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 137:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 137, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$23,937,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 139:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 139, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$31,448,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 140:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 140, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$28,750,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 153:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 153, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$7,500,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 154:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 154, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the sum proposed by said amendment, insert:
$95,649,000; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 157:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 157, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the matter stricken and inserted by said
amendment, insert: collocate and consolidate; and the Senate
agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 158:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 158, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the matter stricken and inserted by said
amendment, insert: surface transportation field offices and
administrative activities; and the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 163:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 163, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the matter proposed by said amendment, insert
the following:
      Sec. 339. None of the funds in this Act shall, in the
absence of express authorization by Congress, be used directly
or indirectly to pay for any personal service, advertisement,
telegram, telephone, letter, printed or written matter, or
other device, intended or designed to influence in any manner a
Member of Congress, to favor or oppose, by vote or otherwise,
any legislation or appropriation by Congress, whether before or
after the introduction of any bill or resolution proposing such
legislation or appropriation: Provided, That this shall not
prevent officers or employees of the Department of
Transportation or related agencies funded in this Act from
communicating to Members of Congress on the request of any
Member or to Congress, through the proper official channels,
requests for legislation or appropriations which they deem
necessary for the efficient conduct of the public business.
      And, on page 53 of the House engrossed bill H.R. 2002,
delete lines 1-13.
      And the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 164:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 164, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
      Restore the matter stricken by said amendment, amended to
read as follows:
      Sec. 340. None of the funds in this Act shall be
available to pay the salaries and expenses of any individual to
arrange tours of scientists or engineers employed by or working
for the People's Republic of China, to hire citizens of the
People's Republic of China to participate in research
fellowships sponsored by the modal administrations of the
Department of Transportation, or to provide training or any
form of technology transfer to scientists or engineers employed
by or working for the People's Republic of China: Provided,
That this provision shall not apply to the Federal Aviation
Administration or the joint Federal Aviation Administration,
Department of Defense and Department of Commerce initiative
designed to modernize the air traffic control system of the
People's Republic of China.
      And the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 167:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 167, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the matter proposed by said amendment, insert:
      Sec. 343. None of the funds made available in this Act
may be used for improvements to the Miller Highway in New York
City, New York.
      And the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 174:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 174, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the matter proposed by said amendment, insert:
      Sec. 347. (a) In consultation with the employees of the
Federal Aviation Administration and such non-governmental
experts in personnel management systems as he may employ, and
notwithstanding the provisions of title 5, United States Code,
and other Federal personnel laws, the Administrator of the
Federal Aviation Administration shall develop and implement,
not later than January 1, 1996, a personnel management system
for the Federal Aviation Administration that addresses the
unique demands on the agency's workforce. Such a new system
shall, at a minimum, provide for greater flexibility in the
hiring, training, compensation, and location of personnel.
      (b) The provisions of title 5, United States Code, shall
not apply to the new personnel management system developed and
implemented pursuant to subsection (a), with the exception of:
            (1) Section 2302(b), relating to whistleblower
        protection;
            (2) Sections 3308-3320, relating to veterans'
        preference;
            (3) Section 7116(b)(7), relating to limitations on
        the right to strike;
            (4) Section 7204, relating to antidiscrimination;
            (5) Chapter 73, relating to suitability, security,
        and conduct;
            (6) Chapter 81, relating to compensation for work
        injury; and
            (7) Chapters 83-85, 87, and 89, relating to
        retirement, unemployment compensation, and insurance
        coverage.
      (c) This section shall take effect on April 1, 1996.
      And the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 175:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 175, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the matter proposed by said amendment, insert:
      Sec. 348. (a) In consultation with such non-governmental
experts in acquisition management systems as he may employ, and
notwithstanding provisions of Federal acquisition law, the
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall
develop and implement, not later than January 1, 1996, an
acquisition management system for the Federal Aviation
Administration that addresses the unique needs of the agency
and, at a minimum, provides for more timely and cost-effective
acquisitions of equipment and materials.
      (b) The following provisions of Federal acquisition law
shall not apply to the new acquisition management system
developed and implemented pursuant to subsection (a):
            (1) Title III of the Federal Property and
        Administrative Services Act of 1949 (41 U.S.C. 252-
        266).
            (2) The Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act
        (41 U.S.C. 401 et seq.);
            (3) The Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of
        1994 (Public Law 103-355);
            (4) The Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.),
        except that all reasonable opportunities to be awarded
        contracts shall be provided to small business concerns
        and small business concerns owned and controlled by
        socially and economically disadvantaged inidividuals;
            (5) The Competition in Contracting Act;
            (6) Subchapter V of Chapter 35 of title 31,
        relating to the procurement protest system;
            (7) The Brooks Automatic Data Processing Act (40
        U.S.C. 759); and
            (8) The Federal Acquisition Regulation and any laws
        not listed in (a) through (e) of this section providing
        authority to promulgate regulations in the Federal
        Acquisition Regulation.
      (c) This section shall take effect on April 1, 1996.
      And the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 176:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 176, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the section designation of said amendment,
insert:
      Sec. 349.
      And the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 177:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 177, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the section designation of said amendment,
insert:
      Sec. 350.
      And the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 178:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 178, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the section designation of said amendment,
insert:
      Sec. 351.
      And the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 179:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 179, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the section designation of said amendment,
insert:
      Sec. 352.
      And the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 180:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 180, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the section designation of said amendment,
insert:
      Sec. 353.
      And the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 182:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 182, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the section designation of said amendment,
insert:
      Sec. 354.
      And the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 186:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 186, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the section designation of said amendment,
insert:
      Sec. 355.
      And the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 187:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 187, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the section designation of said amendment,
insert:
      Sec. 356.
      And the Senate agree to the same.
      Amendment numbered 188:
      That the House recede from its disagreement to the
amendment of the Senate numbered 188, and agree to the same
with an amendment, as follows:
      In lieu of the matter proposed by said amendment, insert:

SEC. 357. AUTHORITY TO USE FUNDS FOR SIDING AND INTERMODAL FACILITY IN
                    RICHLAND COUNTY, NORTH DAKOTA.

      Notwithstanding section 22101(a)(3) of title 49, United
States Code, the State of North Dakota may use funds available
to the State under section 22106(b) of such title for the
building of a siding and intermodal facility proposed by the
State in Sections 7 and 8, Township 133 North, Range 47 West,
Richland County, North Dakota.
      And the Senate agree to the same.

                                   Frank R. Wolf,
                                   Tom DeLay,
                                   Ralph Regula,
                                   Harold Rogers,
                                   Jim Lightfoot,
                                   Ron Packard,
                                   Sonny Callahan,
                                   Jay Dickey,
                                   Bob Livingston,
                                   Martin Olav Sabo (except amendment
                                       174 and amendment 190)
                                   Richard J. Durbin (except amendment
                                       132, amendment 174, and
                                       amendment 190)
                                   Ronald D. Coleman (except amendment
                                       174)
                                   Thomas M. Foglietta (except
                                       amendment 174)
                                   David R. Obey (except amendment 174)
                                 Managers on the Part of the House.

                                   Mark O. Hatfield,
                                   Pete V. Domenici,
                                   Arlen Specter,
                                   Christopher S. Bond,
                                   Slade Gorton,
                                   Richard C. Shelby,
                                   Frank R. Lautenberg,
                                   Tom Harkin,
                                   Barbara A. Mikulski,
                                Managers on the Part of the Senate.
       JOINT EXPLANATORY STATEMENT OF THE COMMITTEE OF CONFERENCE

      The managers on the part of the House and the Senate at
the conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on
amendments of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 2002) making
appropriations for the Department of Transportation and related
agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1996, and for
other purposes, submit the following joint statement to the
House and the Senate in explanation of the effect of the action
agreed upon by the managers and recommended in the accompanying
conference report.

                        congressional directives

      The conferees agree that Executive Branch propensities
cannot substitute for Congress' own statements concerning the
best evidence of Congressional intentions--that is, the
official reports of the Congress. Report language included by
the House that is not changed by the report of the Senate, and
Senate report language that is not changed by the conference is
approved by the committee of conference. The statement of the
managers, while repeating some report language for emphasis, is
not intended to negate the language referred to above unless
expressly provided herein.

                     program, project and activity

      During fiscal year 1996, for the purposes of the Balanced
Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Public Law
99-177), as amended, with respect to funds provided for the
Department of Transportation and related agencies, the terms
``program, project and activity'' shall mean any item for which
a dollar amount is contained in an appropriations Act
(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. In addition, the reductions made pursuant to any
sequestration order to funds appropriated for ``Federal
Aviation Administration, facilities and equipment'' and for
``Coast Guard, Acquisition, construction, and improvements''
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 appropriation Acts and accompanying committee
reports, conference reports, or joint explanatory statements of
the committee of conference. The conferees recognize that
adjustments to the above allocations may be required due to
changing program requirements or priorities. The conferees
expect any such adjustment, if required, to be accomplished
only through the normal reprogramming process.

                staffing increases provided by congress

      The conferees direct the Department of Transportation to
fill expeditiously any positions added in this bill, without
regard to agency-specific staffing targets which may have been
previously established to meet the mandated government-wide
staffing reductions. The conferees support the overall staffing
reductions, and have made reductions in the bill which more
than offset staffing increases provided for a small number of
specific activities.

                 TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

                        Office of the Secretary

                         salaries and expenses

      Amendment No. 1: Appropriates $56,189,000 for salaries
and expenses of the Office of the Secretary, instead of
$55,011,500 as proposed by the House and $56,500,000 as
proposed by the Senate. Within these funds, the conferees have
provided $91,000 and 1 full-time equivalent staff year for
aviation information management.
      The conference agreement includes the following changes
to the budget request for this office:

Reductions in staff, -8 FTEs............................       -$600,000
Hold reception and representation costs to 1995 levels..         -20,000
Hold travel to $365,000.................................        -150,000
Reduce contractual services for acquisition, maintenance
    and repair of ADP equipment and commercial online
    data information systems, and other reductions......        -500,000
Delete funds for residual functions of the Interstate
    Commerce Commission.................................      -4,705,000

      Reductions in staff, -8 FTEs.--The conference agreement
reduces the number of full time equivalent staff of the Office
of the Secretary by 8 full-time equivalent staff years and
$600,000. Though the conferees believe that reductions in the
number of attorney advisors, public affairs specialists and
congressional affairs officers will not undermine the ability
of the Department to conduct its core duties and
responsibilities, the conference agreement affords the
Secretary the flexibility to determine the specific reductions
in staff. The Secretary is directed to allocate the reduction
in staff and notify the House and Senate Committees on
Appropriations within fifteen days after the enactment of this
Act.
      Travel, office of the assistant secretary for budget and
programs.--The conference agreement includes $5,000 for the
travel of the office of the assistant secretary for budget and
programs, which is the same level imposed upon the office in
fiscal year 1995. The conferees are concerned that travel for
this office in fiscal year 1995 may have exceeded last year's
directive and that this directive may have been circumvented by
using funds from the operating administrations. The conferees
reiterate that Congressional directives in this area need to be
followed explicitly by this office in the future and direct
that no funds be used from other sources to supplement travel
by this office.
      Reprogramming procedures.--Over the past year, the
conferees have become aware of numerous instances in which
various modal administrations of the department have either
misinterpreted or disregarded the existing departmental
reprogramming procedures, which limit reprogrammings among
programs, projects and activities to no more than ten percent
unless Congressional approval is granted. The conferees
reiterate that the department shall not take any action that
would contravene an instruction included in the conference
agreement unless such action is in accord with the established
reprogramming guidelines and for which previous Congressional
approval is provided.
      Office of intermodalism.--The conferees note that in
1991, the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act
created the Office of Intermodalism within the Department of
Transportation to initiate and promote efficient intermodal
transportation. The conferees express their support for the
assistance the office has given the Department of Defense in
exploring joint-use, civilian/military transportation
infrastructure improvements at Biggs Army Airfield located at
Fort Bliss, Texas. In consultation and cooperation with Santa
Teresa, New Mexico and its proposed intermodal transportation
facility, the conferees urge the Department to consider to
support actively this venture.
      Amendment No. 2: Provides $40,000 for official reception
and representation expenses as proposed by the House instead of
$60,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 3: Includes language that prohibits funds
from being used to maintain ``custody'' of airline tariffs as
proposed by the Senate, instead of language that prohibits
funds to maintain ``duplicate physical copies'' of airline
tariffs as proposed by the House.
      Amendment No. 4: Includes the words ``and open'' as
proposed by the Senate, instead of ``or open them'' as proposed
by the House.

                         office of civil rights

      Amendment No. 5: Appropriates $6,554,000 for the Office
of Civil Rights as proposed by the House instead of $12,083,000
as proposed by the Senate. The conference agreement disallows
the transfer of 65 FTEs and $5,158,000 to consolidate external
civil rights functions in the office of the Secretary. The
conferees are concerned that the proposal to consolidate the
various modal offices of civil rights into one office under the
guidance of the secretary may dilute the power and flexibility
of those offices to respond to the needs of small and minority
businesses participating in the various programs of the modal
administrations.

           transportation planning, research, and development

      Amendment No. 6: Appropriates $8,220,000 for
transportation planning, research, and development instead of
$3,309,000 as proposed by the House and $9,710,000 as proposed
by the Senate. The conference agreement provides $3,900,000 for
the integrated personnel/payroll system; $2,809,000 for
transportation planning studies; $1,000,000 for aviation
management systems; and $500,000 for the docket management
system. Funding of $6,195,000 for the automated procurement
system is deferred.
      Railroad Safety Institute.--The conferees urge the
Department to consider providing funds to establish the
Railroad Safety Insti-
tute. This relates to a Senate provision in amendment numbered
185.

                          working capital fund

      Amendment No. 7: Limits expenses of the working capital
fund to $103,149,000, instead of $102,231,000 as proposed by
the House and $104,364,000 as proposed by the Senate. The
conference agreement includes the following reductions to the
budget request:

Disallowance of transfer from OST of intermodal data
    network.............................................       -$453,000
Hold non-pay inflationary increases to 1.5 percent......        -262,000
Reduction in WCF-funded travel..........................        -300,000
Reduction in executive training and development programs        -200,000

                        payments to air carriers

                (liquidation of contract authorization)

                    (airport and airway trust fund)

            (including rescission of contract authorization)

      Amendment No. 8: Appropriates $22,600,000 to liquidate
contract authority obligations for payments to air carriers
instead of $15,000,000 as proposed by the House and $26,738,536
as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 9: Limits obligations for payments to air
carriers to $22,600,000, instead of $15,000,000 as proposed by
the House and $26,738,536 as proposed by the Senate.
      The conferees fully intend that all essential air service
communities that are participating in the program in fiscal
year 1995 will continue to be eligible for participation in the
essential air service program in fiscal year 1996, albeit at
reduced levels. The conferees expect that the Department may be
required to make pro-rata reductions in the subsidy or daily/
weekly service levels to manage the funding reductions included
in the conference report.
      Amendment No. 10: Includes language proposed by the House
that prohibits payments to air carriers in communities fewer
than seventy highway miles from the nearest large or medium hub
airport instead of seventy-five highway miles as proposed by
the Senate.
      Amendment No. 11: Deletes ``or small'' proposed by the
Senate. The program mileage criteria retained in the conference
agreement pertain only to distances from the nearest ``large or
medium'' hub airport as proposed by the House.
      Amendment No. 12: Deletes exception to essential air
service program mileage criteria for communities having certain
airline maintenance facilities proposed by the Senate. The
House bill contained no similar exception.
      Amendment No. 13: Includes language proposed by the House
that allows essential air service subsidies to communities
located greater than two hundred and ten miles from the nearest
large or medium hub airport instead of two hundred miles as
proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 14: Rescinds $16,000,000 in contract
authority from the payments to air carriers program instead of
$23,600,000 as proposed by the House and $11,861,464 as
proposed by the Senate. The conference agreement rescinds
contract authority that is not available for obligation due to
annual limits on obligations.
      Amendment No. 15: Deletes House language that would
require the state, local government, or other non-Federal
entity to pay at least fifty percent of the cost of providing
essential air service. The conferees recognize that many
states' legislatures are not in session at this time and would
have difficulty responding to the cost sharing requirements
contained in the House bill. The conferees note, however, that
states, local governments and non-Federal entitles should begin
pursuing cost sharing mechanisms in anticipation of a fifty
percent cost share requirement in fiscal year 1997.

                            rental payments

      Amendment No. 16: Appropriates $135,200,000 for rental
payments instead of $130,803,000 as proposed by the House and
$139,689,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 17: Provides $17,685,000 in rental payments
from ``Federal-aid highways, Limitation on general operating
expenses'' as proposed by the Senate instead of $17,099,000 as
proposed by the House.

                       minority business outreach

      Amendment No. 18: Appropriates $2,900,000 for minority
business outreach activities as proposed by the House instead
of $2,100,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 19: Provides that of the funds appropriated
for minority business outreach activities, $2,642,000 shall be
available until September 30, 1997, as proposed by the House
instead of $1,842,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 20: Provides that funds appropriated for
minority business outreach activities may be used for business
opportunities related to any mode of transportation as proposed
by the Senate. The House bill contained no similar provision.

                 interstate commerce commission sunset

      Amendment No. 21: Deletes appropriation of $4,705,000 for
the Interstate Commerce Commission Sunset activities proposed
by the Senate. The House bill contained no similar
appropriation. Funding for these activities is included under
amendment numbered 166.

                              Coast Guard

                           operating expenses

      Amendment No. 22: Appropriates $2,278,991,000 for Coast
Guard operating expenses instead of $2,565,607,000 as proposed
by the House and $2,286,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. The
conference agreement assumes that additional funding of
$300,000,000 will be provided in the Department of Defense
Appropriations Act, 1996.
      The following table shows detailed adjustments to the
budget estimate in the House and Senate recommendations and the
conference agreement by budget activity:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             House bill         Sente bill         Conference
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Pay and allowances:
    Budget estimate....................................     $1,591,835,000     $1,591,835,000     $1,591,835,000
    Adjustments to budget estimate:
    Military pay and benefits:
        Military pay raise (2.2%)......................         -1,401,000                  0                  0
        Military essentiality..........................         -1,000,000                  0         -1,000,000
        General detail.................................         -3,000,000         -3,000,000         -3,000,000
        Leased housing (transfer)......................        -14,900,000        -14,900,000        -14,900,000
    Civilian pay and benefits:
        SES staffing...................................         +1,000,000                  0                  0
        Youth opportunity staffing.....................           -825,000           -825,000           -825,000
    Medical care and equipment: Hold costs to fiscal
     year 1995 level...................................         -6,300,000                  0         -2,835,000
    Leased housing (by transfer).......................        +14,900,000        +14,900,000        +14,900,000
    Budget activity-wide:
        Accelerate existing streamlining...............         -4,850,000                  0         -4,850,000
        Accelerate fiscal year 1997 restructuring......         -5,000,000                  0                  0
        Undistributed..................................           +175,000         -8,000,000                  0
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
          Amount recommended...........................      1,570,634,000      1,580,010,000      1,579,325,000
                                                        ========================================================
  Depot level maintenance:
    Aircraft...........................................        139,041,000        139,041,000        138,124,000
    Electronics........................................         31,549,000         31,549,000         31,549,000
    Shore facilities...................................         95,645,000         94,126,000         93,963,000
    Vessels............................................         99,081,000         99,081,000         98,465,000
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
      Amount recommended...............................        365,316,000        363,797,000        362,101,000
                                                        ========================================================
  Operations and support:
    Budget estimate....................................        400,496,000        400,496,000        400,496,000
    Adjustments to budget estimate:
    Area operations and support:
        Cutters--high endurance........................                  0           -263,000           -263,000
        Area offices...................................                  0           -823,000           -823,000
        Maintenance and logistics commands.............                  0         -2,734,000         -2,734,000
        Communications stations........................                  0           -155,000                  0
    District operations and support:
        District offices...............................         -5,600,000                  0         -2,800,000
        Groups and bases...............................                  0           -577,000           -577,000
        Combined group/air stations....................                  0           -359,000           -359,000
        Marine safety offices..........................                  0         -1,285,000         -1,285,000
        LORAN stations.................................                  0           -237,000           -237,000
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
          Amount recommended...........................        394,896,000        394,063,000        391,418,000
                                                        ========================================================
  Recruiting and training:
    Budget estimate....................................         70,943,000         70,943,000         70,943,000
    Adjustments to budget estimate: Graduate school
     tuition...........................................         -1,000,000                  0                  0
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
      Amount recommended...............................         69,943,000         70,943,000         70,943,000
                                                        ========================================================
  Coast Guard-wide centralized services and support:
    Budget estimate....................................        189,726,000        189,726,000        189,726,000
        Adjustments to budget estimate:
    Headquarters-managed units:
        TISCOM.........................................                  0            -19,000            -19,000
        Military personnel center......................           -150,000                  0           -150,000
        Activities Europe..............................                  0         -1,372,000         -1,372,000
    Headquarters administration:
        Hold to 1.7 percent increase...................         -2,000,000                  0         -2,000,000
        Reduce by three-tenths of 1 percent............                  0           -325,000                  0
    Centralized bill paying:
        FTS 2000.......................................         -1,434,000           -560,000           -900,000
        FEC............................................           -647,000                  0           -647,000
        Unemployment compensation......................           -115,000           -115,000           -115,000
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
          Amount recommended...........................        185,380,000        187,335,000        184,523,000
                                                        ========================================================
  Account-wide adjustments:
    Recreational equipment.............................           -146,000           -146,000           -146,000
    Non-pay inflation..................................         -5,842,000         -5,842,000         -5,842,000
    Non-operational travel.............................         -1,831,000         -1,831,000         -1,831,000
    MPPC contracting out...............................           -500,000                  0                  0
    Undistributed......................................        -10,243,000         -2,329,000                  0
    VTS contracting out................................         -1,000,000                  0         -1,000,000
    Studies and analysis...............................         -1,000,000                  0           -500,000
    Defense bill--offset...............................                  0       -300,000,000       -300,000,000
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
      Amount recommended...............................        -20,562,000       -310,148,000       -309,319,000
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
      Total appropriation..............................      2,565,607,000      2,286,000,000      2,278,991,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      Reprogramming procedures.--The House report expressed
concern that the Coast Guard has misinterpreted the existing
departmental reprogramming procedures, which limit
reprogrammings among programs, projects, and activities [PPAs]
to a specified percentage unless Congressional notification and
approval is granted, and which define PPAs. In response, the
Coast Guard stated they are unaware of any such guidelines. The
conferees are concerned that the Coast Guard is unaware of the
document titled ``Reprogramming Guidelines'' issued on April
13, 1992 to each of the operating administrations by the
Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs, in which these and
other important procedures are specified. Consequently, the
conferees direct the Assistant Secretary for Budget and
Programs to re-issue this guidance to all operating
administrations as soon as possible, and to report to the House
and Senate Committees on Appropriations regarding the Coast
Guard's compliance with those guidelines under the service's
current practices.
      Military/civilian staffing ratio.--The conference
agreement includes a reduction of $1,000,000 for conversion of
military support positions to civilian positions, as proposed
by the House, and no additional senior executive service [SES]
positions, as proposed by the Senate. The House believed that a
modest increase in the ratio of civilians to military staffing
in the Coast Guard and additional SES positions would lead to
budget savings, management stability, and stronger ``corporate
memory'' than is presently the case. While supporting the
concept of military-to-civilian conversion, the Senate assumed
no savings from that conversion and did not agree that
additional SES positions were necessary. The conferees agree
that this topic should be more fully explored, and direct the
U.S. General Accounting Office to follow up on its past work in
this area by conducting a thorough analysis of the Coast
Guard's military/civilian staffing ratio to determine the
benefits of greater military-to-civilian conversion, including
senior civilian management positions such as the senior
executive service.
      Marine safety resources.--The conferees concur in the
initiative of the Senate and have provided adequate funds
within the amounts made available for military pay and marine
safety office (MSO) operations to restore the marine safety
billets slated for termination. The conferees expect funds
provided for MSO operations above the fiscal year 1995 level
first to be used for annualization of fiscal year 1995 follow-
on costs and then to restore the operating costs associated
with these 21 billets. The conferees expect the Commandant to
submit the report on these restored billets as requested by the
Senate.
      Military personnel center.--The conference agreement
includes a reduction of $150,000 for recruiting activities.
These activities should be funded under ``recruiting and
training'', not under this project.
      Vessel traffic service contracting out.--The conference
agreement includes a reduction of $1,000,000 in the operating
cost of vessel traffic service [VTS] systems across the
country, as proposed by the House. This represents a 5 percent
reduction from the budgeted level of $19,862,000. The conferees
believe that VTS system operations are a prime candidate for
contract operation, and that such systems could be operated at
less cost than is presently the case with government employees.
The Coast Guard has a study underway to address the long-term
viability of retaining the VTS mission within the Coast Guard
budget, and the conferees await the results of that study next
year. However, this interim step is necessary due to budget
constraints and to assist in determining the lowest cost method
of operating VTS systems within the Coast Guard budget.
      Southern Lake Michigan air facility.--The conference
report includes funds to maintain a Coast Guard search and
rescue air facility located in southern Lake Michigan.
      Amendment No. 23: Provides that, of the total funding
provided for ``Operating expenses'', $20,000,000 shall be
expended from the Boat Safety Account of the Aquatic Resources
Trust Fund instead of $25,000,000 as proposed by the House and
no funds as proposed by the Senate. Under current law, the
Coast Guard is authorized to expend from the trust fund for
boating safety activities an amount equal to the amount
appropriated for the boat safety grants program.
      Amendment No. 24: Deletes House language specifying that
no less than $314,200,000 is available for drug enforcement
activities, as proposed by the Senate.

              Acquisition, Construction, and Improvements

      Amendment No. 25: Appropriates $362,375,000 for
``Acquisition, construction, and improvements'' instead of
$375,175,000 as proposed by the House and $366,800,000 as
proposed by the Senate. The conferees also approve
reprogrammings totaling $38,000,000, resulting in overall
program resources of $400,375,000 for fiscal year 1996.
      A table showing the distribution of this appropriation by
project as included in the fiscal year 1996 budget estimate,
House bill, Senate bill, and the conference agreement follows:

               ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION AND IMPROVEMENTS: CONFERENCE AGREEMENT--FISCAL YEAR 1996
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       Fiscal year 1996   Fiscal year 1996   Fiscal year 1996      Conference
            Program name                   estimate            House              Senate           agreement
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Vessels:
    Survey and design--cutters and
     boats..........................           $500,000           $500,000           $500,000           $500,000
    Seagoing buoy tender (WLB)
     replacement....................         65,000,000         65,000,000         65,000,000         65,000,000
    Coastal buoy tender (WLM)
     replacement....................         93,000,000         93,000,000         93,000,000         93,000,000
    47-foot motor lifeboat (MLB)
     replacement project............            500,000            500,000            500,000            500,000
    Buoy boat replacement project
     (BUSL).........................          8,500,000                  0          8,500,000                  0
    Polar icebreaker replacement
     follow-on......................          4,300,000          4,300,000                  0                  0
    82-foot WPB capability
     replacement....................          4,000,000                  0                  0                  0
    Norwegian crewing concept
     development (NORCREW)..........          2,000,000          2,000,000                  0                  0
    Self propelled barge replacement            900,000            900,000                  0                  0
    Surface search radar replacement
     project........................          3,500,000          3,500,000                  0                  0
    210-foot medium endurance cutter
     MMA............................         14,500,000         14,500,000         10,500,000          6,000,000
    378-foot shipboard command &
     control........................          1,300,000          1,300,000                  0                  0
    Configuration management........          5,700,000          5,700,000                  0          2,600,000
                                     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total vessels.................        203,700,000        191,200,000        178,000,000        167,600,000
                                     ===========================================================================
  Aircraft:
    Traffic alert & collision
     avoidance system (TCAS) phase
     IV.............................         13,000,000         10,000,000          8,000,000          8,000,000
    Global positioning system
     installation phase VI..........          1,900,000          1,900,000          1,900,000          1,900,000
    HH-65 Helicopter main
     transmission gearbox upgrade
     phase II.......................          2,500,000          2,500,000          2,500,000                  0
    HC-130 side looking airborne
     radar (SLAR) upgrade...........          2,100,000          2,100,000          2,100,000          2,100,000
                                     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total aircraft................         19,500,000         16,500,000         14,500,000         12,000,000
                                     ===========================================================================
  Other equipment:
    Supply center computer
     replacement....................          1,000,000          1,000,000          1,000,000          1,000,000
    Fleet logistics system..........          3,000,000          3,000,000                  0          3,000,000
    Vessel traffic service (VTS)
     system 2000....................          5,000,000          5,000,000          2,000,000          3,400,000
    VTS equipment replacement.......          3,000,000          3,000,000          3,000,000          1,900,000
    Marine information for safety
     and law enforcement (MISLE)....         11,000,000         11,000,000         11,000,000         11,000,000
    Conversion of software
     applications...................         11,100,000          6,100,000          9,000,000          8,500,000
    Finance center information
     system replacement.............          2,600,000          2,600,000          2,500,000          2,500,000
    Differential GPS transmitter
     replacement....................          1,700,000                  0          1,700,000          1,700,000
    Differential GPS implementation--
     second district................          2,400,000                  0          2,400,000                  0
    Search and rescue simulation
     model (SARSIM).................            500,000            500,000            500,000            500,000
    Communication systems 2000......         11,000,000          6,000,000         11,000,000         11,000,000
    WLB/WLM support facility........          1,500,000          1,500,000          1,000,000          1,000,000
    Vessel navigation training
     simulator......................          1,500,000          1,500,000          1,500,000          1,500,000
    Local notice to mariners
     automation.....................            500,000            500,000            500,000            500,000
    Global maritime distress and
     safety system..................            500,000            500,000            500,000            500,000
    Operational information system..                  0                  0                  0          1,200,000
                                     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total other equipment.........         56,300,000         42,200,000         47,600,000         49,200,000
                                     ===========================================================================
  Shore facilities and aids to
 navigation:
    Survey and design--shore
     projects.......................          8,000,000          8,000,000          6,000,000          6,000,000
    Minor AC&I shore construction
     projects.......................          5,000,000          5,000,000          4,000,000          4,000,000
    Streamlining initiatives........          5,000,000          5,000,000                  0                  0
    Air station consolidation.......          11,00,000         11,000,000                  0                  0
    Coast Guard Yard ship handling
     facility (phase II)............         15,100,000                  0          7,000,000          7,000,000
    Public family quarters..........         22,700,000         20,275,000          8,900,000          9,175,000
    Station Boothbay Harbor, ME--
     renovate/expand................          2,800,000          2,800,000          2,800,000          2,800,000
    Base South Portland, ME--
     construct station operations
     bldg...........................          2,600,000          2,600,000          2,600,000          2,600,000
    Base San Juan, PR--
     reconstruction.................          3,150,000          3,150,000                  0                  0
    Station Port Isabel, TX--
     reconstruct/expand waterfront
     facilities.....................          2,650,000          2,650,000          2,650,000          2,650,000
    Station Portage, MI--relocate/
     replace station facilities.....          4,200,000          4,200,000          4,200,000          2,300,000
    Station Chetco River, OR--
     construct mooring/waterfront...          2,000,000          2,000,000          2,000,000          2,000,000
    Station Honolulu, HI--
     replacement....................          5,000,000          5,000,000          5,000,000          5,000,000
    Waterways ATON projects.........          5,500,000          5,500,000          4,000,000          4,500,000
    Overseas LORAN closure..........                  0                  0                  0         -1,900,000
  Streamlining initiatives:
    New London, CT: Academy (Roland
     Hall renovation)...............          5,100,000          5,100,000                  0          3,900,000
    New London, CT: Academy (CPO &
     leadership schools)............                  0                  0          2,500,000          2,500,000
    New London: CT: Academy (Galley
     renovation)....................                  0                  0                  0          5,000,000
    Wadsworth, NY: Group/MSO/VTC
     Center.........................                  0                  0          9,000,000          9,000,000
    Rosebank, NY: Pier and station
     rehabilitation.................                  0                  0          4,000,000          4,000,000
    Rosebank, NY: Moorings..........                  0                  0                  0          3,900,000
    Bayonne, NJ: Pier improvements/
     ANT team facilities............                  0                  0          5,700,000          5,700,000
    Sandy Hook, NJ: Construct group
     engineering building...........                  0                  0          2,750,000          2,750,000
    Portsmouth, VA: Support center
     administrative space...........                  0                  0          4,000,000          4,000,000
    Boston, MA: Support center
     rehabilitation.................                  0                  0          2,000,000          2,000,000
    Yorktown, VA: Reserve training
     center yeoman school mods......                  0                  0          1,100,000                  0
                                     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total shore facilities and
       aids to navigation...........         99,800,000         82,200,000         80,200,000         88,875,000
                                     ===========================================================================
  Personnel and related support:
    Direct personnel costs..........         48,200,000         42,500,000         46,000,000         44,200,000
    Core acquisition costs..........            700,000            500,000            500,000            500,000
                                     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total personnel and related...         48,900,000         43,000,000         46,500,000         44,700,000
                                     ===========================================================================
      Total appropriations..........        428,200,000        375,175,000        366,800,000        362,375,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      Amendment No. 26: Provides $167,600,000 to acquire,
repair, renovate or improve vessels, small boats and related
equipment instead of $191,200,000 as proposed by the House and
$178,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. In addition, the
conference agreement includes the reprogramming of $14,000,000
from the seagoing and coastal buoy tender [WLB/WLM] programs,
to be reallocated to the following programs:

Polar icebreaker replacement............................      $4,300,000
NORCREW search and rescue boat..........................       2,000,000
Self-propelled barge....................................         900,000
Surface search radar replacement........................       3,500,000
378-foot shipboard command and control..................       1,300,000
210-foot cutter MMA.....................................       2,000,000

      Stern loading buoy boat [BUSL] replacement.--The
conference agreement provides no funding for this project, as
proposed by the House, instead of $8,500,000 as proposed by the
Senate. This should be interpreted as a deferral of additional
funding, and not Congressional desire to terminate the project.
Due to project delays, prior year funding is available to
continue this effort through fiscal year 1996 without
additional appropriation.
      Amendment No. 27: Provides $12,000,000 to acquire new
aircraft and increase aviation capability instead of
$16,500,000 as proposed by the House and $14,500,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
      RU-38A wing assembly upgrade.--The conferees understand
the Coast Guard has identified a particular upgrade to the
center wing assembly of the RU-38A surveillance aircraft which
could significantly enhance the aircraft's service life, range
and endurance on operational missions. The conferees understand
that additional funding may be required to conduct this
upgrade, and encourage the Coast Guard to submit a
reprogramming proposal to the Congress for this work if the
Coast Guard determines the project to be of sufficient
priority.
      Amendment No. 28: Provides $49,200,000 for other
equipment instead of $42,200,000 as proposed by the House and
$47,600,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      Operational information system.--The conference agreement
includes $1,200,000 for procurement and evaluation of
prototypes of the operational information system [OIS],
proposed by the House under the ``Research, development, test
and evaluation'' [RDT&E] appropriation. In its appeal to the
conferees, the Coast Guard suggested that RDT&E was not the
appropriate account for this project. Consequently, the
conference agreement includes funding under this appropriation.
      Amendment No. 29: Provides $88,875,000 for shore
facilities and aids to navigation facilities instead of
$82,275,000 as proposed by the House and $80,200,000 as
proposed by the Senate. In addition, the conference agreement
includes the reprogramming of $24,000,000 from various shore
facilities as listed in the Senate report (-$22,100,000) and
from the overseas Loran-C closure program (-$1,900,000), to be
reallocated to the following programs:

Air station consolidation...............................     $11,000,000
Public family quarters..................................      11,100,000
Station Portage, MI.....................................       1,900,000

      Amendment No. 30: Provides $44,700,000 for acquisition-
related personnel compensation, benefits and related costs
instead of $43,000,000 as proposed by the House and $46,500,000
as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 31: Deletes House language that would have
allowed the Secretary to transfer up to $50,000,000 within the
AC&I appropriation for implementation costs associated with
Coast Guard streamlining plans. The Senate bill provided
funding for specific streamlining projects rather than transfer
authority for unspecified projects. The conference agreement
adopts the Senate approach, providing $42,750,000 for ten
streamlining projects. This compares to $31,050,000 in the
Senate bill. The budget request included $5,000,000 for
unspecified projects. The conferees are very supportive of the
Coast Guard's streamlining efforts and look forward to
reviewing specific proposals next year in detail.
      Amendment No. 32: Provides that the Commandant may
dispose of surplus real property by sale or lease and the
proceeds shall be credited to this appropriation. The Senate
bill required disposal by sale or lease. The House bill
contained no similar provision.

                        port safety development

      Amendment No. 33: Appropriates $15,000,000 for debt
retirement of the Port of Portland, Oregon, to remain available
until expended, as proposed by the Senate. The House bill
contained no similar appropriation.

                         alteration of bridges

      Amendment No. 34: Appropriates $16,000,000 for the
alteration or removal of obstructive bridges as proposed by the
House instead of $2,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      A table comparing the fiscal year 1996 estimate, House
bill, Senate bill, and conference agreement by bridge and
location follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Fiscal year                                     Conference
                                                   1996 estimate    House bill      Senate bill      agreement
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Bridge and location:
    Burlington, IA, Burlington Northern RR
     Bridge.....................................      $2,000,000      $2,000,000      $2,000,000      $2,000,000
    New Orleans, LA, Florida Avenue RR/HW Bridge  ..............       2,000,000  ..............       2,000,000
    Brunswick, GA, Sidney Lanier HW Bridge......  ..............       8,000,000  ..............       8,000,000
    Chelsea St. Bridge, Boston, MA..............  ..............       2,000,000  ..............       2,000,000
    Limehouse HW Bridge, St. John's Island, SC..  ..............       2,000,000  ..............       2,000,000
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
        Total...................................       2,000,000      16,000,000       2,000,000      16,000,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                            reserve training

      Amendment No. 35: Appropriates $62,000,000 for reserve
training as proposed by the Senate instead of $61,859,000 as
proposed by the House.

              Research, development, test, and evaluation

      Amendment No. 36: Appropriates $18,000,000 for research,
development, test, and evaluation instead of $18,500,000 as
proposed by the House and $20,000,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
      The following table summarizes the fiscal year 1996
budget estimate, House and Senate recommendations, and the
conference agreement by program, project and activity:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       Fiscal year 1996                                            Conference
            Program area                   estimate          House bill        Senate bill         agreement
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Improve search and rescue
 capability:
    Search planning.................           $100,000           $100,000  .................           $100,000
    Search process, platforms and
     sensors........................            400,000            400,000  .................            400,000
    Personnel.......................            432,000            432,000  .................            432,000
                                     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total.........................            932,000            932,000            500,000            932,000
                                     ===========================================================================
  Waterways safety and management:
    Waterways management............            500,000            500,000  .................            400,000
    Advanced vessel traffic systems/
     services.......................            600,000            100,000  .................            275,000
    Integrated navigation systems...            450,000            450,000  .................            450,000
    Short range aids to navigation..            400,000            200,000  .................            200,000
    Advanced GPS development........                  0                  0  .................                  0
    Personnel.......................            864,000            864,000  .................            864,000
                                     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total.........................          2,814,000          2,114,000          1,325,000          2,189,000
                                     ===========================================================================
  Marine safety:
    Marine safety research..........            530,000            200,000  .................            200,000
    Human factors analysis..........          1,685,000            700,000  .................          1,050,000
    Fire safety for commercial
     vessels........................            960,000            750,000  .................            750,000
    Personnel.......................            972,000            700,000  .................            700,000
                                     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total.........................          4,147,000          2,350,000          2,000,000          2,700,000
                                     ===========================================================================
  Ship structure committee:
    Support for Committee...........            250,000                  0                  0                  0
    Personnel.......................             36,000                  0                  0                  0
                                     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total.........................            286,000                  0                  0                  0
                                     ===========================================================================
  Marine environmental protection:
    Planning, management and
     training.......................            150,000            150,000  .................            150,000
    Detection/surveillance systems..                  0                  0  .................                  0
    Oil pollution response..........            850,000            500,000  .................            625,000
    Personnel health and safety.....             75,000             75,000  .................             75,000
    Port demonstration project......                  0                  0  .................                  0
      OPA90 regional grant program..                  0                  0  .................                  0
    HazChem countermeasures and
     safety.........................                  0                  0  .................                  0
    Personnel.......................            504,000            504,000  .................            504,000
                                     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total.........................          1,579,000          1,229,000          1,075,000          1,354,000
                                     ===========================================================================
  Maritime law enforcement:
    Surveillance....................            725,000            725,000  .................            725,000
    Vessel search...................                  0                  0  .................                  0
    Sensor integration information..                  0                  0  .................                  0
    Personnel.......................            504,000            504,000  .................            504,000
                                     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total.........................          1,229,000          1,229,000            725,000          1,229,000
                                     ===========================================================================
  Safety and environmental
 compliance:
    Cutter fire safety technology...            600,000            586,000                  0            586,000
    Pollution prevention............            500,000            500,000                  0            500,000
    Aviation engineering support....             75,000                  0                  0                  0
    Vessel loss exposure and risk
     analysis methology.............            620,000            620,000                  0            620,000
    Personnel.......................            612,000            612,000  .................            612,000
                                     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total.........................          2,407,000          2,318,000                  0          2,318,000
                                     ===========================================================================
  Human resource management
 effectiveness:
    Training techniques and
     technologies...................            300,000                  0                  0            100,000
    Staffing standards development..                  0                  0                  0                  0
    Personnel.......................            144,000                  0                  0                  0
                                     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total.........................            444,000                  0                  0            100,000
                                     ===========================================================================
  Command, control, computers and
 intelligence:
    Information systems.............            280,000          1,780,000                  0            280,000
    Advanced communications systems.                  0                  0                  0                  0
    Personnel.......................            648,000            648,000                  0            648,000
                                     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total.........................            928,000          2,428,000                  0            928,000
                                     ===========================================================================
  Technology base:
    Future technology assessment....            300,000                  0                  0                  0
    Modeling........................            150,000                  0                  0                  0
    Select projects.................            450,000            300,000                  0            300,000
    Personnel.......................            684,000            200,000                  0            200,000
                                     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total.........................          1,584,000            500,000                  0            500,000
                                     ===========================================================================
  R&D personnel, program support and
 operations:
    Admin/support personnel and
     related costs..................          3,100,000          2,600,000                  0          2,850,000
    Support and operations..........          1,700,000          1,500,000                  0          1,600,000
    R&D management info system
     development....................            500,000            450,000                  0            450,000
    Modernization of F&STD test
     facilities.....................            850,000            850,000                  0            850,000
                                     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total.........................          6,150,000          5,400,000                  0          5,750,000
                                     ===========================================================================
Mission capabilities assessment.....                  0                  0          1,780,000                  0
    Multimission/administrative
     support........................                  0                  0         12,595,000                  0
  Other projects:
    South Florida oil spill research
     center.........................                  0                  0                  0                  0
    Maritime Fire and Research
     Assoc..........................                  0                  0                  0                  0
                                     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total.........................                  0                  0                  0                  0
                                     ===========================================================================
      Total appropriations..........         22,500,000         18,500,000         20,000,000         18,000,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                              boat safety

                     (aquatic resources trust fund)

      Amendment No. 37: Appropriates $20,000,000 for boat
safety grants as proposed by the House instead of no funding as
proposed by the Senate. The budget proposal and the Senate
recommendation assumed this program would be fully funded as a
mandatory appropriation beginning in fiscal year 1996. When
combined with an estimated $10,000,000 in mandatory spending
authorized by the Clean Vessel Act of 1992, total program
resources are $30,000,000 for fiscal year 1996, which compares
to $32,500,000 for fiscal year 1995.
      Notwithstanding the difficult budget constraints faced by
the Congress, the conferees believe that to convert
discretionary grant programs such as this one to mandatory
funding--avoiding annual budget review and competition with
other programs in the appropriations process--would undermine
fiscal constraint and lessen congressional oversight in an area
which has the country's second highest number of
transportation-related fatalities and is currently on the
National Transportation Safety Board's list of ``most wanted''
safety improvements. Rather than put this program on an
automatic spending status and lessen oversight, the conferees
believe the Coast Guard and the department could more
effectively use these grant funds to target states with poor
boat safety records, and provide leveraged funding for safety
improvements.
      The conferees also note the Coast Guard is in error when
it assumes that funding for this and other maritime programs
comes at the expense of its operating budget. The conferees
wish to make clear to the Coast Guard and the department that,
while funding for boating safety grants is clearly a portion of
the overall allocation of budgetary resources in this bill, it
should not be assumed that reductions have been made in Coast
Guard operating expenses to accommodate this or any other
important maritime programs in the bill.

                             emergency fund

                (limitation on permanent appropriations)

                    (oil spill liability trust fund)

      Amendment No. 38: Deletes limitation of $3,000,000 on the
permanent appropriation authorized in section 1012(a)(4) of the
Oil Pollution Act of 1990 proposed by the House. The Senate
bill contained no similar limitation.

                    Federal Aviation Administration

                               operations

                     (including transfer of funds)

      Amendment No. 39: Inserts heading ``including transfer of
funds'' as proposed by the Senate. This is necessary due to the
disposition of amendment numbered 46.
      Amendment No. 40: Appropriates $4,645,712,000 for FAA
operations instead of $4,600,000,000 as proposed by the House
and $4,550,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      The following table summarizes adjustments to the budget
estimate in the House and Senate bills and the conference
agreement, by budget activity:

                                                 FAA OPERATIONS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   Conference
                                                             House bill        Senate bill         agreement
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Operation of the ATC system:
    Budget estimate....................................     $2,228,634,000     $2,228,634,000     $2,228,634,000
    Adjustments to budget estimate:
        Contract tower streamlining....................         -6,520,000                  0                  0
        ``Quality through partnership''................         -1,790,000                  0         -1,790,000
        General reduction..............................                  0        -28,310,000                  0
        Accelerated promotion..........................                  0                  0         -4,300,000
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
          Amount recommended...........................      2,220,324,000      2,200,324,000      2,222,544,000
                                                        ========================================================
  NAS logistics support:
    Budget estimate....................................        185,158,000        185,158,000        185,158,000
    Adjustments to budget estimate:
        Motor fleet, FAALC.............................         -3,100,000                  0                  0
        Depot spares...................................         +4,000,000                  0                  0
        General reduction..............................                  0         +4,493,000                  0
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
          Amount recommended...........................        186,058,000        180,665,000        185,158,000
                                                        ========================================================
  Maintenance of ATC system:
    Budget estimate....................................        868,297,000        868,297,000        868,297,000
    Adjustments to budget estimate:
        AMASS maintenance..............................         -2,000,000                  0         -2,000,000
        OASIS maintenance..............................           -100,000                  0           -100,000
        Undefined inflation............................                  0         -3,602,000         -3,602,000
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
          Amount recommended...........................        866,197,000        864,695,000        862,595,000
                                                        ========================================================
  Leased telecommunications:
    Budget estimate....................................        328,423,000        328,423,000        328,423,000
    Adjustments to budget estimate:
        Administrative communications..................         -4,680,000                  0         -1,500,000
        WECO switch offset.............................         -2,000,000                  0         -2,000,000
        General reduction..............................                  0         -2,078,000                  0
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
          Amount recommended...........................        321,743,000        326,345,000        324,923,000
                                                        ========================================================
  Aviation regulation/certification:
    Budget estimate....................................        399,711,000        399,711,000        399,711,000
    Adjustments to budget estimate:
        Flight standards staff increase................         -4,954,000         -4,954,000                  0
        New data systems...............................         -1,634,000         -1,634,000         -1,634,000
        PCS moves......................................           -617,000           -617,000           -617,000
        OMEGA navigation system........................         -8,556,000         -2,056,000         -1,840,000
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
          Amount recommended...........................        383,950,000        390,450,000        395,620,000
                                                        ========================================================
  Aviation standards:
    Budget estimate....................................        111,395,000        111,395,000        111,395,000
    Adjustments to budget estimate:
        Hold costs to fiscal year 1995 level...........         -2,644,000         -2,644,000         -2,644,000
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
          Amount recommended...........................        108,751,000        108,751,000        108,751,000
                                                        ========================================================
  Aviation security:
    Budget estimate....................................         65,769,000         65,769,000         65,769,000
    Adjustments to budget estimate:
        Hold costs to fiscal year 1995 level...........           -920,000                  0                  0
        General reduction..............................                  0           -769,000                  0
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
          Amount recommended...........................         64,849,000         65,000,000         65,769,000
                                                        ========================================================
  NAS Design and management
    Budget estimate....................................         53,277,000         53,277,000         53,277,000
    Adjustments to budget estimate:
        General reduction..............................         -8,277,000           -277,000         -3,000,000
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
          Amount recommended...........................         45,000,000         53,000,000         50,277,000
                                                        ========================================================
  Administration of airports:
    Budget estimate....................................         42,173,000         42,173,000         42,173,000
    Adjustments to budget estimate:
        Staffing increase..............................           -643,000           -673,000           -650,000
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
          Amount recommended...........................         41,530,000         41,500,000         41,523,000
                                                        ========================================================
  Commercial space transportation:
    Budget estimate....................................          6,541,000          6,541,000          6,541,000
    Adjustments to budget estimate:
        Hold travel to fiscal year 1995 level..........            -45,000            -45,000            -45,000
        Contract programs..............................           -666,000           -666,000           -666,000
        Delete industry support........................            -60,000            -60,000            -60,000
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
          Amount recommended...........................          5,770,000          5,770,000          5,770,000
                                                        ========================================================
  Human resource management:
    Budget estimate....................................        231,947,000        231,947,000        231,947,000
    Adjustments to budget estimate:
        Labor, personnel and human relations...........        -22,142,000                  0        -17,197,000
        Centralized training...........................        -10,050,000                  0         -8,000,000
        MARC...........................................           +250,000                  0           +250,000
        General reduction..............................                  0        -23,447,000                  0
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
          Amount recommended...........................        200,005,000        208,500,000        207,000,000
                                                        ========================================================
  Executive direction and management:
    Budget estimate....................................        189,216,000        189,216,000        189,216,000
    Adjustments to budget estimate:
        Staffing reductions............................         -5,390,000                  0         -3,169,000
        Regional public affairs staffing...............         -2,047,000                  0         -2,047,000
        General reduction..............................         -6,779,000         -9,216,000                  0
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
          Amount recommended...........................        175,000,000        180,000,000        184,000,000
                                                        ========================================================
  Account-wide adjustments:
    Administration aircraft............................         -3,600,000                  0         -1,500,000
    Adjustments to budget estimate:
    SAE grant..........................................           -105,000                  0                  0
    Overseas personnel assignments.....................           -500,000                  0           -500,000
    Non-pay inflation..................................         -4,824,000                  0         -4,824,000
    Workers' compensation..............................         -1,394,000                  0         -1,394,000
    Undistributed......................................         -8,754,000        -15,000,000                  0
    Operational pay differential.......................                  0        -45,000,000                  0
    Non-pay inflation, administrative aircraft, and GSA
     vehicles..........................................                  0         -5,000,000                  0
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
          Amount recommended...........................        -19,177,000        -65,000,000         -8,218,000
                                                        ========================================================
  Offsetting receipts: Amount recommended                                0        -10,000,000                  0
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
      Total appropriation..............................      4,600,000,000      4,550,000,000      4,645,712,000
      Transfer from Coast Guard........................  .................  .................         60,000,000
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
      Total funding....................................      4,600,000,000      4,550,000,000      4,705,712,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      Contract tower streamlining program.--The conferees agree
to restore the reduction of $6,520,000 proposed by the House
for this program, but agree with the House's observation that
in past years, funds for this important program have not been
spent as intended, but reprogrammed to other activities. The
conferees believe these delays have been at least partly due to
wage determinations required administratively by the Department
of Labor. Since the conferees agree with the Senate language
amending and streamlining the wage determination process, it is
hoped the contract tower program will move forward without
further delay and achieve the promised budgetary savings. The
FAA is directed not to reprogram any of the $6,520,000
appropriated for this program.
      ``Quality through partnership'' program.--The conference
agreement deletes the $1,790,000 budgeted for this program, as
proposed by the House. The conferees direct that no funds be
reprogrammed for this activity during fiscal year 1996.
      Accelerated promotion.--Since completion of House and
Senate action on this bill, program savings of $4,300,000 have
been found resulting from discontinuation of the accelerated
promotion program for air traffic controllers. When the
Training Agreement for Accelerated Promotions expired on July
15, 1995 and the administration made a decision not to renew
the program, these funds became excess to budgetary
requirements. This program allowed controllers to receive
grade-to-grade promotions without fulfilling the time-in-grade
requirements applicable to other federal employees. The
conferees have used these savings to restore funding for
additional FAA safety and certification inspectors, in order to
provide the highest level of aviation safety possible.
      Aviation safety inspectors.--The conference agreement
fully funds the administration's request for 233 additional
aviation safety inspectors, including an additional 117 general
aviation inspectors. This is in addition to the increase in
staffing provided for fiscal year 1995. Between fiscal year
1994 and 1996, end-of-year staffing in this area has risen from
4,051 to a funded level of 4,606, a two-year increase of almost
14 percent. Despite difficult budget constraints, the conferees
believe this is a high priority safety area worthy of
additional funding.
      Flight service stations.--The conferees do not intend for
FAA to close flight service stations not in the currently-
approved plan, and believe funding in the conference agreement
is sufficient for the FAA to continue to operate and maintain
its existing network of flight service stations around the
country.
      Allocation of budget reductions.--The conferees reiterate
to FAA and departmental officials that the funding allocations
and reductions specified in the bill, as detailed and explained
in this joint explanatory statement of the committee of
conference, are the best expressions of Congressional
intentions regarding the proper uses of appropriated funds.
Should the department decide to reduce activities below the
levels specified or implied herein, and in particular if
activities are to be substantially reduced or terminated by
agency action which is not specifically addressed in this
statement, the department shall receive prior Congressional
approval through the reprogramming process.
      Mid-America Aviation Resource Consortium.--The conferees
agree to provide $250,000 for continued support of the Mid-
America Aviation Resource Consortium, as proposed by the House,
but intend that this be the final year of federal support for
this facility unless requested in the President's budget.
      Loran-C automatic blink system.--The conferees agree with
the House's direction to expedite implementation of the
automatic blink system for the Loran-C navigation system.
      Aurora, IL en route center.--The conferees recognize the
urgency of solving the problems causing computer outages at the
FAA's air traffic control center in Aurora, Illinois. The
Aurora center is one of the busier in the world and a critical
link in our nation's air traffic control system. Years of delay
in updating the present equipment have resulted in an obsolete,
aged, and failure-prone system at the Aurora center. FAA has
worked diligently to develop an interim solution to this
problem as quickly as is technologically feasible, pending
installation of a new air traffic control system for the
nation. The conferees deem maintenance of reliable operational
capability at the Aurora center to be in the national interest
of maintaining an efficient and viable national air
transportation system, and deem the implementation of interim
solutions to the problems causing computer outages to be an
urgent national priority. FAA should simplify and expedite its
procurement process to the maximum extent feasible, and should
allocate all necessary personnel resources to assure that the
existing system remains in reliable working order. If FAA
determines that additional technological or personnel resources
are necessary to develop and implement interim solutions to
these problems, then the Congress would give serious
consideration to providing such additional resources. The
conference agreement includes $20,000,000, as proposed by the
Senate, for the display channel complex rehost program, which
will upgrade the computers at Aurora and similar centers.
      Amendment No. 41: Provides that $2,222,859,100 shall be
derived from the airport and airway trust fund instead of
$1,871,500,000 as proposed by the House and $1,865,000,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 42: Allows funds for any ``agency''
services to be credited to this appropriation, as proposed by
the Senate. The House bill specified that only receipts for
``aviation'' services be credited to the appropriation.
      Amendment No. 43: Requires that funds credited to the
appropriation be ``receipts for'' certain services, as proposed
by the Senate. The House bill contained no similar language.
      Amendment No. 44: Deletes Senate language allowing
$10,000,000 in additional safety and security fees to be
credited to this appropriation. The conferees have not yet seen
adequate details from the administration demonstrating the
unequivocal need for new fees, an explanation and justification
of the specific fees to be imposed, or a convincing argument
that the FAA's cost structure is of such efficiency that new
fees or taxes are necessary. In addition, the conferees believe
there will be substantial savings achieved through the FAA
reform provisions enacted in this bill and the broader
revisions currently under consideration in the authorization
process. Such cost savings, combined with further review of the
agency's cost structure, could obviate or minimize the need for
additional fees.
      Amendment No. 45: The conference agreement deletes
language proposed by the Senate which would have begun a three
year phaseout of the ``five percent bonus pay'' for air traffic
controllers and technicians, and inserts new language allowing
the Secretary of Transportation permissive transfer authority
of up to $60,000,000 from Coast Guard ``Operating expenses'' to
augment funding for air traffic control operations and
maintenance to enhance safety and security.
      FAA operations funding and transfer flexibility.--Since
consideration of the fiscal year 1996 transportation
appropriations bill by the House and Senate, the administration
has raised the priority of funding for FAA operations and
maintenance. For example, in a September 13, 1995 letter to the
House and Senate Appropriations Committees, the director of the
Office of Management and Budget advised ``the administration
has serious concerns that the funding level for Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) Operations would make it
difficult to continue today's high levels of aviation safety.
The administration's highest priority is that FAA operations be
funded at the requested level.''
      The conferees have given the utmost consideration to the
administration's priorities. The conference agreement includes
an appropriation for FAA operations above the levels proposed
in either the House or Senate bill. In addition, the agreement
includes the authority for the Secretary of Transportation to
transfer up to $60,000,000 from Coast Guard ``Operating
expenses'' to augment the FAA's operating budget for air
traffic control operations and maintenance activities which
enhance aviation safety and security. It is not clear at this
time how much of this authority might be required, but the
conferees wish to provide maximum flexibility in the event of a
critical shortfall. With the transfer, total funding for FAA
operations in this bill is $4,705,712,000, slightly above the
administration's request.
      In addition, the conference agreement fully restores the
requested increase for aviation safety inspectors and
implements significant FAA personnel and procurement reforms.
The first action addresses a high administration priority and
provides the maximum resources possible for an important safety
initiative. Personnel and procurement reforms are expected to
free up significant operating funds for air traffic control and
safety-related activities. Overall, the conferees are confident
that the increased funding level, combined with transfer
flexibility and these additional actions, will be sufficient to
maintain aviation safety over the coming year despite the
difficult budget environment and the necessity for government-
wide downsizing.
      Five percent bonus pay.--The conference agreement
restores the reduction of $45,000,000 to begin a three year
phaseout of this pay proposed by the Senate. However, in order
to accommodate the $88,600,000 estimated for this program, the
conferees were required to hold funding for the airport
improvement program to the fiscal year 1995 level of
$1,450,000,000. Given the high priority placed on the five
percent bonus by the administration and the desire to maintain
morale in the air traffic controller workforce, the conferees
believe it prudent and necessary to delay some airport
construction projects to finance continuation of this important
activity.
      Aviation security.--The conference agreement fully funds
the administration's request of $65,769,000 for aviation
security activities due to the high priority of this activity
given recent threat assessments.
      Amendment No. 46: Provides for the transfer of unexpended
balances from prior appropriations for the office of commercial
space transportation to this appropriation, and prohibits
airport and airway trust fund resources from being used to
support the office of commercial space transportation, as
proposed by the Senate. The House bill contained no similar
provisions. The conference agreement transfers this office from
the office of the secretary of transportation to the FAA.

                        facilities and equipment

                    (airport and airway trust fund)

      Amendment No. 47: Appropriates $1,934,883,000 for
facilities and equipment instead of $2,000,000,000 as proposed
by the House and $1,890,377,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      The following table summarizes the fiscal year 1996
budget estimate, House and Senate recommended levels, and the
conference agreement by program, project, and activity:
<GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT>

      Automated surface observing system.--In its July 30, 1992
report on the fiscal year 1993 DOT Appropriations Bill, the
Senate Appropriations Committee noted that certain critical
requirements for the automated surface observing system [ASOS]
appeared to be unfunded and not included in the original ASOS
contract. In a report to Congress dated July 26, 1993, the
Acting Administrator of the FAA noted that ground-to-air
radios, freezing rain sensors, and improved tower displays were
``considered urgent to achieve successful completion of the
ASOS program''. According to the FAA, additional funding was
not required for the radios, the rain sensors would be funded
over fiscal years 1994 and 1995, and the display upgrade only
awaited a cost estimate from the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration. Given these statements, the
conferees were surprised to learn that a recent ASOS program
review revealed unfunded costs of approximately $25,000,000 for
these items, as well as unfunded maintenance costs. The FAA is
now developing a plan to use a large portion of the fiscal year
1996 funds--appropriated to procure 106 additional systems--to
address this shortfall instead. The conferees emphatically
direct the FAA to use the fiscal year 1996 funding to procure
the additional ASOS systems, as was justified to the Congress
in the President's budget request.
      The conferees are disappointed to learn that the FAA did
not resolve these problems in 1993, as it led Congress to
believe, and are concerned that this is one more example of an
FAA acquisition culture in great need of the reforms contained
in this bill. If the FAA's estimates of a shortfall are
correct, then a reprogramming of non-ASOS funds should be
submitted for consideration through the normal process, in an
expedited manner as would be suggested by the agency's past
statements regarding the urgency of these improvements. In
addition, the conferees direct the FAA to report to the House
and Senate Committees on Appropriations by December 1, 1995 on
the agency's plans to close the gap of installed versus
commissioned sites, without interrupting the scheduled
procurement of ASOS units.
      The conferees direct the FAA to expedite installation of
the long line connection providing ASOS data between the Ames
Airport, Iowa and the national weather net.
      Terminal area surveillance system.--The conference
agreement provides $5,000,000 for the terminal area
surveillance system [TASS] as proposed by the Senate instead of
$5,800,000 as proposed by the House. In its appeal to the
conferees, the FAA stated ``the TASS program has been
restructured from a single, multi-function system acquisition
program to a program focused on research into subsystem
performance enhancements.'' The conferees have no information
on this restructured program, and believe the TASS development
and acquisition program should proceed as scheduled and planned
prior to any restructuring. Fiscal year 1996 funding is
provided specifically for the TASS system acquisition program
and not for any subsystem enhancements.
      Low-cost ASDE and non-radar runway incursion
technologies.--The conferees agree that the FAA should explore
lower cost surface detection technology solutions for airports
not scheduled to receive ASDE-3 equipment. The conferees agree
to provide $5,000,000 for the development and demonstration of
lower cost phased array surface detection technology, instead
of $8,000,000 as proposed by the House. Funds should be used
for purchase and installation of one such system and for
administrative costs related to demonstration and evaluation of
the system.
      Terminal doppler weather radar.--The conference agreement
does not include additional funding for the acquisition of five
new terminal doppler weather radars proposed by the House. The
conferees, however, are not convinced that the ASR/windshear
alert program, now in the research phase, will be a cost-
effective alternative to terminal doppler weather radar in
meeting future windshear requirements. The FAA has not provided
sufficient data regarding the performance of the ASR/windshear
alert program in dry regions of the country. Moreover, under
current projects, the ASR/windshear alert program will not be
commissioned until the year 2002. During the fiscal year 1997
hearing cycle, the conferees expect to further explore the
efficacy of the ASR/windshear alert program. In the interim,
the conferees expect the FAA to move forward with site surveys
for the next five sites for which TDWR systems are indicated,
and to report on its progress no later than sixty days
following enactment of this Act. In addition, the conferees
direct the FAA to update the needs requirement analysis for the
terminal doppler weather program that was first done in 1986 no
later than sixty days following enactment of this Act. The
update should include a review of the 47 sites included in the
existing contract and the 53 sites not scheduled under the
current contract. The conferees direct the FAA to review those
sites experiencing significant delays in the installation of
TDWRs in the existing contract and certify that each is likely
to be commissioned. With that review, and based upon the site
selection review for the next five sites, the FAA is urged to
request reprogramming permission, if necessary to continue the
TDWR program in fiscal year 1996.
      The conferees want to reiterate that funding for any TDWR
environmental impact statement [EIS] shall not prejudge the
outcome of the EIS for any particular site in New York except
as previously cited (North Bellmore and Roslyn, New York).
      Instrument landing systems-establishment.--The conference
agreement provides $35,000,000 as proposed by the Senate
instead of $33,500,000 as proposed by the House. Of the amount
provided, $3,500,000 is for a category II ILS on runway 7/25 in
Rockford, Illinois, and $1,500,000 is for benefit-cost
analysis, environmental assessment, site survey, and other
activities necessary to determine the requirements for an ILS
(category I, II, or III) at Lanai Airport, Hawaii. The
conference agreement includes funding for a category III ILS on
runway 12L/30R at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, not
runway 14R as specified in the House report.
      St. Paul, MN downtown airport tower.--In fiscal year
1995, Congress provided $3,476,000 for the St. Paul, Minnesota
Downtown Airport to build a replacement air traffic control
tower. The FAA, however, used the airport's money to finance
cost overruns on another project. Given that the FAA requested
and Congress provided funds for the St. Paul tower in fiscal
year 1995, the conferees urge the FAA to honor their prior
agreement and make available the funds necessary to build the
replacement tower at the St. Paul Downtown Airport.
      Financial baseline control notices.--The conferees
reiterate the House's direction that all financial baseline
control notices are to be submitted to the Congress at the time
they are approved by the agency. The documents themselves
should be submitted. The Appropriations Committees will review
this practice at the end of the fiscal year to determine
whether it should be continued.
      Support contracts.--A recent FAA study concluded that the
agency uses far too many support contractors, that agency
personnel could be much more cost conscious in their
contracting and oversight methods, and that in many cases,
contract employees are collocated with FAA staff and virtually
indistinguishable from government employees. While the
conferees have high regard for the work of FAA's support
contractors, the study nevertheless raises questions about the
extensive nature of such contracts within the FAA. Therefore,
the conferees direct the FAA to report to the House and Senate
Committees on Appropriations by March 30, 1996 on its plan for
resolving the findings and implementing the recommendations of
this study. This report should include a discussion of the
extent to which the procurement reforms in this bill lessen the
need for support contracts to meet the current requirements of
the procurement process.
      Amendment No. 48: Provides that, of the total amount
appropriated, $1,718,883,000 is available for three years,
instead of $1,784,000,000 in the House bill and $1,674,377,000
in the Senate bill. This is the amount provided for budget
activities one through four.
      Amendment No. 49: Includes technical change proposed by
the Senate, deleting the word ``and'' to allow inclusion of
language contained in amendment numbered 50.
      Amendment No. 50: Provides that, of the total amount
appropriated, $10,000,000 is for noncompetitive cooperative
agreements with air carriers for acquisition, installation, and
evaluation of certain specified airport security equipment, as
proposed by the Senate. The House bill contained no similar
provision, although $10,000,000 was provided for such equipment
in the overall appropriation.

                        facilities and equipment

                    (airport and airway trust fund)

                              (rescission)

      Amendment No. 51: Rescinds $60,000,000 as proposed by the
House instead of $70,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.

                 research, engineering, and development

                    (airport and airway trust fund)

      Amendment No. 52: Appropriates $185,698,000 for research,
engineering, and development instead of $143,000,000 as
proposed by the House and $215,886,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
      The following table summarizes the fiscal year 1996
estimate, House and Senate recommendations, and the conference
agreement, by program, project, and activity:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       Fiscal year 1996                                            Conference
            Program name                   estimate          House bill        Senate bill         agreement
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
System development and
 infrastructure.....................        $13,551,000         $8,800,000        $12,500,000        $10,000,000
    System planning and resource
     management.....................          3,953,000          3,000,000          3,700,000          2,000,000
    Technical laboratory facility...          9,598,000          5,800,000          8,800,000          8,000,000
Capacity and air traffic management
 technology.........................         79,205,000         25,129,000         50,800,000         37,200,000
    Air traffic management
     technology.....................          9,875,000                  0          8,000,000          3,500,000
    Oceanic automation program......         10,470,000          8,000,000          8,000,000          8,000,000
    Terminal air traffic control
     automation (TATCA).............         15,624,000                  0                  0                  0
    Runway incursion reduction......          8,177,000                  0          8,000,000          4,000,000
    System capacity, planning and
     improvements...................         12,256,000          6,000,000         12,000,000          9,000,000
    Cockpit technology..............          8,266,000          6,500,000          8,200,000          6,700,000
    General aviation/vertical flight
     technology.....................          3,327,000          2,629,000          2,600,000          2,600,000
    Modeling, analysis, and
     simulation.....................          7,807,000          2,000,000          4,000,000          3,400,000
    Future airway facilities
     technology.....................          3,403,000                  0                  0                  0
Communications, navigation and
 surveillance.......................         31,330,000         20,000,000         25,963,000         23,000,000
    Communications..................         15,367,000         10,000,000         10,000,000         10,000,000
    Navigation......................         15,963,000         10,000,000         15,963,000         13,000,000
    Surveillance....................                  0                  0                  0                  0
Weather.............................          6,493,000          6,493,000          6,493,000          6,493,000
Airport technology..................          9,278,000          1,000,000          8,000,000          6,000,000
Aircraft safety technology..........         47,547,000         29,578,000         40,548,000         37,978,000
    Aircraft systems fire safety....          3,906,000                  0                  0                  0
    Advanced materials/structural
     safety.........................          2,973,000          2,000,000          2,500,000          2,000,000
    Propulsion and fuel systems.....          4,059,000                  0          4,055,000          3,400,000
    Flight safety/atmospheric
     hazards research...............          4,173,000          4,173,000          4,173,000          4,173,000
    Aging aircraft..................         21,415,000         15,000,000         21,415,000         20,000,000
    Aircraft catastrophic failure
     prevention research............          4,357,000          2,705,000          2,705,000          2,705,000
    Fire research...................          4,604,000                  0                  0                  0
    Fire research and safety........                  0          5,700,000          5,700,000          5,700,000
    General aviation renaissance....          1,005,000                  0                  0                  0
    Cabin safety....................          1,055,000                  0                  0                  0
System security technology..........         43,808,000         23,000,000         37,900,000         36,045,000
    Explosives and weapons detection         33,179,000         23,000,000         30,000,000         29,000,000
    Airport security technology
     integration....................          2,530,000                  0          1,500,000          1,000,000
    Aviation security human factors.          4,603,000                  0          3,000,000          2,549,000
    Aircraft hardening..............          3,496,000                  0          3,400,000          3,496,000
Human factors and aviation medicine.         25,860,000         28,000,000         25,182,000         23,682,000
    Flight deck/maintenance/system
     integration human factors......         11,182,000         15,500,000         11,182,000         11,182,000
    Air traffic control/airway
     facilities human factors.......         10,193,000         10,000,000         10,000,000         10,000,000
    Aeromedical research............          4,485,000          2,500,000          4,000,000          2,500,000
Environment and energy..............          5,429,000          1,000,000          4,500,000          3,800,000
Innovative/cooperative research.....          5,160,000                  0          4,000,000          1,500,000
                                     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total appropriation...........        267,661,000        143,000,000        215,886,000        185,698,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      Innovative deicing technology.--In order to evaluate the
effectiveness of enclosed deicing techniques at smaller
regional airports, the conferees urge the FAA to consider the
application of Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport to develop a
test site for the evaluation of innovative deicing technology.
The conferees believe that this technology warrants further
exploration, and direct the FAA to provide a full report to the
House and Senate Committees on Appropriations by March 15, 1996
on the results of testing and the agency's plans to authorize
airport grant funding or passenger facility charges to enable
airports to procure such a system.
      Runway incursion reduction.--The conference agreement
includes $4,000,000 instead of no funds as proposed by the
House and $8,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. With the funds
provided, the conferees direct FAA to give immediate priority
and attention to the surface movement advisor project. The
conferees believe that reducing runway incursions is a high
priority for further research and rapid prototyping. While
funds in this long-term research activity are being reduced
below the administration's request, the conference agreement
includes an additional $7,000,000 in the ``facilities and
equipment'' account for non-radar technologies and development
of low-cost ASDE radar systems. Total funding, over all
accounts, for addressing this safety problem in the conference
agreement is approximately $3,000,000 above the
administration's request.

                       grants-in-aid for airports

                (liquidation of contract authorization)

                    (airport and airway trust fund)

      Amendment No. 53: Deletes heading ``including rescission
of contract authorization'' proposed by the Senate. This is a
technical amendment referring to a proposed rescission of
contract authority discussed under amendment numbered 56.
      Amendment No. 54: Limits obligations for the grants-in-
aid for airports program to $1,450,000,000 instead of
$1,600,000,000 as proposed by the House and $1,250,000,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
      Letters of intent.--The conferees agree with the Senate
direction that new letters of intent [LOIs] be awarded only
after (1) scheduled LOI payments fall to less than fifty
percent of AIP discretionary funds, and (2) FAA has improved
its ability to estimate airport development projects' impact on
systemwide capacity. Regarding the Senate's language on
possible letters of intent for the Northwest Arkansas Regional
Airport and the Philadelphia International Airport, the
conferees agree that the FAA should fairly consider LOI
applications from these airports, and base a final decision on
technical requirements at these sites and projections of long
term AIP funding, consistent with other directions in this
report.
      Regarding the Senate's language on a possible letter of
intent for the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, the
conferees agree that the FAA should also fairly consider an LOI
application from this airport subject to: (1) completion of the
required FAA/federal environmental review process; (2)
resolution of the concerns brought forward in the report RO-FA-
5-015 by the Office of Inspector General; and (3) approval of
the runway project from the Regional Transportation Planning
Organization for the central Puget Sound region by amending the
Regional Air System Plan. Finally, the FAA shall fairly
consider any information brought out at Congressional field
hearings on this matter, but not sign an LOI prior to March 31,
1996.
      Amendment No. 55: Limits obligations for the military
airports program to $26,000,000 and the reliever airports
program to $48,000,000. The Senate bill proposed obligation
limitations of $20,000,000 and $50,000,000, respectively. The
House bill contained no similar limitations. The conference
agreement reflects the Senate's concerns over the effectiveness
of these programs, and frees up financial resources for
discretionary grants in other parts of the overall AIP program.
      Huntsville, AL runway/taxiway rehabilitation project.--
The conferees understand that a specific allocation of fiscal
year 1996 funds for this project is not necessary, and that
sufficient fiscal year 1995 funding has been provided for this
project.
      State of Missouri flood-damaged airports.--The conferees
understand that a specific allocation of fiscal year 1996 funds
for this project is not necessary, and that sufficient fiscal
year 1995 funding has been provided for this project.
      Amendment No. 56: Deletes rescission of contract
authority of $5,000,000 proposed by the Senate. The House bill
contained no similar rescission.

                     Federal Highway Administration

                limitation on general operating expenses

      Amendment No. 57: Limits general operating expenses of
the Federal Highway Administration to $509,660,000, instead of
$495,381,000 as proposed by the House and $548,434,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 58: Provides $208,946,000 for contract
programs of the Federal Highway Administration, instead of
$190,667,000 as proposed by the House and $248,909,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
      Recommended funding distribution by program and activity
of the administrative expenses and the research and development
programs of the Federal Highway Administration is as follows:

        Program/Activity                                      Conference
Administrative expenses.................................    $254,714,000
Motor carrier safety administrative expenses............      46,000,000
    Contract programs:
        Research and technology:
            Highway R&D.................................      56,772,000
            Intelligent transportation systems..........     109,779,000
            Technology deployment.......................      12,622,000
            Long term pavement performance..............       8,739,000
            Local technical assistance..................       3,015,000
            National Highway Institute..................       4,369,000
            Disadvantaged business enterprises..........      10,000,000
            International transportation................         500,000
            OJT/supportive services.....................................
            Technical assistance to Russia..............         400,000
            Truck dynamic test facility.................         750,000
            Transportation investment analysi...........................
            Cost allocation study.......................       2,000,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
              Total.....................................     509,660,000

      The highway research and development and intelligent
transportation systems programs by activity are as follows:

Highway research and development:
        Safety..........................................      $8,768,000
        Pavements.......................................       9,247,000
        Structures......................................      13,211,000
        Environment.....................................       5,593,000
        Right-of-way....................................         429,000
        Policy..........................................       5,681,000
        Planning........................................       6,069,000
        Motor carrier...................................       7,774,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
            Total.......................................      56,772,000
                    ========================================================
                    ____________________________________________________
Intelligent transportation systems:
        Research and development........................      24,479,000
        Operational tests...............................      32,500,000
        Commercial vehicle operations...................      14,500,000
        Automated highway system........................      14,000,000
        Advanced technology applications................................
        Program and systems support.....................      11,300,000
        Priority corridors..............................................
        Crash avoidance research........................      13,000,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
            Total.......................................     109,779,000

      Office of motor carriers.--The conference agreement
provides a specific designation of funds for the Office of
motor carriers' administrative expenses within the Federal
Highway Administration's limitation on general operating
expenses. The House had included funding for the Office of
motor carrier's administrative expenses within the limitation
on general operating expenses.
      Fatigue-related issues.--The conferees direct the Federal
Highway Administration to issue an advanced notice of proposed
rulemaking [ANPRM] dealing with a variety of fatigue-related
issues no later than March 1, 1996. This ANPRM is to be
followed by a notice of proposed rulemaking within one year,
and a final rule or decision thereafter.
      Highway safety research.--Congress has long been active
in the advancement of highway safety and has recognized the
invaluable contributions which short-term, applied research can
make to improve safety. Given its concern for safety, the
Congress has, since the early 1990s, vigorously supported this
research by encouraging the Federal Highway Administration to
work closely with the Trucking Research Institute [TRI] in the
study of such issues as fatigue, sleep disorders, brake
maintenance, and rest stop access--all investigations which may
directly affect safety.
      In fiscal year 1994, the Congress continued its
participation in the development of an aggressive research
agenda by directing the FHWA to undertake three projects
totaling $1,750,000: truck loading and unloading as a possible
contributor to driver fatigue; technology to automate
commercial vehicle roadside inspections; and guidelines for the
inspection and maintenance of wheels and bearings. In fiscal
year 1995, the Congress identified three additional studies,
totaling $2,500,000, for the implementation in the same fashion
with TRI: the use of ``smart cards'' to facilitate compliance
with motor carrier safety rules; medical requirements
associated with commercial vehicle operation; and electronic
truck and intermodal information systems.
      Highway safety research and related activities continue
to be a priority of the Congress and the conferees. In fact, a
recent National Transportation Safety Board study on driver
fatigue and fatal truck accidents further highlights their
importance and currency. However, despite directions to the
contrary, the FHWA has been negligent in its efforts to
undertake any of the aforementioned research projects
designated by the Congress in either fiscal years 1994 or 1995.
      The conferees therefore reiterate the direction to FHWA
to use unobligated balances to make grants to, enter into
cooperative agreements or contracts with, or use any existing
technical support services agreements with TRI, in amounts
totaling not less than $4,000,000 to conduct the six studies
referenced above. The conferees further direct FHWA to complete
this process within 90 days from the date of enactment of this
Act and to advise the House and Senate Committees on
Appropriations when such actions have been completed.
      Highway research and development.--The conference
agreement provides $8,768,000 for safety-related research and
development. The conferees direct that safety be funded at a
level of at least $12,768,000, including both ISTEA and
appropriations authority.
      Pavement research and development.--The conference
agreement provides $9,247,000 for pavement research and
development but does not include $1,000,000 as proposed by the
Senate for a joint university/industry grant.
      The conferees agree that expanded cost-effective use of
benign waste materials in infrastructure construction, based on
appropriate tests and standards to ensure long-term
environmental and physical performance, represents a priority
technology that is intended to be funded within the funds
available for Section 6005.
      National Center for Physical Acoustics.--The conferees
urge the Federal Highway Administration to work with the
National Center for Physical Acoustics in its effort to apply
acoustics to monitor traffic and/or pipeline maintenance.
      Motor carrier research.--The conference agreement
provides $7,774,000 for motor carrier research and includes
funds for two studies to (1) identify and test technological
interventions to offset driver fatigue and (2) determine the
extent of scheduling practices and their influences on truck
driver fatigue. No funds are provided for outreach and
technical assistance to regulated entities, to help complete
program uniformity activities, or to eliminate barriers to
effective intermodal freight transportation.
      Intelligent transportation systems.--The conference
agreement provides a total of $109,779,000 for intelligent
transportation systems [ITS]. Within the funds provided for
operational tests, $10,000,000 shall be allocated to initiate
at least two different operational tests that evaluate various
elements of the systems architecture and integrate the core
infrastructure features, including advance traffic management
systems.
      ITS/commercial vehicle operations.--The conference
agreement provides $14,500,000 for commercial vehicle
operations [CVO]. Within these funds, the conferees have
included $6,000,000 for development and initial pilot testing
of the CVO communications architecture and the purchase of
transponders.
      ITS program and systems support.--The conferees direct
that no more than $2,500,000 of the $11,300,000 provided for
program and systems support shall be spent on institutional
studies.
      The conferees are concerned that the joint program office
and the FHWA administrator have failed to submit several
reports pertaining to the national ITS program. These reports
include: the annual report on the ITS program (due in December
1994); a report on the future of the CVO component of the ITS
program (due in May 1995); and the interim report on the
automated highway system program (due in April 1995). These
reports were intended to provide essential information useful
in evaluating the department's activities and plans. The
conferees direct the Secretary to ensure more timely delivery
of all reports relevant to the ITS program, as well as other
reports on departmental programs and activities.

                     highway-related safety grants

                (liquidation of contract authorization)

                          (highway trust fund)

                     (including transfer of funds)

      Amendment No. 59: Appropriates $11,000,000 to liquidate
contract authority obligations for highway-related safety
grants instead of $10,000,000 as proposed by the House and
$13,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 60: Limits obligations to $11,000,000 for
highway-related safety grants instead of $10,000,000 as
proposed by the House and $13,000,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
      The conferees agree that not less than $1,000,000 shall
be allocated to the Office of Highway Safety to support the red
light running campaign and to increase compliance with yield
right-of-way or grade crossing signs.

                          federal-aid highways

                      (limitation on obligations)

                          (highway trust fund)

      Amendment No. 61: Limits obligations for the Federal-aid
highways program to $17,550,000,000 instead of $18,000,000,000
as proposed by the House and $17,000,000,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
      The conference agreement deletes the Senate's references
of priority designations within the Federal Highway
Administration's discretionary grant programs.
      The conferees direct that within the total provided for
the intelligent transportation systems program, funding shall
be available for the following projects in the amounts
specified below:

        Project                                                   Amount
I-10 Mobile, Alabama....................................      $3,000,000
Hazardous materials fleet management and monitoring
    system (NIER).......................................       2,500,000
Green light CVO project, Oregon.........................       7,000,000
Capital beltway.........................................       4,000,000
Houston, Texas..........................................       2,200,000
Syracuse, New York congestion management................       1,500,000
I-95 Corridor...........................................       3,500,000
Johnson City, Tennessee.................................       1,500,000
Texas Transportation Institute..........................         600,000
University of North Dakota..............................       1,000,000
I-675/SR 844/Col. Glenn, Fairborn, Ohio.................       1,000,000
Paralympiad.............................................       1,000,000
Santa Teresa border crossing, New Mexico................         900,000
Western Transportation Institute, Montana...............       1,000,000
TRANSCOM, New York/New Jersey...........................       1,500,000
New York State Thruway..................................       1,500,000
National Transportation Center, Oakdale, New York.......       2,000,000
Advanced railroad/highway crossings.....................       1,250,000
Minnesota GuideStar.....................................       2,000,000
Salt Lake City..........................................       2,000,000

      In fiscal year 1996, the conference agreement earmarks a
total of $40,950,000 for intelligent transportation systems, a
reduction of over $35,000,000 compared with fiscal year 1995
levels. The conferees will give serious consideration to
discontinuing the practice of earmarking the intelligent
transportation systems program in fiscal year 1997.
      The conferees direct that any funding provided for
intelligent transportation systems be used only in support of,
or research on, intelligent transportation systems and not for
construction of buildings.
      Paralympiad.--The conferees direct the Federal Highway
Administration to pursue vigorously the deployment and
demonstration of an individualized routing system to assist
people with disabilities in moving about independently during
the Tenth Paralympiad. The conferees expect that the funds
provided will be expended and that a system will be delivered
and fully implemented in time for the Tenth Paralympiad.
      National Transportation Center, Oakdale, New York.--The
conference agreement includes $2,000,000 for the National
Transportation Center in Oakdale, New York, of which $1,000,000
shall be available only for a NAFTA intermodal transportation
center.
      Minnesota GuideStar.--The State of Minnesota has
established a major laboratory for intelligent transportation
system activities in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. The
GuideStar network emphasizes transit systems in addition to
highways and has been recognized by the Federal Highway
Administration as a leader in the development and
implementation of ITS technologies. The conferees have included
$2,000,000 for this project. Up to 25 percent of this amount
may be made available to the University of Minnesota's Center
for Transportation Studies to support education, research and
training aspects of the project.
      World wide web site on the Internet.--The conferees urge
the FHWA to establish a world wide web site to permit commuters
in major metropolitan areas to retrieve through the Internet
video feeds from traffic cameras, average speeds as determined
by traffic monitoring systems, and traffic messages that appear
on variable message signs employed in the area. To the extent
possible, the Department should make the data available in a
standard format on a dial-in network server that provides text-
only access, and a standard protocol for a touch-tone driven
phone system.

                      motor carrier safety grants

                (liquidation of contract authorization)

                          (highway trust fund)

      Amendment No. 62: Limits obligations for motor carrier
safety grants to $77,225,000 instead of $79,150,000 as proposed
by the House and $75,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      The conferees agree to the following program allocations:

Basic grants to states..................................     $58,000,000
Traffic enforcement.....................................       6,900,000
Hazardous materials training............................       1,500,000
Research and development................................         500,000
Public education........................................         850,000
CDL enforcement.........................................       1,000,000
Truck and bus accidents.................................       1,750,000
Uniformity grants.......................................       3,450,000
Uniformity working groups...............................         450,000
Commercial vehicle information system...................       1,500,000
Drug interdiction assistance program....................         500,000
Administrative expenses.................................         825,000

      Covert verification activities.--The conferees agree
that, within the basic grant program, $1,500,000 shall be used
to conduct covert operations in addition to those funds
originally intended under each state's enforcement plan. Of the
$1,500,000, $400,000 shall be allocated to develop a model out-
of-service prototype system that states can use to assure that
commercial vehicle drivers comply with those orders.
      In addition to covert operations, the conferees believe
that the office of motor carriers should develop cost effective
rules to improve safety, educate motor carriers so that they
know how to comply with these rules, and promote voluntary
compliance.
      Assistance to border states.--The conferees agree that,
within the basic grant program, $750,000 shall be provided to
states along the Mexican border to ensure the safety of
increased traffic. These states face special problems
associated with a projected concentration of trade-related
commercial vehicle traffic once restrictions along the U.S.-
Mexican border are significantly reduced on December 17, 1995.
      Truck and bus accidents.--The conferees have provided
$200,000 to conduct a model accident investigation and
reconstruction program. These funds shall be available to train
motor carrier safety officers on investigative techniques at
accident sites.

                    surface transportation projects

      Amendment No. 63: Deletes appropriation of $39,500,000
for surface transportation projects proposed by the Senate. The
House provided no similar appropriation.

             National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

                        operations and research

      Amendment No. 64: Appropriates $73,316,570 for the
general fund portion of the operations and research activities
of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as
proposed by the House instead of $71,261,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
      Amendment No. 65: Provides that of the general funds made
available for operations and research, $37,825,850 shall remain
available until September 30, 1998 as proposed by the House
instead of $36,770,676 as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 66: Includes language proposed by the House
which prohibits the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration from obligating or expending funds to plan,
finalize, or implement any rulemaking that would alter the tire
grading standards currently in effect. The Senate bill
contained no similar provision.

                        operations and research

                          (highway trust fund)

      Amendment No. 67: Appropriates $51,884,430 from the
highway trust fund for operations and research activities of
the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration instead of
$52,011,930 as proposed by the House and $50,344,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 68: Provides that of the funds made
available for operations and research, $32,247,000 shall remain
available until September 30, 1998, instead of $32,770,670 as
proposed by the House and $31,716,720 as proposed by the
Senate.
      The conference agreement for operations and research
(general fund and highway trust fund combined) includes the
following adjustments to the budget request:

Rulemaking:
        Vehicle safety standards........................       -$200,000
        New car assessment program......................      -1,057,000
        Fuel economy program............................      -2,165,000
        Theft program pilot project.....................        +890,000
Enforcement:
        Vehicle safety compliance.......................        -500,000
        Auto safety hotline.............................      -1,000,000
        Odometer fraud..................................         -40,000
Highway safety program:
        Safe communities injury control.................      -5,225,000
        Alcohol program.................................        -548,000
        Pedestrian and bicycle..........................        -224,000
        National occupant protection....................        -392,000
        Child safety seat program.......................        -600,000
        Police traffic system...........................        -300,000
        Driver education................................         -75,000
        Older driver research...........................        +100,000
        Driver fatigue..................................      +1,000,000
Research and analysis:
        Biomechanics....................................      -1,500,000
        Fatal accident reporting system.................        -300,000
        National accident sampling system...............        -300,000
        Data analysis program...........................        -500,000
        State data programs.............................        -400,000
        Partnership for new generation vehicles.........      -5,000,000
General administration:
        Strategic planning..............................        -200,000
Accountwide adjustments:
        Computer support................................        -245,000
        Administrative..................................        -250,000
        Travel..........................................         -50,000
        Overtime........................................         -60,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
              Net reduction.............................     -19,141,000

      Theft program.--The conference agreement provides
$890,000 to establish pilot National Motor Vehicle Title
Information System programs. The conferees note that the Anti-
Car Theft Act of 1992 directed the Department of Transportation
to establish an information system for instant and reliable
access to titling information. The American Association of
Motor Vehicle Administrators, the Customs Service, and others
have stated that such a system is essential to prevent thieves
from obtaining legal ownership of stolen vehicles.
      Older drivers.--The conferees have provided $100,000 for
older driver research to improve and test referral systems and
develop performance assessment techniques. These additional
funds will advance NHTSA's goal of improving driving
performance and licensing of older drivers.
      Driver fatigue.--The conference agreement includes
$1,000,000 to analyze the role of driver fatigue, sleep
disorders, and inattention in highway crashes and shall be
available to develop and test public education strategies and
countermeasures that make drivers aware of the dangers of
driving while fatigued.
      Section 403 programs.--The purpose of the section 403
programs is to research and test new highway safety ideas that
may be successfully implemented throughout the United States.
In recent years, some of these programs have received ``seed
money'' far longer than expected. The conferees agree with the
Senate direction that requires NHTSA to prepare a report
highlighting how much money section 403 programs have received,
what future financial support is expected for these programs,
and when such support can be terminated. The conferees urge
NHTSA to complete this report as soon as possible and provide
it to the House and Senate Committees on appropriations by May
1, 1996.
      National advanced driving simulator.--The conferees have
provided $2,000,000 for the national advanced driving
simulator. The conferees direct the Department of
Transportation to allocate the costs of the simulator among the
participating modal administrations, including the Federal
Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration, Federal
Railroad Administration, and the Intelligent Transportation
Systems joint program office, as part of the Department's 1997
budget request. Also, the conferees urge the department to
discuss additional cost sharing commitments with the
Departments of Defense and Health and Human Services.

                        operations and research

                             (rescissions)

      Amendment No. 69: Deletes rescissions of $4,547,185 in
unobligated balances previously made available for the national
advanced driving simulator as proposed by the Senate.

                     highway traffic safety grants

                (liquidation of contract authorization)

                          (highway trust fund)

      Amendment No. 70: Appropriates $155,100,000 to liquidate
contract authority obligations for highway traffic safety
grants as proposed by the Senate instead of $153,400,000 as
proposed by the House.
      Amendment No. 71: Limits obligations for highway traffic
safety grants to $155,100,000 as proposed by the Senate instead
of $153,400,000 as proposed by the House.
      Amendment No. 72: Provides $127,700,000 for state and
community highway safety grants instead of $126,000,000 as
proposed by the House and $128,000,000 as proposed by the
Senate. Of the total, the conferees agree that $4,700,000 shall
be available to local communities to implement safe communities
initiatives and $9,200,000 for youth traffic safety programs.
      Amendment No. 73: Provides $2,400,000 for the National
Driver Register as proposed by the House instead of $2,100,000
as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 74: Provides that funding for the National
Driver Register shall be subject to authorization as proposed
by the Senate instead of subject to passage by the House of a
bill authorizing appropriations and for only the amounts
provided therein as proposed by the House.
      Amendment No. 75: Includes language proposed by the House
which prohibits any funding for highway traffic safety grants
to be used for construction, rehabilitation, or remodeling
costs, or for office furnishings and fixtures for state, local,
or private buildings or structures. Deletes language proposed
by the House which prohibits funds to be used to purchase
automobiles or motorcycles for state, local, or private usage.
The Senate bill contained no similar provisions.
      Amendment No. 76: Provides $5,211,000 for the
administration of state and community highway safety grants as
proposed by the Senate instead of $5,153,000 as proposed by the
House. The conferees agree that $300,000 of the administrative
takedown shall be expended to evaluate the costs and benefits
of the section 403 safe communities injury control initiative.
The evaluation shall be provided to the House and Senate
Committees on Appropriations by March 1, 1997.
      Amendment No. 77: Requires up to $500,000 shall be used
for technical assistance to states as proposed by the Senate
instead of allowing flexibility to use up to that amount, as
proposed by the House.
      Amendment No. 78: Provides $890,000 for administrative
expenses under the National Driver Register program as proposed
by the House instead of $777,000 as proposed by the Senate.

                    Federal Railroad Administration

                      office of the administrator

      Amendment No. 79: Appropriates $14,018,000 for the Office
of the Administrator as proposed by the Senate instead of
$14,000,000 as proposed by the House. The conference agreement
includes the following reductions to the budget request:

Technical assistance program............................       -$130,000
Operation respond.......................................         -10,000
Nonpay inflation........................................        -500,000
Other services..........................................         -91,000
Offset for high unobligated balances....................      -2,621,000

      The conference agreement allows the Office of the
Administrator to spend down its prior years' unobligated
balance.

                            railroad safety

      Amendment No. 80: Appropriates $49,919,000 for railroad
safety instead of $49,940,660 as proposed by the House and
$49,105,000 as proposed by the Senate. The conference agreement
includes the following reductions to the budget request:

Other services..........................................       -$105,000
New partnership program.................................        -400,000
Nonpay inflation........................................        -230,000
Salaries and expenses...................................        -200,000
Inspector trainee program...............................         -50,000
Automated track inspection program......................        -100,000
Permanent change of station moves.......................        -100,000

      Federal Railroad Administration offices.--The conferees
generally agree that the Federal Railroad Administration should
limit its railroad safety offices to two per state, but
recognize that large states with significant rail activities
may require an exception. The Federal Railroad Administration
shall submit to the House and Senate Committees on
Appropriations prior to October 1, 1996, a written
justification for any state(s) where it may be necessary to
provide more than two offices due to volume of rail activity
and/or geographic coverage.
      New computers for railroad safety inspectors.--The
conferees have provided $800,000 to procure laptop computers
for railroad inspectors in one region, anticipating that
productivity enhancements and reduced program costs will occur
as inspectors compile their work from remote locations. The
conferees direct the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to
prepare a study detailing the cost savings resulting from the
investment in laptop computers for railroad safety inspectors.
The study shall be completed prior to FRA requesting further
funding to procure additional laptop computers for its railroad
safety inspectors in other regions.
      Accident reporting.--The conferees direct the Federal
Railroad Administration to complete necessary changes to its
accident report by June 1, 1996.

                   railroad research and development

      Amendment No. 81: Appropriates $24,550,000 for railroad
research and development instead of $21,000,000 as proposed by
the House and $25,775,000 as proposed by the Senate. The
conference agreement includes the following adjustments to the
budget request:

Increase Operation Lifesaver............................       +$150,000
Increase human factors work.............................        +400,000
Reduce track, structures, and train control.............      -1,000,000
Reduce growth in high speed activities..................     -27,922,000
Delete maglev initiative................................        -825,000
Reduce grade crossing notification system...............        -100,000
Positive train separation...............................      +5,000,000
Reduce administration...................................        -100,000

      Operation Lifesaver.--The conference agreement provides a
total of $300,000 for Operation Lifesaver, $150,000 more than
the budget request. The conferees agree that the increase shall
be expended to address grade crossing safety.
      Human factors.--The conferees have provided $400,000 for
human factors research to implement FRA's five-year human
factors strategic research plan as rapidly as possible and to
address fundamental problems that cause railroad accidents,
such as fatigue and stress.
      Positive train separation.--The conferees have provided
$5,000,000 for the state of Oregon for positive train
separation (PTS) activities. As part of this work, funding can
be used for an extension into Union Station and for additional
track and signal work. In addition, the Federal Railroad
Administration [FRA] shall research and develop PTS, implement
a high speed rail mitigation path, evaluate the compatibility
of PTS and corridor passenger service on the Portland, Oregon
to Seattle, Washington corridor, and purchase necessary wayside
sensors and radios so that the PTS system can verify train
locations and switch positions. This will allow PTS equipped
trains to operate on either track in either direction at full
track speed. Finally, FRA shall assess the communications
reliability of this system in a dense urban area, such as
Portland, Oregon. FRA believes that the Pacific Northwest
Corridor is the ideal testbed for such a system. No matching
funds are required for this project.
      In connection with this project, the conferees strongly
encourage the Federal Railroad Administration, the U.S. Coast
Guard, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to work together to
establish differential global positioning system coverage for
the territory between Portland and Hinkle, Oregon. Such
coverage is vital to test and validate the PTS automatic
location capability in an area where radio propagation may be
limited by the rugged terrain.
      National Academy of Sciences study of high speed rail.--
The conferees direct the FRA to contract with the National
Academy of Sciences to assemble a panel of experts to issue
periodic reports on FRA's high speed rail research and
development and next generation high speed rail activities. The
first of these reports should assess the content, inter-
relationship of individual projects, management structure, and
direction of FRA's activities. The intent of this assessment is
to determine whether these activities make up a coherent, well-
managed whole, and whether the proposed fiscal year 1997
projects are logical extensions of these efforts. This first
assessment should be completed by April 1, 1996, to meet the
deadline established in the House report. The second report
should assess whether specific projects in FRA's program are
likely to yield useful research results, and the prospect of
state and/or private deployment. Thereafter, the panel should
consider and report on, in sequence, the other elements as
stated in the Senate report.
      Advanced train control study.--The conferees agree not to
require FRA to submit an advanced train control plan for
evaluation prior to further corridor development work occurring
outside of the Northeast Corridor as proposed by the House.

                 northeast corridor improvement program

      Amendment No. 82: Appropriates $115,000,000 for the
northeast corridor improvement program instead of $100,000,000
as proposed by the House and $130,000,000 as proposed by the
Senate. Of this amount, the conferees agree to distribute
$65,000,000 to the southern portion of the corridor for repair
and $50,000,000 to the northern portion of the corridor for
track work, maintenance facilities, and electrification. The
conferees have not provided any additional funding for high-
speed transets because prior year appropriations remain
available for this procurement. This should be interpreted as a
deferral of additional funding and not Congressional desire to
terminate the project. The conferees direct Amtrak to notify
the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations of its final
detailed allocation of these funds.
      Cash flow analysis.--The conferees agree that Amtrak is
to provide a detailed cash flow analysis, which identifies the
funding required to complete the high-speed rail trainset
procurement and options for public and private financing of the
procurement. This cash flow analysis should include information
from Amtrak's ongoing market and ridership survey that
validates the estimates being made for the electrified New
Haven to Boston service. A preliminary report shall be provided
to the House and Senate Committees by December 1, 1995 and a
final report shall be issued no later than March 1, 1996.
      Joint transportation plan.--The conferees direct the
Federal Railroad Administration and Amtrak to provide by March
1, 1996 to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations a
joint and comprehensive transportation plan for the Washington,
DC to New York, N.Y. segment of the corridor that details (1)
the state of the rail line, (2) all required capital
improvements, (3) necessary investments for recapitalization,
and (4) a projected timeline for these expenditures over the
next two decades. This plan should include information on how
the costs for upgrading and maintaining the railroad will be
shared by all users of the rail line.

                    next generation high speed rail

      Amendment No. 83: Appropriates $19,205,000 for next
generation high speed rail studies, corridor planning,
development, demonstration, and implementation instead of
$10,000,000 as proposed by the House and $20,000,000 as
proposed by the Senate. The House bill provided funding only
for high speed rail technology development and demonstrations.
      The conference agreement provides total funding
(appropriation plus limitation on obligations) of $24,205,000
for the next generation high speed rail program to be allocated
as follows:

Advanced train control:
        Detroit to Chicago corridor........................... $3,00,000
        Chicago to St. Louis corridor......................... 6,000,000
Nonelectric locomotives:
        New York nonelectric locomotives demonstration..       6,000,000
        Transportation technology center................       3,000,000
Grade crossing hazards:
        Complete state grade crossing work..............       1,000,000
        Innovative techniques...........................       3,500,000
        Corridor planning technology....................       1,250,000
        Administrative costs............................         455,000

      Nonelectric locomotives.--The conferees have provided
$6,000,000 to continue the development, testing, and
demonstration of turbine powered nonelectric locomotives in the
state of New York as proposed by the Senate. This funding shall
be matched on a dollar-for-dollar basis. The House did not
provide funding for this project. Since then, the House has
received significant information on the project and now
believes that a more comprehensive demonstration of this
technology is necessary. Therefore, the conferees have agreed
to fund the retrofit of a second nonelectric trainset so that
additional data can be gathered on the capacity, reliability,
maintainability, and fuel consumption of a turbine powered
nonelectric fleet. Also, this funding should be used to further
develop ways to improve the acceleration capabilities of
nonelectric locomotives so that their performance is more
comparable to that of electric locomotives. FRA, in conjunction
with Amtrak and the State of New York, should submit
information on the retrofitted locomotives as compared to the
Genesis P-40 and other high speed locomotives, to the House and
Senate Committees on Appropriations no later than August 15,
1996 so that the results can be evaluated prior to finalization
of the fiscal year 1997 Department of Transportation
appropriations bill. While this is ongoing, FRA, Amtrak, and
the State of New York should work to resolve the liability
concerns along the Empire Corridor and close highway-rail grade
crossings so that these trains can operate at 125 miles per
hour.
      In addition, the conference agreement raises the
liquidating cash appropriation from the highway trust fund to
$7,118,000, based on updated estimates from FRA. The House and
Senate bills included $5,000,000 for this purpose.
      Amendment No. 84: Provides that next generation high
speed rail funds may be made available for grants to states for
high speed rail corridor design, feasibility studies,
environmental analyses, and track and signal improvements as
proposed by the Senate. The House bill included no similar
provision.

                     alaska railroad rehabilitation

      Amendment No. 85: Appropriates $10,000,000 for Alaska
Railroad rehabilitation as proposed by the Senate. The House
contained no similar appropriation.

               pennsylvania station redevelopment project

      Amendment No. 86: Deletes $25,000,000 for the
Pennsylvania Station Redevelopment project proposed by the
Senate. The House bill contained no similar appropriation. The
conferees have provided funding for related activities under
the National Railroad Passenger Corporation's capital grants
program, rather than new development of the James A. Farley
post office building.

                     rhode island rail development

      Amendment No. 87: Appropriates $1,000,000 for Rhode
Island rail development instead of $2,000,000 as proposed by
the Senate. The House bill contained no similar appropriation.
As proposed by the Senate, the conference agreement specifies
that the federal contribution shall be matched on a dollar-for-
dollar basis. Further, the Providence and Worcester Railroad
shall reimburse Amtrak and/or the Federal Railroad
Administration up to the first $6,000,000 in legal damages if
damages occur resulting from provision of vertical clearances
in excess of those required for present freight operations.

         grants to the national railroad passenger corporation

      Amendment No. 88: Provides $635,000,000 for the National
Railroad Passenger Corporation [Amtrak] instead of $628,000,000
as proposed by the House and $605,000,000 as proposed by the
Senate. Over the past year, Amtrak has undergone significant
changes to improve its service quality and productivity and to
eliminate its dependence on federal operating assistance by the
year 2001. Amtrak has made strides in reaching these goals;
however, legislative reforms, including labor reforms, must be
enacted if Amtrak is to reach its operating cost goals. Current
authorization bills contain a number of these legislative
reforms. As such, the significant level of funding provided is
predicated on the belief that vital legislative reforms will
occur in the near term, which will reduce Amtrak's costs.
      Amendment No. 89: Provides $305,000,000 for operating
losses and mandatory passenger rail service payments as
proposed by the Senate instead of $336,000,000 as proposed by
the House.
      Amendment No. 90: Provides $100,000,000 for Amtrak's
transition costs as proposed by the Senate instead of
$62,000,000 as proposed by the House.
      Amendment No. 91: Provides $230,000,000 for capital
improvements to Amtrak as proposed by the House instead of
$200,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. The conference
agreement provides up to $20,000,000 for emergency life safety
repairs to be completed at the existing Pennsylvania Station,
as allowed during fiscal year 1995, as well as for the
reconstruction of the station's service building to provide the
support services necessary for the safe operation of the
station.
      Amendment No. 92: Deletes language proposed by the House
which would have made the availability of funds contingent upon
enactment of significant reforms in authorizing legislation to
restructure the National Railroad Passenger Corporation. The
Senate bill contained no similar provision. In lieu of this
language, the conference agreement provides Amtrak with the
ability to transfer not more than $15,000,000 from the capital
improvements account to the Northeast Corridor Improvement
Program.

                     Federal Transit Administration

                        administrative expenses

      Amendment No. 93: Appropriates $42,000,000 for
administrative expenses of the Federal Transit Administration
[FTA] as proposed by the Senate instead of $39,260,000 as
proposed by the House. The conference agreement provides two
full-time equivalent staff year positions in the FTA's
Washington, DC offices to conduct management and oversight of
the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority [WMATA]. The
conference agreement also includes a provision under amendment
numbered 165 that requires the FTA to conduct its oversight of
WMATA from FTA's Washington metropolitan area offices.

                             formula grants

      Amendment No. 94: Appropriates $942,925,000 from the
general fund for formula grants of the Federal Transit
Administration instead of $890,000,000 as proposed by the House
and $985,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 95: Provides for a total program level of
$2,052,925,000, including appropriations and limitations on
obligations, for transit formula grants, instead of
$2,000,000,000 as proposed by the House and $2,105,850,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 96: Limits reductions in transit operating
assistance to urbanized areas of less than 200,000 in
population to no less than seventy-five percent of the amount
of operating assistance such areas are eligible to receive
under Public Law 103-331, instead of eighty percent as proposed
by the Senate. The House bill contained no similar provision.
      Amendment No. 97: Deletes language proposed by the Senate
that would apportion $29,325,031 to areas of 200,000 or greater
in population before apportionment of transit formula funds.
The conference agreement includes language that, in the
distribution of the limitation on transit operating assistance
to urbanized areas that had a population under the 1990
decennial census of 1,000,000 or more, the Secretary shall
direct each area to give priority consideration to the impact
of reductions in operating assistance on smaller transit
authorities operating within the area, and to consider the
needs and resources of such transit authorities when the
limitation is distributed among all transit authorities
operating in the area.

                     transit planning and research

      Amendment No. 98: Appropriates $85,500,000 for transit
planning and research instead of $82,250,000 as proposed by the
House and $90,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. The conferees
agree to specify in the bill that $39,500,000 shall be provided
for the metropolitan planning program (49 U.S.C. 5303);
$4,500,000 for the rural transit assistance program (49 U.S.C.
5311(b)(2)); $8,250,000 for the transit cooperative research
program (49 U.S.C. 5313(b)); $22,000,000 for the national
program (49 U.S.C. 5314); $8,250,000 for the state program (49
U.S.C. 5313(a)); and $3,000,000 for the National transit
institute (49 U.S.C. 5315). The House bill contained similar
funding allocations, but at different levels than in the
conference agreement. The Senate bill contained no allocations
by program in the bill.
      The conferees direct that within the total funding level
provided for transit planning and research, the Federal Transit
Administration shall make available the following amounts for
the programs and activities listed below:

Team transit program of the Minnesota Metropolitan
    Commission..........................................        $500,000
Project ACTION (Accessible Community Transportation in
    our Nation).........................................       2,000,000
Advanced technology transit bus.........................       5,000,000
Fuel cell bus technology................................       5,000,000
Research on large circuit breakers and switch gears.....       2,500,000
Dulles corridor studies.................................         500,000
Hennepin County, Minnesota, public works program........         500,000
Intermodal positioning system (inertial navigational
    technology).........................................         500,000
Advanced lead acid battery consortium...................         500,000
Ridership enhancement strategies........................         500,000

      The conferees agree that federal transit assistance
should contribute to the improvement of the entire community
which transit systems serve, rather than support just the
transit service itself. This is the goal of the livable
communities initiative. By assisting a broad range of
activities, communities may be improved; and by better linking
the communities to the transit system, transit service may be
made more effective. The conferees, therefore, urge the
Department of Transportation to endeavor in these types of
community initiatives.
      Advanced transportation systems program.--Section 6071 of
title V of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act
established the advanced transportation systems and electric
vehicle technology program. The conferees are aware of the
significant contributions that participating consortia have
made to this program and direct the FTA to continue its support
within available funds of further development and production of
heavy duty transit buses, the development of energy storage
technologies, flywheel and hybrid vehicle development and
demonstration, and the continued charging infrastructure
programs.
      Within available funds, the department is urged to
consider support of monobeam transit system development.

                      trust fund share of expenses

                (liquidation of contract authorization)

                          (highway trust fund)

      Amendment No. 99: Provides $1,120,850,000 in liquidating
cash for the trust fund share of expenses of the formula grants
program as proposed by the Senate instead of $1,110,000,000 as
proposed by the House.

                          discretionary grants

                      (limitation on obligations)

                          (highway trust fund)

      Bus and bus-related facilities.--The conference agreement
provides $333,000,000 for the replacement, rehabilitation, and
purchase of buses and related equipment and the construction of
bus-related facilities. The conferees agree that the
recommended funding should be distributed as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Project location and purpose                     House              Senate           Conference
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arkansas:
    Little Rock, central Arkansas transit transfer
     facility..........................................                 $0         $1,000,000                 $0
    Fayetteville, intermodal transfer facility.........                  0          5,400,000                  0
    State of Arkansas; buses...........................          6,000,000                  0          6,200,000
California:
    Coachella Valley; SunLine bus facility.............          1,000,000                  0            500,000
    Long Beach, bus replacement and parts..............                  0          3,000,000          1,500,000
    Los Angeles; Gateway intermodal center.............          8,000,000         15,000,000          8,000,000
    San Diego, San Ysidro intermodal center............                  0         10,000,000          5,000,000
    San Francisco; buses...............................         13,480,000                  0          6,740,000
    San Francisco, BART ADA compliance/paratransit.....                  0          4,460,000          2,230,000
    San Gabriel Valley; Foothill bus facilities........         12,500,000                  0          9,750,000
    San Joaquin, RTD bus replacement...................                  0         10,560,000          5,280,000
    Santa Cruz; bus facility...........................          3,000,000                  0          1,500,000
    Sonoma County; park and ride facilities............          2,500,000                  0          1,250,000
    Ventura County; bus facility.......................          1,200,000                  0            600,000
    Yolo County; buses.................................          3,000,000                  0          1,500,000
Colorado: Fort Collins and Greeley; buses..............          2,500,000                  0          1,250,000
Connecticut: Norwich; intermodal center................          3,000,000                  0          1,500,000
Delaware: State of Delaware; buses.....................          2,700,000                  0          1,350,000
Florida:
    Metropolitan Dade County; buses....................          4,000,000         16,000,000         10,000,000
    Orlando; Lynx buses and bus operating facility.....          8,500,000                  0          4,250,000
    Palm Beach County; bus facilities..................          4,000,000                  0          2,000,000
    Volusia County; buses and park and ride facility...          2,500,000                  0          1,250,000
Georgia: Atlanta; buses................................          7,500,000                  0          3,750,000
Hawaii: Honolulu, Oahu; Kuakini medical center parking
 facility..............................................                  0          8,000,000          4,000,000
Iowa:
    Ames, Marshalltown, Ottumwa, Regions 6, 14, 15, 16;
     buses and bus facilities..........................          4,000,000                  0          2,350,000
    Cedar Rapids; hybrid electric bus consortium.......                  0          2,960,000          1,200,000
    Ottumwa; global positioning equipment..............                  0            700,000                  0
    Waterloo; intermodal bus facility..................                  0          1,340,000            670,000
    State of Iowa; buses, equipment, and facilities....                  0          8,000,000          4,280,000
Illinois:
    Chicago replacement buses/communications system....                  0         13,700,000                  0
    State of Illinois; buses...........................         20,000,000                  0         16,850,000
Indiana:
    Gary and Hammond; buses............................            520,000                  0            260,000
    South Bend; intermodal facility....................          5,000,000                  0          2,500,000
    State of Indiana; buses and bus facilities.........         13,000,000                  0          6,500,000
Kentucky: Lexington; buses.............................          2,000,000                  0          1,000,000
Louisiana:
    New Orleans; bus facility..........................          6,000,000                  0          3,000,000
    New Orleans; buses.................................         12,000,000                  0          6,000,000
    Saint Barnard Parish; intermodal facility..........          3,000,000                  0          1,500,000
Massachusetts: Worcester; intermodal center............          4,000,000                  0          2,000,000
Maryland: Maryland Transit Authority, Maryland; buses..         10,000,000         16,000,000         13,000,000
Michigan:
    Lansing intermodal transportation center...........                  0          4,180,000          2,090,000
    State of Michigan; ISTEA set-aside requirement.....         10,000,000         10,000,000         10,000,000
Minnesota: Metropolitan Council, Minnesota; articulated
 buses.................................................         15,000,000                  0          7,500,000
Missouri:
    Kansas City; Union Station intermodal..............                  0         13,000,000          6,500,000
    St. Louis; Metrolink bus purchase..................                  0         10,000,000          3,500,000
    State of Missouri; buses and bus facilities........                  0         11,000,000          7,000,000
North Carolina: State of North Carolina; buses and bus
 facilities............................................         10,000,000                  0          5,000,000
New Jersey:
    Garden State Parkway; park-n-ride at interchange
     165...............................................                  0          2,300,000          1,150,000
    Hamilton Township; intermodal facility/bus
     maintenance.......................................                  0         25,000,000         12,500,000
Nevada: Clark County, Nevada; buses and bus facility...         14,000,000         20,000,000         17,000,000
New York:
    Albany; buses......................................                  0         10,000,000          5,000,000
    Buffalo; Crossroads intermodal station.............          1,000,000                  0            500,000
    Long Island; buses.................................                  0          3,000,000          1,500,000
    New Rochelle; intermodal facility..................          1,500,000                  0            750,000
    New York City; natural gas buses/fueling station...                  0         10,000,000          5,000,000
    Rensselaer; intermodal station.....................          7,500,000          7,500,000          7,500,000
    Rochester-Genessee; buses..........................                  0          1,400,000            700,000
    Syracuse; buses....................................          2,000,000                  0          1,000,000
    Syracuse; intermodal station.......................          2,000,000                  0          1,000,000
    Utica; buses.......................................                  0          6,000,000          3,000,000
    Westchester; bus facility..........................          4,500,000                  0          2,250,000
Ohio:
    Cleveland; Triskett bus facility...................          2,500,000                  0          1,250,000
    Columbus; buses....................................                  0         10,000,000                  0
    State of Ohio; buses and bus facilities............         20,000,000                  0         15,000,000
Oregon:
    Wilsonville; transit vehicles......................                  0            500,000            250,000
    Eugene lane transit district; radio system.........                  0          1,300,000            650,000
Pennsylvania:
    Allegheny County; busway system....................          8,000,000         10,000,000          9,000,000
    Altoona; ISTEA set-aside requirement...............          2,000,000                  0          1,000,000
    Beaver County; bus facility........................          1,600,000          3,300,000          2,450,000
    Erie; intermodal complex...........................                  0          8,000,000          4,000,000
    North Philadelphia; intermodal center..............          6,000,000                  0          3,000,000
    Philadelphia; buses................................          3,000,000                  0          1,500,000
    Philadelphia; Chestnut Street/alternative fueled
     vehicles..........................................                  0          2,000,000          1,000,000
    Philadelphia; lift-equipped buses..................         15,000,000                  0          7,500,000
Tennessee: Nashville, Tennessee; electric buses........            600,000                  0            300,000
Texas:
    Corpus Christi; buses, dispatching system, and
     facilities........................................                  0          1,600,000          2,450,000
    Corpus Christi; bus facilities.....................          2,500,000                  0                  0
    El Paso; buses, equipment and facilities...........          6,000,000                  0          5,200,000
    El Paso; bus equipment.............................          2,900,000                  0                  0
    El Paso; satellite transit terminal................          1,500,000                  0                  0
    Robstown/Corpus Christi bus shelters/curb cuts/
     transit center....................................                  0            800,000                  0
Utah: Utah Transit Authority, Utah; buses..............          3,500,000                  0          1,750,000
Virginia: Richmond; downtown intermodal station........                  0         10,000,000          5,000,000
Vermont:
    State of Vermont; buses and bus facilities.........                  0          6,000,000          3,000,000
    Marble Valley; bus upgrades........................                  0          2,000,000          1,000,000
Washington:
    Everett; intermodal center.........................                  0          7,000,000          3,500,000
    Pierce County; Tacoma Dome station.................          3,000,000          5,000,000          5,000,000
    Seattle; Metro/King County multimodal..............                  0          4,000,000          2,000,000
    Seattle/King County; Seattle metro bus purchase....          2,500,000         10,000,000          6,250,000
    Wenatchee; Chelan-Douglas multimodal...............                  0          2,000,000                  0
Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin; buses...................         20,000,000                  0         10,000,000
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
      Total............................................        333,000,000        333,000,000        333,000,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      Within available balances, the conferees direct the
Federal Transit Administration to support the following
applications: the Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District
for state-of-the-art, electric battery-powered buses for
initial use at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games; Taos, New Mexico
and Kansas City, Kansas for buses and bus-related purchases;
and the Pennsylvania consolidated bus purchase.
      State of Arkansas.--The conference agreement includes
$6,200,000 for buses and intermodal and bus-related facilities
to be made available to the Arkansas Highway and Transportation
Department to be distributed as follows: $200,000 for Pine
Bluff Transit; $3,200,000 for the University of Arkansas;
$400,000 for Hot Springs Transit; $300,000 for South Central
Arkansas; $800,000 for Central Arkansas Transit; and $800,000
for Southeast Arkansas Transit. The remaining balances may be
retained by the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department
for other state bus and bus-related projects.
      Ames, Marshalltown, Ottumwa, Regions 6, 14, 15 and 16,
Iowa; bus and bus facilities.--The conference agreement
includes $2,350,000 for buses and bus facilities for Ames,
Marshalltown, Ottumwa, and Regions 6, 14, 15 and 16, Iowa to be
distributed as follows: $1,069,000 for Ames; $704,300 for
Ottumwa; $189,500 for Marshalltown; $17,600 for Region 6;
$121,100 for Region 14; $159,400 for Region 15; and $89,100 for
Region 16.
      State of Michigan.--The conference agreement includes
$10,000,000 for the State of Michigan to fulfill the
requirements of section 3035(ll) of the Intermodal Surface
Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991. Of the $10,000,000 for
the State of Michigan, the conferees have included: $3,022,500
for buses and bus facilities for Grand Rapids; $3,022,500 for
buses and bus facilities in Flint; $3,022,500 for the Suburban
Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART); and
$932,500 for an intermodal facility in Lansing. The conference
agreement includes a total of $3,022,500 for the intermodal
transportation center in Lansing. The conferees recognize that
$1,200,000 more is required to complete this project and
encourage the project sponsors to submit a future request for
the remaining funds.
      State of New York.--The conferees direct those transit
systems in the State of New York receiving section 3 bus
discretionary allocations in areas over 200,000 population for
the express purpose of providing fixed-route transit services,
to purchase alternative fueled buses. Vehicles purchased for
use in urbanized areas under 200,000 population and for use in
rural areas and/or for ADA mandated paratransit services are
exempt.
      State of Illinois.--The conference agreement provides
$16,850,000 for the Illinois Department of Transportation for
replacement buses and transit facilities. This amount includes
funds for replacement buses for the following transit agencies:
$1,585,000 for Champaign-Urbana; $528,000 for Decatur;
$2,290,000 for Madison County; $528,000 for Quincy; $528,000
for Rockford; $880,000 for Rock Island; $1,073,000 for
Springfield; and $1,665,000 for Pace. The amount also includes
$720,000 for a transfer facility in Peoria and $800,000 for bus
facilities for the South Central MTD. In addition, $6,000,000
is provided for a new bus communications system for the Chicago
Transit Authority.
      Bus overhauls.--The conferees direct the FTA to study and
report to the appropriate Congressional committees by July 15,
1996 on the data associated with requests for funding under the
periodic bus overhaul funding provision, including, but not
limited to, the number, size, and geographic type of transit
systems that seek to capitalize such expenses, and the amounts
requested under this section.
      Amendment No. 100: Includes language that reprograms
$21,631,250 of funds previously made available in Public Law
102-388 and provides $666,000,000 for new fixed guideway
systems. The House bill included $666,000,000 and the Senate
bill included a total of $688,840,000, of which $22,840,000 was
proposed to be reprogrammed.
      The conferees recommend that $21,631,250 of funds that
were originally provided in the fiscal year 1993 Department of
Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, Public
Law 102-388, that have not been obligated by October 1, 1995 be
reprogrammed. Should additional funds from Public Law 103-388
remain unobligated, the conferees direct the Administrator to
reprogram these funds 15 days after notification to the House
and Senate Committees on Appropriations only to those projects
that have existing full funding grant agreements on the date of
enactment of this Act, to the extent that those projects are
likely to be capable of obligating these funds in the course of
this fiscal year.
      The conference agreement provides for the following
distribution of the recommended funding for new fixed guideway
systems as follows:

        Project                                                   Amount
Atlanta-North Springs project...........................     $42,410,000
South Boston Piers (MOS-2) project......................      20,060,000
Canton-Akron-Cleveland commuter rail project............       4,250,000
Cincinnati Northeast/Northern Kentucky rail line project       1,000,000
Dallas South Oak Cliff LRT project......................      16,941,000
DART North Central light rail extension project.........       3,000,000
Dallas-Fort Worth RAILTRAN project......................       6,000,000
Florida Tri-County commuter rail project................      10,000,000
Houston Regional Bus project............................      22,630,000
Jacksonville ASE extension project......................       9,720,625
Los Angeles Metro Rail (MOS-3)..........................      85,000,000
Los Angeles-San Diego commuter rail project.............       8,500,000
MARC commuter rail project..............................      10,000,000
Maryland Central Corridor LRT project...................      15,315,000
Miami-North 27th Avenue project.........................       2,000,000
Memphis, Tennessee Regional Rail Plan...................       1,250,000
New Jersey Urban Core-Secaucus project..................      80,250,000
New Orleans Canal Street Corridor project...............       5,000,000
New York Queens Connection project......................     126,725,125
Pittsburgh Airport Phase 1 project......................      22,630,000
Portland-Westside LRT project...........................     130,140,000
Sacramento LRT extension project........................       2,000,000
St. Louis Metro Link LRT project........................      12,500,000
Salt Lake City light rail project.......................       9,759,500
San Francisco BART extension project....................      10,000,000
San Juan, Puerto Rico Tren Urbano project...............       7,500,000
Tampa to Lakeland commuter rail project.................         500,000
Whitehall ferry terminal, New York, New York............       2,500,000
Wisconsin central commuter project......................      14,400,000
Burlington-Charlotte, Vermont commuter rail project.....       5,650,000

      South-North corridor project.--The conferees note that
the Oregon legislature and Portland area voters have approved
$850 million in local and state funds for the South-North
corridor project. The conferees support the inclusion of the
South-North corridor in the Portland area program of
interrelated projects and note that a project financing plan,
based on a discretionary (section 3) share of fifty percent of
the total project costs, will be considered should the Portland
region seek funding for this project.
      Orange County, California.--The conferees are concerned
with the delay of the Federal Transit Administration in
obligating the funds previously provided in fiscal years 1994
and 1995 for the Orange County Transitway project. The
conferees are concerned that the FTA may fail to recognize that
the Anaheim Intermodal Transportation Center is not an element
of the Transitway project. The conferees, therefore, direct the
FTA to work expeditiously to obligate these funds once all
pending planning and financial issues are addressed adequately.
      Kansas City.--Although no funds have been provided for
the Kansas City, Missouri light rail project, the conferees
believe that based on the results of the recently completed
major investment study, the project may have merit and
therefore encourage project sponsors to continue to seek
federal support in the future.
      Seattle-Tacoma.--The conferees agree that sums available
from funds appropriated in fiscal year 1992 for the Seattle-
Tacoma commuter rail project may be used for intermodal access
and facilities in Seattle and/or commuter track and signal
projects in and between Seattle and Tacoma, only to the extent
to which such projects are consistent with existing federal
transportation laws and regulations.
      Amendment No. 101: Provides $20,060,000 for the South
Boston Piers [MOS-2] project instead of $17,500,000 as proposed
by the House and $22,620,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 102: Provides $4,250,000 for the Canton-
Akron-Cleveland commuter rail project instead of $6,500,000 as
proposed by the House and no funding as proposed by the Senate;
and deletes House language that would have made funding for
this project contingent upon passage by the House of a bill
authorizing appropriations therefor, and only in amounts
provided therein. The conferees have agreed to delete this
language because on September 20, 1995, the House passed H.R.
2274, the National Highway Systems Designation Act of 1995,
which contained the authorization for this and the several
other new start projects that follow below.
      Amendment No. 103: Provides $1,000,000 for the Cincinnati
Northeast/Northern Kentucky rail line project instead of
$2,000,000 as proposed by the House and no funding as proposed
by the Senate; and deletes House language that would have made
funding for this project contingent upon passage by the House
of a bill authorizing appropriations therefor, and only in
amounts provided therein.
      Amendment No. 104: Provides $3,000,000 for the DART North
Central light rail extension project instead of $2,500,000 as
proposed by the House and $3,500,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 105: Deletes House language that would have
made funding for the DART North Central rail extension project
contingent upon passage by the House of a bill authorizing
appropriations therefor, and only in amounts provided therein.
      Amendment No. 106: Provides $6,000,000 for the Dallas-
Fort Worth RAILTRAN project instead of $5,000,000 as proposed
by the House and $7,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 107: Deletes House language that would have
made funding for the Dallas-Fort Worth RAILTRAN project
contingent upon passage by the House of a bill authorizing
appropriations therefor, and only in amounts provided therein.
      Amendment No. 108: Deletes House language that would have
made funding for the Florida Tri-County commuter rail project
contingent upon passage by the House of a bill authorizing
appropriations therefor, and only in amounts provided therein.
      Amendment No. 109: Provides $9,720,625 for the
Jacksonville ASE extension project instead of $12,500,000 as
proposed by the House. The Senate bill contained no similar
provision.
      Amendment No. 110: Provides $85,000,000 for the Los
Angeles Metro Rail [MOS-3] instead of $125,000,000 as proposed
by the House and $45,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      The conference agreement provides $85,000,000 for the Los
Angeles Metro Rail Line project. The conferees, however,
reiterate the safety concerns and the need for quality
assurances outlined in the Senate report.
      The conferees are aware that after the Senate's
consideration of the Act, the Los Angeles Metropolitan
Transportation Authority [MTA] has made significant progress in
the areas of concern as expressed by the Senate. The MTA has
hired a new head of Metro construction to whom quality
assurance and safety personnel now must directly report. In
addition, the MTA has submitted the updated Metro Rail Red Line
Project Management Plan, which demonstrates the commitment to
safety and quality assurance, to the Federal Transit
Administration for review, prior to FTA's October 1, 1995
deadline.
      While this progress is encouraging, the conferees direct
the Federal Transit Administration to continue diligent
oversight and to ensure that these commitments to greater
safety and quality assurance staffing are finalized before
these or any other federal funds are obligated to the Metro Red
Line Project.
      Amendment No. 111: Provides $8,500,000 for the Los
Angeles-San Diego commuter rail project instead of $10,000,000
as proposed by the House and no funding as proposed by the
Senate.
      Amendment No. 112: Provides $10,000,000 for the MARC
commuter rail project as proposed by the House instead of
$15,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 113: Provides $15,315,000 for the Maryland
Central Corridor LRT project instead of $3,000,000 as proposed
by the House and $22,630,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 114: Deletes House language that would have
made funding for the Miami-North 27th Avenue project contingent
upon passage by the House of a bill authorizing appropriations
therefor, and only in amounts provided therein.
      Amendment No. 115: Provides $1,250,000 for the Memphis,
Tennessee Regional Rail Plan instead of $2,500,000 as proposed
by the House and no funding as proposed by the Senate; and
deletes House language that would have made funding for this
project contingent upon passage by the House of a bill
authorizing appropriations therefor, and only in amounts
provided therein.
      Amendment No. 116: Provides $80,250,000 for the New
Jersey Urban Core-Secaucus project instead of $75,000,000 as
proposed by the House and $85,500,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
      Amendment No. 117: Provides $5,000,000 for the New
Orleans Canal Street Corridor project instead of $10,000,000 as
proposed by the House and no funding as proposed by the Senate,
and deletes House language that would have made funding for
this project contingent upon passage by the House of a bill
authorizing appropriations therefor, and only in amounts
provided therein.
      Amendment No. 118: Provides $126,725,125 for the New York
Queens Connection project instead of $114,989,000 as proposed
by the House and $160,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 119: Deletes funding for the Orange County
Transitway project as proposed by the Senate instead of
$5,000,000 as proposed by the House.
      Amendment No. 120: Provides $130,140,000 for the Portland
Westside LRT project as proposed by the Senate instead of
$85,500,000 as proposed by the House.
      Amendment No. 121: Provides $2,000,000 for the Sacramento
LRT extension project as proposed by the House instead of no
funding as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 122: Provides $12,500,000 for the St. Louis
Metro Link LRT project instead of $10,000,000 as proposed by
the House and $13,000,000 as proposed by the Senate. Within the
funds provided, the conferees have included up to $2,000,000
for the St. Claire extension.
      Amendment No. 123: Provides $9,759,500 for the Salt Lake
City light rail project instead of $5,000,000 as proposed by
the House and $14,519,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 124: Retains, with modification, House
language which provides that $5,000,000 of the funds made
available for the Salt Lake City light rail project may be
available for related high occupancy vehicle lane and
intermodal corridor design costs.
      Amendment No. 125: Provides $10,000,000 for the San
Francisco BART extension project as proposed by the House
instead of $22,620,000 for the San Francisco BART extension to
the airport/Tasman corridor projects as proposed by the Senate.
      The conferees have agreed to provide $10,000,000 to
continue the BART proposed extension to the San Francisco
International Airport. BART and the San Francisco Airport
Commission recently reached an agreement in principle on an
airport station alignment that reduces project costs and that
is compatible with the airport's extension plan. However,
significant unresolved issues must be resolved before a long-
term financial commitment can be made to this project. For
example, despite planned cost reductions, a complete cost
analysis and financial plan are not yet available and there is
no assurance that the federal share of this project will be
reduced. Further, neither supplemental draft nor final analyses
have yet been concluded, and four transportation agencies on
the San Francisco peninsula, including one of the project
sponsors (the San Mateo County Transit District), have voted to
study a direct CalTrain link with the airport. Lastly, the
conferees believe that the proposed local share costs to be
borne by the airport and its users should be consistent with
federal transportation policy and regulation. Given these many
concerns, the conferees believe that sufficient time to
complete and review adequately the supplemental draft
environmental impact statement and the subsequent engineering
and financial plans, and final environmental impact statements
is not available in fiscal year 1996. Sixty days prior to
action to execute a full funding grant agreement, the conferees
direct the FTA to report back to both the House and Senate
Committees on Appropriations and certify in writing that the
aforementioned concerns are fully addressed. This action shall
not be interpreted as a Congressional desire to terminate this
project.
      The conference agreement provides no new funding for the
Tasman corridor project. Measure A, a Santa Clara County local
sales tax proposition which constitutes the Tasman project's
local match, was invalidated by a California appeals court and
later upheld by the California Supreme Court on September 28,
1995. Therefore under the terms of the Bay Area's Metropolitan
Transportation Commission's new rail starts program, the
conferees expect that the $33,320,000 of Federal funds
originally made available in fiscal years 1994 and 1995 shall
be allocated by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to
the San Francisco BART extension to the airport.
      Amendment No. 126: Restores language proposed by the
House which provides funds for the San Francisco BART extension
to the airport only instead of the San Francisco BART
extension/Tasman corridor project as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 127: Provides $7,500,000 for the San Juan,
Puerto Rico Tren Urbano project instead of $15,000,000 as
proposed by the House and no funding as proposed by the Senate;
and deletes House language that would have made funding for
this project contingent upon passage by the House of a bill
authorizing appropriations therefor, and only in amounts
provided therein.
      Amendment No. 128: Provides $500,000 for the Tampa to
Lakeland commuter rail project instead of $1,000,000 as
proposed by the House and no funding as proposed by the Senate;
and deletes House language that would have made funding for
this project contingent upon passage of the House of a bill
authorizing appropriations therefor, and only in amounts
provided therein.
      Amendment No. 129: Provides $2,500,000 for the Whitehall
ferry terminal, New York, New York instead of $5,000,000 as
proposed by the House and no funding as proposed by the Senate;
and deletes House language that would have made funding for
this project contingent upon passage by the House of a bill
authorizing appropriations therefor, and only in amounts
provided therein.
      Amendment No. 130: Deletes House language that would have
made funding for the Wisconsin central commuter project
contingent upon passage by the House of a bill authorizing
appropriations therefor, and only in amounts provided therein.
      Amendment No. 131: Provides $5,650,000 for the
Burlington-Charlotte, Vermont commuter rail project instead of
$11,300,000 as proposed by the Senate. The House bill contained
no similar appropriation.
      Amendment No. 132: Deletes $5,000,000 for the Chicago
central area circulator proposed by the Senate. The House bill
contained no similar provision.
      Due to the failure of the State of Illinois to
appropriate funding for its share of the Chicago central area
circulator project this year and the uncertainty of the design
and construction of the system, the conferees have not
allocated any new fiscal year 1996 funding for this project.
Should the State appropriate its share of the costs of the
project or should the Federal Transit Administration approve
the core system phasing approach into an amended full funding
grant agreement, the conferees will then make every effort to
provide funding according to a full funding grant agreement
funding schedule.

                       mass transit capital fund

                (Liquidation of Contract Authorization)

                          (Highway Trust Fund)

      Amendment No. 133: Appropriates $2,000,000,000 to
liquidate contract authority obligations for mass transit
capital programs as proposed by the House instead of
$1,700,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.

             washington metropolitan area transit authority

      Amendment No. 134: Appropriates $200,000,000 for
construction of the Washington, DC metrorail system as proposed
by the House instead of $170,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.

             Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation

      Amendment No. 135: Deletes language proposed by the
Senate that prohibits expenditure of funds in the Corporation's
financial reserve or from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund for
the design, development, or procurement of a global positioning
system vessel traffic services system during fiscal year 1996.
The House bill contained no similar provision.
      Vessel traffic services system.--The conferees have
expanded the scope of a study on the options for privatizing
procurement and operation of vessel traffic services on the
American portion of the Saint Lawrence Seaway, which the Senate
report directed the Corporation to submit by May 1, 1996. The
study shall focus on division of responsibility and cost-
sharing issues in the development, procurement, installation,
and operation of a GPS vessel traffic services system among the
Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, the St. Lawrence
Seaway Authority of Canada, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Canadian
Coast Guard, and the carrier industry.

                       operations and maintenance

                    (harbor maintenance trust fund)

      Amendment No. 136: Appropriates $10,150,000 for
operations and maintenance of the Saint Lawrence Seaway
Development Corporation as proposed by the Senate instead of
$10,190,500 as proposed by the House. The conference agreement
includes the following adjustments to the budget request:

Travel and transportation of things...........................   -$6,000
Other miscellaneous services..................................    -5,500
Nonpay inflation..............................................   -41,000
Unspecified reduction.........................................   -40,500

              Research and Special Programs Administration

                     research and special programs

      Amendment No. 137: Appropriates $23,937,000 for research
and special programs instead of $26,030,000 as proposed by the
House and $24,281,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      The conference agreement distributes the research and
special programs appropriation and 176 full-time equivalent
staff as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 In dollars    Positions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hazardous materials safety...................      12,650,000        111
Research and technology......................       3,288,000         13
Emergency transportation.....................       1,022,000          7
Program support..............................       7,388,000         45
Accountwide adjustments......................        -411,000  .........
------------------------------------------------------------------------

      The conferees have made the following adjustments to the
budget request:

                                                              In dollars
Hazardous materials safety:
        Information systems.............................         -50,000
        Training........................................        +100,000
        Registration program............................        -182,000
Aviation information management.........................      -2,282,000
Research and technology:
        Personnel compensation and benefits.............         -91,000
        Technology development..........................      -2,951,000
        Technology promotion............................        -874,000
        Technology deployment...........................        -400,000
Emergency transportation:
        Crisis management...............................        -279,000
Program administration:
        Operating expenses..............................         -42,000
        Policy and program support......................         -50,000
        Civil rights and special programs...............         -25,000
        Program management and administration...........         -95,000
        Contract program................................         -53,000
        Working capital fund............................         -40,000
Accountwide adjustments:
        Training........................................        -109,000
        Equipment.......................................        -302,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
    Net reduction.......................................      -7,725,000

      Amendment No. 138: Deletes House language as proposed by
the Senate and transfers $2,200,000 and 22 full-time equivalent
employees from the Research and Special Programs
Administration's aviation information management program to the
Bureau of Transportation Statistics under amendment numbered
144.

                            Pipeline Safety

                         (pipeline safety fund)

      Amendment No. 139: Appropriates $31,448,000 for pipeline
safety instead of $29,941,000 as proposed by the House and
$32,973,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 140: Provides $28,750,000 from the Pipeline
Safety Fund instead of $27,243,000 as proposed by the House and
$30,275,000 as proposed by the Senate. The conference agreement
includes the following reductions from the budget request:

                                                              In dollars
Personnel compensation and benefits.....................         -22,000
Operating expenses......................................        -306,000
Information systems.....................................        -552,000
Risk assessment and technology studies..................        -500,000
Compliance..............................................      -4,146,000
Training and information dissemination..................         -21,000
Research and development................................      -2,423,000
Grants..................................................      -3,000,000
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                    ____________________________________________________
        Net reduction...................................     -10,970,000

      Amendment No. 141: Provides that not to exceed $1,000,000
shall be available from the pipeline safety fund for grants to
states for the development and establishment of one-call
notification systems, as proposed by the House instead of
$1,500,000 as proposed by the Senate.

                     emergency preparedness grants

                     (emergency preparedness fund)

      Amendment No. 142: Limits obligations for emergency
preparedness grants to $8,890,000 as proposed by the House
instead of $9,200,000 as proposed by the Senate.

                      Office of Inspector General

                         salaries and expenses

      Amendment No. 143: Appropriates $40,238,000 for salaries
and expenses of the Office of inspector general as proposed by
the House instead of $39,891,200 as proposed by the Senate.

                  Bureau of Transportation Statistics

      Amendment No. 144: Appropriates $2,200,000 for the Bureau
of Transportation Statistics as proposed by the Senate. The
House bill contained no similar provision.

                       TITLE II--RELATED AGENCIES

       ARCHITECTURAL AND TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS COMPLIANCE BOARD

                         salaries and expenses

      Amendment No. 145: Appropriates $3,500,000 for salaries
and expenses of the Architectural and Transportation Barriers
Compliance Board as proposed by the Senate instead of
$3,656,000 as proposed by the House. The conferees agree that,
although no funding is provided in fiscal year 1996 for the
acquisition of a new financial accounting system, this
reduction is made without prejudice to the system receiving
funding in future appropriations acts.

                  National Transportation Safety Board

                         salaries and expenses

      Amendment No. 146: Appropriates $38,774,000 for salaries
and expenses of the National Transportation Safety Board as
proposed by the House instead of $37,500,000 as proposed by the
Senate.
      The conference agreement distributes the salaries and
expenses of the National Transportation Safety Board and 350
full-time equivalent staff years as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Budget       Staff
                     Office                         authority     years
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Policy and direction...........................      $5,662,000       45
Aviation safety................................      13,334,000      122
Surface transportation.........................      10,473,000       94
Research and engineering.......................       5,281,000       48
Administration.................................       2,692,000       31
Administrative law judges......................       1,332,000       10
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                             emergency fund

      Amendment No. 147: Appropriates $360,802 for the
emergency fund as proposed by the Senate instead of $160,802 as
proposed by the House.

                     Interstate Commerce Commission

                         salaries and expenses

      Amendment No. 148: Appropriates $13,379,000 for one
quarter year of salaries and expenses as well as severance and
closing costs of the Interstate Commerce Commission as proposed
by the House. The Senate bill provided the same amount, but
only for severance and closing costs. The conferees agree that
collected fees shall be made available for the time the
Commission remains in existence during fiscal year 1996 and
that once the Commission ceases to exist, any unobligated
balances from these collections shall be used to pay
termination and severance costs.

                     TITLE III--GENERAL PROVISIONS

                     (including transfers of funds)

      Amendment No. 149: Makes technical change in the citation
to the authorization statute regarding primary and secondary
schooling of dependents of FAA personnel stationed outside of
the continental United States, as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 150: Deletes ``pursuant to paragraph (d)''
as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 151: Prohibits the use of funds for
salaries and expenses of more than one hundred political and
Presidential appointees in the Department of Transportation as
proposed by the Senate instead of one hundred and ten
appointees as proposed by the House.
      Amendment No. 152: Restores House language deleted by the
Senate that prohibits funds to be used to implement section 404
of title 23, United States Code.
      Amendment No. 153: Reduces the working capital fund for
the Department of Transportation programs funded in this Act by
$7,500,000 instead of $10,000,000 as proposed by the House and
$5,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 154: Limits working capital fund
obligational authority for the Department of Transportation
programs funded in this Act to no more than $95,649,000 instead
of $92,231,000 as proposed by the House and $99,364,000 as
proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 155: Restores House language deleted by the
Senate that prohibits the use of funds to prepare, propose or
promulgate any regulations that prescribe changes in the
corporate average fuel economy standards for automobiles.
      Amendment No. 156: Cancels $25,000,000 of the budgetary
resources provided to the Department of Transportation,
excluding the Maritime Administration, as proposed by the
House, instead of canceling $25,000,000 of the budgetary
resources provided to the Department of Transportation,
including the Maritime Administration, as proposed by the
Senate.
      Amendment No. 157: Restores House language deleted by the
Senate and includes language proposed by the Senate which
requires the Secretary of Transportation to collocate and
consolidate the Department of Transportation's office
structure.
      Amendment No. 158: Restores House language deleted by the
Senate and includes language proposed by the Senate which
requires the Secretary of Transportation to collocate and
consolidate the Department of Transportation's surface
transportation field offices and administrative activities.
      Amendment No. 159: Includes Senate language that permits
the Secretary of Transportation to submit a reorganization plan
of the surface transportation activities of the Department of
Transportation and the relationship of the Saint Lawrence
Seaway Development Corporation to the Department. The House
bill included no similar provision.
      Amendment No. 160: Permits the Secretary of
Transportation to transfer funds appropriated in this Act to
``Rental Payments'' as proposed by the Senate. The House bill
would have permitted the Secretary of Transportation to
transfer funds appropriated for any office of the Office of the
Secretary.
      Amendment No. 161: Prohibits funds for certain specified
types of employee training activities, as proposed by the
House. The Senate bill required that training be consistent
with current law.
      Amendment No. 162: Prohibits funds for enforcing the
existing airport revenue diversion laws, and which require
airports to be as self-sustaining as possible, as they relate
to specified facilities on Hot Springs Memorial Field in Hot
Springs, Arkansas, as proposed by the House. The Senate bill
contained no similar provision.
      Amendment No. 163: Deletes language in the Senate bill
requiring that time an individual has spent on the workers'
compensation rolls be counted as regular employment time for
the purpose of calculating retirement benefits. In addition,
the conference agreement deletes lines 1 through 13 on page 53
of the House engrossed bill, H.R. 2002. The effect of this and
the preceding disposition is to delete all language in the
House and Senate bills requiring changes in the eligibility of
employees to receive workers' compensation payments after
becoming eligible for regular federal retirement benefits. Both
the House and Senate bills required a cessation of workers'
compensation benefits six months after retirement eligibility
is reached.
      The conferees are concerned, however, that for many
individuals, workers' compensation has become a more lucrative
alternative to regular retirement. For example, in the FAA
alone, almost 500 people on the workers' compensation rolls are
at least 70 years of age, and over 1,200 are over 60. The
current system allows these people to remain on the workers'
compensation rolls even when disability retirement is available
to them and even when there is little or no chance they will be
returned to work in the agency. These cases create a drain on
the annual discretionary budget of agencies like the FAA, which
are forced to use those scarce funds to finance what is
essentially a retirement program--and one with excessive and
unnecessary costs. To address this issue on a government-wide
basis, the conferees direct the General Accounting Office to
study this issue and report with recommendations for reform to
the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations no later than
May 31, 1996.
      The conference agreement also includes a limitation
against using funds in this Act for activities designed to
influence Congress on legislation or appropriations pending
before the Congress except on the request of Members of
Congress through the proper official channels. The effect of
this provision is to restate, for emphasis, existing law
codified in 18 U.S.C. 1813 regarding limitations on lobbying
activities.
      Amendment No. 164: Modifies House language deleted by the
Senate that prohibits the use of funds for technical training,
tours, and research fellowships with citizens of the People's
Republic of China to exempt the Federal Aviation Administration
and the joint Federal Aviation Administration, Department of
Defense and Department of Commerce initiative designed to
modernize the air traffic control system of the People's
Republic of China.
      Amendment No. 165: Restores House language deleted by the
Senate which prohibits the use of funds in the Act to support
Federal Transit Administration's field operations and oversight
of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority in any
location other than from the Washington, DC metropolitan area.
      Amendment No. 166: Restores House language deleted by the
Senate which appropriates $8,421,000 to the successor of the
Interstate Commerce Commission and permits the collection of
fees collected pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 9701. The conferees expect
that the current level of user fees will continue to be
collected throughout the fiscal year unless changed by
authorization.
      Amendment No. 167: Deletes language proposed by the
Senate that provides for the redistribution of funds originally
provided for a project in West Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana to
be available for a project in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and
inserts language that limits the use of funds for improvements
to the Miller Highway in New York City, New York. The House
bill addressed this issue in amendment numbered 191.
      Amendment No. 168: Includes language proposed by the
Senate that would require that improvements identified by
section 1069(t) of Public Law 102-240 and funded pursuant to
section 118(c)(2) of title 23, U.S.C. shall not be treated as
an allocation for interstate maintenance. The House bill
contained no similar provision.
      Amendment No. 169: Includes Senate language which
requires the Secretary of Transportation to carry out research
to identify successful telecommuting programs. The House bill
contained no similar provision.
      Amendment No. 170: Includes Senate language which would
exempt Indian Reservation Roads from any reductions required
pursuant to section 1003 of Public Law 102-240. The House bill
contained no similar provision.
      Amendment No. 171: Deletes Senate provision that would
have allowed states to trade in unobligated balances of their
federal-aid highway program, except for the congestion
mitigation and air quality improvement program, to mitigate
reductions pursuant to section 1003 of the Intermodal Surface
Transportation Efficiency Act. The House bill contained no
similar provision.
      Amendment No. 172: Deletes Senate provision that would
have allowed states to trade in unobligated balances of funds
authorized or appropriated for highway demonstration projects
to mitigate reductions pursuant to section 1003 of the
Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act. The House
bill contained no similar provision.
      Amendment No. 173: Deletes Senate provision that would
have established interstate compact infrastructure banks. The
House bill contained no similar provision.
      Amendment No. 174: Retains, with amendment, language in
the Senate bill requiring development of a new personnel
management system for the Federal Aviation Administration. The
House bill contained no similar provisions. The conference
agreement includes the following changes to the Senate bill:
(a) the official responsible for development and implementation
of the new personnel system is the FAA administrator, not the
Secretary; and (b) the new system shall not waive current law
relating to veterans' preference and unemployment compensation.
The provision takes effect on April 1, 1996, as proposed by the
Senate.
      Management-labor relationship.--The conferees believe
that a harmonious management-labor relationship within the FAA
is important to the effectiveness and efficiency of the
national airspace system. The conferees do not intend that the
personnel management reforms included in this bill force the
disestablishment of any existing management-labor agreement or
lead to the dissolution of any union currently representing FAA
employees. Instead, the conference agreement provides the
administrator of the FAA flexibility to redefine the
management-labor relationship to the benefit of the agency and
all of its employees.
      Administrator's working group.--The conferees have
included bill language which requires the FAA to develop new
personnel and procurement reform plans, with the goal of
accelerating the modernization of the FAA in the most efficient
and cost-effective manner. The conferees believe the success of
this plan will, in part, depend upon the assistance of the
entire aviation community. The conferees would like to see high
level input from the aviation community. The conferees
therefore strongly recommend that the administrator consult
with the widest array of interested parties in developing the
new personnel and procurement systems. The administrator should
consider establishing a working group to assist his efforts.
The working group could include, but not be limited to,
representatives from the air carriers, general and business
aviation, airports, aircraft manufacturers, airline and FAA
employees, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
      Amendment No. 175: Retains, with amendment, language in
the Senate bill requiring development of a new acquisition
management system for the Federal Aviation Administration. The
House bill contained no similar provisions. The conference
agreement changes the official responsibile for development and
implementation of the new acquisition system to the FAA
administrator, not the Secretary. The provision takes effect on
April 1, 1996, as proposed by the Senate.
      Amendment No. 176: Reduces bonuses and cash awards for
Department of Transportation employees by $752,852 as proposed
by the Senate. The House bill included no similar provision.
      Amendment No. 177: Limits funds for Department of
Transportation advisory committees to $850,000 as proposed by
the Senate. The House bill contained no similar provision.
      Amendment No. 178: Includes provision that enables the
Secretary of Transportation to enforce and continue in effect
the exemption provisions of the Motor Vehicle Information and
Cost Savings Act. The House bill contained no similar
provision.
      Amendment No. 179: Provides that the FAA Technical Center
in Pomona, New Jersey be designated as the ``William J. Hughes
Technical Center'', as proposed by the Senate. The House bill
contained no similar provision.
      Amendment No. 180: Provides that no funds may be used to
close Coast Guard small boat stations or subunits, and allows
flexibility for the Secretary to implement system-wide
management efficiencies, as proposed by the Senate. The House
bill contained no similar provision. The conferees support
Coast Guard downsizing and streamlining efforts in general, but
find that in this instance the Coast Guard's methodology failed
to fairly consider distinctions between small boat stations,
such as water temperature and survival time, leading ultimately
to a proposal which lacked critical justification.
      Amendment No. 181: Deletes Senate language that would
redistribute funds made available for obligation authorized by
item 21 of the table in section 1105(f) of Public Law 102-240
to carry out additional surface transportation projects in
Louisiana. The House bill contained no similar provision.
      Amendment No. 182: Includes Senate language that provides
for the transfer of certain federal property in Hoboken, New
Jersey. The House bill contained no similar provision.
      Amendment No. 183: Deletes Senate language which requires
a five percent reduction from fiscal year 1995 levels in the
energy costs of federal facilities used by agencies funded in
this Act. The conferees are aware that this issue will be
addressed government-wide by the Treasury, Postal Service and
General Government Appropriations Act, 1996.
      Amendment No. 184: Deletes language proposed by the
Senate requiring the Secretary of Transportation to conduct a
study of competition and air fares in rural aviation markets in
the United States.
      Amendment No. 185: Deletes Senate language that would
provide $1,000,000 to establish and operate the Railroad Safety
Institute. The House bill contained no similar provision. The
conference agreement also addresses this issue under amendment
numbered 6.
      Amendment No. 186: Retains language proposed by the
Senate expressing the sense of the Senate regarding a dispute
between the United States and Japan over implementation of the
current U.S./Japan bilateral aviation agreement. The House bill
contained no similar provision.
      Amendment No. 187: Includes Senate language which
modifies provisions of section 339 of the Department of
Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1993
(Public Law 102-388). The House bill included no similar
provision.
      Amendment No. 188: Deletes Senate provision that repeals
section 404 of 23 U.S.C. and inserts language that waives the
freight tonnage limit for rail lines benefiting from the Local
Rail Freight Assistance [LRFA] program for a project near
Wahpeton, North Dakota. The funds are proceeds from LRFA loans
that have been repaid to the State. Approximately $2,300,000
may be used for the partial cost of a privately owned rail
spur, siding, and loading facility.
      Amendment No. 189: Deletes Senate language that would
have delayed the restriction on the availability of certain
highway funds and designated the National Highway System. The
House bill contained no similar provision.

                                TITLE IV

      Amendment No. 190: Restores House language deleted by the
Senate which provides for mandatory standards and procedures
governing arbitrators and arbitration of labor disputes in the
Washington, DC area.

                                TITLE V

      Amendment No. 191: Deletes title V of the House bill
which restricts the use of funds for improvements to the Miller
Highway in New York City, New York. This prohibition is
included under amendment numbered 167.

                   conference total--with comparisons

      The total new budget (obligational) authority for the
fiscal year 1996 recommended by the Committee of Conference,
with comparisons to the fiscal year 1995 amount, the 1996
budget estimates, and the House and Senate bills for 1996
follow:

New budget (obligational) authority, fiscal year 1995... $14,214,401,000
Budget estimates of new (obligational) authority, fiscal
    year 1996...........................................  35,468,964,831
House bill, fiscal year 1996............................  12,810,725,806
Senate bill, fiscal year 1996...........................  12,613,811,567
Conference agreement, fiscal year 1996..................  12,680,532,831
Conference agreement compared with:.....................
    New budget (obligational) authority, fiscal year
      1995..............................................  -1,533,868,169
    Budget estimates of new (obligational) authority,
      fiscal year 1996.................................. -22,788,432,000
    House bill, fiscal year 1996........................    -130,192,975
    Senate bill, fiscal year 1996.......................     +66,721,264
<GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT>

                                   Frank R. Wolf,
                                   Tom DeLay,
                                   Ralph Regula,
                                   Harold Rogers,
                                   Jim Lightfoot,
                                   Ron Packard,
                                   Sonny Callahan,
                                   Jay Dickey,
                                   Bob Livingston,
                                   Martin Olav Sabo (except amendments
                                       174 and 190),
                                   Richard J. Durbin (except amendments
                                       132, 174, and 190),
                                   Ronald D. Coleman (except amendment
                                       174),
                                   Thomas M. Foglietta (except
                                       amendment 174),
                                   David R. Obey (except amendment 174)
                                 Managers on the Part of the House.

                                   Mark O. Hatfield,
                                   Pete V. Domenici,
                                   Arlen Specter,
                                   Christopher S. Bond,
                                   Slade Gorton,
                                   Richard C. Shelby,
                                   Frank R. Lautenberg,
                                   Tom Harkin,
                                   Barbara A. Mikulski,
                                Managers on the Part of the Senate.

                                <greek-d>