Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 11, 1995 TAG: 9505110111
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
But a tough fight looms on the Senate floor over the provision in the National Highway System Bill that would end the so-called Davis-Bacon requirement setting wages paid by contractors.
In addition, amendments that would eliminate rules requiring use of auto safety belts and motorcycle helmets are expected to be proposed before the full Senate.
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved the bill 13-1, designating 159,000 miles of roads as the National Highway System eligible for $6.5 billion in federal funding.
Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., was the lone dissenter, complaining that eliminating the national speed limit would cost lives and millions of dollars.
Committee Chairman John Chafee, R-R.I., added that he was ``disappointed'' that a subcommittee amended the bill to drop the national speed limit.
Lautenberg said he will propose an amendment before the Senate to restore the speed limit, but give the states the option to not enforce it. The limit is 55 miles per hour on most roads, 65 on rural interstate highways.
The committee acted just two days after Transportation Secretary Federico Pena held a news conference to defend federal traffic safety measures.
``Now is not the time to retreat,'' Pena said Monday, estimating that safety laws on seat belts, motorcycle helmets and the speed limit save 10,500 lives and 177,000 injuries annually.
The committee cast a narrow 8-7 party-line vote to delete the Davis-Bacon wage rules for highways in the system, with opponents concerned that the move could doom the whole bill.
Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., said a filibuster has been threatened over the provision.
by CNB