Speaker from the membership of the Committee on Interstate and (C) seven members of the public appointed by the President. (c) The Commission shall not later than July 1, 1979, submit to the President and the Congress its final report including its findings and recommendations. The Commission shall cease to exist six months after submission of such report. All records and papers of the Commission shall thereupon be delivered to the Administrator of General Services for deposit in the Archives of the United States. 33 c (d) Such report shall include the Commission's findings and recommendations with respect to— (A) the Nation's transportation needs, both national and regional, through the year 2000; (B) the ability of our current transportation systems to meet the projected needs; (C) the proper mix of highways, rail, waterway, pipeline, and air transportation systems to meet anticipated needs; (D) the energy requirements and availability of energy to meet anticipated needs; (E) the existing policies and programs of the Federal government which affect the development of our national transportation systems; and (F) the new policies required to develop balanced national transportation systems which meet projected need. (e)(1) The Chairman of the Commission, who shall be elected by the Commission from among its members, shall request the head of each Federal department or agency which has an interest in or a responsibility with respect to a national transportation policy to appoint, and the head of such department or agency shall appoint, a liaison officer who shall work closely with the Commission and its staff in matters pertaining to this section. Such departments and agencies shall include, but not be limited to, the Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration, the Urban Mass Transportation Administration, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Interstate Commerce Commission, the Civil Aeronautics Board, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (2) In carrying out its duties the Commission shall seek the advice of various groups interested in national transportation policy including, but not limited to, State and local governments, public and private organizations working in the fields of transportation and safety, industry, education, and labor. (f)(1) The Commission or, on authorization of the Commission, any Committee of two or more members may, for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this section, hold such hearings and sit and act at 33 c Amended by sec. 137(a) of Public Law 95-599, Nov. 6, 1978 (92 Stat. 2710). such times and places as the Commission or such authorized committee may deem advisable. (2) The Commission is authorized to secure from any department, agency, or individual instrumentality of the executive branch of the Government any information it deems necessary to carry out its functions under this section and each department, agency, and instrumentality is authorized and directed to furnish such information to the Commission upon request made by the Chairman. (g)(1) Members of Congress who are members of the Commission shall serve without compensation in addition to that received for their services as Members of Congress; but they shall be reimbursed for travel, per diem in accordance with the Rules of the House of Representatives or subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred by them in the performance of the duties vested in the Commission. (2) Members of the Commission, except Members of Congress shall each receive compensation at a rate not in excess of the maximum rate of pay for GS-18, as provided in the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5, United States Code, and shall be entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses, per diem in accordance with the Rules of the House of Representatives or subsistence and other necessary expenses incurred by them in performance of duties while serving as a Commission member. (h)(1) The Commission is authorized to appoint and fix the compensation of a staff director, and such additional personnel as may be necessary to enable it to carry out its functions. The Director and personnel may be appointed without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, covering appointments in the competitive service, and may be paid without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates. The personnel shall be entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses, per diem in accordance with the Rules of the House of Representatives or subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred by them in performance of their duties as personnel of the Commission. Any Federal employees subject to the civil services laws and regulations who may be employed by the Commission shall retain civil service status without interruption or loss of status or privilege. In no event shall any employee other than the staff director receive as compensation an amount in excess of the maximum rate for GS-18 of the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5, United States Code. In addition, the Commission is authorized to obtain the services of experts and consultants in accordance with section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, but at rates not to exceed the maximum rate of pay for grades GS-18, as provided in the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5, United States Code. 33 d 33d Amended by sec. 137(b)(1) of Public Law 95-599, Nov. 6, 1978 (92 Stat. 2710). (2) The staff director shall be compensated at a Level 2 of the Executive Schedule in subchapter II of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code. (i) The Commission is authorized to enter into contracts or agreements for studies and surveys with public and private organizations and, if necessary, to transfer funds to Federal agencies from sums appropriated pursuant to this section to carry out such of its duties as the Commission determines can best be carried out in that manner. (j) Any vacancy which may occur on the Commission shall not affect its powers or functions but shall be filed in the same manner in which the original appointment was made. (k) There are hereby authorized to be appropriated not to exceed $15,000,000 to carry out this section. Funds appropriated under this section shall be available to the Commission until expended. LIMITATIONS SEC. 155. To the extent that any section of this Act provides new or increased authority to enter into contracts under which outlays will be made from funds other than the Highway Trust Fund, such new or increased authority shall be effective for any fiscal year only in such amounts as are provided in appropriations Acts. TITLE II SHORT TITLE SEC. 201. This title may be cited as the "Highway Safety Act of 1976". HIGHWAY SAFETY SEC. 202. The following sums are hereby authorized to be appropriated: (1) For carrying out section 402 of title 23, United States Code (relating to highway safety programs), by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, out of the Highway Trust Fund, $122,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1977, and $137,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1978. (2) For carrying out section 403 of title 23, United States Code (relating to highway safety research and development), by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, out of the Highway Trust Fund, $10,000,000 for the three-month period ending September 30, 1976, $40,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1977, and $50,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1978. (3) For carrying out section 402 of title 23, United States Code (relating to highway safety programs), by the Federal Highway Administration, out of the Highway Trust Fund, $25,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1977, and $25,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1978. (4) For carrying out section 307(a) and 403 of title 23, United States Code (relating to highway safety research and development), by the Federal Highway Administration, out of the Highway Trust Fund, $2,500,000 for the three-month period ending September 30, 1976, $10,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1977, and $10,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1978. (5) For bridge reconstruction and replacement under section 144 of title 23, United States Code, out of the Highway Trust Fund, $180,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1977, and $180,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1978. (6) For carrying out section 151 of title 23, United States Code (relating to pavement marking), out of the Highway Trust Fund, $50,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1977, and $50,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1978. (7) For projects for high-hazard locations under section 152 of title. 23, United States Code, and for the elimination of roadside obstacles under section 152 of title 23, United States Code, out of the Highway Trust Fund, $125,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1977, and $125,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1978. (8) For carrying out subsection (j)(2) of section 402 of title 23, United States Code (relating to incentives for the reduction of the rate of traffic fatalities), out of the Highway Trust Fund, $1,875,000 for the three-month period ending September 30, 1976, $7,500,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1977, and $7,500,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1978. (9) For carrying out subsection (j)(3) of section 402 of title 23, United States Code (relating for incentives for reduction of actual traffic fatalities), out of the Highway Trust Fund, $1,875,000 for the three-month period ending September 30, 1976, $7,500,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1977, and $7,500,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1978. SEC. 208. HIGHWAY SAFETY PROGRAMS (b) The Secretary of Transportation shall, in cooperation with the States, conduct an evaluation of the adequacy and appropriateness of all uniform safety standards established under section 402 of title 23 of the United States Code which are in effect on the date of enactment of this Act. The Secretary shall report his findings, together with his recommendations, including but not limited to, the need for revision or consolidation of existing standards and the establishment of new stand ards, to Congress on or before July 1, 1977. Until such report is submitted, the Secretary shall not, pursuant to subsection (c) of section 402 of title 23, United States Code, withhold any apportionment or any funds apportioned to any State because such State is failing to implement a highway safety program approved by the Secretary in accordance with such section 402. STEERING AXLE STUDY SEC. 210. The Secretary of Transportation is directed to conduct an investigation into the relationship between the gross load on front steering axles of truck tractors and the safety of operation of vehicle combinations of which such truck tractors are a part. Such investigation shall be conducted in cooperation with representatives of (A) manufacturers of truck tractors and related equipment, (B) labor, and (C) users of such equipment. The Secretary shall report the results of such study to the Congress not later than July 1, 1977. LIMITATIONS SEC. 213. To the extent that any section of this title provides new or increased authority to enter into contracts under which outlays will be made from funds other than the Highway Trust Fund, such new or increased authority shall be effective for any fiscal year only in such amounts as are provided in appropriations Acts. FEDERAL-AID HIGHWAY ACT OF 1978 Public Law 95-599, 95th Cong., Nov. 6, 1978 AN ACT To authorize appropriations for the construction of certain highways in accordance with title 23 of the United States Code, for highway safety, for mass transportation in urban and in rural areas, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may be cited as the "Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1978". TITLE I SHORT TITLE SEC. 101. This title may be cited as the "Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1978". |