1-1 By: Craddick (Senate Sponsor - Shelley) H.C.R. No. 125
1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House May 23, 1993;
1-3 May 24, 1993, read first time and referred to Committee on Finance;
1-4 May 26, 1993, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 9,
1-5 Nays 0; May 26, 1993, sent to printer.)
1-6 COMMITTEE VOTE
1-7 Yea Nay PNV Absent
1-8 Montford x
1-9 Turner x
1-10 Armbrister x
1-11 Barrientos x
1-12 Bivins x
1-13 Ellis x
1-14 Haley x
1-15 Moncrief x
1-16 Parker x
1-17 Ratliff x
1-18 Sims x
1-19 Truan x
1-20 Zaffirini x
1-21 HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1-22 WHEREAS, The Clinton administration's budget proposal for
1-23 fiscal year 1994 includes a provision that would increase the
1-24 inland waterways fuel tax by $1 per gallon; and
1-25 WHEREAS, A raise in the inland waterways fuel tax from 19
1-26 cents to $1.19 per gallon would mean a 500-percent tax increase for
1-27 the approximately 800 barge and towing companies constituting the
1-28 United States inland water transportation industry; and
1-29 WHEREAS, This tax would be imposed on an industry that
1-30 employs 180,000 people nationwide and hauls 15 percent of the
1-31 nation's freight, 30 percent of the nation's petroleum and
1-32 petroleum products, one-fourth of all coal, and over half of the
1-33 nation's export grain; and
1-34 WHEREAS, Texas is the leading maritime state in the nation,
1-35 with 75 percent of Texas goods shipped by water and 20 percent of
1-36 the state's gross product linked to waterways; and
1-37 WHEREAS, If enacted by the United States Congress, the tax
1-38 would drastically increase prices on goods shipped through the
1-39 Houston Ship Channel and Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, creating
1-40 highly detrimental consequences for the Texas economy; and
1-41 WHEREAS, Because Texas petrochemical plants rely heavily on
1-42 barges to supply feedstock and to move finished products, a tax
1-43 increase of this magnitude would jeopardize the international
1-44 competitiveness of the state's refineries; and
1-45 WHEREAS, The proposed increase in the inland waterways fuel
1-46 tax would mean lost jobs for Texans, the elimination of spin-off
1-47 employment opportunities, and increased prices for consumers on
1-48 everything from livestock feed to petrochemical products; and
1-49 WHEREAS, In a nonbinding resolution, the United States Senate
1-50 recently voted to remove the inland waterways fuel tax from the
1-51 budget package, but the House of Representatives included the
1-52 provision in its adopted budget resolution; and
1-53 WHEREAS, The Texas inland barge and towing industry is the
1-54 most economical, safe, and efficient mode of surface transportation
1-55 available and is a vital component in helping Texas goods to be
1-56 competitive in today's global market; the administration's proposed
1-57 tax increase would impose an overly harsh burden on the economy of
1-58 Texas; now, therefore, be it
1-59 RESOLVED, That the 73rd Legislature of the State of Texas
1-60 hereby strongly urge the Congress of the United States not to adopt
1-61 the administration's proposed inland waterways fuel tax increase;
1-62 and, be it further
1-63 RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official
1-64 copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to
1-65 the speaker of the house of representatives and president of the
1-66 senate of the United States Congress, and to all members of the
1-67 Texas delegation to the congress with the request that this
1-68 resolution be officially entered in the Congressional Record as a
2-1 memorial to the Congress of the United States of America.
2-2 * * * * *
2-3 Austin,
2-4 Texas
2-5 May 26, 1993
2-6 Hon. Bob Bullock
2-7 President of the Senate
2-8 Sir:
2-9 We, your Committee on Finance to which was referred H.C.R. No. 125,
2-10 have had the same under consideration, and I am instructed to
2-11 report it back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do
2-12 pass and be printed.
2-13 Montford,
2-14 Chairman
2-15 * * * * *
2-16 WITNESSES
2-17 No witnesses appeared on H.C.R. No. 125.