1-1  By:  Finnell (Senate Sponsor - Armbrister)           H.C.R. No. 127
    1-2        (In the Senate - Received from the House May 3, 1995;
    1-3  May 4, 1995, read first time and referred to Committee on State
    1-4  Affairs; May 16, 1995, reported favorably by the following vote:
    1-5  Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 16, 1995, sent to printer.)
    1-6                      HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
    1-7        WHEREAS, In 1991 the Congress of the United States
    1-8  established a 65-mile-per-hour speed limit on rural sections of
    1-9  interstate highways, recognizing recent advancements in road and
   1-10  automobile technology as well as the increased need for rapid road
   1-11  transportation in today's competitive global economy; and
   1-12        WHEREAS, Current federal law continues, however, to restrict
   1-13  the ability of states to adopt this standard for divided four-lane
   1-14  highways of comparable design and quality; and
   1-15        WHEREAS, Within the borders of Texas, most national and state
   1-16  highways traverse broad expanses of rural countryside and, with few
   1-17  intersections or potential traffic hazards, are ideally suited for
   1-18  higher speed travel than is currently permitted by federal law; and
   1-19        WHEREAS, Higher speed limits are essential for promoting
   1-20  rapid ground travel in rural areas of Texas, many of which are not
   1-21  served by rail, air, or any other mode of transportation; moreover,
   1-22  the 55-mile-per-hour speed limit places a disproportionate burden
   1-23  on this state's rural residents, who often must travel great
   1-24  distances for work, shopping, medical care, and other basic
   1-25  necessities; and
   1-26        WHEREAS, Responding to the special needs of rural
   1-27  communities, the Texas Legislature has enacted a statute that will
   1-28  raise the speed limit on divided four-lane highways as soon as
   1-29  federal law permits; and
   1-30        WHEREAS, The State of Texas can best determine maximum speed
   1-31  limits most appropriate to its unique geography, to its vast rural
   1-32  highway system, and to the needs of its citizens; now, therefore,
   1-33  be it
   1-34        RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas
   1-35  hereby urge the Congress of the United States to allow states to
   1-36  establish a 65-mile-per-hour speed limit for rural sections of
   1-37  divided four-lane highways; and, be it further
   1-38        RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official
   1-39  copies of this resolution to the United States secretary of
   1-40  transportation, to the speaker of the house of representatives and
   1-41  president of the senate of the United States Congress, and to all
   1-42  members of the Texas congressional delegation with the request that
   1-43  it be officially entered in the Congressional Record as a memorial
   1-44  to the Congress of the United States of America.
   1-45                               * * * * *