| |
|
|
SENATE RESOLUTION
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Efforts by the Texas Transportation Commission to |
|
|
influence the United States Congress and other states for changes |
|
|
in federal law relating to the statewide transportation |
|
|
enhancement program imply that the Texas Department of |
|
|
Transportation opposes this popular program in the form it has |
|
|
administered for 15 years; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Texans have embraced the program, which Congress |
|
|
established in 1991 to enhance the driving experience, as a way |
|
|
to improve the aesthetics of local roadways, affect the quality |
|
|
of the environment in every region, and contribute to the |
|
|
livelihoods of countless Texas communities; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, As the agency charged with administering the |
|
|
program in Texas, the Texas Department of Transportation has a |
|
|
responsibility to ensure that money appropriated by Congress for |
|
|
scenic beautification, pedestrian and bicycle trails, and |
|
|
historic preservation is delivered to Texas cities and counties |
|
|
that depend on it; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The Texas Transportation Commission has chosen to |
|
|
reduce funding for the statewide transportation enhancement |
|
|
program and suspend the evaluation of the 332 applications |
|
|
submitted for program funding in response to a reduction in |
|
|
federal transportation funds allocated to Texas; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Texas is known for its beauty and history, and |
|
|
Texans have traditionally prioritized the creation of scenic |
|
|
roads and trails and the preservation of the history of our great |
|
|
state to enhance the quality of life and strengthen the Texas |
|
|
economy; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 80th |
|
|
Legislature, hereby request the Texas Transportation Commission |
|
|
to cease efforts to influence Congress and other states for |
|
|
changes in federal law relating to the statewide transportation |
|
|
enhancement program; and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the secretary of the senate forward an |
|
|
official copy of this Resolution to the Texas Office of |
|
|
State-Federal Relations and to the chairman of the Texas |
|
|
Transportation Commission. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
_______________________________ |
|
|
President of the Senate |
|
|
|
|
|
I hereby certify that the |
|
|
above Resolution was adopted by |
|
|
the Senate on March 14, 2007. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
_______________________________ |
|
|
Secretary of the Senate |