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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Efforts by the Texas Transportation Commission to |
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influence the United States Congress and other states for changes |
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in federal law relating to the statewide transportation enhancement |
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program imply that the Texas Department of Transportation opposes |
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this popular program it has administered for 15 years; and |
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WHEREAS, Texans have embraced the program, which Congress |
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established in 1991 to enhance the driving experience, as a way to |
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improve the aesthetics of local roadways, affect the quality of the |
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environment in every region, and contribute to the livelihoods of |
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countless Texas communities; and |
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WHEREAS, As the agency charged with administering the program |
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in Texas, the Texas Department of Transportation has a |
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responsibility to ensure that money appropriated by Congress for |
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scenic beautification, pedestrian and bicycle trails, and historic |
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preservation is delivered to Texas cities and counties that depend |
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on it; and |
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WHEREAS, Rather than trim funding in all program categories, |
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the Texas Transportation Commission has chosen to suspend the |
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statewide transportation enhancement program and the evaluation of |
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the 332 applications submitted for program funding in response to a |
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reduction in federal transportation funds allocated to Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, Though the move disregards the intent behind federal |
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transportation funding, the commission has gone further to advocate |
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for the removal of the provision in federal law that requires a |
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portion of federal transportation funds allocated to each state to |
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be available only for transportation enhancement activities; and |
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WHEREAS, Texas is known for its beauty and history, and |
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Texans have traditionally prioritized the creation of scenic roads |
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and trails and the preservation of the history of our great state to |
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enhance the quality of life and strengthen the Texas economy; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 80th Texas Legislature |
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hereby request the Texas Transportation Commission to cease efforts |
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to influence Congress and other states for changes in federal law |
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relating to the statewide transportation enhancement program; and, |
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be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the secretary of the senate forward an |
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official copy of this resolution to the Texas Office of |
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State-Federal Relations and to the chairman of the Texas |
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Transportation Commission. |