Taking The Hill
By Matthew T. Brown Vocational education funds
Members of the House of Representatives and the Senate are working to ensure that some $13 million in education funds, including funds for vocational education, are not converted to more flexible block grants that local officials could spend more freely. The funds are contained in the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bill. President Clinton has promised to veto the bill if these education funds are block granted in the legislation.In the House, more than 150 members have vowed to oppose the block grants, enough to ensure that a veto by President Clinton is not overridden. In the Senate, members have promised to mount a filibuster if the Conference Committee of House and Senate Members includes this provision in the bill.
Clean air standards
The new ambient standards for particulate matter and ozone continue to be debated. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Carol Browner has discussed the targets of the new regulations, a new classification system for ozone non-attainment areas has been proposed and discussion continues on how areas with unusually high ozone counts will fare under the new regulations.Browner, before the House Agriculture Committee, re-emphasized that the targets of the new clean air regulations are utilities and large industrial plants, and that no areas are required to reduce emissions under the new regulations until 2009. Members of the committee charged that the new regulations would have a negative impact on agricultural production.
The EPA currently rates areas for ozone non-attainment and an EPA panel has proposed a new classification system for rating these areas. Under the proposed classification system, areas would be grouped according to their type of air quality problem rather than the severity of the violation.
Finally, areas that the EPA believes to meet the new clean air standards would be immune from the more stringent one-hour standard under a presidential directive. However, an unusually hot summer has caused significant ozone violations in many areas thought to be covered by the exemption. A final decision is expected soon.
ISTEA
While House Transportation Committee Chairman Bud Shuster presses for additional funds for the nation's transportation needs, both the House and the Senate continue work on plans to either extend or reauthorize the Intermodel Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA). While the Senate proposes a six-year reauthorization of ISTEA, commonly pronounced "ice tea," Shuster has proposed a six-month extension to complete work on a six-year reauthorization in the spring when the new budget agreement will take place. Shuster believes that additional monies can be found to spend on transportation projects in the new, more optimistic budget figures.The Senate, however, feels that a six-month extension is a waste of time and energy and proposes full six-year reauthorization legislation this fall. Debate is currently centered on what share of transportation dollars that each state will receive. So-called "donor states" continue to press for a greater share of the transportation pie. Funds for vehicle scrappage programs are not contained in the legislation.
Salvage titling legislation
The Senate Commerce Committee recently held hearings on legislation that would establish nationally uniform requirements regarding the titling and registration of salvage, non-repairable and rebuilt vehicles. This would include establishing a standard definition for "salvage vehicle." Representatives from the salvage market, the insurance industry, the automotive dealers and a consumer protection agency presented testimony on the impact that the legislation would have on the automobile industry. The Senate bill currently defines a salvage vehicle as a late model vehicle, up to seven years old, that has been damaged, destroyed or wrecked up to 75 percent of its preaccident value or has a retail value greater than $10,000. Among the items discussed by the committee were the establishment of a percentage threshold and the retail value of a salvage vehicle.ASA Main Page || AutoInc. Main Page
Implementing the new clean air regulations || NACE Coverage || A look back at CARS '97 || Understanding exhaust gas recirculation systems || Is the chemistry right for sectioning repairs || How to work with the media || Show owners critical to success of training programs || Hunting for profit || The training enigma - Part II || Guest Editorial: Dream or Nightmare - Do the Homework || Tech Tips || News Briefs || Taking The Hill || Around ASA || Shop Profile || Net Worth || Chairman's Message
AutoInc. Magazine ®, Vol. XLV No. 11, November 1997