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104TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 706

To amend the Metropolitan Washington Airports Act of 1986 authorizing

the Secretary of Transportation to ensure that the American public

is fully and properly informed about the perquisites and privileges afforded to Members of Congress who use parking facilities through the

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JANUARY 26, 1995

Mr. GUTIERREZ introduced the following bill; which was referred to the

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

A BILL

To amend the Metropolitan Washington Airports Act of 1986

authorizing the Secretary of Transportation to ensure

that the American public is fully and properly informed

about the perquisites and privileges afforded to Members

of Congress who use parking facilities through the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Truth in Airport Park5 ing Act’’.
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1 SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS.

2 Congress makes the following findings:

3 (1) The Metropolitan Washington Airports Au4 thority offers certain dignitaries, including Members

5 of Congress, access to special parking privileges at

6 the Washington National Airport and such privileges

7 include parking fee-of-charge.

8 (2) Such privileges demonstrate a fundamental

9 difference between Government officials and the

10 American public.

11 (3) Despite attempts by some Members of both

12 the House of Representatives and the Senate to re13 voke these practices, such parking privileges have re14 mained intact.

15 (4) Until recently, the Airport had signage

16 posted indicating which special parking areas were

17 reserved for Members of Congress and other Govern18 ment officials.

19 (5) At present, such signs have been removed

20 and replaced by signs that are ambiguously worded,

21 thus making it less obvious that such parking is re22 served for Government officials.

23 (6) Such newly installed signs could have the

24 effect of misleading the American public.
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1 SEC. 3. REPLACEMENT OF MISLEADING SIGNS.

2 Section 6006 of the Metropolitan Washington Air3 ports Act of 1986 (49 U.S.C. App. 2455) is amended by

4 adding at the end the following:

5 ‘‘(c) SIGNS IDENTIFYING PRIVILEGED PARKING

6 AREAS.—

7 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary and the Ad8 ministrator shall ensure that, if any facility operated

9 by the Airports Authority receives Federal financial

10 assistance and provides special parking privileges

11 (including free parking) to Members of Congress

12 and other Federal officials, the Airport Authority

13 shall construct and erect at the facility signs that

14 clearly and unambiguously indicate that such Mem15 bers and officials are receiving such special parking

16 privileges.

17 ‘‘(2) FUNDING.—The signs referred to in para18 graph (1) will indicate that the parking referred to

19 in paragraph (1) is funded by Federal moneys, in20 cluding taxpayer dollars.

21 ‘‘(3) COST EFFICIENCY.—The Airports Author22 ity shall proceed in a manner as cost-effective as

23 possible in carrying out this subsection, including

24 the reusage of materials used in signs currently

25 erected at the facility.
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1 ‘‘(4) VISIBILITY.—The signs referred to in

2 paragraph (1) shall be erected in an unobstructed

3 area and clearly visible to motor vehicle and pedes4 trian traffic at the facility.

5 ‘‘(5) DEADLINE.—The signs referred to in

6 paragraph (1) shall be printed, constructed, and

7 erected within 7 days after the date of the enact8 ment of this subsection.’’.

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