H. R. 3675
One Hundred Fourth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday,
the third day of January, one thousand nine hundred and ninety-six
An Act
Making appropriations for the Department of Transportation and related agencies
for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1997, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the
following sums are appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury
not otherwise appropriated, for the Department of Transportation
and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30,
1997, and for other purposes, namely:
TITLE I
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
For necessary expenses of the Office of the Secretary,
$52,966,000, of which such sums as necessary shall be used to
investigate anticompetitive practices in air transportation, enforce
section 41712 of title 49, and report to Congress by the end of
the fiscal year on its progress to address anticompetitive practices,
and of which not to exceed $40,000 shall be available as the Sec-
retary may determine for allocation within the Department for
official reception and representation expenses: Provided, That not-
withstanding any other provision of law, there may be credited
to this appropriation up to $1,000,000 in funds received in user
fees established to support the electronic tariff filing system: Pro-
vided further, That none of the funds appropriated in this Act
or otherwise made available may be used to maintain custody
of airline tariffs that are already available for public and depart-
mental access at no cost; to secure them against detection, alter-
ation, or tampering; and open to inspection by the Department.
OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS
For necessary expenses of the Office of Civil Rights, $5,574,000.
TRANSPORTATION PLANNING, RESEARCH, AND DEVELOPMENT
For necessary expenses for conducting transportation planning,
research, systems development, and development activities, to
remain available until expended, $3,000,000.
H. R. 3675—2
TRANSPORTATION ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE CENTER
Necessary expenses for operating costs and capital outlays of
the Transportation Administrative Service Center, not to exceed
$124,812,000, shall be paid from appropriations made available
to the Department of Transportation: Provided, That such services
shall be provided on a competitive basis to entities within the
Department of Transportation: Provided further, That the above
limitation on operating expenses shall not apply to non-DOT enti-
ties: Provided further, That no funds appropriated in this Act to
an agency of the Department shall be transferred to the Transpor-
tation Administrative Service Center without the approval of the
agency modal administrator: Provided further, That no assessments
may be levied against any program, budget activity, subactivity
or 
project 
funded 
by 
this 
Act 
unless 
notice 
of 
such
assessments and the basis therefor are presented to the House
and Senate Committees on Appropriations and are approved by
such Committees.
PAYMENTS TO AIR CARRIERS
(LIQUIDATION OF CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION)
(AIRPORT AND AIRWAY TRUST FUND)
(INCLUDING RESCISSION OF CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION)
For liquidation of obligations incurred for payments to air car-
riers of so much of the compensation fixed and determined under
subchapter II of chapter 417 of title 49, United States Code, as
is payable by the Department of Transportation, $25,900,000, to
remain available until expended and to be derived from the Airport
and Airway Trust Fund: Provided, That none of the funds in this
Act shall be available for the implementation or execution of pro-
grams in excess of $25,900,000 for the Payments to Air Carriers
program in fiscal year 1997: Provided further, That none of the
funds in this Act shall be used by the Secretary of Transportation
to make payment of compensation under subchapter II of chapter
417 of title 49, United States Code, in excess of the appropriation
in this Act for liquidation of obligations incurred under the ‘‘Pay-
ments to air carriers’’ program: Provided further, That none of
the funds in this Act shall be used for the payment of claims
for such compensation except in accordance with this provision:
Provided further, That none of the funds in this Act shall be
available for service to communities in the forty-eight contiguous
States that are located fewer than seventy highway miles from
the nearest large or medium hub airport, or that require a rate
of subsidy per passenger in excess of $200 unless such point is
greater than two hundred and ten miles from the nearest large
or medium hub airport: Provided further, That of funds provided
for ‘‘Small Community Air Service’’ by Public Law 101–508,
$12,700,000 in fiscal year 1997 is hereby rescinded.
H. R. 3675—3
PAYMENTS TO AIR CARRIERS
(RESCISSION)
Of the budgetary resources remaining available under this
heading, $1,133,000 are rescinded.
RENTAL PAYMENTS
For necessary expenses for rental of headquarters and field
space not to exceed 8,580,000 square feet and for related services
assessed by the General Services Administration, $127,447,000:
Provided, That of this amount, $2,022,000 shall be derived from
the Highway Trust Fund, $39,113,000 shall be derived from the
Airport and Airway Trust Fund, $840,000 shall be derived from
the Pipeline Safety Fund, and $193,000 shall be derived from the
Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund: Provided further, That in addition,
for assessments by the General Services Administration related
to the space needs of the Federal Highway Administration,
$17,294,000, to be derived from ‘‘Federal-aid Highways’’, subject
to the ‘‘Limitation on General Operating Expenses’’.
MINORITY BUSINESS RESOURCE CENTER PROGRAM
For the cost of direct loans, $1,500,000, as authorized by 49
U.S.C. 332: Provided, That such costs, including the cost of modify-
ing such loans, shall be as defined in section 502 of the Congres-
sional Budget Act of 1974: Provided further, That these funds
are available to subsidize gross obligations for the principal amount
of direct loans not to exceed $15,000,000. In addition, for adminis-
trative expenses to carry out the direct loan program, $400,000.
MINORITY BUSINESS OUTREACH
For necessary expenses of the Minority Business Resource Cen-
ter outreach activities, $2,900,000, of which $2,635,000 shall remain
available until September 30, 1998: Provided, That notwithstanding
49 U.S.C. 332, these funds may be used for business opportunities
related to any mode of transportation.
COAST GUARD
OPERATING EXPENSES
For necessary expenses for the operation and maintenance of
the Coast Guard, not otherwise provided for; purchase of not to
exceed five passenger motor vehicles for replacement only; payments
pursuant to section 156 of Public Law 97–377, as amended (42
U.S.C. 402 note), and section 229(b) of the Social Security Act
(42 U.S.C. 429(b)); and recreation and welfare; $2,319,725,000, of
which $25,000,000 shall be derived from the Oil Spill Liability
Trust Fund: Provided, That the number of aircraft on hand at
any one time shall not exceed two hundred and eighteen, exclusive
of aircraft and parts stored to meet future attrition: Provided fur-
ther, That none of the funds appropriated in this or any other
Act shall be available for pay or administrative expenses in connec-
tion with shipping commissioners in the United States: Provided
further, That none of the funds provided in this Act shall be avail-
H. R. 3675—4
able for expenses incurred for yacht documentation under 46 U.S.C.
12109, except to the extent fees are collected from yacht owners
and credited to this appropriation: Provided further, That the Com-
mandant shall reduce both military and civilian employment levels
for the purpose of complying with Executive Order No. 12839.
ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION, AND IMPROVEMENTS
For necessary expenses of acquisition, construction, renovation,
and improvement of aids to navigation, shore facilities, vessels,
and aircraft, including equipment related thereto, $374,840,000,
of which $20,000,000 shall be derived from the Oil Spill Liability
Trust Fund; of which $216,500,000 shall be available to acquire,
repair, renovate or improve vessels, small boats and related equip-
ment, to remain available until September 30, 2001; $18,040,000
shall be available to acquire new aircraft and increase aviation
capability, to remain available until September 30, 1999;
$41,700,000 shall be available for other equipment, to remain avail-
able until September 30, 1999; $52,350,000 shall be available for
shore facilities and aids to navigation facilities, to remain available
until September 30, 1999; and $46,250,000 shall remain available
for personnel compensation and benefits and related costs, to remain
available until September 30, 1998: Provided, That funds received
from the sale of the VC–11A and HU–25 aircraft shall be credited
to this appropriation for the purpose of acquiring new aircraft
and increasing aviation capacity: Provided further, That the Com-
mandant may dispose of surplus real property by sale or lease
and the proceeds of such sale or lease shall be credited to this
appropriation: Provided further, That none of the funds in this
Act may be obligated or expended to continue the ‘‘Vessel Traffic
Service (VTS) 2000’’ Program: Provided further, That of the funds
provided under this heading, $1,000,000 is available only for a
Coast Guard analysis of future VTS system requirements which
minimizes complexity and is based upon an open system architec-
ture maximizing use of off-the-shelf technology, to be conducted
in cooperation with the maritime community and local organizations
affected by the implementation of such systems.
ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE AND RESTORATION
For necessary expenses to carry out the Coast Guard’s environ-
mental compliance and restoration functions under chapter 19 of
title 14, United States Code, $22,000,000, to remain available until
expended.
PORT SAFETY DEVELOPMENT
For necessary expenses for debt retirement of the Port of Port-
land, Oregon, without further findings and determinations,
$5,000,000, to remain available until expended.
ALTERATION OF BRIDGES
For necessary expenses for alteration or removal of obstructive
bridges, $16,000,000, to remain available until expended.
H. R. 3675—5
RETIRED PAY
For retired pay, including the payment of obligations therefor
otherwise chargeable to lapsed appropriations for this purpose,
and payments under the Retired Serviceman’s Family Protection
and Survivor Benefits Plans, and for payments for medical care
of retired personnel and their dependents under the Dependents
Medical Care Act (10 U.S.C. ch. 55); $608,084,000.
RESERVE TRAINING
For all necessary expenses for the Coast Guard Reserve, as
authorized by law; maintenance and operation of facilities; and
supplies, equipment, and services; $65,890,000.
RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST, AND EVALUATION
For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, for applied
scientific research, development, test, and evaluation; maintenance,
rehabilitation, lease and operation of facilities and equipment, as
authorized by law, $19,200,000, to remain available until expended,
of which $5,020,000 shall be derived from the Oil Spill Liability
Trust Fund: Provided, That there may be credited to this appropria-
tion funds received from State and local governments, other public
authorities, private sources, and foreign countries, for expenses
incurred for research, development, testing, and evaluation.
BOAT SAFETY
(AQUATIC RESOURCES TRUST FUND)
For payment of necessary expenses incurred for recreational
boating safety assistance under Public Law 92–75, as amended,
$35,000,000, to be derived from the Boat Safety Account and to
remain available until expended.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
OPERATIONS
For necessary expenses of the Federal Aviation Administration,
not otherwise provided for, including operations and research activi-
ties related to commercial space transportation, administrative
expenses for research and development, establishment of air naviga-
tion facilities and the operation (including leasing) and maintenance
of aircraft, and carrying out the provisions of subchapter I of chapter
471 of title 49, United States Code, or other provisions of law
authorizing the obligation of funds for similar programs of airport
and airway development or improvement, lease or purchase of four
passenger motor vehicles for replacement only, $4,900,000,000, of
which $1,642,500,000 shall be derived from the Airport and Airway
Trust Fund: Provided, That notwithstanding any other provision
of law, not to exceed $75,000,000 from additional user fees to
be established by the Administrator of the Federal Aviation
Administration shall be credited to this appropriation as offsetting
collections and used for necessary and authorized expenses under
this heading: Provided further, That the sum herein appropriated
from the general fund shall be reduced on a dollar for dollar
basis as such offsetting collections are received during fiscal year