Mark Kelly: “42,000 Americans were killed in automobile accidents in 1995 and 1996, an increase of 2,500 fatalities since 1992. The…”

“42,000 Americans were killed in automobile accidents in 1995 and 1996, an increase of 2,500 fatalities since 1992. The Federal Highway Administration says that road design and conditions contributed to 30 percent of those fatalities, which means that approximately 12,000 lives could have been saved by investing in better roads. Highway improvements save lives. Eighty percent of all travel occurs on the Nation's highways, which means investing in better and safer roads is the single most dramatic step we can take in protecting the lives of our Nation's motorists. The millions of dollars paid into the highway trust fund each year from our motorists is done with the expectation that it will be used not only to maintain but to improve the safety of the Nation's highways. This is not being done. Using the monies entrusted to us by the people for their intended purpose, the Shuster-Oberstar-Petri-Rahall amendment gives us the opportunity to fulfill our obligation to provide the safest roads possible for every man, woman, and child traveling on them. In the name of safer roads, I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting the Shuster-Oberstar-Petri-Rahall amendment on the budget resolution.”