Nancy Kassebaum: “Today I am introducing legislation that would prohibit Federal agencies from requiring State and local governments to…”

“Today I am introducing legislation that would prohibit Federal agencies from requiring State and local governments to convert highway signs to metric units. Congressman Roberts has introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives. Currently, the Federal Highway Administration is considering proposals to convert our Nation's highway signs from English to metric. I oppose these measures and believe that sign conversion would do little more than create confusion for motorists and place yet another unfunded Federal mandate on financially strapped State and local governments. The confusion that such a change would bring is evident. Today, millions of American motorists, myself included, are not familiar with the metric system. Some may see this fact as a reason to convert highway signs. I disagree and believe that if we are to push metric education, those efforts should begin in the classroom rather than on already dangerous highways. In addition highway sign conversion would further burden State and local governments with another unfunded Federal mandate.”