Rick Larsen: “First, I would just like to enter in the Record a letter from the American Highway Users Alliance dated August 1…”

“First, I would just like to enter in the Record a letter from the American Highway Users Alliance dated August 1 expressing concerns about the legislation. American Highway Users Alliance, August 1, 2012. Dear Member of Congress: This afternoon, under suspension of the rules, the House will consider HR 897, the Residential and Commuter Toll Fairness Act of 2011, sponsored by New York City Representatives Grimm and Meeks. We write to express serious concerns about this bill. We are on record in support of greater tolling accountability and fairness for commuters. For example, we have endorsed HR 3684, the Commuter Protection Act, also authored by Congressman Grimm. We share particular concerns about the high costs of tolling for New York City residents. However the provisions of HR 897 are not narrowly constructed for New York's specific problems and have unintended consequences for other toll-payers throughout the country. HR 897 broadly authorizes local tolling discount programs. If this bill were narrowly constructed to apply to places like Staten Island, New York; where residents are only able to access their homes and businesses via tolled bridges, our concerns would be minimal. But HR 897 allows my State or local jurisdiction to charge discriminatory toll rates for non-residents, even on the National Highway System, and regardless of circumstance or impact on interstate commerce.…”