Senate bill includes Nevada projects

Wednesday, June 14, 2000 | 11:26 a.m.

SUN STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

WASHINGTON -- The full Senate is set to vote, likely this week, on a $54.7 billion transportation funding bill, which includes millions for Nevada projects.

Included in the bill is:

The Senate Appropriations Committee passed the bill Tuesday. The House passed a similar transportation spending bill with many of the same Nevada projects included.

One provision that was not included in the transportation bill is an effort by Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater to force truck drivers to get more rest between trips.

The Appropriations Committee version of the bill includes language blocking Slater's new regulations from going into effect.

Slater's driver-fatigue regulations have stirred an outcry from the trucking industry, but applause from highway safety groups.

Complicating the picture for Clinton's administration is that the same bill contains a provision sought by the president -- a national drunken driving standard of 0.08 percent alcohol.

Thirty-two states use the higher .10 standard. The provision would penalize states with cuts in federal highway funds if they don't adopt the lower standard by 2004.

The House-passed transportation appropriations bill contains neither the drunken driving nor the truck driver hours provisions. If they survive the Senate, the differences would have to be worked out in a conference committee, a panel made up of members from both the Senate and House.