1.1                             A resolution 
  1.2             memorializing the Congress of the United States to 
  1.3             provide for distribution of federal assistance to the 
  1.4             states for highways and transit as block grants rather 
  1.5             than through categorical assistance programs. 
  1.6      WHEREAS, federal assistance for the construction, 
  1.7   operation, and maintenance of transportation projects is 
  1.8   provided through a wide array of different programs and funding 
  1.9   categories; and 
  1.10     WHEREAS, while progress has been made since the ISTEA Act 
  1.11  of 1991 in consolidating federal aid programs, nonetheless 
  1.12  states continue to receive federal aid through categorical 
  1.13  programs that often have narrow purposes; and 
  1.14     WHEREAS, federal transportation aid continues to come with 
  1.15  restrictions in the form of federal regulations, guidelines, and 
  1.16  standards that limit state flexibility and discourage 
  1.17  innovation; and 
  1.18     WHEREAS, the increasing designation of federal 
  1.19  high-priority projects in legislation circumvents state planning 
  1.20  processes and frustrates the setting of state priorities in 
  1.21  transportation spending; and 
  1.22     WHEREAS, converting federal highway and transit aid 
  1.23  programs into a single block grant to states would allow 
  1.24  Minnesota to allocate these funds to areas of greatest need as 
  1.25  determined through the state's own planning processes; NOW, 
  2.1   THEREFORE, 
  2.2      BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of the State of 
  2.3   Minnesota, that the Congress should, in legislation to 
  2.4   reauthorize the federal-aid program for another six years, 
  2.5   convert categorical aid programs into a single block grant to 
  2.6   the states to be used for highway and transit purposes as each 
  2.7   state determines. 
  2.8      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State of the 
  2.9   State of Minnesota is directed to prepare copies of this 
  2.10  memorial and transmit them to the President and Secretary of the 
  2.11  Senate, the Speaker and Clerk of the House of Representatives, 
  2.12  and Minnesota's Senators and Representatives in Congress.