{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://desjarlais.house.gov/media-center?ID=7837F47E-E122-43FF-A420-DFED22ED314D", "DesJarlais, Fleischmann, Corker, Alexander Welcome DOT Proposal to Eliminate Costly Road Sign Replacement Deadlines", "2011-08-29", "2011", "2011-08", "Republican", "House", "TN", "Scott DesJarlais", "D000616", "desjarlais.house.gov", "desjarlais", "https://desjarlais.house.gov/media-center", "scraper", "U.S. Senators Bob Corker, R-Tenn., and Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and U.S. Representatives Scott DesJarlais, R-Tenn. 4th, and Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn.3rd, welcomed the U.S. Department of Transportation\u2019s proposal today eliminating numerous compliance deadlines for replacing old road signs that would have imposed an unfunded mandate on states, costing Tennessee an estimated $50 million. Under the new proposal, communities would only be required to comply with new sign visibility standards when replacing old signs, rather than by arbitrary 2015 and 2018 deadlines. In June, Corker and Alexander introduced legislation (S.1216) to stop this unfunded mandate, giving state and local governments the flexibility to replace signs in accordance with the new standards at the end of their normal life cycle. DesJarlais and Fleischmann introduced companion legislation (H.R.2257) in the House of Representatives.\n\n\u201cAs I\u2019ve traveled throughout Tennessee\u2019s Fourth Congressional District, one of the biggest concerns voiced by my constituents is that overregulation by the federal government is taking away from already limited resources. Forcing cash-strapped local governments to arbitrarily replace functioning street signs is a perfect example of how federal regulations often lead to unnecessary expenses. I\u2019m proud to have worked with Senators Alexander and Corker and Representative Fleischmann in addressing this issue and am glad that our efforts helped in leading to the abolishment of this unfunded mandate. It is my hope that today\u2019s proposal is a sign that this administration is finally willing to join us in getting serious about addressing burdensome federal regulations and their unintended consequences,\u201d Rep. DesJarlais said.\n\n\u201cI am pleased that the Obama Administration has heard the calls from local and state governments and Congress, and has waived these burdensome deadlines. Finally the Administration has acknowledged in at least one area that federal rules and regulations can have a very costly impact on local governments. I\u2019m also pleased that the first bill that I introduced played a role in bringing attention to this particular overreach by the federal government. Now, I hope that the Administration will look just as critically at the thousands of other rules and regulations that cost taxpayers dearly and stifles private sector growth,\u201d Rep. Fleischmann said.\n\n\u201cEveryone wants our roads to be as safe as possible, but these arbitrary deadlines assigned by Washington amounted to an unfunded mandate on local governments at a time when they can least afford it. The Department of Transportation\u2019s decision to address our concerns and eliminate these costly deadlines is a common sense one that will help local governments in Tennessee and around the country who are making tough decisions to balance their budgets. Rather than force Tennessee communities to shell out $50 million they don\u2019t have, it\u2019s much more reasonable to let them replace road signs only when they need to be replaced. I thank Senator Alexander, Congressmen Fleischmann and DesJarlais, Governor Haslam, and all the state and local officials who supported this successful effort,\u201d Sen. Corker said.\n\n\u201cI'm glad the administration has seen the light and agrees with us. Tennessee\u2019s state and local governments shouldn't have to pay for thisburdensome, $50 million unfunded mandate,\u201d Sen. Alexander said.\n\nDOT\u2019s new proposal amends the Federal Highway Administration\u2019s (FHWA) updated federal rules governing minimum nighttime visibility standards (known as \u201cretroreflectivity\u201d) for road signs. Under the existing rules, state and local governments are required to present plans for overhauling their old signs by January 22, 2012. Traffic safety signs, such as stop and yield signs, must be replaced by 2015, and all signs must be replaced by 2018. According to estimates from the Tennessee County Highway Officials Association, meeting the current compliance deadlines would cost local governments at least $50 million in Tennessee alone.\n\nSeveral Tennessee localities submitted public comments detailing the excessive compliance costs imposed by the proposed road sign rules.\n\nOn May 30, Governor Haslam signed a resolution, HJR 304, passed by the Tennessee General Assembly calling for Congress to fully fund the FHWA\u2019s mandate.\n\nThe Tennessee County Highway Officials Association has said, \u201cIt is financially impossible for Tennessee county governments to comply with this unfunded FHWA mandate. Tennessee county governments\u2019 inability to comply with the FHWA sign mandates indirectly exposes all units of local governments to potential litigation. One of the biggest concerns for county governments regarding program mandates is the threat of lawsuits for non-compliance.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T21:12:39Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://desjarlais.house.gov/media-center?ID=7837F47E-E122-43FF-A420-DFED22ED314D"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.745742978528142, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}