To amend the National Highway System Designation Act of 1995 and title 23, United States Code, to allow the Virgin Islands and the other territories to participate in the State infrastructure bank program and to use surface transportation program funds for construction of certain access and development roads.

See H.R.2400.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · May 8, 1997

Amends the National Highway System Designation Act of 1995 and Federal highway provisions to allow the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to participate in the State infrastructure bank program and to use surface transportation program funds for construction of certain access and development roads.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

People & committees

Who introduced it

Del. Christian-Green, Donna M. [D-VI-At Large] · D–VI

Committees

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

2 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Jun 9, 1998
See H.R.2400.
May 22, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation.
May 8, 1997
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
May 8, 1997
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E885)
May 8, 1997
Introduced in House
May 8, 1997
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · May 8, 1997 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HR 2400 · Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century

Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.1561 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.1561, 105th Congress: To amend the National Highway System Designation Act of 1995 and title 23, United States Code, to allow the Virgin Islands and the other territories to participate in the State infrastructure bank program and to use surface transportation program funds for construction of certain access and development roads.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/1561

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1997-05-08.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hr1561/BILLS-105hr1561ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:31:31Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.1561 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.1561 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.1561, 105th Congress: To amend the National Highway System Designation Act of 1995 and title 23, United States Code, to allow the Virgin Islands and the other territories to participate in the State infrastructure bank program and to use surface transportation program funds for construction of certain access and development roads.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/1561

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1997-05-08.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hr1561/BILLS-105hr1561ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:31:31Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.1561 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.1561 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.1561, 105th Congress: To amend the National Highway System Designation Act of 1995 and title 23, United States Code, to allow the Virgin Islands and the other territories to participate in the State infrastructure bank program and to use surface transportation program funds for construction of certain access and development roads.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/1561

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1997-05-08.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hr1561/BILLS-105hr1561ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:31:31Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.1561 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.1561 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.1561, 105th Congress: To amend the National Highway System Designation Act of 1995 and title 23, United States Code, to allow the Virgin Islands and the other territories to participate in the State infrastructure bank program and to use surface transportation program funds for construction of certain access and development roads.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/1561

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1997-05-08.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hr1561/BILLS-105hr1561ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:31:31Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.1561 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.