Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 68 Part 1.djvu/107

 68 S T A T J

75

PUBLIC LAW 350-MAY 6, 1954

report commenting on the draft of bill or bills, which shall include specific reference to each change in, or omission of, any provision of existing law. SEC. 13. The Secretary of Commerce is authorized and directed to make a comprehensive study of all phases of highway financing, including a study of the costs of completing the several systems of highways in the several States and of the progress and feasibility of toll roads with particular attention to the possible effects of such toll roads upon the Federal-aid highway programs, and coordination thereof, and to make a report of his findings including recommendations with respect to Federal participation in toll roads, to be submitted to the Congress not later than February 1, 1955: Provided, That not to exceed $100,000 from funds available for administrative expenses shall be expended for the purposes of this section. SEC. 14. For the purpose of expediting the interstate planning and coordination of a continuous Great Kiver Road and appurtenances thereto traversing the Mississippi Valley from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico in general conformity with the provisions of the Federal Aid Road Act of July 11, 1916, as amended and supplemented, and with the recommended plan set forth in the joint report submitted to the Congress November 28, 1951, by the Secretaries of Commerce and Interior pursuant to the Act of August 24, 1949 (Public Law 262, Eighty-first Congress), there is hereby authorized to be expended by the Secretary of Commerce from general administrative funds not to exceed $250,000; the amount expended under this section shall be apportioned among the ten States bordering the Mississippi River in proportion to the amount allocated by these respective States for the improvement and extension of existing sections of this highway project as approved by the Secretary of Commerce in cooperation with other public agencies concerned therewith. SEC. 15. The term "highway", as defined in section 2 of the Federal Highway Act of November 9, 1921 (42 Stat. 212), as amended and supplemented, shall be deemed to include "tunnels". SEC. 16. The Secretary of Commerce may approve as a part of the Federal-aid secondary system, extensions through urban areas, connecting points on that system, provided that Federal participation in projects on such extensions shall be limited to urban funds. SEC. 17. (a) Highway construction work performed in pursuance of agreements between the Secretary of Commerce and any State highway department which requires approval by the Secretary of Commerce and which is financed in whole or in part by funds authorized under this or succeeding Acts, shall be performed by contract awarded by competitive bidding under such procedures as may by regulations be prescribed by the Secretary of Commerce, unless the Secretary of Commerce shall affirmatively find that, under the circumstances relating to a given project, some other method is in the public interest. All such findings shall be reported promptly in writing to the Committees on Public Works of the Senate and the House of Representatives. (b) I n any case in which approval by the Secretary of Commerce of any contract for such highway construction work is required, the Secretary shall require as a condition precedent to such approval a sworn statement executed by, or on behalf of, the person, firm, association, or corporation to whom such contract is to be awarded, certifying that such person, firm, association, or corporation has not, either directly or indirectly, entered into any agreement, participated in any collusion, or otherwise taken any action in restraint of free competitive bidding in connection with such contract.

Highway financing, study.

Report*

Great Road.

River

39 Stat. 355. 23 USC 9a note.

63 Stat. 626«

"Highway.»»

23 USC 2. Urban area ex^ tensions.

Contracts, etc.

Report.

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