Citing transportation, health care and environmental concerns as important issues for Pennsylvania and the nation, U.S. Rep. William Clinger yesterday announced his re-election campaign for the 23rd district seat.

"I love my job and want to continue the represent the district," Clinger told the media and supporters at the Allenway Building, 315 S. Allen St.

The 23rd district, which the Republican has represented since 1978, includes Centre, Clearfield, Clinton and Jefferson counties.

Clinger said his biggest priority is the nation's highway policy, which will soon undergo its first major re-write since the system's completion.

"We need to have good workable transportation -- that's what I'm really going to stress," said Clinger, who is seeking his seventh consecutive term. "The infrastructure is wearing out faster than we are replacing it. The re-affirmation of the federal role in supporting the highway system is necessary."

Some attention must also be paid to developing and maintaining primary and secondary roads, which help maintain economic development in many areas, he said.

Directly addressing concerns in the Centre Region, Clinger said students should take an active interest in state and national politics, since much of it can affect them now or after college.

Clinger cited a recent example, President Bush's presentation of a national budget proposal, which may affect funds for grants, loans and research.

"We have seen in this budget the largest increase in funding education -- certainly it's not going to be what everybody would like," Clinger said. "The days of the federal grant programs are over, with the deficit."

Four hundred University students will lose at least part of their federal aid under Bush's proposed budget. The Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant, College Work-Study Employment Program, and the Perkins Loan Program will be affected.

Clinger's district includes Penn State, Lock Haven and Clarion universities.

But other programs, such as the national fight against drugs, also need the funds, he said.

"The drug program needs to be given the opportunity to work. We have not seen dramatic results, but realistically we've got to say this is a war we won't win tomorrow, next week or even next year," Clinger said.

Clinger's only possible opposition so far is Brookline resident and Democrat Dan Shannon. Shannon is a former member of the U.S. Army Signal Corp and has done legislative liaison work for various federal agencies.

Merle McCalips Jr., chairman of the Centre County Democratic Committee, said Shannon had asked him to distribute petitions for his nomination in the Centre region.

"I don't think he has any visions of grandeur," McCalips said. "I got the impression that he wanted to make a good effort for the party, so Clinger would not run unopposed."

Shannon's petitions list his interests as focusing on social security, the budget, funds for public education and family housing and "break(ing) self-serving re-election campaigns," McCalips said.

Shannon could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Clinger said he knows little about his competition. "You take every opponent seriously," he said.

Representatives from both the Democratic and Republican State Committees in Harrisburg said they were unaware of any challengers for the seat.

Clinger's most recent legislation before Congress would order companies transporting food and waste to follow stricter regulations. Heavy fines would be levied against trucking and food companies caught backhauling --transporting food in trucks also used to carry waste.

Legislators met yesterday to "iron out the differences" about the bill, which recently passed the House Public Works Committee and is now in the Energy Committee.

"We hope to negotiate a package both committees can agree on," Clinger said.

A similar bill for Pennsylvania should be under consideration in Harrisburg sometime this week.

Clinger said other important issues include the re-establishment of the clean air and water acts and attention to the nation's declining quality in rural health care.

The federal government would also create more public works opportunities across the country under another bill Clinger introduced last year. The bill would establish a revolving loan fund for local and state governments building projects requiring user fees.

"The federal government would be a window of opportunity for funding these projects," Clinger said.

Hearings were held about the bill last year, and another round should be coming shortly, he said.

Clinger is vice-chairman of the Aviation Subcommittee and a member of the energy, environment and natural resources committees.