it would have been such an easy thing at that time to do, that we didn't do it. We just don't want to make that mistake again.

even at the full funding, it is not adequate. And that is coming from a conservative. And I feel strongly about that.

With her leadership and dedication, and the great work of Senators Baucus and Vitter, we have put together a really good highway bill.

This is life-threatening, it is something we are going to have to do.

I want to put an editorial from the Oklahoman in the record. I think it is very, very good.

It will be virtually impossible to pass unless we are able to do that.

I have been ranked more often than not the most conservative member of the U.S. Senate.

We recognize that this is what we are supposed to be doing up here.

I don't think that putting it off is an option.

We acknowledge that the proposal that we have has a $12 billion shortfall.

We have put together, I think, a really good highway bill, under the circumstances.

I guess what I am saying is, we have a lot of really good reforms.

Would there be a specific program in our State of Oklahoma that you could just real quickly address as to what difference that would make in that project?

We can achieve a robust regulatory regime without imposing undue or ill-fitting regulations on businesses across the country.

I hope you will listen today to the issues that will be raised, and I urge you to respond honestly and directly.

But with that authority comes the responsibility and expectation that you will keep at the forefront the prevailing issue facing the country--economic growth and job creation.

I hope that this hearing guides Mr. Gensler and his colleagues towards a balanced approach to the regulation.

They are eligible, and there are some reasons for that. But that is not what this debate is about. We are not questioning it. We are just saying on this basis we are not using science how we have used it in every other aspect of veterans'…