This is the year to pass a Highway Bill. Our economy needs it.

If we can get our economy back on track, believe me, we are going to have a lot more opportunities to build the infrastructure we need for the future.

I have always said that government has three spending responsibilities: defense, infrastructure, and unfunded mandates.

One of my major efforts is to try to explain to people how this over-regulation stuff is costing.

Our problem in getting the bill that we need to get is really not as much the Democrats as it is the Republicans.

There should be no dispute that the money we spend to maintain and grow our infrastructure is an investment.

Had we not done that, where would we be today? I would argue that we have received a tremendous return on that investment.

The most important part, however, is that one of the two major functions of Government, and you have heard me say over the years, national defense and infrastructure.

For me to get something done, you have to help me, and I have to have support out there in saying, we want to get back to building roads and bridges.

We have to be building the stuff that brings the highest rate of return to our case.

I really do want to have a robust bill.

We have an opportunity to work together to create jobs TODAY--and build a better way for our kids and grandkids to navigate the Nation for tomorrow.

It disturbs a lot of people that Barbara Boxer and Jim Inhofe are good friends.

I hope he actually follows through. If he is serious this time, I am committed to working with him and Senator Boxer.

I am going to do everything I can to make sure that that wall is not torn down.

I believe strongly that there are very few forms of government spending that are beneficial to our citizens and the economy. Infrastructure spending is one of them.

This should have been done a month ago.

I was ranked, currently ranked No. 1 by the National Journal as the most conservative member of the U.S. Senate.