Congress' recent action to extend the Federal Highway Program through the end of the year is significant and will help while a new reauthorization bill is under development.

I have always said when I was first campaigning for this job and the different times I have been elected, four times, that we have some priorities. No. 1 has always been, in my position, national defense. No. 2 is infrastructure.

the expanded Federal decisionmaking and control over issues traditionally handled at the local and State levels.

State, county and local government probably knows more about your needs than the Federal Government does.

We need to get more innovative than that.

Of course, we are blessed with probably the best Transportation Secretary of any of the States.

You establish priorities.

It has been very helpful to us.

A strong Federal commitment is necessary to ensure the continuity and viability of our transportation infrastructure far into the future.

Mr. President, first of all, let me say that I do like all the guys I am opposing on this legislation. I have been particularly close to Jim DeMint for quite some time. It happens that Senator DeMint and I, almost every rating that comes…

Assessment districts would be a vehicle by which you could exercise the local support for something.

But you have got to come up with it. And I just think we are going to have to deviate from our old 60-year-old behavioral patterns.

There has got to be a better way than just continuing to do it as we have done in the past.

What we are talking about are life and death issues.

I ask unanimous consent to be recognized to speak as in morning business for such time as I may consume. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

We need to keep asking ourselves what is the Federal role. This Nation's needs far exceed the available funding.

Any emphasis on addressing metropolitan congestion problems must be based on the recognition that Washington does not understand the unique problems or the best solutions to those problems in individual areas.

Madam Speaker, I have one additional speaker, and I wish to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Miller).