Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, this bill reinstates the discretionary spending caps for fiscal year 2005 and 2006 and extends the highway and transit firewalls for fiscal years 2004 through 2009 at the levels contained in H.R. 3550, as passed by the House earlier this year. The inclusion of the highway and transit firewalls in the bill before us today is an important statement that the House intends to continue the budget reforms that were achieved for the Highway Trust Fund in TEA-21. It is my understanding that the level of the highway and transit firewalls will ultimately be determined by the conference of H.R. 3550 in which the gentleman is a member, in accordance with the fiscal year 2005 budget resolution, which provided for an adjustment in the transportation funding levels. I would like to clarify my views with the gentleman from Iowa and ask for his assistance in ensuring that the highway and transit firewalls ultimately enacted into law will reflect the agreement of the conferees on H.R. 3550.”