On the recordMarch 29, 2012
Well, the question is very important. This is the worst possible time because now, if you can't enter into new contracts, you lose the building season. And it is particularly brutal right now on the businesses and on the workers. Let me be clear. This is a 90-day extension without any hopes of them finishing their work. They didn't say that in the 90 days, they would get the job done, get to conference, and get the bill to the President; they are just saying 90 days with no commitment to go to conference. I will come back and we will attempt to attach the Senate bill to the extension. Madam President, I hope you will have the opportunity to work on that with me because our States are counting on us, and we have to be strong and we have to keep fighting for one simple premise: that the House should have the right to vote on the Senate-passed bill. I am very proud to be here. I will be here this afternoon as long as it takes. I say to my friend from Rhode Island, I hope he can be there, as well as my friend from Illinois. As soon as we get their extension, which makes no commitment to go to conference, we are going to try to attach the Senate bill to the extension and send it into conference, and I hope my friends will be here to help me with that. I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Illinois.
