We have to mark up this bill before we leave this summer. We have to get this bill to the Senate floor and pass it.

If you can't move people and you can't move goods, you are just not going to grow.

This bill, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century, MAP-21, will maintain current funding levels, protect existing jobs, help spur economic recovery.

This is a question of priorities.

At the end of the day, we have to determine, as Americans, and we representing the American people, if investing an additional $6 billion a year for 2 years makes sense.

I so appreciate your asking that question.

If we don't act, this is the fact, we will see a cut of one-third, actually 36 percent.

We really do believe this is a basic function of the national government, to address our infrastructure needs.

We need a national, strategic transportation policy that establishes clear, measurable goals for the future.

If we allow the Highway Trust Fund to expire, the authorization to expire, and now we see a 34 to 36 percent cut, disaster, that is what would happen.

I ask unanimous consent to set aside any pending amendments and call up amendment No. 577. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will report. The assistant bill clerk read as follows: The…

I ask unanimous consent that the amendment be considered as read. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The amendment is as follows: At the appropriate place, add the following: Sec. __ No later than 90 days after…

the Department of Defense runs schools that serve over 86,000 children across America, Europe, and in the Pacific region. That is why I was able to get together with Senator Graham and Senator Inhofe to work on a way we could get those…

I ask unanimous consent the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Amendment No. 577, as Modified

I ask unanimous consent that Boxer amendment No. 577 be modified with the changes that are already at the desk. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Without objection, it is so ordered. The amendment (No. 577), as modified, is as…

But where we can come together, we do. And this is one area we believe it is absolutely necessary for our States and the United States to be strong and competitive.

We have made a lot of reforms in this bill. It is remarkable how many reforms we have made.

I just want to say to each and every one of you, this job that I have, that Senator Inhofe has, the rest of us, we would be nowhere without the people.

We must get that same sense of bipartisanship in the Finance Committee, because these are tough times.

We don't do that when we know that we can work together.

And I honestly believe, in this effort, and I cannot thank the staff enough, Republican staff, Democratic staff, this has been a team effort.

the basic Highway Trust Fund, that is how we fund, that is the bread and butter.

We know we have a looming deadline which does the same.

Put simply, we cannot afford any cuts to infrastructure spending, and at the very least we must maintain current levels.

So we now have to keep up the momentum.