I hope that you are right, that we can do it this time.

Energy efficiency is our cleanest, cheapest, easiest fuel.

We want to get the carbon out of the air. I am not ideological on how to do that.

Senator, thank you so much.

Behind that problem a new economy beckons, with clean energy jobs and a future of energy independence for this country.

I want the record to reflect that.

the majority of us here across party lines, agree to a clean 18-month extension, not with these policy changes because it will in fact jeopardize a quick passage of this extension.

This is about jobs, it is about our economy.

This Committee is ready. We have agreement across party lines.

It is critical that we better understand what impacts these practices have.

greenhouse gas emissions, that is a major problem.

This is an important issue.

I hope that I have been clear here, for those that have been thinking that the reason we are not going into the 5 or 6 year bill is because our plate is full. No.

I believe we have to take a hard look at why such a destructive practice is allowed to continue.

We need to do that, working with this Committee, working with the Appropriations Committee, because literally the safety of the ridership is at stake here.

I agree with you completely. I think that a lot of our colleagues who are pushing for this do not understand the opportunities that they have with a cap-and-trade system to dedicate funding to transportation.

I have stated before, I am willing to see the gas tax indexed to inflation.

But a short-term extension raises a lot of doubts, at least in my State.

I cannot believe that we can do anything that is less than a single year extension to the current law

I could not agree with your more. The deficit and the national debt have got to be brought down.

I cannot say to a person, but I have discussed this with most of them and they have supported the 18-month extension.

Transportation investments have a positive impact on our communities, regardless of where we are from.

I am very, very grateful to you.

We must have continued investment. We must have continued job creation.

I think that is really key for me, too, because otherwise I think that it is too short an extension.