The President's budget has requested that the Build America Bonds be made permanent.

There's no shortage of interest for the $2.3 billion that we're going to reallocate from Florida.

We think that's a very good program.

We're going to be able to deal with the deficits and the debt, and also have a good, strong transportation program.

America is at a transportation crossroads.

High-speed rail is a priority for this administration.

These projects were not earmarked. They weren't sweetheart deals or boondoggles.

He and Senator Warner have the privilege of representing what I believe is, if not the best, one of the best transit systems in America.

Cutting their funding will not be helpful. It will be hurtful.

He is a very strong advocate of high-speed rail. He asked for our cooperation and we are going to work with him on that.

I would recommend that the Senate not do what the House did.

I have talked to Governor Brown twice about high-speed rail, Governor Jerry Brown of California. They are going to move ahead with their project.

I think they have good management. We think they have a board that is paying attention.

I will work very hard within the Administration to make the strongest case that I possibly can that this ought to be dedicated to transportation.

What we are pleased about, Senator Sessions, is that 33 States and the District of Columbia have accepted more than $11 billion because they believe in high-speed inner-city rail.

There can be no dispute about the fact this is a big, bold plan.

This idea that you should cut something that is successful is just, to me, not realistic.

Nobody has a bigger, bolder vision of this than President Obama does.

We think that the collaboration that we are doing will enable people to have affordable housing and affordable transportation.

President Obama's administration's intention is to restart this program. It is a part of NAFTA. It needs to be restarted.

Well, by proposing changes rather than just using economic development, which is an important, obviously, criteria.

I have been all over the country. I have been to 80 cities. I have been to 35 States.

Making America's communities more livable is a key part of the President's agenda, and the administration is already making important advancements in this area.

Where there is good planning, you can make it happen, and you can actually talk about livable neighborhoods.

I told Senator Bond that the most common complaint that I heard at the beginning of my tenure was, why does it take 10 or 12 years to get a New Starts program going?