Al Franken: “I thank the Senator from Alaska and the Senator from Rhode Island. I wish to emphasize the need to pass a long-term…”

“I thank the Senator from Alaska and the Senator from Rhode Island. I wish to emphasize the need to pass a long-term reauthorization of this surface transportation bill. It is time for Congress to do its job. Thanks to the leadership of Senators Boxer and Inhofe, this body passed a bill with 74 votes. Actually, it probably would have been 76 votes, but Senator Kirk is back at home recovering--and we wish him very well--and Senator Lautenberg couldn't vote that day. I think he was at the funeral of a friend. So it really would have been 76 votes. Unfortunately, our colleagues in the House were not able to pass a comprehensive reauthorization bill and were only able to join a conference committee after passing yet another short-term extension. So I will repeat myself: It is time for Congress to do its job. As the Senator from Alaska, my good colleague, was just saying, the summer construction season is now upon us. In Minnesota, that is when we know we can build roads and bridges and light rail, because in November and December it gets cold and snowy. State departments of transportation have already canceled projects because the House has failed to act. We have already lost thousands of jobs because, for whatever reason, the House will not pass a bill that received unanimous bipartisan support in the Environment and Public Works Committee and 74 votes in the Senate as a whole. Speaker Boehner has said the House may just pass another short-term extension.…”