James Oberstar: “I have never liked this corrections day procedure. I think it is very much contrary to the spirit of legislating…”

“I have never liked this corrections day procedure. I think it is very much contrary to the spirit of legislating, creating a whole new category of majority, and because my concern at the very outset was that these issues would not likely be given substantial consideration in committees. Today we have an example of an issue that was not given the benefit of public hearings, either in the Committee on Commerce or in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. I do not disagree with the intent of the proponents of this legislation, but it does raise very significant policy issues that at least ought to have been aired in the committee process. The legislation would create an entirely new type of exemption to the Clean Air Act's conformity requirements. That is cause in itself to have hearings and to air this issue so the public can have input and so Members of Congress who have concerns about the policy could have at least the opportunity to debate the issue in the committee structure. Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Agency is proceeding on streamlining its transportation conformity rule, and specifically is reviewing this issue of signalization in the course of rulemaking. That public process of rulemaking should be allowed to proceed prior to any legislative action being taken by the Congress, especially on a bill on which hearings have not been held.”