On the recordMarch 24, 2010
And the Secretary of Transportation said that he has made the shift within the administrative account, but cannot make the payment because he needs authority from Congress to do so. So we quickly drafted the bill with their technical input, moved the bill, with great bipartisan support, great enthusiasm over here; but then there is a Member of the other body who is holding it up, saying he wants it paid for. Well, the Congressional Budget Office has certified to us in writing that there is no cost, there is no need for a pay-for. There is no need for an offset. We said that at the time we moved this bill. We had received it informally from CBO. We now have it in writing from CBO. So there is no need to hold up justice for these 1,922 employees who, through no fault of their own, just standing there doing their jobs, were cut off from their pay because of one person's filibuster over in the other body. It's time to do justice for these people. Don't hold them up for a month if this goes on longer. This is just patently unjust. I urge the Senate to act on this bill.
