James Oberstar: “I consider myself hardworking. It's nice to have that affirmation from the gentleman who himself knows the value of, and…”

“I consider myself hardworking. It's nice to have that affirmation from the gentleman who himself knows the value of, and puts in, hard work. Perhaps the best news this afternoon was the announcement we just heard from the other body that the Senate has passed, by consent, H.R. 4853, the Airport and Airway Extension Act, with a substitute amendment carrying through the authorities through the end of this calendar year. That's good news. The unfortunate news that Mr. Costello has amply outlined and as Mr. Petri has also underscored is that the full authorization is still held up over disagreements in the other body. We passed this bill, we on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure under Mr. Costello's diligent leadership, by hard work, dozens of hearings and meetings and conferences and discussions to lead to the long-term authorization--then it was about $60 billion-- investing in the future of air traffic control, modernizing yet again. It's in a state of constant modernization. You can't say we do it once and then it's done. It's in a constant state of modernization.”