James Oberstar: “In a time when the image of the U.S. Congress to the rest of America is one of divisiveness and partisanship, this…”

“In a time when the image of the U.S. Congress to the rest of America is one of divisiveness and partisanship, this committee may well have set a model for how a legislative body ought to work, an interplay of ideas coming at the same issue, toward the same objective, with different viewpoints, openly debated, intensively discussed, thoroughly explored and a resolution that is in the public interest. It has been inclusive. It has been partnership rather than partisanship on this committee. That is a great tribute to the gentleman from Alaska (Chairman Young), the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri), and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski), who have put their best efforts forth, and to our respective professional staff who have carried the burden of the day time and again on what to others might be an arcane aspect of very complex issues but which are vitally important. So, as the Chairman said, we come to the floor with a bill that serves the best, broadest interests of transportation in America.”