Max Baucus: “I would also like at this point to thank our leader, Majority Leader Trent Lott, who has worked hard, particularly in…”

“I would also like at this point to thank our leader, Majority Leader Trent Lott, who has worked hard, particularly in the last several weeks, with various Senators, various groups, to assure we could bring this bill, the highway bill, the ISTEA bill, up earlier than it looked like would be the case. One main reason is because of the tremendous need in our country. The current highway program expired several months ago. It expired the end of September. We don't have a highway program. We did pass a short-term extension until the end of April--it expires April 30--but there are not many weeks left between now and April 30. It is, therefore, incumbent upon us to take up this bill early because it is so complex, there are so many Senators who have such interest; let alone Members of the House, the other body; let alone taking it to conference. Again, I tip my hat to the majority leader for bringing this up very quickly.”