Max Baucus: “These groups are many. There are at least 28 national associations and construction unions that make up the…”

“These groups are many. There are at least 28 national associations and construction unions that make up the Transportation Construction Coalition. I mentioned AASHTO. I didn't mention the Environmental Defense Fund and Sierra Club, which are also in opposition to the Sessions amendment. You don't see that many groups together, construction groups, unions, environmental groups, local governments, all standing together on the same amendment; that is, in opposition to an amendment, in this case the Sessions amendment. This is one such occasion. I have heard it said that we should not increase funding for this bill because the House will not agree to it. I ask my colleagues, are we not a separate body? That can be turned around. The House should not pass something because we might not agree to it. They are a body, we are a body. We have just as much right as they to indicate what we should do. As I have said in this Chamber many times, legislating is the art of compromise. It is time for the administration and the House to demonstrate a willingness to work with the Senate on this bill. We are now ready to go to conference. We have less than 2 weeks until the expiration of the current extension of these programs. We have to get moving. The only chance we have to get this bill done is if we act quickly, reach an agreement soon on the funding levels in this bill, that once we have reached an agreement on the funding levels, I think virtually everything else will fall into place.…”