James M. Jeffords: “I would also like to announce to the Senator that I just left the Finance Committee, and we voted out--as was…”

“I would also like to announce to the Senator that I just left the Finance Committee, and we voted out--as was expected--favorably the money to get it done. So we are ready now to proceed to it tonight, and hopefully we will. Chairman Inhofe and I are urging a ``yes'' vote, of course, to move the transportation bill to the Senate floor where it can be fully debated and amended. This bill will strengthen our Nation's transportation system, create hundreds of thousands of jobs, and improve the safety of our transportation system. Our Nation's roads and bridges and transit systems need immediate attention. Passage of the bill will provide essential Federal funding to the States so they have the resources needed to maintain and improve our transportation infrastructure. We cannot afford to wait any longer to make much-needed investments in our transportation infrastructure. Fortunately, unlike many other bills, our transportation bill will be fully offset and paid for. The Finance Committee did a tremendous job working this out. As I said just a moment ago, they passed it. Let us not forget that each time you go to the gas pump, you are paying for this bill.”