Kent Conrad

I have my own view, and I am going to try it out on each of you.

I think as discussed by Congress, in any way a contingent liability, the damage to the Government budget that would arise from a future financial crisis.

Medicare, though, remains a huge problem, and I think that is the most difficult issue.

I think all of us are concerned about the safety of local residents who use this highway.

The hearing will come to order. I want to welcome everyone this morning to this hearing of the Senate Budget Committee.

Thank you, Senator Conrad, along with Congressman Pomeroy, for the work you did in getting the SURE program included in the farm bill.

You've always been a champion for transportation and we do appreciate you coming out here.

I want to focus on how we can make these roadways more safe.

Highway 12 provides an important east-west connection to Highway 85 in this corner of North Dakota.

Highway 85 is the main north-south link, all of us know that, connecting the gas plants and the oil fields in the Williston Basin.

Rural transportation needs are vital to the Nation.

It is imperative that the money not be borrowed. We already have too much debt.

If we sit idly by because we're contented right now and let this nascent antigovernment movement set the agenda for the next Congress, we'll pay a heavy price in North Dakota.

Thanks to congressional leadership, we got it passed over a veto. So elections do matter.

I think we've got to have a multipronged approach.

Are we preparing ourselves for the future or are we only going to talk about that?

If we don't get disproportionate funding, there won't be a national network to serve the transportation needs of America.

This is absolutely the best farm bill we've ever had for North Dakota.

Our--and our approach, which Senator Conrad touched on here just a minute ago, is a three-part plan...

Since 1992, all of us know, that Devils Lake has risen nearly 30 feet.

What is the economic cost of that to our country?

Thank you for your time and cooperation, Senator Conrad and Committee Members.

I want to welcome everyone today to the hearing of the Senate Budget Committee.

I argued strenuously for at least $200 billion on infrastructure.

We did very well by securing 2 dollars, roughly, for every dollar in tax money collected in our State.