David Thomas: “I rise to support the things that they have said. One of the most important bills that we passed in our committee last…”

“I rise to support the things that they have said. One of the most important bills that we passed in our committee last year, and I think one of the most important elements before us now in the Senate, is the funding of the Intermodal Transportation Act. We worked a great deal last year. I happen to be on the Committee on Environment and Public Works, and we came up with an extension of the ISTEA bill, which expired last year, by the way. Now, of course, we are operating on a temporary arrangement, which makes it very difficult for State highway departments to make the contracts that are necessary. I think it is particularly important for States like Wyoming and the northern part of the country, where you have a relatively small short contracting and construction time, that we move to pass this bill so that the States will know what money is available to them. There should have been approval last year, other than an extension. Unfortunately, we couldn't come to an agreement with the House. Furthermore, right here in the Senate, as I recall, there were some things that were brought up that kept us from considering ISTEA. But now it is time to do that.”