On the recordMay 17, 2012
This motion, offered by my friend, the gentleman from West Virginia, instructs conferees to the Surface Transportation reauthorization conference to agree to several provisions in the Senate bill relating to Buy American requirements. These Senate provisions will expand Buy American requirements for the Federal highway program, the Federal transit program, and for Amtrak. It is important to note that this is a nonbinding procedural vote. A vote for or against this motion does not impact the outcome of the conference negotiations. However, it's also important to note that time spent preparing and debating this motion would have been better spent at the negotiating table. I reserve the balance of my time.
