I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on July 30, 2015, at 9:30 a.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. committee on Energy and Natural…

just one quick comment before Senator Boxer makes some remarks. We have talked about this. We have talked about the significance of the upcoming vote. I just want to reemphasize to my conservative colleagues on the Republican side that…

I know the Senator from California, Mrs. Boxer, and I both want to thank a lot of people who worked very hard. People don't realize how many people are involved. Quite frankly, a little bit of guilt always comes to me, because this is my…

I do appreciate the comments from the Senator from Nevada. It is a reminder that a lot of people think almost all of this act is from the Environment and Public Works Committee. About 75 percent is, but we do have the commerce committee…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on July 30, 2015, at 12:10 p.m., in room SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without…

I thank the Senator for raising this issue and for his commitment to helping to pass a long-term surface transportation bill. The Senator is correct about the time constraints the Senate is under, as we must pass this bill before July 31…

I ask unanimous consent that I be given 5 additional minutes. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I had some time reserved, and I am halfway through that time now. So I will talk a little faster than usual because we have an Armed Services meeting right now, and we are trying get to the bottom of this side agreement that was apparently…

We have the problem of not having any of the big projects, and everyone knows that is a problem. The reason big projects can't be done is due to the costs. But a study has been done by Gary Ridley, who is one of the foremost authorities…

It is incomprehensible that we didn't have full access to that, and I think most of the people agree with that.

Is the Senator aware that around the same time that happened, in my State of Oklahoma, we were in the process of the last long-term bill in 2005. A mother with three children was driving below a bridge in Oklahoma City. Some concrete…

But I still think that can be done. There is this urgency. We have worked long and hard. People say they haven't had time to get into this thing. We passed our bill. They have had 5 or 6 weeks to absorb this. And this argument that we have…