The two elements that are the most basic responsibilities of the Federal Government are national defense and the development of a national transportation infrastructure.

I think one of my jobs is to kind of explain the Constitutional requirements that we are talking about when we talk about a system.

The conservative position is to go ahead and do an authorization bill.

InterState commerce doesn't stop at State boundaries. No State is an island.

Not passing a bill will hurt our already suffering economy.

What you are witnessing here is unusual in Washington, because you have a proud, outspoken liberal and a proud, outspoken conservative in total agreement on what we should be doing.

I come from an oil and gas State, and we know how to do those things.

Unfortunately, what used to be the best transportation system in the world is now deteriorating.

First of all, I would like to have us not really talk about a gas tax increase. It is a user fee.

my top priority this year is to pass a fiscally responsible, long-term highway bill.

We kind of need to get an outside the Beltway perspective.

I have to say this in a complimentary way about Senator Boxer, because there are some things that we did in our reforms.