Lincoln Chafee: “Yesterday the Senate began consideration of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1997, or sometimes…”

“Yesterday the Senate began consideration of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1997, or sometimes referred to as ISTEA II. This legislation is the product of well over a year of hard work and careful negotiation. We had three different proposals, Mr. President, all commendable, and the requirement before us was to integrate these different proposals into one unified plan that all of us could rally around. When I say us, I was, of course, talking about the committee at the time, the 18 members of the Environment and Public Works Committee, but hopefully the entire Senate. When I am taking about 18 members, I, of course, am referring to Democrats and Republicans. I am pleased that the bill before the Senate truly represents a consensus effort with cosponsors from all regions of the country and from both sides of the aisle. The results of these efforts, so-called ISTEA II--ISTEA, again, referring to Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1997--provides $145 billion over the next 6 years for our Federal highway, highway safety, and other surface transportation systems.”