Political Quotes

“Mr. President, we are continuing to make substantial progress on passing a multiyear highway bill. Thanks to the developments of the recent day--I guess it was yesterday--we learned that the House is open to a conference committee to reconcile an authorization bill that they will likely take up soon and then to have a conference committee to reconcile those differences. Previously we had been told that the House would not take up the Senate bill and was insisting on a short-term patch to the December timeframe. I can tell you that I, for one, was reluctant do that because without a clear path forward after December, we would be looking at perhaps not just the 34th patch but the 35th patch and on and on. What this country needs is a long-term transportation bill, and that is what the Senate will likely pass tomorrow--our own 3-year bill--and then work with our colleagues in the House, as we usually do when the two bodies don't necessarily agree on everything, to work those out. I am thankful that the Members of this Chamber recognize how important this legislation is. I have to tell you, coming from Texas--a big, fast-growing State that needs this investment in our infrastructure--this is important for my constituents. The highway legislation we are putting forward is actually a 6-year authorization, and that is something to be celebrated. As I mentioned, this avoids the sorts of temporary patches we have had in the past.…”