David Obey: “I also simply want to extend my appreciation to the gentleman from Virginia, [Mr. Wolf], the chairman of the committee…”

“I also simply want to extend my appreciation to the gentleman from Virginia, [Mr. Wolf], the chairman of the committee, for the manner in which he has proceeded to produce a bill which I think will meet a bipartisan test. I would also simply note the absence of the gentleman from Texas, [Mr. Coleman], who could not be here today due to an illness in his family in Texas, that this will be the last transportation bill that Mr. Coleman would be serving this House on in the capacity of ranking member. We appreciate the very effective work that he has done. I rise in support of this bill. Mr. Chairman, last year, the Transportation appropriations bill was one of the appropriations bills where we were able, for the most part, to bridge partisan differences and reach agreement on a bill that could be signed into law. I believe that we should be able to accomplish that same goal on the bill we consider today providing fiscal year 1997 funding for priority transportation programs.”