[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 154 (Thursday, November 6, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S11846]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            INTERMODAL SURFACE TRANSPORTATION EFFICIENCY ACT

  Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I also want to make a comment concerning 
Senator Bond, and the outstanding work he has done in the Environment 
and Public Works Committee to pass the highway bill. We need to pass 
one this year. The Senator from Missouri has been working with Senator 
Baucus and others in a bipartisan fashion, and I believe it has 
unanimous support in the Environment and Public Works Committee to pass 
a reauthorization bill, or at least passing an extension for 6 months 
to allow the States to continue contracting.
  They came up with a way that said, ``Well, we are not going to have 
one side win on the formula issue, or another side.'' I think it is a 
good compromise until we pass a 6-year bill, which we tried to do.
  I might mention that we had four cloture votes on whether or not we 
would take up the highway bill, and it was basically filibustered 
because people wanted to add campaign reform and unrelated issues. That 
is unfortunate. That is history. Now we have to move on. We only have a 
few days to do it.
  I compliment my colleague from Missouri, and others who have worked 
with him, and I urge our House colleagues to work together with us to 
make sure we get this passed. Let's pass this before we leave. I think 
it is vitally important to the highway programs in every single State 
in the Nation.

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