[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 16 (Thursday, February 26, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1045-S1046]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            THE HIGHWAY BILL

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, for the information of all Senators, at 
approximately 2 p.m. today it will be my intention to move to proceed 
to the highway bill. If a rollcall vote is requested

[[Page S1046]]

on that motion, then Senators should be prepared to vote on the motion 
by early afternoon. Regardless of that, Senators should expect votes 
with respect to the highway bill throughout the afternoon and into the 
evening. There is still the possibility of votes on Friday, and I hope 
there will be votes Monday.
  I hope that there will not be the necessity for a vote on the motion 
to proceed to the highway bill. Everybody understands it is very 
important. There are a lot of amendments pending we need to be working 
on in order to complete action in the Senate in a reasonable period of 
time so that we can have it done, and hopefully through the conference, 
well before the May 1 date.
  There are negotiations, discussions that have been underway. No 
agreement has been worked out. Any understanding that is worked out 
would still have to be, obviously, considered and debated and voted on 
by the full Senate. But I believe we are making good progress. The time 
that we have had for the last month has been, I think, beneficial, but 
it is time we go forward on this.
  I encourage Senators to get their amendments ready. There are a lot 
of amendments, other than funding amendments, that really need to be 
debated. I hope that they will be prepared to offer them this afternoon 
and on Friday. Let us get underway.
  With that, I yield the floor, Mr. President.
  Mr. McCONNELL addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Kentucky is recognized.

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