[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 23 (Monday, March 9, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S1550]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        INTERMODAL SURFACE TRANSPORTATION EFFICIENCY ACT OF 1997

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the Senate will now 
resume consideration of S. 1173, which the clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 1173) to authorize funds for construction of 
     highways, for highway safety programs, and for mass transit 
     programs, and for other purposes.

  The Senate resumed consideration of the bill with a modified 
committee amendment in the nature of a substitute (Amendment No. 1676.)
  Mr. CHAFEE addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Rhode Island.
  Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, we are here ready to do business on the 
so-called ISTEA II legislation. There are a host of amendments out 
there which we would like to have brought up; either present them, or 
consideration to see if we can accept them, work out something, or, if 
not, go to votes.
  But we are here to do business. The store is open. I very much hope 
that those who have amendments will bring them over.
  I must say, Mr. President, if people who say they have amendments do 
not bring amendments over, I lose sympathy for them if later on they 
say they have amendments and they want time and so forth. Now is the 
time when nothing else is interfering with the action. So I urge my 
colleagues who are listening to please bring their amendments over so 
that we can deal with them.
  Seeing nobody on the floor who wishes to present an amendment, Mr. 
President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I wonder if I may speak as in morning 
business for about 10 minutes?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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