[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 67 (Friday, May 22, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S5402]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 ISTEA

  Mr. WARNER. I thank the Presiding Officer.
  Mr. President, while both leaders are present on the floor, as one 
who has been involved for a year and a half in preparing the 
legislation which now, hopefully, will be voted upon by the Senate, I 
thank my distinguished colleague, the majority leader, and my 
colleague, the distinguished minority leader. I just think of how many 
times during the course of this conference we have made calls to them 
to seek their guidance that both are entrusted to give as a consequence 
of their very important positions.
  I also have virtually over the last 7 days and nights worked at the 
side of my distinguished chairman, Senator Chafee, and the 
distinguished ranking member, the Senator from Montana, Mr. Baucus, as 
we prepared and then I think very fairly, forcefully and successfully 
advocated the Senate's position before the House of Representatives.
  The House was very ably represented by Chairman Shuster, ranking 
member Congressman Oberstar, Congressman Petri, Congressman Rahall--the 
four from the House versus the three from the Senate.
  It was a long conference. Not until late last night did we put in 
place the final decision for the foundation on which I believe this 
bill rests, and that is equity among the States. Fifteen months ago, as 
chairman of the subcommittee in the Environment Committee entrusted 
with this important legislation, we embarked on the hearing process for 
this legislation. We held hearings in seven different States because it 
was essential to go out and get the views of the people: The citizens, 
the supervisors, the State legislatures and, indeed, the 
representatives of their legislatures and the Governors themselves. 
Senator Baucus and I actually went to a joint hearing of the States of 
Montana and Idaho. Senator Chafee held hearings in other parts of 
America. So we didn't just sit in Washington, we went to where the 
problems are and to learn firsthand.
  Senator Baucus has been an absolute brick, as we say throughout my 
part of the world, as my partner, together with Senator Chafee, not 
only in the final hours, but throughout the 15-month process to bring 
this bill to fruition.
  The dollar value represents the largest increase in the history of 
America. Many people played a vital role in that, notably the senior 
Senator from West Virginia, the senior Senator from Texas, Senator 
Domenici and, indeed, Senator Stevens was very helpful, because this is 
a very complex series of votes and then adjustments to the various 
accounting principles and budget principles which we adhered to in the 
Senate.
  So many persons are deserving of a great deal of credit for providing 
this important conference report which will shortly be voted on by this 
body.
  The staff is extraordinary. In my 19 years in the Senate, I do not 
know of another instance in which I have seen more dedicated service. 
By my side here in the Chamber is Ann Loomis, who was the counsel for 
the subcommittee, who 15 months ago worked and traveled, as did I and 
others, to gain the very important information from across the United 
States to incorporate into this bill. Kathy Ruffalo of Montana was 
Senator Baucus' principal assistant on the committee. She also worked 
with us throughout this bill, as did Ellen Stein of my staff. Jimmie 
Powell, of course, is the staff director. Dan Corbett, Tom Sliter--and 
all too often we forget the many others who are back in the offices of 
the Senators, who represent those Senators on the committee in the long 
hearings and the workup of this legislation, and, most particularly, 
the support staff who are on the Environment and Public Works 
Committee--all contributed to making this, I think, the most 
significant bill in the history of the United States of America 
addressing transportation needs.
  How often has Senator Gramm or Senator Byrd pointed out that we are 
in a one-world market. To the extent that we in the United States can 
have an efficient and safe transportation system is to the extent we 
can compete with nations far beyond our shores.
  Our system was aging, continues to age; and this bill makes the 
necessary corrections. And through the leadership of Senator Byrd and 
Senator Gramm, we got the additional funds to make it the most 
meaningful transportation bill in America's history.
  Equity was the theme, the very theme that united all of us. While we 
incorporated many of the principles of ISTEA, the bill passed in 1991--
and it was important to do so--there were corrections that, I can say, 
as softly, I suppose, as it can be expressed, were very definitely 
needed to correct what we felt were inequities in ISTEA.
  Mr. President, I see the distinguished leader. I will be happy to 
yield.

                          ____________________