[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 24, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S1529]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 MEASURE READ THE FIRST TIME--H.R. 3783

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I understand that H.R. 3783 which came over 
from the House is at the desk. I ask for its first reading.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 3783) to provide an extension of highway, 
     highway safety, motor carrier safety, transit, and other 
     programs funded out of the Highway Trust Fund pending 
     enactment of a law reauthorizing the Transportation Equity 
     Act for the 21st Century.

  Mr. FRIST. I now ask for its second reading and object to further 
proceedings on this matter.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, will the Senator yield?
  Mr. FRIST. Yes.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I know H.R. 3740 is an important piece of 
legislation. It extends the highway bill now in effect for 4 months. I 
have not spoken to Senator Inhofe today, but we have communicated 
through staff. He and I would rather have a 1-month extension. It is my 
understanding that the two leaders have met and think that 60 days 
would be an appropriate time. I want everybody to be on notice that if 
there is any effort to extend this beyond 60 days, I will do whatever I 
can to make sure that is not the case.
  It is so important that we move this most important piece of 
legislation to 4 months, as there will be no bill this year. We have 
spent too much time over here. It now appears that the debate is over 
dollars. It is not about the content of the bill in any way.
  I hope the two leaders understand the grief and difficulty that 
Senators Inhofe and I and Kit Bond and Senator Jeffords have gone 
through to get to the point where we are. I will agree with the 
decision of the two leaders, but when it comes back from the House, I 
hope there will be an agreement to split the difference after that.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, in all likelihood, we will be looking at 2 
months. Again, for those listening now, a lot of people said 1 month. A 
lot of people said 4 months. A lot of people said a year. So this was 
negotiated again with both sides, and we understand the immediacy and 
the importance of this bill, which I do also strongly support.

                          ____________________