[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 59 (Tuesday, April 15, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3014-S3019]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HIGHWAY TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS ACT OF 2007

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I now ask unanimous consent that all 
postcloture time be yielded back, the motion to proceed be agreed to, 
and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that the 
Senate now proceed to the consideration of H.R. 1195.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 1195) to amend the Safe, Accountable, 
     Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for 
     Users, to make technical corrections, and for other purposes.

  The Senate proceeded to consider the bill, which had been reported 
from the Committee on Environment and Public Works, with an amendment 
to strike all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu thereof the 
following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Highway Technical 
     Corrections Act of 2007''.

     SEC. 2. SURFACE TRANSPORTATION TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.

       (a) Correction of Internal References in Disadvantaged 
     Business Enterprises.--Paragraphs (3)(A) and (5) of section 
     1101(b) of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient 
     Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (119 Stat. 
     1156) are amended by striking ``paragraph (1)'' each place it 
     appears and inserting ``paragraph (2)''.
       (b) Correction of Distribution of Obligation Authority.--
     Section 1102(c)(5) of the Safe,

[[Page S3015]]

     Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A 
     Legacy for Users (119 Stat. 1158) is amended by striking 
     ``among the States''.
       (c) Correction of Federal Lands Highways.--Section 1119 of 
     the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation 
     Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (119 Stat. 1190) is amended by 
     striking subsection (m) and inserting the following:
       ``(m) Forest Highways.--Of the amounts made available for 
     public lands highways under section 1101--
       ``(1) not more than $20,000,000 for each fiscal year may be 
     used for the maintenance of forest highways;
       ``(2) not more than $1,000,000 for each fiscal year may be 
     used for signage identifying public hunting and fishing 
     access; and
       ``(3) not more than $10,000,000 for each fiscal year shall 
     be used by the Secretary of Agriculture to pay the costs of 
     facilitating the passage of aquatic species beneath forest 
     roads (as defined in section 101(a) of title 23, United 
     States Code), including the costs of constructing, 
     maintaining, replacing, and removing culverts and bridges, as 
     appropriate.''.
       (d) Correction of Description of National Corridor 
     Infrastructure Improvement Project.--Item number 1 of the 
     table contained in section 1302(e) of the Safe, Accountable, 
     Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for 
     Users (119 Stat. 1205) is amended in the State column by 
     inserting ``LA,'' after ``TX,''.
       (e) Correction of Infrastructure Finance Section.--Section 
     1602(d)(1) of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient 
     Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (119 Stat. 
     1247) is amended by striking ``through 189 as sections 601 
     through 609, respectively'' and inserting ``through 190 as 
     sections 601 through 610, respectively''.
       (f) Correction of Project Federal Share.--Section 1964(a) 
     of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation 
     Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (119 Stat. 1519) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``only for the States of Alaska, Montana, 
     Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, and South Dakota,''; and
       (2) by striking ``section 120(b)'' and inserting ``section 
     120''.
       (g) Transportation Systems Management and Operations 
     Defined.--Section 101(a) of title 23, United States Code, is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(39) Transportation systems management and operations.--
       ``(A) In general.--The term `transportation systems 
     management and operations' means an integrated program to 
     optimize the performance of existing infrastructure through 
     the implementation of multimodal and intermodal, cross-
     jurisdictional systems, services, and projects designed to 
     preserve capacity and improve security, safety, and 
     reliability of the transportation system.
       ``(B) Inclusions.--The term `transportation systems 
     management and operations' includes--
       ``(i) regional operations collaboration and coordination 
     activities between transportation and public safety agencies; 
     and
       ``(ii) improvements to the transportation system, such as 
     traffic detection and surveillance, arterial management, 
     freeway management, demand management, work zone management, 
     emergency management, electronic toll collection, automated 
     enforcement, traffic incident management, roadway weather 
     management, traveler information services, commercial vehicle 
     operations, traffic control, freight management, and 
     coordination of highway, rail, transit, bicycle, and 
     pedestrian operations.''.
       (h) Correction of Reference in Apportionment of Highway 
     Safety Improvement Program Funds.--Effective October 1, 2006, 
     section 104(b)(5)(A)(iii) of title 23, United States Code, is 
     amended by striking ``the Federal-aid system'' each place it 
     appears and inserting ``Federal-aid highways''.
       (i) Correction of Amendment To Advance Construction.--
     Section 115 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by 
     redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (c).
       (j) Correction of High Priority Projects.--Section 117 of 
     title 23, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsections (d) through (h) as 
     subsections (e) through (i), respectively;
       (2) by redesignating the second subsection (c) (relating to 
     Federal share) as subsection (d);
       (3) in subsection (a)(2)(A) by inserting ``(112 Stat. 
     257)'' after ``21st Century''; and
       (4) in subsection (a)(2)(B)--
       (A) by striking ``subsection (b)'' and inserting 
     ``subsection (c)''; and
       (B) by striking ``SAFETEA-LU'' and inserting ``Safe, 
     Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A 
     Legacy for Users (119 Stat. 1256)''.
       (k) Correction of Transfer of Unused Protective-Device 
     Funds to Other Highway Safety Improvement Program Projects.--
     Section 130(e)(2) of title 23, United States Code, is amended 
     by striking ``purposes under this subsection'' and inserting 
     ``highway safety improvement program purposes''.
       (l) Metropolitan Transportation Planning.--Section 134 of 
     title 23, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (f)(3)(C)(ii) by striking subclause (II) 
     and inserting the following:

       ``(II) Funding.--In addition to funds made available to the 
     metropolitan planning organization for the Lake Tahoe region 
     under other provisions of this title and chapter 53 of title 
     49, prior to an allocation under section 202 of this title, 
     the Secretary shall set aside \1/2\ of 1 percent of funds 
     authorized to be appropriated to carry out that section, 
     which shall be provided to the Tahoe Metropolitan Planning 
     Organization to carry out the transportation planning 
     process, including the environmental review of transportation 
     projects to complete environmental documentation for the Lake 
     Tahoe region under the Tahoe Regional Planning Compact as 
     consented to in Public Law 96-551 (94 Stat. 3233) and this 
     subparagraph.'';

       (2) in subsection (j)(3)(D) by inserting ``or the 
     identified phase'' after ``the project'' each place it 
     appears; and
       (3) in subsection (k)(2) by striking ``a metropolitan 
     planning area serving''.
       (m) Correction of Highway Bridge Program.--
       (1) In general.--Section 144 of title 23, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (A) in the section heading by striking ``replacement and 
     rehabilitation'';
       (B) in subsections (b), (c)(1), and (e) by striking 
     ``Federal-aid system'' each place it appears and inserting 
     ``Federal-aid highway'';
       (C) in subsections (c)(2) and (o) by striking ``the 
     Federal-aid system'' each place it appears and inserting 
     ``Federal-aid highways'';
       (D) in the heading to paragraph (4) of subsection (d) by 
     inserting ``systematic'' before ``preventive'';
       (E) in subsection (e) by striking ``off-system bridges'' 
     each place it appears and inserting ``bridges not on Federal-
     aid highways'';
       (F) by striking subsection (f);
       (G) by redesignating subsections (g) through (s) as 
     subsections (f) through (r), respectively;
       (H) in subsection (f) (as redesignated by subparagraph 
     (G))--
       (i) in paragraph (1)(A)--

       (I) in clause (vi), by inserting ``, except that any 
     unobligated or unexpended funds remaining upon completion of 
     the project under this clause shall be transferred to and 
     used to carry out the project described in clause (vii)'' 
     after ``Vermont''; and
       (II) in clause (viii), by inserting ``and corridor'' after 
     ``bridge''; and

       (ii) in paragraph (2), by striking the paragraph heading 
     and inserting ``Bridges not on federal-aid highways'';
       (I) in subsection (m) (as redesignated by subparagraph (G)) 
     by striking the subsection heading and inserting ``Program 
     for Bridges Not on Federal-Aid Highways''; and
       (J) in subsection (n)(4)(B) (as redesignated by 
     subparagraph (G)) by striking ``State highway agency'' and 
     inserting ``State transportation department''.
       (2) Conforming amendments.--
       (A) Metropolitan planning.--Section 104(f)(1) of title 23, 
     United States Code, is amended by striking ``replacement and 
     rehabilitation''.
       (B) Equity bonus program.--Subsections (a)(2)(C) and 
     (b)(2)(C) of section 105 of title 23, United States Code, are 
     amended by striking ``replacement and rehabilitation'' each 
     place it appears.
       (C) Analysis.--The analysis for chapter 1 of title 23, 
     United States Code, is amended in the item relating to 
     section 144 by striking ``replacement and rehabilitation''.
       (n) Correction of National Scenic Byways Program 
     Coverage.--Section 162 of title 23, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)(3)(B) by striking ``a National Scenic 
     Byway under subparagraph (A)'' and inserting ``a National 
     Scenic Byway, an All-American Road, or one of America's 
     Byways under paragraph (1)''; and
       (2) in subsection (c)(3) by striking ``or All-American 
     Road'' each place it appears and inserting ``All-American 
     Road, or one of America's Byways''.
       (o) Correction of Reference in Toll Provision.--Section 
     166(b)(5)(C) of title 23, United States Code, is amended by 
     striking ``paragraph (3)'' and inserting ``paragraph (4)''.
       (p) Correction of Recreational Trails Program Apportionment 
     Exceptions.--Section 206(d)(3)(A) of title 23, United States 
     Code, is amended by striking ``(B), (C), and (D)'' and 
     inserting ``(B) and (C)''.
       (q) Correction of Infrastructure Finance.--Section 
     601(a)(3) of title 23, United States Code, is amended by 
     inserting ``bbb minus, BBB (low),'' after ``Baa3,''.
       (r) Correction of Miscellaneous Typographical Errors.--
       (1) Section 1401 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, 
     Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (119 
     Stat. 1226) is amended by redesignating subsections (d) and 
     (e) as subsections (c) and (d), respectively.
       (2) Section 1404(e) of such Act (119 Stat. 1229) is amended 
     by inserting ``tribal,'' after ``local,''.
       (3) Section 10211(b)(2) of such Act (119 Stat. 1937) is 
     amended by striking ``plan administer'' and inserting ``plan 
     and administer''.
       (4) Section 10212(a) of such Act (119 Stat. 1937) is 
     amended--
       (A) by inserting ``equity bonus,'' after ``minimum 
     guarantee,'';
       (B) by striking ``freight intermodal connectors'' and 
     inserting ``railway-highway crossings'';
       (C) by striking ``high risk rural road,''; and
       (D) by inserting after ``highway safety improvement 
     programs'' the following: ``(and separately the set aside for 
     the high risk rural road program)''.

     SEC. 3. MAGLEV.

       (a) Funding.--Section 1101(a)(18) of the Safe, Accountable, 
     Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for 
     Users (119 Stat. 1155) is amended by striking subparagraphs 
     (A) and (B) and inserting the following:
       ``(A) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
       ``(B) $35,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 and 
     2009.''.
       (b) Contract Authority.--Section 1307 of the Safe, 
     Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A 
     Legacy for Users (119 Stat. 1217) is amended by adding at the 
     end the following:
       ``(e) Contract Authority.--Funds authorized under section 
     1101(a)(18) shall be available

[[Page S3016]]

     for obligation in the same manner as if the funds were 
     apportioned under chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code; 
     except that the funds shall not be transferable and shall 
     remain available until expended, and the Federal share of the 
     cost of a project to be carried out with such funds shall be 
     80 percent.''.

     SEC. 4. PROJECTS OF NATIONAL AND REGIONAL SIGNIFICANCE.

       The table contained in section 1301(m) of the Safe, 
     Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A 
     Legacy for Users (119 Stat. 1203) is amended--
       (1) in item number 19 by striking the project description 
     and inserting ``Regional rail expansion and transportation 
     infrastructure in the vicinity of Santa Teresa, New Mexico''; 
     and
       (2) in item number 22 by striking the project description 
     and inserting ``Redesign and reconstruction of interchanges 
     298 and 299 of I-80 and accompanying improvements to any 
     other public roads in the vicinity, Monroe County''.

     SEC. 5. IDLING REDUCTION FACILITIES.

       Section 111 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by 
     striking subsection (d).

     SEC. 6. PROJECT AUTHORIZATIONS.

       (a) In General.--The table contained in section 1702 of the 
     Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity 
     Act: A Legacy for Users (119 Stat. 1256) is amended--
       (1) in item number 3688 by striking ``road'' and inserting 
     ``trail'';
       (2) in item number 3691 by striking the project description 
     and inserting ``Hoonah roads'';
       (3) in item number 3695 by striking ``in Soldotna'' and 
     inserting ``in the Kenai River corridor'';
       (4) in item number 3699 by striking ``to improve fish 
     habitat'';
       (5) in item number 3700 by inserting ``and ferry 
     facilities'' after ``a ferry'';
       (6) in item number 3703 by inserting ``or other roads'' 
     after ``Cape Blossom Road'';
       (7) in item number 3704 by striking ``Fairbanks'' and 
     inserting ``Alaska Highway'';
       (8) in item number 3705 by striking ``in Cook Inlet for the 
     Westside development/Williamsport-Pile Bay Road'' and 
     inserting ``for development of the Williamsport-Pile Bay Road 
     corridor'';
       (9) in item number 3828 by striking ``$2,000,000'' and 
     inserting ``$11,000,000'';
       (10) by striking item number 3829;
       (11) by striking item number 3832;
       (12) in item number 3861 by striking the project 
     description and inserting ``Creation of a greenway path along 
     the Naugatuck River in Waterbury'';
       (13) in item number 3883 by striking the project 
     description and inserting ``Wilmington Riverfront Access and 
     Street Grid Redesign'';
       (14) in item number 3892 by striking ``$5,000,000'' and 
     inserting ``$8,800,000'';
       (15) in item number 3894 by striking ``$5,000,000'' and 
     inserting ``$1,200,000'';
       (16) in item number 3909 by striking the project 
     description and inserting ``S.R. 281, the Avalon Boulevard 
     Expansion Project from Interstate 10 to U.S. Highway 91'';
       (17) in item number 3911 by striking the project 
     description and inserting ``Construct a new bridge at Indian 
     Street, Martin County'';
       (18) in item number 3916 by striking the project 
     description and inserting ``City of Hollywood for U.S. 1/
     Federal Highway, north of Young Circle'';
       (19) in item number 3937 by striking the project 
     description and inserting ``Kingsland bypass from CR 61 to I-
     95, Camden County'';
       (20) in item number 3945 by striking ``CR 293 to CS 5231'' 
     and inserting ``SR 371 to SR 400'';
       (21) in item number 3965 by striking ``transportation 
     projects'' and inserting ``and air quality projects'';
       (22) in item number 3986 by striking the project 
     description and inserting ``Extension of Sugarloaf Parkway, 
     Gwinnett County'';
       (23) in item number 3999 by striking ``Bridges'' and 
     inserting ``Bridge and Corridor'';
       (24) in item number 4003 by striking the project 
     description and inserting ``City of Council Bluffs and 
     Pottawattamie County East Beltway Roadway and Connectors 
     Project'';
       (25) in item number 4043 by striking ``MP 9.3, Segment I, 
     II, and III'' and inserting ``Milepost 24.3'';
       (26) in item number 4050 by striking the project 
     description and inserting ``Preconstruction and construction 
     activities of U.S. 51 between the Assumption Bypass and 
     Vandalia'';
       (27) in item number 4058 by striking the project 
     description and inserting ``For improvements to the road 
     between Brighton and Bunker Hill in Macoupin County'';
       (28) in item numbers 4062 and 4084 by striking the project 
     descriptions and inserting ``Preconstruction, construction, 
     and related research and studies of I-290 Cap the Ike project 
     in the village of Oak Park'';
       (29) in item number 4089 by inserting ``and parking 
     facility/entrance improvements serving the Museum of Science 
     and Industry'' after ``Lakeshore Drive'';
       (30) in item number 4103 by inserting ``and adjacent to 
     the'' before ``Shawnee'';
       (31) in item number 4110 by striking the project 
     description and inserting ``For improvements to the road 
     between Brighton and Bunker Hill in Macoupin County'';
       (32) in item number 4120 by striking the project 
     description and amount and inserting ``Upgrade 146th Street 
     to Improve I-69 Access'' and ``$800,000'', respectively;
       (33) in item number 4125 by striking ``$250,000'' and 
     inserting ``$1,650,000'';
       (34) by striking item number 4170;
       (35) by striking item number 4179;
       (36) in item number 4185 by striking the project 
     description and inserting ``Replace the Clinton Street Bridge 
     spanning St. Mary's River in downtown Fort Wayne'';
       (37) in item number 4299 by striking the project 
     description and inserting ``Improve U.S. 40, MD 715 
     interchange and other roadways in the vicinity of Aberdeen 
     Proving Ground to support BRAC-related growth'';
       (38) in item number 4313 by striking ``Maryland Avenue'' 
     and all that follows through ``Rd. corridor'' and inserting 
     ``intermodal access and pedestrian safety improvements'';
       (39) in item number 4315 by striking ``stormwater 
     mitigation project'' and inserting ``environmental 
     preservation project'';
       (40) in item number 4318 by striking the project 
     description and inserting ``Planning, design, and 
     construction of improvements to the highway systems 
     connecting to Lewiston and Auburn downtowns'';
       (41) in item number 4323 by striking the project 
     description and inserting ``MaineDOT Acadia intermodal 
     passenger and maintenance facility'';
       (42) in item number 4338 by striking the project 
     description and inserting ``Construct 1 or more grade-
     separated crossings of I-75, and make associated improvements 
     to improve local and regional east-west mobility between 
     Mileposts 279 and 282'';
       (43) in item number 4355 by striking the project 
     description and inserting ``Design, engineering, ROW 
     acquisition, construction, and construction engineering for 
     the reconstruction of TH 95, from 12th Avenue to CSAH 13, 
     including bridge and approaches, ramps, intersecting 
     roadways, signals, turn lanes, and multiuse trail, North 
     Branch'';
       (44) in item number 4357 by striking the project 
     description and inserting ``Design, construct, ROW, and 
     expand TH 241 and CSAH 35 and associated streets in the City 
     of St. Michael'';
       (45) in item number 4360 by striking the project 
     description and inserting ``Planning, design, and 
     construction for Twin Cities Bioscience Corridor in St. 
     Paul'';
       (46) in item number 4362 by striking the project 
     description and inserting ``I-494/U.S. 169 interchange 
     reconstruction including U.S. 169/Valley View Road 
     interchange, Twin Cities Metropolitan Area'';
       (47) in item number 4365 by striking the project 
     description and inserting ``34th Street realignment and 34th 
     Street and I-94 interchange, including retention and 
     reconstruction of the SE Main Avenue/CSAH 52 interchange 
     ramps at I-94, and other transportation improvements for the 
     city of Moorhead, including the SE Main Avenue GSI and 
     Moorhead Comprehensive Rail Safety Program'';
       (48) in item number 4369 by striking the project 
     description and inserting ``Construction of 8th Street North, 
     Stearns C.R. 120 to TH 15 in St. Cloud'';
       (49) in item number 4371 by striking the project 
     description and inserting ``Construction and ROW of TH 241, 
     CSAH 35 and associated streets in the City of St. Michael'';
       (50) in item number 4411 by striking ``Southaven'' and 
     inserting ``DeSoto County'';
       (51) in item number 4424 by striking the project 
     description and inserting ``U.S. 93 Evaro to Polson 
     transportation improvement projects'';
       (52) in item number 4428 by striking the project 
     description and inserting ``U.S. 76 improvements'';
       (53) in item number 4457 by striking the project 
     description and inserting ``Construct an interchange at an 
     existing grade separation at SR 1602 (Old Stantonsburg Rd.) 
     and U.S. 264 Bypass in Wilson County'';
       (54) in item number 4461 by striking the project 
     description and inserting ``Transportation and related 
     improvements at Queens University of Charlotte, including the 
     Queens Science Center and the Marion Diehl Center, 
     Charlotte'';
       (55) in item number 4507 by striking the project 
     description and inserting ``Design, right-of-way and 
     construction of Highway 35 between Norfolk and South Sioux 
     City, including an interchange at milepost 1 on U.S. I-129'';
       (56) in item number 4555 by inserting ``Canal Street and'' 
     after ``Reconstruction of'';
       (57) in item number 4565 by striking the project 
     description and inserting ``Railroad Construction and 
     Acquisition, Ely and White Pine County'';
       (58) in item number 4588 by inserting ``Private Parking 
     and'' before ``Transportation'';
       (59) in item number 4596 by striking the project 
     description and inserting ``Transportation center, Corning'';
       (60) in item number 4610, by striking the project 
     description and inserting ``Demolition, site restoration, and 
     hazardous material abatement of Alert Facility at Plattsburgh 
     International Airport'';
       (61) in item number 4649 by striking the project 
     description and inserting ``Fairfield County, OH U.S. 33 and 
     old U.S. 33 safety improvements and related construction, 
     city of Lancaster and surrounding areas'';
       (62) in item number 4651 by striking ``for the transfer of 
     rail to truck for the intermodal'' and inserting ``, and 
     construction of an intermodal freight'';
       (63) in item number 4691 by striking the project 
     description and inserting ``Transportation improvements to 
     Idabel Industrial Park Rail Spur, Idabel'';
       (64) in item number 4722 by striking the project 
     description and inserting ``Highway, traffic, pedestrian, and 
     riverfront improvements, Pittsburgh'';
       (65) in item number 4749 by striking ``study'' and 
     inserting ``improvements'';
       (66) in item number 4821 by striking ``highway grade 
     crossing project, Clearfield and Clinton Counties'' and 
     inserting ``Project for highway grade crossings and other 
     purposes relating to the Project in Cambria, Centre, 
     Clearfield, Clinton, Indiana, and Jefferson Counties'';
       (67) in item number 4838 by striking ``study'' and 
     inserting ``improvements'';
       (68) in item number 4839 by striking ``fuel-celled'' and 
     inserting ``fueled'';

[[Page S3017]]

       (69) in item number 4866 by striking ``$11,000,000'' and 
     inserting ``$9,400,000'';
       (70) by inserting after item number 4866 the following:


``4866A      RI                  Repair and restore       $1,600,000'';
                                  railroad bridge in
                                  Westerly

       (71) in item number 4892 by striking the project 
     description and inserting ``Construct a 4-lane highway 
     between maverick Junction and the Nebraska border'';
       (72) in item number 4915 by striking the project 
     description and inserting ``For projects of highest priority, 
     as determined by the South Dakota DOT'';
       (73) in item number 4916 by striking ``$1,000,000'' and 
     inserting ``$328,000'';
       (74) in item number 4924 by striking ``$3,450,000'' and 
     inserting ``$4,122,000'';
       (75) in item number 4927 by striking the project 
     description and inserting ``Construction and Improvements to 
     the College Street Corridor, Great Smoky Mountain Heritage 
     Highway Cultural and Visitors Center in Maryville'';
       (76) in item number 4960 by inserting ``of which $50,000 
     shall be used for a street paving project, Calhoun'' after 
     ``County'';
       (77) in item number 4974 by striking ``, Sevier County'';
       (78) in item number 5008 by inserting ``/Kane Creek 
     Boulevard'' after ``500 West'';
       (79) in item numbers 5011 and 5033 by striking ``200 South 
     Interchange'' each place it appears and inserting ``400 South 
     Interchange'';
       (80) in item number 5021, by striking ``Pine View Dam,'';
       (81) in item number 5026 by striking the project 
     description and inserting ``Roadway improvements on 
     Washington Fields Road/300 East, Washington'';
       (82) in item number 5027 by inserting ``and roadway 
     improvements'' after ``safety project'';
       (83) in item number 5028 by inserting ``and roadway 
     improvements'' after ``lighting'';
       (84) in item number 5029 by inserting ``and roadway 
     improvements'' after ``lights'';
       (85) in number 5032 by striking the project description and 
     inserting ``Expand Redhills Parkway, St. George'';
       (86) in item number 5132 by striking the project 
     description and inserting ``St. Croix River crossing project, 
     Wisconsin State Highway 64, St. Croix County, Wisconsin, to 
     Minnesota State Highway 36, Washington County''; and
       (87) in item number 5161 by striking the project 
     description and inserting ``Raleigh Street Extension Project 
     in Martinsburg''.
       (b) Transfer of Project Funds.--The Secretary of 
     Transportation shall transfer to the Commandant of the Coast 
     Guard amounts made available to carry out the project 
     described in item number 4985 of the table contained in 
     section 1702 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient 
     Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (119 Stat. 
     1447) to carry out that project, in accordance with the Act 
     of June 21, 1940 (commonly known as the ``Truman-Hobbs Act'') 
     (33 U.S.C. 511 et seq.).
       (c) Unused Obligation Authority.--Notwithstanding any other 
     provision of law, unused obligation authority made available 
     for an item in section 1702 of the Safe, Accountable, 
     Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for 
     Users (119 Stat. 1256) that is repealed, or authorized 
     funding for such an item that is reduced, by this section 
     shall be made available--
       (1) for an item in section 1702 of that Act that is added 
     or increased by this section and that is in the same State as 
     the item for which obligation authority or funding is 
     repealed or reduced;
       (2) in an amount proportional to the amount of obligation 
     authority or funding that is so repealed or reduced; and
       (3) individually for projects numbered 1 through 3676 
     pursuant to section 1102(c)(4)(A) of that Act (119 Stat. 
     1158).
       (d) Additional Discretionary Use of Surface Transportation 
     Program Funds.--Of the funds apportioned to each State under 
     section 104(b)(3) of title 23, United States Code, a State 
     may expend for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2009 not 
     more than $1,000,000 for the following activities:
       (1) Participation in the Joint Operation Center for Fuel 
     Compliance established under section 143(b)(4)(H) of title 
     23, United States Code, within the Department of the 
     Treasury, including the funding of additional positions for 
     motor fuel tax enforcement officers and other staff dedicated 
     on a full-time basis to participation in the activities of 
     the Center.
       (2) Development, operation, and maintenance of electronic 
     filing systems to coordinate data exchange with the Internal 
     Revenue Service by States that impose a tax on the removal of 
     taxable fuel from any refinery and on the removal of taxable 
     fuel from any terminal.
       (3) Development, operation, and maintenance of electronic 
     single point of filing in conjunction with the Internal 
     Revenue Service by States that impose a tax on the removal of 
     taxable fuel from any refinery and on the removal of taxable 
     fuel from any terminal.
       (4) Development, operation, and maintenance of a 
     certification system by a State of any fuel sold to a State 
     or local government (as defined in section 4221(d)(4) of the 
     Internal Revenue Code of 1986) for the exclusive use of the 
     State or local government or sold to a qualified volunteer 
     fire department (as defined in section 150(e)(2) of such 
     Code) for its exclusive use.
       (5) Development, operation, and maintenance of a 
     certification system by a State of any fuel sold to a 
     nonprofit educational organization (as defined in section 
     4221(d)(5) of such Code) that includes verification of the 
     good standing of the organization in the State in which the 
     organization is providing educational services.

     SEC. 7. CORRECTION OF INTERSTATE DESIGNATION.

       (a) Treatment.--Section 1908(a) of the Safe, Accountable, 
     Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for 
     Users (119 Stat. 1469) is amended by striking paragraph (3).
       (b) National Highway System.--Section 1908(b) of the Safe, 
     Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A 
     Legacy for Users (119 Stat. 1470) is amended by striking 
     ``from the Arkansas State line'' and inserting ``from 
     Interstate Route 540''.

     SEC. 8. FUTURE OF SURFACE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.

       Section 1909(b) of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, 
     Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (119 
     Stat. 1471) is amended--
       (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) of paragraph 
     (9) by striking ``July 1, 2007'' and inserting ``December 31, 
     2007'';
       (2) in paragraph (11)(C) by striking ``the Administrator of 
     the Federal Highway Administration'' and inserting ``the 
     Secretary'';
       (3) in paragraph (11)(D)(i) by striking ``, on a 
     reimbursable basis,'';
       (4) in paragraph (15) by striking ``$1,400,000 for each of 
     fiscal years 2006 and 2007'' and inserting ``$1,400,000 for 
     fiscal year 2006 and $3,400,000 for fiscal year 2007'';
       (5) by redesignating paragraphs (14), (15), (16), and (17) 
     as paragraphs (15), (16), (17), and (18), respectively; and
       (6) by inserting after paragraph (13) the following:
       ``(14) Limitations.--
       ``(A) Funds.--Funds made available to carry out this 
     section may be expended only to support the activities of the 
     Commission.
       ``(B) Data, analyses, and reports.--No data, analysis, 
     report, or other document prepared for the Commission to 
     fulfill the duties of the Commission may be provided to, or 
     shared with, any other commission or task force until the 
     data, analysis, report, or document has been made available 
     to the public.''.

     SEC. 9. BUDGET JUSTIFICATION.

       Section 1926 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient 
     Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (49 U.S.C. 301 
     note; 119 Stat. 1483) is amended by striking ``The 
     Department'' and inserting ``Notwithstanding any other 
     provision of law, the Department''.

     SEC. 10. BUY AMERICA.

       Section 1928 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient 
     Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (119 Stat. 
     1484) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (5) as 
     paragraphs (3) through (6), respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
       ``(2) the current application by the Federal Highway 
     Administration of the Buy America test as applied only to 
     components or parts of a bridge project and not the entire 
     bridge project is inconsistent with this sense of 
     Congress;''.

     SEC. 11. TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS.

       The table contained in section 1934(c) of the Safe, 
     Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A 
     Legacy for Users (119 Stat. 1486) is amended--
       (1) in item number 12 by striking ``Yukon River'' and 
     inserting ``Kuskokwim River'';
       (2) in item number 18 by striking ``Engineering and 
     Construction in Merced County'' and inserting ``and safety 
     improvements/realignment of SR 165 project study report and 
     environmental studies in Merced and Stanislaus Counties'';
       (3) in item number 38 by striking the project description 
     and inserting ``Relocation of the Newark Train Station'';
       (4) in item number 57 by striking the project description 
     and inserting ``Kingsland bypass from CR 61 to I-95, Camden 
     County'';
       (5) in item number 114--
       (A) by striking ``IA-32''; and
       (B) by inserting ``SW'' after ``Construct'';
       (6) in item number 122 by striking the project description 
     and inserting ``Design, right-of-way, and construction of the 
     SW Arterial and connections to U.S. 20, Dubuque County'';
       (7) in item number 130 by striking the project description 
     and inserting ``Improvements and rehabilitation to rail and 
     bridges on the Appanoose County Community Railroad'';
       (8) in item number 133 by striking ``IA-32'';
       (9) in item number 138 by striking the project description 
     and inserting ``West Spencer Beltway Project'';
       (10) in item number 142 by striking ``MP 9.3, Segment I, 
     II, and III'' and inserting ``Milepost 24.3'';
       (11) in item number 161 by striking ``Bridge replacement on 
     Johnson Drive and Nall Ave.'' and inserting ``Construction 
     improvements'';
       (12) in item number 182 by striking the project description 
     and inserting ``Improve U.S. 40, M.D. 715 interchange, and 
     other roadways in the vicinity of Aberdeen Proving Ground to 
     support BRAC-related growth'';
       (13) in item number 198 by striking the project description 
     and inserting ``Construct 1 or more grade separated crossings 
     of I-75 and make associated improvements to improve local and 
     regional east-west mobility between Mileposts 279 and 282'';
       (14) in item number 201 by striking the project description 
     and inserting ``Alger County, paving a portion of H-58 from 
     Buck Hill to a point located 4,000 feet east of the Hurricane 
     River'';
       (15) in item number 238 by striking the project description 
     and inserting ``Develop and construct the St. Mary water 
     project road and bridge infrastructure, including a new 
     bridge and approaches across St. Mary River, stabilization 
     and improvements to United States Route 89, and road/canal 
     from Siphon Bridge to Spider Lake, on the condition that 
     $2,500,000 of the amount made available to carry out this 
     item may be made available to the Bureau of Reclamation for 
     use for the Swift Current Creek and Boulder Creek bank and 
     bed stabilization project in the Lower St. Mary Lake 
     drainage'';

[[Page S3018]]

       (16) in item number 329 by inserting ``, Tulsa'' after 
     ``technology'';
       (17) in item number 358 by striking ``fuel-celled'' and 
     inserting ``fueled'';
       (18) in item number 374 by striking the project description 
     and inserting ``Construct a 4-lane highway between Maverick 
     Junction and the Nebraska border''; and
       (19) in item number 402 by striking ``from 2 to 5 lanes and 
     improve alignment within rights-of-way in St. George'' and 
     inserting ``, St. George''.

     SEC. 12. HIGHWAY RESEARCH FUNDING.

       (a) F-SHRP Funding.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law, for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2009, at any time 
     at which an apportionment is made of the sums authorized to 
     be appropriated for the surface transportation program, the 
     congestion mitigation and air quality improvement program, 
     the National Highway System, the Interstate maintenance 
     program, the bridge program, or the highway safety 
     improvement program, the Secretary of Transportation shall--
       (1) deduct from each apportionment an amount not to exceed 
     0.205 percent of the apportionment; and
       (2) transfer or otherwise make that amount available to 
     carry out section 510 of title 23, United States Code.
       (b) Conforming Amendments.--
       (1) Funding.--Section 5101 of the Safe, Accountable, 
     Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for 
     Users (119 Stat. 1779) is amended--
       (A) in subsection (a)(1) by striking ``509, and 510'' and 
     inserting ``and 509'';
       (B) in subsection (a)(4) by striking ``$69,700,000'' and 
     all that follows through ``2009'' and inserting ``$40,400,000 
     for fiscal year 2005, $69,700,000 for fiscal year 2006, 
     $76,400,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 and 2008, and 
     $78,900,000 for fiscal year 2009''; and
       (C) in subsection (b) by inserting ``or, in the case of 
     funds appropriated by subsection (a) to carry out section 
     5201, 5202, or 5203, 80 percent'' after ``50 percent''.
       (2) Future strategic highway research program.--Section 
     5210 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient 
     Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (119 Stat. 
     1804) is amended--
       (A) by striking subsection (c); and
       (B) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (c).
       (c) Contract Authority.--Funds made available under this 
     section shall be available for obligation in the same manner 
     as if the funds were apportioned under chapter 1 of title 23, 
     United States Code, except that the Federal share shall be 
     determined under section 510(f) of that title.
       (d) Applicability of Obligation Limitation.--Funds made 
     available under this section shall be subject to any 
     limitation on obligations for Federal-aid highways and 
     highway safety construction programs under section 1102 the 
     Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity 
     Act: A Legacy for Users (23 U.S.C. 104 note; 119 Stat. 1157) 
     or any other Act.
       (e) Equity Bonus Formula.--Notwithstanding any other 
     provision of law, in allocating funds for the equity bonus 
     program under section 105 of title 23, United States Code, 
     for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2009, the Secretary of 
     Transportation shall make the required calculations under 
     that section as if this section had not been enacted.
       (f) Funding for Research Activities.--Of the amount made 
     available by section 5101(a)(1) of the Safe, Accountable, 
     Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for 
     Users (119 Stat. 1779)--
       (1) at least $1,000,000 shall be made available for each of 
     fiscal years 2007 through 2009 to carry out section 502(h) of 
     title 23, United States Code; and
       (2) at least $4,900,000 shall be made available for each of 
     fiscal years 2007 through 2009 to carry out section 502(i) of 
     that title.
       (g) Technical Amendments.--
       (1) Surface transportation research.--Section 502 of title 
     23, United States Code, is amended by striking the first 
     subsection (h), relating to infrastructure investment needs 
     reports beginning with the report for January 31, 1999.
       (2) Advanced travel forecasting procedures program.--
     Section 5512(a)(2) of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, 
     Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (119 
     Stat. 1829) is amended by striking ``Program appreciation.--
     '' and inserting ``Program application.--''.
       (3) University transportation research.--Section 5506 of 
     title 49, United States Code, is amended--
       (A) in subsection (i)--
       (i) by striking ``In order to'' and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(1) In general.--In order to''; and
       (ii) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(2) Special rule.--Nothing in paragraph (1) requires a 
     nonprofit institution of higher learning designated as a Tier 
     II university transportation center to maintain total 
     expenditures as described in paragraph (1) in excess of the 
     amount of the grant awarded to the institution.''; and
       (B) in subsection (k)(3) by striking ``The Secretary'' and 
     all that follows through ``to carry out this section'' and 
     inserting ``For each of fiscal years 2007 through 2009, the 
     Secretary shall expend not more than 1.5 percent of amounts 
     made available to carry out this section''.

     SEC. 13. RESCISSION.

       Section 10212 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient 
     Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (as amended by 
     section 1302 of the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (Public 
     Law 109-280)) (119 Stat. 1937; 120 Stat. 780) is amended by 
     striking ``$8,593,000,000'' each place it appears and 
     inserting ``$8,710,000,000''.

     SEC. 14. TEA-21 TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.

       (a) In General.--Section 1108(f)(1) of the Transportation 
     Equity Act for the 21st Century (23 U.S.C. 133 note; 112 
     Stat. 141) is amended by striking ``2003'' and inserting 
     ``2009''.
       (b) Beartooth Highway, Wyoming and Montana.--Item number 
     1646 of the table contained in section 1602 of the 
     Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (112 Stat. 
     317) is amended in the project description by striking ``and 
     construction'' and inserting ``reconstruction, maintenance 
     (including routine and preventive maintenance), snow removal, 
     and pavement preservation''.

     SEC. 15. HIGH PRIORITY CORRIDOR AND INNOVATIVE PROJECT 
                   TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.

       (a) High Priority Corridors.--Section 1105(c) of the 
     Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (105 
     Stat. 2032; 119 Stat. 1212) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (63) by striking ``and United States 
     Routes 1, 3, 9, 17, and 46,'' and inserting ``United States 
     Routes 1, 9, and 46, and State Routes 3 and 17,''; and
       (2) in paragraph (64)--
       (A) by striking ``United States Route 42'' and inserting 
     ``State Route 42''; and
       (B) by striking ``Interstate Route 676'' and inserting 
     ``Interstate Routes 76 and 676''.
       (b) Innovative Projects.--The table contained in section 
     1107(b) of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency 
     Act of 1991 (105 Stat. 2048(b)) is amended in item number 89, 
     in the matter under the column with the heading ``Innovative 
     projects'', by inserting ``and contiguous counties'' after 
     ``Michigan''.

     SEC. 16. DEFINITION OF REPEAT INTOXICATED DRIVER LAW.

       Section 164(a)(5) of title 23, United States Code, is 
     amended by striking subparagraphs (A) and (B) and inserting 
     the following:
       ``(A) receive--
       ``(i) a driver's license suspension for not less than 1 
     year; or
       ``(ii) a combination of suspension of all driving 
     privileges for the first 45 days of the suspension period 
     followed by a reinstatement of limited driving privileges for 
     the purpose of getting to and from work, school, or an 
     alcohol treatment program if an ignition interlock device is 
     installed on each of the motor vehicles owned or operated, or 
     both, by the individual;
       ``(B) be subject to the impoundment or immobilization of, 
     or the installation of an ignition interlock system on, each 
     motor vehicle owned or operated (or both) by the 
     individual;''.

     SEC. 17. RESEARCH TECHNICAL CORRECTION.

       Section 5506(e)(5)(C) of title 49, United States Code, is 
     amended by striking ``$2,225,000''and inserting 
     ``$2,250,000''.

     SEC. 18. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       (a) In General.--Except as otherwise provided in this Act 
     (including subsection (b)), this Act and the amendments made 
     by this Act take effect on the date of enactment of this Act.
       (b) Exception.--
       (1) In general.--The amendments made by this Act (other 
     than the amendments made by sections 4, 6, and 11) to the 
     Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity 
     Act: A Legacy for Users (Public Law 109-59; 119 Stat. 1144) 
     shall--
       (A) take effect as of the date of enactment of that Act; 
     and
       (B) be treated as being included in that Act as of that 
     date.
       (2) Effect of amendments.--Each provision of the Safe, 
     Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A 
     Legacy for Users (Public Law 109-59; 119 Stat. 1144) 
     (including the amendments made by that Act) (as in effect on 
     the day before the date of enactment of this Act) that is 
     amended by this Act (other than sections 4, 6, and 11) shall 
     be treated as not being enacted.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from California is recognized.
  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I am very pleased we are on this bill. 
Senator Inhofe and I haven't wasted the time. We have been talking with 
our colleagues. I think for the interest of all Members, at this point 
we don't expect any votes tonight, but we certainly do hope in every 
way possible that we will start disposing of the amendments in the 
morning. We will be here about 10:30. We urge our colleagues to come 
down and offer their amendments. We will debate them, we will have our 
votes on them, and we will get something done for the American people.
  I yield the floor at this time.
  I see my ranking member and I am delighted he is here.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oklahoma is recognized.
  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I thank the chairman of the committee. 
This is something we have spent a long time on. I think it is very 
important for all of us on both sides of the aisle to understand that 
what we are considering here is not the transportation reauthorization 
bill of 2005. That was done. That is history. That is behind us. A 
technical corrections bill is common with every bill, every major piece 
of legislation that comes along. Sometimes in the case--I will go ahead 
and say in my case of Oklahoma, we had a major project that was about a 
$200,000 project in Durant, OK in which, according to our 
transportation commissioner and the Transportation Department of 
Oklahoma, that same amount

[[Page S3019]]

of money could be better spent doing the same project but at another 
location. Well, that takes a technical change. There is no difference.
  I say to all of my good friends, there is no one who is more 
conservative than I am by all ratings in my last 22 years in both the 
House and the Senate. There are no new projects. There is no new 
spending. The amount of money that was authorized is the same amount of 
money that is authorized at the present time in the technical 
corrections bill. So it is not somehow getting some kind of an earmark 
or something else in it.
  I have often said that of all of the systems we use in Washington to 
accomplish things, probably the transportation system is the best. I 
don't know of anyone who complains about paying into the highway trust 
fund when they get gasoline. They want to be sure it is going to go to 
building highways, repairing bridges. But what we do in the State of 
Oklahoma is we have eight transportation districts, eight 
transportation commissioners, all geographically located. They make 
recommendations. What I do with a transportation bill is I leave it up 
to them to make the determination as to where that goes. The States are 
making those decisions. The highway trust fund--there are some States 
where the money doesn't go straight into transportation. They have been 
robbing balances of the highway trust fund for as long as I know. We 
have corrected that problem in the State of Oklahoma. Instead of having 
it go to other causes, it goes to correcting the crisis we are in right 
now.
  I wish to say that for those of us who are conservatives, this is 
something that works well. If there is any function of government that 
needs to be addressed and has to be addressed at the Federal level, it 
is our roads and highways. We have States such as Montana, big States 
that have very few people. You still have to get across them. You have 
the congested eastern States that have the opposite situation. That is 
why way back in the Eisenhower administration they decided to go in 
together and create this system we still have today. It is one that has 
worked fairly well. I don't want people out there to think this is 
something that has a bunch of projects and a bunch of earmarks in it. 
It doesn't. This is something we spent 2 or 3 years intensively working 
on prior to its passage in 2005. Now we want to make these corrections 
to make sure the rest of the projects get done.
  Here is the dilemma we have right now. We have a lot of projects--not 
nearly enough but a lot of projects--that we authorized in 2005. If we 
don't have technical corrections, we are up against the wall now where 
we can't get anything more done, and we have given our word to people 
all throughout the country that we are going to improve bridges, we are 
going to try to save lives, and it has virtually stopped because we 
have certain corrections that need to be made.
  What we dealt with on that very large, what was it, $286 billion over 
the period of 2005 through 2009, which is a lot of money, that doesn't 
do anything more--it doesn't even maintain what we already have. We 
don't even have a lot of new stuff in there. There is not a person in 
America who doesn't know we have a crisis. Some of these Members of 
this committee or this body, if you don't think it is a crisis, call 
your wife at home, or your husband, and they will tell you it is a 
crisis. It is worse every year. It is not something that we can make a 
decision today and all come to our good senses and get it done and it 
will be done tomorrow. It is a long lead time. It is a complicated 
process. But it is one of the things that has worked well.
  I know there are a lot of people who want to satisfy some 
constituency that says you are spending too much money. You tell that 
constituency to go out and drive in the traffic for a while and see 
what kind of serious problems we have.
  I have often said--and I have followed this myself--we all in this 
body have different priorities. That is what makes it a representative 
body. I have often said we need to, No. 1, take care of our Nation's 
security, have a military that can defend our country; No. 2, take care 
of the infrastructure we have and move forward with that; and No. 3, 
which is kind of a pet thing with me, and I think everyone who has 
previously been a mayor of a major city--unfunded mandates is another 
area that I feel this governing body should be paying attention to. But 
we have a bill. We have a bill that is working now. We are improving 
highways. We are adding lanes. But we have come to a stop. I think 
anyone who tries to keep this from becoming a reality doesn't want to 
address a serious problem we are faced with.
  No one else is going to do it for us. The States can't do it. It has 
to be done by the Federal Government. We passed a bill. We are going to 
be coming up against another bill next year when this runs out in 2009. 
We are going to be reauthorizing for the next 5 years or 7 years or 
maybe even longer. But this has to be done and we need to get it done 
now.
  We do have several amendments. I understand the concern of the 
Senator from South Carolina who has made his statements, and he has 
done so very eloquently. Frankly, I agree with almost everything he 
says. The only thing I disagree with is that this bill isn't creating 
new projects, isn't spending new money. We need, in his State as well 
as my State and in all 50 States, to get on with this. I hope people 
realize these are not new projects; it is not an increase in spending. 
It doesn't spend at all; it is an authorization bill.
  Another amendment that is going to be pending is that of my good 
friend Senator Bond from Missouri. He has a special concern, and I 
encourage him to come down to the floor to bring it up, debate it, and 
let's vote on it and get that done. Then my junior Senator has a 
concern over something that is a process that happened--it didn't even 
happen here, but it happened in the other body. Now, I agree with him, 
it is something that was egregious and needs to be investigated. I 
think it should be. I think there are a lot of different ways of doing 
it. I want to join hands with him and get this done.
  So we, to my knowledge, only have those three things that are out 
there that are holding this up. I would invite those three authors to 
come down. I think while we are not going to be having votes tonight, 
we can start debating these tonight, and tomorrow morning we could 
actually vote on some of these. But I agree with the chairman of the 
committee, Senator Boxer, and the majority and the minority leaders in 
this body that we need to get it done. We are not going to get it done 
until we get the amendments down here, debate them, and decide what is 
the will of this body. That is what we are supposed to be doing for a 
living around here. That is what happens.
  I yield the floor and 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. BROWN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________