[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 107 (Thursday, June 26, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S6176]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  UNANIMOUS-CONSENT REQUEST--H.R. 6327

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed 
to the consideration of H.R. 6327--this matter was received from the 
House earlier further, that a Baucus substitute amendment at the desk 
which is a 3-month FAA extension and a highway trust fund fix be agreed 
to; the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed; and the 
motions to reconsider be laid on the table with no intervening action 
or debate.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Is there objection?
  Mr. DeMINT. Reserving the right to object.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from South Carolina is 
recognized.
  Mr. DeMINT. I am very supportive of the aviation bill. I do think it 
is inappropriate to add $8 billion of unrelated spending without debate 
or amendment, so I regretfully have to object.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Objection is heard.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I am wondering while my friend is on the 
floor, the highway trust fund, according to the States, is upside down. 
There is not enough money in it. With the construction season upon us 
for renovation and repair of streets, highways, and bridges, I say to 
my friend: Would any smaller amount of money be satisfactory, say, $6 
billion?
  Mr. DeMINT. Mr. President, I appreciate the question from the leader. 
I think again it is inappropriate to make a decision on whether it is 
$6 billion or whatever the figure is. Only a couple of months ago we 
were all here on a technical correction bill. We had the opportunity to 
take a lot of money that was saved from projects that were not needed. 
We talked at the time on this floor about the fact that the trust fund 
was short. But instead of taking that savings and putting it back in 
the trust fund, we used it to add additional earmarks and to put more 
money into projects that were there. So there has been no intent by 
this body to try to look at the problem with the trust fund. Certainly 
it is something we need to deal with but not as part of the aviation 
bill.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I am disappointed but not nearly as 
disappointed as 50 Governors. This is a situation where the highways of 
this country are in desperate need of repair and construction.
  With the economy faltering, as it is, and the housing market 
stumbling, this would be a tremendous help. For the $6 billion, it 
would create about 300,000 jobs--300 thousand. For every billion 
dollars we spend, it creates about 47,500 high-paying jobs. The spinoff 
from those jobs is significant.
  This would be vitally important to give our economy a little shot in 
the arm. So I am disappointed my friend has objected.
  We are going to have to continue to work to try to replenish that 
trust fund. The trust fund is not adequately funded because of the fact 
that people are not traveling as much. They are not buying enough fuel 
at least to fill the trust fund. The price of gasoline, when President 
Bush took office, was $1.46, $1.47. Now it is an average of about $4.12 
a gallon.
  We have real problems around the country. When gas was at $1.47, the 
same tax came into the coffers to fill this fund. So it is an issue, 
and I would say to my friend, the technical corrections bill was just 
that, it was to take care of other things that were essentially needed 
at that time.

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