[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 9 (Monday, January 23, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S33]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            ST. CROIX BRIDGE

  Ms. KLOBUCHAR. Mr. President, we are about to pass unanimously the 
St. Croix bill. It is something we have been working on very hard--the 
two Senators from Minnesota, myself, Senator Franken, Senator Johnson, 
as well as Senator Kohl--to get through the Senate.
  This bill allows a bridge to be built that has been waiting for 30 
years. It is a bridge that exists now and is a beautiful bridge, but it 
is falling apart. Pieces of the bridge have fallen into the St. Croix 
River. It is a bridge that is expected to take 18,000 cars a day, and 
the Department of Transportation and the State of Minnesota believe 
very strongly we need a new bridge.
  This legislation allows the bridge to move forward. I appreciate all 
of the help from my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. They have 
helped me to work on this legislation over the last few months. Senator 
Coburn had some changes at the end, and we worked with every single 
Senator to get this done.
  The bill now moves to the House where it also enjoys bipartisan 
support, and both Governors of both States support this bill. They will 
then be allowed to build the bridge they want.
  There has been questions raised about whether this creates some kind 
of precedent under the Scenic Rivers Act. This is a very unique 
situation. It has taken us a year to pass. We are in a situation where 
any new bridge would need an exemption to the Scenic Rivers Act.
  We are pleased this bill is getting passed today. I don't believe 
anyone believed we could have done this unanimously after 30 years of 
work, but tonight we are getting it done.
  I yield the floor.

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