[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 679]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            PASSING S. 1072

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I commend the distinguished majority 
leader for his statement on the importance of the legislation that will 
soon be pending. He and I have had a number of discussions about the 
legislation and the need to proceed. I applaud him for his leadership 
in making sure the Senate has an opportunity to complete its work on 
this bill at the earliest possible time. He has very persuasively 
articulated why this legislation is important not only for the State of 
Tennessee but for the country. I will have a lot more to say about the 
bill in the coming days. But I hope that in spite of the differences 
there may be with regard to allocation, priorities, and policy, we can 
find a way to work together on this bill and complete our work perhaps 
as early as a week from this coming Friday. I think it is doable.
  I have pledged to the distinguished majority leader that we are going 
to do all we can to complete our work in that timeframe. That will take 
cooperation and it will take efficient use of the next 2 weeks. I think 
it is doable. I am very hopeful that by working together we can 
recognize this is one of the most important opportunities not only for 
our investment in infrastructure, but for the creation of good jobs and 
what it can mean in the longer term for the economy. This is a good 
moment for all people involved. I just hope we seize the moment and do 
all we can to successfully complete our work.

                          ____________________