[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 17184]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         SURFACE TRANSPORTATION

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I respectfully request if the chairman of 
the Committee on Environment and Public Works, Senator Inhofe, would 
engage in a colloquy with me on the impact of the several Surface 
Transportation extension bills on the so-called ``donor'' States. As 
the chairman is well aware, TEA-21 contains a fundamental principle of 
fairness for donor States which guarantees that no State will receive 
less than a 90.5 percent rate of return of their gas tax contributions 
to the Highway trust fund. In the preceding extension bills for fiscal 
year 2004, this matter was not addressed because it was expected that a 
full surface transportation reauthorization bill would be enacted this 
year. I know my chairman has worked tirelessly to pass a new 
transportation bill, but regrettably we have not completed our work.
  As we face the end of the fiscal year, the multiple highway extension 
bills have not followed the TEA-21 Minimum Guarantee program and the 
result is that, to date, many States will not receive the 90.5 percent 
guarantee in fiscal year 2004. I am particularly concerned because 
again this temporary extension bill does not follow the TEA-21 formula.
  I appreciate the chairman's diligence on this matter and I am aware 
that some funding remains in fiscal year 2004 which may be used to 
correct this problem. I would like to ask the chairman if my 
understanding of this situation is correct, and would be grateful for 
the chairman's view of this matter.
  Mr. INHOFE. The Senator from Virginia is correct that the several 
transportation extension bills enacted this year require that the next 
legislation we enact must address the ``donor'' State issue for fiscal 
year 2004. I remain committed to guaranteeing that all States receive a 
minimum of 90.5 percent rate of return for their trust fund 
contributions in fiscal year 2004. As some funding remains in the 
fiscal year, I am committed to maintaining the Minimum Guarantee 
program for this year so that no State receives less than a 90.5 
percent return on their trust fund contributions.
  Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent the bill be read a third time and 
passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any 
statements be printed in the Record.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I will speak very briefly. People watching 
sometimes wonder what is going on in the quorum call. This is hours' 
worth of quorum call right here. It took only 20 seconds to read it. It 
is one reason we have the quorum calls.
  No objection.
  Mr. FRIST. Many hours, many hours.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (H.R. 4916) was read the third time and passed.

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