[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 16]
[Senate]
[Pages 22840-22841]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         BRIDGE DISASTER RELIEF

  Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I would like to enter into a brief 
colloquy with my colleague on the Environment and Public Works 
Committee regarding his understanding of congressional intent for 
monies authorized in the pending Minnesota, bridge disaster relief 
bill.

[[Page 22841]]

  I want to clarify that this authorization comes from the general fund 
rather than the Highway Trust Fund. Is that your understanding?
  Mr. INHOFE. If the chairman will yield, I concur completely with your 
understanding. As I read the language, it clearly comes from the 
general fund and not the Highway Trust Fund. Given the precarious 
situation with Highway Trust Fund finances, it would be a mistake to 
place further burdens on it, and as per SAFETEA-LU, all additional 
emergency repairs come from the general fund.
  Mr. BAUCUS. I thank my colleague for his concurrence.

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