[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 7843]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             HIGHWAY AND TRANSPORTATION FUNDING ACT OF 2015

  Mr. ROUNDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 89, H.R. 2353.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 2353) to provide an extension of Federal-aid 
     highway, highway safety, motor carrier safety, transit, and 
     other programs funded out of the Highway Trust Fund, and for 
     other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there further debate?
  The Senator from Illinois.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, is there going to be a unanimous consent 
request made at this point?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair understands there will be.
  Mr. DURBIN. I will reserve the right to object at that point.
  Mr. President, in the interest of time--I know it is early in the 
morning--I would like to make a statement. I am not going to object to 
proceeding to this measure, but I would like to make a matter of record 
what I am sure the Senator from South Dakota already knows: that absent 
our action at this moment, the Federal highway program authority will 
expire May 31.
  We have just spent the better part of the evening contemplating the 
expiration of important law relative to our national security, and we 
have not resolved it.
  What is happening here, of course, is a request for a 60-day 
extension of the Federal highway program. I might say--and I am sure 
the Senator from South Dakota is well aware of this--this is the 33rd 
short-term extension of our Federal highway program.
  I think all of us understand that the program that once was 
considered to be the centerpiece of America's infrastructure and its 
economy has now deteriorated to the point where we are extending it for 
1 month, 2 months, and 3 months at a time. Frankly, it does not serve 
our country and it doesn't serve our economy. It is a reflection on the 
lack of leadership by those who have the authority in committees and in 
the House and Senate to propose a measure that becomes a long-term 
highway program.
  I just want to make it clear that instead of enacting a 6-year 
transportation program worthy of our great Nation, this Congress 
continues to limp along down a political highway of excuses. It is 
coming to an end.
  There have been lengthy discussions in our Democratic caucus that 
these continued short-term extensions are unacceptable in this great 
Nation. And I would just say that although we will agree to this 60-day 
extension, we are serving notice on the majority leader in the Senate 
as well as the Speaker to do their job and to enact a law that provides 
the kind of infrastructure that could build America's economy.
  So I will not object to this request, but notice is given that in 
this 60 days, it is time for this Congress to act.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there is no further debate, the question is 
on the third reading of the bill.
  The bill was ordered to a third reading and was read the third time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The bill having been read the third time, the 
question is, Shall the bill pass?
  The bill (H.R. 2353) was passed.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from South Dakota.
  Mr. ROUNDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the motion to 
reconsider be made and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. ROUNDS. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. ROUNDS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________