[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 13100]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            THE HIGHWAY BILL

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, late nights, vigorous legislating, and 
sometimes unpredictable outcomes may make some reach for the aspirin, 
but these are the hallmarks of a functioning Congress.
  The push-and-pull between different parties, different Members, and 
different Chambers is all part of the democratic rhythm. That is 
especially true when you are talking about a measure as complicated and 
consequential as a multiyear highway bill.
  I am pleased to see Republicans and Democrats continuing to hold 
together to pass the Senate's bipartisan highway legislation. We are on 
the verge of scoring another important victory for the American people.
  Once the Senate completes its work on the bill, the House of 
Representatives will begin its work on a multiyear measure as well. A 
multiyear bill is now our joint goal. That is important for our 
country. We know it represents the best way to provide State and local 
governments with the kind of certainty they need to focus on longer 
term road and bridge projects.
  Here is how Kentucky's main transportation advocacy group, 
Kentuckians for Better Transportation, put it: A longer term bill would 
``provide an opportunity to plan for and implement projects that are 
important to Kentucky's citizens and Kentucky's economy--and to every 
other state in the nation.''
  We will conference the legislation we pass with what the House passes 
and then send a unified bill to President Obama. In the meantime, we 
will work with our friends in the House to pass a measure that will 
give them the space they need to develop a multiyear highway bill. It 
is also a measure that would deliver some important relief to our 
veterans by covering unfunded requirements the administration failed to 
budget for. It would also extend a helping hand to heroes who need it.
  I can't see a reason any Senator would vote against it. We will take 
up that bill once the House sends it to us. We will continue working in 
the interim to finish our own bipartisan, multiyear highway bill--a 
bill that is fiscally responsible and will not raise taxes by a penny.

                          ____________________