Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users

TRANSPORTATION EQUITY ACT: A LEGACY FOR USERS

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Mr. DURBIN. Will the Senator yield?

Mr. INHOFE. Yes, I yield for a question.

Mr. DURBIN. Just for a question.

I came to the Senate and heard Senator Lott. He was exasperated and frustrated. He said Members were not offering amendments, so I came to the Senate quickly to find out the extent of it.

Would the Senator from Oklahoma clarify, is it not true that we now have, in effect, a new bill--about 1,000 pages, the substitute--that is being copied now and being shared for the first time? Members who seek to amend the bill should at least be given a chance to review this new version of the bill so their amendments are in order.

Mr. INHOFE. I respond to the Senator from Illinois, I am not sure what was shared with all the Democrats. I do know that Senator Jeffords and Senator Baucus--we have been working together. They are the ranking members of the subcommittee and whole committee. We have done this jointly. This has been done all together. Whether that was shared with all the Members, I have no way of knowing.

Mr. DURBIN. If the Senator will yield, I share the sentiment and understand his frustration 3 years into this process still trying to come up with a bill. I want to see this done as quickly as possible. I will urge the staff that is now reviewing this new substitute amendment--some are just seeing it for the first time--to move quickly and to urge all colleagues on both sides, Democrats and Republicans, to bring their amendments to the floor and let's get on with it.

I say to the Senator, I understand his feelings, and if it is in the form of a question, does the Senator believe he is deserving of my empathy?

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