Senate Proceeding on Jul 29th, 2009 :: 2:23:40 to 2:29:10
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2:23:39 to 2:23:59( Edit History Discussion )

David Vitter: quorum call: mr. vitter: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from louisiana. mr. vitter: unanimous consent to vitiate the quor the presiding officer: without objection. mr. vitter: mr. president, i rise to talk about something i've brought up several times on the floor of the senate which is the fact that the highway trust fund

2:23:40 to 2:29:10( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: David Vitter

2:24:00 to 2:24:20( Edit History Discussion )

David Vitter: continue to build out our highway infrastructure and particularly midst of this recession is about to run o we need to do sething about at and we need to responsibly, not merely increase debt, increase

2:24:21 to 2:24:41( Edit History Discussion )

David Vitter: more money, but act responsibly, replenish this trust fund in a way that more the public debt and the federal government debt. i have a proceedal to do just that but it's i have a proposal to do just that but it's essential that we consider this issue now, this week, and not wait until next week when the house of representatives won't even be in

2:24:42 to 2:25:06( Edit History Discussion )

David Vitter: session so that we can correctly address this issue and act in a responsible way. again, mr. president, it's very clear that the highway trust fund is running out of money. i think it's a near universal consensus that we need to act, we need to do something about that

2:25:07 to 2:25:29( Edit History Discussion )

David Vitter: doesn't just end and essential construction in states -- all of our states around the country -- doesn't just come to a screeching halt. but how do we do that, mr. president? there is absolutely no reason -- there's absolutely no reason -- the presiding of senator will suspend, please.

2:25:33 to 2:25:54( Edit History Discussion )

David Vitter: order in the chamber. the senator from louisiana. mr. vitter: there's absolutely no reason that we need to do this by driving up the debt more, borrowing yet more money from our lenders, whoever they may be, including the chinese government. we can do this with already appropriated dollars. and how do we do it? well, let's move some of the

2:25:55 to 2:26:15( Edit History Discussion )

David Vitter: stimulus dollars, a very small percentage of the stimulus bill, which has already passed, dollars which have already been appropriated and move that to the highway trust fund. thisly solves the problem and does -- this solves the problem and does it in a responsible way without increasing our debt level, without borrowing yet more money

2:26:16 to 2:26:36( Edit History Discussion )

David Vitter: from all sorts of sources, including foreign sources. mr. president, i summarized this proposal in a letter to senator reid cosigned by about 3 colleagues, and we sent the distinguished majority leader this letter on july 21. we urged him to get behind and

2:26:37 to 2:26:57( Edit History Discussion )

David Vitter: support this proposal also urged him to take up this matter of the highway trust fund now, can have a full, fair debate on the issue and come to a proper resolution. now, why does it matter when we take this up? well, mr. president, simple reason, this week we

2:26:58 to 2:27:19( Edit History Discussion )

David Vitter: could address the issue, we could have a full, we could amend house send it back to the house and include the proposal that funds be shifted from the stimulus to meet this essential need. next week, we can do the same thing, but i can tell you the first thing that will come out of mouth of the majority leader

2:27:20 to 2:27:41( Edit History Discussion )

David Vitter: and others, gone. the house has left town. it's it's accede everything to they want, we canned amend it, one comma, one period that. is bogus, mr. president. we can amend it. we can in

2:27:42 to 2:28:03( Edit History Discussion )

David Vitter: should do as soon as we conclude consideration of the energy and water appropriation bill, which is on the floor now. so, mr. president, i urge all my colleagues to come together in a reasonable, responsible debate to consider this commonsense solution of replenishing the highway trust fund but doing it out of

2:28:04 to 2:28:25( Edit History Discussion )

David Vitter: stimulus dollars so we don't increase the after all, highway construction is we can all agree on. it's precisely the sort of stimulus spending that has very broad, near universal bipartisan support

2:28:26 to 2:28:46( Edit History Discussion )

David Vitter: with the broad goals of the stimulus. with all of that in mr. president, i would repeat a unanimous consent request that i proffered several days ago. several days ago, i asked for unanimous consent that the senate call up and pass s. 1344, my bill to use stimulus funds to

2:28:47 to 2:29:08( Edit History Discussion )

David Vitter: protect the solvency of the highway trust fund this request was objected t the democratic side. i would now and specifically ask consent that the senate unanimous consent agreement that would provide for time certain, immediately following the conclusion of consideration of the energy and water

2:29:09 to 2:29:11( Edit History Discussion )

David Vitter: appr