Max Baucus

Mr. BAUCUS

Mr. BAUCUS. I wonder, Mr. President, if the majority leader will yield, if we can wait maybe 1 minute here. There is a possibility we can get this cleared right now.

Mr. BAUCUS. If we could just withhold for a few more minutes? Maybe the other Senator from Alaska could speak for just a few more minutes. We are just that close to getting this thing wrapped up. I would want to do it now rather than later.

Mr. BAUCUS. May I ask the distinguished chairman of the committee, is this the same version the chairman showed me not too long ago, maybe about an hour or so ago?

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, we have examined this amendment and we think it is acceptable.

Mr. BAUCUS. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, if the Senator will yield, it is, I think, very timely. I might say, I do not know what progress we are going to make, if any, on the Nickles amendment. This side does not know what it is. I see the Senator from Oklahoma on the floor right now. Maybe he is in a position to tell us.

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, this is basically, as most managers' amendments are, an amendment which contains minor modifications and technical corrections. One I would like to point out to the Senate is the change in reference to the ``intelligence vehicle highway systems'' to ``intelligent transportation systems.'' The theory of the ISTEA legislation that this is the heart of is that we are trying to broaden the definition of ``transportation'' to include intelligent functions; that is, more advanced technologies in highway travel to include not only highways but other transportation modes. It, obviously, includes seaports and also intermodal connectors. I urge the adoption of the managers' amendment.

Mr. BAUCUS

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, before accepting the amendment, I would like to commend the Senator from Nebraska. About 600 people a year die at railroad crossings. It seems to me we in Congress have an obligation to do what we can do to reduce that number. The Senator from Nebraska came up with an ingenious idea to reduce the deaths. All the Members are indebted to him for his efforts. I commend the Senator.

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I would like to join in commending Senators who have worked out resolutions of amendments. The Senator from Virginia has done an admirable job, a wonderful job talking with Senators and working out resolutions. On the Democratic side, we are about finished. Senator Exon has three amendments. I hope, because those are Commerce Committee amendments, that the chairman of the Commerce Committee and his staff can work out agreements with Senator Exon. Senator Exon is on the floor now ready to proceed with his amendments. I hope that those can be worked out. We are very close to final passage. Very close. I expect we can finish this bill before noon.

Mr. BAUCUS. I might say to the leader, in response to his question, that means automatically one or two others are dropped. Automatically, too, that means others are dropped.

Mr. BAUCUS. Also another one on this side, too, will not be offered as a consequence of that last development.

Mr. BAUCUS. Maybe the Senator could find another one that has the same ripple effect?

Mr. BAUCUS

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I thank the Senator. I do not know if the Senator knows this, but Senator Exon has withdrawn both his other amendments.

Mr. BAUCUS. The only potential amendments remaining, in addition to the managers' amendment, are potential amendments by Senator Lautenberg, Senator Nickles, Senator Sarbanes, Senator Smith, and Senators Stevens and Murkowski.

Mr. BAUCUS

Mr. BAUCUS. I ask unanimous consent further reading be dispensed with.

Mr. BAUCUS. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. BAUCUS. I ask unanimous consent further reading be dispensed with.

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, this amendment on behalf of Senator Bumpers of Arkansas provides uniform match for intermodal connector as part of U.S. 71 to the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport.

Mr. BAUCUS. Yes.

Mr. BAUCUS

Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I rise today to express my strong support for the President and Ambassador Kantor in their efforts to open Japan's auto and auto parts market. In just 1 week, we are scheduled to impose sanctions on Japanese luxury cars. That is a last resort. I hope in these last few days Japan's auto companies will show themselves willing to accept a reasonable agreement. But if not, we will have no choice.

Mr. BAUCUS

Mr. BAUCUS. John Kerry?

Mr. BAUCUS. Three amendments by Senator Exon?

Mr. BAUCUS. Johnston?

Mr. BAUCUS. Might I ask my good friend and colleague from Virginia? Does he have Senator Stevens?