The Focus of Today's Session will be
S.1072, the Highway Funding Bill

6:30 P.M.

By a vote of the Senate voted 75-11 to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to consideration of S.1072, the Highway Funding Bill.  It is expected that the Senate will spend up to two weeks considering this measure before they recess for a week in mid-February. 

5:45 P.M.

The Senate is now beginning a vote on the motion to end debate and proceed to consideration of S.1072, the Highway Funding Bill. 

5:00 P.M.

Senator Jeffords spoke briefly about moving ahead on the Highway Bill.  Senator Jeffords is Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and has worked with Senator Inhofe to move this bill forward.  Senator Graham of Florida is now speaking about his objections to the bill. 

4:35 P.M.

Senator Kennedy of Massachusetts recently paid tribute to the Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots.  He congratulated Tom Brady, Adam Vinatieri and Bill Belichick for their second championship in three years.  Senator Kennedy is now speaking on unemployment assistance.

4:05 P.M.

Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison from Texas is speaking on the Highway Funding bill and the affect it would have on her state.  Because Texas is such a large state they have many miles of roads they need to maintain.  Senator Hutchison is concerned about the amount of funds Texas will receive from this bill. 

3:15 P.M.

Senator Inhofe is speaking on the Highway Funding bill.  As chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, the committee with jurisdiction over the bill, he is speaking in support of the bill and asking Senators to vote in favor of a motion to proceed to consideration of the Highway Funding bill. 

2:00 P.M.

During the past hour Senator Frist made introductory remarks about the Highway Funding bill, before giving way to Senator Daschle, who congratulated South Dakotan, Adam Vinatieri   on kicking a Super Bowl winning field goal for the New England Patriots.  Senator Graham then spoke for more than thirty minutes on the investigation into the September 11th terrorist attacks.

1:00 P.M.

The Senate will be in a period of morning business until 2:00, at which time the Senate will resume consideration of S.1072, the Highway Funding bill. A vote to invoke cloture on this bill is expected to take place at 5:45 today.