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

5:40 P.M.

The Senate has adjourned for the day.  No roll call votes were held.  The Senate will return tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m. to resume consideration of S.1072, the Highway Funding Bill.  At 12:30 p.m. the Senate will recess until 2:15 p.m. for the weekly policy lunches.  Roll call votes are expected for tomorrow. 

5:05 P.M.

Senator Warner of Virginia is speaking on his amendment that is cosponsored by Senator Clinton and Senator DeWine to increase national seatbelt use to 90%.  He has said the goal of this bill must be to increase transportation safety.  Here is a link to Senator Dorgan's amendment to reduce the amount of federal highway funding to states by 2% if states do not pass legislation to outlaw open alcohol containers in motor vehicles. 

4:30 P.M.

Senator Dorgan of North Dakota is speaking about open alcohol containers in automobiles.  He has stated that in some places in this country it is legal to hold an open alcoholic beverage in your car while you drive.  Senator Dorgan's mother was killed in an auto accident by a drunk driver. 

3:30 P.M.

Senator McCain of Arizona is speaking on the Senate floor about the Highway Funding Bill and the impact that it would have on his home state of Arizona.  He has held up the original bill that was passed in the 1950s, when passed it was only 29 pages.  Senator McCain noted that under this new legislation additional states would become donor states. 

2:50 P.M.

Senator DeWine of Ohio is speaking about some of his amendments that have been accepted by the Environment and Public Works Committee to be attached tot he Highway Funding Bill.  One of his amendments would require states to rank intersections based on how dangerous they are and to make this information public.  Because the Highway Funding Bill is authorizing legislation, Senators are able to add a variety of amendments to the bill, including amendments that are not related to transportation issues. 

2:30 P.M.

Because no Senators are waiting to speak on the Highway Funding Bill, Senator Dorgan of North Dakota is speaking about jobs in the United States moving off shore and the trade deficit. 

2:15 P.M.

Senator Reid of Nevada is speaking about the Medicare prescription drug bill that passed Congress last fall.  He is criticizing a new television advertisement about the changes to Medicare that he believes to be misleading.  The GAO has agreed to investigate whether this new ad violates a law that prohibits the Administration from using appropriated funds for "publicity or propaganda purposes."  To see information about the new Medicare changes compiled by Senator Leahy's legislative staff click here. 

1:55 P.M.

Senator Craig Thomas of Wyoming is speaking on the Senate floor about Grizzly Bears and the Endangered Species Act as if in morning business.  He has also spent a few moments talking about the priorities for this session of the Congress.

1:30 P.M.

Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, Senator Inhofe, has invited Senators to bring any amendments to the Highway Funding Bill to the floor.  He is taking a moment to defend the  formula that is used to derive federal funding for transportation funds.  His state of Oklahoma is a donor state, that pays more into the Highway Account of the Highway Trust Fund than they receive in apportionments for federal-aid highway programs.

1:00 P.M.

At 1:00 p.m. the Senate will resume consideration of S.1072, the Highway Funding Bill. All Senate office buildings are open this morning.  Last week a letter containing Ricin was found in Majority Leader Bill Frist's office, which lead to the closure of the Senate Office buildings on Tuesday and Wednesday.  Mail to the Senate is currently no being delivered.