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

5:40 P.M.

Senator Inhofe and Senator Kyl have been speaking about the progress of the Highway Funding Bill.  Senator Inhofe is lamenting the fact that more amendments have not been brought to the floor before this evening.  No more votes are scheduled for this evening.  Votes on amendments are expected tomorrow, in addition to a vote on cloture on the Highway Funding bill. 

4:35 P.M.

Senator Craig Thomas is speaking about how the highway trust fund is funded by the 18 cent tax on each gallon of gas. 

4:25 P.M.

Senator Reid and Senator Bingaman have been speaking back and forth on research and development that is funded by the government.  

3:00 P.M.

Senator Ernest Hollings of South Carolina is speaking on an article in the Los Angeles Times that claims President Bush is in favor of moving U.S. jobs oversees.  Senator Hollings is the senior Senator from South Carolina and has announced that he will not seek reelection this fall. 

1:35 P.M.

For the past 15 to 20 minutes Senator Harry Reid of Nevada has been speaking about the independent commission that the President appointed to investigate the intelligence that was gathered before the Iraq war.  He has been critical of the appointees to this panel. 

12:30 P.M.

While the Senate is debating Senator Clinton's amendment #2311 about the outsourcing of American jobs, Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts is speaking passionately about unemployment and the effect it is having on the average American.

11:30 A.M.

The Senate is now voting on the motion to table Senator Warner's amendment to the Highway Funding bill regarding seat belts.

11:20 A.M.

Senator Hillary Clinton, a co-sponsor of Senator Warner's amendment regarding seat belts, is questioning Senator Allen about his opposition to this amendment.

11:15 A.M.

After Senator John Warner of Virginia spoke in defense of his amendment calling for a federal mandate for the use of seat belts, Senator George Allen, also of Virginia, again spoke of his concerns about this amendment. Both Senators are referencing the federal government using federal transportation funds as a way to enforce a minimum drinking age and a legal blood alcohol level for motorists.

10:45 A.M.

Senator George Allen is voicing his opposition to Senator Warner's amendment to the Highway Funding bill about seat belts on the basis that he believes it should be a matter left to each state to be decided rather than mandated by the federal government. Senator Allen is mentioning that there are a number of actions that drivers should not partake in while driving, such as "looking for your Alan Jackson CD or eating a Big Mac," but he feels that it should be the role of state government to say what is considered lawful behavior for drivers.

10:15 A.M.

Senator Wayne Allard of Colorado is discussing the strength of the economic state of the U.S. today.

10:00 A.M.

Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois is discussing his trip to Walter Reid Memorial Hospital yesterday, where he went to visit soldiers who had been wounded in Iraq. The Senator said the most common request he heard from the soldiers was the need for armored doors on Humvees.  In following up to find out why the Humvees are not equipped with such doors, Senator Durbin found out that the shortage of steel production jobs is the main reason. The Senator is claiming that this is an example of why he opposes the President's statement that it is good for jobs to be outsourced to overseas corporations.

9:30 A.M.

At 9:30 this morning, the Senate be in a period of morning business for an hour prior to resuming consideration of S.1072, the Highway Funding Bill. Majority Leader Frist has said that he expects the Senate to vote on Senator John Warner's amendment #2286 on seatbelt usage.