senator derbin. >> thank you madam chair, i had a great five-minute speech. it's great to be on this conference committee, i asked my staff, what happened to the last transportation bill in the house. you'll remember this, congressman young. it passed 412 to 9. and this time the house could not pass a transportation bill. how would a bill that was so easy to pass three years ago be -- members could pick important projects in their districts and states, thereby eliminating some 500 plus little engines that pulled this bill across the finish line. we had a bipartisan bill the last time this subject came up and there were a lot of people in the house that wanted to add baggage to this train. we have heard it already, keystone pipeline and stuff. we can't really criticize the -- offered by senator blount on missouri. it was rejected. the second thing i learned from my staff is that we cannot even agree on what we disagree on coming to this conference committee, here's what i'd say is obvious. look at the senators who came before me, they reached a bipartisan agre

senator derbin, thank you for recognizing me. i was chairman last time with mr. backus. and we passed a good bill and you're right about the 500 -- it does work. this is very hard to go up that hill and i complement the chairman on this, not understanding, unless you got your fingers involved in making the soup, not many people will drink it. and this is very important. because what we have done is try to pass a bill that no one has any interest in. and transportation is a subject that everyone should have an interest in. bipartisan. trying to improve our ability to transport goods and receive goods to prove manufactured products to the ports to be able to ship them out. and we're neglecting our duty right now if we don't establish a good transportation bill. this is what i'm going to be working on with the schachairmad aisle be working on the senate side. >> thank you, madam chairman, i'm pleased on the here and be part of this conference committee, i want to thank you for your leadership as well as congressman mike karks i look forward to working with you on this impor