Providing for a correction to the enrollment of H.R. 3.

Mr. President, I rise to address an issue of critical importance to my constituents in Montana. Early this morning, in the dead of night, the House of Representatives took an extraordinary action to delete a commonsense provision in the transportation conference report that would have reopened the runway at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, MT. I am sorry the House acted as if it knows what is best for Great Falls, MT.

I cannot possibly put into words my outrage for the extraordinary action that the House took early this morning. My amendment would have opened the runway that is in the heart of Malmstrom Air Force base, which is active, healthy, and vibrant. Malmstrom is located outside of Great Falls, MT, and is a highly secure missile facility, employing the largest number of security forces in the entire U.S. Air Force.

Currently, the roadways and the infrastructure of Great Falls are strained due to the frequent crosstown movement of heavy cargo and equipment during deployments of the 219th and the 819th Red Horse Squadrons of the U.S. Air Force and National Guard. They must travel from Malmstrom to the other side of town on a congested roadway in the middle of town to fly out of a municipal airport. The Montana Air National Guard conducts all of their missions out of the same municipal airport.

This amendment would have enabled those units to deploy from a runway within their secured perimeter. Despite the mischaracterization of the House, this provision would not overturn a BRAC decision, nor would it influence the current BRAC round. It could not. Malmstrom is not on the BRAC list. The amendment was drafted, discussed, and deliberated in the light of day, agreed to by the relevant committees and conferees.

I was also pleased to have worked with the chairman and ranking member of the Armed Services Committee, as well as the conferees of the highway bill, all of whom accepted this amendment. To now have the House of Representatives cut this provision in the dead of night is an outrage.

My amendment would have simply provided a commonsense solution to a local problem. Local elected officials, civic leaders, the U.S. Air Force, and the National Guard have all requested that I find a way to open the runway at Malmstrom. Senator Burns and I are dedicated to making this commonsense solution happen. But I cannot allow the highway bill to be a victim of the House's actions after the countless hours I have spent making sure it is right for America and right for the State of Montana.

The House actions in the dead of night have put in jeopardy our national highway bill. This bill will pump more than $2.3 billion into my State economy, and I am proud of this bill. It will help sustain and create more than 18,000 jobs and boost safety on Montana's roads. I dare say that very few in this Congress have worked harder to get this highway bill across the finish line than has this Senator. I will not give up the fight to reopen Malmstrom's runway. I have given it my best, but I cannot, in good faith, derail this important bill for the country at this late hour. My colleague from Montana, Senator Burns, and I will continue to work to find another way to make this happen.

This action by the House shows how important was the Founders' genius in creating the Senate, where States with real needs but small populations, such as Montana, have their champions. I will never apologize for fighting for Montana.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of H. Con. Res. 226, which corrects the enrollment of H.R. 3; provided further that Senator Baucus be recognized to speak for up to 8 minutes, and following his remarks, the concurrent resolution be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table without intervening action or debate.

Mr. Speaker, I offer a concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 226) providing for a correction to the enrollment of H.R. 3, and ask unanimous consent for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent for the immediate consideration of House Resolution 399.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.