WASHINGTON, DC – Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Chairman of the Environment & Public Works Committee, made the following statement today regarding the need to bring the Safe Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act (SAFETEA) – also known as the highway bill – to a House/Senate conference committee as soon as possible:

“We came out of a meeting yesterday with House and Senate leaders and Administration officials not bound by a number, but with a clear necessity to get the highway bill to conference as soon as possible. In order to get those negotiations started, we must appoint conferees soon and begin the important work of crafting a final bill that is good for our economy, will create millions of job opportunities, and improve the safety of our nation’s roads and bridges. I want to thank the Speaker of the House, the Senate Majority Leader, Chairmen Grassley and Thomas, and leadership in the House and Senate for their cooperation in getting a conference underway as soon as possible”