Medical Transportation Management Corporation - Page 12

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          the whole, to be so construed that, if it can be prevented, no              
          clause, sentence, or word shall be superfluous, void, or                    
          insignificant.’”  TRW Inc. v. Andrews, 534 U.S. 19, 31 (2001)               
          (quoting Duncan v. Walker, 533 U.S. 167, 174 (2001)).  Further,             
          petitioners’ contention that the word “automobile bus” is                   
          insignificant also renders the 1978 amendment substituting                  
          automobile bus for vehicle superfluous.  One of the stated                  
          purposes of the 1978 amendment was to “encourage greater use of             
          bus transportation.”  S. Rept. 95-529, supra at 54, 1978-3 C.B.             
          (Vol. 2) at 246.  We cannot ignore the overwhelming evidence of             
          deliberate intent to include the word “bus” in the statute.                 
          Therefore, we reject petitioners’ argument.  After arguing that             
          the term “automobile bus” has no significance in the statute,               
          petitioners argue in the alternative that we should accept their            
          proffered plain meaning of “automobile bus”.  Petitioners surmise           
          that Congress meant to use the word “automobile” in its noun form           
          to describe the traits that the word “bus” is supposed to have.             
          The noun form of “automobile” is commonly defined as a “four-               
          wheeled automotive vehicle”.  Webster’s Third New International             
          Dictionary (1993).  Together with the word “bus”, petitioners               
          conclude that Congress meant to include all four-wheeled vehicles           
          which travel on regular routes in defining what vehicles qualify            
          for the exemption.  Respondent argues that Congress meant the               







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