II 109th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 459 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 18, 2005 Mr. Chambliss (for himself and Mr. Isakson) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works A BILL To require a study and report regarding the designations and construction of a new interstate route from Savannah, Georgia to Knoxville, Tennessee.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Interstate 3/3rd Infantry Division Highway Initiation Act..

2.

Interstate 3/3RD Infantry Division Highway

(a)

Findings

Congress finds that— (1) in accordance with the original purposes of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, a direct interstate highway link between Fort Gordon, Eisenhower Army Regional Medical Center, the Augusta Veterans Administration Hospitals, Fort Stewart, Hunte­r Army Airfield, and the Port of Savannah would be in the strategic defense interest of the United States; (2) eastern Georgia, western North Carolina, and the Great Smoky Mountains region of Tennessee are underserved by north-south interstate highways, and would benefit economically and through increased public safety by establishment of an interstate highway extending from Savannah, Georgia to Knoxville, Tennessee, following a route generally defined through Sylvania, Waynesboro, Augusta, Lincolnton, Elberton, Hartwell, Toccoa, and Young Harris, Georgia, and Maryville, Tennessee; (3) the United States Army 3rd Infantry Division of Fort Stewart, Georgia, provided the Tip of the Spear in the War on Terror in Iraq; (4) the soldiers of that Division sacrificed their blood and lives so that their fellow Americans may live in peace and freedom; (5) the soldiers of that Division conquered Najaf, seized Saddam International Airport, and Saddam Hussein’s palaces; and (6) those soldiers led the fighting on the day of Baghdad’s historic liberation. (b)

Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that— (1) a new interstate highway designated as United States Interstate Route 3 should be constructed on the routes described in subsection (a)(2) between Savannah, Georgia and Knoxville, Tennessee; and (2) that interstate highway should be known and designated as the 3rd Infantry Division Highway, in honor of the professionalism, heroism, and sacrifice of the men and women of the United States Army 3rd Infantry Division in defending the freedom of the United States. (c)

Study and report

Not later than December 31, 2005, the Secretary of Transportation shall study and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the steps and estimated funding necessary to designate and construct a new interstate route for the 3rd Infantry Division Highway, from Savannah, Georgia and Knoxville, Tennessee (formerly the Savannah River Parkway in the State of Georgia), as described in subsection (b).