[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 58 (Wednesday, May 7, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E865]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    INTERSTATE 69 COMPLETION CRITICAL ISSUE FOR AMERICA'S HEARTLAND

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. JOHN N. HOSTETTLER

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 7, 1997

  Mr. HOSTETTLER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to offer the following 
resolution from the Vanderburgh County commissioners for my colleagues' 
consideration here in the Congress. It is but one of the latest 
examples I see daily confirming that there is widespread, deep support 
to complete Interstate 69 through my home State of Indiana and through 
America's heartland down to Texas.
  I see this evidence daily through my work as the founder and 
cochairman of the Interstate 69 caucus in the Congress. This caucus 
includes 37 members, including Representatives and Senators, from all 
points of the political spectrum.
  As this historic Congress continues its work, Mr. Speaker, we need to 
push for a reauthorization of Federal highway spending to give States 
greater flexibility and more of the money that we all pay in taxes 
every time we gas up our cars and trucks. I think that need is well 
expressed in this resolution approved recently by the Vanderburgh 
County commissioners in Evansville, IN, and I commend it to the 
attention of my colleagues.

 Resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the County of Vanderburgh

       Whereas, the Board of Commissioners of Vanderburgh County 
     recognize that it has an important role to play in the 
     economic development of Vanderburgh County; and
       Whereas, the extension of Interstate 69 from Indianapolis 
     to Evansville is an integral element of economic growth and 
     prosperity for Southwestern Indiana; and
       Realizing, that Southwestern Indiana does not have direct 
     interstate access to its Capitol in Indianapolis, nor in any 
     other North-South direction; and
       Recognizing, that the expansion of Interstate 69 from 
     Indianapolis to Evansville and then toward Mexico will 
     greatly expand domestic and international commerce; and
       Whereas, Vanderburgh County can attain only limited benefit 
     from future expansion of trade without direct interstate 
     access to the North and South;
       Be It Resolved That, on this 10th day of March, 1997, the 
     Board of Commissioners of Vanderburgh County endorsed the 
     proposed extension of Interstate 69 from Indianapolis to 
     Evansville and eventually on to Laredo, Texas for the purpose 
     of creating a vital transportation link that will lead to the 
     expansion of intrastate, interstate, and international trade; 
     thus, providing a catalyst for creating numerous jobs and 
     providing economic security for its inhabitants; and 
     furthermore, we call upon our counterparts in all Southwest 
     Indiana Counties along the proposed Interstate 69 route to 
     adopt a similar resolution in support of said project.
     Richard E. Mourdock,
                                                        President.
     Bettye Lou Jerrel,
                                                   Vice President.
     Patrick Tuley,
                                                           Member.
     Board of Commissioners of Vanderburgh County.

     

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