[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 29 (Thursday, March 14, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E352-E353]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                 2002 CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY EXPOSITION

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. DON YOUNG

                               of alaska

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 14, 2002

  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, next week the entire construction 
and construction materials industries are holding a convention, the 
CONEXPO-CON/AGG, in Las Vegas, NV. More than 125,000 people are 
expected to attend and over 2,300 exhibitors covering will show their 
construction material and equipment in 1.9 billion net square feet of 
indoor and outdoor exhibit space. This convention is one of the best as 
it draws contractors and construction materials producers from around 
the world.
  Several organizations associated with these events, are conducting 
their annual conventions in Las Vegas: The Association of Equipment 
Manufacturers; the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association, the 
National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, the America Road and 
Transportation Builders Association; the Associated General Contractors 
of America; the Construction Materials Recycling Association; the 
Concrete Sawing and Drilling Association; the International Road 
Federation; the National Fluid Power Association; the National Utility 
Contractors Association and the Society of Automotive Engineers. I 
congratulate them for the work they do to keep America moving.

[[Page E353]]

  Some important facts about these industries should be noted. The 
construction industry represents 8 percent of our Nation's gross 
domestic product and accounts for 5 percent of total U.S. employment. 
The construction industry puts more than $850 billion of products in 
place annually and employs more than 8.6 million people. Even in a 
recession, the construction and construction materials industries added 
63,000 jobs. These numbers are staggering and impressive and result 
from the very successful TEA 21 Act that funds the federal highway road 
program.
  These are America's builders. Through their hard work, the wilderness 
that was America was transformed into a stronghold of productivity and 
commerce.
  These groups build our roads and highways, airports, and rail beds--
the networks that connect our cities, our communities, and our 
families. They build our homes, our workplaces, our churches, our 
schools, and our hospitals.
  They build and maintain our utilities, including water and sewer 
facilities, natural gas pipelines and telecommunications systems. They 
build these underground lifelines that keep America secure and 
thriving.
  Not only do they build--they rebuild. In the true spirit of America 
they responded after September 11 by sending manpower, materials, 
equipment, and money to the New York City World Trade Center and the 
Pentagon to help heal the wounds inflicted on America by the terrorist 
attacks. Members of these associations continue their efforts to erase 
these scars that mar our landscape.
  The construction and construction materials industries have built 
Americans' a quality of life and ensured a prosperous future for our 
country and its people.
  We all take pride in the work these ``Builders of America'' do every 
day. On the eve of CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2002, we extend our sincerest thanks 
and best wishes to the construction and construction materials 
industries for a successful trade shows that is ``An Experience to 
Build On.''

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