[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 112 (Monday, September 9, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H6093-H6094]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING THE AMERICAN ROAD AND TRANSPORTATION BUILDERS ASSOCIATION
FOR REACHING ITS 100TH ANNIVERSARY
Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 442) recognizing the American Road
and Transportation Builders Association for reaching its 100th
Anniversary and for the many vital contributions of its members in the
transportation construction industry to the American economy and
quality of life through the multi-modal transportation infrastructure
network its members have designed, built, and managed over the past
century.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Con. Res. 442
Whereas, founded in 1902 by Horatio Sawyer Earle, a
visionary Michigan public official, the American Road and
Transportation Builders Association is the Nation's oldest
national association exclusively representing the
transportation construction industry;
Whereas, for a century, the American Road and
Transportation Builders Association has successfully
advocated for strong Federal investment in transportation
infrastructure, highlighted by the world's greatest road
network, the Dwight David Eisenhower System of Interstate and
Defense Highways;
Whereas the transportation construction industry that the
American Road and Transportation Builders Association
represents works to constantly improve America's
transportation network, including our Nation's roads,
bridges, airports, mass transit systems, ports, and waterways
that are the foundation on which the Nation's economy stands
and grows;
Whereas the American Road and Transportation Builders
Association incorporates educational, research, and
charitable efforts to advance the transportation construction
industry, improve transportation education, maintain the
highest industry standards of excellence, and ensure the
public health, safety, and welfare; and
Whereas the multi-modal transportation infrastructure
network that American Road and Transportation Association
members have designed, built, and managed over the past
century, in partnership with government at all levels, has
made America's economy the envy of the world and provided the
American people with an unmatched quality of life: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That the Congress--
(1) acknowledges the American Road and Transportation
Builders Association for its 100th Anniversary;
(2) commends the many achievements of the transportation
construction industry; and
(3) encourages the American Road and Transportation
Builders Association to continue its tradition of excellence
in service to the transportation construction industry and to
the public.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Wisconsin (Mr. Petri) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri).
Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, the American Road and Transportation Builders
Association is the Nation's oldest national association exclusively
representing the transportation construction industry. I have worked
with ARTBA on many legislative issues, and they have played and will
continue to play a large role in the development of our country's
transportation infrastructure.
Founded by Horatio Earle, ARTBA has consistently advocated a strong
Federal investment in our transportation network and has played an
integral role in the development of the Dwight David Eisenhower System
of Interstate and Defense Highways, known as our interstate system.
Under the leadership of ARTBA, the transportation construction
industry maintains the highest standards of excellence to ensure the
public safety and welfare of those traveling throughout these United
States.
I look forward to working with ARTBA as Congress moves forward with
reauthorization of TEA 21 next year. I urge the Congress to join me in
commending ARTBA and its members for their 100 years of service to the
construction industry and the important work they do every day in
building America.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr.
Petri) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Borski) for moving
forward with H. Con. Res. 442, to recognize the 100th anniversary of
the American Road and Transportation Builders Association, also known
as ARTBA.
For more than a century, ARTBA has carried forth the visionary
efforts of its founder, Horatio S. Earle. The legacy of this
organization rests firmly on the guiding principles of its founder to
improve the Nation's transportation system. Horatio Earle advocated an
interstate system to link the Nation's capital with every State capital
throughout the Nation. Mr. Earle's vision was realized with the
creation of the Highway Trust Fund to provide funding for the
construction of the Nation's highway interstate highway system.
From its inception, ARTBA has advocated strong Federal investment in
the Nation's transportation infrastructure, to meet the public demand
for safe and efficient travel and shipment of goods. ARTBA has led the
efforts to increase the level of funding for transportation and
infrastructure improvements. Through its leadership, perseverance, and
skills of its organization, ARTBA has established a legacy that has
helped to strengthen the American economy.
Today, ARTBA represents an industry that generates more than $200
billion in United States economic activity annually and sustains the
employment of 2.2 million Americans.
Mr. Speaker, it is a high honor to recognize ARTBA for its 100 years
of continuing support for the Nation's transportation. As the Congress
moves forward with legislation to reauthorize the surface
transportation programs, I look forward to working with ARTBA to assist
in building a national transportation system that will continue to
serve this great Nation.
Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, as a co-sponsor of House Concurrent
Resolution 442, which recognizes the American Road and Transportation
Builders 100th Anniversary, ARTBA, I want to publicly commend our
Nation's oldest association exclusively representing the transportation
construction industry. For a full century, ARTBA has been a strong and
successful advocate for federal investment in transportation
infrastructure. As the legislation notes, the construction and upkeep
of our Nation's roads, bridges, airports, mass transit systems, ports
and waterways are the foundation on which America's economy stands and
grows. Our transportation network also allows Americans to pursue their
constitutional Right to Travel. On behalf of West Virginia, I suggest
that as many Americans as possible should exercise their Right to
Travel by using available transportation opportunities in order to come
to our fine state where they can visit its cities, towns, and scenic
vistas.
Transportation construction has been vital to West Virginia's
improving industrial and communications networks. This, in turn,
creates greater job and education opportunities. Recent flood control
and community restoration efforts were also made possible by the
ability to utilize multiple transportation modes. In addition,
transportation construction has greatly
[[Page H6094]]
improved West Virginians' daily access to much-needed health care
services, retirement benefit providers, and the like.
Further, as President Dwight Eisenhower clearly understood, our
Nation's transportation network provides a critical infrastructure
element for national security. In the immediate wake of the September
11th attacks, the strength of our Nation's transportation networks
enabled emergency responders from various different areas to get to the
crisis areas in New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania in the most
expeditious manner possible. Employing this quick response ability
aided our nation in providing much-needed assistance and in
coordinating the subsequent recovery efforts. ARTBA's long-standing
contributions which enabled such quick response following September
11th, deserve recognition as the association celebrates this milestone.
Our Nation owes a clear debt of gratitude and commendation to the
ARTBA for their continuing efforts, which have contributed to this
country's great infrastructure strength.
Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 442.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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