[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 60 (Tuesday, May 10, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4883-S4884]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL ASPHALT PAVEMENT ASSOCIATION
Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 135, which was submitted
earlier today.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
A resoluton (S. Res. 135) congratulatng the National
Asphalt Pavement Association on its 50th anniversary and
recognizing the contributions of members of the Association
to the United States.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the
resolution.
Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I wish to speak about S. Res. 135 which
recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of the National Asphalt
Pavement Association, NAPA, as it celebrates it 50th Anniversary on May
17, 2005. I am joined by my colleagues, Senators Bond, Jeffords and
Baucus. NAPA is the only national association that exclusively
represents an industry comprised of 1,500 asphalt companies nationwide,
employing over 300,000 men and women.
Today when we think of highways and roads, we think of the cars and
trucks that use these facilities. We think of the agricultural products
being shipped from farm to market, or packages being shipped from
factories right to our homes. We think of mothers picking up their
children after
[[Page S4884]]
school, and families taking trips to the beach during the summer. Of
course, we also think of commutes to and from work.
What I have just described is our American economy in motion, and
none of it would be possible without quality highway pavements of which
asphalt is one. Just 50 years ago, the country faced a transportation
crisis. In 1955, it was not easy to travel from city to city because
the Interstate Highway System did not exist. The roads were unsafe,
slow, and difficult to use. Traveling from city to city, which today
could be done in hours took days.
In the early 20th century, asphalt pavements helped get America out
of the mud. In the latter half of that century, the new Interstate
Highway System improved our mobility and helped sustain our country's
economic growth. The Interstate Highway System's pavements literally
were the foundation upon which the United States and her people were
able to emerge as the leaders of the world.
It was no accident that NAPA was formed just as the Federal-Aid
Highway Act of 1956 was winding its way through Congress. The industry
was challenged by the need to construct long lasting pavements that
could meet the tougher standards of the Interstate Highway System. In
rising to that challenge, the first ambitious program announced by the
association was the Quality Improvement Program. Ever since then,
dedication to helping its members deliver the best quality asphalt
pavement has been a top priority.
I am very proud of the fact that the late John W. Kelly, of the firm
Amis & Kelly Construction Company in Oklahoma City, was one of the
founding fathers of NAPA. From 1958 to 1960, John W. Kelly served as
the second president of the Association. NAPA has also enjoyed 50 years
of strong partnership with the Oklahoma Asphalt Pavement Association
which was formed in 1952.
I congratulate NAPA and its members for 50 years of leadership and
involvement in constructing a world-class road system.
Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to
reconsider be laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The resolution (S. Res. 135) was agreed to.
The preamble was agreed to.
The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:
S. Res. 135
Whereas in 2005, the National Asphalt Pavement Association
(incorporated on May 17, 1955, as the National Bituminous
Concrete Association) celebrates its 50th anniversary;
Whereas the members of the National Asphalt Pavement
Association play a key role in strengthening the economy of
the United States and promoting the mobility of citizens of
the United States by providing hot-mix asphalt used in the
construction of the 41,000-mile Interstate Highway System and
other highways, streets, roads, parking lots, and airports;
Whereas the National Asphalt Pavement Association has
focused on continually improving the quality of asphalt
pavement by establishing a quality improvement program;
Whereas the National Asphalt Pavement Association has
facilitated technology transfer and advanced new asphalt
pavement technologies through partnerships, scanning tours,
publications, and presentations;
Whereas the National Asphalt Pavement Association, through
members of the Association, has fostered and encouraged young
people to pursue careers in civil engineering by establishing
the National Asphalt Pavement Association Research and
Education Foundation to provide scholarships, sponsor
educational exhibitions, and fund research of national
significance relating to hot-mix asphalt;
Whereas the National Asphalt Pavement Association, through
members of the Association, endowed the National Center for
Asphalt Technology, the world's premier institution for
asphalt research, and continues to fund the activities of the
Center; and
Whereas the National Asphalt Pavement Association will
continue to contribute to research to ensure that the
Interstate Highway System will be designed and constructed
for perpetual use in order to meet the growing economic and
national security needs of the United States: Now, therefore,
be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) congratulates the National Asphalt Pavement Association
on its 50th anniversary; and
(2) recognizes and celebrates the achievements of the
members of the National Asphalt Pavement Association for
their contributions to the economic well-being of the
citizens of the United States.
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