[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 67 (Thursday, May 25, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5218-S5219]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK

  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, as chairman and on behalf of my colleagues 
on the Environment and Public Works Committee, I would like to 
recognize the dedicated public works professionals, engineers, and 
administrators who represent State and local governments throughout the 
United States and was pleased to introduce S. Res. 475 proclaiming the 
week of May 21-May 27, 2006, as National Public Works Week.
  As we celebrate the contributions of the tens of thousands of men and 
women in America who provide and maintain the infrastructure and 
services that Americans rely on every day, let us not forget these same 
people are our first responders too. More often than not, they are on 
the scene before police, fire, and medical personnel. They can be found 
clearing roads, restoring water and power as well as critical 
infrastructure lifelines following disasters. Only in the absence of 
these dutiful public servants, would we truly recognize how valuable 
their tireless efforts are in providing and maintaining the basic 
infrastructure that many Americans often take for granted.
  America's public infrastructure is the lifeblood of every community. 
It includes the roads, bridges, public transportation and airports, the 
drinking water and wastewater treatment systems, the solid waste 
services and facilities and other important utilities essential to our 
quality of life. These structures and services help sustain community 
life, safeguard the environment, protect our health, support our 
economy and allow people and goods to move safely and efficiently. 
These structures and services are truly public goods.
  Because of my work on the most recent transportation law, SAFETEA-LU, 
Public Law 109-59, I have a better appreciation of just how important a 
reliable, well maintained and fully functioning network of interstate 
highways and transportation infrastructure is to the Nation. America's 
transportation system is one of the world's most expensive, with more 
than 3.9 million miles of roads, 5,300 public-use airports, 26,000 
miles of navigable waterways, and more than 173,000 route-miles 
serviced by buses and rail in urban areas.
  Transportation-related goods and services contribute more than $1.3 
trillion to U.S. gross domestic product, about 11 percent of the total.
  Furthermore, every $1 billion invested in roads and bridges generates 
approximately 47,500 jobs. Not only are infrastructure investments of 
the most fundamental and important functions of government, but they 
are also financially wise.
  The Nation's 54,000 community drinking water systems supply drinking 
water to more than 250 million Americans, and municipal wastewater 
treatment systems each year prevent billions of tons of pollutants from 
reaching our rivers, lakes, stream, and coastlines. By keeping water 
supplies free of contaminants, these water utilities protect human 
health and preserve the environment. Additionally, our water 
infrastructure supports a $50 billion a year water-based recreation 
industry, at least $300 billion a year in coastal tourism, a $45 
billion annual commercial fishing and shell fishing industry, and 
hundreds of billions of dollars a year in basic manufacturing which 
rely on clean water.
  Clearly, public works professionals play a vital role in protecting 
the environment, improving public health and safety, contributing to 
economic vitality and enhancing the quality of life of every community 
of the United States.

[[Page S5219]]

I am delighted to use this National Public Works Week to thank them for 
their diligent and continued service.

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