Congressional Record, Volume 153 Issue 175 (Tuesday, November 13, 2007)

[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 175 (Tuesday, November 13, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H13596-H13598]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

COMMEMORATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON
COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 808) commemorating the 50th
Anniversary of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:

H. Res. 808

Whereas, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
is an independent, nonprofit organization, founded in 1957,
and comprised of elected officials from 21 local governments
of the District of Columbia, suburban Maryland, and Northern
Virginia, plus area members of the Maryland and Virginia
legislatures, the U.S. Senate, and the U.S. House of
Representatives;
Whereas in April 1957 forty officials from Washington area
jurisdictions voluntarily

[[Page H13597]]

gathered to establish an organization where they could
exchange ideas and work together on regional issues such as
transportation, the environment, and public safety; this
organization became the Metropolitan Washington Council of
Governments;
Whereas during the past half century COG's activities have
touched every aspect of the life of the citizens of the
National Capital Region and have improved the quality of life
for all residents;
Whereas COG has facilitated the development of effective
responses to such issues as the environment, affordable
housing, economic development, human services, land use
development, public safety and emergency response, and
transportation that have had a profound and positive impact
on the National Capital Region;
Whereas these responses include galvanizing the region's
response to the September 11th attacks and the ongoing
emergency preparedness programs, cleaning up of the Potomac
River, spearheading a number of regional health programs
including one of the nation's first regional conferences on
AIDS, creating the region's express bus lane system, reducing
air pollution through a model law and establishing the
region's daily air quality index, and founding the Foster and
Adoptive Families program for vulnerable children and
teenagers;
Whereas COG has served as the Metropolitan Planning
Organization guiding the region's transportation planning in
partnership with the state and local departments of
transportation since the 1960s and has served as key advocate
for increased funding for the region's transportation needs;
Whereas COG's air quality committee created by the State of
Maryland, the Commonwealth of Virginia and the District of
Columbia, has worked successfully to reduce pollutants in the
region's air;
Whereas COG has worked with area governments and law
enforcement and emergency response officials to improve
public safety response and coordination for over four
decades, starting with the ``mutual aid agreements'' that
began with the opening of the Wilson Bridge in 1962 and
continuing to the present with homeland security planning and
initiatives such as the regional pawnshop database that has
helped recover millions of dollars of stolen property; and
Whereas COG managed a Federal pilot program to provide
treatment and support services to women who abused alcohol
and drugs, and currently works with area health officials to
improve the region's emergency preparedness by developing a
disease and syndromic surveillance system: Now, therefore, be
it
Resolved, That the United States House of Representatives
does hereby offers its sincerest congratulations to the
Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments in recognition
of its 50th Anniversary and its legacy of outstanding service
to the governments and citizens of greater Washington, D.C.
metropolitan region and expresses its appreciation for a job
well done.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Davis) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.

General Leave

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their
remarks.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Illinois?
There was no objection.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may
consume to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran).
Mr. MORAN of Virginia. I thank my good friend and distinguished
colleague from Illinois for yielding me the time. I have the great
honor to offer this resolution on behalf of all of my colleagues in the
Washington metropolitan area.
The Council of Governments of the Washington Metropolitan Area began
50 years ago, in 1957. In the ensuing 50 years, it has become the
premier group for collaboration on transportation, air and water
quality, regional growth, emergency response, and any number of other
domestic issues that are important to its individual jurisdictions. We
will be honoring the Council of Governments Thursday night in their
50th anniversary gala, and all of our Washington area colleagues,
including Ms. Norton, Congressman Van Hollen, Congressman Hoyer,
Congressman Wynn, Congressman Davis and Congressman Wolf, will all
participate, as they have been participating since they have been
elected to office in the Council of Governments.
Since its first meeting during the Eisenhower administration where
there were seven charter member governments, it has grown to include 21
local jurisdictions. As it has grown, it has become the place to
discuss and address and solve so many of the region's problems.
Because of the Council of Governments, this is one of the finest
regions in the country in which to live. But it wasn't always that way.
Fifty years ago, it had half of its current population, it had no Metro
system and no interstate highway system. Imagine, just 50 years ago.
But the visionary leaders of this area got together, and in working
with the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, have made
enormous strides in creating a region that is proud to be the capital
of the free world, and those who live here reflect that pride. But it
didn't happen by accident. COG has been an essential component of that
growth.
In 1967, COG was responsible for the D.C. Air Pollution Act. It was a
model that was created by the Council of Governments, signed by
President Johnson. The fire chiefs of the area got together and put
together a mutual aid agreement. That became the model for the 9/11
Commission's recommendation for all metropolitan areas in the country.
The response of the Council of Governments on September 11, 2001, in
pulling together all of the emergency responders, was tremendous and
deserves great credit as well. The Regional Incident Communication
Coordination System is a model in the country.
Now those 21 local governments have over 250 members. We have one of
the highest quality of life achievements in the country and the
Nation's strongest economy. And as we plan for an additional 1.6
million people and 1.2 million more jobs over the next 25 years, COG
will continue to address those challenges. When we look forward to the
next 50 years, COG predicts that by the year 2057 the average home in
metropolitan Washington will cost more than $14 million. That means a
lot of pay increases for all of the Federal workers, I guess including
the Members themselves. But we are going to be part of a mega-region
stretching from Baltimore to Richmond. The way in which we use energy
is going to be a key determinant in terms of the region's prosperity.
There will be enormous changes that take place. But whatever changes
take place, we know that the Council of Governments is going to be
there as a meeting place, as a forum, as a facilitator, to address all
of the challenges that confront us.
So, after 50 years of tremendous achievement, we do want to recognize
this organization, and I very much appreciate the committee giving us
the opportunity to do so. I think I have used my time, and I don't
think there is much controversy, so I will conclude my remarks at this
point.
Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I want to join with the gentleman from Virginia, my
friend, in enthusiastically supporting this legislation. After 50 years
of this kind of a Council of Governments' working, it deserves the
recognition it will receive here on the House floor today. I certainly
believe that Mr. Moran has done a very, very good job of outlining the
50 years of success, beginning in April of 1957, and I think we should
briefly reflect on what 1957 until day was all about.
This is a time in which the District of Columbia went through
terrible upheaval. Maryland and Virginia had to reinvent themselves.
All of this could not have been done without the kind of cooperation
that this council produced. I think it is certainly unique to have the
District of Columbia and two States, five counties, two cities and
dozens of Maryland counties all working together. These jurisdictions
are cooperating.
I think that is a legacy that has only half finished its work. I
think on a bipartisan basis we all recognize the improvements in the
quality of living here, the transportation and infrastructure that
makes it possible for us to get to work by road or by rail.
So, I look forward to this organization continuing for another 50
years serving what is today 1.6 million people, and certainly a growing
population, both in and out of the district.
With that, I very much urge passage of this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

[[Page H13598]]

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join with my colleagues, and I commend
Representative Moran for his introduction of H. Res. 808, commemorating
the 50th anniversary of the regional planning that has taken place in
the Washington, D.C., area. It has been instrumental in making this, as
he indicated, one of the most desirable areas of the country in which
to live. I commend them for their effort and salute him for his
introduction of this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 808.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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