[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 9 (Tuesday, January 22, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H367-H368]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE AMERICAN HIGHWAY USERS ALLIANCE ON THE OCCASION OF ITS 
                            75TH ANNIVERSARY

  Mr. DeFAZIO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 772) recognizing the American Highway Users 
Alliance on the occasion of its 75th anniversary, and for other 
purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 772

       Whereas in 1932, Alfred P. Sloan, Jr., then president of 
     General Motors Corporation, and other civic leaders had the 
     foresight to found the National Highway Users Conference for 
     the purpose of working ``for good, all-weather roads in every 
     state'';
       Whereas in 1970, the National Highway Users Conference 
     merged with the Automotive Safety Foundation to form the 
     Highway Users Federation for Safety and Mobility, which in 
     1995 was renamed as the American Highway Users Alliance 
     (known as the ``Highway Users'');
       Whereas since its founding, the Highway Users has been a 
     persistent and outspoken proponent for adequate funding of 
     the Nation's highway infrastructure and a consistent voice 
     for motorists who use the highways for leisure, family, and 
     business purposes and for those who depend on the Nation's 
     transportation infrastructure for commercial purposes;
       Whereas the Highway Users has voiced the interests of 
     motorists and businesses on all major national highway and 
     traffic safety legislation over the past 75 years, including 
     the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, which authorized the 
     Interstate Highway System and established the Highway Trust 
     Fund;
       Whereas the Highway Users has been a consistent force for 
     protecting the integrity of the Highway Trust Fund and State 
     highway trust funds;
       Whereas research conducted by the Highway Users has 
     documented the promise and potential of modern United States 
     highways in improving safety, facilitating emergency 
     evacuations, and growing the national economy; and
       Whereas the Highway Users has been a strong advocate in 
     favor of strengthening the national highway network by 
     promoting a strong Federal role in mobility and safety and by 
     advocating policies that benefit highway users: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes the American Highway Users Alliance on the 
     occasion of its 75th anniversary;
       (2) commends the many achievements of the American Highway 
     Users Alliance; and
       (3) encourages the American Highway Users Alliance to 
     continue its tradition of excellence in service to motorists 
     and the transportation industry.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Oregon (Mr. DeFazio) and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oregon.


                             General Leave

  Mr. DeFAZIO. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 772.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Oregon?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DeFAZIO. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 
772, a resolution to congratulate the American Highway Users Alliance 
on the occasion of its 75th anniversary.
  Founded in 1932 as the National Highway Users Conference, in 1970 the 
group merged with the Automotive Safety Foundation and were renamed the 
Highway Users Federation for Safety and Mobility, and in 1995 they took 
on the current name of American Highway Users Alliance (``the Highway 
Users'').
  The Highway Users has always been an outspoken proponent for adequate 
funding for our Nation's highway infrastructure and a consistent voice 
for motorists and those who depend on our highways for commercial 
purposes.
  For the past 75 years, Highway Users have expressed the interests of 
motorists and businesses on all major national highway and traffic 
safety legislation, including strong support for the Federal Aid 
Highway Act of 1956, which authorized the Interstate Highway System, 
established the Highway Trust Fund. Since then, it's been an unwavering 
force for protecting the integrity of the Federal Highway Trust Fund 
and State Highway Trust Funds.
  As we received a report last week on the state of the Nation's 
infrastructure from a commission that was created by the passage of the 
SAFETEA-LU bill, we find that we are dramatically in deficit in 
investing in the Nation's infrastructure. And the current 
administration is dramatically in denial about the deficit in investing 
in infrastructure, so there will be a lot of work to be done by the 
American Highway Users Alliance and other advocates for an improved 
transportation network in the United States of America.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I would like to also voice my support for House 
Resolution 772. House Resolution 772 was introduced by Chairman 
Oberstar, Ranking Member Mica, Highways and Transit Subcommittee 
Chairman DeFazio, and myself to recognize the 75th anniversary of the 
American Highway Users Alliance, a broad national coalition of 
organizations representing motorists and businesses.
  The American Highway Users Alliance is a nonprofit advocacy 
organization with the mission to promote safe, uncongested highways and 
enhanced mobility. The group's membership includes over 300 national 
trade associations, corporations, small businesses, and other State and 
local nonprofit groups. They represent over 45 million highway users.
  Since 1932, the group has fought for road and bridge investments that 
will save lives, promote economic growth, improve quality of life, and 
protect freedom of mobility.
  The American Highway Users Alliance focuses its campaigns on fair 
highway use taxation, Federal highway policy and funding, and 
responsible environmental policy.
  The American Highway Users Alliance is an important voice for the 
interests of motorists and businesses and has been an active 
participant in every major national highway and traffic safety law 
passed over the last 75 years.
  I strongly support this resolution and congratulate the American 
Highway Users Alliance on its achievements and on its 75th anniversary. 
Madam Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. 
Res. 772, to congratulate American Highway Users Alliance on the 
occasion of its 75th anniversary.
  The American Highway Users Alliance (``Highway Users'') has changed 
its name several times over 75 years. The group was

[[Page H368]]

founded in 1932 as the National Highway Users Conference. In 1970, the 
group merged with the Automotive Safety Foundation and was renamed the 
Highway Users Federation for Safety and Mobility. In 1995, the 
organization took on its current name.
  Yet no matter what the group was called, Highway Users has always 
been a persistent and outspoken proponent for adequate funding and 
oversight of the Nation's highway infrastructure, and a diligent voice 
for the interests of the public.
  Highway Users has voiced the interests of motorists and businesses on 
all major national highway and traffic safety legislation over the past 
75 years, including strong support of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 
1956, which authorized the Interstate Highway System and established 
the Highway Trust Fund.
  Highway Users has worked tirelessly over the past 75 years to protect 
the integrity of the Highway Trust Fund and State highway trust funds.
  The organization has conducted crucial research documenting the 
promise and potential of modern United States highways in improving 
safety, facilitating emergency evacuations, and growing the national 
economy.
  The American Highway Users Alliance has also been a consistent 
advocate in favor of strengthening the national highway network by 
promoting a strong Federal role in mobility and safety and by 
advocating policies that benefit all highway users.
  For these and other contributions to our daily lives, our economic 
well-being, and our health and safety, I rise to recognize the 
outstanding achievements of the American Highway Users Alliance and its 
sustained contribution in service to our Nation.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and join me in 
commemorating the 75th anniversary of the American Highway Users 
Alliance.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, I have no other speakers, and so I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DeFAZIO. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and 
I would yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 772.
  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.

                          ____________________