[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 16 (Wednesday, February 3, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E140]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


     IN RECOGNITION OF THE CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION OF MICHIGAN ON 
                   CELEBRATING ITS 125TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. GARY C. PETERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 3, 2010

  Mr. PETERS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Construction 
Association of Michigan on the occasion of its 125th anniversary. As a 
Member of Congress, it is both my honor and privilege to recognize this 
important milestone. In the Association's 125 years of operation it has 
grown to become both the oldest and largest regional construction 
association in the United States.
  This historic occasion is even more impressive when considering the 
Association's modest beginnings. The Association was originally founded 
by 21 prominent Detroit-area construction industry leaders as the 
Builders and Traders Exchange in 1885. Their vision was to create an 
organization to provide assistance, information and service to the 
Michigan construction industry as well as foster opportunities for 
industry growth and development of relationships between the Michigan 
construction industry and their clients.
  That spark of a vision 125 years ago of what could be has grown into 
an organization of over 3400 members, which acts as a critical element 
in creating, perpetuating, and strengthening profitability, efficiency 
and integrity within the Michigan construction industry. The services 
that CAM offers to their members now extends to providing leadership 
and guidance in such significant issues as economic development, 
continuing education, complete safety training programs and ongoing 
legislative relations and public awareness efforts.
  Madam Speaker, in these tough economic times it is the work of 
organizations such as CAM that is critical in helping to shepherd their 
members and our men and women in the construction industry through the 
perils of economic instability. The 125th anniversary of CAM's founding 
is indeed a historic milestone for Michigan's construction industry. I 
would again like to offer my heartiest congratulations to the executive 
board for achieving such an impressive milestone and I look forward to 
CAM's continued success in its future endeavors, as well as many many 
more years of productive service to the State of Michigan.

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