[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 81 (Wednesday, May 26, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H3833-H3834]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1045
               SUPPORTING RV CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION MONTH

  Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 1073) supporting the goals and ideals of RV 
Centennial Celebration Month to recognize and honor 100 years of the 
enjoyment of recreational vehicles in the United States.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1073

       Whereas 1910 marks the first year of mass-produced, 
     manufactured, motorized campers and camping trailers;
       Whereas 1 in 12 households in the United States owns a 
     recreational vehicle, and over 30,000,000 recreational 
     vehicle enthusiasts take part in this affordable and 
     environmentally friendly form of vacationing;
       Whereas recreational vehicle vacations allow families in 
     the United States to build stronger relationships, explore 
     the great outdoors, and take part in healthy activities;
       Whereas this homegrown industry, including recreational 
     vehicle manufacturers, suppliers, dealers, and campgrounds, 
     employs hundreds of thousands of people in the Nation in 
     good-paying jobs across all 50 States;
       Whereas recreational vehicles offer the freedom, comfort, 
     and flexibility to see all parts of the United States, from 
     historic landmarks and national parks to local campgrounds 
     and sporting events; and
       Whereas the 100th anniversary of the introduction of the 
     recreational vehicle into the United States marketplace will 
     be celebrated June 7, 2010, at the RV/MH Hall of Fame and 
     Museum in Elkhart, Indiana: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of RV Centennial 
     Celebration Month to recognize and honor 100 years of 
     enjoyment of recreational vehicles in the United States; and
       (2) encourages the people of the United States to celebrate 
     this anniversary by taking part in recreational vehicle 
     vacations.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Speier) and the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Cao) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.


                             General Leave

  Ms. SPEIER. 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 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. SPEIER. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1073, a measure supporting 
the goals and ideals of RV Centennial Celebration Month.
  This measure was introduced by my colleague, the gentleman from 
Indiana, Representative Joe Donnelly, on February 4 of this year. It 
was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which 
waived consideration of the measure to expedite its consideration on 
the House floor today. The measure enjoys the support of over 50 
Members of the House.
  Mr. Speaker, RVing is one of the great American traditions in travel. 
The 30 million Americans who regularly vacation via their recreational 
vehicles get to travel far and wide around our country, exploring our 
majestic landscapes, our national and State parks, and taking part in a 
healthy, outdoor activity. RVs help them do so at a price affordable to 
families. There are destinations for RVing across our 50 States, and we 
can all agree that we'd love for more Americans to visit the places we 
are most proud of in our communities.
  For instance, I'd like for the RVing community to come and set their 
eyes on the Golden Gate Bridge, on the cable cars, on the Golden Gate 
National Recreation Area, or on the San Francisco Bay Estuary.
  RVs make exploring our great country a practical option for many 
families. The first RVs came into mass production 100 years ago this 
June. Let us now take time to mark that significant moment in American 
history by supporting this resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CAO. I yield myself such time as I may consume.

[[Page H3834]]

  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1073, 
supporting the goals and ideals of RV Centennial Celebration Month, to 
recognize and honor 100 years of enjoyment of recreational vehicles in 
the United States.
  Since 1910, when the first mass-produced, manufactured, motorized 
campers appeared, people in recreational vehicles still set out to see 
the country and to enjoy the life of the open road. RVs have steadily 
gained popularity over the past 100 years. Today, over 30 million 
recreational vehicle enthusiasts enjoy this pleasant way to vacation. 
Recreational vehicles offer a way for families to experience all kinds 
of outdoor activities, especially in our national parks, lakes and 
oceans. Hundreds of thousands of Americans benefit from this industry, 
including recreational vehicle manufacturers, dealers and RV campground 
employees across the United States.
  It is the freedom to share the excitement of exploring historical 
landmarks, of attending sporting events, and of engaging in family 
camping that explains the appeal of an RV for so many of our citizens.
  On June 7, 2010, we will have the opportunity to celebrate the 
introduction of the recreational vehicle in the United States in 
Elkhart, Indiana, where the RV/MH Hall of Fame resides. This centennial 
is found to be a nostalgic celebration of the freedom and enjoyment 
that RVs have brought to so many Americans in the last 100 years. I 
support the passage of this resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Donnelly).
  Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong support 
of House Resolution 1073, a bipartisan resolution recognizing and 
supporting the goals of RV Centennial Celebration Month in June 2010.
  The first mass-produced, manufactured, motorized campers and camping 
trailers appeared in the American marketplace for commercial sale in 
1910. This resolution seeks to honor and commemorate America's 100 
years of enjoyment of RVs. It also offers an opportunity to recognize 
the workers who make RVs, the entrepreneurs who started these companies 
and whose passion has created jobs and opportunity for so many people 
and to recognize the homegrown industry that has developed to support 
this great American pastime and to provide good-paying jobs for 
thousands of families.
  I have the privilege of representing a large portion of the RV 
industry. It is crucial to northern Indiana's economy. RV manufacturing 
has long been a major economic driver in places like Elkhart by 
directly employing thousands of people in the RV plants and thousands 
more in suppliers' factories, not to mention its contributions to the 
local municipal tax base.
  The economic importance of RVs and camping extends well beyond my 
district, of course--to the entire United States. RV manufacturing is 
big business in Oregon, Iowa and elsewhere. Camping and RV tourism pump 
millions into our parks and vacation destinations each and every year. 
For a century, through war and peace, booms and busts and technological 
fads, RVs have been a mainstay of American highways, campgrounds, 
sporting events, and driveways.
  The RV lifestyle is still going strong. Today, one in 12 American 
households owns an RV, and over 30 million RVers take part in this 
affordable and environmentally friendly form of vacationing each year. 
We all represent families who own RVs and who enjoy the freedom of 
travel and of the family adventure they provide. Despite the economic 
ups and downs, RVs allow families an affordable way to travel and to 
explore this country's amazing natural resources.
  This year, the RVing community will celebrate their centennial with a 
series of events which will culminate a 100th anniversary party hosted 
on June 7 at the RV Hall of Fame in Elkhart, Indiana. This resolution 
to recognize June 2010 as RV Centennial Celebration Month provides a 
fitting endorsement of the 100-year journey of a uniquely American 
product. This resolution enjoys the support of over 50 bipartisan 
cosponsors.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and pass House 
Resolution 1073.
  Mr. CAO. I just want to let the gentleman from Indiana know that I 
grew up in Goshen, Indiana, which is about 20 miles from Elkhart; so I 
know how important the RV industry is to that area.
  Mr. Speaker, with that being said, I would like to ask that all RV 
owners please spend some time and drive down to Louisiana, especially 
to New Orleans. We have the best restaurants in the world, the best 
seafood, and our culture is unequaled.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, again, I would like to urge my colleagues to 
support this measure honoring the 100 years that RVs have been in 
production, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Speier) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1073.
  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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