[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 141 (Wednesday, September 21, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1679]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING THE INSTITUTE OF TRANSPORTATION STUDIES AT UC DAVIS OF DAVIS, 
                               CALIFORNIA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 21, 2011

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition 
of the 20th anniversary of the Institute of Transportation Studies 
(ITS) at the University of California, Davis. ITS-Davis is the world's 
leading university research center on sustainable transportation. 
Through research, education, outreach, and the use of advanced models 
and analytical techniques, the Institute develops business and public-
policy strategies for a healthy transportation future.
  When ITS-Davis was established in 1991, alternative fuels and 
vehicles were nowhere near commercial reality. California's Zero 
Emission Vehicle mandate had just been adopted. Hybrid cars were the 
stuff of dreams.
  Founding director Dr. Daniel Sperling, a UC Davis engineering 
professor, wanted to build an academic institute where several academic 
worlds--engineering, social science and public policy--would merge; 
where modelers and lab technicians shared ideas with consumer-behavior 
and marketing experts; and where academia engaged with industry and 
government to craft creative real-world solutions to help transport 
people and goods to make the world a better place.
  Today, the Institute is the world's leading university center on 
sustainable transportation. It has more than 60 affiliated faculty and 
researchers, 125 graduate students, and $12 million in annual research 
funding. ITS-Davis has redefined transportation research with its 
unique multidisciplinary approach encompassing transportation 
technology, fuels, basic science, human behavior and public policy.
  At the core of ITS-Davis' success are its strong partnerships with 
the automobile and energy industries; governments here and abroad; and 
the environmental community. Together they integrate research with 
university and public education, for the benefit of all of us.
  The Institute has been an innovative and inspirational leader in 
helping California and the nation envision, develop and implement 
pioneering public activities that unite transportation stakeholders in 
reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Those include: California's Assembly 
Bill 1493, which required rules to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from 
cars and light-duty trucks (2002); the Global Warming Solutions Act of 
2006 (AB32), which set goals to cut emissions statewide to 1990 levels 
by 2020; the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (2007); the Sustainable 
Communities Planning Act (SB 375), intended to reduce the vehicle miles 
an average family travels (2008); the Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle 
Research Roadmap (2011); and the U.S. Low Carbon Fuel Standard, which 
is now nearing completion.
  Throughout, the Institute has been an essential partner to our 
federal agencies, working on cleaner systems, fuels and vehicles with 
scientists and policy planners at the U.S. Departments of 
Transportation, Energy and Agriculture, and the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency.
  We also benefit from the Institute's work as forum leader and 
collaboration builder. Earlier this month, ITS-Davis hosted the 13th 
biennial Asilomar Conference for the U.S. Transportation Research Board 
of the National Academies. This is the highest-caliber international 
conference dedicated to transportation-sector energy issues. The 
Asilomar meeting exemplifies how the Institute's inclusive approach 
creates the basis for constructive long-term dialogue.
  Our country's transportation future shows great promise, in part 
because of what ITS-Davis has accomplished over the past 20 years. 
After 100 years of reliance on the internal combustion engine, today we 
see hybrid gasoline-electric vehicles everywhere, with plug-in electric 
vehicles coming up fast. On the horizon are vehicles powered by 
biofuels, electric batteries and hydrogen; intelligently planned cities 
where walking replaces driving; and transit networks that let us travel 
between communities quickly and cleanly.
  Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate at this time for us to congratulate 
and thank the faculty, students, staff and supporters of the Institute 
of Transportation Studies at UC Davis, who have done so much to ensure 
that our transportation options are sustainable and secure. We wish 
them continued success in their second 20 years.

                          ____________________