[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 187 (Wednesday, December 7, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2195]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING BRENT BAIR

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MIKE ROGERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 7, 2011

  Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a man that 
needs no introduction in Michigan, nor the transportation and 
intelligent transportation network in the country.
  After 34 years of public service to the Road Commission for Oakland 
County, Brent Bair will be retiring at the end of the year. A pillar of 
the community, Mr. Bair has a long and distinguished resume.
  Serving as the Managing Director of the Road Commission for Oakland 
County, his department is responsible for the largest county road 
system in Michigan, second in size to the state highway system, and 
currently operates the second largest system of adaptive traffic 
signals in the nation. He is widely respected as a leading expert on 
road funding in Michigan and has been an advocate on behalf of 
Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and ITS funding. He is a 
founding member and past president of the Intelligent Transportation 
Society of Michigan as well as an active member in and former chairman 
of the national ITS association, ITS America.
  As the Chairman of the Intelligent Transportation Systems' Caucus in 
the House of Representatives, I have long looked to Brent for advice 
and guidance on good governance and ITS policy. Early on I recognized 
the benefits to including technological advances in our cars, highways 
and infrastructure. Through educational programs and ongoing efforts by 
Brent and ITS Michigan, Congress has recognized that in this economic 
climate of doing more with less, ITS solutions are an important step 
towards fiscal responsibility and more importantly, smart solutions.
  A tireless advocate for his community, Brent Bair will be missed. I 
wish him and his family all the best in the years to come.

                          ____________________