[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 69 (Tuesday, May 15, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S3177]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 460.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 460) designating the week of May 20 
     through May 26, 2012, as National Public Works Week.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, 
the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the 
table, with no intervening action or debate, and that any statements 
related to the resolution be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 460) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 460

       Whereas public works infrastructure, facilities, and 
     services are of vital importance to the health, safety, and 
     well-being of the people of the United States;
       Whereas the public works infrastructure, facilities, and 
     services could not be provided without the dedicated efforts 
     of public works professionals, including engineers and 
     administrators, who represent State and local governments 
     throughout the United States;
       Whereas public works professionals design, build, operate, 
     and maintain the transportation systems, water 
     infrastructure, sewage and refuse disposal systems, public 
     buildings, and other structures and facilities that are vital 
     to the people and communities of the United States; and
       Whereas understanding the role that public infrastructure 
     plays in protecting the environment, improving public health 
     and safety, contributing to economic vitality, and enhancing 
     the quality of life of every community of the United States 
     is in the interest of the people of the United States: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the week of May 20 through May 26, 2012, as 
     ``National Public Works Week'';
       (2) recognizes and celebrates the important contributions 
     that public works professionals make every day to improve--
       (A) the public infrastructure of the United States; and
       (B) the communities that public works professionals serve; 
     and
       (3) urges individuals and communities throughout the United 
     States to join with representatives of the Federal Government 
     and the American Public Works Association in activities and 
     ceremonies that are designed--
       (A) to pay tribute to the public works professionals of the 
     United States; and
       (B) to recognize the substantial contributions that public 
     works professionals make to the United States.

  Mr. REID. Before we leave this, Mr. President, I might say that 
Senator Boxer and Senator Inhofe, the chair and the ranking member of 
that most important committee--the Environment and Public Works 
Committee--are doing their utmost on a bipartisan basis to complete the 
conference with the House to get the highway bill passed, which means 
2.8 million jobs. As this legislation concerns National Public Works 
Week, it would certainly be a big celebration if we could get that bill 
done. I appreciate very much Senators Boxer and Inhofe working so 
closely together on that committee.

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