[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 94 (Thursday, June 27, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S5491]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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               RECOGNIZING THE WESTERN RESEARCH INSTITUTE

 Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, today I wish to offer my sincere 
congratulations to the Western Research Institute in Laramie, WY. On 
July 15 to 17, 2013, the Western Research Institute will be hosting the 
50th Annual Petersen Asphalt Research Conference. This highly acclaimed 
international forum promotes understanding of how asphalt chemistry, 
physical properties and interactions affect the performance of asphalt 
applications throughout their life cycle.
  In 1963, Dr. J. Claine Petersen organized the first asphalt research 
conference, emphasizing how the chemical and physical properties of 
asphalt affect its performance as pavement over time. In 1990, the name 
of the conference was changed to honor Dr. Petersen's efforts. Dr. 
Petersen remains an active and vital participant in this event each 
year.
  Partnering with a pavement performance prediction--P3--Symposium has 
enhanced the ability of the conference to ``dive deep'' on key topics. 
This year, the topic for the symposium is ``Innovations and Issues in 
Pavement Preservation and Durability.'' The symposium links 
researchers, highway officials, producers, and others with a need to 
understand how asphalts may perform in a given application over time.
  The Federal Government typically provides between 75 and 90 percent 
of the costs of federally supported highway projects. Federally 
supported asphalt research has been proven to yield substantial cost 
savings and return on investment. The Petersen Asphalt Research 
Conference continues to enhance this Federal investment by advancing 
the understanding and production of state-of-the-art materials, which 
improve pavement performance, durability, and safety.
  The Western Research Institute is a nationally recognized research 
center for transportation and energy projects. The annual Petersen 
Asphalt Research Conference is one more example of the institute's 
leadership in transportation and energy research. Congratulations, 
again, Western Research Institute, and Wyoming is looking forward to 
hosting many more in the years to come.

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