[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 79 (Wednesday, May 18, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S2978]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    SENATE RESOLUTION 470--RECOGNIZING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 
 PORTLAND CEMENT ASSOCIATION, THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR THE CEMENT 
                  MANUFACTURING AND CONCRETE INDUSTRY

  Mr. MORAN (for himself and Mr. Manchin) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 470

       Whereas the first concrete road in the United States was 
     built in 1890, and a portion of the original pavement of that 
     road is still in use as of May 2016;
       Whereas, in 1916--
       (1) the Portland Cement Association was established as the 
     national organization for the cement manufacturing and 
     concrete industry; and
       (2) Congress passed the first Federal-aid highway 
     legislation, setting in motion the development of a network 
     of national highways;
       Whereas, in 1921, the Portland Cement Association joined 
     the Bureau of Public Roads and various State agencies to 
     determine the best ways to design and build concrete roads, 
     resulting in the Illinois Division of Highways Bates Test 
     Road, a landmark project that established the most economical 
     design for concrete pavements;
       Whereas the Portland Cement Association participated in 
     design and testing for the Hoover Dam, the Grand Coulee Dam, 
     and many other concrete projects;
       Whereas 60 percent of the 41,000-mile highway system 
     authorized under the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 (70 
     Stat. 374), which established the Highway Trust Fund, was 
     constructed using concrete, based on research and performance 
     data identifying the significance of using concrete 
     throughout the interstate highway system;
       Whereas due to new and increasing uses of concrete that 
     required specialized research, the Portland Cement 
     Association added 2 new laboratory facilities in 1958, a 
     structural laboratory and a fire research center, which 
     resulted in the development of more durable and economical 
     buildings and improvements in fire safety for concrete 
     structures and transportation facilities;
       Whereas 2016 marks the 100th anniversary of the 
     establishment of the Portland Cement Association; and
       Whereas the Portland Cement Association advocates in 
     support of sustainability, resiliency, economic growth, 
     infrastructure investment, and overall innovation and 
     excellence in construction throughout the United States: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the 100th anniversary of the Portland Cement 
     Association;
       (2) commends the Portland Cement Association for its work 
     and dedication to--
       (A) the infrastructure of the United States; and
       (B) innovative developments;
       (3) recognizes the strong initiatives of the Portland 
     Cement Association to improve the state of the cement 
     industry; and
       (4) recognizes the members of the Portland Cement 
     Association and all cement manufacturers on the centennial 
     celebration of the establishment of the Portland Cement 
     Association.

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