[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 140 (Thursday, September 15, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S5851]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 568--RECOGNIZING THE INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE 
 TOWING AND RECOVERY INDUSTRY IN THE UNITED STATES, THE INTERNATIONAL 
TOWING & RECOVERY HALL OF FAME & MUSEUM, TOWING ASSOCIATIONS AROUND THE 
WORLD, AND THE MEMBERS OF THOSE TOWING ASSOCIATIONS AND DESIGNATING THE 
  WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 9 THROUGH 15, 2016, AS ``NATIONAL TOWING INDUSTRY 
                            AWARENESS WEEK''

  Mr. CORKER (for himself, Mr. Alexander, and Mr. Coons) submitted the 
following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 568

       Whereas, in 1916, Ernest Holmes built the first twin boom 
     wrecker in Chattanooga, Tennessee, for use in his own garage 
     and later agreed to build and sell the units to others;
       Whereas the first production wreckers were known as 
     ``680's'' because they cost $680;
       Whereas, in service to the United States, the Ernest Holmes 
     Company supplied the W-45 military wrecker for use during 
     World War II;
       Whereas, in 1959, the Ernest Holmes Company patented its 
     first tow sling and car dolly;
       Whereas, in the early 1970's, Gerald Holmes built the first 
     hydraulic towing equipment, an advancement in the industry;
       Whereas, in 1995, the International Towing & Recovery Hall 
     of Fame & Museum (referred to in this preamble as the 
     ``Museum'') was established in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the 
     birthplace of the tow truck;
       Whereas, in 2003, the Museum, having outgrown its original 
     home, moved to 3315 Broad Street in Chattanooga;
       Whereas, in 2006, the Museum officially dedicated the Wall 
     of the Fallen, the first monument in the industry to honor 
     towing operators killed in the line of service;
       Whereas, in the United States, there are more than 35,000 
     tow companies and hundreds of thousands of individuals 
     employed in the towing industry, including tow truck 
     operators, dispatchers, safety advisors, and owners;
       Whereas more than 1 tow truck operator is killed every 6 
     days assisting motorists on the roadways of the United 
     States;
       Whereas tow truck operators respond to nearly 15,000,000 
     accidents per year across the United States;
       Whereas tow truck operators are an indispensable part of 
     keeping the United States moving by keeping the highways of 
     the United States clear and open for travel;
       Whereas most highway crashes require assistance from tow 
     truck operators; and
       Whereas the people of the United States have a duty to 
     drive safely and be courteous toward fellow motorists on the 
     roadways as the people of the United States work together 
     toward the common goal of reducing fatal accidents: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the 100th anniversary of the tow truck;
       (2) designates the week of September 9 through 15, 2016, as 
     ``National Towing Industry Awareness Week'', to be held in 
     conjunction with the International Towing & Recovery Hall of 
     Fame & Museum Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and the Wall of 
     the Fallen ceremony, each of which is held annually at the 
     International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame & Museum in 
     Chattanooga, Tennessee; and
       (3) encourages the people of the United States--
       (A) to observe the move over and slow down laws in the 
     United States; and
       (B) to join in the worthy observance of National Towing 
     Industry Awareness Week.

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