[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 12]
[House]
[Pages 16343-16344]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE AMERICAN ROAD AND TRANSPORTATION BUILDERS ASSOCIATION 
                   FOR REACHING ITS 100TH ANNIVERSARY

  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 442) recognizing the American Road 
and Transportation Builders Association for reaching its 100th 
Anniversary and for the many vital contributions of its members in the 
transportation construction industry to the American economy and 
quality of life through the multi-modal transportation infrastructure 
network its members have designed, built, and managed over the past 
century.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 442

       Whereas, founded in 1902 by Horatio Sawyer Earle, a 
     visionary Michigan public official, the American Road and 
     Transportation Builders Association is the Nation's oldest 
     national association exclusively representing the 
     transportation construction industry;
       Whereas, for a century, the American Road and 
     Transportation Builders Association has successfully 
     advocated for strong Federal investment in transportation 
     infrastructure, highlighted by the world's greatest road 
     network, the Dwight David Eisenhower System of Interstate and 
     Defense Highways;
       Whereas the transportation construction industry that the 
     American Road and Transportation Builders Association 
     represents works to constantly improve America's 
     transportation network, including our Nation's roads, 
     bridges, airports, mass transit systems, ports, and waterways 
     that are the foundation on which the Nation's economy stands 
     and grows;
       Whereas the American Road and Transportation Builders 
     Association incorporates educational, research, and 
     charitable efforts to advance the transportation construction 
     industry, improve transportation education, maintain the 
     highest industry standards of excellence, and ensure the 
     public health, safety, and welfare; and
       Whereas the multi-modal transportation infrastructure 
     network that American Road and Transportation Association 
     members have designed, built, and managed over the past 
     century, in partnership with government at all levels, has 
     made America's economy the envy of the world and provided the 
     American people with an unmatched quality of life: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the Congress--
       (1) acknowledges the American Road and Transportation 
     Builders Association for its 100th Anniversary;
       (2) commends the many achievements of the transportation 
     construction industry; and
       (3) encourages the American Road and Transportation 
     Builders Association to continue its tradition of excellence 
     in service to the transportation construction industry and to 
     the public.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Wisconsin (Mr. Petri) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri).
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the American Road and Transportation Builders 
Association is the Nation's oldest national association exclusively 
representing the transportation construction industry. I have worked 
with ARTBA on many legislative issues, and they have played and will 
continue to play a large role in the development of our country's 
transportation infrastructure.
  Founded by Horatio Earle, ARTBA has consistently advocated a strong 
Federal investment in our transportation network and has played an 
integral role in the development of the Dwight David Eisenhower System 
of Interstate and Defense Highways, known as our interstate system.
  Under the leadership of ARTBA, the transportation construction 
industry maintains the highest standards of excellence to ensure the 
public safety and welfare of those traveling throughout these United 
States.
  I look forward to working with ARTBA as Congress moves forward with 
reauthorization of TEA 21 next year. I urge the Congress to join me in 
commending ARTBA and its members for their 100 years of service to the 
construction industry and the important work they do every day in 
building America.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. 
Petri) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Borski) for moving 
forward with H. Con. Res. 442, to recognize the 100th anniversary of 
the American Road and Transportation Builders Association, also known 
as ARTBA.
  For more than a century, ARTBA has carried forth the visionary 
efforts of its founder, Horatio S. Earle. The legacy of this 
organization rests firmly on the guiding principles of its founder to 
improve the Nation's transportation system. Horatio Earle advocated an 
interstate system to link the Nation's capital with every State capital 
throughout the Nation. Mr. Earle's vision was realized with the 
creation of the Highway Trust Fund to provide funding for the 
construction of the Nation's highway interstate highway system.
  From its inception, ARTBA has advocated strong Federal investment in 
the Nation's transportation infrastructure, to meet the public demand 
for safe and efficient travel and shipment of goods. ARTBA has led the 
efforts to increase the level of funding for transportation and 
infrastructure improvements. Through its leadership, perseverance, and 
skills of its organization, ARTBA has established a legacy that has 
helped to strengthen the American economy.
  Today, ARTBA represents an industry that generates more than $200 
billion in United States economic activity annually and sustains the 
employment of 2.2 million Americans.
  Mr. Speaker, it is a high honor to recognize ARTBA for its 100 years 
of continuing support for the Nation's transportation. As the Congress 
moves forward with legislation to reauthorize the surface 
transportation programs, I look forward to working with ARTBA to assist 
in building a national transportation system that will continue to 
serve this great Nation.
  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, as a co-sponsor of House Concurrent 
Resolution 442, which recognizes the American Road and Transportation 
Builders 100th Anniversary, ARTBA, I want to publicly commend our 
Nation's oldest association exclusively representing the transportation 
construction industry. For a full century, ARTBA has been a strong and 
successful advocate for federal investment in transportation 
infrastructure. As the legislation notes, the construction and upkeep 
of our Nation's roads, bridges, airports, mass transit systems, ports 
and waterways are the foundation on which America's economy stands and 
grows. Our transportation network also allows Americans to pursue their 
constitutional Right to Travel. On behalf of West Virginia, I suggest 
that as many Americans as possible should exercise their Right to 
Travel by using available transportation opportunities in order to

[[Page 16344]]

come to our fine state where they can visit its cities, towns, and 
scenic vistas.
  Transportation construction has been vital to West Virginia's 
improving industrial and communications networks. This, in turn, 
creates greater job and education opportunities. Recent flood control 
and community restoration efforts were also made possible by the 
ability to utilize multiple transportation modes. In addition, 
transportation construction has greatly improved West Virginians' daily 
access to much-needed health care services, retirement benefit 
providers, and the like.
  Further, as President Dwight Eisenhower clearly understood, our 
Nation's transportation network provides a critical infrastructure 
element for national security. In the immediate wake of the September 
11th attacks, the strength of our Nation's transportation networks 
enabled emergency responders from various different areas to get to the 
crisis areas in New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania in the most 
expeditious manner possible. Employing this quick response ability 
aided our nation in providing much-needed assistance and in 
coordinating the subsequent recovery efforts. ARTBA's long-standing 
contributions which enabled such quick response following September 
11th, deserve recognition as the association celebrates this milestone.
  Our Nation owes a clear debt of gratitude and commendation to the 
ARTBA for their continuing efforts, which have contributed to this 
country's great infrastructure strength.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 442.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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