[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 756-757]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING THE CENTENNIAL OF PRESIDENT 
              THEODORE ROOSEVELT'S CONFERENCE OF GOVERNORS

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                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 23, 2008

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Madam Speaker, today I am introducing, along with Mr. 
Oberstar, Mr. DeFazio, Mr. Walsh, Mr. Petri, and Mr. Farr, a resolution 
to commemorate the centennial of President Theodore Roosevelt's 
Conference of Governors. That conference, which included many State 
Governors, the members of President Roosevelt's Cabinet, Members of 
Congress, professional organizations, and Government bureaus--and which 
served as the first meeting of what today has become the National 
Governors Association--resulted in a report that incorporated the 
growing interest in conservation as well as articulated the need for 
future investments in civil

[[Page 757]]

infrastructure. The conference laid the groundwork for many of the 
critical investments of the 20th century and serves as an important 
reminder that the value of infrastructure investments is dependent on 
national planning efforts. In the past few decades, our critical 
infrastructure has fallen into disrepair. As we embark on efforts to 
improve our Nation's civil infrastructure, we should acknowledge and 
honor the plans that laid the groundwork for our Nation's greatness.

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