[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 15688-15689]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




EXPRESSING SUPPORT OF THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF NATIONAL CARRIAGE DRIVING 
                                 MONTH

  Mr. HIGGINS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 1128) expressing support of the goals and 
ideals of National Carriage Driving Month.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1128

       Whereas the Carriage Association of America has, for almost 
     50 years, fostered and organized efforts to preserve and 
     recognize the significant contributions that animal-drawn 
     vehicles have made to American culture;
       Whereas animal-drawn vehicles helped settle and build the 
     United States of America;
       Whereas it is now almost 100 years since the rapid change 
     from animal-drawn vehicles to machine-powered vehicles;
       Whereas museums across America have preserved and protected 
     examples of carriages, wagons, and other types of mostly 
     horse-drawn vehicles, which helped Americans build, farm, and 
     socialize from the earliest days of this Nation's existence;
       Whereas tens of thousands of Americans enjoy collecting, 
     preserving, driving, and restoring horse-drawn vehicles;
       Whereas there are hundreds of annual parades, shows, 
     auctions, and similar events to enjoy, recognize, and 
     preserve this important part of our Nation's heritage;
       Whereas the World Equestrian Games have been awarded to the 
     United States and will be held in 2010 at the Kentucky Horse 
     Park in Lexington, Kentucky; and
       Whereas the month of May is celebrated by the carriage-
     riding community as Carriage Riding Month: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) expresses support for National Carriage Driving Month, 
     along with its goals and ideals; and
       (2) encourages supporters, historical organizations, and 
     educational entities to observe the month and collaborate on 
     efforts to further protect, preserve, and appreciate 
     carriages as part of our Nation's history.

                              {time}  1730

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Higgins) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Davis) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. HIGGINS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HIGGINS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  As a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform, I rise for the consideration of H. Res. 1128, which expresses 
the support for the goals and ideals of National Carriage Driving 
Month.
  Our colleague, Congressman David Davis of Tennessee, introduced House 
Resolution 1128 on April 22 of this year. The resolution was considered 
by and reported from the Oversight Committee on July 16, 2008, by voice 
vote, and has the support and cosponsorship of 50 Members of Congress.
  While over a century has passed since Henry Ford forever changed the 
face of transportation, tens of thousands of Americans still enjoy 
collecting, preserving, driving, and restoring horse-drawn vehicles. 
Aided by the efforts of organizations such as the Carriage Association 
of America, which has devoted great effort to preserving and 
recognizing the significant contributions of animal-drawn vehicles, 
carriages are enjoyed at hundreds of events nationwide each year.
  I thank the gentleman from Tennessee for sponsoring the measure at 
hand. Passage of H. Res. 1128 will not only express our support for 
National Carriage Driving Month, but also encourage our fellow 
Americans and enthusiasts, historical organizations, and educational 
entities to observe and participate in events that protect, preserve 
and appreciate carriages as part of our Nation's history.
  I urge the adoption of this resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I would yield such time as he 
may consume to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. David Davis), the 
author of this resolution.
  Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask the 
House to join me in supporting House Resolution 1128, legislation that 
supports the goals and ideals of National Carriage Driving Month.
  The origin of carriages can be traced to the Middle Ages when roads 
were extremely crude, and wooden carts offered an uncomfortable way to 
be transported. From the 16th century, various types of vehicles were 
built with some rudimentary form of springs to create some comfort for 
passengers. The luxury of springs spurred the popularity and comfort of 
this mode of travel and mass production of carriages would begin in 
earnest.
  As travel distances increased, the hooded carts were replaced with 
carriages with a roof and later with a closed cabin with doors and 
windows. Carriages were built for royalty, businessmen and merchants 
and commoners, often named after their function or shape.
  When the technique of forging iron was developed in the 1800s, steel 
parts would replace leather springs. Industrially produced springs, 
axles and other metal parts improved the quality of the carriages 
leading into the 19th century, which was the golden age of the 
carriage.
  The Industrial Revolution stimulated economic changes that added 
prosperity to the middle class, and they would ultimately become the 
driving force behind the purchase of carriages and the creation of 
carriage factories founded in cities throughout America and the rest of 
the world. Certainly, before the advent of the automobile, Americans 
enjoyed the horse-drawn carriage as a mode of transportation. Today, 
many people, including constituents of mine in east Tennessee, collect 
and restore the great vehicles as an avocation. Tens of thousands of 
Americans now enjoy this pursuit and millions more Americans enjoy 
their work in parades, shows and museums.
  The month of May is often celebrated by the carriage community as 
carriage riding month, and this legislation supports the idea of a 
National Carriage Driving Month. These vehicles helped settle and build 
our Nation in its infancy, and this noncontroversial legislation 
celebrates the elegance and charm of a bygone era.
  In closing, I am pleased that the House is considering this 
noncontroversial legislation celebrating a mode of transportation prior 
to the era of the automobile. I regret the House is not considering 
meaningful legislation to deal with our current energy crisis. With gas 
prices continuing to escalate, my friends in the carriage restoration 
and driving community may find themselves in demand once again.
  I ask my colleagues to please support House Resolution 1128 and 
please support bringing meaningful energy legislation to the floor on 
which so many of my constituents of the First Congressional District of 
Tennessee are asking for action.
  Mr. HIGGINS. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve.
  Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I would associate myself with 
the remarks of the gentleman from Tennessee.
  Madam Speaker, just one month ago we honored the 100th Anniversary of 
General Motors and one of their most famous cars, the Corvette, as a 
company that revolutionized the way people travel. And today, we are 
here to recognize the significance of the horse carriage that 
ultimately led to the evolution from animal-drawn vehicles to machine-
powered vehicles.
  Originally developed to transport wealthy people in a clean, elegant 
and safe manner, the carriage has evolved over time. In this country, 
carriages were not only used by the wealthy, but became part of the 
fabric of everyday life as they were used on farms and in towns for 
commerce, trade and transportation.
  Carriages have now become a pleasant way to experience the past as 
well as a way to preserve a part of American history. Museums across 
the country have exhibits of horse drawn carriages, which help educate 
visitors about these vehicles that were such an important part of 
American history.

[[Page 15689]]

  Carriages can also be found at numerous parades, shows and fairs 
where they help showcase and preserve horse drawn vehicles.
  Carriage use still thrives at these types of events due to the hard 
work of groups such as the Carriage Association of America (CAA) whose 
mission it is to preserve the history and tradition of horse drawn 
carriages and sleighs.
  This resolution also seeks to highlight the World Equestrian Games 
which will be held in Lexington, Kentucky in 2010.
  One of the events during the games will be competitive carriage 
driving called, Carting.
  Madam Speaker, this resolution makes me wonder, that while the horse 
drawn carriage has largely vanished as an everyday occurrence, if more 
and more people won't revert back to this form of transportation now 
that gas prices are so high.
  But I digress. Madam Speaker, I call on my colleagues to support a 
National Carriage Driving Month and encourage people to further 
protect, preserve, and appreciate carriages as part of our Nation's 
history.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time and urge adoption 
of the resolution.
  Mr. HIGGINS. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Higgins) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1128.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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