[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 16080]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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  SENATE RESOLUTION 288--COMMEMORATING OCTOBER 22, 2015, AS THE 50TH 
 ANNIVERSARY OF THE ENACTMENT OF THE HIGHWAY BEAUTIFICATION ACT OF 1965

  Mr. ALEXANDER (for himself and Mr. Udall) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Environment and 
Public Works:

                              S. Res. 288

       Whereas, on October 22, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson 
     signed the Highway Beautification Act of 1965 (Public Law 89-
     285; 79 Stat. 1028), also known as ``Lady Bird's Bill'', ``to 
     protect the public investment in [public] highways, to 
     promote the safety and recreational value of public travel, 
     and to preserve natural beauty'';
       Whereas, earlier in 1965, President Johnson convened a 
     White House Conference on Natural Beauty that recommended, 
     among other things, certain highway beautification actions;
       Whereas, at the signing of the Highway Beautification Act 
     of 1965 (Public Law 89-285; 79 Stat. 1028), President Johnson 
     stated: ``This bill does not represent everything that we 
     wanted. It does not represent what we need. It does not 
     represent what the national interest requires. But it is a 
     first step, and there will be other steps. For though we must 
     crawl before we walk, we are going to walk.'';
       Whereas, since inception, the National Highway System has 
     expanded to, as of October 2015, over 220,000 miles 
     stretching across the United States; and
       Whereas the national vision led by President Johnson and 
     Lady Bird Johnson for a more beautiful highway system should 
     be remembered and renewed; Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the legacy and vision of President Lyndon B. 
     Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson on the 50th anniversary of the 
     enactment of the Highway Beautification Act of 1965 (Public 
     Law 89-285; 79 Stat. 1028);
       (2) commends the organizations, volunteers, and businesses 
     that work to support the vision of a more beautiful United 
     States;
       (3) recognizes that beautiful highways and scenic byways--
       (A) promote--
       (i) economic development; and
       (ii) national and international tourism; and
       (B) reflect the best of the United States; and
       (4) renews the previous commitment of the Senate to--
       (A) protect the public investment in public highways;
       (B) promote the safety and recreational value of public 
     travel; and
       (C) preserve the natural beauty of the United States.

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