[House Report 110-544]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
110th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session 110-544
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RESOLUTION REAFFIRMING THE GOALS AND IDEALS THAT FORMED THE IMPETUS FOR
ALBERT GALLATIN'S NATIONAL PLAN FOR TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS 200
YEARS AGO, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
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March 10, 2008.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be
printed
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Mr. Oberstar, from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H. Res. 936]
The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, to whom
was referred the resolution (H. Res. 936) honoring the 200th
anniversary of the Gallatin Report on Roads and Canals,
celebrating the national unity the Gallatin Report engendered,
and recognizing the vast contributions that national planning
efforts have provided to the United States, having considered
the same, report favorably thereon with amendments and
recommend that the resolution as amended be agreed to.
The amendments are as follows:
Strike all after the resolving clause and insert the
following:
That the House of Representatives--
(1) reaffirms the goals and ideals that formed the impetus
for Albert Gallatin's national plan for transportation
improvements 200 years ago;
(2) calls on the Federal Government, States, localities,
schools, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and the citizens
of the United States to mark this important anniversary by
recalling the important legacy of public investment in
infrastructure, which connects and enhances the economies,
communications, and communities of the several States; and
(3) supports the creation of a new national plan for
transportation improvements to align the demands for economic
development with the resources of the Nation.
Amend the preamble to read as follows:
Whereas President Thomas Jefferson commissioned his Secretary of the
Treasury, Albert Gallatin, to provide a new vision for transportation that
would unite the young Republic;
Whereas 2008 marks the bicentennial of the national plan, known as the
Gallatin Report on Roads and Canals (Gallatin Report), presented by
Secretary Gallatin to President Jefferson;
Whereas the Gallatin Report proposed transportation improvements not as
ends in themselves but as means to further national unity;
Whereas transportation improvements were part of the promise of the
American Revolution, as James Madison, writing in The Federalist No. 14,
emphasized, ``Let it be remarked . . . that the intercourse throughout the
Union will be facilitated by new improvements. Roads will everywhere be
shortened, and kept in better order; accommodations for travelers will be
multiplied and meliorated; an interior navigation on our eastern side will
be opened throughout, or nearly throughout, the whole extent of the
thirteen States'';
Whereas Madison's words have served as a worthy reminder of the needs for
transportation infrastructure since that time;
Whereas the Gallatin Report incorporated the improvements to the Postal
Service that Benjamin Franklin bequeathed to the Nation, including
Franklin's route surveys, his placement of milestones on principal roads,
and his development of shorter transportation routes;
Whereas the Gallatin Report called for an inland waterway navigation canal
from Massachusetts to North Carolina, which was the precursor to the modern
day Intercostal Waterway system;
Whereas the United States, as a result of Gallatin's legacy, has a record
of successful infrastructure developments, including--
(1) the Erie Canal, which vastly reduced transportation costs
to the interior;
(2) the transcontinental railway, which united the Nation;
(3) transit projects across the Nation, which promote freedom
and opportunity;
(4) the National Highway System, including the Dwight D.
Eisenhower System of Interstate and Defense Highways, which
fostered interstate commerce, national unity, and broke down
barriers between the States; and
(5) the Tennessee Valley Authority, devised by President
Franklin Delano Roosevelt as a ``corporation clothed with the
power of government but possessed of the flexibility and
initiative of a private enterprise'', which brought
electricity, conservation planning, and opportunity for
thousands in the Tennessee Valley and across the Nation;
Whereas to be regarded as a success, any national planning endeavor must
address and reconcile the needs of different regions of the Nation;
Whereas the genius of the Gallatin Report was its alignment of the hopes of
the Nation with the opportunities presented by access to new markets,
populations, and territories;
Whereas the United States currently faces new challenges in financing the
transportation infrastructure that is necessary for the future economic
needs of the Nation; and
Whereas if the United States is to succeed in a world of increasing
international competition, the United States must have a new national plan
for transportation improvements to provide for the Nation's future: Now,
therefore, be it
Amend the title so as to read:
Resolution reaffirming the goals and ideals that formed the impetus
for Albert Gallatin's national plan for transportation improvements 200
years ago, and for other purposes.
PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION
H. Res. 936, as amended, honors the 200th anniversary of
the Gallatin Report on Roads and Canals (``Gallatin Report''),
and celebrates the national unity the Gallatin Report has
engendered, recognizes the vast contributions transportation
improvements have provided to the United States, and supports
the development of a new national plan for transportation
developments.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION
President Thomas Jefferson commissioned his Secretary of
the Treasury, Albert Gallatin, to provide a new vision for
transportation that would unite the young and expanding
Republic. This year marks the bicentennial of the report that
Secretary Gallatin presented to President Jefferson.
The report proposed transportation improvements as a means
to further national unity, which was part of the promise of the
American Revolution. Earlier in 1787, James Madison, writing in
The Federalist No. 14 in support of the United States
Constitution, emphasized, ``Let it be remarked . . . that the
intercourse throughout the Union will be facilitated by new
improvements. Roads will everywhere be shortened, and kept in
better order; accommodations for travelers will be multiplied
and meliorated; an interior navigation on our eastern side will
be opened throughout, or nearly throughout, the whole extent of
the 13 States.'' Madison's words have served as a worthy
reminder of the needs for transportation infrastructure since
that time.
The genius of the Gallatin Report was its alignment of the
hopes of the growing nation with the opportunities presented by
access to new markets, populations, and territories. The United
States, as a result of Gallatin's legacy, has a record of
successful infrastructure developments, including the Erie
Canal, the transcontinental railway, the National Highway
System, including the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of
Interstate and Defense Highways, the Intracoastal Waterway
System, and transit projects across the nation.
The Gallatin Report highlighted the importance of a strong
national infrastructure. This critical factor remains relevant
today as we face new challenges in maintaining, improving, and
financing transportation infrastructure necessary to meet the
evolving needs of our economy and mobility.
SUMMARY OF THE LEGISLATION
H. Res. 936, as amended, honors the 200th anniversary of
the Gallatin Report on Roads and Canals, celebrates the
national unity that the Gallatin Report has engendered,
recognizes the vast contributions transportation improvements
have provided to the United States, and supports the
development of a new national plan for transportation
developments.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY AND COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION
On January 23, 2008, Representative Earl Blumenauer
introduced H. Res. 936. The resolution was referred to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. This resolution
has not been introduced in a previous Congress.
On February 28, 2008, the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure met in open session to consider H. Res. 936. The
Committee adopted by voice vote an amendment in the nature of a
substitute that made technical changes to the resolution. The
Committee ordered H. Res. 936, as amended, reported favorably
to the House by voice vote with a quorum present.
RECORD VOTES
Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the House of Representatives
requires each committee report to include the total number of
votes cast for and against on each record vote on a motion to
report and on any amendment offered to the measure or matter,
and the names of those members voting for and against. There
were no recorded votes taken in connection with any amendment
offered to H. Res. 936 or with ordering the resolution
reported. A motion to order H. Res. 936, as amended, reported
favorably to the House was agreed to by voice vote with a
quorum present.
COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS
With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(I) of rule
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee's oversight findings and recommendations are
reflected in this report.
COST OF LEGISLATION
With respect to the requirements of clause 3(d)(2) of rule
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, H. Res. 936
is a resolution of the House of Representatives and therefore
does not have the force of law. As such, there is no cost
associated with this resolution for fiscal year 2008, or for
any fiscal year thereafter.
COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII
1. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(2) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, and
308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee
advises that the resolution contains no measure that authorizes
funding, so no comparison of the total estimated funding level
for the relevant programs to the appropriate levels under
current law is required.
2. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(4) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee advises that the resolution contains no measure that
authorizes funding, so no statement of general performance and
objectives for any measure that authorizes funding is required.
3. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(3) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and
section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the
Committee advises that the resolution contains no measure that
authorizes funding. Neither a cost estimate nor comparison for
any measure that authorizes funding is required.
COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XXI
Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House
of Representatives, H. Res. 936, does not contain any
congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff
benefits as defined in clause 9(d), 9(e), or 9(f) of rule XXI
of the Rules of the House of Representatives.
CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT
With respect to clause (3)(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules
of the House of Representatives, H. Res. 936 is a resolution of
the House of Representatives and therefore does not have the
force of law. As such, clause (3)(d)(1) of rule XIII does not
apply.
FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT
H. Res. 936 contains no Federal mandates.
PREEMPTION CLARIFICATION
Section 423 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974
requires the report of any Committee on a bill or joint
resolution to include a statement on the extent to which the
bill or joint resolution is intended to preempt state, local,
or tribal law. The Committee states that H. Res. 936 does not
preempt any state, local, or tribal law.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT
No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b)
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act are created by this
resolution.
APPLICABILITY TO THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
The Committee finds that the resolution does not relate to
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public
services or accommodations within the meaning of section
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act (Public Law
104-1).
CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED
H. Res. 936 makes no changes to existing law.