    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
    [May 17, 1991]
    [Pages 518-519]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Signing the Proclamation Commemorating National Defense
    Transportation Day and National Transportation Week
    May 17, 1991

        Good morning, fellow travelers. [Laughter] It's really great to see
    you all here, representatives of every sector of the transportation
    industry: road and rail, sea and air. I feel guilty walking to work from
    over there--[laughter]--with all this talent here. But Sam Skinner, our
    very able Secretary of Transportation, I salute you, sir, and thank you
    for your leadership on the issue. I salute the distinguished senior DOT
    officials who are with us. And all our special guests, let me just say,
    welcome to the White House.
        Among the many changes that shaped this country, transportation has
    really been in the lead. And your industries--your trucks, trains,
    ships, and aircraft--link all 50 States and, as we've seen recently,
    dramatically link America to the world beyond. For this year, events far
    beyond our shores remind us that civil transportation sustains not
    simply a strong economy but an America strong enough to defend its vital
    interests halfway around the world.
        From the first days of Desert Shield to the final moments of Desert
    Storm, each of your industries made possible the most intensive military
    lift since the Second World War. More than 4 million tons of dry cargo,
    6 million tons of fuel, thousands of troops moved across America and
    halfway around the world.
        As President, let me say that every sector of the civil
    transportation system--road, rail, sea, and air--contributed to the
    success of Desert Shield and then Desert Storm. And that contribution
    didn't stop when combat began. Every American shares my pride in our men
    and women in uniform.
        But today I want to thank the pilots and the crew of nearly 90 civil
    aircraft that flew support missions during Desert Storm, the civilian
    crew members who served at sea, and all the civilian heroes in the
    transportation sector who pushed the limit and ventured into harm's way
    to get the job done. And how well they did it.
        I mentioned a moment ago the connection between transportation and
    America's international competitiveness. And that's why back on March
    6th, in my address to the joint session, I challenged Congress to act on
    the urgent issues facing the Nation. And I focused, not simply on
    critical crime bill--that one, which we really want to

    [[Page 519]]

    have--but on transportation. And I said to Congress then, if our forces
    could win the ground war in 100 hours, then surely Congress can pass
    this legislation in 100 days.
        And the clock has been ticking. And our transportation bill, thanks
    to Sam and many of you in this room, has made some headway in the
    Senate. I'm informed that the House is beginning now to move on this,
    but there's still a long way to go to get a satisfactory bill. And I
    don't have to tell you that 16 blocks between this house and the two
    Houses of Congress can be a long, long trip--long road in American
    politics. So now's the time to move a sound transportation bill out of
    the Congress and onto my desk. And today as we mark the special
    significance of transportation to America's economic welfare and
    international security, I ask each one of you: Please join us, join the
    Secretary, join me, in urging Congress to rise to the challenges and act
    now.
        And once again, it is my pleasure to welcome you all here to the
    White House. And I will now sign these proclamations declaring National
    Maritime Day, National Defense Transportation Day, and National
    Transportation Week. And then I would like to suggest to those outside
    of what is known as the White House complex that I walk out of here into
    the Oval Office, and I'd like each one of you, if you have time, to come
    by and shake hands and at least say hello and see my magnificent office.

                        Note: The President spoke at 10:18 a.m. in the
                            Roosevelt Room at the White House. In his
                            remarks, he referred to Secretary of
                            Transportation Samuel K. Skinner. The
                            proclamations are listed in Appendix E at the
                            end of this volume.