Recognizing the American Highway Users Alliance on the occasion of its 75th anniversary, and for other purposes.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res 772, to recognize the American Highway Users Alliance on the occasion of its 75th anniversary.

Our Nation's roadways truly are the lifeblood of our economy and an integral part of our everyday lives. Our highway system unites Americans from every state and allows us to explore the diverse culture, geography, and attractions that America has to offer. Highways are critical to the mobility of our Nation by enabling the extensive movement of goods and people. Our highways make it possible for Americans to take more than 660 million trips to visit friends and family every year, and more than 110 million Americans use the highways to commute to and from work. People will travel three trillion miles on our Nation's roads this year. Without our national highway system, America would be a far different place.

The need to connect America with a system of interstate highways was obvious to President George Washington in the first year after our Nation was founded. While traveling to the Ohio country on horseback, Washington observed the isolation and vulnerability caused by a lack of interstate mobility. He also saw the economic impact that an interstate road would have for the viability and survival of the new Nation, and called for the development of a trans-Appalachian road to unify the young Nation. That route was authorized by Congress in 1806, and the ``National Road'' (later known as U.S. Route 40) became the first federally funded road in U.S. history.

A young Dwight Eisenhower came to a similar conclusion while accompanying an Army convoy from Washington, D.C., to San Francisco in 1919. Eisenhower found that the state of America's transportation system was deficient. Years later, as the Supreme Allied Commander in the Second World War, Eisenhower was impressed by the ability of the autobahns to move military material rapidly across Germany. As President, Eisenhower would sign into law the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 which authorized the Interstate Highway System and established the Highway Trust Fund. The American Highway Users Alliance was instrumental to the passage of this landmark transportation legislation.

Founded in 1932, the American Highway Users Alliance has been a persistent and outspoken proponent for our Nation's highway. Known as the ``Highway Users'', the alliance has voiced the interests of motorists and businesses on major national highway and traffic safety legislation over the past 75 years. The Highway Users has worked tirelessly to protect the integrity of the Highway Trust Fund and State highway trust funds.

Madam Speaker, the Highway Users has been a consistent advocate in favor of strengthening the national highway network by promoting a strong Federal role in mobility and safety and by advocating policies that benefit all highway users.

For these and other contributions to the daily lives, the economic well-being, and the health and safety of the traveling public, I rise to recognize the outstanding achievements of the American Highway Users Alliance and its sustained contribution in service to our Nation, and to recognize the Alliance's 75th anniversary.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 772) recognizing the American Highway Users Alliance on the occasion of its 75th anniversary, and for other purposes.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 772.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 772, a resolution to congratulate the American Highway Users Alliance on the occasion of its 75th anniversary.

Founded in 1932 as the National Highway Users Conference, in 1970 the group merged with the Automotive Safety Foundation and were renamed the Highway Users Federation for Safety and Mobility, and in 1995 they took on the current name of American Highway Users Alliance (``the Highway Users'').

The Highway Users has always been an outspoken proponent for adequate funding for our Nation's highway infrastructure and a consistent voice for motorists and those who depend on our highways for commercial purposes.

For the past 75 years, Highway Users have expressed the interests of motorists and businesses on all major national highway and traffic safety legislation, including strong support for the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956, which authorized the Interstate Highway System, established the Highway Trust Fund. Since then, it's been an unwavering force for protecting the integrity of the Federal Highway Trust Fund and State Highway Trust Funds.

As we received a report last week on the state of the Nation's infrastructure from a commission that was created by the passage of the SAFETEA-LU bill, we find that we are dramatically in deficit in investing in the Nation's infrastructure. And the current administration is dramatically in denial about the deficit in investing in infrastructure, so there will be a lot of work to be done by the American Highway Users Alliance and other advocates for an improved transportation network in the United States of America.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I would yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 772, to congratulate American Highway Users Alliance on the occasion of its 75th anniversary.

The American Highway Users Alliance (``Highway Users'') has changed its name several times over 75 years. The group was

founded in 1932 as the National Highway Users Conference. In 1970, the group merged with the Automotive Safety Foundation and was renamed the Highway Users Federation for Safety and Mobility. In 1995, the organization took on its current name.

Yet no matter what the group was called, Highway Users has always been a persistent and outspoken proponent for adequate funding and oversight of the Nation's highway infrastructure, and a diligent voice for the interests of the public.

Highway Users has voiced the interests of motorists and businesses on all major national highway and traffic safety legislation over the past 75 years, including strong support of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, which authorized the Interstate Highway System and established the Highway Trust Fund.

Highway Users has worked tirelessly over the past 75 years to protect the integrity of the Highway Trust Fund and State highway trust funds.

The organization has conducted crucial research documenting the promise and potential of modern United States highways in improving safety, facilitating emergency evacuations, and growing the national economy.

The American Highway Users Alliance has also been a consistent advocate in favor of strengthening the national highway network by promoting a strong Federal role in mobility and safety and by advocating policies that benefit all highway users.

For these and other contributions to our daily lives, our economic well-being, and our health and safety, I rise to recognize the outstanding achievements of the American Highway Users Alliance and its sustained contribution in service to our Nation.

I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and join me in commemorating the 75th anniversary of the American Highway Users Alliance.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I would like to also voice my support for House Resolution 772. House Resolution 772 was introduced by Chairman Oberstar, Ranking Member Mica, Highways and Transit Subcommittee Chairman DeFazio, and myself to recognize the 75th anniversary of the American Highway Users Alliance, a broad national coalition of organizations representing motorists and businesses.

The American Highway Users Alliance is a nonprofit advocacy organization with the mission to promote safe, uncongested highways and enhanced mobility. The group's membership includes over 300 national trade associations, corporations, small businesses, and other State and local nonprofit groups. They represent over 45 million highway users.

Since 1932, the group has fought for road and bridge investments that will save lives, promote economic growth, improve quality of life, and protect freedom of mobility.

The American Highway Users Alliance focuses its campaigns on fair highway use taxation, Federal highway policy and funding, and responsible environmental policy.

The American Highway Users Alliance is an important voice for the interests of motorists and businesses and has been an active participant in every major national highway and traffic safety law passed over the last 75 years.

I strongly support this resolution and congratulate the American Highway Users Alliance on its achievements and on its 75th anniversary. Madam Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I have no other speakers, and so I yield back the balance of my time.