A resolution recognizing June 30, 2013, as the centennial of the Lincoln Highway, the first transcontinental highway, which originally spanned 3,389 miles through 13 states, including the great State of Nebraska.

Mr. President, I rise today to discuss the Lincoln Highway resolution, which celebrates the centennial of the Nation's first transcontinental highway.

In America, our highways are a part of our heritage. They connect people, transport goods, promote tourism, and support economies.

I developed an appreciation for our highway heritage at an early age from my father, Jerry Strobel. After returning from service in World War II, he dedicated his career to serving Nebraskans at the State Department of Roads. As a civil servant for 45 years, he worked many years as a deputy state engineer and went on to serve as director and State engineer for the Nebraska Department of Roads from 1987 to 1991. He was a member of the Road and Transportation Builders Association and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

Just as I have my father to thank for developing my appreciation of roads and bridges, our vital infrastructure, we as a country have Carl Fisher of Indiana to thank for developing our Nation's first transcontinental highway. A century ago, he conceived and promoted the idea of a highway that would ``stimulate as nothing else could the building of enduring highways everywhere that will not only be a credit to the American people but that will also mean much to American agriculture and American commerce.''

Carl Fisher was an early automobile enthusiast who believed ``the automobile won't get anywhere until it has good roads to run on.'' He was zealous in his pursuit of his dream of a coast-to-coast highway, urging many of his friends in the auto industry to help promote the project.

The highway was named for one of Fisher's heroes, President Abraham Lincoln. The first highway to connect our country became the first national memorial to the leader whose courage kept our country connected.

The Lincoln Highway route was dedicated in 1913. Spanning from Times Square in New York City to Lincoln Park in San Francisco, the Lincoln Highway--affectionately known as America's Main Street--originally spanned 3,466 miles through 13 States, including the great State of Nebraska.

The Lincoln Highway brought economic development, tourism, and adventure to every community it touched and served as one of the inspirations for the National Interstate and Defense Highways Act of 1956.

The Lincoln Highway Association will host the official Lincoln Highway 100th Anniversary Tours and Celebration. Two tours will start simultaneously in New York City and San Francisco and meet in Kearney, NE, which is 1,733 miles from both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.

I am proud the Senate can help commemorate the important role that the Lincoln Highway has played in developing our country's highway heritage by celebrating the centennial of our first transcontinental highway.

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to S. Res. 188, which was submitted earlier today.

I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate.