SR0741 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, On June 29, 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed into law the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 (Public Law 84-627; 70 Stat. 374) to establish the 41,000-mile National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, later designated as the "Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways", and the Highway Revenue Act of 1956 (Public Law 84-627; 70 Stat. 387) to create the Highway Trust Fund; and

WHEREAS, In 1990, the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways was renamed the Dwight D. Eisenhower System of Interstate and Defense Highways to recognize the role of President Eisenhower in the creation of the Interstate Highway System; and

WHEREAS, That web of superhighways, now spanning a total of 46,876 miles throughout the United States, has had a powerful and positive impact on the lives of citizens of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, The Interstate System has proven to be a vital tool for transporting people and goods from one region to another speedily and safely; and

WHEREAS, The use of the Interstate System has helped the nation facilitate domestic and global trade and has allowed the nation to create unprecedented economic expansion and opportunities for millions of U.S. citizens; and

WHEREAS, The Interstate System has enabled diverse communities throughout the United States to come closer together and has allowed United States citizens to remain connected to each other as well as to the larger world; and

WHEREAS, The Interstate System has made it easier and more enjoyable for Illinois citizens to travel to long-distance destinations and spend time with family members and friends who live far away; and

WHEREAS, The Interstate System is a pivotal link in the national chain of defense and emergency preparedness efforts; and

WHEREAS, The Interstate System remains one of the paramount assets of the United States as well as a symbol of human ingenuity and freedom; and

WHEREAS, The anniversary of the Interstate System provides all citizens with an occasion to honor one of the largest public works achievements of all time and to reflect on how the nation can maintain the effectiveness of the System in the years ahead; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize 2006 as the Golden Anniversary Year of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways; and be it further

RESOLVED, We recognize and celebrate the achievements of the Federal Highway Administration, the Illinois Department of Transportation, and the highway construction industry in Illinois, including contractors, designers, engineers, labor, materials producers, and equipment companies, for their contributions to the quality of life of the citizens of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage citizens, communities, governmental agencies, and other organizations to promote and participate in celebratory and educational activities that mark this uniquely important and historic milestone; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Illinois Department of Transportation.