69–006 

110TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session 110–544 

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 

MARCH 10, 2008.—Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed 

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 


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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 evVerDate Aug 31 2005 02:28 Mar 11, 2008 Jkt 069006 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR544.XXX HR544

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erywhere 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. 


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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. 


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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. 

Æ 


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