Reps. Gleason, Lemmons, III, Polidori, McDowell, Espinoza, Bieda, Miller, Vagnozzi, Wojno, Accavitti, Adamini, Ball, Brown, Casperson, Caswell, Clack, Dillon, Elsenheimer, Farrah, Garfield, Gonzales, Hildenbrand, Huizenga, Jones, Kahn, Kehrl, Kooiman, Leland, Lemmons, Jr., Lipsey, Mayes, Meyer, Mortimer, Nofs, Pavlov, Pearce, Phillips, Plakas, Proos, Sak, Sheltrown, Stahl, Stewart, Vander Veen, Walker, Waters and Zelenko offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 67.

            A resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to encourage expansion of existing, or the construction of new petroleum refineries in the United States and to urge the leaders of the petroleum industry to construct new refineries to meet our increasing energy needs.

            Whereas, The price of petroleum products has been rising out of control.  Currently, the world crude oil price remains near 60 dollars a barrel, practically 30 dollars more than this time last year.  Additionally, the national average price of regular gasoline is about 38 cents per gallon more than last year and diesel is almost 54 cents per gallon more than this time last year; and

            Whereas, There has not been a new oil refinery built in the United States in nearly 30 years.  Yet, in the intervening years, the total energy demand in the United States has grown by about 40 percent.  According to the United States Energy Information Administration, the projected petroleum demand between 2003 and 2025 will increase by 30 percent.  We need to plan for our future energy needs by incorporating new petroleum refineries into the United States' overall energy policy; and

            Whereas, Recent major investments in the Marathon Refinery located in the City of Detroit, Michigan's only refinery, will increase the output by about 28 percent, from 74,000 barrels per day to over 102,000 barrels per day.  Securing Marathon's investment of $300 million was made possible through the collaborative efforts of Marathon, the city of Detroit, and the state of Michigan.  Marathon's commitment to Michigan and the collaboration with the city and state to create a renaissance zone encompassing the refinery illustrates the type of creative solutions that can be used to promote the construction of new refineries; and

            Whereas, Constructing new refineries would also create new jobs and increase gasoline, fuels, and distillate output – all vital components of strengthening our economy.  Michigan is well placed to locate a new refinery due to our proximity with Canada, this country's largest source of imported petroleum. Moreover, Michigan's highly skilled labor force could adapt to employment in the refinery industry; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize the Congress of the United States to establish a national energy policy that promotes the expansion of existing or construction of new petroleum refineries in the United States.  We also urge the leaders of the petroleum industry to construct new refineries to meet our increasing energy needs; and be it further

            Resolved, That it is our intention to work with local governments to identify appropriate locations for new refineries in Michigan communities that have a recognized commitment to job growth and this industry; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the members of the Michigan congressional delegation, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Department of Energy, the American Petroleum Institute, and the American Petroleum Industries of Michigan.