SR-194, As Adopted by Senate, June 18, 2008

            Senators Cropsey, Kahn, Van Woerkom, Pappageorge, Allen, Hardiman and Gilbert offered the following resolution:

            Senate Resolution No. 194.

            A resolution to memorialize Congress to reauthorize transportation funding with appropriate recognition of the importance of the Great Lakes' infrastructure to the nation's economy.

            Whereas, The future viability of the United States' economy depends on the ability to produce and export marketable products. The state of Michigan is an integral part of the North American manufacturing supply chain, with its international borders and waterways. The Detroit and Port Huron crossings are the busiest land borders in the entire country, bringing $2 trillion in trade value into this country each year; and

            Whereas, Transportation infrastructure support is necessary to facilitate the movement of products back and forth across our borders and around the country, thus feeding the United States' economy. Michigan's aging transportation infrastructure carries an enormous amount of heavy truck traffic to that end and is in need of structural upgrades and expansion; and

            Whereas, Michigan has been a donor state for transportation dollars for many years. As such, Michigan has subsidized transportation projects in other states to the detriment of state infrastructure and in disproportion to our contribution to the national economy; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Senate, That we memorialize Congress to reauthorize transportation funding with appropriate recognition of the importance of the Great Lakes' infrastructure to the nation's economy; 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, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.